Tuesday, November 22, 2022

British tanks and carriers come to a stop on a narrow track in the Reichswald - April 1945. The soldier on the left is making a cup of tea on a portable stove.

 


9 comments:

  1. "History-
    In the Second World War, Klever Reichswald was the location of the Battle of the Reichswald, also known as Operation Veritable, in February and March 1945. In this protracted battle against British and Canadian troops on Germany's Western Front, German lines under General Alfred Schlemm (of the Luftwaffe) had been reequipped. The Siegfried Line was the most fortified in this area, and the troops were re-enforced by elite and experienced soldiers well prepared for protracted fighting.

    Military manpower-
    The terrain largely nullified the Anglo-Canadians' advantages in equipment, armament and munitions, and manpower. On the German side, over 90,000 men fought in this battle, and 52,000 were taken prisoner. [5] On the Anglo-Canadian side, nearly 200,000 men were engaged in the fighting, with 23,000 casualties.[6]"

    -I believe it was managed forest with trees in rows providing excellent cover to the German troops and exposing the allies. I've read it was bloody, costly, unecessary engagement, three months prior to the european hostility's end.

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  2. The squaddie is not "making" a cup of tea. He's "brewing up a cuppa".

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  3. Must be 5 o'clock.
    w.

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  4. Germany surrendered on May 8th 1945, less than a month probably from when this picture was taken.

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  5. I've read that some British tanks included a built in tea making capacity.....

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  6. For tea drinkers it's all about the ritual.

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  7. Well, coffee won the war.

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