WWII Q&A thread: Ask us anything!

[Killar]

All were based on the Pz38T with some modifications to the chassis.
Thx

[ubermensche]

Germans had bulletproof glas. They used them for the tank driver optics but this glas was quiet thick and to heavy to mount it on a infantry helmet.

So you mean that Tom Hanks couldn't have done what he did to that Tiger tank in Saving Private Ryan? My whole life was a lie.

[Gerrit 'Lord Rommel' G.]

Germans had bulletproof glas. They used them for the tank driver optics but this glas was quiet thick and to heavy to mount it on a infantry helmet.

So you mean that Tom Hanks couldn't have done what he did to that Tiger tank in Saving Private Ryan? My whole life was a lie.

Jupp. The glass of the german tank driver opticals were made out of bulletproof glass. You need a heavy tank rifle or a small anti tank gun to penetrate this glass but i cant kill the german tiger driver by small arms fire on this small glass bunker
And the movie James Ryan: Well. It is a "nice comedy" 

[saprize21]

Atm the movie Alexander is on tv and i said to myself, what would have happened if he lost the battle of gaugamela? Sorry i know this has nothing to do with this, but i gotta ask! 

[Jäger]

The Earth would be a lot different, Greek culture may have had less of an impact on how we are nowadays, I personally think that Islam would be the bigger religious force, due to Persia being Africa/Middle East, but then again. I know nothing of Pre-1400AD, or much about Religion.

[Dann88]

The battle of Gaugamela happened too far from any other history events. But if he lost, he will comeback with another army anyway (if he didn't be assassinated first).

[Gerrit 'Lord Rommel' G.]

This is the WW2 Thread 

[Sommarkatze]

Did the Owen gun make any other apperance than in the pacific? I mean did they use it in Africa or Italy or such?

[GodlikeDennis]

The Earth would be a lot different, Greek culture may have had less of an impact on how we are nowadays, I personally think that Islam would be the bigger religious force, due to Persia being Africa/Middle East, but then again. I know nothing of Pre-1400AD, or much about Religion.

Islam would not be the main religion. Achaemenid Persia had the state religion of Zoroastrianism but was also very tolerant of other religions, much like the Romans. Islam didn't come until hundreds of years later during Sassanid Persia (not the same) and only exploding during the Arab conquests due to a weakened and fragmented East.

Persian culture was no less developed than Greek culture, and in many cases moreso. The major differences between the two were Athenian philosophy and democracy. However, democracy disappeared for 1500 years anyway. Persians also prohibited slavery which is something the Greeks and Romans made use of extensively. So perhaps the Persian empire winning could've had a lasting effect on the prevalence of slavery in the world. What would be more interesting is the effect of an extant Achaemenid Persia on a growing Roman republic.

Maybe the English language would be more of a German-Latin-Parsi mix instead of German-Latin-Greek?

Sorry for derailing, continue with WW2.

[Jeff 'Robotnik' W.]

Did the Owen gun make any other apperance than in the pacific? I mean did they use it in Africa or Italy or such?

As far as italy and africa, as far as i know it did not see service there. It may have though under the use of british troops, but im not quite sure as i dont know much else about where the owen was used

[Sommarkatze]

Thanks for your help!
We all know that the French who lived under German occupation had it kinda rough. Some of them. What about the ones living under Italian? Did they have it better than the ones under German? Worse?
And also when we are into the subject.

 What battles did Vichy french participate in? I know their naval fought against the british one at the coast of Africa right? And the army during Operation torch?
Anymore battles?

What uniforms did the Vichyfrench have? Old french ones but with a new Vichy insignia? How did it look in that case? ;>

[Walentin 'Walki' L.]

What battles did Vichy french participate in? I know their naval fought against the british one at the coast of Africa right? And the army during Operation torch?
Anymore battles?

They didn't actually fight. They got destroyed while being in the harbour (the british feared that the ships could fall into german hand).

[Gerrit 'Lord Rommel' G.]

[...]
 What battles did Vichy french participate in? I know their naval fought against the british one at the coast of Africa right? And the army during Operation torch?
Anymore battles?

What uniforms did the Vichyfrench have? Old french ones but with a new Vichy insignia? How did it look in that case? ;>

Perhaps last question first: Vichy france used uniforms and insignia of the "old" french army because Vichy France was nothing else. Today we are using the word "Vichy" to separate it. The Vichy state called himself "France". The free french forces had to change their uniforms and insignia because they were illegal forces

Your other question: Vichy troops fought during Operation Torch against alliied units. Some US forces were attacked by Vichy artillery, airforce, infantry and tanks. Some US units were attacked by french tanks including the old FT-17. Resistance was quiet short because "Vichy france" surrender quiet fast, much faster then german forces expected.

[Sommarkatze]

Oh, never thought of it that way Rommel, thanks! You too Walki thanks for the ansvers! I WANT VICHY FRENCH AS A REWARD FACTION :3

So they never fought anywhere outside of Africa. They were disbanded before D-day thats for sure.

 Where there any other Axis countrys troop in France during D-day except in German uniform? I know there were asians, russians and all that stuff but in German uniform. I Read somewhere about small units of italians? False or truth? Any other? :>

[Gerrit 'Lord Rommel' G.]

[...]
Where there any other Axis countrys troop in France during D-day except in German uniform? I know there were asians, russians and all that stuff but in German uniform. I Read somewhere about small units of italians? False or truth? Any other? :>

Well. German army had a lot of foreign units in Normandy and Brittany. Most of them were part of the "Ost-Bataillone" (east battalions) like u already had mentioned. So most of the foreign nations were from the east. Your small italian units were part of the italian submarine fleet for the Atlantic battle. When their base (Bordeaux) was encircled the italian soldiers tried to defend the fortress as long as possible. Most of this italian troops at the fortress of Bordeaux were summarised in a formation called "Divsion Atlantica". A lot of other italians fought in german units like coastal artillery batteries, anti air batteries or in infantry combat units like the 736. Grenadier-Regiment, a Bersagleri formation for the german army. You can find belgian and dutch troops as well (as part of SS-formations). I think you can find much more nations when u search deep enough