WWII Points To Ponder

[cyberia]

The first German serviceman killed in the war was an observer mistakenly killed by the Japanese in China, 1937.

The first American serviceman killed in the war was an observer unintentionally killed by the Russians in Finland. 1940.

[cyberia]

Among the first prisoners captured at Normandy were a group of Koreans.

They had been forced to fight for the Japanese Army until they were captured by the Russians, then forced to fight for the Russian Army until they were captured by the Germans, and finally forced to fight for the German Army until they were captured by the US Army.

[MAGNA]

That's almost a ridiculous situation to find yourself in. It must have been hard just to get name, rank, serial no.

[cyberia]

Originally Posted by MAGNA

That's almost a ridiculous situation to find yourself in. It must have been hard just to get name, rank, serial no.

Well, they had several to chose from.

[cyberia]

Following a massive naval bombardment, 35,000 US and Canadian troops stormed ashore at Kiska. During the first hour of the assault 21 men were killed.

The Allies estimated casualties would have been much higher had there in fact been any enemy troops around. The Japanese abandoned the island several weeks before.

The 21 deaths were ruled as accidental and/or friendly fire.

[MAGNA]

Oops. Makes you wonder what proportion of casualties are due to friendly fire / accidents in other landings.

[Jim O]

When the US Army landed in North Africa, among the equipment brought ashore were 3 complete Coca Cola bottling plants.

[krieg]

is this really true thats enuff for the germans as well.. wow
krieg

[Horch]

I don't recall the name of the operation but there were a lot of Americans killed by German 'fast' boats prior to D-Day. They were practicing the landings and were jumped. It was covered up for quite a few years.

[kentek]

Exercise Tiger was a rehearsal for the Utah Beach landing held at the Slapton Sands beach in Slapton, South Devon. Early in the morning of 28 April, 1944, German E-boats sighted a convoy of 8 LSTs in Lyme Bay and attacked. 638 servicemen were killed - 441 U.S. Army and 197 U.S. Navy personnel. Many drowned while waiting to be rescued.

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