Lesser known details of WW2 part four

MOH CITATION

SADOWSKI, JOSEPH J

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty at Valhey, France. On the afternoon of 14 September 1944, Sgt. Sadowski as a tank commander was advancing with the leading elements of Combat Command A, 4th Armored Division, through an intensely severe barrage of enemy fire from the streets and buildings of the town of Valhey. As Sgt. Sadowski's tank advanced through the hail of fire, it was struck by a shell from an 88-mm. gun fired at a range of 20 yards. The tank was disabled and burst into flames. The suddenness of the enemy attack caused confusion and hesitation among the crews of the remaining tanks of our forces. Sgt. Sadowski immediately ordered his crew to dismount and take cover in the adjoining buildings. After his crew had dismounted, Sgt. Sadowski discovered that 1 member of the crew, the bow gunner, had been unable to leave the tank. Although the tank was being subjected to a withering hail of enemy small-arms, bazooka, grenade, and mortar fire from the streets and from the windows of adjacent buildings, Sgt. Sadowski unhesitatingly returned to his tank and endeavored to pry up the bow gunner's hatch. While engaged in this attempt to rescue his comrade from the burning tank, he was cut down by a stream of machinegun fire which resulted in his death. The gallant and noble sacrifice of his life in the aid of his comrade, undertaken in the face of almost certain death, so inspired the remainder of the tank crews that they pressed forward with great ferocity and completely destroyed the enemy forces in this town without further loss to themselves. The heroism and selfless devotion to duty displayed by Sgt. Sadowski, which resulted in his death, inspired the remainder of his force to press forward to victory, and reflect the highest tradition of the armed forces.

http://www.homeofheroes.com/moh/citations_1940_wwii/sadowski.html

 

Stand up when you mention the name Sadowsky.

 

French forces in WW2, both Allied and Axis

http://www.axishistory.com/index.php?id=6142

 

I am wondering about that citation.

How can he survive getting hit by an 88 at 20 yards or why did he not see the 88 ahead at 20 yards ?

I guess since the combat occured in a town accounts for the close range but 88's are still pretty big items to hide and getting hit at 20 yards and living to tell about it is hard to believe.

It also did not say if the bow gunner survived.

I wish I had more information about this.

 

DRESS SENSE

The bombing of German cities had a curious effect on how people dressed. Afraid that their best clothes could be lost or burned, German women preferred to wear them on all occasions. In the air-raid shelters, particularly in the Ruhr, it seemed that every women owned a fur coat!.

http://members.iinet.net.au/~gduncan/1942.html

 

The following is an excerpt from Eric Mombeek's book "Defending the Reich: The History of Jagdgeschwader 1 - Oesau"

http://www.jg54greenhearts.com/Philip.htm

Reichmarshall Goring issued the following edict after an 8th AF raid on October 4, 1943:

1.There are no meterological conditions which would prevent fighters from taking off and engaging in combat.

2.Every fighter pilot taking off in a machine not showing any sign of combat, or without having recorded a victory will be prosecured by a court-martial.

3.In the case of where a pilot uses up his ammunition, or if his weapons are unusable, he should ram the enemy bomber.

Kommodore Philipp's response: "As far as I'm concerned, I categorically refuse to allow myself to be held to such advice; I know what I have to do!"

 

Not only did Axis prisoners of war in Britain receive the same ration amounts as British servicemen, if they escaped and were recaptured, they were entitled to double rations "to build them up after privations!"

RJ Hammond; Food vol. 2; Studies in Administration & Control p623
(London. HMSO. 1956)

 

" Ehrenwinkel "

http://www.answerway.com/viewans.php?pgtitle=&expid=113053&category=442&msection=0&quesid=22702&ansid=79584

 

I was looking up information on the Martin Maryland and found information on this middle east battle I had not know about. Several thousand died but the History Channel has ignored it so far.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syria-Lebanon_campaign

 

All i can add to this thread is...WOW !

 

Now thats an embarrasing statement!!

Is History Channel your only reference source??

 

I was being sarcastic.

 

Generallieutnant Wever was killed in an aircrash on June 3, 1936 in an Heinkle 70 communications aircraft.

In the cockpit of the He-70 was a lever to secure the ailerons while parked on the ground. Weaver forgot about the lever and took off with the ailerons locked.

Wever was a supporter of a long range bomber for the Luftwaffe and was Chief of General Staff at the time of his death.

296 He-70 aircraft were built, some used in Spain.

 

What's wrong with the History Channel? Where else would you learn about the American participation (and victory too...) in this conflict, with some Eastern Front footage thrown in as well?

If this were in Discovery, you would also be told a bit about the some German Überflugzeuge (go to www.luft46.com and take your pick) based in Lebanon too.

 

Well, giving the History Channel dead horse a couple more whacks, I say that quality may vary somewhat, it depends on the particular show. I've recently seen shows with very interesting guests speaking, like Jim Dunnigan, Ian Kershaw, Matthew Bennet, Steve Badsey, Ian Fletcher...

One of my tricks to get my wife nuts is while watching saying "Hey, I have a couple of books by that fellow!"

They deserve credit for the effort, HC was much worse than it is now.

 

from Yeide "Tank killers"

The 3-inch gun proved to be a particularly effective in certain artillery roles. It was best at long-range missions because of the guns great range and the round´s flat trajectory which would endanger friendly troops if fired at targets too close to the front lines. The 3-inch gun was better than the 105mm Howitzer for shelling roads over which American troops planned to advance because the former left almost no crater but had a similar burst radius to the bigger round.

 

This site may have been listed before but I found it interesting to read again.

http://members.iinet.net.au/~gduncan/facts.html

 

Yeide "Tank Killers"

There were teething problems, of course. Before the training centers were established, units trained where and as they could.The 667th, 803d and 899th Tank Destroyer Battalions initially pooled their resources and in March 1942 established a joint training center at Fort Lewis, Washington. The 628th may have set a record for training on simulated guns- eleven months- before having an opportunity to fire some borrowed 75 mm guns in November 1942.

 

I just watched the last part of a germen 3 part dokumentary from 2003,with a lot of veterans. After the surrender on 31 Jan, 1943, a secret Russian report stated that at least 10000 german soldiers fourght on, hiding in cellers and sours. The fighting was over in the start of Marts.

 

I must admit i too found it hard to believe that hess memorial stone but then i started to think about and the only things i could think of that he could have easily killed himself trying to do it, especially at night and had he succeeded in his quest lives would have been saved. Also if Hitler had found out what hess was up to he probably would have been shot. On the other hand you dont become a top Nazi by being a nice person now do you?