Some more old footage from Youtube, this time Christmas in World War 2. Nowadays we have more than enough, Christmas has become overly commercialised with companies just out to make a profit. Due to hardship in wartime, the majority of people gave & received very little. How would people cope now, especially children if they received just a few small, often handmade presents? Not very well I'd think.
Showing posts with label #second world war. Show all posts
Showing posts with label #second world war. Show all posts
Monday, 10 December 2018
Monday, 3 December 2018
Boyes Anti Tank Rifle #WW2
Stumbled across this excellent cartoon film, made with Disney, about the Boyes anti-tank rifle, used by Allied forces early in Second World War.
Wednesday, 7 June 2017
Britain In WW2 -D-Day James Holland States British Not Given Enough Credit on D-Day
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| Author, James Holland, found at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/hay-festival/10855305/James-Holland-British-troops-not-given-enough-credit-for-role-in-D-Day-landings.html |
British troops have not been given enough credit for their role in the D-Day landings, the historian James Holland has argued, as he claims American films portray them as "mincing around with bad teeth, stopping for tea".
Holland, the television historian, said the world has been doing a "massive disservice" to British veterans, who were overshadowed by the more glamorous US troops.
Saying myths about the Second World War had become "very, very entrenched", he added home-grown soldiers were often seen as "mincing around and constantly stopping for cups of tea".
In reality, he said, British forces were far more technologically advanced than usually imagined, providing the manpower and innovation to win the war.
Speaking at Hay Festival, Holland argued it was time to rehabilitate the role of the British in the world narrative of D-Day.
"I feel particularly strongly about Normandy and the D-Day campaign because there are a lot of myths that are very, very entrenched," he told an audience.
"It's a largely American show still, and Omaha still defines it.
"There is this impression I think – because of Band of Brothers, because of Saving Private Ryan and so on, because Americans had considerably more cameramen and photographers on D-Day – that we still believe that D-Day is a predominantly an American show.
"Yes, the British had a part but somehow they had a junior part of the United States at that time."
"The Americans were tall, six foot two, with amazing teeth. There was a sort of shabbiness about them that's still quite cool; they looked good.
"Americans always, always show this in conjunction with their tall, square-jawed, good-teeth people: Brits mincing through the water like a Carry On film.
"This annoys me."
Holland, who has written books and presented a recent BBC documentary about the Second World War, added it was time for the role of the British to be redefined.
Not only were the bulk of the invasion force, they suffered heavier casualties, embraced new technology quicker and developed critical inventions including the Mulberry harbour, he said.
"There is still this incredible impression, 70 years on, that somehow the only reason the Germans lost was because they took on the scale of the United States," he said. "That they simply couldn't keep up with the economic might of the Americans.
"That it wasn't anything to do with the British necessarily, and actually tactically there was no one to touch them.
"What I realised is that we've been doing this massive disservice to our boys and to Britain; our effort was way more impressive than we think of it today.
"What's impressive is having the nerve to do think 'I could do that'.
"The idea we stood around in the mud singing God Save the King is just not right, it's a myth and we need to move away from it."
"They were not rubbish, mincing around and constantly stopping for cups of tea. They should have huge respect."
Friday, 24 March 2017
Panzerfaust Bazooka & The PIAT
Hand held anti tank weapons were widely used in the Second World War, cheaper to produce than an anti-tank gun they could be moved around a battlefield without the need for mechanised transport. It was a matter of hide, wait until your target was in range and fire. Then hope you've knocked out your tank and it can't fire back. This scene from Band of Brothers from about 4.56 shows how they 101st knocked out a Panzer with a nice shot to the soft underbelly.
The PIAT (Projectile Infantry Anti Tank)had an advantage over the bazooka in that it left no smoke trail. It was basically a tube with a steel spring inside and it was used widely by the British army until 1951. Not the best of weapons according to the video below.
The German panzerfaust was based on the U.S bazooka. I can't seem to find a reliable source online, but according to good old wikipedia, Nazi Germany made over 6 million of them, and they were used by all Axis powers.
The PIAT (Projectile Infantry Anti Tank)had an advantage over the bazooka in that it left no smoke trail. It was basically a tube with a steel spring inside and it was used widely by the British army until 1951. Not the best of weapons according to the video below.
The German panzerfaust was based on the U.S bazooka. I can't seem to find a reliable source online, but according to good old wikipedia, Nazi Germany made over 6 million of them, and they were used by all Axis powers.
Monday, 13 March 2017
Churchill Tank #WW2
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| Churchill Mk I tank found at: http://someinterestingfacts.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Churchill-ARV-MK-I-300x218.jpg |
The Churchill tank was rushed into production in 1940 when Britain only had 100 tanks to defend its shores, predicatebly there were many teething problems. Armed with first a 2 pounder then 6 pounder guns, they were superseded by 75mm guns from salvaged Sherman tanks, others proving ineffective.
There were many marks of Churchills produced, even one with a 95mm gun, but what stands out are the special adaptations of the Churchill tank which were used on D-Day.They were fitted with flame throwers towing a fuel tank behind, the AVTR carried a bundle of wood to drop into trenches enabling tanks to cross over, they laid bridges and were fitted with a large mortar used to destroy bunkers. Please have a look at my previous posts here: http://oldecuriosity.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/d-day-6th-june-1944-hobarts-funnies.html &; http://oldecuriosity.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/d-day-6th-june-1944-more-of-hobarts.html
It had a good turning circle and low silhouette, by the time the MK IV was produced it had a max speed of 17mph and a range of 90 miles. According to www.tanks there were 1600 built. http://www.tanks-encyclopedia.com/ww2/gb/A22_Churchill_Tank.php
Wednesday, 24 August 2016
French Char B1 Heavy Tank
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| French Char B-1 heavy tank with crew, date unknown, found at:https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxegom6tr3NcvgsRklKb9jwdOrDL0dSk4O0CuNLpHKJE19hDPQLJUQMUiRIznGGDqoPOghr3VIPcxfCdSATBM9Ka7We5bmGRGOiSqQ8Z7DfluXTaNAELY2NRHtcZHmAp_xLdiQLDGMHTFr/s1600/Char-B1-47.jpg |
In 1940 the French actually outnumbered the Germans with it's tanks (over 3,000 compared to Germans over 2,000), but the Germans were more adept at using them than other armies. The Blitzkrieg tactics were very successful, Germany occupying most of Europe by June 1940.
The French Char B1 served with armored divisions of the French infantry, during the Battle Of France most Char B1's were put out of action by aerial bombing or anti-tank guns. Against the German panzers the Char B1 was superior, having a 75mm cannon and thick armour. At Sonne, a Captain Pierre Billotte attacked and destroyed 13 Panzer MK III & MK IV's. His Char B1 was hit 140 times, but not knocked out. This is an incredible story, how I haven't heard about it before now must only be because war historians dismiss the French army in the early part of the war due to their swift capitulation? After the fall of France, Pierre Billotte was imprisoned by the Germans, then escaped to join the French Resistance. For more information on this event please go here:http://tank-photographs.s3-website-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/char-b1-renault-french-ww2-tank-stonne-1940.html
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| Pierre Billotte |
Char B1 bis specifications | |
| Dimensions (l-w-h) | 6.37 x 2.46 x 2.79 m (20.8 x 8.07 x 9.15 ft) |
| Total weight, battle ready | 28 tons (56,000 lbs) |
| Crew | 4 (driver, main gunner, sec. gunner, commander) |
| Propulsion | Renault 6-cyl inline, 16.5 l, 272 bhp |
| Speed (road/off road) | 28/21 km/h (17/13 mph) |
| Range (road/off road)-fuel | 200 km (120 mi)-400 l |
| Armament | Main: 75 mm (2.95 in) ABS SA35 Howitzer (hull) Secondary: 47 mm (1.85 in) SA 35 AT gun (turret) Secondary: Reibel 7.5 mm (0.295 in) howitzer |
| Maximum armour | 60 mm (2.36 in) |
| Total production | 781 |
Wednesday, 30 March 2016
WORLD WAR 2 NAZI WORKED FOR MOSSAD AS AN AGENT AND ASSASSIN
Otto Skorzeny, infamous in the Second World War for rescuing Benito Mussolini in 1942 from a mountain top hotel, and training German soldiers to cause chaos behind Allied lines in December 1944 in the Ardennes, was today confirmed as being a Mossad agent and assassin.
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| Otto Skorzeny in uniform, #ww2. |
According to the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, Skorzeny was recruited by Mossad after he escaped to Spain dressed in U.S army uniform. He was recruited by German rocket scientist Otto Krug as a boyguard after Adolph Eichmann had ben kidnapped and taken to Israel for trial. It is alleged that Skorzeny drove Krug to woods outside Munich, shot him and destroyed the body with acid. You can read more about it here:http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/1.711115
Thursday, 17 March 2016
Armoured Vehicles In World War 2 #WW2
OK, after much deliberation I have decided to blog about armoured vehicles used in the Second World War, Axis & Allied. I am starting with the Mk I Infantry tank, better known as the Matilda.
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| MK I Infantry Tank found at: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1xPuCXQZYx4ZnCTU-G3eWY6bIRxW9YpYIxkj1Fp1GaS18DtOHYX0QBML6JM5XVVpHoCTkK7HmfkyHI-9lTQRsYGpb1CJCho5B9EpDrsw7Qi9UC-WtmtsegClPOjAG0JFfM5EZQcIWcMs/s1600/infantry-mk-i-matilda-mk-i-01.png
Infantry tanks in the mid 1930's were not required to attain any decent speed, as their name suggests they were primarily used as infantry support weapons. One advantage of this was that they had heavier armour than faster tanks. They were used in the Battle of France, MK 2 Matilda's proving better, any surviving MK I tanks were destroyed before the BEF evacuated in May-June 1940. One major problem of the MK I was the vulnerability of the tracks which were too exposed.
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Sunday, 29 November 2015
The Three Stooges The Yoke's On Me 1944
Found this brilliant (though highly racist) Three Stooges episode The Yoke's On Me from 1944. The three hapless brothers are sent to find employment on a farm where they come across an ostrich and Nissei Americans from an internment camp. Sit back and enjoy the usual chaos, but a word of warning, don't attempt any of these stunts at home
Friday, 20 November 2015
WW2 Survival Training Film AAF - Land and Live in the Desert (full)
Youtube is full of these old training films from the Second World War, enjoy this one about desert survival.
Messerschmitt Bf109 Underground Factory In Budapest
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| Me109 circa 1945, found at:http://www.luftwaffephotos.com/lme10993.htm |
Found this interesting article about how whilst Hungary was subject to Allied bombing in the Second World War, fuselages and engines for Me109's were manufactured underground in a secret factory.
http://gizmodo.com/the-caves-that-held-a-secret-hungarian-aircraft-factory-1741803956
The tunnels were estimated at being 35km long, providing 180 square kilometres of space, lucky for us most aircraft factories were above ground eh?
Wednesday, 21 October 2015
Pickering 1940's Weekend Sunday 18th October 2015
Some photos from 1940's Weekend at Pickering. The French village at Levisham was excellent, even if it was occupied by SS.
Thursday, 15 October 2015
Hawker Hurricane #BattleOfBritain75
Excellent documentary about the development and production of the Hawker Hurricane, the aircraft that shot down over 80% of enemy aircraft in the Battle of Britain 1940.
Monday, 21 September 2015
Resistance & Fighting Axis Occupation In the Second World War
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| Resistance, as shown on More4 |
Apologies for not blogging more recently, but there has been so much to watch on TV about The Battle Of Britain it has left little time for writing. Then I saw this brilliant French TV serial about the French Resistance. It centres around a group of people distributing a newspaper called Resistance. You can follow this link to watch it on More4
The docility of many French people in Occupied France is apparent, the collaboration of the Police with the Germans is sickening, and the lack of freedom apparent. Most Frenchmen did collaborate with the enemy, how they could hold their heads high after the war is a mystery to me.
Resistance fighters provided a valuable source of intelligence to the Allies (as long as they weren't infiltrated like the Dutch underground). If it wasn't for brave fighters risking their lives, many former prisoners of war would not have reached safety after escaping. They also caused chaos behind the lines, destroying railways, bridges and other acts of sabotage.
Sunday, 2 August 2015
Geoffery Wellum, One Of The Youngest #RAF Pilots In The Battle Of Britain #WW2
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| Geoffery Willam, RAF Pilot #WW2 |
Geoffery Wellum was 18 years old when he fought in the Battle of Britain. You can watch a really good BBC film on Vimeo here;https://vimeo.com/45585260 it's called First Light . It is based on Wellum's book of the same name, Wellum is one of the lucky few to survive the Battle of Britain, he went on to lead a flight of Spits in Malta in 1942, and is still alive today. As a taster here is the trailer from Youtube.
Thursday, 30 July 2015
#BattleofBritain75 #WW2 Lord Beaverbrook Minister Of Aircraft Production
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| Lord Beaverbrook |
On May 14th 1940 Lord Beaverbrook was appointed Minister Of Aircraft Production by Churchill. Beaverbrook recognised the need for increased fighter production which went against popular thinking of the time at the Air Ministry, but was in agreement with Hugh Dowding.
At Castle Bromwich an aircraft factory had been established by Lord Nuffield at a cost of £4000,000 in 1939 http://spitfiresite.com/2012/07/castle-bromwich-spitfire-and-lancaster-factory-photos.html, but by 1940 no aircraft had been completed. Beaverbrook telephoned Supermarine, told them to take over the factory and produce only fighters, he also told them to ignore orders to tool up for bomber production. Although it would take some time to resolve the problems, in June 1940, 10 Mk IIs were built; 23 rolled out in July, 37 in August, and 56 in September.http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/local-news/how-birmingham-hands-crafted-our-greatest-1205947
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| Spitfires at Castle Bromwich |
Beaverbrook clearly, when asked to do a job, he did it and got the results. Castle Bromwich produced an estimated 11,780 Spifires by the time the war ended in 1945 http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/exhibitions/spitfire/326.asp
Len Deighton writes in Fighter, that Beaverbrook would every evening during the Battle Of Britain ring his son, who was flying Spitfires to check he was okay. Next he would ring Air Vice Marshall Park, to ask him how many Spitfires & Hurricanes he required the next day - and where he would like them delivered. The next day, Park would receive his aircraft without fail. If only we could slice through the red tape like that now.
Monday, 27 July 2015
Time Travelling Toby & The Battle Of Britain
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| Time Travelling Toby & The Battle Of Britain |
Saturday, 18 July 2015
#WW2 Fight for the Sky - 1945 Educational Documentary - USAAF Fighter Pilots Escorting Bombers in Europe
Another really good documentary about the USAAF escorting the bombers in daylight raids.
Thursday, 9 July 2015
Saturday, 4 July 2015
#WW2 #1940 Churchill Speaks on Mers-el-Kébir (Oran)
After the Royal Navy attacked the French ships at Mers-el-Kebir, Churchill gave this speech. It was an act the Royal Navy was not proud of, neither was Churchill. Britain could not afford French battleships to be taken over by Germany. The French fleet did not join Britain in fighting against Germany, so it left Churchill with no choice but to order the attack named Operation Catapult.(Please see previous post http://oldecuriosity.blogspot.co.uk/2015/07/battle-of-oran-destruction-of-french.html
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