FIRST TOPIC

About the family:

In June 1904 he married Yekaterina Svanidze, a simple, devout peasant girl who was devoted to him. The marriage, evidently a happy one, was typical of the more conventional unions that Georgian radicals, unlike their Russian counterparts, usually contracted. His wife died on April 10, 1907, leaving a son, Yakov (Jacob). Thus by 1905, Dzhugashvili led the life of a typical fledgling provincial revolutionary, hardly the heroic role ascribed to him later in the official Soviet histories

On March 24, 1919, Stalin married his second wife, Nadezhda Alliluyeva, the 16-year-old daughter of an old Georgian revolutionary friend, Sergo Alliluyev. She bore him two children: Vasili (1919) and Svetlana (1925).

 

Getting more interesting every minute!

From Pravda (the British site )

Together with the captured Joseph Stalin’s elder son, lieutenant Yakov Dzhugashvili was shell-shocked and taken prisoner unconscious. He managed to conceal at first who his father was, but one of the prisoners betrayed him. In 1943 the fascists wanted to exchange Yakov Dzhugashvili for German field-marshal Paulus, who had been taken prisoner by the Soviet army. But Joseph Stalin was consistent and uncompromising: “I will not exchange lieutenants for field marshals!” Later Stalin’s son Yakov was shot down, being dead was flung on the barbed wire and burnt by the high-tension current in the concentration camp of Mauthausen

 

Hi Kai, I have heard of a similar story that Shephard dogs were attemptedly used to clear that minefield instead of pigs. Also, the Germans were very angered that they had to shoot the dogs, as it hurt them to do so.

 

Indeed, Kai. That story is true. I have just finished reading some Stalin's biography (a bad one), but I learned quite good stuff. Indeed he had a son: Jákov who was captured in 1943 as Lt. Jákov Dzhgashvilli and was treated well at the biginning. Hitler wanted him exchanged for some hundred German captured officers or for Friedrich Paulus. But Stalin refused. Actually, there are pictures of Jákov dressed as an SS NCO which were sent to Stalin after he refused. Then he used this as propaganda: "Comrade Stalin did not want his son back. Millions of Russian families have lost their sons too. Why would our glorious leader do so?". It worked. Beside, Jákov had not been not close to his father at any time. He really didn't care for him.

But did you know that in 1942-1943 some foreign teenager girl was living in the Roosvelts' house? Her name was Svetlana Dzhgashvilli. She wrote an essay about the American culture and she read it at Teheran. All the three old men loved it.

 

Our beloved Mannerheim answered "Polish women´" to the question who were the deadliest enemies he had ever met.

As a Russian army officer he was stationed in Poland for a couple of years. His marriage was over and had fun with the local ladies. A story tells that two Polish ladies were discussing like this:

" So that gorgeus count Mannerheim took you home after the party and wished you good night?!"

"He never said Good Night, only Good morning!"

 

Friedrich

Vasili was a drunk, who Stalin threw into the Lubyanka for a week to teach him a lesson. A sad specimen. Whilst at school he wrote a suicide note to his faher, who took 32 months to reply.

families eh...?

Jumbo

 

Hey, here's one of my favorite anecdote:

The first time when Erich von Manstein met Erwin Rommel face to face (July 13, 1943), Manstein was completely...naked!

No bullshit.

Cheers,

 

This one is reminds me to the german mine detecting device with the name "Minensuchgerät 42".

This "device" were Jews or suspected Russian Partisans who were forced to walk or pull a roller over minefields to clear them with their bodies.

Obviously killing dogs was harder than killing civilians to the Wehrmacht.

Cheers,

 

I agree with you there--sad isnt it?

 

I am still laughing, Kai!!!!!! That Mannerheim is quite great and funny!!!

Kai, tell us more about that! That's sounds REALLY interesting!

 

Hi Andy,

What was von Manstein doing? Trying to make an impact he was a "bigger" general than Rommel?? Maybe that was the other big gun in Sevastopol.We found it!!!

OK. Even if it´s Friday better relax for now..huh!

 

The typical "elite " Finnish soldier who almost beat the Russians. Note the aryan shape of face and body...

http://hkkk.fi/~yrjola/war/finland/equipment/

 

Now the rest of the story - in short:

That summer day Manstein was called to the Fuehrer's HQ at Rastenburg. He and his ordonnance arrived early, but the meeting was about to take place in the evening. It was a hot day and there was a lake in the area, so Manstein decided to take gp for a swim. Of course they had no swimsuit so they jumped into the lake like god created them. Once they swum a while, suddenly Rommel and his ordonannce staff showed up on the beach. Manstein was very short-sighted, so he didn't see that the man was Rommel.

There's no way around, Manstein had to leave the lake naked as he was to welcome his Field Marshal colleague. Rommels ordonances even took away the both uniforms to have a good laugh, but after some harsh words by Mansteins Ordonancce the situation was cleared up and both got their uniforms back.

That's it in short, the original anecdote is much morte detailed.

Nice Weekend & cheers,

 

Ok, I´ll tell a Finnish legendary joke. One of my true favourites and showing that even the legends have humour/a soul.

Our national anthem composer Jean Sibelius used to have long evenings with his friends, as well they used to drink quite alot. Once her wife was getting angry at the situation and called him:
" When are you coming back home?" she asked!
Jean told these legendary words: " I am an artist not a fortune-teller!"

You can try yourself and tell you used the words of an admired artist...Hope it brings you luck! Don´t know if Jean had any-the story does not tell!
Ok, back to war stuff!

 

Well, if Manstein's gun (not "Dora ) was as big as his nose...

OK! Stop! Friedrich is becoming vulgar...

Very funny story, Andy. May we know where does it come from?

Kai, incredible phrase. I will write it down. It is going to be very useful...

 

Something I read today...

After Nowotny´s 190th victory his brother started to wonder why on earth Walter was not getting more honours as Mölders, Galland and Marseille had received diamonds to their Knight´s crosses. He asked this on a letter to his brother, and claimed Walter might have angered the higher powers.
Walter Nowotny answered clearly on a post card:

1. None of your business
2. Who worry your head with such problems?
3. If they don´t want to give oak leaves I´ll get the diamonds next
Yours Walter

On 4th 1943 Walter Nowotny got his oak leaves! The problem was that the requirements for oak leaves had been raised to 190 victories from 120. Anyway, Nowotny got the swords as well as he went to see Fuhrer.

 

The Manstein-Anecdote is from the memoirs of Alexander Stahlberg "Die verdammte Plicht" (also available in english: "Bounden Duty"). Stahlberg was Manstein's personal Ordonnance Officer from 1942-1945. He had also very close relations to the German military resistance against Hitler.

It's a nice reading.

Cheers,

 

Thanks, Andy! It really sounds a great reading. I will try to get it.

And Kai, nice story too. But didn't Nowótny also got his diamonds?

 

Indeed, the story on his diamonds is quite something!

On 10th October Nowotny got his 250th kill. He had promised that he would make a big party if he got that many kills altogether. Walter flew to Vilna with an Bf 108 to celebrate this.His wingman "Quax" Schnörrer stayed at the base.

In Vilna the party was going wild as Nowotny ordered the whole wine and alcohol store to be used.A phone call came to the air base and General "Papa " Greim was looking for Nowotny." Quax" Schnörrer tells: "Everybody looked at me.I shook my head and tried to stand straight.I was shivering.I knew where Nowotny was, but how could I tell him? I went to the phone and opened my throat. With a hoarse voice I managed to say " Herr Genral!". The General interrupted: " You old drunk! You are wasted, are you not?!" It was not worth denying " Yes, I am ". As an old WW1 pilot " Papa " Greim understood the situation completely." For God´s sake Quax, get yourself together and tell me where Nowotny is. The Fuhrer wishes to congratulate him personally and give him the diamonds." That cleared my head." Herr general, Nowotny is in Riia bar in Vilna. He is celebrating". The General: " So that´s the way it is.Ok, the telephone lines men have to show what they are made of...And you also are to be there ready precisely at 08.00 as you shall escort him to Fuhrer."
I put down the phone and went back to the mess. I had problems to make my announcement heard even though I was the commander in charge for the moment. After revealing the conversation with " Papa " Greim the roar got louder. Some older officers got worried, the lines men could never make the Fuhrer´s phone call to the bar.And how would you put your mouth then?
The lines men did manage to get the call through. " Nowy" told me later how he was asked on the phone in the bar. It was some adjutant: " I put you through to the Fuhrer". " Nowy" almost fell onto the floor.There he was sitting on a chair in a bar surrounded by local beautiful women and a huge roar around, as the Fuhrer congratulated him. " If Adolf had known where I was, he would have reconsidered giving me the diamonds..." " Nowy" thought later on.

"Quax" was the next morning feeling sick and as they arrived in Eastern Prussia he was pale as sheet. He would not go in front of the Fuhrer like this. He would rather die...So he agreed with "Nowy" that he would wait outside.
As they were leaving Hitler was outside the bunker with " Blondi ". As they passed him
" Nowy" could not resist the idea but introduced "Quax" to the Fuhrer formally...

 

On Galland in " Me 262-Arrow to the future" by Walter J.Boyne:

Galland led his JV 44 into battle until April 26th when, after a successful assault on a Martin Marauder bomber formation ( one in which the old hunter, the old pro, had forgotten to release the safety on his rockets, and had to use his cannon armament! ), he was attacked by the escorting Mustangs. The Me 262 was badly hit and Galland was wounded. he managed to plant the aircraft on the runway at a roaring 175 kmph, and survive the formation of Republic P-47 Thuderbolts that were strafing the field.Galland went ito hospital, but JV 44 fought on until it was overrun on May 3, 1945.