WWII Photos and Documents - Page 5 - The Firearms Forum

SSMN · 07-12-2011, 08:34 PM

Taking fire from this farmhouse.

SSMN · 07-12-2011, 08:43 PM

Ran this one down with the truck during a firefight.

SSMN · 07-12-2011, 08:50 PM

Civilians crying as we search for snipers in the building behind them. Coburg April 15, 1945

SSMN · 07-12-2011, 09:24 PM

Rolling by bodies in Freyung

SSMN · 07-12-2011, 09:39 PM

Taking fire from center building later destroyed by our tanks.

SSMN · 07-12-2011, 09:43 PM

Streetcar after artillery hit. Prum, Germany

permafrost · 07-12-2011, 09:46 PM

Looks like they were flying a white flag at that building also.
Is that a woman peeking around the corner of the building on the right side of photo? If so,(I zoomed in and it sure looks like one), I wonder of she was standing there when the tanks opened up.

PS ,
You know you have enough interesting material here to write another book, with Sundown as the main character. Just follow him across the ETO.(with pics, of course) Would jog a lot of old memories that we all need to collect from the few left who were there. Frosty

SSMN · 07-12-2011, 09:53 PM

Permafrost,
Sorry, I wish the quality of some of these photos was better, but I'm glad to have them at all. I think that you are right about the white flag and then according to John, followed by sniper fire. it probably was easy to let down your guard when white flags were out following an artillery barrage. He got his Purple Heart by being shot through the throat in an ambush. In his official Bronze Star photo, you can see the bandage over the exit point, left rear side of his throat.

SSMN · 07-12-2011, 10:04 PM

I'm posting one page out of six describing Bronze stars awarded the same day that John got his. I hope it is readable if anyone chooses to read them. If requested, I would post other pages. Made interesting reading for me.

SSMN · 07-12-2011, 10:06 PM

Came out very well. Let me know if anyone would like to see other Silver/Bronze Star awards.

There were 18 awarded that day. John is first on the left, back row "Behind Col. Seibel"

SSMN · 07-12-2011, 10:18 PM

(Quote) PS ,
You know you have enough interesting material here to write another book, with Sundown as the main character. Just follow him across the ETO.(with pics, of course) Would jog a lot of old memories that we all need to collect from the few left who were there. Frosty(QUOTE)

I have thought of doing that, but unless you can find a publisher to do the heavy lifting, it gets very expensive.

I wrote "SS Walther PP/PPk Identification & Documents" in 2010 after finding a wealth of information in the National Archives. Formerly top secret data. It cost me a small fortune to self publish, but I have nearly sold out and so recouped my investment.

permafrost · 07-12-2011, 10:33 PM

I know nothing about the ins and outs of the publishing world. Thanks for your previous works, and posting all these great photos. I look for them every evening. Dad was in the Pacific as a medic during that part of the war, but he was reassigned to Europe I believe in '45. Was in Berlin when Patton died. He never talked at all about the gruesome stuff. Just being made to train a company on the M1 carbine,a weapon he had never held before, liberating a truck load of champaigne in France from another company that had liberated it. But it was always humour ,never any details. Frosty

SSMN · 07-13-2011, 07:32 AM

Worms....They chose to fight. March 21 1945

SSMN · 07-13-2011, 07:36 AM

Direct hit with a 90mm. Fulda

SSMN · 07-13-2011, 11:52 AM

Buildings wrecked by our artillery. Garrison refused to surrender. Fulda, Germany.

SSMN · 07-14-2011, 07:24 AM

Prisoners being transported in our boom truck.

SSMN · 07-14-2011, 07:33 AM

Our tanks were getting bigger... "General Pershing tank. 45 ton, 90mm gun, rolling into Miltach, Germany".

SSMN · 07-14-2011, 02:23 PM

And it was good that American tanks were getting bigger. Here is what they were facing.

"Tiger Royal out of action near Burg Rueland, Germany"
The little Shermans didn't stand a chance unless they could hit these from the side. Head on, their shells would bounce off.

SSMN · 07-14-2011, 11:01 PM

Another look at an M4 Sherman tank pulling into Coburg.

SSMN · 07-15-2011, 11:55 AM

Following the war, the 11th Armored division held annual reunions around the US. They were well attended and material passed out which John kept of course, was great.

I will try to post a few pages with wonderful photos.

reinhard · 07-15-2011, 01:21 PM

fantastic thread ,I think its an honour to watch these historic photo's
and I thank you for it,
Reinhard

SSMN · 07-15-2011, 03:27 PM

SSMN · 07-15-2011, 03:35 PM

I will attempt to post a few pages at a time of the after action report which coincide with the photos.

SSMN · 07-15-2011, 03:48 PM

"Giving the Jerries Hell. Tanks and trucks burning."

"P38 and ME in a dogfight overhead at the same time"

SSMN · 07-15-2011, 06:01 PM

Taking a break.
He carried a long barreled Navy Luger throughout the war. He never said where/when it came into his possession. He must have made his own holster because as you can see, he was left handed. The gun made it home to Minnesota with him and then some years later was stolen. No one locked their doors in those days in small towns. He was heartbroken.

07-12-2011, 08:34 PM	#101
SSMN Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Ely, Minnesota Posts: 507	Re: WWII Photos and Documents Taking fire from this farmhouse. Attached Images

07-12-2011, 08:43 PM	#102
SSMN Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Ely, Minnesota Posts: 507	Re: WWII Photos and Documents Ran this one down with the truck during a firefight. Attached Images

07-12-2011, 08:50 PM	#103
SSMN Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Ely, Minnesota Posts: 507	Re: WWII Photos and Documents Civilians crying as we search for snipers in the building behind them. Coburg April 15, 1945 Attached Images

07-12-2011, 09:24 PM	#104
SSMN Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Ely, Minnesota Posts: 507	Re: WWII Photos and Documents Rolling by bodies in Freyung Attached Images

07-12-2011, 09:39 PM	#105
SSMN Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Ely, Minnesota Posts: 507	Re: WWII Photos and Documents Taking fire from center building later destroyed by our tanks. Attached Images

07-12-2011, 09:43 PM	#106
SSMN Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Ely, Minnesota Posts: 507	Re: WWII Photos and Documents Streetcar after artillery hit. Prum, Germany Attached Images

07-12-2011, 09:46 PM	#107
permafrost Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Oklahoma, USA Contributor Posts: 1,771	Re: WWII Photos and Documents Looks like they were flying a white flag at that building also. Is that a woman peeking around the corner of the building on the right side of photo? If so,(I zoomed in and it sure looks like one), I wonder of she was standing there when the tanks opened up. PS , You know you have enough interesting material here to write another book, with Sundown as the main character. Just follow him across the ETO.(with pics, of course) Would jog a lot of old memories that we all need to collect from the few left who were there. Frosty __________________ Stand and Fight Last edited by permafrost; 07-12-2011 at 09:55 PM..

07-12-2011, 09:53 PM	#108
SSMN Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Ely, Minnesota Posts: 507	Re: WWII Photos and Documents Permafrost, Sorry, I wish the quality of some of these photos was better, but I'm glad to have them at all. I think that you are right about the white flag and then according to John, followed by sniper fire. it probably was easy to let down your guard when white flags were out following an artillery barrage. He got his Purple Heart by being shot through the throat in an ambush. In his official Bronze Star photo, you can see the bandage over the exit point, left rear side of his throat. Last edited by SSMN; 07-13-2011 at 09:35 PM..

07-12-2011, 10:04 PM	#109
SSMN Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Ely, Minnesota Posts: 507	Re: WWII Photos and Documents I'm posting one page out of six describing Bronze stars awarded the same day that John got his. I hope it is readable if anyone chooses to read them. If requested, I would post other pages. Made interesting reading for me. Attached Images

07-12-2011, 10:06 PM	#110
SSMN Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Ely, Minnesota Posts: 507	Re: WWII Photos and Documents Came out very well. Let me know if anyone would like to see other Silver/Bronze Star awards. There were 18 awarded that day. John is first on the left, back row "Behind Col. Seibel" Attached Images Last edited by SSMN; 07-12-2011 at 10:11 PM..

07-12-2011, 10:18 PM	#111
SSMN Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Ely, Minnesota Posts: 507	Re: WWII Photos and Documents (Quote) PS , You know you have enough interesting material here to write another book, with Sundown as the main character. Just follow him across the ETO.(with pics, of course) Would jog a lot of old memories that we all need to collect from the few left who were there. Frosty(QUOTE) I have thought of doing that, but unless you can find a publisher to do the heavy lifting, it gets very expensive. I wrote "SS Walther PP/PPk Identification & Documents" in 2010 after finding a wealth of information in the National Archives. Formerly top secret data. It cost me a small fortune to self publish, but I have nearly sold out and so recouped my investment. Last edited by SSMN; 07-12-2011 at 10:26 PM..

07-12-2011, 10:33 PM	#112
permafrost Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Oklahoma, USA Contributor Posts: 1,771	Re: WWII Photos and Documents I know nothing about the ins and outs of the publishing world. Thanks for your previous works, and posting all these great photos. I look for them every evening. Dad was in the Pacific as a medic during that part of the war, but he was reassigned to Europe I believe in '45. Was in Berlin when Patton died. He never talked at all about the gruesome stuff. Just being made to train a company on the M1 carbine,a weapon he had never held before, liberating a truck load of champaigne in France from another company that had liberated it. But it was always humour ,never any details. Frosty __________________ Stand and Fight Last edited by permafrost; 07-12-2011 at 10:37 PM..

07-13-2011, 07:32 AM	#113
SSMN Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Ely, Minnesota Posts: 507	Re: WWII Photos and Documents Worms....They chose to fight. March 21 1945 Attached Images

07-13-2011, 07:36 AM	#114
SSMN Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Ely, Minnesota Posts: 507	Re: WWII Photos and Documents Direct hit with a 90mm. Fulda Attached Images

07-13-2011, 11:52 AM	#115
SSMN Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Ely, Minnesota Posts: 507	Re: WWII Photos and Documents Buildings wrecked by our artillery. Garrison refused to surrender. Fulda, Germany. Attached Images

07-14-2011, 07:24 AM	#116
SSMN Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Ely, Minnesota Posts: 507	Re: WWII Photos and Documents Prisoners being transported in our boom truck. Attached Images

07-14-2011, 07:33 AM	#117
SSMN Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Ely, Minnesota Posts: 507	Re: WWII Photos and Documents Our tanks were getting bigger... "General Pershing tank. 45 ton, 90mm gun, rolling into Miltach, Germany". Attached Images Last edited by SSMN; 07-14-2011 at 07:34 AM..

07-14-2011, 02:23 PM	#118
SSMN Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Ely, Minnesota Posts: 507	Re: WWII Photos and Documents And it was good that American tanks were getting bigger. Here is what they were facing. "Tiger Royal out of action near Burg Rueland, Germany" The little Shermans didn't stand a chance unless they could hit these from the side. Head on, their shells would bounce off. Attached Images Last edited by SSMN; 07-14-2011 at 02:24 PM..

07-14-2011, 11:01 PM	#119
SSMN Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Ely, Minnesota Posts: 507	Re: WWII Photos and Documents Another look at an M4 Sherman tank pulling into Coburg. Attached Images

07-15-2011, 11:55 AM	#120
SSMN Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Ely, Minnesota Posts: 507	Re: WWII Photos and Documents Following the war, the 11th Armored division held annual reunions around the US. They were well attended and material passed out which John kept of course, was great. I will try to post a few pages with wonderful photos. Attached Images Last edited by SSMN; 07-15-2011 at 06:38 PM..

07-15-2011, 01:21 PM	#121
reinhard V.I.P. Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 202	Re: WWII Photos and Documents fantastic thread ,I think its an honour to watch these historic photo's and I thank you for it, Reinhard

07-15-2011, 03:27 PM	#122
SSMN Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Ely, Minnesota Posts: 507	Re: WWII Photos and Documents More Attached Images

07-15-2011, 03:35 PM	#123
SSMN Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Ely, Minnesota Posts: 507	Re: WWII Photos and Documents I will attempt to post a few pages at a time of the after action report which coincide with the photos. Attached Images Last edited by SSMN; 07-15-2011 at 03:37 PM..

07-15-2011, 03:48 PM	#124
SSMN Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Ely, Minnesota Posts: 507	Re: WWII Photos and Documents "Giving the Jerries Hell. Tanks and trucks burning." "P38 and ME in a dogfight overhead at the same time" Attached Images

07-15-2011, 06:01 PM	#125
SSMN Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Ely, Minnesota Posts: 507	Re: WWII Photos and Documents Taking a break. He carried a long barreled Navy Luger throughout the war. He never said where/when it came into his possession. He must have made his own holster because as you can see, he was left handed. The gun made it home to Minnesota with him and then some years later was stolen. No one locked their doors in those days in small towns. He was heartbroken. Attached Images