History Forum / War History / World War II / July 2008

During the Bulge, a 105mm Assault Gun of the 17th Tank Battalion (7th
Armored Division) was hit by anti-tank fire at an unknown location (the tank
was in an area overrun by Germans and not in US control for another month,
and whoever recovered the remains apparently could not ...

I recently read the book "Lucky Thirteen" by Ken Wiley, it is the
account of his service as a  US Coast Guard coxswain on an LCVP during
WW2.  It is on the whole a very good book but there are several
stories he tells that I wonder about.

I have many questions concerning the confusing ranks in the different
branches of the SS.
I would like to know the standard policies concerning ranks for SS
when the were going from the Allgemeine or the police to the Waffen

Specially recommended:  Noel Annan, Changing
Enemies: the defeat and regeneration of Germany
(1996).   Noel Annan started in British army intelligence
HQ (Dept. MI 14 = German section) aged 24 in 1941

Is there any information on what led Judge Neithardt to be so sympathetic
toward Hitler? Was he a Nazi party member? If he was, I am suspicious it
would be common knowledge by now, but I can't find any information at all
about his motivations.

Relations and information exchanges between the German Navy and Japanese
Navy were practically non-existent. I've heard that the IJN did offer some
advice to the the Kriegmarine on carrier building - but it appears very
nominal.

I was wondering if anyone could help explain for me the reason for the
general lull in activity under Nimitz's command in 1943.  We took
Gaudalcanal in February, and then the next major offensive wasn't
until November.  Following that, there was a major campaign almost

I understand the brokered deal that led to Hitler becoming Chancelor, but
what I don't understand is how the members of the Reich were not able to
contain him--as they believed they could.
Why were "Storm Troopers" (SA, Brown Shirts) allowed to roam the streets

http://www.ljmilitaria.com/44b8b0900.jpg
Does anyone know what this is or where it came from?
I am asking on behalf of the owner and not myself. No one at RAM knows
what it is. Perhaps this NG is best for such things.

An A6M2 Zero was found off the coast of Malaya, near the small island of Aur
(Pulau Aur). That's about +50miles east of the Port of Mersing, Malaysian
Peninsula.
At this stage I don't think anyone knows how it crashed there - whether in a

Interesting article.
http://www.theguillotine.info/articles/outside.php
"The Nazis employed it extensively: twenty guillotines were in use in
Germany which, from 1938, included Austria. In Nazi Germany beheading

What was the impact of the 1942 Doolittle raid on Tokyo? Was it a wise
move in retrospect? Besides the light bomb damage and some
redeployment of Japanese defense back to the city, I gather there was
some morale boost in US.

I am reading the book "Drive" by Col. Charles Codman.
In it he has a cold and is treated with what he called
"sulfathiazole". I am assuming that this is one of the
then well known "sulfa" drugs. When his cold is over he

What was the FDR administration's bottom line in its negotiations with Japan
in 1941 - before the sneak attack?
For example, could Japan keep its territories in Manchuria - and did it have
to totally pull out of China?

Allied Strategic Bombing In Europe
Dear Group:
I have seen books saying the USAAF lost more bombers that the RAF and
vice versa. I am not sure if fighter bombers are getting figured into