We all share the same interests in Military History-but what I would really love to do is have a discussion-not a debate-but a discussion on one set topic of one aspect of WW2, no off-topic chats, or distarctions-but a discussion-kind of like a quiz-I was going to put this in Free Fire zone, but thought it fitted in well on this forum...
First Topic is.....

AMERICANS Vs GERMANS IN SMALL TOWNS AND VILLAGES DURING THE FRENCH CAMPAIGN....I'll start the ball rolling...

Now, The Germans would employ booby traps during their withdrawal from towns to slow the Allied advance. Did they ever leave behind armour to act in the same way? Like as in ambush sitautions-spur of the moment tactics, and like the fictitious fighting in Ramelle in SPR, were any battles conducted like this between the Americans and Germans?

[ 08. November 2002, 04:07 AM: Message edited by: Panzerknacker ]

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"GARRY OWEN"-Traditional war-cry of the US 7th Cavalry.
"CURRAHEE"-War-cry of the US 506th PIR.
"Everybody thinks that they are going to get the chance to punch some Nazi in the face at Normandy-and those days are over, they are long gone"-Lt Chris Burnett

There were plenty of fire fights in small towns between the Germans and Americans. I don't know about booby trapped armour but they did employ ambush tactics. I remember seeing photos of my grandfather's StuG covered with hay and even inside a barn with a clear view of fire but yet hidden. I have seen similar photos in books.

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American by birth, TEXAN by the grace of GOD!

I'm not sure about the armor?!?! I have read
or heard several stories of withdrawing Germans leaving small groups of guys behind to kind of snipe / ambush as GIs entered towns. I only remember that becasue I thought to myself that there was no way I'd do that, but then it was explained to me that since the allies had to move so slowly and cautiously through "new" towns that it was relatively easy for the Jerries to escape. So, like I said, I have heard of several instances of this, but none specifically of armor.

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Living History at http://oldreliable9_47.tripod.com

I've seen pics in various books and sites that show tanks buried up to their turrets--and made into pillboxes.

I saw a pic (it was an Eastern Front pic) that showed a few Germans using two knocket out T-34's made into defensive fortifications. The two T-34's had been knocked out by Stukas, and by the force of the blast--had been placed in such a way that they provided excellent protection for an Anti-tank gun and crew to be situated just behind them.

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Lost are only those, who abandon themselves) Hans-Ulrich Rudel.

The Germans were very good at leaving booby traps when withdrawing from a town or city. Anything and everything was fair game.

If they had the time, things like tables, especially with food or drink left on them, or wine racks would be classic booby traps. Chairs left just inside doorways, meaning you would have to move the chair to go in, pulling or snapping the trigger wire. Weapons, and even bodies, would be boobytrapped for the unwary souveneir hunter. Vehicles would be boobytrapped, disabled tanks or trucks that needed moving out of the way, that sort of stuff.

As for tanks being left behind in ambush points. I have heard that like snipers 2 or 3 tanks would be left behing with infantry support in a rear guard role. They would camoflage themselves and wait until the emeny was well within range. Fire off a few shots, maybe taking out enemy armour, and then withdraw asap. This would act to slow the advance of the enemy down.

I have also seen pictures of the turrets from French tanks being used as pillboxes at strategic points such as crossroads etc. Though I can imagine you would still want infantry support as otherwise it wouldn't take long for someone to outflank you.

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"Don't let it end like this. Tell them I said something."
- last words of Pancho Villa (1877-1923)

Lets just talk guys-havent done it for awhile
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"GARRY OWEN"-Traditional war-cry of the US 7th Cavalry.
"CURRAHEE"-War-cry of the US 506th PIR.
"Everybody thinks that they are going to get the chance to punch some Nazi in the face at Normandy-and those days are over, they are long gone"-Lt Chris Burnett

AS well I think the Germans ( well camouflaged )were very good at letting the allied first tanks and troops pass as well, and as the main force arrived shot at them with all they got, and made more damage than firing at the first sighted enemy. Usually meant bye-bye to the reconnaissance force of the allied as well.

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While we're ( sort of ) on the subject of 'booby-trapping', I've always thought that the great German retreat of WW1 in 1918 saw the most deadly use of this tactic.

For instance, it was ( I think ) the town hall of Bapaume which was completely destroyed by a huge explosion, killing a large number of Allied soldiers, several days after the town had been re-occupied. A 'booby-trap' hidden in the cellars had not been found.....

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"Stand by to pull me out of the seat if I get hit" - Guy Gibson

Well, not only in France but in Italy as well. The Germans left booby traps all over the place, as Sniper correctly said. Pianos were some of the favourite objects to booby trap. It was always a chaos to clean the places after the Germans had retreated. Many large cities in Italy and France were also filled with booby traps.

And I think the knocked-out armour vehicles and hidden guns and tanks were used at the very moment of defense, before they leave the town. Then when they retreated they mined everything...

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"War is less costly than servitude, the choice is always between Verdun and Dachau." - Jean Dutourd, French veteran of both world wars

"A mon fils: depuis que tes yeux sont fermes les miens n’ont cessé de pleurir." - Mère française, Verdun