Spielberg Movies and Waffen SS

Agreed on your points of the SS not being up to their best (especially after the pounding in Russia) but these guys weren't assembling anything, they were literally caught napping in the dirt!! How is it that an SS unit who were attacked the night before were caught ALL SLEEPING when Easy Co Attacked? I know I wasn't there but I can't believe the SS would have no sentries posted after having 10 of theirs guys killed only hours before Easy Co attacked!

 

Lots of things are possible even if not probable.

I know there is a fair amount of disbelief here and elsewhere in the stories found in Dr. Ambrose' books, as he writes more on the emotional aspect of things as opposed to getting a pin-point and painfully correct count of all the bogey wheel lug nuts on equipment etc. etc. I don't care about that kind of accuracy. I like to read the old veteran's stories, and have studied enough histories to separate the bs. I just wish Dr Ambrose had lived long enough to interview My old WWII MARINE vets. SOMEBODY better hurry!!

Anyway, here is a very loose ( from memory ) quote from "Citizen Soldier", another of Dr. Ambrose' interview format books on Normandy that impacts on the discussion above.

Just as the Paratroops have taken St. Mere Eglise, and the dust has settled a little, they are taking a few quick breaths...A Paratrooper Lt., patrolling along the outer perimeter of their position hears German voices in excited conversation on the other side of some shrubbery.

As he bursts through the scrubbery, he sees nine German officers squatting down on the ground over some maps. He began to methodically but quickly shoot them, all head hots...pow..pow..
pow..pow..pow..pow..pow..pow..CHING...They, or maybe someone else he didn't see, got off at least one pretty good shot toward him, as later he found his one ear lobe was cut. The last German, having seen enough, turned to run for it when the Lt.'s Garand ran dry.

The Airborne Lt. reloaded his Garand and shot the escaping German in the head as well. Eight Germans now lay in a pile with the last one lying a few yards away from them.

When their paperwork and maps were collected and analyzed, later, they found that the Lt., with nine rounds, had stopped a German Panzer unit ( I can't remember which or what size of unit ) that was staging to counter-attack the Airborne position, at least for that one day, by killing its entire command group.

Good luck AND good shooting...Later, another Officer while reporting the incident to the Paratroop Commander at St. Mere Eglise remarked,
"Sir, aren't you glad that Lt. XXXXXXX is on OUR side?"

[ 26. November 2003, 12:14 AM: Message edited by: Texas Fred ]

 

Blo*dy hell that was a little harsh

I thought it was customary to take officiers prisoners as they are a lot more valuable alive than dead!

 

Here is an interesting counterpoint from "Sapper" a British Vet from Normandy in the "Bridge too Far" thread in this forum.

I would like to put forward an observation that the Americans seem to have less respect for the average German Soldier than the British.

Of course this is based on folklore and stories like the ones in this thread, what do you all think? Do any of you have examples where this was not the case?

 

Ok for the record. Skinheads as a subculture aint racist, and they have no intention of looking like soldiers. There are racist skinheads sure, theres tons of em unfortunatley, but the subculture didnt start as a racist thing and nor should a skinhead be labeled a racist until he exspresses views of racism. Sorry had to but my head in here in defense of a subculture many of my non racist friends are involved with

back to the topic. Atleast spielbierg managed to make something that resembled tigers in SPR even though the tank numbers painted on the tanks indicate that they were fighting on the easterfront at that point in time

 

I can never tell who is who here. Germanic runes and icons....Ok I'll assume you're a German. Do you think it smart for a man, bursting through a hedge late in the day on 6Jun44 , right into nine German soldiers, to put the Garand on safe, and offer them a friendly cigarette and a swig of water? If so maybe Europeans should just fight each other and we'll stay home...see we've got other better things to do.

 

I can never tell who is who here. Germanic runes and icons....Ok I'll assume you're a German.</font>[/QUOTE]Me having a german avatar, or having a german nickname has nothing to do with it! For the record I am from the land down under and am chinese.

Of course not, but to reload your clip and then to plug a running guy in the back without offering him to surrender, that's harsh!

 

I must confess, I had not expected that.

This is the right moment to ask what "DimSum" means?!

 

Dim Sum is a Chinese Meal only found in restraunts that serve a chinese "lunch". It consists of ladies pushing trolleys around laden with steamed/deep fried dumplings, veges in oyster sauce or cakes. You check each trolley out as it passes you, say, I want 8 of those, they update your bill ... luverley!

I think we're digressing somewhat though

 

They tell me war is harsh...

If you read the whole story, remember that anecdotally, that the germans got off at least one shot which cut the man's ear AND that one man's actions broke the back of a panzer counterattack under planning into the area around St Mere Eglise, only slightly under control of the US Airborne at the moment. I would imagine he got decorated..

[ 23. December 2003, 09:29 PM: Message edited by: Texas Fred ]