Europe in Wartime

31/08/2024

Via the British Memorial - Today is the last official day of the Standing with Giants installation at the Memorial, The silhouettes will begin to be removed tomorrow and their departure will be on Friday 13 September.

Many thousands of visitors have experienced the power of this very special installation marking the 80th anniversary year of D-Day.

The silhouettes are returning to Britain to fulfil an obligation to go on display at National Trust - Stowe.

The Normandy Memorial Trust is hoping it will be possible for the ‘Giants’ to return to the Memorial next year.

British Normandy Memorial

18/08/2024

On the 17th August 1944, the Allies launched Operation Paddle, which aimed to encircle the remainder of German troops in Normandy to prevent them from crossing the Seine river.

This is led by the 1st British Corps under General Crerar. Operation Paddle, which include the Belgian group of Colonel Piron, several british divisions, the Dutch brigade "Irene" and the survivors of the "Kieffer" French commando, only stops when the Allies reach the Seine and secure the whole of its western shore, which is performed on August 31, 1944.

Despite the Allied efforts, 165,000 Germans and 30,000 vehicles manage to escape.

10/07/2024

Thoughts?

Bookseller Gert-Jan Jimmink, who initiated the monument 20 years ago, said it “represents the 14,000 Jews from this neighborhood who were murdered.”

30/06/2024

10 minutes south of Juno beach where the 3rd Canadian Division landed in Normandy, you will find Beny-sur-Mer Canadian war cemetery.

Amongst the 2048 grave markers, you will find 3 British graves, and 1 French Grave belonging to R.Guenard, a French resistant fighter who fought alongside the Canadians.

Unfortunately, Guenard has no known relatives, so was laid to rest with the men he fought next to.

25/06/2024

Another new rosette has been added to the Tablets of the Missing at Normandy American Cemetery for 1st Lt. Nathan B. Baskind.

08/06/2024

All fun in Normandy!!

01/06/2024

The Olympic torch has arrived into Normandy, as has been walked through the American Cemetery 5 days before the 80th Anniversary of the Dday Landings

30/05/2024

From New Forest & Hampshire Wartime Association
On this day 80 years ago, 30 May 1944, 18 year old William Frederick Manvell drowned in Hatchet Pond, New Forest. He was part of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers working on the waterproofing of vehicles in the lead-up to D-Day. He is buried in the St. John's Churchyard in Boldre.

26/05/2024

Such sad news. Thoughts to the pilots family.

Emergency services are at the scene of the crash near RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire.

17/05/2024

A warning to anyone planning to visit Normandy over the 80th anniversary this year:

https://www.abmc.gov/news-events/news/access-pointe-du-hoc-ranger-monument-will-be-restricted-june-3-june-11-2024?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaZud0VCGiXQx1nxAQT7XfqoCMyDLDzDJC3WK2sclBscmzpfddqTkK2BOWM_aem_AaShwkjqFf2HGmbrsTeSe5ZUzdsOC97eC2DhePBog7-ePAWH6wXR0bDxDyCUwTsE44GzBbrDddYexCNSqcO1iDme

Due to short notice major construction works, access to the Observation Bunker located at the Pointe du Hoc Ranger Monument will be closed to the public from June 3 to 11, 2024. In addition, the Pointe du Hoc Ranger Monument will be entirely closed to the public on June 5 and June 7, 2024. We kindly...

16/05/2024

On this day: Operation Chastise

On the 16th May 1943, 133 aircrew in Lancasters took off in 3 seperate waves to bomb the dams with their secret weapon, the ‘bouncing bomb’, designed by Barnes Wallace, to take out Hydroelectric dams in Germany’s Ruhr Valley. Thanks to torpedo nets, and underwater attack would have been impossible, so the mission was given to the RAF.

To be successful, it required each aircraft to fly a mere 60ft above enemy territory, and drop the specially made bombs. These were designed to skim across the surface, (and therefore, over the nets), allowing them to reach the dams. The low altitude, together with a flying speed of 232 miles per hour, made it one of the most dangerous operations carried out by the RAF during the war.

Out of the 19 Lancasters that departed, only 11 return, and 53 men lost their lives.

Back in 2022, the last surviving Dambuster, George Leonard Johnson died at the age of 101.

(Picture credit:IWM)

06/05/2024

HMS Queen Elizabeth sailing into her home port of Portsmouth next to the historic dockyard.

In the photo you can also see HMS Warrior (the flag ship of Queen Victorias fleet), and HMS Victory (Lord Nelsons ship from the battle of Trafalgar)

25/04/2024

Plans for an €85million project to stabalise the N**i Rally Grounds in Nuremberg. What are everyone’s thoughts on this?

The backdrop for Hitler’s mass Nuremberg rallies is at risk of collapse but will not be restored to original state

09/04/2024

Spitfire regains her stripes as we reach 59 days before the 80th anniversary of the DDay landings

On June 6th 1944, The Grace Spitfire, ML407, was on patrol over the beaches of Normandy in support of the D-Day landings. The fighter spotted a German bomber and took chase to shoot it down and thus claiming the first enemy victory of D-Day. The D-Day stripes have been returned to the Sywell Aerodro...

25/02/2024

Admiring the new tribute on the Victoria pub in Woolston, in my home town

During WW2, the factories in Woolston produced over 8000 spitfires so it is long overdue we have such a beautiful tribute, painted by local artist Slam Daniels.

19/02/2024

A new rosette has been added to the Wall of the Missing at Normandy American Cemetery.

Staff Sergeant Leroy C. Cloud's remains were positively identified by in 2023.

He is the 21st service members memorialized at Normandy whose remains have been recovered.

Credit: American Battle Monuments Commission

19/02/2024

12/02/2024

To anyone planning a visit to Berchtesgaden, a tour with Tom and Amy is a must. Both incredible and passionate guides who will give an in depth insight into the history of this famous and breathtaking location

Unearth the captivating history of the Eagle's Nest in Berchtesgaden with one of our Discover Eagle's Nest in-depth historical tours.

15/01/2024

Need more motivation please people! Running in this cold is far from fun let me tell you! Donation link is in comments no amount is too small! Money raised goes to the Royal British Legion Industries to support veterans:

14/11/2023

To my American followers:

If you can spare 30 seconds, visit pack.crownroyal.com. Partnered with ‘packages from home’, you select 4 snacks from the list provided to you, and they will send a care package to military personnel containing those items. A nice and yet very simple way to say thank you.

Crown Royal Gift That Keeps On Giving

28/10/2023

‘On Freedom’s Wings’ - the ambitious project to build a full-scale replica sculpture measuring 26m long and a 31m wingspan, of the iconic Lancaster bomber.

It is to be positioned between Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire, and will make the installation taller than the Angel of the North.

19/10/2023

This message, timed at 10:20am on the 11th November 1918, saw the guns lowered and ended the Great War.

17/09/2023

The beautiful Lancaster Bomber followed by a Spitfire at the Battle of Britain airshow yesterday at Duxford

24/08/2023

My pup Luna sat in front of the Sherman tank discovered back in the 1980’s at Slapton Sands in Devon. Now ashore, it has become a memorial for the American men who lost their lives in April 1944 during exercise Tiger.

15/08/2023

On this day, 75 years ago, the Allies begin the Provence landing. This allied operation, preceded by a parachute of 9000 soldiers near Draguignan in the night of 14 to 15 August 1944, brings together 350 000 men and extends from Toulon to Cannes.

The objective of the Allies is to quickly engage in the Rhone Valley to then make the junction with the troops of Operation Overlord. On the evening of August 15, 1944, 95,000 Allied soldiers landed in Provence. 10,000 of them lose their lives during the first days of operations. On September 1, 1944, the Allies are at the gates of Lyon, nearly 500 km from the assault beaches.

21/07/2023

Of all the stops I do in Normandy, Point Du Hoc is the most picturesque! On a day like this in the sunshine and with its beautiful blue waters, it’s hard to imagine how it must have looked 79 years ago. 225 men of the 2nd Ranger battalion were assigned to capture and disable the coast defense battery about three miles west of Omaha Beach, under the command of Colonel James Earl Rudder.

20/07/2023

Brilliant advert!

18/07/2023

Just 1 of the 9388 soldiers laid to rest at the Colville American Cemetery in Normandy, of which, 304 are unidentified.

16/07/2023

If you say so Göring….