Here are some pictures on a site dedicated to the City of Wroclaw, previously Breslau. The town which is in what was once Silesia was under siege for 77 days. It held out longer then Berlin By the way. Anyway these pictures are really interesting. Here is the link: http://www.wratislavia.net/festung.htm Also on the site are a collection of photographs relating to a visit by Hitler in 1938 to a sports event. Once again an interesting collection: http://www.wratislavia.net/sportfest.htm
Wonderful stuff! The newspaper printing instructions on how to prepare and fire a Panzerfaust say it all...stupidity leads to calamity.
I'm from Breslau (Wrocław), and signs of the siege are still in architecture of city. It was destroyed in around 80 percent. I recommend memories of german generals from Breslau Hans von Ahflen and Hermann Niehoff "So kämpfte Breslau" (Festung Breslau in fire). I don't know if this book is in english. I know about german and polish version. In English I recommend Norman Davies "Microcosm. Portrait of a central european city" which is about Wrocław's history and contains a part about german defence of the city.
Wonderful stuff! The newspaper printing instructions on how to prepare and fire a Panzerfaust say it all...stupidity leads to calamity. Gotthard, Very informative post. Adam says it all. Regards Tom
Great photos, I had missed these at the time. I myself had to dress like a fool like this and parade a couple of times some 40 years ago...
I have some links about Breslau and siege. Twierdza Wroc³aw - galeria zdjêæ Unfortunately only in Polish. WrocÅ‚aw, 1945 - Festung Breslau - Dolny.Slask.org.pl There is some stories defenders and attackers, only in Polish and Russian, but there is some pictures in this link.
Next links I would like to show: Polish blog, only in Polish, but author has some interesting photos and movies about Festung Breslau Wielka ucieczka z Festung Breslau Links the polish group which reconstruct Breslau Siege, only in Polish, but some interesting pictures Grupa Rekonstrukcji Historycznej FESTUNG BRESLAU Grupa Rekonstrukcji Historycznej FESTUNG BRESLAU Grupa Rekonstrukcji Historycznej FESTUNG BRESLAU Movies of reconstruction of battle Grupa Rekonstrukcji Historycznej FESTUNG BRESLAU And list of links about Festung Breslau, 1939 September and many more Grupa Rekonstrukcji Historycznej FESTUNG BRESLAU German site with picture ullstein bild
mmm this one is a bit fanciful isn't it? Grupa Rekonstrukcji Historycznej FESTUNG BRESLAU This is german poster "Children of Breslau". It was for recruiting teenagers and children to Volksturm.
This is german poster "Children of Breslau". It was for recruiting teenagers and children to Volksturm. Poor children became victims of propaganda. They were going to die anyway and recuiters knew that.
mmm this one is a bit fanciful isn't it? Grupa Rekonstrukcji Historycznej FESTUNG BRESLAU Thought that looked wrongish too. Appears to be a postwar/modern anti-war work by one Herbert Smagon: art - Page: 40 of 42 art - Page: 2 of 42
Poor children became victims of propaganda. They were going to die anyway and recuiters knew that. Yes, but in 1944/1945 human resources in Third Reich was low. They need everybody to complete theirs units. This is sad, that propaganda and Nazi's education made that youngest German go to Volskturm and Werewolf so willingly.
Hitler gave the responsibility for the defence of Kongisberg to the Gaulleiter of East Prussia,Erich Koch.Before this,when the city was surrounded by the Russians,Koch telegraphed Karl Hank,Gauleiter of Breslau,who had the responsibility for the defence of Breslau to say he would never give up Kongisberg and that it would be an example to the German people in their unlimited belief in the Fuhrer.Karl Hanke,a young Nazi star in the eyes of Hitler, replied to Koch in similar style. Not surprisingly,Goebbels got into the act and had the telegrams of these two leading Nazis broadcast over German radio with the intention of raising home moral.When Kongisberg and Breslau fell these two defenders were no longer to be found in their festungs, for Hitler had them spirited away to safety leaving the defenders to shoulder heavy casualties. Koch spent some considerable time in the Berlin area close to the seat of government while General Lasch,the miliary commander of Kongisberg having surrendered the city to the Russians was sentenced to death,in his absence by Hitler. Later Hanke was destined for higher office,Himmler having being exposed as a traitor in Hitler eyes,chose Hanke to replace Himmler as Chief of Police in his last will dictated on the night of 28 April 1945. Hanke,highly thought of by Hitler as a rising star in the party and being on the fringe of the inner circle,was able to circulate among that elite.One development of this was that Magda Goebbels formed a relationship with him as Magna turned to another man while Goebbels continued his womanising.Hitler had previously refused Goebbels wish to divorce Magda in order to marry one of his mistresses and while the two were apart,Hitler isolated Goebbels from the day to day exercise of power. Goebbels realised his mistake and made an agreement with Magda that he would give up his womanising and live again as a family,if Magna ceased seeing Hanke.Goebbels was then able to impress Hitler with his portrayal of a happy married leading party official and once again be able to be at Hitler's side. Goebbels disliked Hanke for his exalted position but was unable to cause him much harm.Others in the past were not so lucky.
Thought that looked wrongish too. Appears to be a postwar/modern anti-war work by one Herbert Smagon: art - Page: 40 of 42 art - Page: 2 of 42 Modern anti-war? Looks like more revanchist to me. grafik - Page: 2 of 5
Modern anti-war? Looks like more revanchist to me. grafik - Page: 2 of 5 Agree, most of 'em doesn't even smell like anti-war posters
