Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire So the NAZI Treasure Train is definitely real

Why are you talking and Renaults in WW II? They were regulated to last ditch second rate unit use by then. The Char B and the SOMUA were quite a bit superior to German tanks of the time. Remember, German tanks that invaded France were mostly Panzer IIs and IIIs. They were very lightly armored and armed tanks. There were a few IVs, but not many and they were armed mostly with guns in the 50mm range instead of the 75 mm that later made the IV the most useful tank of the war.

Good to have you back, JSTUART.

Thank you Joe Bob for catching my auto correct Somua! LOL!

Have a bio of a French soldier who was captured in '40 and spent almost the entire war in a POW camp. He mentioned that the first MAS 36 he saw was in the hands of a German guard taking them back to Germany!

He refered to it as "the new rifle with the disappearing bayonet".

I agree KW. The issue with the French armor was the way they were employed, mainly as an infantry support tool. Most of the German tanks were PZKW I & IIs that didn't even have a main gun and were really no match. The IIIs & IVs were good tanks but they did not constitute the bulk of the German armor.

Blitzkreig was what gave the German the edge (along with all the aforementioned issues) it was a combined arms effort with air power providing what was a very effective close air support with two-way comms between the air, infantry and armor as a coordinated thrust. That and some gutsy moves by Guderian. I'm also glad to see you brought out the smackdown Rommel received near Sedan as well. j

For a totalitarian state, the Germans had quite a bit of the left hand not knowing what the right hand was doing.

After the surrender of France, the Germans demobilized and mustered out a schit ton of divisions. They put off plans to modernize the Panzer IIIs and IVs by upgunning them. And they even changed some factories back to civilian production instead of military production.

So, the Army and the civilian infrastructure, far from planning for the invasion of the Soviet Union a year later, was getting back to life as normal.

The German divisions that invaded Russia were actually worse off than the ones that had invaded France. They contained fewer tanks and other equipment across the board and the tanks were largely unchanged from those that invaded France.

As late as 1943, the Germans had not switched over to a total war philosophy and were still squandering resources. It was amazing.

Holy hijack Batman!

Something that also hurt the French real bad were roadways packed with refugees! Being too dependent on the civilian phone service, and placing their refuel and support elements at the rear of their convoys. This really hurt when mixed withthe refugees.

There was an instance when the finance minister Renaud's mistress was directing traffic one morning at a crossroads in from of his country villa.

Another thing that was not too helpful for both British and French allies were the "chateau generals" who would not go to the front. German commanders tended to be at the front!!!!!

A pretty complex situation that I've always felt was an interesting study!!

The Rubix cube and the solution to Germany's Enigma Machine were developed in Poland.

What was ever created in Havre MT (other then yourself)?

I'm not from Havre you stupid Pollock.




Dave

Don't tell that to my late uncle and the other Polish pilots that flew in the Polish Air Force with the RAF. He flew a Hawker Hurricane during the Battle of Britain. The 303 Polish Fighter Squadron was one of the most effective, if not the most effective, RAF Fighter Squadron at the time ... A fact that was "hidden" from the British people for many years.

Hey another bit of trivia! Merrian Cooper, movie producer and director with old John Ford flew as a volunteer in the Polish Air Force during the russian war in the early 20's! He was even shot down and captured!

It would make a great "In Search of" Episode like this one:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBLn1YK5M3E

Gabby was a favorite ace of mine from WWII. I liked that he flew a P47.

Back to the OP. I really would like to have an 88 and some ammo. I don't suppose they will get on the open market, though. Until she retired, my wife was a "cleaning lady", and I helped at times. Maybe they will let us in for first peek.

Please let it be booby trapped.

Why did I know that someone would say that?

And, good morning to you Dave.

Not sure what to make of your post other than to ask why you list your location as Havre MT. OK, maybe you were born (or hatched) elsewhere, but ....

Maybe YOUR location should be given as Havre PL.

Sharp as ever.

Fugkin' Pollock.




Dave

Dave, your magnanimous and classy upbringing never fails to amaze me. In words even you would understand, "You da man, bro."