World War II Database

1.  BILL says:
24 May 2009 06:46:07 PM

Photograph of Hitler on the left marked by cross, with other soldiers during World War I. Photo taken at Hospital, Hitler has Iron Cross ribbon on uniform.

2.  BILL says:
3 Jul 2009 04:15:17 PM

Hitler The Warrior: He served four years on
the Western Front.
Awarded the Iron Cross 2nd Class
Promoted to Lance Corporal
Wounded in leg, two months in hospital
Awarded Iron Cross 1st Class
Gassed and temporarily blinded

Note*
Hitler passed up promotion to Corporal,
because it would result in being reassigned from messenger duty.
Besides Two Iron Crosses, Hitler was awarded
the Bavarian Military Medal 3rd Class w/Bar
and received, as did all wounded soldiers, The Cross of Military Merit.

3.  Bill says:
24 Oct 2009 07:00:20 PM

When World War I broke out, Hitler believing
the war would set everything right expressed
himself:
"For me it was deliverance,I am not ashamed
to say it today. I fell on my knees and thanked God"

-Adolf Hitler-

4.  Bill says:
27 Oct 2009 01:30:20 PM

On February 5,1914 months before war broke
out Twenty-five year old Adolf Hitler applied
for military service, and was turned away as
"Unfit for the Army or Auxiliary Corps. Too weak, Rejected".
On August 3,1914 Adolf Hitler, sent a letter
to the King of Bavaria begging him to be
allowed to enlist as a volunteer. His plea
was accepted, and he joined the 6th Battalion
of the 2nd Bavarian Infantry Regiment.

On October 20,1914 during the German drive
on France,Hitler in a letter to his Landlady
Frau Popp, confessed:
"I find it hard to contain my enthusiasm. How many times have I wished to test my
strength and prove my National Faith".

Both Adolf Hitler and Erich Maria Remarque,
two young German soldiers, fighting at the
same time,on the same front,maybe even the
same trench.
Both experienced the war, as a nightmare,
both became seriously wounded, both receive
the Iron cross, both loved dogs, both went on to publish books.
When the war ends, one becomes the greatest
pacifist writer of the century, the other
becomes the most Atrocious War Criminal of
the Century.
Erich Maria Remarque:
"All Quiet on the Western Front"

Adolf Hitler:
"Mein Kampf"

Did you know:
Adolf Hitler is the only European who, more
than half a century after his own death, is
still widely known around the world.
Other contemporary politicians, such as
Churchill, or de Gaulle are remembered in the
respective linguistic or cultural spheres,
the same goes for intellectuals like Gothe,
Kant,Ceruantes and Shakespeare.

5.  Bill says:
31 Oct 2010 03:09:23 PM

Did You Know...

For the first time since World War II German
soldiers were awarded the 'Iron Cross' for
bravery on the battlefield.
The ancient symbol, which dates back to the
Crusades, and was first awarded as a medal
in 1813.

The medal was pinned on the uniforms of four
soldiers who dragged wounded comrades and
childern from the site of a suicide attack
in Afghanistan last October 2009.

"IT'S NOT YOUR GRANDFATHER'S IRON CROSS"

The new medal is not the Black and Silver
Cross of World War I or World War II, it is
Gold in color w/ the National Colors of the
ribbon in Gold, Red and Black.

6.  Bill says:
21 May 2012 05:49:06 PM

German novelist Erich Maria Remarque fought
on the Western Front during WWI, and was wounded five times.
His book "All Quiet On The Western Front" is based on his experiences. The novel first appeared in 1928 in the German newspaper
Vossissche Zeitung, with a published book in 1929 and English translation in 1930.

Within 18 months of its 1929 publication it sold Two Million Five Hundred Thousand Copies (2,500,000), and was published in 25 Languages. The book was later made into a movie in 1930.

DID YOU KNOW:

The movie "All Quiet On The Western Front"
started filming at 11:00am November 11, 1929
that was eleven years to the day, that WWI ended.
More than 2,000 extras were used in the film to play German and French soldiers many of
were World War I Veterans.
Both German and French Veterans were hired, to make sure of the authenticity of uniforms and equipment. Due to its anti-war message,
Adolf Hitler and the Nazis banned the film in Germany, However during its brief run in German cinemas in the early 1930s, the Nazis disrupted the film, by releasing rats in the theaters...
Today "All Quiet On The Western Front" is part of the Library of Congress best 100 films of the 20th Century.

German Soldier: Paul Baumer

You still think its beautiful to die for your Country. The first bombardment taught us better. When it comes to dying for your Country, its better not to die at all...

7.  Bill says:
20 Jun 2015 02:00:20 PM

GUNS OF AUGUST: DECLINE OF EMPIRES

In 1914 the German Army numbered 784,325 officers and men w/ another 40,000 in administrative positions. Within weeks of war being declared, 3,800,000 had been mobilized.
German wartime strength on the Western Front was 2,850,000 and 1,700,000 serving on the Eastern Front. A total of 11,000,000 men had been mobilized.

WARS END: NOVEMBER 11, 1918

The German Army suffered over 5,000,000 casualties. The Treaty of Versailles restricted the German Army to 100,000 men, without heavy weapons as artillery, tanks and aircraft.
The treaty reduced the Navy to a small coastal force without battleships, cruisers, destroyers, aircraft and submarines.

WORLD WAR II:

World War I ended November 11, 1918, the seeds for WWII were planted during the Treaty of Versailles in 1919. The new sentry was cold and tired huddled in his guard booth, just starting his watch.
The night sky was clear, and cold with snow falling. The lone soldier would be later relieved, in the meantime, Lance Corporal Adolf Hitler had much to think about...

8.  Bill says:
23 Jun 2015 03:25:15 PM

GAS WARFARE:

August 1914 did you know it was France not Germany that was the first country to use gas against enemy troops during WWI.
January 1915 the Germans used tear gas against Russian troops on the Eastern Front, when the gas was exposed into the air during the winter, it was so cold, the gas would freeze.
April 1915 the Germans introduced chlorine gas on the Western Front.

HOW MUCH GAS WAS USED:

During WWI the Germans used 68,000 tons of gas. Both the British and French used 51,000 tons of gas. 120,000 soldiers on both sides were gassed and 91,198 suffered horrible death.
Did you know that during WWI thirty different types of gas were used.

GAS ATTACK: FEAR FACTOR

Did you know that Lance Corporal Adolf Hitler was temporarily blinded during a British gas attack on October 14, 1918 Ypres, Belgium.

This strange man during WWII would admittedly
refuse to release the use of gas against allied forces. Sitting in his Fuhrerbunker in Berlin 1945
he still refused to employ the use of gas against his enemies.
During WWII, the Germans were ahead of the allies in chemical weapons However, the German didn't want to use chemical weapons first, this mean allied relation. The truth was the allies lacked chemical weapon like the Germans so it was a fear factor that prevented any action by either side.

9.  Bill says:
8 Mar 2016 05:57:47 PM

THE FUHRER'S IRON CROSS:

Hitler was recommended and awarded the Iron Cross by his Commanding Officer, a Jewish German during WWI, Hugo Gutmann (1890 to 1962) died at 81, San Diego, Calif. USA. Sources list it was Hugo Gutmann, who pinned the award on Hitler's uniform.

BECAUSE THE FUHRER SAID SO:

During the Nazi period Gutmann faced the hateful Nuremberg Laws against Jews and a loss of his WWI service pension, but no action against him, due to the possible influence of Adolf Hitler.
Gutmann was also arrested by the Gestapo However, SS personnel who knew of his history had him released. He later left Germany with his family before WWII and later emigrated to the USA...