Discover and read the best of Twitter Threads about #SWW
Most recents (24)
Relic Hunting
A long time ago friends sent me details of figures who scarpered over old battlefields with metal detectors.
Sometimes they found guns, usually scraps of metal, occasionally dead bodies... /1
#WW2 #SWW #History
A long time ago friends sent me details of figures who scarpered over old battlefields with metal detectors.
Sometimes they found guns, usually scraps of metal, occasionally dead bodies... /1
#WW2 #SWW #History
After a while pics of amateur excavations came up, the poster would show & tell their discoveries... then ask if their 'friends' were interested. /2
Their luck depended on a few factors; local knowledge, kit, skill, & an ability to trawl the tinternet in search of data kernels to direct their efforts.
By day they dug.
By night they drank.
Sometimes both. /3
By day they dug.
By night they drank.
Sometimes both. /3
1/ This was a long-time in the making, but the Special Issue on "Waste Economies Under Wartime Conditions: A Transnational Perspective on #recycling and #WW2" was just published by @BH__journal
tandfonline.com/toc/fbsh20/64/5
#twitterstorians #discardstudies #waste #history #SWW
🧵⬇️
tandfonline.com/toc/fbsh20/64/5
#twitterstorians #discardstudies #waste #history #SWW
🧵⬇️
2/ The introduction by Chad Denton & Heike Weber places the history of waste & recycling into an international context. It argues that we need to rethink waste's role in #bizhist & the role of salvage and reverse logistics in the history of #WW2 #SWW
tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.10…
tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.10…
3/ In "Nazi German waste recovery and the vision of a circular economy" Weber explores the waste economy inside the Nazi state & shows how waste reclamation was an integral part of Nazi ideological and racial worldviews.
tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.10…
tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.10…
So what were conditions like in Hamburg in 1945?
A thread for #HolocaustMemorialDay
53rd Welsh Division arrived in the city to find it in complete ashen ruins from the firebombing, only one building - the Atlantic Hotel - still stood. /1
#WW2 #SWW #History
A thread for #HolocaustMemorialDay
53rd Welsh Division arrived in the city to find it in complete ashen ruins from the firebombing, only one building - the Atlantic Hotel - still stood. /1
#WW2 #SWW #History
There were over 400 camps around the city, containing around 100,000 malnourished, half-starved and desperately ill slave workers drawn from across Europe: "Displaced Persons" from across Europe.
In all honesty, no liberating Allied soldier could comprehend what had happened. /2
In all honesty, no liberating Allied soldier could comprehend what had happened. /2
What they were witnessing was the grisly sinews of Nazi Germany's genocide state.Manufacturing everything from uniforms, boots, munitions, weapons, engine parts...
The essential, disposable pool of slave labour facilitating total war.
Simply worked to death & replaced. /3
The essential, disposable pool of slave labour facilitating total war.
Simply worked to death & replaced. /3
Winston Churchill, Sir Stafford Cripps, King George VI inspect HMS Victorious at Scapa Flow, 11 October 1942.
Inc Fleet Air Arm Martlets (British name for Wildcats) & Royal Marines.
Feel free to use!
Our shared heritage is best shared. /1
#WW2 #SWW #History
Inc Fleet Air Arm Martlets (British name for Wildcats) & Royal Marines.
Feel free to use!
Our shared heritage is best shared. /1
#WW2 #SWW #History
King George VI leads the inspection of HMS Victorious ship's company. /2
King George V chats to the Royal Marine officer. /3
I thought this SdKfz 250 neu numbered '416' looked familiar (or at least IDable given numbers), so dropped the amazing @Niels_1944 a line.
There's a SdKfz 251 behind it as well...
Turns out 416 is from 12th SS-Panzer-Aufklärungs, 12th SS-Panzer's recce. /1
#WW2 #SWW #History
There's a SdKfz 251 behind it as well...
Turns out 416 is from 12th SS-Panzer-Aufklärungs, 12th SS-Panzer's recce. /1
#WW2 #SWW #History
Niels recognised it standing out in this @BritishPathe footage, in a rare full close up.
04.36 onwards, about 12 seconds. /2
britishpathe.com/video/invasion…
04.36 onwards, about 12 seconds. /2
britishpathe.com/video/invasion…
The Missing Lynx members did a project trawling through British Pathe footage to ID vehicles/units etc back in 2002 - 2004.
Thanks to vehicle mods, this ties it to 12th SS-Panzer-Aufklärungs, KOed between St. Lambert & Chambois. /3
tapatalk.com/groups/archive…
Thanks to vehicle mods, this ties it to 12th SS-Panzer-Aufklärungs, KOed between St. Lambert & Chambois. /3
tapatalk.com/groups/archive…
The exceptional 1945 diary of an Infantry Battalion's Medical Officer.
Captain Ross, 6 Royal Welch Fusiliers
Let's start with January 1945 & the Ardennes.
Now shared for the first time, I hope you enjoy it.
Our shared heritage is best shared./1
#WW2 #SWW #History
Captain Ross, 6 Royal Welch Fusiliers
Let's start with January 1945 & the Ardennes.
Now shared for the first time, I hope you enjoy it.
Our shared heritage is best shared./1
#WW2 #SWW #History
/2
/3
Welsh Spearhead
A History of the 53rd Reconnaissance Regiment 1941 - 1946
Philip Cowburn
More of our shared heritage, shared! /1
#WW2 #SWW #History
A History of the 53rd Reconnaissance Regiment 1941 - 1946
Philip Cowburn
More of our shared heritage, shared! /1
#WW2 #SWW #History
I hope you enjoy my content, if you particularly do so, feel free to sling me a coffee!
ko-fi.com/reassesshistory /2
ko-fi.com/reassesshistory /2
/3
#OTD in 1944
Hour by Hour: Showdown in Normandy
After 5 DAYS of intense action as Second Army attempted to envelop Panzergruppe West... tanks stop rolling, lines are refortified & both sides lick their wounds.
Battle of manoeuvre by attrition rolls on. /1
#WW2 #SWW #History
Hour by Hour: Showdown in Normandy
After 5 DAYS of intense action as Second Army attempted to envelop Panzergruppe West... tanks stop rolling, lines are refortified & both sides lick their wounds.
Battle of manoeuvre by attrition rolls on. /1
#WW2 #SWW #History
Our story will focus on the kink of the line at the BOTTOM, by Èvrecy.
This spur was hard won during Operation Greenline, as 15th Scottish & 53rd Welsh Divisions attempted to through through the blasted market town & reach the Orne.
II SS-Panzerkorps put paid to that plan. /2
This spur was hard won during Operation Greenline, as 15th Scottish & 53rd Welsh Divisions attempted to through through the blasted market town & reach the Orne.
II SS-Panzerkorps put paid to that plan. /2
The minuscule crossroads of Le Bon Repos sat near the bottom of Hill 113, allowing British FOOs to peer over the flank of Hill 112 & direct observation accordingly into II SS-Panzerkorps rear areas.
It MUST be removed. /3
It MUST be removed. /3
❗️❗️❗️
WARNING
❗️❗️❗️
Turns out IWM's 3 minute vid on Jagdpanther by Delaney was JUST an EDIT of an 11 MINUTE monstrosity!
😲😲😲
BUCKLE UP /1
#WW2 #SWW #History
WARNING
❗️❗️❗️
Turns out IWM's 3 minute vid on Jagdpanther by Delaney was JUST an EDIT of an 11 MINUTE monstrosity!
😲😲😲
BUCKLE UP /1
#WW2 #SWW #History
First off, all my comments/facts in this thread stand.
That is important to remember.
So a huge amount is fundamentally misunderstood & confused. /2
That is important to remember.
So a huge amount is fundamentally misunderstood & confused. /2
He "that great combination of firepower... and the proven Panther tank chassis that is reliable and very well defended... the tank destroyer the German Army of the Second World War."
No.
Armoured triangle, but top trumps NONSENSE analysis. /3
No.
Armoured triangle, but top trumps NONSENSE analysis. /3
#OTD in 1944
Second Army's massive offensive to destroy Panzergruppe West further expands to two Corps (XII and XXX) w. 4 Divisions involved in 3 Operations; Greenline, Pomegranate, & Cormorant.
5 miles of explodes into action.
Goodwood comes 2 days later./1
#WW2 #SWW #History
Second Army's massive offensive to destroy Panzergruppe West further expands to two Corps (XII and XXX) w. 4 Divisions involved in 3 Operations; Greenline, Pomegranate, & Cormorant.
5 miles of explodes into action.
Goodwood comes 2 days later./1
#WW2 #SWW #History
Troubling reports reach Army Group B's Headquarters that some form of breakout looms.
Luftflotte III readies every available fighter and pilot, cancelling all rest and maintenance, to throw in a mega counter-strike. /2
Luftflotte III readies every available fighter and pilot, cancelling all rest and maintenance, to throw in a mega counter-strike. /2
One snapshot sees a massive armoured engagement swirling between the villages of Gavrus & Bougy as 153 'Essex' RAC's Churchills duke it out with 9th SS-Panzer's Panthers and StuGs at close range...
Will Panzergruppe West... and by extension Army Group B, survive? /thread
Will Panzergruppe West... and by extension Army Group B, survive? /thread
Special Interrogation Report
🧐🧐🧐
Generalleutnant Edgar Feuchtinger commander of 21st Panzer Division in Normandy
😲😲😲
What does he have to say???
🤔🤔🤔 /1
From WO205/1012
#WW2 #SWW #History
🧐🧐🧐
Generalleutnant Edgar Feuchtinger commander of 21st Panzer Division in Normandy
😲😲😲
What does he have to say???
🤔🤔🤔 /1
From WO205/1012
#WW2 #SWW #History
/2
/3
👇👇👇
D E C E P T I O N
😲😲😲
is important
🧐🧐🧐
Extracts of a series of trials during Exercise Spartan
WO199/230 /1
#WW2 #SWW #History
D E C E P T I O N
😲😲😲
is important
🧐🧐🧐
Extracts of a series of trials during Exercise Spartan
WO199/230 /1
#WW2 #SWW #History
/2
/3
A brief thread on Sir Tasker Watkins' VC action in 1944.
It's undeniable that Sir Tasker is one of the greatest Welshmen of the 20th Century, but there remains no biography & description of his VC action is just lazy copypasta of the original citation. /1
#WW2 #SWW #History
It's undeniable that Sir Tasker is one of the greatest Welshmen of the 20th Century, but there remains no biography & description of his VC action is just lazy copypasta of the original citation. /1
#WW2 #SWW #History
So first off, there are two slightly variant citations kicking about - with one different phrasing on display at Ashcroft's gallery at IWM.
The original eye witness statements have been lost by MOD, are currently not at Kew & god-knows where.
Here is one of the variants. /2
The original eye witness statements have been lost by MOD, are currently not at Kew & god-knows where.
Here is one of the variants. /2
In addition several other crucial files relating to Welsh soldiers were lost by MOD.
This is a bit of a theme.
Anyway, it meant the sources were limited.
So every bugger relies on the citation. /3
This is a bit of a theme.
Anyway, it meant the sources were limited.
So every bugger relies on the citation. /3
By 1944 a standard German infantry division had about 4.000 horses. Yes, you read that correctly: 4.000
#WW2 #SWW #History
#WW2 #SWW #History
The number of horses for the artillery as show here is actually too low because it included some batteries with just 3 guns, instead of the actual 4
For Normandy such 'standard' divisions included the 271ID, 272ID, 275ID, 276ID, 277ID, 331ID, 352ID, 353ID, 363ID. Of course these were not identical in strength for various reasons
The Administrative History of the Operations of 21 Army Group on the Continent of Europe: 6 June 1944 to 8 May 1945
This covers Phase II, inc... a little Op you may have heard of... #MarketGarden
Please #RT, share & DL! /1
#WW2 #SWW #History
This covers Phase II, inc... a little Op you may have heard of... #MarketGarden
Please #RT, share & DL! /1
#WW2 #SWW #History
Our shared heritage is best shared! /2
#OTD in 1944
Panzergruppe West launches a major counter-attack against Op Epsom, aiming to break VIII Corps, eliminate the Scottish Corridor & drive the British back. /1
#WW2 #SWW #History
Panzergruppe West launches a major counter-attack against Op Epsom, aiming to break VIII Corps, eliminate the Scottish Corridor & drive the British back. /1
#WW2 #SWW #History
This ultimately dooms Army Group B to a grinding battle of attrition & dashes any hopes of a major counter-strike to the sea.
German ops don't go well... to the extent that Lt-Gen Miles Dempsey doesn't actually believe this is the main counter-strike.
It's too crap. /2
German ops don't go well... to the extent that Lt-Gen Miles Dempsey doesn't actually believe this is the main counter-strike.
It's too crap. /2
Staggered, uncoordinated, messy & piecemeal commitment of units doesn't help.
I & II SS-Panzerkorps completely bugger it.
A more assertive attempt on 1 July runs into more messy problems, e.g. Rauray.
This is arguably *the* decisive campaign battle for both sides. /thread
I & II SS-Panzerkorps completely bugger it.
A more assertive attempt on 1 July runs into more messy problems, e.g. Rauray.
This is arguably *the* decisive campaign battle for both sides. /thread
The Administrative History of the Operations of 21 Army Group on the Continent of Europe: 6 June 1944 to 8 May 1945.
This covers Part I through Phase I.
Properly meaty stuff.
Please #RT, share & DL!
Our shared heritage is best shared!
#WW2 #SWW #History /1
This covers Part I through Phase I.
Properly meaty stuff.
Please #RT, share & DL!
Our shared heritage is best shared!
#WW2 #SWW #History /1
/3
Do you like tanks and A F V s???
AFV Recognition Part II: July 1943, Enemy turreted AFVs
Essential reading for anyone interested in how British and Canadian soldiers IDed the enemy.
Please #RT, share and DL!
Our shared heritage is best shared! /1
#WW2 #SWW #History
AFV Recognition Part II: July 1943, Enemy turreted AFVs
Essential reading for anyone interested in how British and Canadian soldiers IDed the enemy.
Please #RT, share and DL!
Our shared heritage is best shared! /1
#WW2 #SWW #History
/3
The First 100 Days aka Miles Dempsey's diary covering first 100 days of the campaign to liberate North-West Europe.
WO205/9
I'm a passionate believer in the need for transparent, open access history available to ALL - so have at it!
PLEASE #RT, share & dl!/1
#WW2 #SWW #History
WO205/9
I'm a passionate believer in the need for transparent, open access history available to ALL - so have at it!
PLEASE #RT, share & dl!/1
#WW2 #SWW #History
It's probably best to mention early on... that if you find this particularly helpful/useful/enjoyable, feel free to sling me a coffee!
ko-fi.com/reassesshistory
/2
ko-fi.com/reassesshistory
/2
/3
Time for a thread. As an archaeologist, I spend most of my time looking at wartime defences to work out how they would be used and how they were sited in the landscape to be most effective.
#SWW #WW2 #Pillbox #Archaeology
#SWW #WW2 #Pillbox #Archaeology
Every so often I get to look at documents to add further meaning to surviving defences, which is a hugely important. This make me very happy. Unfortunately, documentary research is rarely undertaken for anti-invasion defences. This makes me very sad.
Before I start, I need to clarify some of the misunderstandings around this period. There is a lot of mythology surrounding this whole period, some of which is now ingrained and taken for fact and at worst is #duffhistory. Here’s the main ones-
So, let's have give this report a bit more thought - and perhaps flip bits on the head.
a) Lack of use of binocs/reliance on cupola/less awareness of incoming fire/losing nerve.
British tank comds tended to unbutton to fight. So their cas rate is higher... /1
#WW2 #SWW #History
a) Lack of use of binocs/reliance on cupola/less awareness of incoming fire/losing nerve.
British tank comds tended to unbutton to fight. So their cas rate is higher... /1
#WW2 #SWW #History
Once you seal yourself inside a metal box you lose a huge amount of senses, that said you are less likely to become a casualty to arty/mortar fire etc.
This isn't particularly surprising, but does perhaps indicate German crew should have been more willing to unbutton. /2
This isn't particularly surprising, but does perhaps indicate German crew should have been more willing to unbutton. /2
But again, there is this key cultural difference between British and German approaches - that underpins a).
Losing nerve is harder to judge, but numerous German tanks were KOed around Rauray so it's likely confidence was undermined & unexpected losses shook tank crews. /3
Losing nerve is harder to judge, but numerous German tanks were KOed around Rauray so it's likely confidence was undermined & unexpected losses shook tank crews. /3
#OTD in 1918, Lieutenants Alan McLeod and Arthur Hammond, while flying over Albert, France, shot down a German Fokker Triplane before being bounced by eight more enemy aircraft. They shot down three more before crashing. A THREAD 1/10
#VictoriaCross
#VictoriaCross
McLeod and Hammond served in No. 2 Squadron, RAF flying the Armstrong Whitworth F.K 8, a two-seater. It was an effective and dependable aircraft that was used for reconnaissance, artillery spotting, ground attack, contact patrols, and bombing. 2/10
McLeod & Hammond were wounded by MG fire which also set their petrol tank on fire. McLeod side-slipped his craft to keep the flames away but it was still too hot in the cockpit, so he lept onto the wing and crouched low with the joystick pulled hard over in his right hand. 3/10
Welcome to the #watchparty #livetweet of Battlefields: El Alamein (2001).
The documentary, presented by Richard Holmes, is available on YouTube.
#Alamein1942
#SWW
#WW2
The documentary, presented by Richard Holmes, is available on YouTube.
#Alamein1942
#SWW
#WW2
This is the "director's cut" of the #livetweet, featuring additional images and quotes.
#Alamein1942
#SWW
#WW2
#Alamein1942
#SWW
#WW2
Richard Holmes (1946-2011) was a British military historian and army officer.
Known to the British public for his television documentaries, he once explained, "I don't really see myself as a TV presenter. I'm a historian who likes telling stories."
#Alamein1942
#SWW
#WW2
Known to the British public for his television documentaries, he once explained, "I don't really see myself as a TV presenter. I'm a historian who likes telling stories."
#Alamein1942
#SWW
#WW2
