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MARNE · #8 (**permalink**) July 1st, 2006, 02:07 AM

Well hot dang!

I sure appreciate all the welcome fellas....

I'll tell you and I don't mind saying that I used to be on the WWII Reenactors Forum and while it was a nice forum it had three bad things within it, that this one is free of and it sure is nice to see...(1) is egos, (2) a lack of respect of the WWII Veterans and their accomplisments on a whole in not just the Mediterranean but, all theatres of the war, and (3) a well knowledged, well rounded group of historians, not just solely reenactors.

I have to say that my main course of study and interest is in the Mediterranean Theatre of Operations I love it and I have to say that I think the lesser known and studied theatres are the most interesting. One aspect that I like between well-known and lesser known theatres is that fact of how differently the GI's and their commanders operated and did things on an average basis.

Its interesting because if you look at the photos of the MTO vs. the ETO, the ETO seems to hamstringed by the fact they have to follow the TO&E's and the manual. While the forces in the MTO pretty much disregard all of the "by the manual" type of organizationing. I love that one fact and it intrigues me to no end.

jpatterson, I have to agree with your opinion to an extent with the term "back door." What I meant was how from Nov. 42' to Jun. 44' the "front door" was in Italy. All eyes and forces for the German army were heading to Italy to stunt the impending danger of an invasion from Italy and along with the Germans the entire world watched Italy.

And the Tommies and GI's did an outstanding job in the face of consideable hypocracy and slandering to an extent from Churchill and others. It wasn't until the GI's and Tommies secretly consolidating in England did they hit the "back door" at Normandy and the Germans and the world turned around 180 degrees to look and realize...OH WHOOPS!!! They're over there now!!!

To me thats when the Normandy invasion and its attacking forces becames the "front door." Its like the old addage from the American Civil War stated by a Federal officer upon Little Round Top..."Hey Colonel appears to me we're the back door, everythings going on at the front door!"

Well I'll be around if you'd like to chat fellas....

"ROCK OF THE MARNE!!!"

Best Regards,
MARNE