Cool historical stuff thread

[Robert Ghostwolf's Ghost]

After my dad died, we found a set of pictures taken in a French town during WWII.  It shows a fascinating sequence that starts with a German force leaving the town, obviously in bad shape as many of the troops are riding bicycles and horse-drawn carts, and others are actually pushing trucks, that must have run out of gas, down the street.  Those are followed by pictures of a good sized U.S. force, with tanks and various other vehicles entering the town.  The first shots were taken from a second story window, by someone (probably an advance scout of some sort) who was clearly standing back in the room to avoid being seen.  As the U.S. force enters, the photographer is standing out on the balcony outside the window from where he took the first shots.  There are also some very cool shots of what appears to be the local resistance group.

Unfortunately, I know nothing about where or when these were taken.  My dad never mentioned them or showed them to us, and as far as I know, he was a clerk/typist with a bomber group who never saw any action, so I have no idea how he would have obtained them.  Anyway, here's a few of my favorites.  If anybody wants more, I'll be happy to provide them upon request. 

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[DigitalPigSnuggler]

I would suggest reaching out to some historical society in France that deals with WWII matters.  Use Google translate to change your email into French before you send it.  The frogs can be really rude to people who don't at least try to speak French.

[Robert Ghostwolf's Ghost]

I've often wondered what the little kids on the right were thinking, and if they were openly mocking and jeering the Bosch as they watched them limp out of town?

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Pretty obvious what people are thinking here. 

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This one's interesting, because it looks like the resistance fighters are escorting some German prisoners.  I have to wonder if they took them around the corner and then came back without them after some shots were heard.

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Maybe this is them coming back after disposing of the prisoners.

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[albrecht]

That is a neat find! Besides the idea of asking a museum or university for help there are quite a few forums on the internet that sometimes help solve problems like this. Quite a number of WWII collectors, historians, and buffs who try to track down location, dates, and people from old photos. Just a few:
http://www.ww2f.com/
http://forum.axishistory.com
http://www.worldwar2history.info/forums/

[UnscreenedCaller]

Those are great pictures. The photo of the resistance fighters moved me. They made it to the end of the war. I wonder how many of their friends didn't. And, the tank running over Hitler's photo is classic. Thanks for sharing these. I have photos from Tunisia and Anzio, but they're posed ones mainly. Yours could be out of Life Magazine.

[Robert Ghostwolf's Ghost]

That is a neat find! Besides the idea of asking a museum or university for help there are quite a few forums on the internet that sometimes help solve problems like this. Quite a number of WWII collectors, historians, and buffs who try to track down location, dates, and people from old photos. Just a few:
http://www.ww2f.com/
http://forum.axishistory.com
http://www.worldwar2history.info/forums/

Thanks!  I will check those out.

[Robert Ghostwolf's Ghost]

Those are great pictures. The photo of the resistance fighters moved me. They made it to the end of the war. I wonder how many of their friends didn't. And, the tank running over Hitler's photo is classic. Thanks for sharing these. I have photos from Tunisia and Anzio, but they're posed ones mainly. Yours could be out of Life Magazine.

So true about the resistance fighters.  Those guys had big cojones, as the French say. I really wish I knew the story behind them, but I didn't see them until after my dad died about twenty-five years ago.  I had copies made of the originals, which I have in my safe deposit box, and finally got around to scanning them last week during a rainy day after promising to do it for years. 

You should post your pics.  Posed or not, it's still history.

[Yorkshire pud]

Fantastic set of pictures.. There are lots of veterans associations who might be able to cast light on the origin of the places they were taken.

[Robert Ghostwolf's Ghost]

Fantastic set of pictures.. There are lots of veterans associations who might be able to cast light on the origin of the places they were taken.

Do you of any on the east side of the Pond?  Thanks!

And here a few more:

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This last one seems to indicate that there weren't enough horses to pull all the wagons.

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[Yorkshire pud]

I have one somewhere of my Grandfather (mother's dad) stood in a pose with two other soldiers in WW1. He was at Ypres, and was taken off the front line to drive an ambulance as he was one of the few who could drive. After the war he took himself through night school and trained to be an engineer. He died in 1961, I was born in 63. My aunt told me we'd have really got on as we had similar interests.

[Bart Ell]

These pictures were taken in Saint-Raphael. Probably Place Sadi Carnot.

[Robert Ghostwolf's Ghost]

These pictures were taken in Saint-Raphael. Probably Place Sadi Carnot.

By Jove, you may be on to something there.  I will look into that when I have time.  Thanks!

[Bart Ell]

By Jove, you may be on to something there.  I will look into that when I have time.  Thanks!

I may be off by a block or two but I am convinced it is Saint-Raphael. It has been about 20 years since I was last there but it looks familiar. I spent a few months there while my girlfriend was filming a movie and spent lots of time walking the streets. I sort of remember being in that Bazar building while they were filming. It was a strip club / hotel back then.

Took a look around on Google Maps. I didn't see any underwater alien bases but this looks pretty close...

[albrecht]

I may be off by a block or two but I am convinced it is Saint-Raphael. It has been about 20 years since I was last there but it looks familiar. I spent a few months there while my girlfriend was filming a movie and spent lots of time walking the streets. I sort of remember being in that Bazar building while they were filming. It was a strip club / hotel back then.

Took a look around on Google Maps. I didn't see any underwater alien bases but this looks pretty close...

Wow. That is some good internet sleuthing!!  I can't tell totally but I think you might be right! Maybe contact the chamber of commerce or tourism, or whatever French equivalent, of that town and email them the pics and see to confirm. They might even wish to have copies for their historical archives.

[Robert Ghostwolf's Ghost]

I may be off by a block or two but I am convinced it is Saint-Raphael. It has been about 20 years since I was last there but it looks familiar. I spent a few months there while my girlfriend was filming a movie and spent lots of time walking the streets. I sort of remember being in that Bazar building while they were filming. It was a strip club / hotel back then.

Took a look around on Google Maps. I didn't see any underwater alien bases but this looks pretty close...

Looks pretty damn close to me.  I even spotted a couple of balconies that could have been where the pics were taken.  Many thanks for that!  Impressive memory after twenty years, too!  I thought maybe you just had an encyclopedic knowledge of French towns, which would have been even more impressive. 

[Robert Ghostwolf's Ghost]

Wow. That is some good internet sleuthing!!  I can't tell totally but I think you might be right! Maybe contact the chamber of commerce or tourism, or whatever French equivalent, of that town and email them the pics and see to confirm. They might even wish to have copies for their historical archives.

Excellent idea!  Thanks!

[albrecht]

Excellent idea!  Thanks!

Please let us know if they reply or confirm. They are big on history, especially proud of the Resistance and so would likely appreciate your photos.

[Bart Ell]

I thought maybe you just had an encyclopedic knowledge of French towns, which would have been even more impressive.

No but I can tell you that former Expos pitcher Charlie Lea was born in France.

[Robert Ghostwolf's Ghost]

Please let us know if they reply or confirm. They are big on history, especially proud of the Resistance and so would likely appreciate your photos.

I just e-mailed their Tourism Office about the pics and asked for info about anyone who may be interested in them.  I'll post what I find out if they reply.

[Bart Ell]

I have very little interest in military history but your pictures caught my interest. I searched for Saint Raphael and troops and found some videos, none which really show the scene in the pics.

http://www.criticalpast.com/video/65675051851_United-States-soldiers_soldiers-speak-with-French-men-and-women_motorcycle_children

I also came across this, which is pretty interesting
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2530341/German-troops-march-Paris-boulevards-Astonishing-photos-France-look-World-War-II-soldiers-returned-streets.html

[b_dubb]

http://mysteriousuniverse.org/2014/07/the-man-behind-the-myth-meet-the-real-count-dracula/

interesting story about Vlad and Christian on Christian violence

[albrecht]

http://mysteriousuniverse.org/2014/07/the-man-behind-the-myth-meet-the-real-count-dracula/

interesting story about Vlad and Christian on Christian violence

Pretty cool story but, hardly news! Christian on Christian violence is nothing new. My goodness, is history that bad in our schools? What made him famous was his successes against the non-Christians-- as the Christian-on-Christian stuff was, pretty much, de rigueur for many centuries.

If you want some more bizarre history is that Prince Charles bought a large estate in region (post-Soviet Bloc) as he is a descendent from that house (via the Haus Sachsen-Coburg und Gotha (changed to "Windsor" before WWI) line and various continental royal lineage.) So, yes, in theory, Prince Charles is a vampire. Haha. Family tree below.

I loved the pictures though. They don't "build em like that anymore."


Vlad the Impaler. Died 1507.

- Half brother of:

Vlad IV, known as Vlad the Monk. (1431 - 1495)

-Father of:

Radu IV Prince of Wallachia from (1495 â€" 1508)

- Father of:

Mircea the Shepherd. Prince of Wallachia. (1479 - 1560).

- Father of:

Princess Stanca Basarab of Wallachia. (1518 - 1601).

-Mother of:

Zamphira Logofat de Szazsebes. (Died 1602).

- Mother of:

Adam Racz de Galgo. (Living 1609).

- Father of:

Peter Racz de Galgo. (1583-1672).

- Father of:

Christina Racz de Galgo.

- Mother of:

Catherine (Katalin) Kuun de Osdola.

- Mother of:

Ágnes Kendeffy de Malmoviz (born 1727).

- Mother of:

Baron Gregor, Inczédy de Nagy-Várad (died 1816).

- Father of:

Baroness Ágnes Inczédy de Nagy-Várad (1788-1856).

- Mother of:

Countess Claudine Rhédey von Kis-Rhéde (1812-1841).

- Mother of:

Francis, Duke of Teck. (1837â€"1900).

- Father of:

Princess Mary of Teck, later the Queen consort of King George V (1867-1953).

- Mother of:

George VI (1895 â€"1952).

- Father of:

Queen Elizabeth II (1926).

- Mother of:

Prince Charles (1948)

[b_dubb]

You knew this? Or looked it up? I don't know whether to impressed or horrified.

[albrecht]

You knew this? Or looked it up? I don't know whether to impressed or horrified.

Both. I knew it but had to look up the exact bloodline for you. Truth, as they say, is stranger than fiction. Despite being modern the uber rich n royals still hold great store in bloodlines.

[Robert Ghostwolf's Ghost]

I have very little interest in military history but your pictures caught my interest. I searched for Saint Raphael and troops and found some videos, none which really show the scene in the pics.

http://www.criticalpast.com/video/65675051851_United-States-soldiers_soldiers-speak-with-French-men-and-women_motorcycle_children

I also came across this, which is pretty interesting
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2530341/German-troops-march-Paris-boulevards-Astonishing-photos-France-look-World-War-II-soldiers-returned-streets.html

Thanks for those.  I looked for pics of Operation Dragoon and Saint-Raphael and came up empty as well.