The German offensive was until July, the Russian offense was until the end of August. Right after Kursk was when things went to shit for the Germans. Plus the snow fell. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCfp56X-D6c I love the Eastern Front: "Son" - 1943 Do not call me, father, do not seek me, Do not call me, do not wish me back. We're on a route uncharted,fire and blood erase our tracks. On we fly,on wings of thunder,never more to sheath our swords. All of us in battle fallen,not to be brought back by words. Will there be a rendezvous? I know not. I only know we still must fight. We are sand grains in infinity, never to meet,never more see light. Farewell then my son.Farewell then my conscience. My youth and my solace my one and my only. And let this farewell be the end of a story, Of solitude vast and which none is more lonely. In which you remain,barred forever and ever, From light and from air,with your death pangs untold. Untold and unsoothed,not to be resurrected. Forever and ever,an 18 year old. Farewell then,no trains ever come from those regions Unscheduled or scheduled,no aeroplanes fly there. Farewell then my son,for no miracles happen, As in this world dreams do not come true. Farewell… I will dream of you still as a baby, Treading the earth with little strong toes, The earth where already so many lie buried. This song to my son,is come to its close. "Wait for me" 1941 Wait for me, and I'll come back! Wait with all you've got! Wait, when dreary yellow rains Tell you, you should not. Wait when snow is falling fast, Wait when summer's hot, Wait when yesterdays are past, Others are forgot. Wait, when from that far-off place, Letters don't arrive. Wait, when those with whom you wait Doubt if I'm alive. Wait for me, and I'll come back! Wait in patience yet When they tell you off by heart That you should forget. Even when my dearest ones Say that I am lost, Even when my friends give up, Sit and count the cost, Drink a glass of bitter wine To the fallen friend - Wait! And do not drink with them! Wait until the end! Wait for me and I'll come back, Dodging every fate! "What a bit of luck!" they'll say, Those that would not wait. They will never understand How amidst the strife, By your waiting for me, dear, You had saved my life. Only you and I will know How you got me through. Simply - you knew how to wait - No one else but you.
In some of the other photos you will see Germans wearing American rain gear and one photo of a German holding a 1911 or hipower. It was a risky proposition as the Americans would shoot any German wearing American gear on the spot as infiltrators/spies due to the use Brandenburg commandos earlier in the operation. Also in some of the other photos they are searching through the destroyed m8/m10 armored cars. I'm not 100% on the tiger tank photo but as another said I believe that's during the russian counter offensive in Ukraine. I believe the vast majority of the Tigers were destroyed before they transferred to france. keep the photos coming dude you got some good ones.
Lol not to beat a dead horse on the German battle of the bulge photo I was referring to earlier but I dug out my book with the details on the photo series. "On 18 December, elements of kampfgruppe Hansen passed through Recht and pressed their attacks southwest down the road leading to Poteau. One kilometer north of that small village, the Germans encountered a U.S. Convoy (a portion of the 14th cavalry group assigned to the 7th armored divsion CAA) Headed northeast. Finding themselves under attack and overwhelmed, the Americans panicked and fled, leaving their abandoned and burning vehicles filling the road." Looks like a combination of SS men and Fallschirmjäger's.
This is a photo of a ME-109 of JG 27 made famous for the fighting in North Africa with the Aftikakorps. Take note of the pith helmets commonly worn by Afrikakorps soldiers. Also, take note of the white tail band I believe that signifies Africa/Italian campaign. I believe yellow is Russian and white/black/white is homeland. Also the art on the front of the nose is a lion, rather racist looking blackface over a Africa map I believe used by JG 27. ME-109 I have a absurd amount of history books so this is fun digging through them for any usfull info on your guys pics. Wish I knew how to post my own.
Damn man those letters between father and son. I couldnt imagine. Amazing stuff you guys got, subbed as soon as i saw the thread! Keep it coming!
Back to this photo. I found it in my book on SS Armor. This is a photo of Das Reich tigers moving through the woods near Berdichev Ukrain. along with those photos they have pics of pzkpfw IV ausf Hs along with panthers. The Mark IV are wearing the standoff armor plates (turret and hull) covered in Zimmerit. zimmerit is a anti magnetic mine paste like coating. The Eastern front was notorious for men on tank combat. Often times men would resort to climbing aboard tanks and pouring petrol I'n the engine and lighting it on fire. They would also stuff handgrenades down the tank barrel. In thurn the tank crews would stop the tank on the enemies hoxhoels and spin the tank effectively burying the men alive.
This is from my copy of We Were Soldiers Once And Young. This soldiers experiences always stood out in my mind. Excellent book as well. Lesson: don't fuck with uncle willy when he's stressed out.
Brits are too funny. They're like a living Monty Python sketch. There is one crazy fucker in this pic. See if you can spot him. Spoiler It's the guy with the fucking sword Would banter with. I got a couple hero, "one man army" stories I can find. I just have to remember the names. There was a small dude that went ham on some krauts after they faked a surrender and fragged his best friend he was serving with since Italy. Hell, I wish my uncle was around, according to my dad he was awarded a Bronze or Silver Star in Nam but told his CO to shove it. I only have his Purple Heart and Stripes now. I've only heard secondhand stories but he had definitely seen some shit, I know for a fact he was on Hamburger Hill. Guy I was thinking of was Audie Murphy. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audie_Murphy It's odd linking to a game video but Frankie tells it better than I can. https://youtu.be/cjjRkaFBbh4?t=4m47s
I love battleships. Full 9 gun broadside from Iowa class USS Missouri: Size comparison; the Missouri on the left and the super carrier USS Kitty Hawk on the right. The Japanese imperial battleship Yamato, which with her sister ship, the Musashi, sported the largest guns ever put to sea: 18 inch guns, over the 16 inch guns on the US Iowas. The Bismark; though struck by enemy fire over 400 times did not succumb, but was scuttled by the crew. There are larger, much better images around the web. I don't know how to resize here
Love the pics! I have some random pics of Charleston SC in 1865 after the civil war cool to me because I go to Charleston all the time and love history and to see it the way it is in the pics is crazy. Most of the intact buildings in the pics are still there. Sent from my iPhone using Grasscity Forum
Those pictures are hamilton and Cincinnati tho. I love this picture because it's old with the new but all of it is still there today it's really beautiful