Search found 593 matches

by Patrick
Tue Dec 28, 2010 11:41 am
Forum: World War I
Topic: Ireland centralpower?
Replies: 6
Views: 8321

Re: Ireland centralpower?

But the germans tyr to support the uprising? Sorry not to respond sooner, but I just noticed this thread. The Germans did in fact try to support the Easter Rising, but it was rather halfhearted. Sir Roger Casement, an Irish nationalist, attempted to raise an "Irish Brigade" from POWs but ...
by Patrick
Sun Dec 12, 2010 2:42 pm
Forum: The Allies in WWII
Topic: Norden bombsight
Replies: 3
Views: 4559

Re: Norden bombsight

Thank you for the link - it was quite informative.

Odd, now that I think about it... I've read about many Allied intelligence coups but the number of German intelligence successes that I know of could probably be counted on one hand. Looks like I need to read more!
by Patrick
Sat Dec 11, 2010 12:51 pm
Forum: The Allies in WWII
Topic: Norden bombsight
Replies: 3
Views: 4559

Norden bombsight

I was watching the movie "Air Force" (1943) and a short scene was devoted to the procedure for the bombadier to destroy the bombsight lest it be captured by the Japanese. I'm aware that in actual practise the Norden bombsight did not live up to the hype. Given the supposed security measure...
by Patrick
Sat Dec 11, 2010 12:21 pm
Forum: Soldatenheim
Topic: Hitler, his inner circle, and grammar
Replies: 4
Views: 3412

Re: Hitler, his inner circle, and grammar

Thanks to all for your replies!
by Patrick
Wed Dec 08, 2010 9:00 pm
Forum: Soldatenheim
Topic: What if, after Chamberlain declared "Peace in our time"?
Replies: 2
Views: 2473

Re: What if, after Chamberlain declared "Peace in our time"?

Time magazine had made Hitler man of the year for 1938 so maybe his best time to lead an alliance Just a clarification on this point: Being Time Magazine's "Man of the Year" is not necessarily an honor. The Man of the Year is defined as the individual who most influenced the news that yea...
by Patrick
Thu Nov 18, 2010 4:26 am
Forum: The Allies in WWII
Topic: Pronunciation de Guingand?
Replies: 1
Views: 4393

Re: Pronunciation de Guingand?

I don't know the answer directly, but I do know he's portrayed in the movie "Patton". Perhaps you could rent it? (Let's hope they simply don't call him "Freddie"!)
by Patrick
Tue Nov 16, 2010 2:53 pm
Forum: Soldatenheim
Topic: Hitler, his inner circle, and grammar
Replies: 4
Views: 3412

Hitler, his inner circle, and grammar

I hope this question doesn't come across as glib, but...

Who (if anyone) amongst Hitler's inner circle addressed his as "du" rather than "sie"?

(We'll leave Eva Braun out of this one.)
by Patrick
Sun Jan 24, 2010 1:15 pm
Forum: Soldatenheim
Topic: Sentries in Hollywood and in Real Life
Replies: 4
Views: 2776

Sentries in Hollywood and in Real Life

So many war movies have an obligatory scene in which commandoes/Rangers/ragtag-band-of-misfits infiltrates enemy lines. They sneak up behind a sentry and then proceed to knife him/throttle him over the head/strangle him/shoot him with a bow and arrow/what-have-you before he can sound an alert. Were ...
by Patrick
Mon Dec 28, 2009 7:40 am
Forum: Weapons and Equipment
Topic: Drive train of a typical panzer
Replies: 2
Views: 2378

Re: Drive train of a typical panzer

Thanks for your prompt reply!
by Patrick
Sun Dec 27, 2009 1:07 pm
Forum: Weapons and Equipment
Topic: Drive train of a typical panzer
Replies: 2
Views: 2378

Drive train of a typical panzer

When I was a lad, I built motorized tank models in which the forward sprocket pulled the track forward and moved the model. In the decades since, it has never occurred to me to look into how the real thing operated. I suppose I always thought about the weaponry rather than how it moved about. Did th...
by Patrick
Thu Oct 08, 2009 4:23 am
Forum: Weapons and Equipment
Topic: Digging up relics in Germany
Replies: 10
Views: 7287

Re: Digging up relics in Germany

I once read a book - I believe the author's name was Donovan Webster - devoted to the subject of clearing out leftover ordnance from WWI and II. It might have been called "Remnants of War" or "Aftermath" or something like that. A very interesting read about the lives of the Frenc...
by Patrick
Thu Oct 08, 2009 4:13 am
Forum: General WWII German Military Discussion
Topic: German officer serving in regular French army after WW2
Replies: 7
Views: 5624

Re: German officer serving in regular French army after WW2

I've heard/read about anti-Bolshevik Germans working for the West during the Cold War providing intelligence about Russian equipment and tactics that might be useful in the "next" war. Perhaps he had specialized knowledge in a technical field or former work in an intelligence section? That...
by Patrick
Tue Sep 23, 2008 10:30 am
Forum: The Allies in WWII
Topic: Beheaded Tankers at Stavelot
Replies: 2
Views: 2942

Re: Beheaded Tankers at Stavelot

I was a bit unclear about your question: Was it an urban myth that thin wires were strung across roads to decapitate careless drivers? I don't think so. I've read many stories about that and have seen many pictures of jeeps with a vertical bar welded to the front bumper. Of course, it might have bee...
by Patrick
Sat Sep 20, 2008 12:13 pm
Forum: Heer
Topic: Boot Camp
Replies: 5
Views: 4237

Boot Camp

I was just watching the first half of Full Metal Jacket when it suddenly occurred to me - I've never read a book that describes the boot camp experience of a German Landser. Are there any books that anyone can recommend?
by Patrick
Tue Aug 28, 2007 4:20 am
Forum: Soldatenheim
Topic: Alternative Energy Sources for/by Civilians during WWII
Replies: 6
Views: 3002

Alternative Energy Sources for/by Civilians during WWII

As difficult as it was for the Wehrmacht to obtain petrol, it must have been harder for a German civilian and worse yet for a civilian in the occupied territories. For that matter, the price of petrol (assuming it was even available) must also have been exorbitant for those living in Switzerland, Sw...