They were, quite frankly, done. In fact, there was a game that children in Berlin would “play” right after the war, called “Raid.” If they happened to see a soldier, they would make a big show of screaming and running away. However, a lot changed af…
Many U-boats were at sea or in port when the “Regenbogen” order was given to surrender on May 3, 1945. This was not as easy as it might sound since a submarine suddenly appearing out of the water was a target, even if it meant to surrender. Many Ger…
I’d have to give ‘last German holdouts’ prize to the 11 men in the weather forecast unit under the command of lieutenant Wilhelm Dege stranded at a weather station on the Norwegian island of Nordausandet (near Spitsbergen), in the arctic. They had b…
To protect & support the calves & ankles & prevent rocks, debris, etc., from entering the boot.They also provided a measure of warmth in cold weather. Initially, German soldiers in both World Wars initially wore high leather boots, “Mars…
There’s a story—maybe true—that says a lot. During the bombing of Germany, American bombers were getting hit hard. The problem? Their fighter planes couldn’t fly far enough to protect them deep into enemy territory. The Germans knew this. They waite…
Many were frustrated by the American way of warfare, especially the officers who could not call upon the resources that their enemy could. The common soldier was annoyed that the American infantry declined to “fight fairly” and relied heavily on art…
