tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post3293556300436906136..comments2024-03-18T14:21:30.932-07:00Comments on Chant du Départ: It Was Just a Staff Car...OldAFSargehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-22195498528584989002020-07-18T14:20:10.742-07:002020-07-18T14:20:10.742-07:00The British government, especially the Prime Minis...The British government, especially the Prime Minister, cautioned the commanders in North Africa to stop aiding in the singing of Rommel's praises.<br /><br />But your theory has some merit a bear. We often forget that Rommel commanded the <i>Führerbegleitbatallion</i>, Hitler's escort, in 1939. Many argued that his command of 7th Panzer was a political appointment, though he did prove worthy of the command.<br /><br />Rommel ran hot and cold about Hitler throughout the war. In my own opinion, the Field Marshal was politically naive but was a damned good soldier.<br /><br />That has happened a LOT throughout history.OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-75896564187159544782020-07-18T12:16:12.622-07:002020-07-18T12:16:12.622-07:00I liked that book, but I liked the Greek ones (Gat...I liked that book, but I liked the Greek ones (Gates of Fire, Tides of War) better.<br /><br />Rommel gets to be a legend because the Allies needed an explanation for why they had trouble beating him in the desert, and he gets to keep his legend because postwar, the West needed to hold up his reputation for "clean" warfare to aid with West German rearmament. (We respect and like the Germans, just not those nasty Nazis!)a bearhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07871505359143633270noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-37891626655326151582020-07-18T07:24:33.773-07:002020-07-18T07:24:33.773-07:00The consequences of what might have been are terri...The consequences of what might have been are terrifying to contemplate. No mention of the Holocaust? The Iron Curtain extending to the Rhine?<br /><br />Some people today have no idea of the Pandora's box they are toying with.OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-2446273740165364842020-07-18T06:50:36.399-07:002020-07-18T06:50:36.399-07:00The frightening thing which occurs to me is if the...The frightening thing which occurs to me is if the coup had succeeded and Germany had capitulated by the end of July, what would have happened with the holocaust? I suspect it would have been whitewashed to prevent further death and destruction.<br /><br />Of course the holocaust is forgotten today for all intents and purposes. Modern ape-lizards know for certain that they are too good and too smart to let something like that ever happen again. It'll be fun when the machetes come out...<br /><br />Another troubling question is how prepared today's U.S. military is to do political operations as opposed to supporting and defending the Constitution and refusing unlawful orders. I'm not at all sure that our government of-by-for the people really understands the fire they are playing with. PrairieAdventurehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06466447251827774900noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-54572445750387961922020-07-18T06:27:17.502-07:002020-07-18T06:27:17.502-07:00War in the desert was very much like a naval battl...War in the desert was very much like a naval battle, no obvious terrain features and your navigation had to be spot on! Of course, most of the fighting took place near the coast as that's where the road was.<br /><br />Rommel fought a "clean" war compared to his colleagues. In 1944 Rommel was rather manic-depressive in his relationship with Hitler. He would be enthusiastic after meeting with him, then down in the dumps when seeing the reality at the front. I'm not sure what role Rommel would have played if the 20 July coup had worked. I don't even think the plotters really knew.OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-51775119256615004922020-07-17T22:41:18.313-07:002020-07-17T22:41:18.313-07:00I read an excellent historical novel on Rommel by ...I read an excellent historical novel on Rommel by Steven Pressfield, Killing Rommel. The book concerns his time in North Africa and the LRDG (Long Range Desert Group). And the origins of the SAS with David Sterling. Something Pressfield said that stayed with me - that war in the desert was more like an ocean battle, with armies going back and forth hundreds of miles. <br /><br />There is a story in that book - author's imagination or true? That Rommel was visiting his wounded in one of his field hospitals. And one of the Germans whispered to him to get out - it was now in British hands. <br /><br />True or not, it tells you have fast the lines changed in North Africa. <br /><br />As to the Nazis implicating him in the assassination attempt, I had read that he was only on the periphery. Had it succeeded, he would have been the liaison to the allies. <br /><br />Why? <br /><br />He was one of the few, if not the only, Nazi flag officer that the allies respected. The Afrika Korps was unique in that there were no SS, no Nazi atrocities. And he made sure that his British prisoners were treated humanely. Williamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05720206407574457665noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-1106808588112142302020-07-17T18:29:17.509-07:002020-07-17T18:29:17.509-07:00The "what ifs" of history give us a lot ...The "what ifs" of history give us a lot to ponder about.<br /><br />Cool B-36 pics!OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-26778945399100311422020-07-17T18:17:13.747-07:002020-07-17T18:17:13.747-07:00Hey Old AFSarge;
I wonder if the outcome of ...Hey Old AFSarge;<br /><br /> I wonder if the outcome of the war might have been different if he had survived the attack, might he have been able to marshall the "valkrie" group and make it stick or would he gone through Nuremberg trials or what? who know what the fickle fingers of fate might have done for Erwin Rommel, Perhaps it was best he went the way he went with his reputation untarnished. Btw I mentioned you in my blog ;) today lolMrGarabaldihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05768774166065615995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-12065859402320512122020-07-17T13:51:35.513-07:002020-07-17T13:51:35.513-07:00He was past his prime in 1944. He had really shot ...He was past his prime in 1944. He had really shot his bolt in Africa towards the end, he could make things painful but he had nothing to contest Allied numbers with. Besides, as an Army Group commander he had very little say in the deployment of his troops nor in their tactical decisions. The German command structure in Europe was a complete nightmare. As Field Marshal Rundstedt (commander of the entire Western Theater) said, I have the authority to change the guards at my HQ, Berlin controls the rest.<br /><br />There was no comparison between Africa in 1941 and France in 1944.OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-49864389519520944722020-07-17T13:39:16.547-07:002020-07-17T13:39:16.547-07:00What he did, in Africa, outnumbered, outequipped, ...What he did, in Africa, outnumbered, outequipped, on the sticky end of a failed logistics train, was nothing short of miraculous.<br /><br />For him to do that in France to the US and England would have been very costly to us.Beanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15293778848879361153noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-73844744057866714552020-07-17T12:02:23.340-07:002020-07-17T12:02:23.340-07:00STxAR - I looked up that book, looks like somethin...STxAR - I looked up that book, looks like something worth having!OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-79766334629694221822020-07-17T11:56:29.853-07:002020-07-17T11:56:29.853-07:00Beans - The game was too far gone for Rommel to ha...Beans - The game was too far gone for Rommel to have changed the course of the war. But it probably would have been more costly had he lived.OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-33011335723164917012020-07-17T11:54:26.063-07:002020-07-17T11:54:26.063-07:00As to the way out of the way part, yeah, me too.As to the way out of the way part, yeah, me too.OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-44412705757656174312020-07-17T11:54:03.547-07:002020-07-17T11:54:03.547-07:00That model of Spitfire had 2x20 mm cannons and 4x....That model of Spitfire had 2x20 mm cannons and 4x.303 machine guns. Short bursts, otherwise you run out of ammunition rather quickly.OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-86549656322295140592020-07-17T10:43:09.235-07:002020-07-17T10:43:09.235-07:00Either way, I'll hopefully watch the experimen...Either way, I'll hopefully watch the experiment from WAY out of the way.a bearhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07871505359143633270noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-34180563531989049972020-07-17T10:42:22.408-07:002020-07-17T10:42:22.408-07:00I dunno. The sheer volume of projectiles coming ou...I dunno. The sheer volume of projectiles coming out of WWII fighters is not small. If it's a spit armed with 4x20mm that's 3000rpm, and the 2x20mm + 4x.303 configuration gives up half the cannons to add a minigun's worth of .303 (4400+rpm).<br /><br />But, crucially, how long does the Spit spend on the gun run, compared to the faster Phantom? Does the pilot have his finger on the trigger for twice as long, which would actually put more lead in the target?<br />a bearhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07871505359143633270noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-61143965997382434802020-07-17T10:42:08.451-07:002020-07-17T10:42:08.451-07:00When my *redacted* was prepping to go to the sandb...When my *redacted* was prepping to go to the sandbox, I dug up a book called "The Tiger's Way" as a travel present. It was distilled info from years of conflict. I default to learning as much as I can, even from the adversary. You never know when the opportunity to use esoteric information will present itself. ;)STxARhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04588850178293194825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-9033804244352141382020-07-17T09:33:44.379-07:002020-07-17T09:33:44.379-07:00One of the more fortunate incidents. We were able...One of the more fortunate incidents. We were able to cut off a lot of front-line troops from their commanders. <br /><br />And that was a very fortunate random strafing. Rommel would have been a horror to fight in western France. We just had to deal with his prep work and pre-programmed plans, that got screwed up by Berlin from the beginning.<br /><br />A great man. Sad ending. But probably better than he would have had if he had survived to the end. The way France was trying to get revenge on any major officer that dared to step into France in 1940, Rommel might not have been spared.Beanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15293778848879361153noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-21678576803522018642020-07-17T09:31:59.578-07:002020-07-17T09:31:59.578-07:00Heh.Heh.OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-52037639776366120452020-07-17T09:30:14.373-07:002020-07-17T09:30:14.373-07:00One would think, unless the unit armorer was doing...One would think, unless the unit armorer was doing a bad job, that the 20mm Gatling of the Phantom would have done more damage.<br /><br />I think it was an IL-2 Sturmovik. After all, Stalin claimed he and his did everything, right?Beanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15293778848879361153noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-79558450044487209422020-07-17T09:27:52.192-07:002020-07-17T09:27:52.192-07:00An officer who had served with Rommel had this to ...An officer who had served with Rommel had this to say about James Mason's portrayal of the Desert Fox, "He was far too polite."OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-54090309520408832792020-07-17T09:04:23.201-07:002020-07-17T09:04:23.201-07:00😳 😝
I saw the movie “The Desert Fox” as a kid....😳 😝<br /><br /><br />I saw the movie “The Desert Fox” as a kid. <br />About all I remember is the scene where the staff car was strafed and that James Mason played Rommel. (not necessarily your) Uncle Skiphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02705753220273516841noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-38641039762807701322020-07-17T08:01:55.420-07:002020-07-17T08:01:55.420-07:00Heh. (Hopefully the Time Police aren't monitor...Heh. (Hopefully the Time Police aren't monitoring the blog...)OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-6747731312772112162020-07-17T08:01:05.611-07:002020-07-17T08:01:05.611-07:00Rommel was popular with the German people (due to ...Rommel was popular with the German people (due to Goebbels' propaganda machine). To have tried and executed him publicly would have been a propaganda nightmare. By threatening his wife and son, the Nazis convinced him to commit suicide.OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-40228970805613428952020-07-17T07:46:27.614-07:002020-07-17T07:46:27.614-07:00"I wasn't there, I'm old, just not th..."I wasn't there, I'm old, just not that old."<br /><br />20mm eh? F4's mounted those, eventually. Admit it...you stumbled across the Philadelphia Experiment settings, nipped back in time and hosed down Rommel and hopefully snagged a box of Winston's cigars and a bottle or twenty of his brandy...Stefanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14663293800162306859noreply@blogger.com