16-305 Garand Picture of the Day - Lemgo, Germany. April 1945.

[Mark in Rochester]

GI’s of the 2nd Armored Division guarding German prisoners. Lemgo, Germany. April 1945.

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[frankderrico]

Looks like a Luger & bayo on his hip.....Frank

[browningautorifle]

It's hard to see exactly what's in that holster and what the blade is...but what interests me is the men with his back to us appears to have a left handed holster on...see? Like a revolver holster.

[frankderrico]

Jim, I see it now.

This picture looks like a seen out of the movie "Fury". Tanker uniforms, grease stains, torn up pants, a Jeep and a tank. The TC in the movie carried a .45 revolver.

Best Regards.....Frank

[browningautorifle]

Yes, it was in a shoulder rig though. This looks a bit like a civilian left hand rig, stranger things. They did have saddle makers that would make anything... And they are 2nd armored div, that is armored infantry.

[Flying10uk]

The answer may be obvious to others, but what is the purpose of what appear to be long lengths of logs tied to the side of the Sherman tank?

[Mark in Rochester]

The answer may be obvious to others, but what is the purpose of what appear to be long lengths of logs tied to the side of the Sherman tank?

At least in the Pacific it was to prevent magnetic anti-tank mines



To the Japanese, the cheapest commodity of all was the soldier, so they eschewed expensive rockets and magnets and developed what the Allies called the 'lunge mine'. Ian Hogg describes it thus:


This was a powerful hollow charge unit mounted on the end of a bamboo pole and fitted with an instantaneous fuse operated by a string tied to the pole. On the approach of an Allied tank the Japanese volunteer would leap from hiding, holding the lunge mine up in front of him, rush up and jam the explosive charge against the tank. He then said a quick prayer and pulled the string. The resultant explosion pierced the tank with the hollow change- and the soldier with the bamboo pole"

In the ETO Wooden logs on tanks were really only used for getting yourself unstuck from mud and other difficult terrain.

[Bob Womack]

Don't be standing behind the tank when the log reaches the back of the tracks.

Bob

[#1oilman]

The roundness of the handle almost makes me think its a Broomhandle

[browningautorifle]

The roundness of the handle almost makes me think its a Broomhandle

I'm still thinking an S&W, probably the big N frame on issue...it's not shaped right for a broomhandle.

In the ETO Wooden logs on tanks were really only used for getting yourself unstuck

If you recall, the Panzerfaust in ETO, and anything on the sides gave more protection than nothing...getting stuck was always a pig with track vehicles.