1. How many bulldozers did Germany possess in 1943? Even a listing of some or all of the models in use would be helpful.

2. Anyone have details on an SS unit led by Martin James Monti an US Army Air Corps pilot who defected to Germany in his P-38 (landing in Vienna)? He was supposed to have commanded an "SS" unit of several hundred other US defectors.
Monti was found guilty of treason and theft of government property in 1948 by the US District Court in Brooklyn NY serving 25 years.

I don;t know the answer about Martin James Monti but I would love to read more if you ever find out anything. It is hard to get information on defectors from the USA. I do know many bombers landed on Swiss fields with "battle damage" but looking at the pictures of the aircraft it makes you wonder.

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Maybe I can help to debunk the Monti myth.I did some reading up on this a few years back when I was "researching" British and US citizens in the SS.

In reality Monti was never 'used' by the Germans. Although Monti defected for pure ideologic reasons, the Germans never trusted him and put him on a side track. He certainly never commanded an SS unit. Also the notion that "hundreds" of Americans were in the SS is myth. So far, I believe, 5 cases are documented of which only one saw actual combat with a German SS unit. Of course there were a lot more German-Americans in the German armed forces at the time. (See Band of Brothers, part "Carentan". And I believe forum member Sapper Brian also met an American-German in German uniform in Normandy)

The Germans did try to recruit from POW camps but were unsuccesful in doing so.

The 'largest'contingents were Brits and that unit never numbered more than platoon size. Also this unit never saw action as a SS unit or frontline unit. Some men were used as drivers behind the lines for SS units, but they were found to be inadequate for the job and they were subsequently sent back.

For more info on Brits in the SS; Adrian Weale's "Renegades" and "I Killed To Live" by Chapman (who was British Free Corps himself, but the book is the biography of another brit in the SS - read the book and you'll find that it should be taken with a grain of salt)

If I have time (or maybe Kai ) I will try and see if there are some on-line sources. Although it must be noted that many on-line sources on this subject should be considered humbug.

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"Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true!" - Homer Simpson

TA,

I have read several accounts of bomber pilots that tried to fly to either Switzerland or Sweden on account of battle damage. I remember one account; After bombing a target near Berlin, a B17 was badly shot up and veered away to set course to Sweden. His wingman waited a minute and then followed the first plane, also claiming battle damage. The horrified navigator of that plane first spoke to the pilot, the used some physical persuasion to bring the pilot and plane back into the bomber stream. Then he just sat behind him with his gun drawn to make sure he'd fly back to England.

This was not a defection as such, but more a case of the pilot not being able to cope with the fear and responsibility. I really don't think this was wide-spread and done for ideologic reasons, but out of stress and indeed, battle damage.

I also remember the story of a bombardier who never set his bombs, resulting in duds when they hit the ground. He was grounded (of course) when he was found out.

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"Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true!" - Homer Simpson

This is just a myth. In my research, I have not found any waffen ss unit with americans in it. There is a case where 5 americans volunteered but only to escape. I have heard this story somewhere but have never found anything to justify it as truth. But there never was an American Waffen SS unit.

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American by birth, TEXAN by the grace of GOD!

On #2 that's about what I figured: That the entire episode was not what it appeared. The British Free Corps as I recall had a total of like 6 or 7 men in it (I have several photos of various members in a book somewhere). I figured the same was true with the Monti case.
Now, on #1 anyone have something?

And those were assigned to D'Alquen for propaganda purposes.

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American by birth, TEXAN by the grace of GOD!