WW2 Trivia

helimachoptor

What was the only American ship named after a foreign city?

Answer shortly..

Morlar

helimachoptor wrote: »

American ship named after a foreign city?.

USS Canberra.

helimachoptor

Morlar wrote: »

USS Canberra.

Damn Google!

I read it the other day and I was intrigued.
Right I'm off to find a much harder question

ojewriej

Meantime, I'll fill in for you:

What's the connection between pic in my sig to Stalin?

Morlar

ojewriej wrote: »

Meantime, I'll fill in for you:

What's the connection between pic in my sig to Stalin?

Sadly enough I actually had heard this one before (but couldnt remember the exact detail)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kilroy_was_here

There are many urban legends attached to the Kilroy graffiti. One states that Adolf Hitler believed that Kilroy was some kind of American super spy because the graffiti kept turning up in secure Nazi installations, presumably having been actually brought on captured Allied military equipment. Another states that Stalin was the first to enter an outhouse especially built for the leaders at the Potsdam conference. Upon exiting, Stalin asked an aide: "Who is this Kilroy?" Another legend states that a German officer, having seen frequent "Kilroys" posted in different cities, told all of his men that if they happened to come across a "Kilroy" he wanted to question him personally. Another one states the entire gag was started by a soldier in the Army who was sick of the Air Force[dubious – discuss] bragging that they were always the first on the scene; the little man and phrase then began appearing in ludicrous places to indicate that someone had, in fact, arrived prior to the Air Force.

delly

Ok, i was trying to think of some WWII trivia that wouldn't be too easy to find on the net and thought of this:

During WWII the Free State gave a concession to RAF coastal command which helped them fight the U-boat war, what was it?

Morlar

delly wrote: »

Ok, i was trying to think of some WWII trivia that wouldn't be too easy to find on the net and thought of this:

During WWII the Free State gave a concession to RAF coastal command which helped them fight the U-boat war, what was it?

Confiscating German radios and allowing allied pilots to slip home was a benefit in the war though I dont think thats what your referring to ?

Dinner

delly wrote: »

Ok, i was trying to think of some WWII trivia that wouldn't be too easy to find on the net and thought of this:

During WWII the Free State gave a concession to RAF coastal command which helped them fight the U-boat war, what was it?

Allowed them to fly over Donegal?

delly

Arabel wrote: »

Allowed them to fly over Donegal?

Bingo!!

Morlar

a)
Which town did the germans force to surrender by sending the inhabitants the message that they had to surrender or be obliterated, despite the fact that at that time the german unit in question having no artillery, armour or air support.

The bluff worked - the germans captured the town intact and lost/killed no men in the process.

b)
Who alledgedly said to Adolf Hitler;

'That's your reward for all that you (we) have done in these past five years!? I'd rather be shot than obey that order!'

on being told to remove the cuff titles from the men of his unit.

motherfunker

Morlar wrote: »

a)
Which town did the germans force to surrender by sending the inhabitants the message that they had to surrender or be obliterated, despite the fact that at that time the german unit in question having no artillery, armour or air support.

The bluff worked - the germans captured the town intact and lost/killed no men in the process.

Was it Zwolle, in Holland. LSSAH led by Kurt 'Panzer' Meyer. If it wasent Zwolle it was some other city in their path that first week of the campaign. I think one man was shot in the knee though.

Fratton Fred

Morlar wrote: »

a)
Which town did the germans force to surrender by sending the inhabitants the message that they had to surrender or be obliterated, despite the fact that at that time the german unit in question having no artillery, armour or air support.

The bluff worked - the germans captured the town intact and lost/killed no men in the process.

France

Sorry, too big. Paris did go retty much that way though.

Mahatma coat

Besides Dublin where else in the republic was hit by the Luftwaffe?

bonus points if anyone can tell me the actual building

Dirk_Diggler

Campile?:)

marcsignal

Morlar wrote: »

b)
Who alledgedly said to Adolf Hitler;

'That's your reward for all that you (we) have done in these past five years!? I'd rather be shot than obey that order!'

on being told to remove the cuff titles from the men of his unit.

It was Sepp Dietrich, in March 1945 after the failure of the IV Army to relieve Budapest where the XI SS Corps which included Florian Geyer Division and the 22nd Freiwilligen Kavallerie Division had been cut off. These divisions made their own attempt to break out and only 785 men out of an original 50'000 survived.

Hitler's Samuri, St Edmundsbury Press 1986, p 106

Mahatma coat wrote: »

Besides Dublin where else in the republic was hit by the Luftwaffe?

bonus points if anyone can tell me the actual building

The Creamery in Campile Co. Wexford, 3 women were killed

Dirk_Diggler

Wiki really does rule:)

marcsignal

Right Guys, here are a few gems

1) The Japanese code name for the attack on Pearl Harbour was called what ?

2 Which American Aircraft was known as the 'Flying Prostitute ? and Why ?

3) What as Churchill's British Code Name ?

4) Which German Luitenant General was called 'Smasher Karl' ?

5) What were the names of Hitler's and Himmer's private Trains ?

6) How many rooms were there in the Berlin Bunker ? (including lounges in hallways, and storage areas)

7) Name any 2 of the 5 Luftwaffe pilots who scored more than 250 kills ?

8) Which neutral country had an official 2 day mourning period after the death of Hitler ?

9) Which Allied Aircraft is credited with scoring the first 'kill' against a German Aircraft ?

10) Which was the first German city to suffer a bombing raid in WW2 ?

ojewriej

marcsignal wrote: »

Right Guys, here are a few gems

I can attempt few without wiki:

1) The Japanese code name for the attack on Pearl Harbour was called what ?

Tora?

2 Which American Aircraft was known as the 'Flying Prostitute ? and Why ?

B26 - it had small wings, i.e. "no means of support" or something like that

4) Which German Luitenant General was called 'Smasher Karl' ?

Karl Weidling

8) Which neutral country had an official 2 day mourning period after the death of Hitler ?

Ireland?

[/QUOTE]

marcsignal

ojewriej wrote: »

I can attempt few without wiki:

2 Which American Aircraft was known as the 'Flying Prostitute ? and Why ?

B26 - it had small wings, i.e. "no means of support" or something like that

4) Which German Luitenant General was called 'Smasher Karl' ?

Karl Weidling

Bingo ! Spot on, on Both counts !

Well done ojewriej I have loads more to post, but I'm trying to deliberately post stuff that'll be hard to find on wiki, just to seperate the men from the boys

Mahatma coat

The Creamery in Campile Co. Wexford, 3 women were killed

Almost completley right, the building is called 'Shelbourne Co Op' it was the creamery and canteen that was bombed.

WIKI seems to suggest that Harland and Wolfe were going to build a shipyard near Campile, this is most likely bollox cos the only place near Campile that would be feasible for this is the Great Island, the site of the Barrow bridge and Great Island Power station (obviously the powerstation wasnt there til the 60's)

Mahatma coat

6) How many rooms were there in the Berlin Bunker ? (including lounges in hallways, and storage areas)

42???????

marcsignal

Mahatma coat wrote: »

Almost completley right, the building is called 'Shelbourne Co Op' it was the creamery and canteen that was bombed.

I just remember hearing about it on that 'Seven Ages' series when they covered the Emergency, great episode

Mahatma coat wrote: »

42???????

Bummer, you were 10 out Mahatma coat

(Unless Adolf had a huge Amphetemine stash he was keeping secret )


Right Guys, here are the Answers

1) The Japanese code name for the attack on Pearl Harbour was called what ?
Operation Z

2 Which American Aircraft was known as the 'Flying Prostitute ? and Why ?
B26 Martin Marauder because it had 'No visible means of Support' also called the 'Widow Maker' because it was thought to be unsafe

3) What as Churchill's British Code Name ?
Colonel Warden

4) Which German Luitenant General was called 'Smasher Karl' ?
General Weidling

5) What were the names of Hitler's and Himmer's private Trains ?
Amerika and Steiermark, respectively

6) How many rooms were there in the Berlin Bunker ? (including lounges in hallways, and storage areas)
32

7) Name any 2 of the 5 Luftwaffe pilots who scored more than 250 kills ?

Eric Harrtmann 352 (Top Ace of WW2)
Gerhard Barkhorn 301
Gunter Rall 275
Otto Kittel 267
Walter Nowotny 255

8) Which neutral country had an official 2 day mourning period after the death of Hitler ?
Portugal, where flags were flown at half mast on April 30th and May1st

9) Which Allied Aircraft is credited with scoring the first 'kill' against a German Aircraft ?
An american Made Lockheed A-29 Hudson serving with the British Costal Command.

10) Which was the first German city to suffer a bombing raid in WW2 ?
Brunsbuttelkoog on Sept 4th 1939 by the RAF


ojewriej got 2 right without using wiki, and wins a sticky bun

I'll post another 10 questions later

ojewriej

marcsignal wrote: »

ojewriej got 2 right without using wiki, and wins a sticky bun

Yay!

To keep the ball rolling:

This one won't be so easy to check on wiki.

What important event is pictured below?

ejmaztec

It looks very much like the signing of the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact.:cool:

ojewriej

ejmaztec wrote: »

It looks very much like the signing of the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact.:cool:

Well done

ejmaztec

Thanks, I'm overwhelmed with emotion.:p

marcsignal

Right Guys, Here's the next 10


1) Which American Unit was called 'The Rag Tag Circus' ?

2) What name and rank did the British give to the body deposited off the Spanish coast, with fake plans for the invasion of Sicily,
in the hope the Axis would think it was the body of a dead secret courier ?

3) What did Rommel call the 'Devils Gardens' ?

4) What was the Red Plan the French underground was to execute, on hearing the broadcasted coded message 'The Dice are on the Table' ?

5) Which German aircraft was nicknamed 'The Flaming Coffin' by its own crews ? (There's a clue on this forum already)

6) Which British aircraft did German U-Boat crews nickname 'Stachelschwein' (Porcupine) ?

7) Who said "The British, The Jewish and the Roosevelt Administration, are the 3 most important groups pushing this country towards war" ?

8) What was the last message sent by Hitler from the Berlin Bunker before he committed suicide ?

9) Who said "There are only 2 rules of war, Never invade Russia, Never invade China" ?

10) What was unusual about the Italian Cruiser 'Gorizia' and the German Crusier 'Koenigsberg' in WW2 ?

I'll fire out the answers in a coupla days or so

Good Luck

ojewriej

Again, I can only attempt few:



5) Which German aircraft was nicknamed 'The Flaming Coffin' by its own crews ? (There's a clue on this forum already)
One of the big Heinkels, 177 or 277 I think


6) Which British aircraft did German U-Boat crews nickname 'Stachelschwein' (Porcupine) ?

That I know - Short Sunderland flying boat. Awesome plane, great firepower, radar, the works.


7) Who said "The British, The Jewish and the Roosevelt Administration, are the 3 most important groups pushing this country towards war" ?

No clue but I'd venture a guess that it was some high profile anti-semitic American. Walt Disney;-) ?

8) What was the last message sent by Hitler from the Berlin Bunker before he committed suicide ?

Don't remember exact worlds, bot something to the effect "Fcuk jews and communists", sent to Benito iirc. I wrote about this on my Leaving Cert paper.

9) Who said "There are only 2 rules of war, Never invade Russia, Never invade China" ?
I don't know, but when someone asks who said some snappy bon mot, the answer is usually G. B. Shaw, Oscar Wilde or Churchil. So I'm guessing Churchill.


2) What name and rank did the British give to the body deposited off the Spanish coast, with fake plans for the invasion of Sicily,
in the hope the Axis would think it was the body of a dead secret courier ?

This one is wrecking my head. I re-read Ambrose's D-Day not long ago, and it was there. It might come back to me later.

marcsignal

ojewriej wrote: »

Again, I can only attempt few:



5) Which German aircraft was nicknamed 'The Flaming Coffin' by its own crews ? (There's a clue on this forum already)
One of the big Heinkels, 177 or 277 I think


6) Which British aircraft did German U-Boat crews nickname 'Stachelschwein' (Porcupine) ?

That I know - Short Sunderland flying boat. Awesome plane, great firepower, radar, the works.

Right on Both Counts again ojewriej you're getting warm on a few of the others too

ojewriej

marcsignal wrote: »

Right Guys, Here's the next 10

7) Who said "The British, The Jewish and the Roosevelt Administration, are the 3 most important groups pushing this country towards war" ?

Henry Ford or Charles Lindbergh?

marcsignal

ojewriej wrote: »

Henry Ford or Charles Lindbergh?

now you're scorching hot;), so which one ?

ojewriej

marcsignal wrote: »

now you're scorching hot;), so which one ?

If I'd have to venture a guess id say Lindbergh, he was more "political" type i think

marcsignal

ojewriej wrote: »

If I'd have to venture a guess id say Lindbergh, he was more "political" type i think

BINGO !! Well done !

motherfunker

motherfunker wrote: »

Was it Zwolle, in Holland. LSSAH led by Kurt 'Panzer' Meyer. If it wasent Zwolle it was some other city in their path that first week of the campaign. I think one man was shot in the knee though.

Am I right?

Morlar

Originally Posted by motherfunker View Post
Was it Zwolle, in Holland. LSSAH led by Kurt 'Panzer' Meyer. If it wasent Zwolle it was some other city in their path that first week of the campaign. I think one man was shot in the knee though.

motherfunker wrote: »

Am I right?

Here is a quote from Meyers book :

http://books.google.ie/books?id=2_ns-h6dJQYC&printsec=frontcover&dq


"We have to take advantage of the element of surprise. Without a moment's hesitation I jump into a Dutch car and chase into Zwolle with Obersturmführer Wünsche and Grenadier Seelenwinter. Oberscharführer Erich accompanies us on a Dutch motorcycle. I intend to take the town commander unawares and make him agree to cease-fire. Dutch soldiers are standing rigidly on the street as we shout at them and point toward the tree barricade. They throw up their weapons and go towards the barrier. The deeper we go into the city, the more uncomfortable I feel about this 'ride'. I would like to turn back, but it is to late, we have to play this game out to its end. The sound of shooting at the bunkers hase even now reached the town centre. Hubby and wife, out enjoying the beautiful May day, are scattering like frightened hens threatened by a goshawk's shadow. Despite the extremely uncomfortable situation, we have to laugh at the Dutch reaction. An imposing civic building in the city centre and the fact that a number of uniformed people are coming and going makes us try our luck there and we drive right into the middle of the crowd. Amidst the squealing brakes the car seems about to overturn. In a split-second we point our weapons at bewildered men in uniform. The Dutch stand transfixed. A respectable elderly gentleman in civilian clothes introduces himself as 'the Queens's representative' and tells us that he will order the Dutch troops in Zwolle to cease resistance. He keeps his promise Not another shot is fired in Zwolle. With several captive officers we hurry back to the tree barricade. Zwolle is ours but, unfortunately, we could not prevent the destruction of the great bridges over the Ijssel. Both bridges had been blown up in the early hours of the morning. I nearly have a stroke when I reach the dismantled barrier - my men and some Dutch youths are amusing themselves on a carousel with hardly anyone on guard."

I cant find the link to where it confirms they had no artillery, air support etc - so I will need to do some digging at home – (I have a feeling it was mentioned on one of a bunch of history channel docu’s I have on divx).

The other one was of course Dietrich - both men winners of the 'Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords' (Dietrichs with diamonds).

Heisenberg.

This post has been deleted.

marcsignal

I'll have a stab at these

What was the Operational name for the final Solution? - Operation Reinhard

What was the name given to those who were responsible for the cleanup after jews were gassed? - The Sonderkommando

What Company supplied Zyklon B to the Wehrmacht? - Was it 'IG Farben' ?

Heisenberg.

This post has been deleted.

marcsignal

The Scientist wrote: »

2/3
Tesch & Stabenow produced the gas. Dunno why but i read that in a book years ago and it just stuck with me.

Hmmm that's interesting. I worked in Rentokil in Terenure years ago, and I always remember coming across a few old tins of pestecide called 'Zyklon' in the stores there, whether it was Zyklon-B exactly, I cant remember, but they looked exactly like the tins they used in the Concentration Camps.

I figure if it was initially just an industrial pestecide, they would have continued to sell it after the war for that purpose.
It was one eerie thing to come across on a monday morning with a hangover I can tell you :eek:

ojewriej

The Scientist wrote: »

2/3
Tesch & Stabenow produced the gas. Dunno why but i read that in a book years ago and it just stuck with me.

I actually read up a little bit about it a while ago, for another thread on this forum.

Tesch and Stabenow were distrubutors only i think.

IG Farben gets the "credit" for production usually, but they actually only held shares in the company that produced it, or part of it. It was all really complicated actually, lots of companies produced different ingredients etc. I think it was done this way on purpose, to spread the responsibility. All these companies were tied to Nazis very closely, shared the management etc.

There is a very good website about IG Farben - http://www.profit-over-life.org/, all the ducuments from IG Farbens' Nuremburg trial are there.

ojewriej

marcsignal wrote: »

I figure if it was initially just an industrial pestecide, they would have continued to sell it after the war for that purpose.
It was one eerie thing to come across on a monday morning with a hangover I can tell you :eek:

It's still being produced in Czech Republic, under different name though.

Mahatma coat

marcsignal wrote: »

I'll have a stab at these

What was the Operational name for the final Solution? - Operation Reinhard

What was the name given to those who were responsible for the cleanup after jews were gassed? - The Sonderkommando

What Company supplied Zyklon B to the Wehrmacht? - Was it 'IG Farben' ?

Bugger too slow, I knew the answers to these tho,

My Bosses name is Reinhardt

I've been ribbin him about it for ages

marcsignal

1) Which American Unit was called 'The Rag Tag Circus' ?

US 83rd Infantry Div, because they used an array of Civilian and enemy vehicles.


2) What name and rank did the British give to the body deposited off the Spanish coast, with fake plans for the invasion of Sicily,
in the hope the Axis would think it was the body of a dead secret courier ?

Major Martin


3) What did Rommel call the 'Devils Gardens' ?

The extensive minefields at El Alamein


4) What was the Red Plan the French underground was to execute, on hearing the broadcasted coded message 'The Dice are on the Table' ?

The cutting of all Phone and Communication lines just in advance of D-Day


5) Which German aircraft was nicknamed 'The Flaming Coffin' by its own crews ? (There's a clue on this forum already)

Heinkel He 177 (&277)


6) Which British aircraft did German U-Boat crews nickname 'Stachelschwein' (Porcupine) ?

Short Sutherland Flying Boat


7) Who said "The British, The Jewish and the Roosevelt Administration, are the 3 most important groups pushing this country towards war" ?

American Aviator Charles Lindbergh in Iowa on Sept 12th 1941. He later served with distinction as a US pilot.


8) What was the last message sent by Hitler from the Berlin Bunker before he committed suicide ?

"Where is Wenck? Where is Steiner?" (2 Generals Defending the City) The message was transmitted by "Gerda Niedieck" a Teletype Operator.


9) Who said "There are only 2 rules of war, Never invade Russia, Never invade China" ?

Bernard Law Montgommery


10) What was unusual about the Italian Cruiser 'Gorizia' and the German Crusier 'Koenigsberg' in WW2 ?

They were both sunk twice.
'Gorizia' was scuttled off Spain on Sept 8th 1943, salvaged, and then sunk again in 1944 by the Allies.
'Koenigsberg' was sunk on April 10 1940, salvaged, and sunk again in September 1944



ojewriej scores 3 and wins the Sticky Bun again

ojewriej

Ok then, I'll throw few as well

1 What was the direct reason for Hitler's decision to move into Rhineland in 1936?

2 What is this:



3 And what's the name of this weapon:

Morlar

ojewriej wrote: »

Ok then, I'll throw few as well

1 What was the direct reason for Hitler's decision to move into Rhineland in 1936?

2 What is this:



3 And what's the name of this weapon:

French - Russian treaty + persistent french provocations /invasions.
2 star of ....
3 Stalins Pipes/ Stalins Organs ?

3 - Katusha - Russian heavy artilery

Manic Moran

3. Studebaker US6 w/ BM-13



NTM

Debatable

Katyusha

http://www.lindsayfincher.com/gallery/d/10719-1/arm_yerevan_vicpark_19_katyusha.jpg

Paddy Diver

What little cove on the south coast was visited, on a number of occasions by German U-boat crews to stop for a drink?

Morlar

KaG1888 wrote: »

Debatable

Katyusha

While the eternal struggle on that one rages on . . . heres a few more :

1) Which vessel sank in 1945 with an estimated 9,400 people lost & who sank it ?

2) Who said 'I go the way that Providence dictates with the assurance of a sleepwalker.'

3) Which famous 1930's German media figure was photographed in Poland during the invasion wearing a military uniform and pistol?

4) Where\when did Goebbels give his famous 'Wollt Ihr den totalen Krieg?' speech ?

5) Which German medals became known as ;

a) 'hitlers fried egg'
b) 'Frozen meat medal' ?

6) Which ww2 decorated German did the pianist/composer Rachmaninov regularly attend dinner parties with in the years before the war (through a shared acquantaince) ?


7) Who conducted Beethoven's Ninth Symphony for Hitlers birthday celebrations in April 1942 & ? Whose hand did he (the conductor) shake before alledgedly turning around and wiping it clean with a handkerchief ?

ojewriej

Morlar wrote: »

French - Russian treaty + persistent french provocations /invasions.?

I was looking for a little more detailed answer. There was a meeting few months before this invasion...

Morlar wrote: »

3 Stalins Pipes/ Stalins Organs ?

Yeah, that's what they were called by the soldiers

KaG1888 wrote: »

3 - Katusha - Russian heavy artilery

Correct, although manic moran has a point. Katyusha is actually a Soviet version of a Studebaker.

But the ones on the pic are Katyushas

Manic Moran wrote: »

3. Studebaker US6 w/ BM-13

Very good, extra point for you.