26 Nov 2020 Garand Picture of the Day

[Mark in Rochester]

Signal Corps photo 27 May 1944 (Italy) Kamerad! Trapped in Cisterna by advancing Fifth Army infantry these Germans raise their hands in surrender while being searched for hidden weapons. The picture was taken immediately after the Nazis came out of a ruined building from which they kept sniping until out of ammunition. In front is captive's gear which they brought out with them. Germans will change from helmets to hats after being searched.

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[Bob Seijas]

That really frosts me... they snipe all day and when they are out of ammo they want to quit? Too late in my book.

[Mark in Rochester]

I remember a story that if an American surrendered with an empty rifle the Germans shot them conversely if surrender with ammo they were spared

[Flying10uk]

The U.S., Britain and their allies were fighting the Nazis; it was important to try not to behave like Nazis while doing so.

[Daan Kemp]

The U.S., Britain and their allies were fighting the Nazis; it was important to try not to behave like Nazis while doing so

Quite correct, although war crimes were committed on both sides. The winner determines the result. However, the Allies weren't fighting the Nazi, which was the political party, I believe.

[Ovidio]

Quite correct, although war crimes were committed on both sides. The winner determines the result. However, the Allies weren't fighting the Nazi, which was the political party, I believe.

Agreed. There are accounts of crimes from all sides, and not a few of them also. Some people turn into beasts when they are given the chance to get away with it, independently from their culture and from their nationality.

[Flying10uk]

However, the Allies weren't fighting the Nazi, which was the political party, I believe.

Judging from what I've seen and what my parents have said Nazism was more than a political party, it was an ideology.

The UK's most highly sensitive secrets from WW2 will be held for 100 years and so we have to wait another 19 years to find out some of the unpalatable secrets that occurred in WW2 that we in the UK would rather the rest of the world didn't know about. It will be interesting to find out how many files have "gone missing" over the last 100 years.

Italian prisoners of war were considered such low risk in the UK that their POW camps didn't always have a fence.

[matthanne1]

it was an ideology

Yes indeed- 20th Century started quite a few murderous waves based on ideology- kill those who do not think the 'correct' way. 'We are the new men', 'Down with the four olds', etc.

[Mk VII]

Italian prisoners of war were considered such low risk in the UK that their POW camps didn't always have a fence.

That's true. The one at Mill Green near here where they dug potatoes during the daytime wasn't even guarded, I think. A lot of Italians worked in the brickfields near Bedford, many stayed on after the war.

[Bob Seijas]

Shoot the officer or senior NCO in charge, take the men prisoner.