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History, Reference, Research, and GrogTalk => Military (and other) History => Topic started by: Keunert on January 04, 2014, 02:49:22 PM

Title: Historical Times
Post by: Keunert on January 04, 2014, 02:49:22 PM
I just stumbled into this blog with tons of amazing pics and stories, civilian and military ones:
http://historicaltimes.tumblr.com


(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2F24.media.tumblr.com%2Ff165781d58cd034e2d92f3090464d1de%2Ftumblr_myvlckFE3W1s7e5k5o1_1280.jpg&hash=501541f70c0112c3ec2d6ac8180895921d548fb0)

emergency surfacing U 427
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: Keunert on January 04, 2014, 02:53:48 PM
(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2F25.media.tumblr.com%2F67540d0a4a3a17b8dd3813bc689c1444%2Ftumblr_myrytiHaeW1s7e5k5o1_1280.jpg&hash=102ff05e3539a0a4653dede753a646f483e8e255)

German Flak Helfer trying to reach the US troops, after being informed by a journalist that Hitler died
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: Keunert on January 04, 2014, 02:55:12 PM
Putin posing as family member at Reagan's visit to Moscow :)

(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2F25.media.tumblr.com%2F79448767c361e06980cd18e8497246fa%2Ftumblr_my80qqkA5n1s7e5k5o1_1280.jpg&hash=be02b4f347eb5591e1e7d6c20640a4797ea2fe48)
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: Keunert on January 04, 2014, 02:56:00 PM
Soviet Para over Leningrad

(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2F24.media.tumblr.com%2F026e39a7f132642b6f18dddc70f1a7c9%2Ftumblr_mymiz4Wepk1s7e5k5o1_1280.jpg&hash=cb77efef72ef1a63a98ca7cc9ae8b5c315efae35)
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: Keunert on January 04, 2014, 03:14:45 PM
Italian troops moving a gun in the italian alps, WW1

(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2F25.media.tumblr.com%2F7026061d30e5a51f1b4ec45f6a5a533b%2Ftumblr_mwv28nyb6m1s7e5k5o1_1280.jpg&hash=3fe6638cc19763350d8c406976707d86711fb742)
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: Keunert on January 04, 2014, 03:15:25 PM
German Soldier at Kursk

(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2F31.media.tumblr.com%2F51684804cfc7d8e73f5c44c1f6d48153%2Ftumblr_mx2bcvb1M91s7e5k5o1_500.jpg&hash=ad30a8ba416862ba21cc33b84a18112543e7c740)
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: Keunert on January 04, 2014, 03:16:16 PM
Dead Iraqi Soldier  :o

(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2F24.media.tumblr.com%2F23b0fe36d60d83c42d781d60b216eddb%2Ftumblr_myrytgCeN11s7e5k5o1_1280.jpg&hash=31abb40432bf61e6c045b39319a8d484fc1dcbe6)
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: BanzaiCat on January 04, 2014, 03:16:55 PM
Cool stuff. Where's the blog?
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: GDS_Starfury on January 04, 2014, 03:31:57 PM
that U boat photo almost made me sea sick.
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: Staggerwing on January 04, 2014, 03:43:43 PM
Quote from: Keunert on January 04, 2014, 02:55:12 PM
Putin posing as family member at Reagan's visit to Moscow :)

(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2F25.media.tumblr.com%2F79448767c361e06980cd18e8497246fa%2Ftumblr_my80qqkA5n1s7e5k5o1_1280.jpg&hash=be02b4f347eb5591e1e7d6c20640a4797ea2fe48)
Very interesting! Putin looks almost... harmless.

How looks can be deceiving. Here he is at another key moment in history:


(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg19.imageshack.us%2Fimg19%2F3716%2Flbjputin.jpg&hash=30c673a95242dfb1fe8a36447c3eb4365a9da55d)

Coincidence? I think not.  :o
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: Keunert on January 04, 2014, 05:12:10 PM
the link: http://historicaltimes.tumblr.com
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: Keunert on January 04, 2014, 05:38:30 PM
(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2F25.media.tumblr.com%2Ff513ff8c5dab37f6d946fc56538755d0%2Ftumblr_mx32iaXLug1rcoy9ro1_1280.jpg&hash=879a07396c3b5e583da0849022e4e9783f75cdd0)
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: Keunert on January 04, 2014, 05:39:27 PM
German's using a captured allied halftrack

(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2F24.media.tumblr.com%2F914f628f331938c00b98253b798731e5%2Ftumblr_mx4w9bnA6G1rcoy9ro1_1280.jpg&hash=3d70630c444eda1bc5c8b248922a1ef87b9bc34d)
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: Gusington on January 04, 2014, 05:47:47 PM
Jesus that cooked Iraqi kinda sneaks up on you, eh?

That Soviet paratrooper is frickin' hardcore!
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: Keunert on January 04, 2014, 06:31:24 PM
French Foreign Legion Pionier

(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2F24.media.tumblr.com%2Fe1b9a9eb72d65b3993b69024f8885d72%2Ftumblr_mwy2esQV1k1rcoy9ro1_500.jpg&hash=6fa5186b0f2b7117431801566f346c1386b0b0cd)
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: BanzaiCat on January 04, 2014, 06:33:27 PM
(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2F25.media.tumblr.com%2F6d817d4252b37384831d7101affd7bd1%2Ftumblr_myrytoVwR01s7e5k5o1_1280.jpg&hash=3c364af9bae7db4a9aff11b6cc99f428e2a8f8d9)

This pic of Willie (Patton's dog) a few days after Patton's death is kind of heartbreaking.
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: Keunert on January 04, 2014, 06:35:46 PM
Bosnia, 90's

(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fcdn.theatlantic.com%2Fstatic%2Finfocus%2Fbosnia041312%2Fs_b27_34245020.jpg&hash=c05c9239dc902484a8bc5fbe582ba8aeafaf4ce3)
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: Keunert on January 04, 2014, 06:37:18 PM
British soldiers rescuing dead soldiers out of a shot down german tank

(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2F31.media.tumblr.com%2Ftumblr_m8x4zmbg7V1rc7erjo1_1280.jpg&hash=a4ad26d1ae49c7ef356d9f40cbc2bd25baf3e81a)
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: Keunert on January 04, 2014, 06:38:39 PM
Russian plane spotting gear 1917

(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2F24.media.tumblr.com%2Fb69c4fb6520ca53740511de1a591a7c3%2Ftumblr_mty6uzmVVT1qk52auo1_1280.jpg&hash=03afb6eba8dd5bbb39ab512e5ae89414b547d28c)
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: TheCommandTent on January 04, 2014, 06:41:30 PM
Those are some fascinating pictures.






Also I hate to be the one to say this but .... in the world of photoshop how legit are some of these?  I am sure alot of fine and some are even sourced but others don't seem to have a source or a dubious one at best.
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: bob48 on January 04, 2014, 06:47:02 PM
Quote from: Keunert on January 04, 2014, 06:37:18 PM
British soldiers rescuing dead soldiers out of a shot down german tank

(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2F31.media.tumblr.com%2Ftumblr_m8x4zmbg7V1rc7erjo1_1280.jpg&hash=a4ad26d1ae49c7ef356d9f40cbc2bd25baf3e81a)

My dad had to do that job for a while in the western desert - he had some very gruesome tales to tell.
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: GDS_Starfury on January 04, 2014, 06:48:40 PM
Quote from: Keunert on January 04, 2014, 06:37:18 PM
British soldiers rescuing dead soldiers out of a shot down german tank

(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2F31.media.tumblr.com%2Ftumblr_m8x4zmbg7V1rc7erjo1_1280.jpg&hash=a4ad26d1ae49c7ef356d9f40cbc2bd25baf3e81a)

It might be me but rescuing someone usually implies that you're alive and have a head.
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: bob48 on January 04, 2014, 06:52:18 PM
I think Kenny means 'recovery of mortal remains'.

Dad said that it was obviously a sickening job that no one wanted to do, but in every team there was always one bloke who would go in first to 'liberate' items of interest or value. Technically, I guess that would be classed as looting.
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: GDS_Starfury on January 04, 2014, 07:05:10 PM
Either way its unsung honorable work.
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: Keunert on January 04, 2014, 07:07:54 PM
Bob: do you have pics from your dad?
i recently got pics from my granddad's french and russian travels.

would be great to see, if there are any
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: Airborne Rifles on January 04, 2014, 08:45:36 PM
Quote from: Gusington on January 04, 2014, 05:47:47 PM
Jesus that cooked Iraqi kinda sneaks up on you, eh?

That Soviet paratrooper is frickin' hardcore!

Paratroopers usually are  8)
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: Atilla60 on January 04, 2014, 09:04:21 PM
Quote from: Keunert on January 04, 2014, 05:12:10 PM
the link: http://historicaltimes.tumblr.com
Great find Keunert. Thanks for sharing.
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: bob48 on January 05, 2014, 07:01:53 AM
Quote from: Keunert on January 04, 2014, 07:07:54 PM
Bob: do you have pics from your dad?
i recently got pics from my granddad's french and russian travels.

would be great to see, if there are any

I think my mother may have a couple of 'posed' photo's from that period, but they are portrait type ones and may have been taken later in Italy. I have one somewhere of him which may have been taken in France in 1940. He served throughout the war in the 5th Infantry Division.

What is interesting is that his unit was in Iraq prior to El Alamein. Whilst 5th Div was not present at that battle, his subunit  (RASC) was rushed back to Egypt in time for the battle. and was tasked with supplying ammo to the arty, so he well remembered the opening barrage of the battle. At one point they were taking ammo directly off the trucks to the guns, so that seems to indicate the vast expenditure of shells.

Later he took part in both the landings in Sicily, Italy and Anzio. He was wounded (by arty fire) somewhere around Monte Cassino and spent several months in hospital.

My mother, who is 87, has now passed on to me his medals. At some point I'll take a photo of them and post them here.
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: BanzaiCat on January 05, 2014, 12:51:13 PM
That's pretty amazing, Bob. Looking forward to seeing them.
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: Keunert on January 06, 2014, 02:24:09 PM
(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2F25.media.tumblr.com%2Fe5dacbf95356958aec858fb141881fa4%2Ftumblr_myz7wnyqZh1s7e5k5o1_1280.jpg&hash=317ca087cc05f45e09d96f57b074bf58c34bb294)

I obtained this image from the @RealTimeWWII twitter page. It's supplied with the quote from Vasily Grossman, who was then a journalist with the Red Army, "Germans, frozen to death, line the roads. Practical jokers put them in fanciful poses"
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: undercovergeek on January 06, 2014, 03:31:43 PM
i thought that was the aforementioned soviet Para after landing
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: Gusington on January 06, 2014, 08:31:42 PM
Bawb my Grandfather was also at Anzio, in North Africa and in Sicily, then Italy, with the 5th Army, in the artillery.

I knew you looked familiar :)
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: BanzaiCat on January 06, 2014, 08:40:51 PM
Quote from: Gusington on January 06, 2014, 08:31:42 PM
Bawb my Grandfather was also at Anzio, in North Africa and in Sicily, then Italy, with the 5th Army, in the artillery.

I knew you looked familiar :)

How old does that make you, Gus? ;)
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: GDS_Starfury on January 06, 2014, 11:07:48 PM
5' 3"

which in tree terms is pretty old but we'll have to cut off a limb and count the rings.
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: bob48 on January 07, 2014, 10:23:44 AM
Quote from: Gusington on January 06, 2014, 08:31:42 PM
Bawb my Grandfather was also at Anzio, in North Africa and in Sicily, then Italy, with the 5th Army, in the artillery.

I knew you looked familiar :)

Really? Well I remember him saying that at Anzio, he was at times running supplies to US units, which he liked, since they were often able to eat at US mess'. He was impressed because they gave him steak and ice cream, which was a nice change from bully-beef and army biscuits. Also, he was able to draw C-ration packs (I think it was) which contained all sorts of goodies from toilet paper to gum.
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: Keunert on January 07, 2014, 01:02:17 PM
did your dad like to talk about the war with you Bob?
i guess you were interested in his story?
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: bayonetbrant on January 07, 2014, 01:59:57 PM
Quote from: Keunert on January 07, 2014, 01:02:17 PMdid your dad like to talk about the war with you Bob?

The Boer War, maybe.  Anything after, Bob was an active participant in, wasn't he?  ;)
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: bob48 on January 07, 2014, 02:20:01 PM
Kenny. Yes, he did, but only later in life would he mention anything about the horrific part of the war, such as the tank recovery. What he delighted in was the comradeship and the fact that he was able to see so much of the world.

I wish I had asked him more questions, and taken note of some of the stuff he told me, as I'm sure some of it I have forgotten.

Just recently, I've been digging about on the net to try and find some missing bits of info. I'm pretty certain that he was attached to 17th Brigade, at least for part of the time.

from my own research, and from things he told me, I know he saw service in the following countries;

France and Belgium

After Dunkirk, he went to India via cape Town. He loved India and had chance to visit the Taj Mahal.

From there to the Middle East, Iraq and Persia (as it was then). I know he was in the Holy Land as he did go to Jerusalem and 'floated' on the Dead Sea.

His unit also made 2 trips taking Aircraft to the Russians, where, apparently, they drove through Neutral Turkey wearing civilian clothes and with all unit markings painted out.

From there he went to Egypt, where he visited the Pyramids and saw the Sphinx, and, as mentioned above, Sicily and Italy. Eventually he went back to North Africa, and then back to the UK.

By this time he was a sergeant, and was in charge of an ATS section (Auxiliary Territorial service) who were all girls. he must have enjoyed this, as he said that ATS stood for 'Action, Traction and Satisfaction'. They were mainly employed on transporting German POW's around from camp to various building sites were they were used as labour.

Another funny story is from my mother, who dad had by this time met. She was horrified when he drove up to her house one day in truck loaded with German POW's!

I miss him very much as we were great friends. I'm very proud of my Dad.
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: Keunert on January 07, 2014, 02:31:32 PM
cool Bob, thanks for the story. great stuff to visit the wife with a truckload of ze Zermanns... wow
here's my grandfather in France: he was around 35-38.

(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1184.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fz336%2FKeunert%2Fgrossvaeter%2Fportrait.jpg&hash=e2db48a7345b15f20d5ef195f6dce63c33dd5705)
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: Keunert on January 07, 2014, 02:31:48 PM
(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2F1.bp.blogspot.com%2F-3drX_t7Wst8%2FTVlyI9e9EoI%2FAAAAAAAABCw%2FMw5NFkVOjaM%2Fs1600%2Fworld-war-2-color12.jpg&hash=4f3c9b8295f64c6f64b05feb154a52a69b1db207)
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: bob48 on January 07, 2014, 02:38:32 PM
They are Finns - I've seen that one before somewhere.
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: bob48 on January 07, 2014, 02:40:41 PM
Quote from: Keunert on January 07, 2014, 02:31:32 PM
cool Bob, thanks for the story. great stuff to visit the wife with a truckload of ze Zermanns... wow
here's my grandfather in France: he was around 35-38.

(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1184.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fz336%2FKeunert%2Fgrossvaeter%2Fportrait.jpg&hash=e2db48a7345b15f20d5ef195f6dce63c33dd5705)

Luftwaffe?
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: Keunert on January 07, 2014, 02:45:45 PM
yes, first years part of an engineer bat. of the Luftwaffe. severly wounded during Case Blue and after recovery part of an airstrip in Greece.
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: bob48 on January 07, 2014, 02:46:52 PM
Bet he would have some interesting stories to tell.
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: Keunert on January 07, 2014, 02:59:38 PM
he did not tell much, the war was a non topic. the only tthing my father remembers is he telling him that he had seen how the Wehrmacht treated and deported jews and that it was clear what would happen to them.

i wish my father had asked more. but i guess the postwar years was about a fresh start and looking forward.
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: bob48 on January 07, 2014, 03:17:33 PM
Very understandable.
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: Gusington on January 07, 2014, 08:43:22 PM
Consider yourselves lucky, my Grandfather hated talking about the war and it was like pulling teeth to get him to tell us anything.

Life in the Army before the war, however, he loved. He joined in 1938 and always said the peacetime Army (1938-1941) was the best time of his life (pissing off my Grandmother of course :)).

He loved the food, made good friends, traveled and generally had a great time. He was discharged in June 1941 went back into civilian life until Pearl Harbor was bombed...on his 26th birthday. He then was taken back into the Army and served straight through to 1945.
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: Centurion40 on January 09, 2014, 09:01:53 AM
Quote from: Atilla60 on January 04, 2014, 09:04:21 PM
Quote from: Keunert on January 04, 2014, 05:12:10 PM
the link: http://historicaltimes.tumblr.com
Great find Keunert. Thanks for sharing.

Yeah man, what Atilla said.
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: Centurion40 on January 09, 2014, 09:05:18 AM
Quote from: bob48 on January 07, 2014, 02:20:01 PM
Kenny. Yes, he did, but only later in life would he mention anything about the horrific part of the war, such as the tank recovery. What he delighted in was the comradeship and the fact that he was able to see so much of the world.

I wish I had asked him more questions, and taken note of some of the stuff he told me, as I'm sure some of it I have forgotten.

Just recently, I've been digging about on the net to try and find some missing bits of info. I'm pretty certain that he was attached to 17th Brigade, at least for part of the time.

from my own research, and from things he told me, I know he saw service in the following countries;

France and Belgium

After Dunkirk, he went to India via cape Town. He loved India and had chance to visit the Taj Mahal.

From there to the Middle East, Iraq and Persia (as it was then). I know he was in the Holy Land as he did go to Jerusalem and 'floated' on the Dead Sea.

His unit also made 2 trips taking Aircraft to the Russians, where, apparently, they drove through Neutral Turkey wearing civilian clothes and with all unit markings painted out.

From there he went to Egypt, where he visited the Pyramids and saw the Sphinx, and, as mentioned above, Sicily and Italy. Eventually he went back to North Africa, and then back to the UK.

By this time he was a sergeant, and was in charge of an ATS section (Auxiliary Territorial service) who were all girls. he must have enjoyed this, as he said that ATS stood for 'Action, Traction and Satisfaction'. They were mainly employed on transporting German POW's around from camp to various building sites were they were used as labour.

Another funny story is from my mother, who dad had by this time met. She was horrified when he drove up to her house one day in truck loaded with German POW's!

I miss him very much as we were great friends. I'm very proud of my Dad.

Thanks for sharing Bawb!
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: Centurion40 on January 09, 2014, 09:08:47 AM
Quote from: Keunert on January 07, 2014, 02:45:45 PM
yes, first years part of an engineer bat. of the Luftwaffe. severly wounded during Case Blue and after recovery part of an airstrip in Greece.

That's a great pic of your grand dad Kenny.

It's part of the sadness in life, that we can't keep asking our parents and grand parents questions when they're gone.
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: Centurion40 on January 09, 2014, 09:10:29 AM
Quote from: Gusington on January 07, 2014, 08:43:22 PM
Consider yourselves lucky, my Grandfather hated talking about the war and it was like pulling teeth to get him to tell us anything.

Life in the Army before the war, however, he loved. He joined in 1938 and always said the peacetime Army (1938-1941) was the best time of his life (pissing off my Grandmother of course :)).

He loved the food, made good friends, traveled and generally had a great time. He was discharged in June 1941 went back into civilian life until Pearl Harbor was bombed...on his 26th birthday. He then was taken back into the Army and served straight through to 1945.

Do you have any sense of where he served, at all?
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: Gusington on January 09, 2014, 11:43:11 AM
Yeah in Sicily, Italy and North Africa, probably right next to Bawb's Dad. He was in the US Fifth Army under General Mark Clark.
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: Centurion40 on January 09, 2014, 12:06:14 PM
Quote from: Gusington on January 09, 2014, 11:43:11 AM
Yeah in Sicily, Italy and North Africa, probably right next to Bawb's Dad. He was in the US Fifth Army under General Mark Clark.

Do you know if he served in the combat arms or support?  One can only imagine what he experienced if he didn't want to talk about it.
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: Gusington on January 09, 2014, 02:02:14 PM
He was in the artillery.
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: Keunert on January 09, 2014, 02:50:12 PM
Gus: your grand dad was jewish? at whach point did he now about the genocide? was this a factor in his commitment?


i was artillery too! Not Sicily but Monte Ceneri.
Nor did i risk my life for a just cause... but still
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: Centurion40 on January 09, 2014, 03:07:38 PM
Quote from: Gusington on January 09, 2014, 02:02:14 PM
He was in the artillery.

My mom's father was in the artillery in WWI.  He lied about his age and was sent to France in the early summer of 1918 and took part in the Hundred Days Offensive.  He told me some stories when I was 6 or 7, but I only remember his stories of guys falling into latrines, pissing into handkerchiefs to cover mouths and survive gas attacks.
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: GDS_Starfury on January 09, 2014, 03:15:14 PM
great grand parents, grandparents and fathers on all different sides and today we hang out.
thats progress.  ;D
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: bob48 on January 09, 2014, 03:16:30 PM
Quote from: GDS_Starfury on January 09, 2014, 03:15:14 PM
great grand parents, grandparents and fathers on all different sides and today we hang out.
thats progress.  ;D

+1 The same thing went through my mind as well.
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: Gusington on January 09, 2014, 08:24:02 PM
That is progress! One of my best friends' Grandfathers fought for Italy and we're convinced my Grandfather fought hers :)

Kenny: interesting question. According to my family history, my Grandfather knew how Jews were being treated in Europe in the 1930s, and supposedly he tried to sign up for the Canadian Army so he could go over there before the US got involved! Nothing ever came of it I suppose but he got his chance a few years later anyway.

My Grandmother always said the war changed my Grandfather forever. In a different time my Grandparents would have probably been divorced (he drove her fucking nuts) but because of what the war did to him she stayed with him until she died.

One story my Grandfather did tell me was about a buddy of his who was decapitated by a line strung out over the road in North Africa. After that he would kick my GI Joes and yell at me that 'war aint no toy!' He had a few other things he would say but was mostly quiet about it.

My paternal Grandfather was a US Navy weatherman (like our Toonces) on a destroyer in the Pacific, but he died when I was two and I never knew him, which is a shame.

I also had a Great Uncle who died at the Battle of the Bulge.
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: BanzaiCat on January 09, 2014, 09:08:45 PM
My great-great-great grandfather came over from Ireland with his young wife and baby boy in 1860, in New York City. When the Civil War broke out the next year, he promptly signed up for the Union Army, joining one of the New York regiments (not sure which one, there were at least four I think). He was wounded in his first battle and all I know about him after that is he died in New York City shortly thereafter due to wounds. I can only imagine being transported back to NYC must have been a harrowing experience in and of itself for a wounded soldier.

My great-great grandfather, the baby boy, became a cavalry officer, but I don't know much about him unfortunately.

My great-grandfather was in the Medical Corps and did serve during World War I. He was a Colonel.

My grandfather was part of the Army Air Corps in WW2, working with signals. He joined the Air Force when it became its own entity. He died in 1992; he never talked much about his service nor the service of my forefathers, but I know I was a bitter disappointment to him for not joining the military myself. I did do four years of high school Army JROTC and two years of Air Force ROTC in college. If it weren't for an overly pushy Coast Guard recruiter that scared me off, I might have joined the CG. I almost got a job as a cop in 1990 in San Marcos, Texas too, getting past all the tests and background checks and getting a visit in my home by a field training officer, but my optometrist told him I couldn't wear contacts and so poof went that opportunity - had I gotten that job it would have been a dream come true for me at the time, and would have had the added bonus of getting my grandpa off my back about military service, LOL.
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: Gusington on January 09, 2014, 09:49:06 PM
Was your Great x 3 Grandfather in the 7 Inf. Reg., or maybe the 69th? I didn't know you had NYC roots. My family didn't get to Brooklyn until 1910. Technically I am only 2nd generation American.
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: BanzaiCat on January 09, 2014, 09:52:51 PM
I had the information when I was huge into genealogy about 2000-2002 or so. Might have been the 7th, that sounds familiar, but I just can't remember.

I have a lot of family around Bath, NY, that I've only met once many years ago, on my granddad's side. When I was born my mom lived with my grandparents and they all moved to N. VA about three months after I came along.

I lived just a few miles from Manassas growing up, too. Never went there. :( Moved to San Antonio in 1979 or so.
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: Gusington on January 09, 2014, 10:08:57 PM
Never heard of Bath, NY...but I see on a map that it is about 250 miles from where I'm sitting...God's country.
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: GDS_Starfury on January 09, 2014, 10:10:36 PM
hmmm

the pun to use isnt funny.  :-[
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: MetalDog on January 10, 2014, 12:25:13 AM
Thank God there IS an end to puns!!!  YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: bob48 on January 10, 2014, 07:28:53 AM
^I know you don't really mean that, MD.  ;D

Seriously though, this has become a very interesting thread.
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: BanzaiCat on January 10, 2014, 07:33:59 AM
We can probably string it along for a little while longer.
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: bob48 on January 10, 2014, 07:37:29 AM
Give you enough rope............
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: BanzaiCat on January 10, 2014, 07:47:55 AM
That certainly would tie everything together. I'm knot sure MetalDog would appreciate it, though.
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: GDS_Starfury on January 10, 2014, 07:48:48 AM
it keeps him in stiches.
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: bob48 on January 10, 2014, 07:51:35 AM
I bet he's tongue tied now.
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: BanzaiCat on January 10, 2014, 08:06:21 AM
He can't hang with these puns anyway.
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: GDS_Starfury on January 10, 2014, 08:12:04 AM
since the stories of our forefathers have tied us together lets not get to funny.
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: ComradeP on January 11, 2014, 12:07:43 PM
It's a rope-a-dope, MetalDog will lash some punishment together soon.

Thanks for the link Keunert, some unique photographs there.
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: bob48 on January 11, 2014, 12:09:14 PM
Its bound to happen.
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: ComradeP on January 11, 2014, 12:16:25 PM
He'll lace out his reply with a roper.
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: MetalDog on January 11, 2014, 12:18:48 PM
In a tie, you all either hate me or want to see me go mad.
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: ComradeP on January 11, 2014, 12:24:11 PM
We'll all get knotted for it.
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: bob48 on January 11, 2014, 12:25:18 PM
..if we hang around long enough......
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: Staggerwing on January 11, 2014, 12:28:09 PM
No doubt the management will be by shortly to upbraid us all.
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: Gusington on January 11, 2014, 12:56:00 PM
...
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: BanzaiCat on January 11, 2014, 03:03:13 PM
I'm afrayed I don't get some of these. But you know where this is bound to go.
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: bob48 on January 11, 2014, 03:42:45 PM
Sorry Cat - points away - I already used 'bound'  ;)
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: BanzaiCat on January 11, 2014, 07:32:06 PM
Which is why I try to tie two in sometimes.

And...AHEM, but you used "hang" before and I used it before you did, sir.

Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: bob48 on January 12, 2014, 06:07:20 AM
Quote from: Banzai_Cat on January 11, 2014, 07:32:06 PM
Which is why I try to tie two in sometimes.

And...AHEM, but you used "hang" before and I used it before you did, sir.

Um....I was just testing........to see if you were alert.
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: BanzaiCat on January 12, 2014, 11:02:55 AM
Cheerio old chap. No harm done. As it hempens, we're all in it for the punnery.

Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: ComradeP on January 12, 2014, 01:45:21 PM
MetalDog's probably in a bind by now.
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: bob48 on January 12, 2014, 02:02:42 PM
Quote from: Banzai_Cat on January 12, 2014, 11:02:55 AM
Cheerio old chap. No harm done. As it hempens, we're all in it for the punnery.

You're just spinning a yarn now.
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: BanzaiCat on January 12, 2014, 02:38:34 PM
Well, if at first you don't succeed, tie, tie again.
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: Staggerwing on January 12, 2014, 02:47:28 PM
This thread is starting to unravel.
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: GDS_Starfury on January 12, 2014, 02:52:30 PM
I cotton believe you people took it this far.
MD ire will truly loom over us.
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: BanzaiCat on January 12, 2014, 03:11:49 PM
Never! All wish to bow to the might of punnery!

If they fell into an upholstery machine instead, they'd be fully recovered.
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: bob48 on January 12, 2014, 05:24:32 PM
must finds a way to cushion the blow.
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: BanzaiCat on January 12, 2014, 05:25:55 PM
No, they're bed to the bone - they can handle it.
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: Staggerwing on January 12, 2014, 05:27:53 PM
We will endure- nothing else mattress.
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: bob48 on January 12, 2014, 05:28:44 PM
Quote from: Staggerwing on January 12, 2014, 05:27:53 PM
We will endure- nothing else mattress.

That's just pillow talk
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: BanzaiCat on January 12, 2014, 05:37:16 PM
We're all dirty rattan scoundrels for even doing this.
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: bob48 on January 12, 2014, 05:39:29 PM
^LOL. That just about covers it, and now I really am going to bed!
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: BanzaiCat on January 12, 2014, 05:43:32 PM
^ Carpet diem, sir!  ;D
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: GDS_Starfury on January 12, 2014, 10:54:19 PM
one certainly has to be cut from a different cloth to hang.
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: Keunert on February 18, 2014, 02:07:39 PM
(https://24.media.tumblr.com/30cc00c03ae1f65828929613846d1db8/tumblr_n1705954ah1s7e5k5o1_500.jpg)

Axis body part depot after Stalingrad  :o
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: Martok on February 19, 2014, 06:53:15 AM
Dear gods.  Where'd you find that one Kenny? 

Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: bob48 on February 19, 2014, 07:26:37 AM
Its pretty shocking for sure.
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: Keunert on February 19, 2014, 09:23:36 AM
it's all from the blog that is mentioned in the thread title and also before the 5 pages of good old punnery.
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: Keunert on February 25, 2014, 12:01:11 PM
(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2F24.media.tumblr.com%2F97fd47b476f7d80d3cfa865fb50e6014%2Ftumblr_n1jp3fSjbH1s7e5k5o1_1280.jpg&hash=7eac887f51e683d060b30456c7a806ea872e918c)
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: Gusington on February 25, 2014, 12:24:36 PM
That thing carries 120??
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: Keunert on February 25, 2014, 02:52:14 PM
that's why they won the war
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: bob48 on February 25, 2014, 05:07:19 PM
I think that was not a real vehicle.
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: Staggerwing on February 25, 2014, 08:25:42 PM
The sentry crouching inside the guard tower disguised as a street light fixture shows that the beastly machine is true to scale. Fie on those Fiendish Huns and their leviathan war engines!
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: bob48 on February 26, 2014, 08:52:23 AM
Nah. Can't find anything on the web about it. Plus, I doubt they would have had a power plant powerful enough or small enough to propel anything that heavy.

I'm not convinced. 'Tis propaganda!
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: Gusington on February 26, 2014, 09:06:15 AM
I'm viddying this on a phone so detail is tiny...but I hope it was a real thing.
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: bob48 on February 26, 2014, 10:33:40 AM
My thought is that if it really did exist, and given the level of interest here about WW1, we would have heard of it before.

I await further proof, but remain very sceptical  :-\
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: Keunert on February 26, 2014, 10:49:09 AM
Tze Zerman Zsar Tank
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: bob48 on February 26, 2014, 11:11:23 AM
Quote from: Keunert on February 26, 2014, 10:49:09 AM
Tze Zerman Zsar Tank

Nah - that was the one with great big daft bicycle wheels  ;)
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: Gusington on February 26, 2014, 02:28:16 PM
That's right...the Tsar was also Russian, not German.
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: BanzaiCat on February 27, 2014, 07:36:33 AM
I think the key is...

QuoteCourtesy of "The Sketch"

...which sounds kinda like it could be an old-timey Onion.

Anything THAT big would weigh so much it would tear the $hit out of those city streets. Gotta be propaganda.
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: ComradeP on March 04, 2014, 02:30:22 PM
I think it's from a wartime periodical and intended to make fun of the Germans in some subtle way we no longer understand.
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: BanzaiCat on March 04, 2014, 02:51:06 PM
Nonsense. If it's bigger, it HAS to be better.

See: Maus, Ratte, etc.
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: ArizonaTank on March 05, 2014, 05:51:06 AM
I'm in the fake photo camp.  The shadow underneath the vehicle stops after the front wheels.  For it to carry 120 it would have to be much longer.  Also, you would see something of the back wheels.  A shadow or something.  Finally, the gaps between wheel plates seems to be inconsistent between the wheels.
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: Staggerwing on March 05, 2014, 06:31:21 AM
It's definitely a fake. The vehicle is lit from the front and the lamp post is lit from behind. You can see the lamppost's shadow across the rubble in front of it.
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: bob48 on March 05, 2014, 07:10:21 AM
Quote from: bob48 on February 25, 2014, 05:07:19 PM
I think that was not a real vehicle.

You all agree with me then?  ;)
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: GDS_Starfury on March 05, 2014, 07:27:41 AM
are you agreeing with yourself?
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: BanzaiCat on March 05, 2014, 07:41:25 AM
Quote from: bob48 on March 05, 2014, 07:10:21 AM
You all agree with me then?  ;)

Gawdon Bennet! i' is okay, sir. I' 'appens sometimes. OK?
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: bob48 on March 05, 2014, 11:32:49 AM
Smug mode  :D
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: GDS_Starfury on March 05, 2014, 12:02:30 PM
(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fmedia.tumblr.com%2Ftumblr_m2hhggRFAG1qzfnl7.gif&hash=90b78148600082ef4c5d3f535d6ee0277289d468)
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: bob48 on March 05, 2014, 02:04:49 PM
ROFL!
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: GDS_Starfury on March 05, 2014, 06:51:45 PM
 ;D
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: BanzaiCat on March 05, 2014, 09:20:31 PM
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: Steelgrave on March 05, 2014, 11:18:55 PM
MD, look at what I found on the Historical Times site:

(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2F24.media.tumblr.com%2F1d97f1633e32be9ec62403d9b28e9bc2%2Ftumblr_n1we2hMimu1s7e5k5o1_500.jpg&hash=dc18e5f0f8f0e305959b11efd40358f6a3abe8eb)

Just for you, brother.
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: bob48 on March 06, 2014, 05:23:36 AM
Zappa!
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: undercovergeek on March 06, 2014, 05:27:14 AM
when i saw that yesterday i thought it was MD
Title: Re: Historical Times
Post by: Steelgrave on March 06, 2014, 02:36:54 PM
Quote from: undercovergeek on March 06, 2014, 05:27:14 AM
when i saw that yesterday i thought it was MD

A common mistake  8)