'Aussie Rick'’s Comments (group member since Jun 12, 2009)

'Aussie Rick'’s comments from the THE WORLD WAR TWO GROUP group.

Jesper wrote: "I found this YouTube Channel "WWII US Bombers"

https://www.youtube.com/@WWIIUSBomber...

Analytical and informative I find it intersting and I have had quite a few aha! moments

Take care
JJ
..."

Thanks for that link Jesper, I am sure quite a few group members will be checking it out :)

Looks like folks have some very good books in their hands at the moment. I am thinking about starting this book as part of the June theme read. It's a book that I have being waiting to read for some time, but other shiny new books kept on getting in the way :)

Anyhow this is what I am going to start reading tonight; "Messerschmitts over Sicily : A Luftwaffe Ace Fighting the Allies and Goering" by Johannes Steinoff.

Messerschmitts over Sicily : A Luftwaffe Ace Fighting the Allies and Goering by Johannes Steinoff

I have this book under consideration to finish of this month's theme read; "Messerschmitts over Sicily: A Luftwaffe Ace Fighting the Allies and Goering" by Johannes Steinoff.

Messerschmitts over Sicily : A Luftwaffe Ace Fighting the Allies and Goering by Johannes Steinoff

I'd be worried about everything around me, front, back and sides! 😁😁😁

Lee wrote: "I just finished TO THE END OF THE EARTH: The U.S. Army and the Downfall of Japan, 1945 by John C. McManus.

Quite good, I especially enjoyed his shifting viewpoints, able to move from the generals ..."

That's good to hear Lee! I need to make a start on the trilogy.

Arcticvet wrote: "Last night I finished watching the three part series “War Sailor.” About the fate of Norwegian sailors during WWII,

It is so well done that i have to recommend it to anyone interested in the war ..."

I've got it on my watch-list. I'll try and check it our soon.

Manray9 wrote: "Today I picked up a nice used hardcover of --

Champions Day: The End of Old Shanghai by James Carter."

Sounds pretty interesting MR9, nice pickup!

"Kursk 1943: The Greatest Battle of the Second World War" - An interesting first-hand account of a Ferdinand tank destroyer in action:

"On 8 July, Anton Bumuller, a radio operator in the 18th Panzer Division, witnessed close-up how a Soviet attack at Ponyri was repelled by a single Ferdinand tank destroyer:

About 600-700 metres away there was a hollow in the terrain, running parallel to the frontline, which was deep enough to hide any tank. The Russian tank commander sent up the first T-34. It crept up and, just as it stuck out its nose and gun, it received a hit immediately in the hull from below. There was a flash and the tank rolled back down. It went on like this until the [final] fourteenth tank; all of them were knocked out. Only then did two tanks drive up at the same time, almost side by side. The first had just put its nose up when it was hit. The second nearly got as far as the plain but then it was hit, too, and burst into flames. After that the Russian commander gave up."

Kursk 1943: The Greatest Battle of the Second World War by Roman Töppel

I'd hate to be in the back seat of a Stuka in one of those low-level attacks. I'd be hanging on for dear life and probably screaming my head-off!

Mike wrote: "It has been a while coming to you, AR and I will be interested in your thoughts, whenever you get around to it."

That's the problem eh, Mike! When will I actually get around to it :)

Leo McKinstry's new book arrived this morning; "Cinderella Boys: The Forgotten RAF Force that Won the Battle of the Atlantic".

Cinderella Boys: The Forgotten RAF Force that Won the Battle of the Atlantic by Leo McKinstry

Here is a detailed article on the Luftwaffe during the Battle of Kursk:

BATTLEFIELD AIR INTERDICTION BY THE LUFTWAFFE AT THE BATTLE OF KURSK – 1943 by WILLIAM J. DALECKY
https://www.allworldwars.com/Battlefi...

"Kursk 1943: The Greatest Battle of the Second World War" - Some details on the effectiveness of Stuka's during the Battle of Kursk. Taken from the daily reports from the Panzer Regiment Großdeutschland on 9 July 1943:

" ... 'In the course of the afternoon, our Luftwaffe was very active. While the enemy air force limited themselves to attacks against targets in the rear, our Luftwaffe, above all the Stuka, offered absolutely outstanding support to the panzer spearhead, combating enemy tanks, anti-yank guns and artillery autonomously and with notable success.' The daily report of the Ninth Army from 11 July 1943 commented on the battle of the XXXXI Panzer Corps as follows: 'Around 1800 an enemy attack on Hill 253.5 supported by 6-8 tanks and lorry-mounted infantry, was destroyed by Stukas during its deployment.' A Soviet soldier who was taken prisoner in the Sixth Army's sector at the Mius on 31 July 1943 told his interrogators that an assault his unit was to carry out two days earlier had to be called off because they lacked artillery support - Stukas had completely wiped out an artillery regiment brought up to the frontline. As for the Germans, there are no known cases where entire units or formations were destroyed by Soviet air strikes during the summer battles of 1943."

The Stuka at Kursk:
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/air-sp...

"Kursk 1943: The Greatest Battle of the Second World War" - More on Soviet losses during Kursk:

"Hence, the Soviets wrote off relatively fewer tanks as 'irretrievable' losses during the counteroffensive. Still, the Red Army had no less than 2,586 total losses of tanks and self-propelled guns during Operation Kutuzov, and 1,864 during Operation Polkovodets Rumyantsev - and this is according to the official numbers published in Grif sekretnosti snyat. In total, this is 4,450 tanks and self-propelled guns, though the actual losses were most probably even higher, amounting to approximately 4,800 tanks and self-propelled guns. Measured against the average daily losses, the Battle of Kursk was one of the costliest engagements for the Red Army during the Second World War. During July and August 1943, its total losses on the entire Eastern Front amounted to more than 9,000 tanks (not including self-propelled guns), the same number of tanks that the Wehrmacht had lost on the same front in the two years since the summer of 1941. And, of course, it was not just about destroyed vehicles: tens of thousands of Soviet soldiers died in these tanks. Of the roughly 400,000 tank soldiers the Red Army trained during the entire duration of the Second World War, more than 300,000 were killed in action."

Operation Kutuzov:
https://codenames.info/operation/kutu...

"Kursk 1943: The Greatest Battle of the Second World War" - Following on from the successful Soviet defence at Kursk was their counter-offensive, and their drive on Khar'kov in August 1943 - the fourth battle for that city:

"At 2000, the Germans began withdrawing from the city, and the following morning, Soviet troops moved in. The fourth and last battle for Khar'kov was thus over - and, according to Soviet historiography, so was the Battle of Kursk. The highest price for the victory at Khar'kov had been paid by the Soviet tank troops. Most of the 2,400 tanks and self-propelled guns with which the Red Army had begun Operation Polkovodets Rumyantsev had been knocked out. Katukov's 1st Tank Army lost 1,042 tanks, including 753 completely destroyed, during the offensive at Khar'kov. On 23 August, the 1st Tank Army had a mere 120 operational tanks available, By 25 August, Ratmistrov's 5th Guards Tank Army had lost almost three quarters of its officers and had only 50 operational tanks at its disposal. It took the army two months until it was once again ready for employment in battle."

Fourth Battle for Khar'kov:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgoro...

Liam wrote: "Sho'nuff! You are correct, it is not yet fully verified, but I'm pretty confident it eventually will be.

This one was a "slam-dunk" Rick; I'm not often in a position to pull off a smart-ass show-..."

I haven't seen any drone footage but have read of witness reports, from both sides of the dam, that there were no artillery strikes at the time, no missiles, just an explosion on/within the dam which points to sabotage. The only country to gain from this incident is Russia ....

James wrote: "Now starting TO THE END OF THE EARTH: The U.S. Army and the Downfall of Japan, 1945 by John C. McManus.

This is the final book of McManus' superb recounting of the Pacific War campaigns of the U.S..."

Let us know how it goes James. I received the final book in the trilogy, so I have no excuse for not starting the series.

Liam wrote: "À propos what I said a few days ago, above, a few hours after the Nova Kahovka dam was blown (this is from an article published yesterday by The Daily Beast):

"The Security Service of Ukraine (SB..."

I saw that story on the news over here as well Liam. Yet to be independently verified but it sounds about right eh!

Jonny wrote: "The problem with the German kill ratios on the Eastern Front is that the Russians were hardly tactically able, or particularly well trained. It was hard not to score big. It's difficult to see thes..."

That's quite true Jonny, issues with command & control and training with Russian tank crews always made it easier for the Germans to rack up some impressive kill ratios and the German tanks were qualitatively better in a lot of regards throughout the war.

Mike wrote: "On sale now at all the ebook sites (unless noted):

$1.99:

[book:Panzer Ace: The Memoirs o..."

Some great books there Mike! Thanks for the notification.