WW2 Leningrad freezing cold

Citizens of Leningrad, Russia fetching water from a shell hole in Ostrovsky Square, 1 Dec 1941. I did say in my previous posts about Russian cities being so cold! 

The siege lasted 872 days from September 1941 to January 1944. The Siege of Leningrad was one of the longest, most destructive, and most lethal sieges of a major city in modern history. It isolated the city from most supplies except those provided through the Road of Life across Lake Ladoga, and more than a million civilians died, mainly from starvation. Many others were eventually evacuated or escaped by themselves, so the city became largely depopulated.

WW2 American Propaganda Poster: Yamamoto's aggression

American propaganda poster depicting Yamamoto's aggression, circa 1943. Its interesting how much Europe forgets the influence Japan had on getting America to join the allied forces in WW2. It feels like they were the number one enemy to America.  Anyway a not so subtle hint of what could happen seemed to be the message of this poster.

The American Civil War: Recruitment Posters. Union & Confeds

 Not looked into American Civil war recruitment/propaganda posters so it was a nice suprise to find these on a War forum. Judging by the poster money was a big incentive to sign up. Most of the men one assumes were from poor backgrounds and $13-$23/month + bonus and $100 when its over was good enough to swell the Union numbers sufficiantly.

Confederation side this time but alone the same lines as the Union poster. $25 clothes allowance and $50 sign up bonus makes it sound appealing for the mid to late 1800's. Touring public meetings to induce men to sign up was a standard event.

WW2 American Propaganda Posters: These colors Won't run; Aces

 WW2 American Propaganda Poster with a rather catchy line. "These colors won't run" I have heard this said in a fair few movies over the years. I guess Pearl Harbor had a huge impact on USA so was used to fuel the motivation for men to sign up to fight the Japanese and Nazi's.

Another American WW2 poster this time with a poker twist. Three cards depicting the three leaders of Italy, Japan and Germany. Aces as always is the best starting hand so they get to trump anything else, escuse the puns.

Stalingrad why is it such a famous battle from WW2?

 There are a number of reasons why Stalingrad is still to this day a very famous battle that took place in WW2. It was crucial in stretching the Germans to breaking point, the Russians clung on to the city 

from the river side by pouring troops into a virtually ruined city. Hitler dug his heels in  against his top military peoples advice; they would not leave Stalingrad until the bitter end and ultimately defeat. Books, movies have recorded how Stalingrad played out and enlighted the public of the seige!

 

Two things that are associated with Stalingrad are Snipers and the cold weather. The city had so many snipers on both sides dug in movement around the buildings was almost impossible. Much of the movement was done at night or in tunnels under the ruined buildings. The weather meant many troops on both sides suffered, inadequet shelter, clothing and rations meant it was hell on earth, especially as the battle lasted for what seemed years.

The Germans initially had huge numbers in Stalingrad, over time the sheer amount of troops they needed to send there to keep pushing the Russians back came at a huge price and at the expense of weakening them on the Western front. The Russians had what is seemed millions of recruits to fill in the now growing death toll (1 million Russians died in Stalingrad with over 13,000 shot for deserting). Men, women and young boys it didn't matter the 'Zerg' was all important and in the end proved a key factor. The photo shows 62nd Stalingrad Army marching in Odessa.

WW2 American Propaganda Posters: Smack the Jap; Snakes

 

 An American Poster from WW2. Many of the posters would use derogatory words for the Japanese and Germans. You have specific posters for each of the different services, Army, Navy etc.

Again from American in WW2. The use of something evil, nasty to depict  the enemy. Not 100% sure what the chain through the snake is supposed to represent.

WW2 Propaganda Poster: English Map; Daddy Great War

Not seen this one before, just  a standard map of Great Britain asking for army recruits. This is from the start of WW2.

I like this one, from WW2 where the children asking their father what he did in the Great War (WW1 is often refered to as this). A guilt trip to get people signed up for WW2 so you wont be in the situation in the future.

Aftermath of San Francisco earthquake 1906

You can see many different photos from the 1906 San Fransisco earthquake but I think this one is a little unusual. It takes us right down to ground level, you can sense the complete devastation of the city. The foundations showing, if the quake didn't completely destroy the buildings it was generally the fire that did. As far as the eye can see the same picture continues, rubble. Wonder what the person with the horse cart is doing? Looking for materials to reuse?

The Marx Brothers

Its weird to think many younger people today have no idea about the Marx brothers, like many similar acts (
the three stooges, laurel and hardy) they are comedy gold. Most of the films can be picked up for peanuts online so there is no excuse to have a watch. Animal crackers, duck soup and a day at the races being my favourites.

WW2 Army base Camouflaged.

US Army HQ during World War II, disguised by architect Sir Basil Spence. Not only did they camouflage tanks, vehicles, bunkers to hide them from the Germans they also hid bases. Under this huge dump was an intelligence centre crucial to WW2.

WW2 Propaganda Posters: Enemy propaganda, War bonds

Not really posted many if any WW2 posters from American so here a few. Standard them against us message. Interesting drawing of the enemy!

Most WW2 posters you see in America were asking people to save, help out the best they could. Generally buying War bonds was popular to fund the war effort.

WW2: Loot and Ruins: Leipzig

 

I am like wow, so much happening in this photo. Its taken from the final months of WW2. Pretty typical around that time the allied troops pushing back the Nazi and recovering their treasures and spoils! If this is in Leipzig what are the Statues supposed to be for? We can the place has been bombed, roof gone? Looks like a storage facility judging by the number of boxes in the background. Allied troops would send whatever they could find back home by Army post. 

Brooke Shields: American Royalty

It's not always War photos! occasionally I have posted famous icons from the Movies, Brooke Shields being the latest. I watched an excellent program on Brooke this week "Who Do they think You are?" Her family history is rather amazing it has to be said a direct descendant of the King of France Henry IV and of course his more famous grandson Louis XIV. Worth a watch on the Iplayer if you have time.

Brooke of course has been in lots of movies and TV hows but I think she is more famous for being Brooke! if that makes sense :) and no I wont put a photo up from the blue lagoon.

WW2 Rounding up Nazis

Rounding up Dutch Nazi's, sympathisers and fraternisers April 1945. This is a really interesting photo that tells us so much about the war. Very common scene for people who favoured the Nazis during the war to be rounded up once the country/city/area was occupied by the Allies. Women as above would have their head shaved, paraded on the streets, houses looted/burnt. I know this is in Holland but is the man in the centre wearing clogs?

WW2: Waldenburg Destruction

Allied troops making their way through a somewhat destroyed city of Waldenburg Germany. This was 1945, towards the end of the war. You can see from the smoke and steam raising up its pretty fresh.