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Entertaining the German Soldier

Discussion in 'Photographs and Documents' started by Jba45ww2, May 28, 2019.

  1. Jba45ww2

    Jba45ww2 Well-Known Member

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    We all know of Bob Hope and the USO and the outstanding job that was done to try to entertain out troops. I had always wondered what was done for the German soldier. I know I had read somewhere years back of a musical group that had traveled around playing music for the German troops but my memory has unfortunately been a bit cloudy these days with age. I just purchased about 600 loose pictures and I was trying to put them in some type order when I stumbled across the below grouping showing a group entertaining the soldiers. Everything from scantly clad dancing girls to music and clowns. I assume they were tightly orchestrated but I just never had heard much regarding this aspect of the Nazi regime. Looking forward to hearing comments from all.
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    Last edited: May 28, 2019
  2. Jba45ww2

    Jba45ww2 Well-Known Member

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    Last picture has some writing and the year 1942
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  3. LRusso216

    LRusso216 Graybeard Staff Member

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    I never gave a thought to entertainment of German soldiers.It just never crossed my mind Thanks for posting this look at the kind of thing that German soldiers were exposed to when they were on R and R.
     
  4. A-58

    A-58 Cool Dude

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    One thing the Germans had in the way of R & R for the men was mobile brothels. Read a good bit about them while writing a term paper in LSU about the Afrika Korps. Got an A. Their mobile brothels were well organized and were categorized as to use. One group catered to German enlisted men, another to German officers, and another group for the Italians. Italian officers were allowed to visit the brothels reserved for German officers. Most of the women employed in them were Sicilian and French, with a few Tunisian and Algerian women. Not sure what happened to them after the Axis collapse in Tunisia, or during the long retreat from El Alamein. Couldn't find any pictures either. Decided not to include this info in my paper.

    Imagine the uproar on the home front if the US military had "specialized units" organized for this business.
     
  5. CAC

    CAC Ace of Spades

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    Whats German for "Sharsya tits!" ?
     
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  6. Jba45ww2

    Jba45ww2 Well-Known Member

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    I knew that brothels existed in all areas but did not know that they were organized by the Germans. It would be interesting to see what happen to those women after the collapse. Women who collaborated with the Germans in other occupied areas were not treated well once the areas were liberated. I also assume that these women were not on the level like the Korean women who were taken by the Japanese and forced as "comfort women"?
     
    Last edited: May 28, 2019
  7. A-58

    A-58 Cool Dude

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    Probably followed by "letz go fur und rollenzehey".
     
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  8. A-58

    A-58 Cool Dude

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    From what I read they were not like the "comfort women" of the Japanese Empire. These women were more like contracted civilian employees of the Wehrmacht. They were compensated monetarily (can’t remember the pay scale, but it was a little more than not much), received medical treatment along with room and board. I didn't read much about the other areas that the Wehrmacht occupied, like in the Balkans and Russia for example, but I'm sure they operated brothels in a similar fashion.

    I always like little known and thought about bits of history like this. Bazillion of tidbits out there just crying to be read up on!
     
    Last edited: May 29, 2019
  9. PzJgr

    PzJgr Drill Instructor

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    There was a German series called Generation War about 5 friends and their lives after they graduated from school and the war started. One of them, a woman, became a famous singer and went to the front to entertain the troops. That was the first I have heard of such a thing and now this. Nice pics Jba45. Now I may do some research on the subject
     
  10. Jba45ww2

    Jba45ww2 Well-Known Member

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    There are so many different stories that are still left to be discovered. I would be very interested in hearing what you might dig up on your end PzJgr. I will also post more pictures if I find anymore in the grouping. Looking forward to hopefully finding out more about this group.
     
  11. wooley12

    wooley12 Active Member

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    The US Army approved for an official brothel on the rubber plantations in Africa. STD's were becoming a problem and a managed brothel allowed health screening to be conducted by military doc's. Google George Abraham and "Belles of Shangri-La".
     
  12. A-58

    A-58 Cool Dude

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    I now remember watching something on the History Channel some years back about how the Army regulated the red light district in Honolulu while Hawaii was under martial law, much to the chagrin of local law enforcement. Condums were issued, medical personnel were on site to keep STDs at bay, MPs kept the peace and things moving. The house Madams handled the business end of it. I believe each GI was only allowed a few minutes “in the saddle” before having to move on. Talk about “wham bam thank you ma’am! The working girls made a lot of money in keeping the GIs “moral” up. War is war money is money, and everybody had to do their part you know. I’m sure the girls bought War Bonds and all too. After martial law was lifted some time in 1944, Honolulu PD shut down the operation. I think most of the girls were deported to the mainland. Soon afterwards enterprising local girls “went underground” so to speak to to do their part. I’d love to see that episode again.
     

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