MetaFilter posts tagged with ww2

Horrie the Wog Dog

web-goddess — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 02:50:09 -0800

Army Pack: Horrie the Wog Dog, 2/1Australian Machine Gun Battalion. An Australian soldier in WW2 befriended a puppy, and he went to great lengths to save him after the War. I saw it this morning on Letters of Note and thought it was great. Be sure to read to the end.

Violence, death, mud, insanity.

markkraft — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 03:43:26 -0800

Photos from the war. A slideshow of photos taken by German soldier Werner Wiehe... vermisst in Russland, 1944. (While viewing the slideshow, might I suggest playing some appropriate musical accompaniment, arranged in sequential order?!)

Beating Swords into Plowshares, Micronesian-Style

barnacles — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 12:34:15 -0800

The Pacific theatre of World War 2 left many traces behind. The shipwrecks of Chuuk Lagoon are probably the most famous, but they're hardly the primary reminders of former military action present in the day-to-day lives of many Micronesians. Besides the many large-scale remains of the war, such as abandoned airfields Quonset huts, and abandoned bunkers, many Micronesians live with recycled WW2 materials of a smaller kind. Marsden Matting is one of the most commonly seen pieces of WW2 materiel, and Marsden airstrips still exist. The materials have also found new life as walkways, construction materials, and, most often, as fencing (2). In the Marshall islands, Japanese military rice cookers have been turned into water catchments, and 127 mm ammunition boxes have been repurposed as water catchments, storage lockers, and copra driers. The scavenging of airplane parts is perhaps the zenith of Pacific war recycling. B-24s, in particular, presented a wealth of parts that found new peacetime purposes, such oxygen cylinders, propellors, and fuselage pieces. Even after the war, the US military was leaving behind items that the local people found useful: drop tanks from F-86s. For even more photos and text about Micronesian military recycling, check out this PDF (note: 7 MB).

An amazing woman

Idcoytco — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 09:03:26 -0800

The only woman in the French Foreign Legion. A little about the fantastic life of a brave woman.

Twice a Phantom

Skeptic — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 14:46:45 -0800

David Niven was best known for his acting work in roles such as The Pink Panther's Sir Charles Lytton, aka the Phantom, a suave playboy burglar with, as calling card, a white glove embroidered with a "P". Niven is also remembered as a generous, if not always entirely truthful, fountain of (mostly saucy) anecdotes, as well as a famous wit. However, there was one part of his life about which he was always notoriously serious and tight-lipped: his military service in the Second World War. A Gallipolli orphan, Niven had graduated in 1930 from Sandhurst. His early military career was however short-lived: three years later, escaping from arrest for insubordination, he resigned his commission on his way to America, where he was to start his film career as Anglo-Saxon Type #2008 from Central Casting. After the war broke out, Niven abandoned his budding stardom to re-join the British Army. However, most units, possibly aware of Niven's less-than-shining previous military record, rejected him. It was thus that Niven ended up in a rather eccentric and secretive outfit called the GHQ Reconaissance Regiment. Their task? Reconnaissance and liaison behind enemy lines. Their nickname? The Phantoms. Their regimental emblem? A "P". It's difficult to know whether Niven ever saw combat as a Phantom, although they were notorious for sending high-ranking officers to combat. Niven joined the unit as Major in command of Squadron A (this article includes a picture of him reviewing his squadron while wearing a helmet with the regimental "P"), but simultaneously worked in two propaganda films (together with his batman, a Pvt. Peter Ustinov). Later in the war he was attached to SHAEF, with the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. Apparently, he only ever gave one explanation for his discretion about the matter: I will, however, tell you just one thing about the war, my first story and my last. I was asked by some American friends to search out the grave of their son near Bastogne. I found it where they told me I would, but it was among 27,000 others, and I told myself that here, Niven, were 27,000 reasons why you should keep your mouth shut after the war.

Advertising in the public interest

Rhaomi — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 09:54:54 -0800

"What if America wasn't America?" That was the question posed by a series of ads broadcast in the wake of the September 11th attacks, ads which depicted a dystopian America bereft of liberty: Library - Diner - Church. Together with more positive ads like Remember Freedom and I Am an American, they encouraged frightened viewers to cherish their freedoms and defend against division and prejudice in the face of terrorism (seven years previously). The campaign was the work of the Ad Council, a non-profit agency that employs the creative muscle of volunteer advertisers to raise awareness for social issues of national importance. Founded during WWII as the War Advertising Council, the organization has been behind some of the most memorable public service campaigns in American history, including Rosie the Riveter, Smokey the Bear, McGruff the Crime Dog, and the Crash Test Dummies. And the Council is still at it today, producing striking, funny, and above all effective PSAs on everything from student invention to global warming to arts education to community service.

Additional resources: A-to-Z index of Ad Council campaigns - Campaigns organized by category - Award-winning campaigns - PSA Central: A free download directory of TV, radio, and print PSAs (registration req'd) - An exhaustive history of the Ad Council [46-page PDF] - YouTube channel - Vimeo channel - Twitter feed

" They that die by famine die by inches." -- Matthew Henry

orthogonality — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 18:41:37 -0800

The winter of 1944–45 is known as the ‘Hunger Winter’ in The Netherlands, which was occupied by the Germans in May 1940. Beginning in September 1944, Allied troops had liberated most of the South of the country, but their advance towards the North came to a stop at the Waal and Rhine rivers and the battle of Arnhem. In support of the Allied war effort, the Dutch government in exile in London called for a national railway strike to hinder German military initiatives. In retaliation, in October 1944, the German authorities blocked all food supplies to the occupied West of the country. Despite the war, nutrition in The Netherlands had generally been adequate up to October 1944. Thereafter, food supplies became increasingly scarce. By November 26, 1944, official rations, which eventually consisted of little more than bread and potatoes, had fallen below 1000 kcal per day, and by April 1945, they were as low as 500 kcal per day. Widespread starvation was seen especially in the cities of the western Netherlands. Food supplies were restored immediately after liberation on May 5, 1945.

But for many, who weren't even born when it started, the hongerwinter continues. Why? In part because "certain environmental conditions early in human development can result in persistent changes in epigenetic information" via DNA methylation. Epigenetics seems like a little bit of Lamarckism: environmental effects on a parent -- or even a grandparent -- can be passed to offspring, even without permanent changes to DNA. (previously)

"a real-life James Bond. His boozy amours, his tough postures, his intelligence expertise..."

The Whelk — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 11:55:35 -0800

In 1948, when John was five, Guy Burgess came to stay for a holiday. John's mother resented Burgess and his close relationship with her husband, and began staging accidents to claim attention; she once reported being mugged in her car, and on another occasion set fire to the living room, suffering serious burns. She was later sent to a Swiss clinic for treatment. Philby was posted to the United States the following year. The strange life of John Philby, the son of "the most hated man in England", Kim Philby, a member of the notorious Cambridge Five spying ring. (via)

On Paper Wings

netbros — Sat, 02 May 2009 13:49:47 -0800

Japanese Balloon Bombs — "In 1944, during World War II, Japan launched a top secret project, nearly two years in the making, to send thousands of "balloon bombs" (called Fu-Go Weapons) to the United States. The goal of the attack was to create panic, forest fires, and show the United States that it could be attacked from afar. Each of the more than 9,000 balloon bombs launched towards the United States, over the course of several months, carried a 15 kilogram bomb that would detach from the balloon and explode on impact with the ground." On a Wind and a Prayer. The United States government went to extraordinary measures to keep information on the Japanese balloon bombs out of the media. The United States knew that Japan could only measure its success based on media reports. And giving them that type of intelligence information could cause them to refine the balloons to be more accurate and deadly. The story of the Japanese balloon bombs is intriguing because so few Americans (to this day) know the story. Few realize that the only six American civilian casualties in the continental U.S. during World War II happened at the hands of a balloon bomb. And five of those casualties were children. Most primary sources on the Balloon attacks remained classified until the early 1980s because information on the Fugo Balloon Bomb technology was used by the U.S. military for their own balloon spying activities against the Soviet Union during the Cold War.

World War II History Reference

netbros — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 07:03:07 -0800

"With Germany arming at breakneck speed, England lost in a pacifist dream, France corrupt and torn by dissension, America remote and indifferent... do you not tremble for your children?" ― Winston Churchill, 1935. The World War II Database connects people, events, photographs, and other elements of history in relational db form to tell the story of the 20th century's 2nd great war.

Lost London, in photographs

6am — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 06:59:39 -0800

User El_Greco of the SkyscaperCity Forum presents "Lost London", an absolutely stunning photographic thread of old London architecture.

WWII in Color

desjardins — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 14:46:24 -0800

World War II pictures in color. Some favorites: Soldiers at the Coliseum. A WAC discusses sailing with an old hand. A canine "soldier" dons a gas mask during training. African-American MPs on Motorbike Patrol. Other galleries: WWII in Color. | A searchable database of color slides.| Library of Congress collection (also includes Depression-era photographs) | WWII in pictures (mostly Germans; one graphic photo halfway down)

Osama bin Lego, apparently

hifiparasol — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 01:35:04 -0800

So, for about two years now, Will Chapman of BrickArms has been creating a wide variety of custom Lego minifigures, ranging from World War II soldiers (both Axis and Allies) to a certain copyrighted British Secret Service agent. One of Chapman's more popular creations is "Mr. White," a "bandit" brimming with weapons (including an AK-47 and RPG) and grenades. This week, the Sun ran a story. Then Fox News ran another. A BrickArms representative responds on The Brothers Brick blog, then responds again. Oh, and just for fun, here's Michelle Malkin's take.

Romano Archives

nickyskye — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 22:45:13 -0800

ROMANO-Archives has a YouTube channel with over 270 color film clips, called Unknown WWII In Color. "World War ll has usually been seen in black and white, but our recent research has unearthed an abundance of superb color film that shows what it really looked like to those who were there. The Author presents mainly WW2 recently declassified and other previously unavailable material, exclusively filmed in color." They also have over 900 videos of Automobile History USA l lots of pages of images with history, like Jammin' with Betty Boop. [In English and Italian] Nicely organized here: "This Collection is also composed by videos showing many of the less known types of guns and vehicles used in WW2: suppressed weapons, "secret" weapons and numerous other weapons, including a wide range of different war planes. Gun-camera footage, bombings and air-war are greatly represented, as well as naval and submarine warfare. In this outstanding and unique Collection every single theatre of war is covered and footage captured to the enemy by the Allies is also listed, amateur films included. "Unknown World War 2 in Color" is a stunning and vivid new account of the epic conflict. In the Collection are also available 3 added color video sections about the last pre-war years, the immediate post-war and curiosities plus propaganda footage from various home fronts." Examples: 1945 To the Shores of Iwo Jima part 4 of 4 l Early 1980ies - Last Trip Inside the Führerbunker.

Keep Calm and Carry On

6am — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 17:42:26 -0800

In 1939, King George VI commissioned the Ministry of Information to produce three posters designed to reassure and prepare the British nation for an inevitable war. The posters were designed not so much to deliver any specific instruction, but rather to suggest an attitude - from King to country - towards the unknown. Stiff upper lip, old boy. KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON. YOUR COURAGE, YOUR CHEERFULNESS, YOUR RESOLUTION, WILL BRING US VICTORY FREEDOM IS IN PERIL, DEFEND IT WITH ALL YOUR MIGHT KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON This extract from a PhD thesis outlines in more historic detail the concept, execution and reception of the three posters.

The last ones leave us now.

allkindsoftime — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 13:19:50 -0800

Fewer than 100 survived Treblinka. I am the last one.

SNAFU

Mblue — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 05:45:28 -0800

F U B A R

15 Vintage Warplanes in Flying Condition

maxwelton — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 16:27:25 -0800

As the Seattle PI notes "Paul Allen's 'Flying Heritage Collection' of 15 planes, mostly dating from the 1930s and '40s, is noteworthy both because of its rarity -- several are the only models of their kind remaining -- and its condition -- almost all of them have been refurbished so that they can be flown." The collection includes: Curtis JN-4D Jenny Curtis P40C Tomahawk Fieseler FI 156-C2 Storch Focke Wulf FW 190D-13 Dora Grumman F6F Hellcat Hawker Hurricane Mk.XIIB Messerschmitt 163B Komet Messerschmitt BF 109E-3 Emil Mitsubishi A6M3-22 Zero-Sen Nakajima KI-43 Hayabusa Oscar North American P-51D Mustang Polikarpov I-16 Type 24 Rata Polikarpov U-2/PO-2 Republic P-47D Thunderbolt Supermarine Spitfire Mk VC The PI also has a photo gallery accompanying its story. The collection is housed at Paine Field in Everett, Washington (satellite view). Paine Field is also the home of Boeing's 747, 767, 777 And 787 assembly plant, as well as the Legend Flyers, a pair of reproduction ME-262 jet fighters from the same era.

An introduction to Bletchley Park

jwells — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 05:16:12 -0800

Bletchley Park: A WWII juggernaut. It decrypted German Enigma (try one!) and Japanese messages on an industrial scale in huts and blocks, had an outpost in Mombasa, and built one of the first modern computers (it helped that Alan Turing was on staff). Now a diverse museum with or without a funding problem, it generated yet more intrigue in 2000 when an Enigma was stolen, and hosts a rebuilt, working Colossus that launched a cipher challenge. Beating it wasn't easy! For those that want to play at home the shop is fantastic, and there is an unrelated project breaking unbroken Enigma messages.

See? Forts!

dersins — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 10:04:22 -0800

Britain's Maunsell Sea Forts [wiki] were built during WWII as part of the coastal defense system. They were decommissioned in the 1950's, but many of them remain in use for non-military purposes (this is arguably the most famous). Some great photos here. [previously on metafilter]

Insignia of Armed Forces in WW2

adamdschneider — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 19:10:30 -0800

The Armed Forces of World War II, a flash presentation of rank insignia. The creator implies that it's a work in progress, but what I've clicked through seems pretty complete to me. Bonus Babylon 5 link on the left.

HMAS Sydney and Kormeran found

mattoxic — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 15:59:32 -0800

Sailing from Sumatra back to Fremantle in November 1941, the Australian cruiser HMAS Sydney encountered a Dutch freighter off the West Australian coast. The freighter turned out to be the disguised German mercantile raider Kormoran. After an ensuing fight, the Sydney went down with all hands, the reasons for which have been debated ever since. First the Kormoran, then over night the Sydney have been found by research organisation, Finding Sydney Foundation.

The Astrologist who Foretold Hitler's Downfall.

rongorongo — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 05:59:48 -0800

Recently released documents from the British National Archives have unearthed the role of an astrologist called Louis de Wohl. His claim was that, since Hitler consulted an astrologer to determine what to do, he could look at the same star signs and predict what Hitler's actions would be. The Intelligence services apparently did not believe this - but British Security Coordination, a secret propaganda organisation designed to influence Americans to join the war, did see a possibility in this and sent him on a US tour where he foretold Hitler's imminent downfall. He may also have been asked to leak some information which had previously been decrypted from Enigma messages. A BBC Radio 4 interview with historian Christopher Andrew and writer William Boyd (starting 18min 50 sec in) provides more details.

Keep it under your Stetson.

OmieWise — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 07:04:33 -0800

Free Speech Doesn't Mean Careless Talk! World War II posters from the US Merchant Marine at War. More posters (Rivets are Bayonets, Drive them Home). There's lots of other cool stuff, like this brief history of privateers during the Revolutionary War.

Bloody Omaha

LarryC — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 07:05:34 -0800

How many men does it take it recreate the massive 1944 allied assault on Omaha Beach? Three. [YouTube] I don't know much about this clip except that the designers were working for a BBC program called Timewatch. (Via Andrew Sullivan.)