What did the Germans think of the Dambusters?

The Germans considered the 1943 Dambusters raid a "catastrophe" and an "extraordinary achievement" that caused significant, though temporary, disruption to Ruhr valley war production. Albert Speer described it as a "disaster," with massive structural damage, flooded farmland, and hundreds of deaths, forcing a major repair effort.

Which soldiers did the Germans fear most?

Nicknamed “stormtroopers” by the Germans and “shock troops” by the British, Canadians were known for ruthless raids, close combat, and taking few prisoners—traits that made them dreaded on the battlefield.

Were the Germans surprised on D-Day?

But at the time, German generals in charge of defending the beaches didn't believe the full scale Allied invasion of France had even begun. Thanks to a series of deception efforts undertaken by the Allies, the bulk of Germany's defensive forces were 150 miles away when the Normandy landings were taking place.

How did the Germans view the SAS?

The SAS's aggressive patrolling, sabotage attacks and the number of fire fights they had engaged in, led the Germans to believe they were up against a far larger force than there actually was.

What tank did the Germans fear the most?

There isn't one single "deadliest" German tank, but the Sturmgeschütz (StuG) III assault gun was arguably the most effective and prolific tank killer, responsible for more Allied tank kills than Tigers or Panthers combined due to its low profile, powerful gun, and high production numbers, while the Tiger I and Panther tanks were feared for their superior firepower and armor, making them dominant in head-on engagements but complex and costly to produce. The ultimate combination of firepower and armor was the Jagdtiger, the heaviest armored fighting vehicle of WWII, but few were built, notes The National Interest and the Imperial War Museums. 

The Story Behind the Dambuster Raid - WW2 Special

What did Rommel think of American soldiers?

He saw weaknesses in the American forces, whose troops were green and largely untested. Rommel began to think in terms of an offensive, using the Fifth Panzer Army and, he hoped, a rested and re-equipped Panzerarmee Afrika.

What did Rommel think of the SAS?

Erwin Rommel said of the SAS, "this one unit has caused me more harm and damage than any other unit of similar size within Allied forces." And it wasn't just harm and damage in terms of war material destroyed, it was actually much more harm and damage to the morale of his troops because if you can be attacked anywhere ...

What did German soldiers call British soldiers?

The term Tommy was established during the nineteenth century, but is particularly associated with World War 1. Legend has it that German soldiers would call out to “Tommy” across no man's land if they wanted to speak to a British soldier.

Why is there no Luftwaffe on D-Day?

Thanks to the pre-invasion effort, there were virtually no Luftwaffe aircraft in action on D-Day. With most of the bridges leading into Normandy destroyed, the German army found it very difficult to bring in reinforcements, and their relief forces remained under almost constant air attack as they tried to move forward.

What was Hitler's opinion of the British?

Up until November 1938 when Anglo-German relations started to deteriorate, Hitler had viewed the British on the whole as fellow Aryans and saw the British Empire as a potential German ally.

What did Rommel say about Canadian soldiers?

Quote: On June 8th Rommel's recorded reply to Hitler's inquiry as to what went wrong with his plan was, "Against any other troops in the world but the Canadians, we'd have driven this invasion into the sea."

Does Hitler's bloodline still exist?

Yes, Adolf Hitler's bloodline continues through his half-nieces and half-nephew's children, with several descendants living quietly, mostly in the U.S., who are believed to have made a pact to remain childless to end the line, though no new children have been born to the main branch in decades. The most prominent are the sons of William Patrick Hitler (his nephew), who changed their name to Stuart-Houston and have not had children, alongside great-nephews from his half-sister Angela's family, meaning the lineage is effectively ending.

What is the British slang for Germans?

The term "Hun" from this speech was later used for the Germans by British and other Allied propaganda during the war.

Did German soldiers ever land in Britain?

The Channel Islands were the only part of the British Isles to be occupied by German forces during the Second World War.

What did the Americans call British soldiers?

Redcoat: Nickname for regular British troops based on their uniforms having bright red coats, also called "Lobsterbacks."

Who cleaned up Germany after WWII?

In the aftermath of World War II, Berlin was in ruins. Its population had been reduced by half, and nearly two-thirds of the city's 2.3 million citizens were women. Many of these German women -- known as Trummerfrauen, or "women of the rubble" -- worked hard to clean up and reclaim the city.

Did Patton and Rommel ever meet?

Overview. General George S. Patton and Field Marshal Erwin Rommel never met on the battlefields of World War II. If they did, it certainly would have been a struggle of life and death, a terrifying duel.

What did they call diarrhea during the Civil War?

Both dysentery and diarrhea were commonly called the “flux,” “Tennessee Trots,” or the “runs,” and all Civil War soldiers suffered from them at one time or another.

Did the British try to assassinate Rommel?

As it went, Operation Flipper had an inauspicious beginning, but would go down in history as one of the most famous commando raids in history—the attempted assassination of Lt. Gen. Erwin Rommel, the famed leader of Germany's Afrika Korps.