Random History Tidbits
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Random History Tidbits
by Lavian Fri Apr 01, 2011 10:26 am
Ever since I looked over a page about historical bits of random information here and there on another site that are pretty amazing. I've been looking over and finding more interesting little details I never knew of history like:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Myeongnyang
The Admiral who was known to never have lost a naval combat( Turtle boats but still).
or...
"Shortly before the assassination of Abraham Lincoln by John Wilkes Booth, Lincoln's son Robert was in New Jersey at a train station when he fell off of the platform and on to the tracks. Immediately a hand reached down and grabbed his collar, pulled him back onto the platform, and saved his life. Who was the man who saved him? None other than Edwin Booth, the older brother of John Wilkes Booth."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wojtek_%28soldier_bear%29
And perhaps a more known one of Cleopatra bothering to learn Egyptian as the first in her dynasty.
More here and take them as you will:
http://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/ge9k7/biggest_history_mindfucks/
Reason I made the thread however was to ask what other knowledge of historical interest do you know that may not be well known? I find these things interesting.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Myeongnyang
The Admiral who was known to never have lost a naval combat( Turtle boats but still).
or...
"Shortly before the assassination of Abraham Lincoln by John Wilkes Booth, Lincoln's son Robert was in New Jersey at a train station when he fell off of the platform and on to the tracks. Immediately a hand reached down and grabbed his collar, pulled him back onto the platform, and saved his life. Who was the man who saved him? None other than Edwin Booth, the older brother of John Wilkes Booth."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wojtek_%28soldier_bear%29
And perhaps a more known one of Cleopatra bothering to learn Egyptian as the first in her dynasty.
More here and take them as you will:
http://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/ge9k7/biggest_history_mindfucks/
Reason I made the thread however was to ask what other knowledge of historical interest do you know that may not be well known? I find these things interesting.
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Re: Random History Tidbits
by Geneviève Fri Apr 01, 2011 10:41 am
The people of Skara Brae in the north of Scotland had domestic plumbing six hundred years before the first pyramid was built, over 5000 years ago.
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Re: Random History Tidbits
by Antistia Fri Apr 01, 2011 11:16 am
The Roman Emperor Diocletian was the first emperor to abdicate.. He spent the rest of his life growing cabbages.
A Dutch Stadthouder shot himself in the face.. He did not die immediately but he did die eventually. In the meantime he wrote advice to his young cousin not to shoot himself in the face by checking if there was a bullet in the gun by looking in the barrel (like the Stadthouder did).
Nikita Khrushchev once told a visiting American his city would not be nuked because he liked him.
This is all from the top of my head, the first is a rather well known fact (maybe not the cabbage growing part, but still), the second was told to me by my history teacher who studied the guy extensively, and the last comes from "The Cold War: A New History" by John Lewis Gaddis. This is out of the top of my head so I didn't bother to look it up in my books
A Dutch Stadthouder shot himself in the face.. He did not die immediately but he did die eventually. In the meantime he wrote advice to his young cousin not to shoot himself in the face by checking if there was a bullet in the gun by looking in the barrel (like the Stadthouder did).
Nikita Khrushchev once told a visiting American his city would not be nuked because he liked him.
This is all from the top of my head, the first is a rather well known fact (maybe not the cabbage growing part, but still), the second was told to me by my history teacher who studied the guy extensively, and the last comes from "The Cold War: A New History" by John Lewis Gaddis. This is out of the top of my head so I didn't bother to look it up in my books
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Re: Random History Tidbits
by Nithel Fri Apr 01, 2011 2:19 pm
Haha Antistia. The Stadthouder story is weird! xD Imagine receiving a letter saying: "Hello, I have a bullet in my head, please avoid having a bullet in your head, it hurts."
Time for silly facts! The two biggest conflicts this world has seen: World War I and World War II have respectively been started and ended by weapons with a -Made In Belgium- stamp on them. (Kind of)
WWI: The reasons why WWI (World War I) started are very complex and there's multiple causes building up to it even from 1815 already. But one event caused the bucket to spill. The assassination on 28 June 1914 of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria, the heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary, was the proximate trigger of the war. This was done with a Belgian pistol from FN, an arms company that still makes a lot of famous guns.
WWII: Belgium provided the uranium for the Atomic bomb little boy dropped by the Americans on Hiroshima. It came from Congo, our colony. (I believe there's a mistake on the wikipedia page though. It says the materials used for fat man were also from Belgian-Congo but I'm pretty sure fat man was a plutonium based bomb, not uranium. Anyone that can confirm?)
Time for silly facts! The two biggest conflicts this world has seen: World War I and World War II have respectively been started and ended by weapons with a -Made In Belgium- stamp on them. (Kind of)
WWI: The reasons why WWI (World War I) started are very complex and there's multiple causes building up to it even from 1815 already. But one event caused the bucket to spill. The assassination on 28 June 1914 of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria, the heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary, was the proximate trigger of the war. This was done with a Belgian pistol from FN, an arms company that still makes a lot of famous guns.
WWII: Belgium provided the uranium for the Atomic bomb little boy dropped by the Americans on Hiroshima. It came from Congo, our colony. (I believe there's a mistake on the wikipedia page though. It says the materials used for fat man were also from Belgian-Congo but I'm pretty sure fat man was a plutonium based bomb, not uranium. Anyone that can confirm?)
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Re: Random History Tidbits
by Amaryl Fri Apr 01, 2011 2:33 pm
Plutonium is created out of Uranium nithel.
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Re: Random History Tidbits
by Nithel Fri Apr 01, 2011 2:38 pm
I did not know that. My natural science knowledge is really shit sorryAmaryl wrote:Plutonium is created out of Uranium nithel.
Awesome though! I thought plutonium was a created element, didn't know it was from uranium. Then both the A-bombs were from Belgian uranium.Now I'm interested as to how and why one makes plutonium from uranium though
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Re: Random History Tidbits
by Amaryl Fri Apr 01, 2011 2:42 pm
Shooting deuterium at uranium in a centrifuge.
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Re: Random History Tidbits
by Demurral Fri Apr 01, 2011 3:00 pm
hmm... World War I killed off all British Bees, and as such, we have no ethnic british bees in england today, they are all mexican and american and spanish.
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Re: Random History Tidbits
by Antistia Fri Apr 01, 2011 4:10 pm
And here is another 'interesting' tidbit of history!
Emperor Claudius was a man who in his life got married to four women before he finally died and was succeeded by emperor Nero. His third wife bore him his only son, Britannicus who was eventually eclipsed by Nero (and hence, Nero became emperor). Now, this third wife was named Valeria Messalina and was quite.. Promiscuous. Pliny reports that she once had a contest with a prostitute about who could have sex with the most men in a single day (or night). Now, the empress of Rome, the mightiest woman in all the empire.. Won. She had sex with more men than a prostitute in a single day.
Juvenal writes the following of her (source: wikipedia, translated by Peter Green)
Alright, so, there we have it. Valeria Messalina. The empress of Rome. In the end she was executed by Claudius because she was plotting to kill him. Claudius moved on and married his fourth wife, the mother of Nero. History knows her as Agrippina the Younger.. Did I also mention she was emperor Caligula's sister and thus Claudius' niece?
Oh, and here is a battle which may or may not have occurred. Still:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Kar%C3%A1nsebes
Yes, the Austrians allegedly defeated themselves.
Emperor Claudius was a man who in his life got married to four women before he finally died and was succeeded by emperor Nero. His third wife bore him his only son, Britannicus who was eventually eclipsed by Nero (and hence, Nero became emperor). Now, this third wife was named Valeria Messalina and was quite.. Promiscuous. Pliny reports that she once had a contest with a prostitute about who could have sex with the most men in a single day (or night). Now, the empress of Rome, the mightiest woman in all the empire.. Won. She had sex with more men than a prostitute in a single day.
Juvenal writes the following of her (source: wikipedia, translated by Peter Green)
- Spoiler:
- Then consider the God's rivals, hear what Claudius
had to put up with. The minute she heard him snoring
his wife - that whore-empress - who dared to prefer the mattress
of a stews to her couch in the Palace, called for her hooded
night-cloak and hastened forth, with a single attendant.
Then, her black hair hidden under an ash-blonde wig,
she'd make straight for her brothel, with its stale, warm coverlets,
and her empty reserved cell. Here, naked, with gilded
nipples, she plied her trade, under the name of 'The Wolf-Girl',
parading the belly that once housed a prince of the blood.
She would greet each client sweetly, demand cash payment,
and absorb all their battering - without ever getting up.
Too soon the brothel-keeper dismissed his girls:
she stayed right till the end, always last to go,
then trailed away sadly, still, with burning, rigid vulva,
exhausted by men, yet a long way from satisfied,
cheeks grimed with lamp-smoke, filthy, carrying home
to her Imperial couch the stink of the whorehouse.
Alright, so, there we have it. Valeria Messalina. The empress of Rome. In the end she was executed by Claudius because she was plotting to kill him. Claudius moved on and married his fourth wife, the mother of Nero. History knows her as Agrippina the Younger.. Did I also mention she was emperor Caligula's sister and thus Claudius' niece?
Oh, and here is a battle which may or may not have occurred. Still:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Kar%C3%A1nsebes
Yes, the Austrians allegedly defeated themselves.
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Re: Random History Tidbits
by Lavian Fri Apr 01, 2011 5:47 pm
Oh wow at that last part. I wonder if there's a similiar scenario of a battle of the french surrendering to each other.
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Re: Random History Tidbits
by Seranita Fri Apr 01, 2011 6:12 pm
I thort plutonium was the halflife element of uranium no?
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Re: Random History Tidbits
by Mervyn Fri Apr 01, 2011 7:32 pm
Heres a very interesting one about lesbians!
In the late 1800's the British prime minister when to queen Victoria in order to have her put the stamp of approval on laws banning homosexuality in men, but there was also a clause about homosexuality in women, saying that too shall be banned. However, queen Victoria was so shocked and appalled at the sheer notion of a female subject of hers doing something so vulgar she refused to believe it real and as such there was no need for there to be a law passed banning lesbians.
Thats homosexuality in men was against the law up until the 1960's, but lesbians could do what they pleased because there was no law against it!
In the late 1800's the British prime minister when to queen Victoria in order to have her put the stamp of approval on laws banning homosexuality in men, but there was also a clause about homosexuality in women, saying that too shall be banned. However, queen Victoria was so shocked and appalled at the sheer notion of a female subject of hers doing something so vulgar she refused to believe it real and as such there was no need for there to be a law passed banning lesbians.
Thats homosexuality in men was against the law up until the 1960's, but lesbians could do what they pleased because there was no law against it!
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Re: Random History Tidbits
by Geneviève Fri Apr 01, 2011 9:38 pm
And that is why you need an unelected head of state!
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Re: Random History Tidbits
by Morinth Fri Apr 01, 2011 9:49 pm
Mervyn wrote:Heres a very interesting one about lesbians!
In the late 1800's the British prime minister when to queen Victoria in order to have her put the stamp of approval on laws banning homosexuality in men, but there was also a clause about homosexuality in women, saying that too shall be banned. However, queen Victoria was so shocked and appalled at the sheer notion of a female subject of hers doing something so vulgar she refused to believe it real and as such there was no need for there to be a law passed banning lesbians.
Thats homosexuality in men was against the law up until the 1960's, but lesbians could do what they pleased because there was no law against it!
WE DON'T EXIST, THAT'S WHY! Uhh, I mean... HEY MERVYN.
Trust you to look up lesbians.
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Re: Random History Tidbits
by Geldar Fri Apr 01, 2011 10:23 pm
The 7th Panzer Division was a German elite armored formation which participated in the Battle of France. General Erwin Rommel commanded the division, which was nicknamed the "Ghost Division" because of its speed and independent movement, which even the German High Command had difficulty following.
The 7th Panzer Division moved with great speed through France and covered vast distances. During the Battle of France, the 7th Panzer Division earned the name of the Ghost Divison (German:"Gespensterdivision") because its rapid movements lead to few knowing exactly where the Division was, including the German High Command. Rommel had a "lead from the front" attitude and often commanded from the turret of a tank, thus becoming a mere company commander, rather than a division commander issuing orders from his headquarters. He expected all his commanders to lead from the front as well. In addition, he would sometimes 'lose' communications with the High Command if he felt it necessary.
His fearless command of the 7th Panzer Division showed his confidence and understanding of blitzkrieg concepts. The success they experienced and his favor with Hitler prevented any repercussions from the High Command, some of whom criticized Rommel for being difficult to contact and locate. Rommel described the French Campaign in his letters to his wife as "a lightning Tour de France".
Why it is called that:
The 7th Panzer Division moved with great speed through France and covered vast distances. During the Battle of France, the 7th Panzer Division earned the name of the Ghost Divison (German:"Gespensterdivision") because its rapid movements lead to few knowing exactly where the Division was, including the German High Command. Rommel had a "lead from the front" attitude and often commanded from the turret of a tank, thus becoming a mere company commander, rather than a division commander issuing orders from his headquarters. He expected all his commanders to lead from the front as well. In addition, he would sometimes 'lose' communications with the High Command if he felt it necessary.
His fearless command of the 7th Panzer Division showed his confidence and understanding of blitzkrieg concepts. The success they experienced and his favor with Hitler prevented any repercussions from the High Command, some of whom criticized Rommel for being difficult to contact and locate. Rommel described the French Campaign in his letters to his wife as "a lightning Tour de France".
Why it is called that:
- Spoiler:
- * 12 May 1940 - 7th Panzer Division reaches Dinant.
* 13 May 1940 - Crosses River Meuse after heavy fighting.
* 15 May 1940 - Reaches Philippeville and continues Westward passing Avesnes and Le Cateau.
* 21 May 1940 - Reaches Arras where counter attacked by 2 British Tank Regiments. British tank advance stopped by feared Flak 88 "Tank Killers".
* 5 June 1940 - Positioned near Abbeville.
* 8 June 1940 - Reaches outskirts of Rouen.
* 10 June 1940 - Reaches English Channel West of Dieppe.
* 17 June 1940 - Reaches Southern outskirts of Cherbourg.
* 19 June 1940 - Garrison of Cherbourg surrenders to Rommel.
* 25 June 1940 - Fighting ends for 7th Panzer Division in France.
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Re: Random History Tidbits
by Geneviève Fri Apr 01, 2011 10:41 pm
Not sure if this is interesting or not, it's not very quirky.
Rommel is one of history's great Commanders, his style of leadership and particular brand of strategy has earned him the accolade of being one of the leaders studied at Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.
In addition to commanding the 7th Panzer Division and almost beating the Allies in North Africa with vastly inferior Italian troops he correctly predicted every single stretch of beach utilised for the D-Day landings. However, by this stage he had lost the confidence of German High Command, they simply couldn't tolerate a non-Nazi who held the adoration and respect of both the German AND British population (In Germany he was even considered a sex symbol ^^).
The man was a genius and on top of that honourable and courageous in the face of adversity. When Hitler decided to get rid of him he couldn't risk inflaming the German population so issued Rommel an ultimatum, Rommel's family would be executed if he didn't take his own life.
On the 14 October 1944 the Desert Fox killed himself.
Slightly on topic and more quirky. Hitler's obsession with retaining control of British soil led to the German army placing enough artillary and defensive emplacements on the Channel islands to render any Russian advance on the Eastern Front suicidal. Fortunately for almost everyone Hitler was an incompetant and the Allies not so foolish, we developed a cunning strategy to counter this impregnable island fortress. We sailed around it. Huzzah!
Rommel is one of history's great Commanders, his style of leadership and particular brand of strategy has earned him the accolade of being one of the leaders studied at Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.
In addition to commanding the 7th Panzer Division and almost beating the Allies in North Africa with vastly inferior Italian troops he correctly predicted every single stretch of beach utilised for the D-Day landings. However, by this stage he had lost the confidence of German High Command, they simply couldn't tolerate a non-Nazi who held the adoration and respect of both the German AND British population (In Germany he was even considered a sex symbol ^^).
The man was a genius and on top of that honourable and courageous in the face of adversity. When Hitler decided to get rid of him he couldn't risk inflaming the German population so issued Rommel an ultimatum, Rommel's family would be executed if he didn't take his own life.
On the 14 October 1944 the Desert Fox killed himself.
Slightly on topic and more quirky. Hitler's obsession with retaining control of British soil led to the German army placing enough artillary and defensive emplacements on the Channel islands to render any Russian advance on the Eastern Front suicidal. Fortunately for almost everyone Hitler was an incompetant and the Allies not so foolish, we developed a cunning strategy to counter this impregnable island fortress. We sailed around it. Huzzah!
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Re: Random History Tidbits
by Geldar Sat Apr 02, 2011 1:05 am
This will be a TL;DR one, but I felt the need to post this after Rommel, I present to you, Michael Wittmann, probably one of the best if not -THE- best tank commanders ever to fight:
Early life:
Michael Wittmann was born on April 22, 1914 in the village of Vogelthal in the Oberpfalz region of Bavaria. He was the second son of local farmer Johann Wittmann and his wife Ursula. In February 1934, Michael joined the Volunteer Labour Service, the FAD (what later became the RAD) and on October 30, 1934 he joined the German Army. He was assigned to the 19. Infantry Regiment based at Freising by Munich, eventually reaching the rank of Gefreiter (lance-corporal). In October 1936 the 22-year-old Wittmann joined the Allgemeine-SS. On April 5, 1937, he was assigned to the premier regiment, later division Leibstandarte-SS Adolf Hitler (LSSAH) and was given the rank SS-Mann (private). A year later, he participated in the occupation of Austria and the Sudetenland with an armoured car platoon.
Early stages of the war:
Eastern Front:
Normandy (This is a long one):
Death:
Early life:
Michael Wittmann was born on April 22, 1914 in the village of Vogelthal in the Oberpfalz region of Bavaria. He was the second son of local farmer Johann Wittmann and his wife Ursula. In February 1934, Michael joined the Volunteer Labour Service, the FAD (what later became the RAD) and on October 30, 1934 he joined the German Army. He was assigned to the 19. Infantry Regiment based at Freising by Munich, eventually reaching the rank of Gefreiter (lance-corporal). In October 1936 the 22-year-old Wittmann joined the Allgemeine-SS. On April 5, 1937, he was assigned to the premier regiment, later division Leibstandarte-SS Adolf Hitler (LSSAH) and was given the rank SS-Mann (private). A year later, he participated in the occupation of Austria and the Sudetenland with an armoured car platoon.
Early stages of the war:
- Spoiler:
His first experience of action came in the Polish Campaign, followed by the Battle of France as a commander of the new self-propelled assault guns, the Sturmgeschütz III Ausf. A. The Greek campaign - Operation 'Marita' - was launched on April 6, 1941. Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler (LSSAH) captured the Greek capital and formed the spearhead, alongside the 9th Panzer Division, which punched through the Greek countryside. After three weeks of campaigning, Nazi Germany had conquered Greece. Wittmann and his unit were sent to Czechoslovakia for a refit.
Eastern Front:
- Spoiler:
The rest would not last long, however, as Wittmann's unit was soon dispatched to the Eastern Front to participate in the invasion of the Soviet Union. He initially served as a commander of a StuG III assault gun. He was assigned for both officer and tank training in the winter of 1942–43.
Returning to the Eastern Front as a newly commissioned officer, Wittmann was reassigned to the SS Panzer Regiment 1, a tank unit with the rank of SS-Untersturmführer (second lieutenant), where he commanded a Panzer III tank. By 1943, he commanded a Tiger, and by the time of the Battle of Kursk (Operation Citadel), he was a platoon leader. On January 14, 1944, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and on January 30, the Oak Leaves for his continued excellence in the field. By this time, he had destroyed 88 enemy tanks and a significant number of other armoured vehicles. In Agte's book on Wittmann (Michael Wittmann And The Tiger Commanders Of The Leibstandarte) it calculates his kills thusly: In the 5 days of Zittadelle Wittmann destroyed 'at least' 30 tanks.(page 100) 'destroyed 13 T34's' on 21 November 1943 (page 130) 56 enemy tanks in the period July 1943-7/1/44 (page 158) In summary:
56 kills on 7/1/44 (page 213)
66 kills on 9/1/44 (page 181)
88 kills on 13/1/44 (page 213)
114-117 kills on 29/1/44 (page 185)
It would seem over half his total were claimed in a three week period in January 1944.
Normandy (This is a long one):
- Spoiler:
- In April 1944, the LSSAH's Tiger Company was transferred to the SS Heavy Panzer Battalion 101. This battalion was assigned to the I SS Panzer Corps and was never permanently attached to any division or regiment within the corps. Wittmann commanded the 2nd Company of the battalion and held the rank of SS-Obersturmführer (first lieutenant). Following the Allied Invasion of Normandy, the battalion was ordered to move from Beauvais to Normandy on 7 June, a move that was completed on 12 June after a five day road march.
Due to the Anglo-American advances from Gold and Omaha Beachs, the German 352nd Infantry Division began to buckle; as it withdrew south, it opened up a 7.5-mile (12.1 km) wide gap in the German lines near Caumont-l'Éventé. Sepp Dietrich ordered his only reserve, the Heavy SS-Panzer Battalion 101, to position itself behind the Panzer-Lehr-Division and 12th SS Panzer Division Hitlerjugend to cover his open left flank. Anticipating the importance the British would assign to the high ground near Villers-Bocage, Wittmann's company was positioned near the town.
The British 7th Armoured Division was ordered to exploit the gap in the German lines and capture Villers-Bocage and a nearby ridge, Point 213. The British occupied the town and ridge during the morning of 13 June. Wittmann's company consisted of five tanks, of which two were damaged. He was surprised to discover the British in the Villers-Bocage area much sooner than had been expected. He later stated:
"I had no time to assemble my company; instead I had to act quickly, as I had to assume that the enemy had already spotted me and would destroy me where I stood. I set off with one tank and passed the order to the others not to retreat a single step but to hold their ground."
At approximately 09:00 Wittmann's Tiger emerged from cover onto Route Nationale 175 and engaged the rearmost British tanks on Point 213, destroying them. Wittmann then moved towards Villers-Bocage engaging several transport vehicles parked along the roadside, the carriers bursting into flames as their fuel tanks were ruptured by machine gun and high explosive fire. Moving into the eastern end of Villers-Bocage, Wittmann engaged a number of light tanks followed by several medium tanks. Alerted to Wittmann's actions, light tanks in the middle of the town quickly got off the road while medium tanks were brought forward. Wittmann, meanwhile, had accounted for a further British tank, two artillery observation post (OP) tanks followed by a scout car and a half-track. Accounts differ as to what happened next. Historians record that, following the destruction of the OP tanks, Wittmann briefly duelled without success against a Sherman Firefly before withdrawing. The Tiger is then reported to have continued eastwards to the outskirts of the town before being disabled by an anti-tank gun. Wittmann's own account, however, contradicts this; he states that his tank was disabled by an anti-tank gun in the town centre.
In less than 15 minutes, 13–14 tanks, two anti-tank guns and 13–15 transport vehicles had been destroyed by the Heavy SS-Panzer Battalion 101, the vast majority attributed to Wittmann. Wittmann would however play no further role in the Battle of Villers-Bocage. For his actions during the battle, Wittmann was promoted to SS-Hauptsturmführer (captain) and awarded Swords to his Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross.
Historian Wolfgang Schneider calls into question Wittmann's tactical ability, claiming "a competent tank company commander does not accumulate so many serious mistakes". Schneider also criticises Wittmann's disposition of his forces before the battle by having his Tigers position themselves in a sunken lane with a vehicle with engine trouble at the head of a stationary column thereby hampering mobility of his unit. It also risked blocking the entire company. However, Schneider saves his real opprobrium for Wittmann’s solitary advance into Villers-Bocage. Although he acknowledges Wittmann's courage, he points out that such an action "goes against all the rules".
No intelligence was gathered beforehand, and there was no "centre of gravity" or "concentration of forces" in the attack. Schneider claims that because of Wittmann's actions, "the bulk of the 2nd Company and Mobius 1st Company came up against an enemy who had gone onto the defensive". He calls Wittman's "carefree" advance into British-occupied positions "pure folly", and states that "such over hastiness was uncalled for". Schneider goes on to surmise that if Wittmann had properly prepared an assault involving the rest of his company and the 1st Company, far greater results could have been achieved. He concludes with the belief that "thoughtlessness of this kind was to cost [Wittmann] his life on August 9, 1944, near Gaumesnil, during an attack casually launched in open country with an exposed flank."
Following the Battle of Villers-Bocage, Adolf Hitler requested that Wittmann become a tank instructor, but he refused. In response, Hitler forbade Wittmann to take part in action again. On 10 July, Wittmann took over command of the battalion as the commanding officer was sent on sick leave.
Death:
- Spoiler:
- Wittmann was killed on 8 August 1944 while taking part in a counterattack ordered by Kurt Meyer, of the 12th SS Panzer Division to retake tactically important high ground near the town of Saint-Aignan-de-Cramesnil. The town and surrounding high ground had been captured a few hours earlier by Anglo-Canadian forces during Operation Totalize. Wittmann had decided to participate in the attack as he believed the company commander who was supposed to lead the attack was too inexperienced.
A group of seven Tiger tanks from the Heavy SS-Panzer Battalion 101, supported by several other tanks, was ambushed by tanks from A Squadron, 1st Northamptonshire Yeomanry, A Squadron, the Sherbrooke Fuisilier Regiment, and B Squadron, the 144 Royal Armoured Corps.
The killing shots have long been thought to have come from a Sherman Firefly of ‘3 Troop’, A Squadron, 1st Northamptonshire Yeomanry (commander - Sergeant Gordon; gunner - Trooper Joe Ekins), which was positioned in a wood called Delle de la Roque on the advancing Tigers' right flank at approximately 12:47.
It appears the shells penetrated the upper hull of the tank and ignited the Tiger's own ammunition, causing a fire which engulfed the tank and then blew off the turret.
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Re: Random History Tidbits
by Grufftoof Wed Apr 06, 2011 11:20 am
550 years ago last weekend the bloodiest battle (possibly) on British soil took place just outside of York at Towton.
No quarter was given to the fleeing Lancastrians by the Yorkist troops and 28000 men were killed in the snow. It brought about the change of ruling dynasties in England, and was one of a series of Civil Wars named after the symbols of the two major houses The Wars of the Roses (for the Red Rose of Lancashire and the White Rose of York).
I was there this weekend. It a weird feeling being there, always is.
Not so much interesting in itself. But The Wars of the Roses are a very interesting period. Another of the Civil Wars which have buggered England mercilessly. There's Charles and Oliver et al, of course, but also Stephen and Matilda (circa 12th Centurty).
Another interesting, if downplayed in School history at least, is William's Harrying (or Harrowing) of the North. The scorched earth policy of the Bastard King to subdue his newly won crown, especially in the area of Durham and Yorkshire. The population of Yorkshire (according to the records of the time) was cut by 3/4 and approximately 100,000 were killed or died of starvation/disease.
Today we would call it genocide ("deliberate and systematic destruction, in whole or in part, of an ethnic, racial, religious, or national group" - the native Saxons). And even William's own supporters spoke against him, and said he was damned.
There are accounts that some of the survivors turned to cannibalism, and that explains why Yorkshire people are so strange.
No quarter was given to the fleeing Lancastrians by the Yorkist troops and 28000 men were killed in the snow. It brought about the change of ruling dynasties in England, and was one of a series of Civil Wars named after the symbols of the two major houses The Wars of the Roses (for the Red Rose of Lancashire and the White Rose of York).
I was there this weekend. It a weird feeling being there, always is.
Not so much interesting in itself. But The Wars of the Roses are a very interesting period. Another of the Civil Wars which have buggered England mercilessly. There's Charles and Oliver et al, of course, but also Stephen and Matilda (circa 12th Centurty).
Another interesting, if downplayed in School history at least, is William's Harrying (or Harrowing) of the North. The scorched earth policy of the Bastard King to subdue his newly won crown, especially in the area of Durham and Yorkshire. The population of Yorkshire (according to the records of the time) was cut by 3/4 and approximately 100,000 were killed or died of starvation/disease.
Today we would call it genocide ("deliberate and systematic destruction, in whole or in part, of an ethnic, racial, religious, or national group" - the native Saxons). And even William's own supporters spoke against him, and said he was damned.
There are accounts that some of the survivors turned to cannibalism, and that explains why Yorkshire people are so strange.
Last edited by grufftoof on Tue Apr 12, 2011 8:08 am; edited 1 time in total
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Re: Random History Tidbits
by Valerias Wed Apr 06, 2011 1:48 pm
grufftoof wrote:Another interesting, if downplayed in School history at least, is William's Harrying (or Harrowing) of the North. The scorched earth policy of the Bastard King to subdue his newly won crown, especially in the area of Durham and Yorkshire. The population of Yorkshire (according to the records of the time) was cut by 3/4 and approximately 100,000 were killed or died of starvation/disease.
I'm not native to Yorkshire, yet for all my love of British history I never had heard about that. Downplayed indeed. And most intriguing! (I never did like William though, ahem.)
grufftoof wrote:There are accounts that some of the survivors turned to cannibalism, and that explains why Yorkshire people are so strange.
Well, there has to be some explanation
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Re: Random History Tidbits
by Chase - Esou Wed Apr 06, 2011 3:46 pm
So many tidbits, so few sources QQ
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Re: Random History Tidbits
by Kristeas Sunbinder Wed Apr 06, 2011 4:29 pm
Chase wrote:So many tidbits, so few sources QQ
There are some writers who know how to not destroy good stories with things like facts.
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Re: Random History Tidbits
by Antistia Wed Apr 06, 2011 4:48 pm
Chase wrote:So many tidbits, so few sources QQ
Nazi Germany was working on a major mirror in space with which to turn cities to ash and make oceans boil. This particular "Wunderwaffen" was called a "Sunnengewehr" or a Sun Gun in English.
The Germans thought it could be done within 50 or a 100 years.
Yes, solar power can be cool.
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,852344,00.html (note the date)
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Re: Random History Tidbits
by Chase - Esou Wed Apr 06, 2011 4:59 pm
Antistia wrote:Chase wrote:So many tidbits, so few sources QQ
Nazi Germany was working on a major mirror in space with which to turn cities to ash and make oceans boil. This particular "Wunderwaffen" was called a "Sunnengewehr" or a Sun Gun in English.
The Germans thought it could be done within 50 or a 100 years.
Yes, solar power can be cool.
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,852344,00.html (note the date)
I didn't mean energy sources or anything like that, I meant literary sources that can back up the "facts".
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Re: Random History Tidbits
by Antistia Wed Apr 06, 2011 5:25 pm
Chase wrote:Antistia wrote:Chase wrote:So many tidbits, so few sources QQ
Nazi Germany was working on a major mirror in space with which to turn cities to ash and make oceans boil. This particular "Wunderwaffen" was called a "Sunnengewehr" or a Sun Gun in English.
The Germans thought it could be done within 50 or a 100 years.
Yes, solar power can be cool.
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,852344,00.html (note the date)
I didn't mean energy sources or anything like that, I meant literary sources that can back up the "facts".
I know that, which is why I provided my source, Time magazine
it just so happened that my tidbit involved solar power xD
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