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Gew98m 1916 Danzig LK5 marked

..slightest sense of realty and a perspective of what was possible. A nation of 70 million has little chance against three nations (USSR/US/UK) of nearly 400 million people and a vastly superior combined economic/industrial base. Germany was number two, but the others were #1 (US) & #3 (UK)

This. And yet they still probably could have pulled it off with a few different strategic decisions. Trying for the knockout blow on Russia in winter '41 instead of sending winter clothes and supplies alone might have been the game changer.
 
This. And yet they still probably could have pulled it off with a few different strategic decisions. Trying for the knockout blow on Russia in winter '41 instead of sending winter clothes and supplies alone might have been the game changer.

Not to mention delaying initiating Barbarossa for 3 months to help out the inept idiot Mussolini in the Balkans and Greece, had Barbarossa kicked off in March as planned instead of June, they could have been at Moscow's doorstep in September instead of December...thats a whole new ballgame then.
 
Plus letting Rommel have the resources he needed to win in North Africa. He knew the oil fields there was important and having access to the Mediterranean Sea.
 
NS ideology was the greatest hurdle in Russia, even a modicum of sanity and posing as "liberators" would have gone along way pacifying Russia. Even with their insane occupation policies, their "comparative" moderation towards religion (Jews aside, antisemitism was far more virulent in Poland and Russia than Germany, as one learns at a young age, familiarity breeds hatred and contempt, one isn't born hating, it is something learned through experience...) and property gave them some initial advantages they quickly squandered (especially in the Ukraine and Baltic Sates). The "nazis" lost Germany's only real chance in Russia long before Stalingrad came along, they simply bit off more than they could chew over the long term, the inherent flaws that existed in Russia also existed in NS Germany.
 
I wouldn't say they're scary looking but I will say this when I find pictures of these rifles in use I tend to go after them! For some reason I really do like seeing the old Gew98m rifles soldiering on even though better updated rifles were in service.
 

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Other than Heinrich Himmler's second cousin in the middle, these look pretty typical and scary enough... really though, the least scary are as likely as not to be the most dangerous. Some of the toughest guys I've met were short, small in stature, and pretty easy going, you only find how formidable when they start drinking and topple the bigger fellows... you never really know by looking at someone how tough they really are, besides what really matters is how they handle pressure, and that takes experience and has more to do with the mind than brawn.

Little Heinrich here is probably the most dangerous of the lot... the little guys with glasses often are.

I like photographs also, snapshots that can often give some context to our study of the rifles, though I have limitations with them, I have read a great deal, but I know very little about uniforms, awards and accessories that give that context meaning.
 
Perhaps... seeing as you are 6,000 miles and an ocean away, I'll take the chance you won't show up on my doorstep wanting to arm wrestle...

Just saying mental toughness and resiliency is what really matters, really in almost everything, but war especially, and generally it doesn't take long to know what you are made of in life... by the time you are 35 you know how "tough" you are, - and most aren't nearly as tough as they think they are, by the time you are 50 you really know your limitations, which is probably why they stopped the draft around 45 during WWI, - men can be fit and possess considerable endurance well into their 60's, if you have a real job, a farmer, miner, industrial worker, rancher etc.. I run 3 miles almost every day, but it is being more self-aware that makes you a bad soldier after 50 (government certainly doesn't care about widowing wives), with all that "energy and vigor" (and a lot less reflection) young men make excellent soldiers if you can convince them they are fighting for something worthwhile (which is almost never the case - which is why "government" typically wrap wars in flags and other "patriotic" abstractions, - they know that wars are built upon lies and distortions - and WWII was no exception)
 
Don't worry, my service as paratrooper ended around 20 years ago and now I would probably also belong to the Volkssturm.

In my experience the men which are unimpressive on the first view, are often the toughest soldiers. The expectations of these men are not very high and then you are pleasantly surprised. From the outwardly strong and bold looking men you expect a lot and sometimes you will be disappointed. You could often see that during our training at the jump tower and in other situations.
 
I entirely agree, you never really know from outward appearances or stature, or even bearing in many cases, typically over time toughness, resiliency and leadership ability all reveal themselves, long before they are tested, some guys just have it innately it seems. Other men are drawn to such men naturally, the history of civilization are filled with such men, - though these days they seem fewer and harder find, though this is simply because "modern" western society doesn't consider these traits or characteristics as worthy attributes, - we are beginning the cycle once again, the law of civilization:

Will Durant: "It is almost a law of history that the same wealth that generates a civilization announces its decay. For wealth produces ease as well as art; it softens a people to the ways of luxury and peace, and invites invasion from stronger and hungrier mouths."

In my experience the men which are unimpressive on the first view, are often the toughest soldiers.
 
I agree with you, these days they seem fewer and harder to find and our western society doesn't consider these traits or characteristics as worthy attributes.

It's a wise saying by Will Durant and the Europeans especially Germans should think about it, but it's already too late for that. I like this one too: "A great civilization is not conquered from without until it has destroyed itself within"
 
Although I do not follow modern German history or political-economic trends, it does seem Rudi Dutchske (Gramaci) "marched through the institutions" has been more of a gallop in Europe, and Germany in particular, though like most bad ideas that originate in Europe, they find a following in the US... especially ideas that centralize power in Washington.

But Germany has always been more open to socialistic concepts than many other countries, some have argued the homogeneous culture that more or less existed in Germany (linguistically anyway , - there hasn't been a pure race in 5000 years...) plays a role, I tend to agree to a point, - Germany never had the level of labor unrest England or the US had during their industrial "revolutions", companies in Germany long took a keener interest in their workers than in the US or England, so much so it was a regular feature in professional mechanical and engineering journals.

However painless socialism might be in a society of Germany's make up 100 years ago (SPD was always very powerful, even if they routinely betrayed the working classes, which to be fair was an unavoidable political calculation, we are all familiar where "voters/constituents" stand in relation to a politicians ambition), that is quite different today it seems. What works with less violence in homogeneous societies has the opposite reactions in heterogeneous societies, this diversity trip Europe and the rest of western civilization is on can only end in violence when you mix more virulent forms of socialism with it. Human nature will reveal itself in all of its uglier forms, - but that is the plan all along, in the US anyway. Anyone with a mind and modicum of vision can see where diversity leads, especially the mixing of the more diverse and incompatible (least likely to assimilate) cultures. More violence, more government, the more government, the more power (and wealth) in the hands of politicians and bureauc-rats that make these laws and run (in the ground) this country.


It's a wise saying by Will Durant and the Europeans especially Germans should think about it, but it's already too late for that.
 
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