3 days after VE Day

[celtic1123]

The Canadian is from the Royal Canadian Regiment , "RCR".. judging by the badge in his beret

Looking lovingly at that rifle wishing it was a chicken, this guy was clearly waaaaaaaay ahead of the times.

(I kid of course, nothing but the greatest respect for all those that served during the war)

Unfortunately the days of our enemies conforming to military discipline and international law are long gone. Could you imagine this happening now a days in our trouble spots?

Certainly would be a lot more soldiers getting shot in the back or while doing PT that's for sure.

 

[Whiskey Gulf]

The troops in these pictures, Canadian and German, look very thin. It makes me appreciate what we have now. it must have been a very interesting time to be in Europe, or just about any where in the world after the war.

 

[Claven2]

Because hostilities ended May 8th but arrangements to disarm followed later.


Unidentified German soldier turning in his rifle to a Canadian soldier, IJmuiden, Netherlands, 11 May 1945.

He appears to be turning in either a G24(t) or a VZ24 - hard to say.

 

[points]

Prisoners of war are bound to obey lawful orders of the capturing power. When hostilities have ended, you can arm them and put them to security duties like this. The Allies used Japanese troops to maintain control of Vietnam after WWII until the French could re-establish their possession, contrary to the wishes of the Vietnamese resistance who had been fighting those same Japanese troops.

And there started the whole Vietnam mess. The Viets thought that since the French were gone, they would finally have their independence. The allies gave it back to the French and the rest is history

 

[RRCo.]

Because hostilities ended May 8th but arrangements to disarm followed later.


Unidentified German soldier turning in his rifle to a Canadian soldier, IJmuiden, Netherlands, 11 May 1945.

Interesting that they're stacking them inside a church. Pretty deep pile too.

Two other pics but of slightly different views are PA134396 and PA151185 in 134396 it shows the German soldier has a FG42 rifle. One great picture I have seen in the past shows a large formation of disarmed Germans marching in to surrender but each and every soldat has a pair of stick grenades slung together with a string hanging back of the neck.

Makes sense, since he's wearing para overalls.

 

[TheTooner]

Unfortunately the days of our enemies conforming to military discipline and international law are long gone. Could you imagine this happening now a days in our trouble spots?

No, it certainly doesn't seem plausible now. I think the last time Canadians captured anyone they could risk relying on in such matters was 1945.

 

[Coyote Ugly]

In the picture it looks like the book is levitating on the rifle. Fritz is amazed as the book is about to go into orbit.

The Canadian soldiers right hand is - in his pocket?

Just look at it for a bit.

Because hostilities ended May 8th but arrangements to disarm followed later.


Unidentified German soldier turning in his rifle to a Canadian soldier, IJmuiden, Netherlands, 11 May 1945.

 

[Juster]

In the picture it looks like the book is levitating on the rifle. Fritz is amazed as the book is about to go into orbit.

The Canadian soldiers right hand is - in his pocket?

Just look at it for a bit.

OMG - a severed thumb is on the book! Church of Satan? That would explain the guy dressed as a Nazi.


A lot of people say they are fat because of their genes, or hormones or whatever. Look at any picture of WWii infantry and show me the fat guy.

 

[smellie]

WRT to the savages we are fighting against these days, Somebody In Power should READ the Hague Convention (1899/1900), especially the sections on the use of expanding bullets (our Dum-Dums).

The Convention applies only to SIGNATORY CIVILISED POWERS when fighting EACH OTHER.

It specifically DOES NOT apply when fighting against "uncivilised" enemies.

People who make kids into suicide bombs are about as uncivilised as they come.

Good part is that "dead" is pretty much a 1-way trip. They can't be released from hospital, immigrate to Canada, go on Welfare, bring their whole clan over and then blow up something HERE.

 

[plinker 777]

Don't hold back Smellie, tell us how you really feel!?

 

[plinker 777]

The troops in these pictures, Canadian and German, look very thin. It makes me appreciate what we have now. it must have been a very interesting time to be in Europe, or just about any where in the world after the war.

Not thin, just normal. Our fast food addiction hadn't taken effect until late 1970's and 1980's. In 2013 our eyes have been customized to varying degree's of unfit/overweight throughout the majority of our populace in North America. To most people, someone within the proper body mass index (BMI) looks "thin".

Heads up folks, your body does not need to consume 25,000 calories a day to ride a couch, do so at your own peril...and in Canada, on my dime, when diabetes and heart disease inevitably knock on your door it strains our health care system.

 

[Coyote Ugly]

Zoom +++ the Book up, it's a copy of Mein Kampf that Fritz is looking at.

OMG - a severed thumb is on the book! Church of Satan? That would explain the guy dressed as a Nazi.


A lot of people say they are fat because of their genes, or hormones or whatever. Look at any picture of WWii infantry and show me the fat guy.

 

[RRCo.]

Not thin, just normal. Our fast food addiction hadn't taken effect until late 1970's and 1980's. In 2013 our eyes have been customized to varying degree's of unfit/overweight throughout the majority of our populace in North America. To most people, someone within the proper body mass index (BMI) looks "thin".

Heads up folks, your body does not need to consume 25,000 calories a day to ride a couch, do so at your own peril...and in Canada, on my dime, when diabetes and heart disease inevitably knock on your door it strains our health care system.

Yup.

"Wheat Belly" says it all.

 

[XRCD011]

The average Canadian is a larger build then way back in the 1940s and being children of the depression I am sure many service members/veterans of WWII had missed a meal or two. I had a chance to crawl around the interior of the Aviation Museums B24 Liberator and the Canso, I am 6ft2in and consider myself in good shape but wearing just shorts and a shirt I could not squeeze myself into the rear gunners turret and generally banged my head on just about every panel and bulkhead going. I left thinking that some of the crew must have been drawfs so when geared up in thick flight gear they could actually fit inside the planes. If one thinks we as Canadians are loosing the battle of the bulge check out the scooter parking lots for "plus" sized people at Disney, mind blowing.