What makes you think that the British obsess about the Dambusters Raid (Operation Chastise) which was carried out by 617 Squadron in May 1943? Come to that what makes you think that the raid was a failure? There was a book Enemy Coast Ahead written …
The German soldier in World War II between 1939 and 1945 faced severe suffering and a threat to his life. The war conditions impacted soldiers differently based on which part of the conflict they served and what duty they performed. The German army …
Yes, there was a second invasion of France that took place two months after the Normandy landings, called Operation Dragoon. Even if the Normandy beachhead had to be evacuated there’s no reason Dragoon couldn’t still go ahead (assuming the invasion …
During World War II, the United States, Germany, and the Soviet Union each developed distinct tank designs. These differences reflected various factors, including industrial capabilities, strategic priorities, and battlefield experiences. American T…
Here’s a good chart that shows how much money the Germans spent on their tanks during WWII: The Germans built FANTASTIC tanks (can you tell that I’m a fan?), but they were engineered within an inch of their life; as you can see, even the lowly Panth…
The short answer is that he didn't need to. Field Marshal Zukhov was hyped too much during the war, as the face of the Great War, and he had a guaranteed lifetime of comfort ahead The face that every Soviet citizen would recognize, just as much …
A claim exists that one German soldier escaped from the Stalingrad encirclement on foot and reached German lines, but I don't know the truth of the matter. However, while I was researching the German defense of the Crimea in 1943 through 1944, I…
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…
Heinrich Himmler's height wasn't a direct qualification for joining the SS (Schutzstaffel). While the Nazi regime did place some emphasis on certain physical attributes and perceived Aryan traits, height was not a strict requirement for SS m…
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…
My father was a pilot and used to say “there's old pilots, there's bold pilots, but there's no old bold pilots”. Chuck Yeager proved that wrong. Chuck served in WW2 flying P-39s and in the ETO P-51 Mustangs. He accumulated 12&1/2 kil…
World War II showcased two powerful military strategies: Blitzkrieg and Deep Battle. Germany, with limited resources, used Blitzkrieg, like a surgeon's scalpel, making precise strikes. They combined tanks, soldiers, and planes to punch through …
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…
When the minister for armament and ammunition ,Albert Speers, calculated in September 1944 that there would only be enough resources for one more year of war, many officers lost faith in Hitler’s leadership.They decided to organise an assassination …
When I joined the army a long time ago, I was the regular teenager with my face barely visible behind my long, wavy, bathed in gel hair. The first day of training, I was taken to the barber shop where my lovely tresses were ruthlessly and mercilessl…
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…
