World War 2 News

08/01/2025

Today's Belfast Telegraph article, for those who cannot access it. Link here also: https://belfasttelegraph.co.uk/entertainment/film-tv/atrocious-sas-author-and-expert-slams-bbc-portrayal-of-blair-mayne/a1414875222.html

31/12/2024

28/12/2024

Robert Earl DeVinney
SEPTEMBER 17, 1924 – DECEMBER 23, 2024

Robert Earl DeVinney, age 100, passed away on Monday, December 23, 2024.

A visitation for Robert will take place on Thursday, January 2, 2025 from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM and from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Gorsline Runciman Funeral Homes Lansing Chapel.

A funeral service will be held on Friday, January 3, 2025 at 1:00 PM, with a one-hour prior visitation from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM, at Trinity Lutheran Church, 501 W Saginaw St., Lansing, MI 48933.
Following the service, Robert will be laid to rest with full military honors at Deepdale Memorial Gardens, 4108 Old Lansing Rd., Lansing, MI 48917.

25/12/2024

In December of 1943 James Megellas and the men of H Co 504th PIR celebrated Christmas overseas in Italy. Maggie’s favorite Christmas song…

(c) Paramount pictures

25/12/2024

The Germans attacked Easy Company on December 24, Christmas Eve. Freeman spent the battle dropping mortars on the attacking enemy. The Germans spent the rest of the siege content with firing an inaccurate artillery piece from Foy. “They covered the gun with sheets and things so you wouldn’t know anything about it,” explained Freeman. “It would hit in the valley, and we could see it blow up the snow. It didn’t bother us.”Later that day, the men listened to Brig. Gen. Anthony McAuliffe’s Christmas message to the troops. McAuliffe was in temporary command of the division, Maj. Gen. Maxwell Taylor having departed for the United States a few days before the German attack. In his message, McAuliffe extolled the exploits of the 101st and its dogged defense of Bastogne. He also revealed that he had replied to a German surrender request with a single word: “NUTS!” The men loved it. “I thought it was mighty good,” said Freeman. “He let us know that we weren’t giving up.”

24/12/2024

Yesterday Bob DeVinney one of the last members of H Co 3 Bn 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 82nd Airborne Division passed away at the age of 100.

Bob was in James Megellas unit and here’s what he wrote about Bob;

One replacement was Pvt. Robert E. DeVinney, who was eventually assigned to H Company and served alongside me during the Battle of the Bulge, the occupation of Berlin, and the victory parade in New York. He had volunteered for combat as an infantry replacement and was sent overseas on September 17, 1944, shortly after turning twenty.

In late September, he volunteered for parachute training. Most of the men in this group qualified as paratroopers at newly established schools in England. The course was an abbreviated two weeks, including the required five jumps. DeVinney recalled:

“I was on the high seas on September 17, bound for England, when I learned that the 82nd and the 101st Airborne Divisions had jumped in Holland. When I arrived at the Infantry Replacement Depot in England, I learned that the Airborne Divisions had suffered heavy casualties and were in need of replacements. The parachute training school at Fort Benning, Georgia, was hard-pressed to meet the demand for replacements. So training schools were established in England, qualifying paratroopers in just two weeks.

I decided to volunteer. The war was grinding down, and I wanted to get a crack at the Germans before it was over. I felt that I would get my chance quicker in the paratroopers than waiting around in a Repo depot for an assignment to an Infantry Division. Also, as a qualified paratrooper, I would earn an additional $50 per month…”

Private Robert DeVinney left the service after the victory parade and returned to Lansing, MI, where he still resides. He was employed by Abrams Instruments as a draftsman for five years, then by Oldsmobile, from which he retired in 1985 after twenty-five years in design engineering.

17/12/2024

https://www.usatoday.com/picture-gallery/news/world/2024/12/15/the-battle-of-the-bulge-a-look-back-on-the-80th-anniversary/77009272007/

The Battle of the Bulge took place during World War II from Dec. 16, 1944 until Jan. 25, 1945, when German troops struck in the Ardennes Forest in Belgium and Luxembourg.

13/12/2024

World War II veterans being welcomed by the Belgian King and Queen

12/12/2024

Arrival WW2 veterans in Belgium

12/12/2024

World War II veterans on their to Belgium for the 80th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge

05/12/2024

The Thiaroye massacre, which took place on December 1, 1944, at the Thiaroye military camp near Dakar, Senegal. Hundreds of Tirailleurs Sénégalais—African soldiers who fought for France during World War II—were killed by the French army.

These soldiers, drawn from France’s colonies in West Africa, had served valiantly in the war but were demanding their back pay, pensions, and better treatment upon their return home.

Key Facts:

• The Tirailleurs Sénégalais had been promised pensions equal to those of their white counterparts, but upon returning to Senegal, they were met with discriminatory treatment and delays in payments.
• When the soldiers protested for their rightful compensation, the French military responded with force.
• Estimates of the number of victims vary, but 35 to over 300 soldiers are believed to have been killed, with many others wounded or arrested.
• The massacre is widely regarded as a dark chapter in French colonial history and an example of the racism and exploitation faced by colonial troops.

28/11/2024

https://youtu.be/LS0Kn4ETGns?si=6BhfqIPCEzQD9xqw

In unserem neuesten Kurzfilm präsentieren wir unsere erste internationale Kooperation! Gemeinsam mit irischen Filmemachern beleuchten wir die dramatischen K...

28/11/2024

https://www.cbr.com/bridge-too-far-richard-attenborough-best-wwii-movie/

In 1977, Richard Attenborough set out to direct a World War II epic. The result was Bridge Too Far, one of the most compelling dramas of the century.

12/11/2024

https://allthatsinteresting.com/band-of-brothers-true-story/5

The real soldiers were even more heroic than their fictional counterparts.

06/11/2024

https://youtu.be/f2Ykz_bNofU?si=Ya4NgeufJXSE04XB

A year on from Time Team's 'Digging Band of Brothers' Special, archaeologist Matt Williams returns to Aldbourne in Wiltshire, to join Operation Nightingale f...

03/11/2024

“Where Eagles Dare” is an absolute masterpiece of war cinema that has stood the test of time with its gripping action, complex plot, and unforgettable performances. Directed by Brian G. Hutton and based on Alistair MacLean’s novel, this 1968 film is an intense blend of suspense, espionage, and combat that keeps you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.

The story follows a group of Allied soldiers, led by Major John Smith (Richard Burton) and Lieutenant Schaffer (Clint Eastwood), on a perilous mission to rescue an American general held captive in a heavily fortified N**i castle. Burton’s portrayal of the enigmatic and calculating Major Smith is magnetic, perfectly complemented by Eastwood’s cool and determined Schaffer. Together, they create a dynamic and intriguing duo that adds depth to the film.

The plot itself is a brilliant maze of deception and double-crosses, layered with twists that keep you guessing at every turn. The tension builds masterfully, especially during the scenes inside the N**i stronghold, where every shadow and glance seems to hide a secret. This is a film that knows how to build suspense, using every opportunity to keep viewers guessing who can be trusted and who cannot.

Beyond the plot, Where Eagles Dare features stunning cinematography and breathtaking action sequences, particularly for its time. The mountain landscapes, the tense cable car scenes, and the fortress itself all add to the film’s atmospheric setting, creating a vivid backdrop for the action. The pacing is spot-on, with moments of high-stakes action interspersed with clever dialogue and strategy.

Finally, the film’s soundtrack by Ron Goodwin is the perfect accompaniment, enhancing the suspense and grandeur of each scene. The iconic main theme has become synonymous with classic war films, adding to the epic feel of this cinematic gem.

Overall, Where Eagles Dare is a timeless thriller that combines intelligent storytelling with high-octane action and stellar performances. It’s a must-watch for fans of war films, classic cinema, or anyone who enjoys an edge-of-your-seat thriller with depth and style.

After months of preparation and research here it comes: my personal edition of the original Austrian filming locations for one of my most favorite movies: WH...

29/10/2024

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14011417/N**i-Josef-Mengele-exhumed-1985-Brazil.html

What police believed to be the remains of Josef Mengele were exhumed from a cemetery in the town of Embu in June 1985. A forensic examination and then DNA tests proved the identity.

28/10/2024

https://deadline.com/2024/09/chris-messina-damian-lewis-movie-pressure-irving-p-krick-field-marshall-montgomery-1236085175/