tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68606027779258418302024-03-13T15:35:01.101+00:00WW2 in ColourBringing the Second World War to life.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6860602777925841830.post-25748296879118032092013-05-07T13:48:00.000+01:002013-05-08T19:21:19.567+01:00Occupied Smolensk, Warsaw, and Ghent in Colour<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZeCAEbtl_uETpemV-GrJDz3pQN1jshJUdPAOyQAbkcpxZbt2igp7w7iIqLPpeE15-a3umS6VXEODL4K4AfuBFL6P-6hitjKAIo1VJwZXO4_R6SORgO4uDfrvyO3hkUzfGAfoLQHn8VDGp/s1600/0_a792a_4a77edc2_XL.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Assumption Cathedral in Smolensk" border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZeCAEbtl_uETpemV-GrJDz3pQN1jshJUdPAOyQAbkcpxZbt2igp7w7iIqLPpeE15-a3umS6VXEODL4K4AfuBFL6P-6hitjKAIo1VJwZXO4_R6SORgO4uDfrvyO3hkUzfGAfoLQHn8VDGp/s640/0_a792a_4a77edc2_XL.jpg" title="Assumption Cathedral in Smolensk" width="640" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTp7UkqfhUmNnDlPLdk7S_aRbCiu0flkun1edn1ZJSWfO4g-MHt10YrjSZsnu6IjqFDE4zfrnCEhw1J1BgQdHem2Kq_BAkrqL2XQsNM1fUxE8Yd28uT63qh53Epd1CjkwOzC7_Q_yxbgv2/s1600/0_a792f_12748230_XL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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These photographs were taken by the German photographer Robert Bothner during the Second World War, and depict Smolensk, Warsaw and Ghent under occupation by Nazi Germany. As time goes on it seems there are more and more sets of original colour photographs turning up, and while the quality on some is not brilliant, they truly help the Second World War come alive.<br />
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were scanned from Afgacolor slides. Unfortunately the photographs are undated, but the Smolensk series look likely to have been taken in 1941, as the damage to the city is still fresh, and there are discarded ammunition boxes in one of the photographs.<br />
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This first series depict Smolensk some time after the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Smolensk_(1941)" target="_blank">Battle of Smolensk</a> that occurred in July 1941. Preceding the battle, on 28th June the city was heavily bombarded, the effects of which are still clearly visible. The large white building in the photos is <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cathedral_of_the_Assumption,_Smolensk" target="_blank">Assumption Cathedral</a>, the construction of which was completed in 1772. The final three photos in this section are believed to have been taken somewhere outside Smolensk due to their roof architecture but are likely to fall within Western Belarus.<br />
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<a name='more'></a><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg873HgOBfGlYUpE58NS2Ajv9Ma2E2707bOYmEjCG5PM7b_JyaXnLVLUg76jS3N0qvPSRDjTzcw-DCugf6Kz1pcw3d0OpsZlBfC4Yy6oZPtucu8Zg9-YTK09Yo-ivLcq6XE-Yb2sl8BBki-/s1600/0_a7926_1fb9dbd_XL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Assumption Cathedral in Smolensk, this area of the city was devastated during the invasion." border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg873HgOBfGlYUpE58NS2Ajv9Ma2E2707bOYmEjCG5PM7b_JyaXnLVLUg76jS3N0qvPSRDjTzcw-DCugf6Kz1pcw3d0OpsZlBfC4Yy6oZPtucu8Zg9-YTK09Yo-ivLcq6XE-Yb2sl8BBki-/s640/0_a7926_1fb9dbd_XL.jpg" title="Assumption Cathedral in Smolensk, this area of the city was devastated during the invasion." width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cathedral_of_the_Assumption,_Smolensk" target="_blank">Assumption Cathedral in Smolensk</a>, this area of the city was devastated during the invasion.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizzdvC5cFwz-ojuDMlhHVjppeJwqLd-RSJtf3NinUvdIJZ0WrNCJ4qCirVldiFhP1oxrVQLKWxgT_1u1oTPUP6W3FW56ooYY3_gBMt6pXlXPoP55dGHOkphCkkTuuHavurW-LuQ5JlVzZP/s1600/0_a7929_cbc9bb53_XL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Another view of the Assumption Cathedral showing widespread destruction." border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizzdvC5cFwz-ojuDMlhHVjppeJwqLd-RSJtf3NinUvdIJZ0WrNCJ4qCirVldiFhP1oxrVQLKWxgT_1u1oTPUP6W3FW56ooYY3_gBMt6pXlXPoP55dGHOkphCkkTuuHavurW-LuQ5JlVzZP/s640/0_a7929_cbc9bb53_XL.jpg" title="Another view of the Assumption Cathedral showing widespread destruction." width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small; text-align: start;">Another view of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cathedral_of_the_Assumption,_Smolensk" target="_blank">Assumption Cathedral</a> showing widespread destruction.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0yRGEzGCNhccrKF9Yd6IUjCd-QXbosAEJUuDp9t9woY09buLLF0Dp8TVJjNGwr9Q5IT13YbzlkMqDbjy7ZXJTx6t0irgohar0p-Ot4mwD33oPENVHlkSbNHJivgsk7gdC3_G8BS31n9Jq/s1600/0_a7928_a07f55c3_XL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A view of the town of Kamianiec in Belarus. The round tower in the background is the Bielaya Vieža (Tower of Kamianiec). The white towers in the background belong to the Orthodox church of St. Simyaon." border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0yRGEzGCNhccrKF9Yd6IUjCd-QXbosAEJUuDp9t9woY09buLLF0Dp8TVJjNGwr9Q5IT13YbzlkMqDbjy7ZXJTx6t0irgohar0p-Ot4mwD33oPENVHlkSbNHJivgsk7gdC3_G8BS31n9Jq/s640/0_a7928_a07f55c3_XL.jpg" title="A view of the town of Kamianiec in Belarus. The round tower in the background is the Bielaya Vieža (Tower of Kamianiec). The white towers in the background belong to the Orthodox church of St. Simyaon." width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A view of the town of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kamianiec" target="_blank">Kamianiec</a> in Belarus. The round tower in the background is the <i>Bielaya Vieža</i> (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tower_of_Kamyanyets" target="_blank">Tower of Kamianiec</a>). The white towers in the background belong to the Orthodox church of St. Simyaon.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitgjMedpc_-RNjgburewqNGnMjWLjQN3dBQIAxFxB9RM3VpX-dYQ_tayis4Dao7Rpdhyv4zYl0sioZj1w1OEvTI3yT73dlibFL8DjeIZu3cZppXH6_mBgqQesqQKiEe5GEyPf78yaxn5ha/s1600/0_a792b_b90ef6e7_XL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Belarus" border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitgjMedpc_-RNjgburewqNGnMjWLjQN3dBQIAxFxB9RM3VpX-dYQ_tayis4Dao7Rpdhyv4zYl0sioZj1w1OEvTI3yT73dlibFL8DjeIZu3cZppXH6_mBgqQesqQKiEe5GEyPf78yaxn5ha/s640/0_a792b_b90ef6e7_XL.jpg" title="Belarus" width="640" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9UEt4iYrgeO0RHq28714-r0NYxqTo8_q6XdfAXAQbkxt_BKmVkovLqYqDgfLiN1XJl9Z-NF45tU1gkie-BRgtck06hEf6o9eXvLcDJHg0E2XevMophXeLw-2pTdWG-xgCv2SITij111yA/s1600/0_a7925_e1b952b3_XL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A pile of discarded wicker artillery shell packing cases and ammunition boxes. Based on their three-tone camoflague, the boxes are either prewar dated or constructed after February 1943. As these were likely used during the invasion I would lean towards the former." border="0" height="592" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9UEt4iYrgeO0RHq28714-r0NYxqTo8_q6XdfAXAQbkxt_BKmVkovLqYqDgfLiN1XJl9Z-NF45tU1gkie-BRgtck06hEf6o9eXvLcDJHg0E2XevMophXeLw-2pTdWG-xgCv2SITij111yA/s640/0_a7925_e1b952b3_XL.jpg" title="A pile of discarded wicker artillery shell packing cases and ammunition boxes. Based on their three-tone camoflague, the boxes are either prewar dated or constructed after February 1943. As these were likely used during the invasion I would lean towards the former." width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A pile of discarded wicker artillery shell packing cases and ammunition boxes. Based on their three-tone camouflage, the boxes are either pre-war dated or constructed after February 1943. As these were likely used during the invasion I would lean towards the former.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpScrT4PsOcleuz85B_QIqST86SkB4ovjoqmkKwFxxp9l65_f9lMKIuoL5Vuftviz-C_T97ucWAbZisfcYDDppPGCwV9_uXoFejX3_fLGCNgGeLw-sZdMDS4WXlxm9TbinzDdcUTzeE67x/s1600/0_a7927_a481c281_XL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Ruined houses in Belarus" border="0" height="598" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpScrT4PsOcleuz85B_QIqST86SkB4ovjoqmkKwFxxp9l65_f9lMKIuoL5Vuftviz-C_T97ucWAbZisfcYDDppPGCwV9_uXoFejX3_fLGCNgGeLw-sZdMDS4WXlxm9TbinzDdcUTzeE67x/s640/0_a7927_a481c281_XL.jpg" title="Ruined houses in Belarus" width="640" /></a></div>
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The two photos below depict Warsaw some time after the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invasion_of_Poland" target="_blank">invasion</a>,
while the buildings in the background are heavily damaged the streets
have been cleared and life appears to be continuing as normal.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrplAmCHwODBufIp-5fZaCNn-yas7G3D63hTygw_OL2ZaMNTxOdoVo7HMv4JH6m4rfWTSoMPKuhO5RSvqZ8Kk7mmeiVkS2w7KqKY3zYEnzApBLsAmev8SOPNSlHOSikTpj9s4-_pLS6kmq/s1600/0_a792f_12748230_XL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="This may be the Plac Bankowy (Bank Square) in central Warsaw." border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrplAmCHwODBufIp-5fZaCNn-yas7G3D63hTygw_OL2ZaMNTxOdoVo7HMv4JH6m4rfWTSoMPKuhO5RSvqZ8Kk7mmeiVkS2w7KqKY3zYEnzApBLsAmev8SOPNSlHOSikTpj9s4-_pLS6kmq/s640/0_a792f_12748230_XL.jpg" title="This may be the Plac Bankowy (Bank Square) in central Warsaw." width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This may be the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bank_Square,_Warsaw" target="_blank">Plac Bankowy (Bank Square)</a> in central Warsaw.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCO3CjcW0yGococii5OQnTN7ZutBgh04fDbzyMwb9PCukdUmOfHiDojySsggoqPx4CGQgAn4NRTKdrJxHUiLB_td7Jz8abz6o299OHZ9LiENolMiw6Rvx96dykcvIcHQeRqr61yRb7anAl/s1600/0_a792d_9055751d_XL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Likely the Pałac Prezydencki (Presidential Palace) in Warsaw." border="0" height="598" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCO3CjcW0yGococii5OQnTN7ZutBgh04fDbzyMwb9PCukdUmOfHiDojySsggoqPx4CGQgAn4NRTKdrJxHUiLB_td7Jz8abz6o299OHZ9LiENolMiw6Rvx96dykcvIcHQeRqr61yRb7anAl/s640/0_a792d_9055751d_XL.jpg" title="Likely the Pałac Prezydencki (Presidential Palace) in Warsaw." width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Likely the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presidential_Palace,_Warsaw" target="_blank"><i>Pałac Prezydencki</i> (Presidential Palace</a>) in Warsaw.</td></tr>
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The final photos in this series show <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghent" target="_blank">Ghent in Belgium</a> under Nazi occupation. The contrast between the intact streets of Ghent and the destruction wreaked upon the cities of the East is rather stark.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSpdnTLcsK-VS7KGNd2PX6Gh_bNBqux72GHSS-L61gBn1aV92QgXCoB1XhDnHAIcVg-MddDstezyK0YyToZsK22VCtMaqykl0aJhdtc9VE4JUFdotzdmBqXCdIEkpCHDBPThyQa7GtPux2/s1600/0_a7930_31e0b0b4_XL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="From left to right: Saint-Nicholas Church, Belfry of Ghent, and Saint Bavo Cathedral." border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSpdnTLcsK-VS7KGNd2PX6Gh_bNBqux72GHSS-L61gBn1aV92QgXCoB1XhDnHAIcVg-MddDstezyK0YyToZsK22VCtMaqykl0aJhdtc9VE4JUFdotzdmBqXCdIEkpCHDBPThyQa7GtPux2/s640/0_a7930_31e0b0b4_XL.jpg" title="From left to right: Saint-Nicholas Church, Belfry of Ghent, and Saint Bavo Cathedral." width="584" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From left to right: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Nicholas%27_Church,_Ghent" target="_blank">Saint-Nicholas Church</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belfry_of_Ghent" target="_blank">Belfry of Ghent</a>, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Bavo_Cathedral" target="_blank">Saint Bavo Cathedral</a>.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTrTUehdO1Gp2Axx4ZLlT32Zvn4suHBATmz_Rv05bZ05Zvr3IqTH0_e_Aop6PHEHCuILlBArJEFKa2cHfOLrUFgy7SnHly_OsDAorfeJ4KBJUfsuTyATgWquY_anaesGgG92PYEkHOOorH/s1600/PnQCWFm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A modern comparison of the photo above, it doesn't appear to have changed much!" border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTrTUehdO1Gp2Axx4ZLlT32Zvn4suHBATmz_Rv05bZ05Zvr3IqTH0_e_Aop6PHEHCuILlBArJEFKa2cHfOLrUFgy7SnHly_OsDAorfeJ4KBJUfsuTyATgWquY_anaesGgG92PYEkHOOorH/s640/PnQCWFm.jpg" title="A modern comparison of the photo above, it doesn't appear to have changed much!" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A modern comparison of the photo above, it doesn't appear to have changed much!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM5xudj5GRpGtF4Vm5m64xtj38qTF2tYSBbQaEZ7lkztkIr-vbEaA3-95aC257cL0ZJ0hgJLexgJ0ZFqCn-SvKx9ZkWFk57NO5-TY4laezX4DsjI1y0dRb-y7dOtUEJcbpXF9Dnn-cy3uC/s1600/0_a7931_9486fe14_XL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM5xudj5GRpGtF4Vm5m64xtj38qTF2tYSBbQaEZ7lkztkIr-vbEaA3-95aC257cL0ZJ0hgJLexgJ0ZFqCn-SvKx9ZkWFk57NO5-TY4laezX4DsjI1y0dRb-y7dOtUEJcbpXF9Dnn-cy3uC/s640/0_a7931_9486fe14_XL.jpg" width="584" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3-StchEiA-RIiwTIq4WC8zVrBGdWcJD2n12lO6YlmsNi0tMiRExoEajSHSx2z9R05hOiWy2lOHtO1XKxOgj6hQsT0uUSZy40pj85EPMpok575LnvbazNevreIPwBzNYKhaR66Rah7Jio2/s1600/0_a7932_1869d4d0_XL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A Gefreiter of the German Heer (Army) in discussion with a shopkeeper on the streets of Ghent." border="0" height="586" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3-StchEiA-RIiwTIq4WC8zVrBGdWcJD2n12lO6YlmsNi0tMiRExoEajSHSx2z9R05hOiWy2lOHtO1XKxOgj6hQsT0uUSZy40pj85EPMpok575LnvbazNevreIPwBzNYKhaR66Rah7Jio2/s640/0_a7932_1869d4d0_XL.jpg" title="A Gefreiter of the German Heer (Army) in discussion with a shopkeeper on the streets of Ghent." width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A <i>Gefreiter</i> of the German <i>Heer</i> (Army) in discussion with a shopkeeper on the streets of Ghent.</td></tr>
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Thanks to <a href="http://www.reddit.com/user/darad0" target="_blank">/u/darad0</a> on reddit for shedding some light on the locations of the Warsaw pictures, and <a href="http://www.reddit.com/user/bdreu" target="_blank">/u/bdreu</a> for the modern Ghent comparison image.<br />
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<i>via <a href="http://visualhistory.livejournal.com/83099.html" target="_blank">VisualHistory on Livejournal</a></i>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6860602777925841830.post-35412082378347205002012-07-22T18:57:00.002+01:002013-05-06T12:37:33.408+01:00Russian C-47 'Dakota' found in SiberiaIt seems to be a good year for the discovery of old forgotten airframes! There was the P-40 in Egypt earlier in the year, an IL-2 from a Russian lake last month, and now an intact C-47 'Dakota' has been found in Siberia, in absolutely stunning condition! Click the images to view them full-size.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDVhKOsCstPDIPf__zWLuOS11A-za90zIHqB4f7Iy1bhBDAioZ2trATpBmWSkirznLzbEuhzxtmopBs9xYTsdnFl1lctJ2WSF4E87p1UWDfB5sJ3MdUv6ZngdyijE3FkaBrqsvNhc41pyj/s1600/0_49386_291fad95_XXL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDVhKOsCstPDIPf__zWLuOS11A-za90zIHqB4f7Iy1bhBDAioZ2trATpBmWSkirznLzbEuhzxtmopBs9xYTsdnFl1lctJ2WSF4E87p1UWDfB5sJ3MdUv6ZngdyijE3FkaBrqsvNhc41pyj/s640/0_49386_291fad95_XXL.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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This lend-lease aircraft was found in the vast Taymyr Peninsula (Полуостров Таймыр) in Siberia.<br />
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65 years of exposure has stripped away a lot of the paint so you can see her original US markings on the fuselage.<br />
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The left engine appears to have become detached after the plane made a successful landing, and the prop blades (visible in the shadows to the left of the picture) have been feathered, indicating the engine was not operational when she went down.<br />
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The prop blades on the right engine appear undamaged, a good sign if the intention is to make her airworthy again.<br />
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Detail of the right engine with the cowling missing, though said cowling is visible in the foreground of the picture at the start of the post.<br />
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By the crushed nose it seems likely she nosed over upon making a forced landing at some speed.<br />
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Using the tail number 232892, Live Journal user <a href="http://nordroden.livejournal.com/" target="_blank">nordroden</a> was able to dig up some information on the history of this airframe.<br />
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This Douglas C-47-DL, serial number 42-32892, factory 9118 was
deliver to the US Air Force on February 24th 1943. It was then handed to
the USSR Air Force on 12th march 1943 under the lend-lease programme,
where it was given the ID 'USSR-H-328'. It was sent to the 7th Arctic
Aviation Regiment of the 1st Air Division.<br />
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According to order number OK/071 of April 16th 1943 it was
enlisted by the Office of Polar Aviation to conduct ice reconnaissance.
From October 22nd to November 1th 1943 it explored the Kara Sea under
the command of the pilot, MA Titlova.<br />
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From 3th June to 24th July 1944 it made further sorties from
bases in Anderme for further reconnaissance of the Kara Sea. In 1945 it
was sent to the Chukotka Polar Air Arm where it was given the number
A-3072.<br />
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In Vadim Denisov's book 'Неведомый Норильск' (The Unknown Norilsk), he describes the final fate of this aircraft.<br />
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"Emergency, Saturday April 13th 1947 in the area of the river Dudypty, North of the village Volochanka. Failure of the left engine. Successfully made a landing and sat for around twenty days, until discovered by the crew of F. Shatrova. 28 people survives, some with minor frostbite on their hands and face
(mostly children). Commander Tyuikov, airborne radio operator Smirnov
and seven passengers were missing - they had gone in search of help in
the snowy tundra and never returned."<br />
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Amazing that the Soviet red star is still visible on the fuselage after so many years out in the open! <br />
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The landing gear has sunk firmly into the ground over the years.<br />
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Hopefully the plane will be recovered and made airworthy again by a Russian museum.<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Via <a href="http://ru-aviation.livejournal.com/" target="_blank">ru_aviation</a> at Live Journal.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6860602777925841830.post-88401759572873133352012-07-07T19:47:00.000+01:002013-05-06T12:38:11.037+01:00The Occupation of Kharkov in ColourThese photos taken by Johannes Hähle depict the civilian population of Kharkov under occupation by Nazi Germany during the Spring or Summer of 1942. Hähle was a photographer with a Propagandakompanie, and at the time he was assigned to a Luftwaffe reconnaissance unit, likely 4.(H)/Aufkl.Gr. 10 "Tannenberg" (4th Squadron, Reconnaissance Group 10 "Tannenberg").<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLzYLOJAWtHpjE8HZJUjVLf9pfpgwwLx8LxvsntADHFTPHvvE0EaQIMXGeL5tmej7PTFsNUwZ-jk4AZwalPjmyzietfm8KElSenZdIZ3lgulCgxOIpiLV9ZhW3x8TFDUCFtWxiyXoBfz42/s1600/06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLzYLOJAWtHpjE8HZJUjVLf9pfpgwwLx8LxvsntADHFTPHvvE0EaQIMXGeL5tmej7PTFsNUwZ-jk4AZwalPjmyzietfm8KElSenZdIZ3lgulCgxOIpiLV9ZhW3x8TFDUCFtWxiyXoBfz42/s640/06.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anti-Jewish and anti-Russian propaganda.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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The Luftwaffe reconnaissance unit Hähle was assigned to were equipped
with the the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fw_189" target="_blank">Focke-Wulf Fw 189</a> "Uhu" (Eagle Owl). Three of the photographs depict a
funeral for a member of the unit.<br />
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Many of the buildings that were damaged in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Battle_of_Kharkov" target="_blank">First Battle of Kharkov</a>
and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Battle_of_Kharkov" target="_blank">Second Battle of Kharkov</a> still bear evidence of the fierce fighting. Kharkov was to change hands
many times between the initial invasion in October 1941 and August
1943, when the city was finally liberated.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhncRkOLdTrGhKQ7j7vIo59lpqGZTgiHCyA3KoYURFKPJKFBxzGFiVCq0Dasu7zn9uTIizzrJE4hrdUurXTtT5aFPuvh7a9esWsx3cQOIVdx29gVEds1wVDPrU4agRiAdr7E7AyhsIUFEUT/s1600/16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhncRkOLdTrGhKQ7j7vIo59lpqGZTgiHCyA3KoYURFKPJKFBxzGFiVCq0Dasu7zn9uTIizzrJE4hrdUurXTtT5aFPuvh7a9esWsx3cQOIVdx29gVEds1wVDPrU4agRiAdr7E7AyhsIUFEUT/s640/16.jpg" title="" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hulls of Panzer III tanks that were damaged during the fighting. The
machine in the foreground carries the insignia of the 3rd Panzer
Division.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCGtChCMOCWfuSoBcyQdyZX-98Bzmuh0JLmVvlwrbPm1N13DnVlJKatdOieMvRH-JJETRxoiFdiCb-nWdFcn_INeDIPXhNaMDz1zTX2aeSCGGfXusOCXOBWIMYkH3IcOReZ5idzVyMlRQ3/s1600/25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCGtChCMOCWfuSoBcyQdyZX-98Bzmuh0JLmVvlwrbPm1N13DnVlJKatdOieMvRH-JJETRxoiFdiCb-nWdFcn_INeDIPXhNaMDz1zTX2aeSCGGfXusOCXOBWIMYkH3IcOReZ5idzVyMlRQ3/s640/25.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6860602777925841830.post-41406053542269408702012-07-03T22:52:00.001+01:002013-05-06T12:40:08.514+01:00IL-2 Sturmovik Recovered from a Lake in Murmansk, RussiaFreshly retrieved from 'Crooked Lake' near the town of Severomorsk in the Murmansk region of Russia is the IL-2 Sturmovik wreck pictured below. The wreck was lifted on 21st June 2012 by a team named 'Icarus' from the city of Zaozersk<br />
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This particular IL-2 served with 46th Air Assault Regiment of the Northern Fleet and made an emergency landing on the ice covered 'Crooked Lake' on November 25th 1943. It was part of a group of 16 IL-2s that were part of a raid on a German airfield at Luostari. 25 Me-109's rose to intercept them and the resulting engagement cost the Russians 11 planes and the Germans 23.
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This was only the third sortie for the pilot, Valentine Skopintsev, and the second for his gunner, Vladimir Humenny. During the battle Skopintsev destroyed two planes on the ground and his gunner knocked out an Me-109 that was tailing them.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj82shlSyP9GkdeSFUmG1KEVbV_cvQ-BmQH52nLW3bpECnrIca_29nR_uf5xdRoPUKShq_PeXFqvrOE4BSaWMKu4Q1fB9UqXA7cYbgfG2fuIfKC4kbjXZ6g3xdbwH3SVORam_U3GWjiPL0R/s1600/553724.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj82shlSyP9GkdeSFUmG1KEVbV_cvQ-BmQH52nLW3bpECnrIca_29nR_uf5xdRoPUKShq_PeXFqvrOE4BSaWMKu4Q1fB9UqXA7cYbgfG2fuIfKC4kbjXZ6g3xdbwH3SVORam_U3GWjiPL0R/s1600/553724.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pilot Valentine Skopintsev (right) and his gunner Vladimir Humenny (left)</td></tr>
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With the tail shredded by machine-gun fire and the engine stalled, the pilot opted to ditch the aircraft on the ice-covered lake. The crew were both wounded, with Skopintsev having to drag the unconsious Vladimir Humenny from the rear gunner's position. Thankfully they managed to escape to safety in time, as the ice under the plane soon gave way under the 4-ton weight and she sank to the bottom of the lake, where she would remain for nearly 70 years.
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Both crew returned to duty and flew together as pilot and gunner until the end of the war. For his service Skopintsev was awarded the Order of the Red Banner three times, in addition to the Order of Nakhimov 2nd Class. He was retired from military service in 1947 and died in 1996. I do not know what became of Humenny but if anyone has any further information please get in touch.<br />
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Now that the aircraft has been recovered, it will be taken to Novosibirsk for restoration, with the intent of getting it back into flying condition.
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Via <a href="http://blogger51.livejournal.com/912341.html" target="_blank">blogger51</a> and <a href="http://www.kp.ru/daily/25903.4/2860379/" target="_blank">kp.ru</a>.
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Pictures taken by Alex Bakumenko and Alex </span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Mkrtchyan</span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: x-small;">.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6860602777925841830.post-80163722005918655442011-11-12T13:03:00.000+00:002013-05-06T12:40:28.746+01:00Flakvierling 38 of Panzer-Grenadier Division GroßdeutschlandToday's colourised image is a <i>Flakvierling</i> crew of the <i>Großdeutschland Division</i> in training, taken on 5th November 1943.<br />
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The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2_cm_Flak_30/38/Flakvierling"><i>Flakvierling 38</i></a> was a quad mount version of the 2cm FlaK 38 and was introduced in 1940. The single 2cm FlaK guns were planned to be phased out early in the war in favour of 3.7cm cannon, as the latter was able to engage targets at much greater range and with several times the explosive force. In order to keep the 2cm gun viable, the Flakvierling 38 (literally ‘quadruple anti-aircraft cannon model 38’) was introduced to increase firepower whilst utilising weapons and ammunition that were already in production.<br /><a name='more'></a>
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The 2 cm Flakvierling 38 was used in several different roles, but was intended primarily for defense against <i>Jagdbomber</i> (fighter-bombers) as it had a maximum vertical range of only 2,200 meters, far lower than the flight ceiling of heavy bomber formations. It saw use in self-propelled mountings, on the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sd.Kfz._7">Sd.Kfz 7</a> halftrack as the Sd.Kfz 7/1 and the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panzer_IV">Panzer IV</a> as the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wirbelwind">Flakpanzer IV 'Wirbelwind'</a>. These self-propelled vehicles commonly made up the <i>Fliegerabwehrzug</i> (anti-aircraft platoon) attached to Panzer Battalions. The weapon was also used by the <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kriegsmarine">Kriegsmarine</a></i> on both U-Boats and other vessels, and heavily used by the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Luftwaffe_%281933%E2%80%931945%29"><i>Luftwaffe</i></a> in fixed emplacements around high-value targets. There were 8 such guns mounted on each of the three huge <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flakturm"><i>Flakturm</i></a> (flak towers) in Berlin.<br />
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As well as being used against aircraft, the weapon was commonly employed against ground targets, including infantry, emplacements and light vehicles. It was therefore equipped with a variety of ammunition types to facilitate its use in multiple roles.<br />
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Click the images to view them full-size.<br />
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<a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bundesarchiv_Bild_183-J08339,_Ausbildung_an_der_Vierlings-Flak.jpg">Before<br />
<img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/85/Bundesarchiv_Bild_183-J08339%2C_Ausbildung_an_der_Vierlings-Flak.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Panzer-Grenadier Division <i>Großdeutschland</i> was formed as an infantry regiment in 1939 from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infantry_Regiment_Gro%C3%9Fdeutschland#Creation_and_early_history_-_Wachregiment_Berlin"><i>Wach Regiment Berlin</i></a>.
Over the course of the war it saw great successes and was increased in
size until it was re-designated a full
Panzergrenadier Division in the Summer of 1943. The division was the best-equipped in the
entire <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heer_%281935-1945%29"><i>Heer</i></a>,with it's own organic <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiger_I">Tiger I</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panther_tank">Panther</a>
battalions and earned a reputation as a 'fire brigade' in the latter
half of 1943 as it was used as a mobile reserve to reinforce the front
wherever it was in danger of collapse.<br />
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This Flakvierling remains in the early-mid war <i>Dunkelgrau</i> base coat (RAL 7021), indicating that it was manufactured prior to 18th February 1943. This was the date that <i>Heeresmitteilung</i> (HM) number 181 went into effect, the order that all newly-made equipment was to be painted in a base coat of RAL 7028 <i>Dunkelgelb</i>. The weapon itself is missing the folding gun shields that provided some measure of protection to the crew.<br />
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Note the low boots and gaiters worn by the crew, with trousers folded behind the gaiters in the regulation fashion, a detail many reenactors miss!<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">The original photo is licensed under the <a class="extiw" href="https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/en:Creative_Commons" title="w:en:Creative Commons">Creative Commons</a> <a class="external text" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/de/deed.en" rel="nofollow">Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Germany</a> license.</span>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Attribution: <span class="licensetpl_attr">Bundesarchiv, Bild 101I-298-1759-25 / Scheck / CC-BY-SA</span></b></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6860602777925841830.post-15442075834484762642011-10-22T13:29:00.000+01:002013-05-06T12:40:51.249+01:00Previously Unknown US Gun Cam Footage, Germany 1945In the last week some previously unknown colour Gun Camera footage has emerged from the <a href="http://http//romanoarchives.altervista.org/">Romano Archives</a>. The footage was taken over Germany in 1945 from USAF P-47 Thunderbolt fighter-bombers and features the strafing of a pair of locomotives and what appear to be industrial buildings next to them. The exact location of the attack is unknown, though appears to be one of the numerous industrial targets that were engaged by the USAF in March and April 1945. The last few seconds show what looks to be a grounded Luftwaffe jet aircraft or fuel dump exploding when hit from the air.<br /><a name='more'></a>
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<center><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/vrCaBd0TtIk#t=00m11s" width="640"></iframe></center><br />
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<a class="twitter-follow-button" data-button="grey" data-link-color="#00AEFF" data-text-color="#FFFFFF" href="https://twitter.com/WW2inColour">Follow @WW2inColour on Twitter</a></div>
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A lot of fantastic footage has come out of the <a href="http://http//romanoarchives.altervista.org/">Romano Archives</a> in the last few years. Below is another set of US gun cam footage they uploaded a couple of years ago. It is a compilation of 6 rolls of film that starts with a dogfight and progresses into ground attack maneuvers against a variety of vehicles and locomotives. This footage was all taken over Germany in March-April 1945.<br />
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<center><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/yzKl6HKLpCE#t=00m11s" width="640"></iframe></center><br />
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Another set of previously unknown footage was uploaded by the Romano Archives last month, which can be viewed <a href="http://ww2incolour.blogspot.com/2011/09/us-gun-cam-footage-over-germany-1945.html">here</a>. The above footage as well as thousands of other reels are available from the <a href="http://http//romanoarchives.altervista.org/">Romano Archives</a>.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6860602777925841830.post-67393513226042201302011-10-11T21:07:00.000+01:002013-05-06T12:41:11.098+01:00The Blitz in ColourBetween 7th September 1940 and 10th May 1941 the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luftwaffe">Luftwaffe</a> launched a strategic bombing campaign against London and other key industrial cities in the United Kingdom, commonly know as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Blitz">The Blitz</a>.<br />
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Throughout the UK over a million houses were damaged or destroyed and 40,000 civilians killed. Despite the intensity of the bombings, the stoicism of the British public and their 'Blitz Spirit' ensured that morale did not fall, and despite precautionary measures enacted throughout the affected cities, civilians endeavoured to continue with 'business as usual'.<br /><a name='more'></a>
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Over 600 aircraft losses were sustained by the Germans over the course of the campaign, and their aims of forcing the British public into submission prior to invasion and the disruption of war production ultimately failed. With the launch of <i>Unternehmen Barbarossa</i> (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Barbarossa">Operation Barbarossa</a> - the invasion of Russia) in June 1941 and the cancellation of <i>Unternehmen Seelöwe</i> (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Sea_Lion">Operation Sea Lion</a> - the invasion of mainland Britain) the Luftwaffe's resources were required in the East and the bombing campaign over the UK was called off.<br />
<br />
Time Life recently published a set of colour photos of London during the Blitz, reproduced below. The whole set with their original captions can be viewed <a href="http://www.life.com/gallery/62571/image/ugc1253531/world-war-ii-london-in-color#index/0">here</a>. Many thanks to Harb of the <a href="http://forums.tripwireinteractive.com/showthread.php?t=54708">Tripwire Interactive Forums</a> for the excellent find!<br />
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As always, click the photos to view them full-size.<br />
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<center>
<a href="http://i.imgur.com/iW20B.jpg"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/iW20B.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://i.imgur.com/QGlCG.jpg"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/QGlCG.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://i.imgur.com/G2IU6.jpg"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/G2IU6.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://i.imgur.com/x0Ro4.jpg"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/x0Ro4.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://i.imgur.com/0XySp.jpg"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/0XySp.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://i.imgur.com/WTUFU.jpg"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/WTUFU.jpg" width="320" /></a>
<a href="http://i.imgur.com/5Jw0v.jpg"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/5Jw0v.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://i.imgur.com/z2t81.jpg"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/z2t81.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://i.imgur.com/XTVZz.jpg"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/XTVZz.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://i.imgur.com/iVo9h.jpg"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/iVo9h.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://i.imgur.com/9L2Ia.jpg"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/9L2Ia.jpg" width="640" /></a></center><br />
<i>Thanks to Marsch of <a href="http://www.militaryphotos.net/">Military Photos</a> for pointing out the oddity regarding the number houses damaged in London, I shall be sure to verify stats found on Wikipedia in the future!</i><br />
<br />
<center>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">These photographs are © Time & Life/Getty Images</span>
</center>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6860602777925841830.post-19155694402451080862011-10-07T21:56:00.000+01:002013-05-06T12:41:38.315+01:00StuG IV for Sale(!)Some quite unusual news today, there is an original StuG IV for sale from a private collection in Latvia! It is very rare for original German fully-tracked vehicles to come onto the market, especially something as scarce as a StuG IV.<br />
<br />
<center><a href="http://www.milweb.net/classifieds/large_image.php?ad=59251&cat=1">Click here for the advert on milweb.<br />
<img src="http://i.imgur.com/tmPnz.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /><a name='more'></a>
</center><br />
Description from the advert:<br />
<i>From 912. Stug. Abt. ( Kurland 1944 -1945 ). Very rare. Year of manufacture 1944. Year of reconstruction 2009 - 2010. There is no transmission (motor + gear box ). Demilitarized. 7,5 cm -Kanone. Original paint and drawing on " Saukopf - Blende ".490 000 Euro.</i><br />
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<center><a href="http://imgur.com/0Gb0b"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/0Gb0b.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://imgur.com/e4KGE"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/e4KGE.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
</center><br />
According to the <a href="http://the.shadock.free.fr/Surviving_Panzer_IV_variants.pdf">Surviving Panzer IV Variants</a> list there are two StuG IV that still survive, both of which are in Poland. There is one complete running example at Armoured Weapons Museum in Poznań, and a second partial restoration at Museum im. Orła Białego, Skarżysko-Kamiennausing, made from a variety of StuG III and Panzer IV parts.<br />
<br />
This StuG IV may be a previously unknown example, as it has three return rollers, unlike the partial restoration that has 4, and appears to have been built on a late Ausf. J chassis.<br />
<br />
<br />
<i>Update: 09/10/2011 02:14</i><br />
<br />
A video of the vehicle being unloaded from a truck has been uploaded to Youtube:<br />
<br />
<center><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/PjUSU4Qe5bY" width="640"></iframe></center>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6860602777925841830.post-35694033852125851942011-09-29T21:04:00.000+01:002013-05-06T12:41:54.870+01:00Colour Video of the D-Day LandingsOn 6th June 1944 the Western Allies launched Operation Overlord, the invasion of occupied France. The assault was launched against 5 beaches in Normandy in North-West France by British, Canadian and American forces. The invasion by sea was spearheaded by British and American paratroopers that were dropped behind German lines to secure vital lines of communication in the early hours of the morning of the 6th June.<br />
<br /><a name='more'></a>
The airborne assault involved 12,000 aircraft, while the amphibious assault included over 6,000 vessels. It was the largest amphibious landing in history, with almost 160,000 troops deployed within the first 24 hours.<br />
<br />
For your viewing pleasure today I have a 3-part compilation of colour footage of the D-Day landings that formed the first stage of Operation Overlord. Enjoy!<br />
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<center>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="410" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/0fnKLKycq5o" width="640"></iframe>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/rr-cekyZN04" width="640"></iframe>
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<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/HFYGHHS-iSg" width="640"></iframe>
</center>
<br />
The Normandy landings were a great success, and while the Western Allies initially suffered severe casualties while establishing the bridgehead, their implacable advance through France ensured that the German forces in the West were steadily ground down.<br />
<br />
Almost three weeks after Overlord was launched in the West, the Soviet Union launched Operation Bagration in the East. Despite involving nearly double the number of and resulting in the complete destruction of an entire Army Group and capture of half of Poland, Bagration is almost unheard of in the West. That, however is a tale for a different day!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6860602777925841830.post-38701329918320995882011-09-25T14:00:00.000+01:002013-05-06T12:42:15.428+01:00Panzer IV Zug in Frankreich, 1944Today’s colourised image depicts a Panzer IV Ausf. H <i>Zug</i> of 8./Pz-Rgt. 3 (8th Company, Panzer Regiment 3) of the 2.Pz-Div. on manoeuvres near Amiens in early 1944.<br />
<br />
The division had been sent to Amiens in late 1943 to refit and rearm after suffering heavy losses during a fighting retreat following the failure of <i>Unternehmen Zitadelle</i> (Operation Citadel, more commonly known as the Battle of Kursk).<br />
<br />
When the invasion of Normandy began, the Division was held in reserve in the Somme on the mistaken belief that the Allies main offensive against the <i>Pas de Calais</i> was soon to begin. When this second offensive turned out to be a ruse they were transported to the front in Normandy, though the Division did not arrive until mid July.<br /><a name='more'></a>
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Click the images to view them full-size.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bundesarchiv_Bild_101I-298-1759-25,_Nordfrankreich,_Panzer_IV.jpg">Before<br />
<img border="0" height="455" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/28/Bundesarchiv_Bild_101I-298-1759-25%2C_Nordfrankreich%2C_Panzer_IV.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsYLoiG9hD9uYUpwfDkDVaXuNSzV3Im-b6HCLvlcu6Ik2t2WQnBARqf9j244WnXc28aVwjkwmxMKDn9Ps2le-6JC29llnBlFjk4QrBYGlTpdohhomhIdKFomQrGwU0C-HnhLEVmW6QP5x7/s1600/Bundesarchiv_Bild_101I-298-1759-25%252C_Nordfrankreich%252C_Panzer_IV.jpg">After<br />
<img border="0" height="444" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsYLoiG9hD9uYUpwfDkDVaXuNSzV3Im-b6HCLvlcu6Ik2t2WQnBARqf9j244WnXc28aVwjkwmxMKDn9Ps2le-6JC29llnBlFjk4QrBYGlTpdohhomhIdKFomQrGwU0C-HnhLEVmW6QP5x7/s1600/Bundesarchiv_Bild_101I-298-1759-25%252C_Nordfrankreich%252C_Panzer_IV.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Number 825 shows some interesting features. Of note are the white painted labels on the hull Schürzen that indicate their position on the vehicle. This enabled the crew to ensure they were put back in the correct places when they were removed for track maintenance. The panzers themselves were manufactured between November 1943 and January 1944.<br />
<br />
Also note that the gunner of '825' is wearing his greatcoat over his black panzer uniform.
<br />
<br />
This photograph was taken by PK Scheck, and is part of a series of the same Panzer Kompanie.<br />
<br />
<i>Update: Many thanks to Tom Cockle from the missing-lynx.com forum for the correction regarding the Nahverteidigungswaffe and the information regarding production dates.</i><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">The original photo is licensed under the <a class="extiw" href="https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/en:Creative_Commons" title="w:en:Creative Commons">Creative Commons</a> <a class="external text" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/de/deed.en" rel="nofollow">Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Germany</a> license.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Attribution: <span class="licensetpl_attr">Bundesarchiv, Bild 101I-298-1759-25 / Scheck / CC-BY-SA</span></b></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6860602777925841830.post-78159617979780016562011-09-07T21:40:00.000+01:002013-05-06T12:42:38.857+01:00V-1 Flying Bomb Testing at Peenemünde, 1943Today's footage shows V-1 flying bombs being launched into the Baltic Sea from the V1 Catapult at Peenemünde Airfield, adjacent to Peenemünde Army Research Center<i> (Heeresversuchsanstalt Peenemünde)</i> where the V-2 and <i>Wasserfall</i> rockets were designed and tested.
Peenemünde Airfield itself was where the <i>Luftwaffe</i> tested several experimental aircraft, including the Heinkel He 176 and the Messerschmitt Me 163 rocket-propelled fighters.<br /><a name='more'></a>
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<center><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/sNgS6Taorto#t=00m09s" width="640"></iframe></center><br />
The V-1, or to give it it's full name <i>Vergeltungswaffe 1</i> (retaliation weapon 1) was an early predecessor of the cruise missile powered by a pulse-jet engine. It flew at 640 km/h (400 mph) and carried 180 kg of high-explosives to a range of 250km (160 miles).<br />
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Testing of the V-1 at Peenemünde continued until the night of the 17th/18th August 1943, when the RAF launched Operation Hydra, a raid against Peenemünde Army Research Center by 596 heavy bombers. The raid caused surprisingly little damage, though it set development at the facilities back by 6-8 weeks and resulted in the testing of the V-1 being moved to Brüsterort.<br />
<br />
The V-1 was first launched against London on 17th June 1944, and launches continued against London and the south-east of England until the last launch sites in range were overrun in October 1944. Following this, they were launched against Antwerp and other Belgian targets. 9,521 were launched in total and they caused 22,892 casualties, almost entirely to civilians.<br />
<br />
The successor to the V-1, the V-2 was the world's first true ballistic missile, and the grandfather to all modern rockets. The V-2 was the first man-made object in space, and when it's designers Wernher von Braun and Dr. Walter Dornberger fell into American hands after the war they were put to work developing their technology further. Von Braun later worked for NASA, and designed the Saturn V launch vehicle that propelled the Apollo spacecraft to the Moon.<br />
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The above video comes from the <a href="http://www.romanoarchives.tk/">Romano Archives</a>, and high-quality copies of the video along with thousands of other rare and interesting films are available from them.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6860602777925841830.post-33598811882716784882011-09-03T21:34:00.000+01:002013-05-06T12:43:53.406+01:00US Gun Cam Footage over Germany, 1945Today's video is US gun cam footage taken over Germany in 1945. Unfortunately it is rather low resolution, but you can make out various horse-drawn wagons and at least one truck being strafed. The caption states these are farm vehicles under attack, but as the <i>Heer</i> used many forms of horse-drawn tranportation this claim cannot be verified.<br /><a name='more'></a>
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The video does not have it's original audio, just a noise track so you may wish to mute it.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/V6cl4TvZopA" width="640"></iframe><br />
<br />
This video was uploaded by the <a href="http://www.romanoarchives.tk/">Romano Archives</a>.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6860602777925841830.post-46537014693476932502011-08-13T19:40:00.002+01:002013-05-06T12:44:14.247+01:00Trophies of Great Battles - Colour Video of the Gorky Park Exhibition, Moscow 1943On 22nd June 1943, exactly two years after the launch of <i>Unternehmen Barbarossa</i> <br />
(Operation Barbarossa), an outdoor exhibition of captured war material was opened in<br />
Gorky Park in Moscow. The exhibition consisted of large numbers of tanks, artillery, <br />
aircraft and weapons captured by the Red Army. The below video shows many of these pieces in glorious colour, being visited by civilians and soldiers of the Red Army.<br /><a name='more'></a>
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<center><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="510" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/iE94nxIWjws#t=00m13s" width="640"></iframe></center><br />
<br />
There are many rare and unique vehicles on display here, some of the armour ended up on display in Kubinka tank museum, others at Victory Park in Moscow. The fate of most of the exhibits is unknown, though sadly it is likely they were scrapped.<br />
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The following lists the exhibits shown (where identifiable) and timestamps of when they can be seen in the video. Unless specifically noted, assume the exhibit is German, and they are listed in order of appearance.<br />
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Bf 109 - 01:38, 01:59, 03:30<br />
Hs 129 - 01:40, 02:23<br />
Fw 200 - 01:42, 02:34<br />
He 111 - 01:47, 02:31<br />
Bf 110 - 01:49<br />
Do 17 - 01:50<br />
Ju 52 - 01:53<br />
Ju 88 - 02:15<br />
Fw 189 02:50<br />
Fw 190 - 03:14<br />
<br />
Pz IV Ausf. F2 - 03:53, 06:28<br />
15cm Nebelwerfer 41 - 04:09<br />
15cm Kanone 39 - 04:20<br />
12.8cm FlaK 40 - 05:10<br />
Ringtrichterrichtungshörer (RRH) - 05:11<br />
2cm Flakvierling 38 - 05:16<br />
21cm Mörser 18 - 05:24<br />
24cm or 30.5cm Mörser - 05:51<br />
<br />
Italian Fiat L6/40 - 06:10, 06:34<br />
Pz III Ausf. E or F - 06:10, 06:52<br />
Pz 38(t) - 06:10, 06:30, 06:52<br />
Marder III Ausf. H - 06:18<br />
Hungarian 38M Toldi - 06:22, 06:43<br />
SdKfz 164 Nashorn - 06:22<br />
Munitionspanzer I - 06:37<br />
Pz 35-S 739(f) - 06:47<br />
12.8 cm Selbstfahrlafette auf VK3001(H) "Sturer Emil" - 06:52, 07:00<br />
Panzerjäger Tiger (P) "Ferdinand" - 07:05<br />
Pz VI Tiger - 07:14, 07:44<br />
Sturmboot - 08:33<br />
Sdk.Fz 9 - 10:00<br />
5cm leGrW 36 - 10:14<br />
8 cm GrW 34 - 10:14<br />
K98k - 10:24<br />
MP40 - 10:24<br />
MP41 - 10:24<br />
MG34 mit Laffette - 10:24<br />
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The pile of <i>Eiserne Kreuz</i> and various awards at 10:43 was rather jaw-dropping!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6860602777925841830.post-5810014971521331962011-07-31T20:52:00.000+01:002013-05-06T12:44:27.472+01:003.7cm Flakzwilling 43, France 1944The 3.7cm <i>Flugabwehrkanone 43</i> was introduced in early 1944 as a heavier-calibre replacement for the 2cm <i>Flakvierling 38</i>. It could engage aircraft flying at an altitude of up to 4200 meters, and was frequently used to engage ground targets at a range of up to 6585 metres. In service, it proved to be very successful, but due to it's late introduction there were only 928 (and 185 <i>Flakzwilling</i>) units produced before the war ended.<br /><a name='more'></a>
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The double-barreled <i>Flakzwilling 43</i> was introduced to increase effectiveness against low-flying aircraft travelling at high speeds. It was found that a single hit from the 3.7cm ammunition was not always sufficient to bring a fighter down. This gun was mounted on a heavier <i>Sonderhanger 106</i> trailer, but as the gun was rather top-heavy, it proved to be rather cumbersome to mount and dismount.<br />
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Click the images to view them full-size.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bundesarchiv_Bild_101I-301-1957-35,_Nordfrankreich,_Zwillings-Flak.jpg">Before<br />
<img border="0" height="640" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5e/Bundesarchiv_Bild_101I-301-1957-35%2C_Nordfrankreich%2C_Zwillings-Flak.jpg" width="427" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i.imgur.com/iqfwu.jpg">After<br />
<img border="0" height="640" src="http://i.imgur.com/iqfwu.jpg" width="427" /></a></div><br />
This <i>Flakzwilling 43</i> belonged to a <i>Heer</i> flak unit stationed in Northern France in the summer of 1944. The photograph is part of a set depicting the FlaK gun and crew that were taken by <i>Kriegsberichter</i> Kurth.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bundesarchiv_Bild_101I-301-1957-27,_Nordfrankreich,_Zwillings-Flak.jpg"><br />
<img border="0" height="428" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/67/Bundesarchiv_Bild_101I-301-1957-27%2C_Nordfrankreich%2C_Zwillings-Flak.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bundesarchiv_Bild_101I-301-1957-32,_Nordfrankreich,_Zwillings-Flak.jpg"><br />
<img border="0" height="425" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ed/Bundesarchiv_Bild_101I-301-1957-32%2C_Nordfrankreich%2C_Zwillings-Flak.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bundesarchiv_Bild_101I-301-1957-28,_Nordfrankreich,_Zwillings-Flak.jpg"><br />
<img border="0" height="640" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/86/Bundesarchiv_Bild_101I-301-1957-28%2C_Nordfrankreich%2C_Zwillings-Flak.jpg" width="427" /></a></div><br />
The crew are wearing the <i>Heer</i>-issue assault-gun wrap, identical in form to the panzer wrap but in field grey rather than black. The Panzer Lehr Division had several units equipped solely with this uniform in Normandy, but I can't make out any of their typical 'L' cyphers on the <i>Flakzwilling</i> crew's shoulder straps. If anyone knows which unit this weapon belonged to then please let me know.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The original photo is licensed under the <a class="extiw" href="https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/en:Creative_Commons" title="w:en:Creative Commons">Creative Commons</a> <a class="external text" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/de/deed.en" rel="nofollow">Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Germany</a> license.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Attribution: <span class="licensetpl_attr">Bundesarchiv, Bild 101I-301-1957-35 / Kurth / CC-BY-SA</span></b></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6860602777925841830.post-63127413897872908682011-07-25T22:24:00.000+01:002013-05-06T12:44:43.192+01:00Panzer IV of the Hitlerjugend Division, Belgium 1943The 12th SS-Panzer Division <i>Hitlerjugend</i> was formed in mid 1943 from members of the Hitler Youth born in 1926. The leaders of this Division of 17 year old boys were sourced from senior NCOs and Officers of the <i>Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler</i><i></i> (<i></i><i>LSSAH</i>). Many of the soldiers in the unit were so young that they received sweets instead of the standard ration of tobacco and alcohol.<br /><a name='more'></a>
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Regardless, their high morale, experienced leadership and excellent equipment made them a force to be reckoned with. The Division gave a good account of itself in battle, sometimes fighting fanatically against overwhelming odds. The record of the Division is far from spotless, however. During the fighting around Caen after D-Day members of <i>SS-Panzergrenadier Regiment 25</i> were responsible for the execution of some 156 Canadian soldiers. <i>SS-Standartenführer</i> Kurt Meyer (then leader of <i>SS-Panzergrenadier Regiment 25</i>) was convicted of war crimes in December 1945 and sentenced to life imprisonment.<br />
<br />
The Division lost around 8000 men killed, wounded or missing during the campaign in Normandy, and went on to participate in <i>Unternehmen Wacht am Rhine</i> (better know as the Battle of the Bulge) and <i>Unternehmen Frühlingserwachen</i> (Operation Spring Awakening), the operation to recapture the Hungarian oil fields in March 1945. The Division ended its days by surrendering to US forces near the city of Enns in Austria.<br />
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The subject of today's image is Panzer IV Ausf. H number 615 of <i>6./SS-PzRgt. 12</i> (6th Company, SS-Panzer Regiment 12). The photograph was taken during exercises in Belgium at the end of 1943. As always, click the image to view it full-size.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fil:Bundesarchiv_Bild_101I-297-1722-27,_Im_Westen,_Panzer_IV.jpg">Before<br />
<img border="0" height="455" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Bundesarchiv_Bild_101I-297-1722-27%2C_Im_Westen%2C_Panzer_IV.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i.imgur.com/mgzIy.jpg">After<br />
<img border="0" height="455" src="http://i.imgur.com/mgzIy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Several vehicles from <i>6./SS-PzRgt. 12</i> feature the names of the crew's sweethearts painted on the tanks, here we have 'Wilma' painted on the commander's Cupola and 'Paula' painted on the driver's visor (along with a heart?!).<br />
<br />
The commander and loader are wearing <i>Kriegsmarine</i> U-Boat leather jackets, which were an item particular to the <i>Hitlerjugend</i> and <i>LSSAH</i> Divisions. These uniforms were initially given to the Italian Navy, but were reclaimed by the <i>LSSAH</i> when they went to Italy to disarm part of the Italian Army in 1943. Alongside these leather uniforms were found large stocks of Italian camouflage material, which were soon made into clothing for the two divisions.<br />
<br />
Note, the radio operator appears to be wearing a <i>feldgrau</i> M40 side cap rather than the standard black Panzer cap (as worn by the loader). The commander wears an M43 camouflage field cap affixed with a non-regulation metal <i>totenkopf</i>.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The original photo is licensed under the <a class="extiw" href="https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/en:Creative_Commons" title="w:en:Creative Commons">Creative Commons</a> <a class="external text" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/de/deed.en" rel="nofollow">Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Germany</a> license.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Attribution: <span class="licensetpl_attr">Bundesarchiv, Bild 101I-297-1722-27 / Kurth / CC-BY-SA</span></b></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6860602777925841830.post-22511607727017896292011-07-20T23:31:00.000+01:002013-05-06T12:45:09.859+01:00Know Your Enemy - 1943 Training Video on Captured German FirearmsThe video below was produced by the US Office of Strategic Services in 1943, and was designed to instruct American troops on the proper use of captured German firearms. It covers the most common weapons that were encountered in the field:<br />
<ul>
<li>K98 rifle</li>
<li>MP40 submachine gun</li>
<li>Luger P08 pistol</li>
<li><i>Stielhandgranate</i> 24 or 39 grenade</li>
<li>MG34 and MG42 machine guns</li>
<li>8cm <i>Granatwerfer</i> 34 mortar</li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><a name='more'></a>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/h9draRRHv4g" width="640"></iframe></div>
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Unfortunately the video is rather low resolution, but I think it provides an excellent, if basic instruction in the operation of the weapons, and is a must-see for reenactors!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6860602777925841830.post-88195937502729950342011-07-18T22:07:00.001+01:002013-05-06T12:45:25.925+01:00Wilhelm 'Willi' Hübner - One of the Youngest Recipients of the Iron CrossAs casualties mounted during the Second World War, Germany was forced to call up ever younger conscripts to fill the ranks of the <i>Wehrmacht</i>. So dire was the situation at the end of 1944, that boys born in 1928 were called up to serve the <i>Führer</i>. They were 15 or 16 years old and had grown up in the shadow of Nazism. Each would have spent their teenage years in the <i>Hitlerjugend</i> (Hitler Youth) preparing them for military service.<br />
<br />
The net result of this was a cadre of youths that grew up surrounded by Nazi propaganda and were called up to serve the <i>Vaterland</i> they had been raised and trained to defend. In many cases they fought bravely against overwhelming odds, but the lives of thousands of these youths were wasted by throwing them senselessly into battle with the Allies when the war was already lost.<br /><a name='more'></a>
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Today's subject is Willi Hübner, a 16 year old messenger with the <i>Führer Grenadier Division</i>. At the beginning of March 1945 the <i>Führer Grenadier Division</i> was part of a counterattack to retake the Silesian town of Lauban. After 8 days of fierce fighting the town was secured, and cameras from <i>Die Deutche Wochenschau</i> were there to capitalise on this success for propaganda purposes.<br />
<br />
Willi Hübner was awarded the <i>Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse</i> (Iron Cross 2nd Class) for his service as a messenger during the battle for Lauban. At 16, he was one of the youngest recipients of the award.<br />
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The picture below shows Hübner being awarded the EKII, if anyone can ID the General in the photo then please let me know.<br />
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Click the images to view them full-size.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bundesarchiv_Bild_183-G0627-500-001,_Auszeichnung_des_Hitlerjungen_Willi_H%C3%BCbner.jpg">Before<br />
<img border="0" height="640" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c5/Bundesarchiv_Bild_183-G0627-500-001%2C_Auszeichnung_des_Hitlerjungen_Willi_H%C3%BCbner.jpg" width="462" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQFRsagqrPmNUiCNi2BqdlN0yxEt55Mz_a5rt8r-Idm8JvpWPVyTfiW27mHXh-jY3kMAyDumuLC5So12PqhBuVyC4yFUC1pN8FizDzuSyGQ_jbEFF5WBkuzRoobjYCA33Ca4lRmIocYIcf/s1600/willihuebner.jpg">After<br />
<img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQFRsagqrPmNUiCNi2BqdlN0yxEt55Mz_a5rt8r-Idm8JvpWPVyTfiW27mHXh-jY3kMAyDumuLC5So12PqhBuVyC4yFUC1pN8FizDzuSyGQ_jbEFF5WBkuzRoobjYCA33Ca4lRmIocYIcf/s1600/willihuebner.jpg" width="462" /></a></div>
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Dr. Goebbels, <i>Reichsminister für Volksaufklärung und Propaganda</i> (Reich Minister of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda) visited Lauban shortly after the liberation with the camera crews of the <i>Wochenschau</i> in tow. Below is an extract from the 16th March 1945 edition of the <i>Wochenschau</i>, where Willi Hubner can clearly be seen being congratulated by Dr. Goebbels.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/_ysB3NE6Ex0" width="640"></iframe><br />
<br />
On 20th March 1945 there was an award ceremony in the gardens of the <i>Reichskanzlei</i> in Berlin for members of the <i>Hitlerjugend</i> who had distinguished themselves in combat. The footage from this event is very famous, as is the last known footage of Hitler to be recorded. Willie Hubner was present at this ceremony and can be seen in the below Wochenschau video.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/rlCOyfgMmYo#t=02m07s" width="640"></iframe><br />
<br />
Hübner survived the war and was interviewed for several documentaries including 'V Was for Victory' and '<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B003IN7YQE/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wwinco-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=B003IN7YQE">The World at War</a>'. The following video is from 'The Fatal Attraction of Adolf Hitler', where Hübner talks about his experiences.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/7-WN0a_S3Rk#t=00m30s" width="640"></iframe><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">The original photo is licensed under the <a class="extiw" href="https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/en:Creative_Commons" title="w:en:Creative Commons">Creative Commons</a> <a class="external text" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/de/deed.en" rel="nofollow">Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Germany</a> license.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Attribution: <span class="licensetpl_attr">Bundesarchiv, Bild 183-G0627-500-001 / CC-BY-SA</span></b></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6860602777925841830.post-84117006104122802492011-07-17T13:12:00.006+01:002013-05-06T12:45:35.329+01:00US Infantry Weapons and their Effects - 1943 Training VideoToday's post is a departure from the usual in that it is not in colour, though it should be interesting nonetheless. It is a US Army training film from 1943 entitled 'Infantry Weapons and Their Effects' (T.F. 7 1266). It depicts the use of many types of ammunition being fired from most of the standard US infantry weapons of the period. Films like this have always fascinated me as they show live ammunition in use, with the associated recoil and realistic damage to targets.<br />
<br />
Of note is the penetration power of the .30-06 round fired by the M1 Garand, and the effect of the M1 Bazooka on a pillbox and sandbagged emplacement. The potential penetration from rifle rounds is always something Hollywood and TV studios seem to disregard. That and the recoil produced by such weapons, though I can understand it is difficult to grasp the true recoil of a weapon when it is only firing blanks.<br /><a name='more'></a>
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<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Part 1</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/8KqemCtq3B8" width="640"></iframe></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Part 2</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/xr0ojGtsvCM" width="640"></iframe></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
I find it rather interesting that practically every one of the German soldiers is wearing a complete set of equipment, including tornister and bed roll. It is as if they have stepped straight out of a Reibert manual! Having said that, it looks as though the majority of the equipment they are using is WW1 vintage, including some M1916/17/18 pattern helmets. The uniforms they are wearing are rather odd, they look to be a mish-mash of US trousers with either WW1 tunics or converted tunics of some kind I am unable to identify. If anyone has any further info, please let me know.<br />
<br />
It looks as though the PaK 40 and Panzer IV have been freshly captured from <i>Heeresgruppe Afrika</i>. I couldn't help but wince when the breech of the PaK 40 was burning, or indeed while the Panzer IV was being repeatedly struck by rounds! The pattern of residue around the hole caused by the Bazooka rocket hitting the Panzer IV was quite fascinating, you don't often see such features in period photos or films. A rather nice detail for the modellers out there!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6860602777925841830.post-2064182381967148462011-07-08T20:45:00.002+01:002013-05-06T12:45:43.109+01:00Walter Krüger and 'Tiki'For today's update we have a rather famous Tiger I by the name of 'Tiki', from <i>8./SS-Pz.Rgt. 2</i> (8th Company, SS-Panzer Regiment 2). The image was taken by <i>SS-Kriegsberichter</i> Friedrich Zschäckel in Russia on 20th April 1943. <br />
<br />
<i>SS-Obergruppenführer</i> Walter Krüger can be seen here giving a speech to the troops from the front of Tiki, shortly before he presented a series of awards to men of the <i>Das Reich</i> division for their actions in the Third Battle of Kharkov. The officer in the stahlhelm to the left of Tiki is believed to be Otto Kumm, who was promoted to <i>SS-Standartenführer</i> later that day.<br /><a name='more'></a>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bundesarchiv_Bild_101III-Zschaeckel-197-09,_Russland,_Appell_der_SS-Division_%22Das_Reich%22.jpg">Before<br />
<img border="0" height="477" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/53/Bundesarchiv_Bild_101III-Zschaeckel-197-09%2C_Russland%2C_Appell_der_SS-Division_%22Das_Reich%22.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i.imgur.com/pJzdx.jpg">After<br />
<img border="0" height="477" src="http://i.imgur.com/pJzdx.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Tiki sports a scheme of <i>Dunkelgrau</i> (RAL 7021) over sprayed by <i>Dunkelgelb</i> (RAL 7028), as per the order of 18th February 1943. The Sd.Kfz. 7/1 in the background has not received the over spay, as the paint reserves that were on hand were prioritised for use on the panzers.<br />
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<b>Update:</b><i> s.SS-Pz-Abt. 102 </i>corrected to<i> 8./SS-Pz.Rgt. 2</i>, cheers Werner!<i><br />
</i><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">The original photo is licensed under the <a class="extiw" href="https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/en:Creative_Commons" title="w:en:Creative Commons">Creative Commons</a> <a class="external text" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/de/deed.en" rel="nofollow">Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Germany</a> license.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Attribution: <span class="licensetpl_attr">Bundesarchiv, Bild 101III-Zschaeckel-197-09 / Zschäckel, Friedrich / CC-BY-SA</span></b></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6860602777925841830.post-52912382523587516272011-07-03T20:40:00.003+01:002013-05-06T12:45:53.152+01:00Panzerbefehlswagen Panther in ItalyFor your viewing pleasure today we have <i>Panzerbefehlswagen</i> Panther tactical number I02 from I/Pz.Rgt.4, and her driver. The image is part of a series taken by <i>Kriegsberichter</i> Bayer of this vehicle and others from Pz.Rgt.4 near Florence in Italy in the summer of 1944.<br /><a name='more'></a>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bundesarchiv_Bild_101I-478-2165-18A,_Italien,_Panzer_V_%28Panther%29,_Panzersoldat.jpg?uselang=en-gb">Before<br />
<img border="0" height="600" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/80/Bundesarchiv_Bild_101I-478-2165-18A%2C_Italien%2C_Panzer_V_%28Panther%29%2C_Panzersoldat.jpg" width="402" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i.imgur.com/QULuY.jpg">After<br />
<img border="0" height="600" src="http://i.imgur.com/QULuY.jpg" width="402" /></a></div>
<br />
The vehicle itself is painted in the base coat of <i>dunkelgelb</i> and does not have the usual field-sprayed camouflage in <i>olivgrün</i> and <i>rotbraun</i>. The driver appears to be wearing a <i>Heer</i> tropical shirt with Panzer NCO shoulderboards and an M41 tropical field cap.<br />
<br />
The other photos of the crew in this series are extremely characterful so I will be sure to revisit them in the future!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">The original photo is licensed under the <a class="extiw" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/en:Creative_Commons" title="w:en:Creative Commons">Creative Commons</a> <a class="external text" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/de/deed.en" rel="nofollow">Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Germany</a> license.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Attribution: <span class="licensetpl_attr">Bundesarchiv, Bild 101I-478-2165-18A / Bayer / CC-BY-SA</span></b></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6860602777925841830.post-32396835675002664052011-07-01T10:54:00.008+01:002013-05-16T16:57:19.742+01:00Panzer rollen in Afrika vorToday's image is a Panzer IV Ausf. E, taken in March or April 1941 in Libya. These dates match the first offensive against Tobruk so it is quite likely this vehicle was knocked out during one of these assaults.<br />
<br />
It has taken hits to the muzzle mantlet and turret front, and although none of the rounds seem to have penetrated, the crew would have been subjected to extensive <a href="https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Spall">spalling</a> from the rounds striking the turret.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Bundesarchiv_Bild_101I-783-0117-113,_Nordafrika,_Panzer_IV,_Turm.jpg">Before<br />
<img border="0" height="450" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d3/Bundesarchiv_Bild_101I-783-0117-113%2C_Nordafrika%2C_Panzer_IV%2C_Turm.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i.imgur.com/Bup3i.jpg">After<br />
<img border="0" height="450" src="http://i.imgur.com/Bup3i.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Vehicles in North Africa at this time were generally sporting their original <i>Dunkelgrau</i> (RAL 7021) colour scheme with an overspray of <i>Gelbbraun</i> (RAL 8000). When they arrived in Africa the <i>Dunkelgrau</i> colour stood out against the sand so vehicles were hastily repainted to provide a closer match to the terrain. It was only later that vehicles destined for the Afrika Korps were shipped in the terrain appropriate colour (<i>Gelbbraun).</i><br />
<br />
I've tried to recreate these layers of paint by having patches of grey show through the yellow overspray at high-traffic areas that are likely to show a lot of wear in use.<br />
<br />
You may be wondering where the title for this article came from...<br />
<br />
<i>Heiß über Afrikas Boden</i> (also referred to as<i> Panzer rollen in Afrika vor</i>) was a popular marching song with the troops stationed in North Afrika which you can listen to via the below YouTube video.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/5S9POFLrLyU" width="640"></iframe>
<br />
<span style="white-space: nowrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="white-space: nowrap;">1. Über die Scheldte die Maas und den Rhein</span><br />
<span style="white-space: nowrap;">Stießen die Panzer nach Frankreich hinein</span><br />
<span style="white-space: nowrap;">Husaren des Führers im schwarzen Gewand</span><br />
<span style="white-space: nowrap;">So haben sie Frankreich im Sturm überrannt</span><br />
<div style="white-space: nowrap;">
<i>Refrain:</i><br />
Es rasselten die Ketten<br />
Es dröhnt der Motor,<br />
|: Panzer rollen in Afrika vor. :|<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="white-space: nowrap;">
2. Heiß über Afrikas Boden die Sonne glüht,<br />
Unsere Panzermotoren singen ihr Lied,<br />
Deutsche Panzer im Wüstensand,<br />
Stehen im Kampf gegen Engeland,<br />
<i>Refrain:</i><br />
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="white-space: nowrap;">
3. Panzer des Führers ihr Briten habt acht<br />
Sie sind zu Eurer Vernichtung erdacht<br />
Sie fürchten vor Tod und vor Teufel sich nicht<br />
An ihnen das britische Weltreich zerbricht<br />
<i>Refrain:</i><br />
<i><br /></i></div>
<hr noshade="" size="8" style="white-space: nowrap;" />
<span style="white-space: nowrap;">Es scheint heut' die Sonne vom Himmel so heiß</span><br />
<span style="white-space: nowrap;">Es weht ein Lüftchen wie Seide,</span><br />
<span style="white-space: nowrap;">Wir stehen im Schatten der Panzer; wer weiß</span><br />
<span style="white-space: nowrap;">Vielleicht weht es uns zu Leide.</span><br />
<span style="white-space: nowrap;">In Afrika da kämpfen im glutheißen Sand</span><br />
<span style="white-space: nowrap;">Deutsche Panzer für ihr Volk und Vaterland.</span><br />
<div style="white-space: nowrap;">
Heiß über Afrikas Boden die Sonne glüht,<br />
Unsere Panzermotoren singen ihr Lied.<br />
Deutsche Panzer im Sonnenbrand<br />
Stehen im Kampfe gegen Engeland.<br />
Es ratteln die Ketten, es dröhnt der Motor,<br />
Panzer rollen in Afrika vor.</div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">The original photo is licensed under the <a class="extiw" href="https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/en:Creative_Commons" title="w:en:Creative Commons">Creative Commons</a> <a class="external text" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/de/deed.en" rel="nofollow">Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Germany</a> license.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Attribution: <span class="licensetpl_attr">Bundesarchiv, Bild 101I-783-0117-113 / Dörner / CC-BY-SA</span></b></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6860602777925841830.post-47709510624777521802011-06-29T18:03:00.001+01:002013-05-06T12:46:10.425+01:00Big Cat in HungaryToday's image depicts <i>Königstiger</i> (Tiger II) number 233 from <i>s.H.Pz.Abt. 503</i> (<a href="https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/503rd_heavy_tank_battalion_%28Germany%29">Heavy Panzer Battalion 503</a>). The image was taken in Budapest in October 1944 after the unit was brought in to provide support for <i>Unternehmen Eisenfaust </i>(Operation Iron Fist).<br /><a name='more'></a>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/wiki/File:Bundesarchiv_Bild_101I-680-8282A-06,_Budapest,_Panzer_VI_%28Tiger_II,_K%C3%B6nigstiger%29.jpg">Before<br />
<img border="0" height="424" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/58/Bundesarchiv_Bild_101I-680-8282A-06%2C_Budapest%2C_Panzer_VI_%28Tiger_II%2C_K%C3%B6nigstiger%29.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://imgur.com/OPnPS.jpg">After<br />
<img border="0" height="424" src="http://i.imgur.com/OPnPS.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Operation Iron Fist was conducted in October 1944 with the aim of replacing the government of Hungary with forces loyal to Germany. Regent Miklós Horthy had been negotiating a surrender with the Soviets through General Béla Miklós, and at 2pm on 15th October 1944 his declaration that Hungary had signed an armistice with the Soviet Union was announced over the radio.<br />
<br />
Otto Skorzeny was tasked with the operation to remove Horthy from power. He led a convoy of German troops and tanks of the 503rd Heavy Panzer Battalion to Castle Hill and took Horthy into custody. Horthy was then forced to sign a document handing control of the government over to Ferenc Szálasi and the fascist Arrow Cross party.<br />
<br />
Many thanks to Per Sonnervik, Hartmut von Holdt and Richard Craig of the <a href="http://www.missing-lynx.com/">Missing Lynx</a> forums for their assistance in identifying particular features of this vehicle.<br />
<br />
Further information on the role of the 503rd Heavy Panzer Battalion during Operation Iron Fist can be found in <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0811734846/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wwinco-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=0811734846">Combat History of German Tiger Tank Battalion 503 in World War II</a><br />
by Franz-Wilhelm Lochmann and Richard Freiherr von Rosen.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">The original photo is licensed under the <a class="extiw" href="https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/en:Creative_Commons" title="w:en:Creative Commons">Creative Commons</a> <a class="external text" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/de/deed.en" rel="nofollow">Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Germany</a> license.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Attribution: <span class="licensetpl_attr">Bundesarchiv, Bild 101I-680-8282A-06 / Faupel / CC-BY-SA</span></b></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6860602777925841830.post-42017138692283737652011-06-28T12:25:00.002+01:002013-05-08T15:38:17.718+01:00A BeginningSeveral years ago I bought a book that changed the way I looked at the Second World War, the book in questions was <b><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/184222946X/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wwinco-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=184222946X">Germany at War</a><img alt="" border="0" class=" xeftjoloodfaeodmlenr nczjrathkqvooarosxod utlrbgomymcjvuevlsqd sfzpdzdrrmpoulqdmkgg" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.co.uk/e/ir?t=wwinco-21&l=as2&o=2&a=184222946X" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></b> by George Forty. It contains nothing but colour photographs, and in my mind they made the war come to life. It it difficult to relate to the subjects of black and white photographs, but when you see the same thing in colour it seems all the more <i>real</i>. This purchase kick-started an interest in the Second World War that continues to this day.<br />
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Earlier this year, I discovered the French series <b><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B003YCYZB6/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wwinco-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=B003YCYZB6">Apocalypse: The Second World War</a><img alt="" border="0" class=" xeftjoloodfaeodmlenr nczjrathkqvooarosxod utlrbgomymcjvuevlsqd sfzpdzdrrmpoulqdmkgg" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.co.uk/e/ir?t=wwinco-21&l=as2&o=2&a=B003YCYZB6" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></b>, which consists of 6 episodes of black and white footage that has been professionally colourised. What truly blew me away about it was the level of detail then went into, the uniforms are the correct colour, the vehicles are the correct colour, and it all looks so <i>alive</i>! I've seen examples of colourised WW2 footage in the past, and to be honest, it was very disappointing. I'm something of a stickler for things being 'correct' (I was a reenactor for several years - authenticity is key!), and if the colourisation of individual elements is blatantly incorrect, then it destroys any suspension of disbelief.<br />
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Watching the series has reignited my interest in seeing the war as it truly was, and to this end I have decided to try my hand at colourising some photographs. I looked up some tutorials on Google, installed a copy of GIMP and had at it!<br />
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Below is the first example of what I hope to be many (click the images to view them full-size).<br />
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<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c9/Bundesarchiv_Bild_101I-671-7483-29%2C_Reichsgebiet%2C_Soldat_mit_Panzerabwehrwaffe.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">Before<br />
<img border="0" height="424" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c9/Bundesarchiv_Bild_101I-671-7483-29,_Reichsgebiet,_Soldat_mit_Panzerabwehrwaffe.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://i.imgur.com/y4suz.jpg">After<br />
<img border="0" height="424" src="http://i.imgur.com/y4suz.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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The photo depicts a German Soldier armed with a <a href="https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Panzerschreck"><i>Raketenpanzerbüchse</i> <i>54</i></a> in a <i>Schützenloch</i> (foxhole) during a training exercise. <br />
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I had a lot of trouble trying to get the face to look right, and the helmet is a little light but overall I'm quite happy with it as a first attempt. The colour of the 'jacket' proved rather difficult to determine, the material appears shiny and it <i>looks</i> a lot like a gas cape (as worn when firing the earlier version of the Panzerschreck that didn't have the shield) so I went with a gas cape-esque brown. If anyone can shed any light on what the garment might actually be, please let me know.<br />
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<i>Update: If anyone has any requests for pictures that they would like colourising, please drop me an email via the <a href="http://ww2incolour.blogspot.co.uk/p/contact.html" target="_blank">Contact page</a>.</i><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">The original photo is licensed under the <a class="extiw" href="https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/en:Creative_Commons" title="w:en:Creative Commons">Creative Commons</a> <a class="external text" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/de/deed.en" rel="nofollow">Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Germany</a> license.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Attribution: <span class="licensetpl_attr">Bundesarchiv, Bild 101I-671-7483-29 / Lysiak / CC-BY-SA</span></b></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1