Feldgrau.net

Any chance this article was an April Fool's joke?

Technically correct, but the meaning is closer to "It has fallen to us to live . . ." rather than "We have . . . drawn lots . . ."

I find the best translations are done twice. First the literal, then the translation to the next language's colloquial.

In case you didn't hear him the first time.

Also, the statue of Atlas in Rockefellar Center was sculpted with Mussolini's face. Inside the bowels of the Rock Center complex is firefighting equipment - the best of its kind in the '30s when the center was built - with swastikas cast in brass still visible.

I agree with ReinhardH, the first letter is an H. You say "Flüco" refers to the role of the building - what do you suppose that is? I've never heard of the term.

He references his acquaintances several times. Also, it wasn't (and still isn't) unusual for extended family to be living in close proximity. He may have been writing primarily to his parents but maybe knew other family - his cousins? - would be there to hear the reading of the letter as well, and s...

It doesn't look like Bekannten, but that certainly makes sense - thanks.

So, Siege, that translates as,

". . . that I will soon receive mail from you and my acquaintances. Best regards (not a literal translation, but what an English-speaker would say), your son Hans - and cousin.

Clinton (MS) September 16, 1943 Dear Parents, Now you, my parents, will again receive a few lines from me. I certainly hope you’ve had news about me. I’m still doing well, which I expect holds for you as well. Father will have plenty of work, now that he’s going to be alone. Jakob(?) won’t be at hom...

Pz III had a 5-man crew, T-70 had two. That makes it a no contest in favor of Pz III, regardless how the (fairly comparable) armor/gun match up goes - though the 50/L60 far outclassed the 45mm.

Prit - the rule of three, otherwise known as triangular organization, is US/NATO standard, but not a universal law. Many armies in the past (and for all I know, some today) use other organizations, such as a square (rule of four). Dosn't much matter which you use, it's more important that your whole...

Don't know if "Nondescript" qualifies, so to keep you from waiting any longer, Tom, here's a native speaker who says, "Always with an umlaut."

My mother-in-law once loaned me a book written about the events of that day whose title I'm afraid I don't remember, but it was an old book and is probably long out of print. I thought I remembered it being a B-17 as well. Just because the newspaper calle it a B-25, don't bet on it. Even the NY Time...

At least one has Cyrillic characters on it. The rest look vaguely eastern European, but I've never seen them before.

Brieftauben are carrier pigeons, so there's your function.

Kübler was not the kind of officer who was close to the hearts of his Jäger. In other words, they didn't care for him.