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What is something about WW2 most people aren't aware of?

Discussion in 'WWII General' started by Mounsif, Mar 2, 2020.

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  1. Mounsif

    Mounsif New Member

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    Hello everyone,,

    Three Italian POWs escaped from their camp in Kenya in January 1943 and climbed Mt Kenya, with improvised equipment and little food. They made it about 5000 meters up the difficult, technical slope. After 18 days on the mountain showbox.bio/ tutuapp.uno/ https://vidmate.vet/, they broke back into their POW camp. As punishment for their exploit, they each received 28 days in solitary confinement, commuted to 7 days by the camp commandant in acknowledgement of their "sporting effort".

    No Picnic on Mount Kenya - Wikipedia
     
    Last edited: Mar 8, 2020
    Mounsif, Mar 2, 2020
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  2. harolds

    harolds Member

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    The German Army (Heer) used performance enhancing drugs in order to achieve their seemingly remarkable early victories.
     
    harolds, Mar 2, 2020
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  3. OpanaPointer

    OpanaPointer I Point at Opana Staff Member WW2|ORG Editor

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    The Mexican Air Force flew P-51 Mustangs in the ETO with US markings except for the Mexican flag colors on the vertical tail area.
     
    OpanaPointer, Mar 2, 2020
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  4. James Stewart

    James Stewart Active Member

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    Turkey flew Fw190's purchased from Germany, along with Spitfires from GB.
     
    James Stewart, Mar 2, 2020
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  5. OpanaPointer

    OpanaPointer I Point at Opana Staff Member WW2|ORG Editor

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    The Israelis bought Yugoslavian built ME-109s after the war and flew them disassembled to Palestine in Gooney Birds, three trips for one plane.
     
    OpanaPointer, Mar 3, 2020
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  6. Kai-Petri

    Kai-Petri Kenraali

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    To see why V2 did not stay in one piece von Braun watched one launch from close below and noticed the rocket was so powerful it needed stronger surface steeling to handle the lift off. The man almost died doing this. After this the V2´s flew as meant.
     
    Kai-Petri, Mar 3, 2020
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  7. OpanaPointer

    OpanaPointer I Point at Opana Staff Member WW2|ORG Editor

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    The V-1s were having problems so they built a piloted version. The female test pilot quickly figured out the controls were reversed somewhere.
     
    OpanaPointer, Mar 3, 2020
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  8. OpanaPointer

    OpanaPointer I Point at Opana Staff Member WW2|ORG Editor

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    When the the Operation Paperclip people asked von Braun who developed the principles of the V-2 he said "Your Robert Goddard. If you had paid attention to him you'd be on the Moon by now."
     
    OpanaPointer, Mar 3, 2020
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  9. TD-Tommy776

    TD-Tommy776 Man of Constant Sorrow

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    Just about anything about the invasion & subsequent battles on Luzon in 1945 (No, not Leyte. Luzon).
     
    TD-Tommy776, Mar 3, 2020
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  10. MarChant

    MarChant Member

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    MarChant, Mar 3, 2020
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  11. von Poop

    von Poop Waspish

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    That average daily casualty rates for the Normandy campaign equalled/outdid the Somme, Verdun & Passchendaele.

    It's debatable on several levels, and statistics are a curious thing, but while literary pathos is nearly always directed at the previous war's battles - Northern France in the 40s was an absolute bloodbath too.
     
    von Poop, Mar 3, 2020
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  12. CAC

    CAC Ace of Spades

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    Yeah I would argue against that statement...
     
    CAC, Mar 3, 2020
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  13. von Poop

    von Poop Waspish

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    I think Corrigan started it in his excellent 'Mud, Blood & Poppycock'.
    (Which I'd heartily recommend anyone read if interested in the legends of C20th conflict, or just military history in general. Currently less than a quid on Kindle.)



    Annotation 2020-03-04 040035.jpg
    Annotation 2020-03-04 0400352.jpg

    Both slaughters.
    One rarely perceived as such in the same way.
     
    von Poop, Mar 3, 2020
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  14. CAC

    CAC Ace of Spades

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    Well...as the thread indicates...I wasn't aware of that!
     
    CAC, Mar 3, 2020
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  15. von Poop

    von Poop Waspish

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    Another one I don't believe is still widely perceived:

    The mighty mechanised Wehrmacht was in fact a largely horse-drawn army.
    Only the UK & US were fully mechanised for the duration.
    (Not checked the full list of combatants, so that 'only' might not stand, but outside of mountain, shanks or mule-appropriate operations I can't think of a deployment by either that didn't have motorised transport.)

    Horseb.jpg
     
    von Poop, Mar 4, 2020
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  16. OpanaPointer

    OpanaPointer I Point at Opana Staff Member WW2|ORG Editor

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    The US used mules in several theaters. In the Italian front the mantra was "ship, truck, four legs, two legs" when moving supplies to the front.
     
    OpanaPointer, Mar 4, 2020
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  17. Carronade

    Carronade Ace

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    The British made extensive use of elephants in Burma; General Slim said he couldn't have sustained the offensive without them.
     
    Carronade, Mar 4, 2020
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  18. OpanaPointer

    OpanaPointer I Point at Opana Staff Member WW2|ORG Editor

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    And the US units operating behind Japanese lines also used mules.
     
    OpanaPointer, Mar 4, 2020
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  19. Poppy

    Poppy grasshopper

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    pretty sure the elephant riders had more than Japanese to worry about-
     
    Poppy, Mar 4, 2020
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  20. OpanaPointer

    OpanaPointer I Point at Opana Staff Member WW2|ORG Editor

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    That tiger had been stalked and annoyed for days. The mahout should have been ready for it.
     
    OpanaPointer, Mar 5, 2020
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