Quote:
Originally Posted by Hufflepuff
I read about the general helmet problems the Germans had at Stalingrad in Antony Beevor's book. It said that the Germans would take thier soccer scarves and wrap them around thier heads, because thier helmets were causing them head-related frostbite and in this case, death.
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Have you ever seen the show "20th Century Battlefields"? They did a series of experiments with dummies dressed up as German soldiers and Soviet soldiers, and put them in a deep freezer and simulated the temperatures at Stalingrad. The result of the experiment was that it all came down to insulation. The Germans had their great coats which, whilst being made of wool, still didn't give them much insulation. Compared to the quilted coats the Soviets wore, and their hats instead of helmets, it's no wonder the Russians held out better. Very interesting show if you've never seen it.
They also came to the conclusion that the Soviet weaponry worked better because a little gasoline was added to the gun oil to keep it fluid, as opposed to the straight oil the Germans used which froze up.
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"One asks oneself; Why not me?
But a bullet does not ask about me or you"
~Leutenant Alfred Regeniter, 3rd Battery, Sturmgeschutz, Brigade 276, holder of the Knights Cross