If your World War II knowledge is mostly about your M1, this will expand your world

[DaveHH]

I know guys who during WW2 slept on the ground for 3-4 years. In Vietnam we did 1. They lost as many men crossing Europe in 10 months as we did in Vietnam in 10 years. Hats off to the Russian for bleeding hard, they fought the Germans when they were as fine as any soldiers who ever put on boots.

The Germans never went on full wartime production 24/7 until 1944, we did it by '42. People should read books like "Supplying War" and "Himmler" to find out the real story. Those top Nazis were in it to line their pockets and all became rich men. Hiltler lost the war when he attacked Russia 4 years too soon, because he had a woodie for that Caucasus oil. There was NEVER sufficient industrial capacity in Germany to fight a war of this scale. Patton's Third Army had more motor vehicles than entire German Africa Corps. The Germans fought most of the war in Europe using captured French and British lorries (which in itself is scary) Their military industrial complex was as corrupt as anything in the world. Doing irrational things like moving the Porche Tiger into prototype using diesel electric drive motors when there wasn't ten feet of copper wire to be had in all of Germany. Meanwhile the Russians were making 600 T34s every month.

[jon_norstog]

Although I am retired Army and still contract to the Army as an instructor[46 years of direct association]I have to point out that the Army and AAF were not the only military arms that made victory a reality. There was The Marines, Navy, Coast Guard,and although not military,the Merchant Marine paid heavily for our success. Nick

Don't forget the lowly CG. That was my branch 66-70. What we did in WWII was man guns on armed merchantmen, inshore patrol and ASW, and drive landing craft. In the Paific,a lot of CG sailors made the same landing 5-6 times, maybe more in those damn ugly boats.

Drive 'em in, drop the door, chase the men out, jam the throttles full reverse while raising the door soon as the last man is out. Pick up another load, repeat until all the men are on the beach.

jn