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Largest mass surrender in the west?

Discussion in 'Information Requests' started by Kai-Petri, Oct 24, 2006.

  1. skunk works

    skunk works Ace

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    I stand corrected.
    It does deserve a topic of it's own.
    I did forget to mention the Indians as well.
    Driving trucks eh?
    I met a guy from the US SOS, and he had a German POW driving his truck. He didn't have to hold his pistol on him or like that. This guy had no intention of escaping. He ate everyday, slept out of the weather, and was out of the way of incomming rounds. He was "Happy" to do it.
     
  2. Skipper

    Skipper Kommodore

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    That's right,I have a similar example of a French officer who was ordered to take a German Pow to germany but had to wait 24h hours in Strasbourg with him for official authorisations, so he took him to the cinema ( he still wore his uniform).
    I have several pictures of germans who are smiling just because they knew they were going to live. Just look at the older guy with a moustache: he seems happy. I will post a picture with a truck for officers later(they could sit)
     
  3. Skipper

    Skipper Kommodore

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    Here is one for you Skunk


    [​IMG]
     
  4. Skipper

    Skipper Kommodore

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    Five star transportation for officers with a trailer for their luggage and check out the poor guys who have to walk.

    [​IMG]
     
  5. Ali Morshead

    Ali Morshead Member

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  6. skunk works

    skunk works Ace

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    I Love it Ali, it gives me "Goose Bumps". When I first read about it, I didn't/couldn't believe it, but it's all true. Outstanding!
    Love the pictures too Skip, The mighty Wehrmacht as "House Pets".
    Grunts always walk, you draw less attention/fire that way.
     
  7. Carl W Schwamberger

    Carl W Schwamberger Ace

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    The Mons pocket probablly exceeded the Elster column by 50,000 men. The source I recall placed some 70,000 Germans trapped there by the US First Army. But I am unsure if there was a formal surrender document. The Mons pocket did not comprise a organized group, but rather a aggregation of fragmented battle groups & support columns that converged on Mons. the several generals trapped there Wasted little time in surrendering.

    In theory the German group in the Mons pocket had the ability to hold for a week or two & attack east to breakout. But, morale was different than on the Russian Front, and as with the Elster column Allied air strikes were making things 'difficult'.
     
  8. Kai-Petri

    Kai-Petri Kenraali

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    Found this on the Mons pocket. Actually surprised the Germans had troops that could surrender...

    To the north, advancing on the flank of 21 Army Group, Hodges' First Army was encountering more, but still relatively unsubstantial, opposition. When the Normandy front had collapsed in late July, Hitler had realized that he might need to make a stand between the Seine and the German frontier, and he had, accordingly, ordered the construction of field works along the Somme and Marne Rivers. By the time the jumbled remnants of his western armies reached the Somme line in late August, however, they were too exhausted, disorganized, and demoralized to hold the position. First Army soon cracked the defenses, forcing the Germans to withdraw to the West Wall, a system of fortifications along the German border. As fragments of German formations passed across First Army's front, Bradley saw a chance to cut off their retreat, and he ordered Hodges to turn his direction of advance from northeast to north. Near Mons, in a pocket formed by its three corps, First Army bagged 25,000 prisoners, demolishing what little remained of the German Seventh Army. The coup at Mons cleared the way to the West Wall, and a jubilant Hodges told his staff on 6 September that, with ten more days of good weather, the war would be over.

    http://www.history.army.mil/brochures/norfran/norfran.htm
     
  9. bf109 emil

    bf109 emil Member

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    If we count the Germans taken at Falasie POCKET, THEN THE NUMBER CAPTURE OR SURRENDERING AFTER dUNKIRK SHOULD BE NOTED...sorry cap lock...
     
  10. Kai-Petri

    Kai-Petri Kenraali

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    Sorry bf109 emil,

    but aren“t those figures for Dunkirk 1940 what the Allied lost and the Germans gained? I am sure you got the right figures somewhere close.
     

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