WWII Forums Quiz Part VII

[macrusk]

PzJgr, you are correct and your go.

It was one of these that put my Dad in plastic surgery hospital for many months and changed his and eventually my life, as he was only being discharged as his unit left for Dieppe.

Unfortunately, I don't recall the source of the information below,
Luftmine ..... originally meant for use as sea mines and known to the Germans as Luftmine A (LMA) of 500kg and Luftmine B (LMB) of 1000kg they were known to the British public as 'land mines'. Basically there were only two sizes, 500kg, which was 5'8" long and 1000kg, which was 8'8" long and were triggered magnetically at sea, a clockwork fuse triggered the mine on land. They were first dropped in our coastal waters by Heinkel He 115 seaplanes flying at 900', in November 1939, and first employed intentionally against land targets on 16th September 1940. The luftmine had an explosive filling of between 60% and 70% and was capable of creating a lot of blast damage.

The parachute was made of sea-green artificial silk and was about 27' in diameter, secured by eighteen thick silk cords. There were two other types of parachute made up of 2" wide khaki coloured silk ribbons woven together or secured in circular patterns to form the desired shape, they fell at a rate of 40mph. Without the parachute the mines would not have withstood the landing impact.

[PzJgr]

This individual was living in Marseille, France when Germany invaded. After the fall of France, then became a courier for the French Resistance. The Gestapo had a special name for this individual. The Resistance had to be very careful with this person's missions as their life was in constant danger and the Gestapo were tapping their phone and intercepting their mail.

By 1943, this person was the Gestapo's most-wanted person, with a 5 million-franc price on their head. When the network was betrayed in December 1943, they then had to flee Marseille and was later arrested in Toulouse, but was released four days later. On the fifth or sixth attempt to cross the Pyrenees to Spain succeeded, went to Britain and joined the Special Operations Executive.

On the night of April 29-30 1944, was parachuted into the Auvergne and became a liaison between London and the local maquis group to coordinate resistance activity prior to Normandy Invasion and recruited more members. Also led attacks on German installations and local Gestapo HQ in Montluçon.

From April 1944 to the complete liberation of France, This person's 7000 maquisards fought 22,000 SS soldiers, causing 1400 casualties.

After the war, this person received the George Medal, the U.S. Medal of Freedom, the Médaille de la Résistance and thrice the Croix de Guerre, In 1988, received the French title of Chevalier of the Legion of Honour. In March 2004, was made a Companion of the Order of Australia, and in April 2006, was awarded the Royal New Zealand Returned and Services' Association's highest honour, the RSA Badge in Gold. The medals are on display in the Second World War gallery at the Australian War Memorial.

Who is this person?

[macrusk]

Nancy Wake Nancy Wake - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[PzJgr]

You are just too good. She is the Allies' most decorated servicewoman whom the Germans called 'The Mouse' because of her ability to escape.

All yours ..............

[macrusk]

What island was presented with the George Cross, when, and why?

PS Thanks! And I hope people check out the link re Nancy Wake. It's interesting that she was still alive in 2007 and hopefully, still is.

[Slipdigit]

Malta

"To honour her brave people, I award the George Cross to the Island Fortress of Malta to bear witness to a heroism and devotion that will long be famous in history."

[macrusk]

Sorry for the delay - my days off are over!

Your turn, Jeff.

[Slipdigit]

What German Heer Division had their own designated greatcoat? It was essentially a standard greatcoat with additional attributes.

Please name the the division and, to make us think you are wiz at quizes, name the coat's variations from the standard coat.

[Slipdigit]

Okay.

Here's two hints.

It was a Panzergrenadier division.

It was destroyed near Pillau

[macrusk]

There I was searching, while you were posting a hint - which assisted greatly.

I couldn't find much on the greatcoat though.


From Großdeutschland Division - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Großdeutschland Division (lit. Greater Germany Division) was an élite German Heer combat unit which saw action during World War II. It was the premier division of the Germany Army.
Großdeutschland is sometimes mistakenly perceived as being a part of the Waffen-SS, whereas it was actually a Heer unit. It was, along with the Panzer Lehr Division, the best equipped unit in the Wehrmacht, receiving equipment before all other units (including Waffen-SS units). The GD Division served exclusively on the Eastern Front. It was annihilated near Pillau in May 1945.

Großdeutschland Insignia Image of the Latin Script cuff title introduced in 1944. From the GD for CM website, courtesy the webmaster.



As a celebration of their elite status, the Großdeutschland was permitted to wear unique insignia. An intertwined GD was displayed on the shoulder straps, and a cuff title, of the type granted to Waffen-SS units, was also distributed. Some examples of the green cuff title worn by Infantry Regiment Großdeutschland were still seen late in the war, but the most common title was the pattern introduced in 1940, with Sütterlin script on a black backing. All divisional elements were granted this cuff title. As an Army formation, Großdeutschland was ordered to wear their cuff title on the right sleeve, since the SS wore theirs on the left.

[Slipdigit]

Grossdeutschland is correct.

Variances other than the cuff title:
Larger collar
Collar was edged with white waffenfarbe piping as was the upper edges of the turned back cuffs

There is no evidence that it was ever issued in large numbers.

Germany Army Uniforms and Insignia 1933-1945, Brian Davis pg 153

[macrusk]

Which American destroyers fought their first battles at Guadalcanal in the same engagement and what was their fate?

[mikebatzel]

Hello Michelle, do you mean all five of the naval battles or was there anyone in particular? Also just making sure, your looking for battles not anti-sub patrols and convoy duty?

[mikebatzel]

These where what I found so far. I left out the carrier battles.

Battle of SavoIsland:
USS Patterson (DD-392) Fate: sold for scrap in 1947
USS Bagley (DD-386) Fate: sold for scrap in 1947
USS Wilson (DD-408) Fate: Sunk in atomic testing in 1948
USS Buchanan (DD-484) Fate: Transferred to Turkish Navy in1949—scraped in 1976

First and Second Naval Battles of Guadalcanal
USS Fletcher (DD-445) Fate: sold for scrap, 1972
USS Starett (DD-407) Fate: sold for scrap, 1947
USS O’Bannon (DD-450) Fate: sold for scrap, 1970
USS Aaron Ward (DD-483) Fate: Sunk 7 April 1943 by Japanese dive bombers
USS Walke (DD-416) Fate: Sunk 15 November 1942 after Second Naval Battle of Guadalcanal

Battle of CapeEsperance:
USS Laffey (DD-459) Fate: Sunk in the Naval battles of Guadalcanal
USS Farenholt (DD-491) Fate: Sold for scrap in 1972
USS Duncan (DD-485) Fate: Sunk next morning from damage caused during the battle
USS McCalla (DD-488) Fate: Transferred to Turkish Navy 1949—Scrapped 1973

[skunk works]

The USS Laffey (DD 459), not the one at Okinawa, fought her first "fleet" engagement at Guadalcanal, and was sunk. I don't know of another "Cherry" at the canal, or that battle Friday the 13th.
That of course beg "Mikes" question of what a "Cherry" is. What is-is and all that.

edit...I'll "guess", DD 485 USS Duncan?

[macrusk]

Oops, I may have asked a question based on a brief notation I thought interesting without having enough overall knowledge of the carrier battles at Guadlacanal. The one I was looking for was noted at http://usswashington.com/dl_pream.htm

It said: "Survival turned upon luck. The American destroyers Monssen and O'Bannon both fought their first battles at Guadalcanal, in the same engagement. The Monssen's combat career lasted seven minutes. The O'Bannon sailed through three years of bloody war without suffering so much as a scratch of paint."

I'll pass the quiz off to Mike since he gave so much detail on the battles!

Note to self - stay in my own area of knowledge for quiz questions!!

[mikebatzel]

The Samuel B. Roberts (DE-413)recieved it's first damage midyear in 44, damaged bow, Rudder etc.

What caused the damage?