A question for our Vets

[Panzer_land]

sry that was to Ron as well

[Ron Goldstein]

I would ve very glad if you could answer some of these
1.Were you soldiers in contact with the Arab locals frequenlty, when allies liberated Africa from the Afrika korps
2. were allies treated such as the Germans or were they cheered like in Europe?
3. Do you think that if Rommel would have won in the African theatre the axis would have lost the war?
4. Were you in contact with many colonials troops, how were them ?

1. Contact with the local Arabs was almost non-existent
2. Sorry, not quite sure what you mean by this
3. I think that if Rommel had not been dislodged from Afrika the whole timetable of the Allied Forces would have had to be re-considered
4. The only time I was in contact with Colonial forces was during my time at Monte Cassino

[Owen]

2. were allies treated such as the Germans or were they cheered like in Europe?

I think Ron, he means, were the Allies resented as occupiers or thought on as Liberators?

The civilian population of Tunis welcoming British troops as they enter the town.


A piper of the Gordon Highlanders plays from a Valentine tank as it drives into Tripoli past crowds of cheering locals, 26 January 1943.

[Ron Goldstein]

Owen

Firstly, thanks for reminding us see of the cracking pictures available from the IWM.

If you are right in your assumption re Panzer Land's queries then my answer would have to be as follows:

Whenever civilians of whatever nationality were faced with "foreign" troops of whatever nationality, be it English/American or German it would always have been in their interests to have greeted them with open arms. I'm afraid that if this proves that at heart I am cynic, so be it

Having said that, I can still vividly remember driving through Bari in September 1943 and having fruit thrown into my truck by the wecoming crowds.


See Page 14 of my Army Album
Ron Goldstein's Actual Army Album

[sapper]

Ron I don't think that the members here realise that the civilians fled the war zone. We only saw "people" when we went back to the rear areas. Being the shortage of sappers. that was not as often as we would wish.
Sapper

[Ron Goldstein]

Brian

You are quite right, of course, when referring to the front line areas that were your areas of combat and we in Italy were later to find ourselves in the same position of fighting in "civilian-less" zones.

However, Bari in 1943 was the exception to the rule as when we arrived in Italy the Germans did a hasty but well planned withdrawal to their fortified positions leaving the British a fairly speedy run up the Adriatic coast.

Cheers

Ron

[Panzer_land]

What i think is that the desert only changed Axis conquerors from allies conquerors. The true owners of the land, were still being ruled by foreing. I think the tide of the war may have been of little influence in their lives

[Panzer_land]

To WW2 vets:

How was the fight in the desert during sandstorms???

[Ron Goldstein]

Panzer Land

The only veteran qualified to answer this question is Gerry Chester.

Ron

[Panzer_land]

Ron, what is your opinion about colonial forces??