tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16962681.post1834045205835036618..comments2023-12-28T22:56:36.259+00:00Comments on Owsblog...: Obama on Operation Overlord's Omaha...Span Owshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10144861546996033462noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16962681.post-22847151120949428652009-06-11T20:59:16.210+01:002009-06-11T20:59:16.210+01:00Well yes, the Germans had lost Stalingrad in Febru...Well yes, the Germans had lost Stalingrad in February 1943 and were doing their Napoleon impersonation and retreating from Russia. I feel very humble whenever I visit the Normandy beaches and the cemeteries, it's something that stays with you always.Paulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15984687997030721919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16962681.post-75334288070979185092009-06-11T13:06:37.174+01:002009-06-11T13:06:37.174+01:00Didn't know that at all (re third of soldiers)...Didn't know that at all (re third of soldiers) sounds incredible. In WWI you can imagine it, that's why stoires re the football game at Christmas in no-man's-land etc are so heart-warming because everyone knew the futilty of what was happening.<br /><br />Indeed, re Beevors book, however it's more than just the American myths: by D Day things were very different to the previous years.Span Owshttp://owsblog.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16962681.post-41873459824861172992009-06-09T19:17:40.005+01:002009-06-09T19:17:40.005+01:00Did you know that only a third of soldiers in WWII...Did you know that only a third of soldiers in WWII actually fought? Montgomery didn't believe it when he was told that by a Russian general and so he had his own survey done as did the Americans and they all agreed. Apparently one-third wanted to fight, one third didn't (and mainly avoided firing their weapons) and the other third followed either of the other two groups.<br /><br />In the First World War, despite (or perhaps because of) the huge casualties, many soldiers on both sides fired at the ground rather than at the enemy.<br /><br />Antony Beevors new book on D-Day will help put a few things straight on what happened, apparently it finally corrects the myths that have been put about by the Americans about the French being Nazi collaborators. The Americans couldn't (and still can't) understand what happens to a nation when under occupation.Paulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15984687997030721919noreply@blogger.com