World War II Database

1.  Bill says:
18 Sep 2011 09:45:18 AM

SAY PIERRE, THE MAP SAYS THE WINE CELLER IS JUST UP THE STREET, BUT JOE, THE BOCHE WILL NEVER GIVE IT UP, WITHOUT EXCHANGE FOR YOUR GI C-RATIONS, CIGARETTES AND A JEEP!

BOCHE (DEROGATORY NAME FOR THE GERMANS)MEANING: RASCAL OR SCOUNDREL

THOSE HEROS OF WWII, LOOK LIKE THEY COULD BE AMERICAN AND FRENCH MOVIE STARS

2.  Bill says:
18 Sep 2011 03:18:50 PM

The Resistance at first relied on captured German weapons, later the Allies would send weapons, explosives and other equipment.
The German MP-40 was very common in the hands of the resistance, they played a vital roll in aiding the Allies leading up to the
Invasion of Normandy June 6, 1944.
By 1944 it has been estimated that there were over 100,000 members in different resistance movements in France.

WE ARE ALL FRENCHMEN:

There was no one unified group called the Resistance, politics, left-wing, right-wing
and communist groups had their own agenda.
Both male and female members fought together
many were captured, tortured and executed very few survived if caught.
Sadly, there were those betrayed and turned in fellow Frenchmen,for personal gain, money and who supported the Germans.

SUCCESS STORIES:

The resistance created escape lines that assisted Allied pilots, crewman and agents
out of France.
Over 30,000 Allied servicemen evaded capture with the help of the resistance, it also tied
up German manpower and equipment, troops had to guard installations, towns, villages and cities guard checkpoints, maintain patrols
troops that the Germans could have used elsewhere.
Continued sabotage of rail, communications
and other vital industries helped turn the tide against the Third Reich.
The resistance was not large or organized
force, that is portrayed in the movies, it did exist in several loosly organized groups.

Photograph of French partisan carrying a Sten Mk II 9mm Submachine gun, the weapon used a 32 round box magazine, bandoliers held
seven magazines.
About 4.6 million Sten 9mm weapons were produced in all variants. The weapon was phased out of British service in the 1960s. Our GI Lt. has his trusty M-1911A1,.45 Automatic.

3.  Bill says:
12 Feb 2012 04:21:13 PM

MYSTERY CAR: FRENCH CURVE

This is my guess, the car in above photo could be a Citroen,designed in the 1930s,to be a simple,low-priced vehicle.
The machine was designed to carry two people 100kg of farm goods and have a top speed of 60km/h it would use three liters of gasoline to travel 100km. If anyone has more info post it here at ww2db