4th Cumulative WW2 Quiz

[nonconformist]

Damn, Hudson, you've stumped us all.

A nearly untried type of troop?

If t wasn't part of the landings, the only thing I can think of is Pathfinders.

Though it could be landing parties which landed weeks prior to the invasion to collect sand and soil samples?

 

[C~G]

Wait a minute...

Has there been movie done about it?

Without looking any sources there was movie about raid to radar station or some other installation (don't remember exactly) which starred Alan Ladd. The name of the film in finnish was "Punaiset Pahoilaiset" ("Red Devils", direct translation) have no idea what the film's name is in english neither I do know the name of the operation.

Otherwise I'm totally lost.

 

[nonconformist]

Red Devils was a nickname for the British paras, specifically (I think) the 6th Ox and Bucks light infantry?

 

[Volum]

Wait a minute...

Has there been movie done about it?

Without looking any sources there was movie about raid to radar station or some other installation (don't remember exactly) which starred Alan Ladd. The name of the film in finnish was "Punaiset Pahoilaiset" ("Red Devils", direct translation) have no idea what the film's name is in english neither I do know the name of the operation.

Otherwise I'm totally lost.

I think you could be on to it, in that case it is Operation Biting. It was lead by a pretty known man, Major John Frost. Who got a bridge named after him after Market Garden, and apparently there also was a Raf Radar Technician included in the raid.

 

[privatehudson]

C-G is on the right track so accordingly I'm going to give the full answer and pass the question over to him. Forgive me if I'm a little brief for I am considering writing an article on the subject (I hope the way this has stumped people might have peaked your interest a little) so don't want to spoil things too much.

The answer is the Bruneval Raid which took place on the 28th February 1942.

The object of the operation was to capture as much information about a new form of German early warning radar from a site located near Le Harve. The preferred option was to remove virtually the entire system, but alternatives included ripping off any labels on it, capturing prisoners (especially radar operators), taking photos or just bringing back sections of the system. It was only the second time that the British had employed paratroopers in action but they were used because the radar site was at the top of tall cliffs making a sea-borne commando raid impractical. The raid was a near total success with two prisoners captured (one of whom was the radar operator), virtually all of the system was brought back and very few casulties incurred.

The operation involved 7 men from the Royal Engineers, one RAF radar Mechanic and "C" company of the 2nd Parachute Batallion. The latter was under the command of the then Major John Frost who would later fight in Tunisia, at Primosole Bridge and of course Arnhem Bridge. In 1978 the rebuilt Arnhem Bridge was re-named in his honour but only after much reluctance from the man himself.

I'm afraid I really thought the operation was better known since I read about it years ago in one of those "boy's own" comic annuals you used to get in the 1960s - 1980s which had all the accuracy of... well Alan Ladd's movie from the sound of it, which is called the Red Devils.

As I said earlier I can feel an article coming along

 

[privatehudson]

Sorry Vollum, I was typing my reply when you posted so didn't see you'd provided more information. I think it would be fair to say that either of you could ask the next question since you both provided correct information.

 

[Volum]

CG should have it. He provided the details, i only google'd my way to it.

@PH: You put an extra L in Volum

 

[C~G]

I'm afraid I really thought the operation was better known since I read about it years ago in one of those "boy's own" comic annuals you used to get in the 1960s - 1980s which had all the accuracy of... well Alan Ladd's movie from the sound of it, which is called the Red Devils.

I just had a thought that while growing up my knowledge of WW2 increased mainly due to "Commando comics" and old war movies.

I saw the film actually two years or so back, so that info came also handy now.
Never had heard about the raid before.

Sorry Vollum, I was typing my reply when you posted so didn't see you'd provided more information. I think it would be fair to say that either of you could ask the next question since you both provided correct information.

And I'll pass the question to Volum.

 

[Volum]

I still think you should have taken it, but fine

On 9 April the Germans invaded Norway. A lot of Norwegian soldiers and volunteers where prevented from joining the fight because of a rather special reason, why?

 

[privatehudson]

I just had a thought that while growing up my knowledge of WW2 increased mainly due to "Commando comics" and old war movies.

That's part of my early education too, althuogh mine was more Warlord, Victor and Battle comics. The one I referred to was in a 1969 Victor Annual (which I collect, I'm not old enough to have bought it first hand!).

 

[Serutan]

I still think you should have taken it, but fine

On 9 April the Germans invaded Norway. A lot of Norwegian soldiers and volunteers where prevented from joining the fight because of a rather special reason, why?

The Germans occupied some Norwegian cities before anyone there knew what was happening?

 

[Cheezy the Wiz]

I still think you should have taken it, but fine

On 9 April the Germans invaded Norway. A lot of Norwegian soldiers and volunteers where prevented from joining the fight because of a rather special reason, why?

Did Norway just win the World Cup, and thus they were all smacked silly?

 

[Volum]

No we didnt win, we got the bronze

@Serutan: The quick German invasion does have something to do with it yes.

Hint: It has something to do with equipment, and international law. (And Norway has always been been very "into" following international law)

 

[Dragonlord]

No we didnt win, we got the bronze

@Serutan: The quick German invasion does have something to do with it yes.

Hint: It has something to do with equipment, and international law. (And Norway has always been been very "into" following international law)

Just guessing, but this sounds like they couldn't get their uniforms out of the warehouses or something like that.
Without uniforms, they would not have been reckoned as soldiers and thus liable to execution if captured.

 

[Volum]

You are ofcourse right A lot of the warehouses with uniforms got captured early, and so a lot of volunteers (and soldiers) had to wait until new uniforms could be made. This also had a bad effect on the morale.

Your turn Dragonlord

 

[Dragonlord]

In the Winter War the Finns held out against overwhelming Soviet forces including massive armor forces, though they had very few anti-tank weapons.

What did they use against the tanks, destroying more than 2000?

Why could you say they used the Soviets own weapon against them?

Where and when did the name of the weapon originate?

And what was special about the Finnish version of this weapon (2 possibilities)?

 

[jlvfr]

What did they use against the tanks, destroying more than 2000?

Why could you say they used the Soviets own weapon against them?

Where and when did the name of the weapon originate?

And what was special about the Finnish version of this weapon (2 possibilities)?

Molotov cocktail. Invented by the Finns, given (as an insult/joke) the name of the Russian Commissar for Foreign Afairs Molotov, loaded (in part) with Russian gasoline (from captured tanks!!!), was mass-produced by the Alko corporation, and could be used with a sling.

Did I win?

 

[Dragonlord]

Molotov cocktail. Invented by the Finns, given (as an insult/joke) the name of the Russian Commissar for Foreign Afairs Molotov, loaded (in part) with Russian gasoline (from captured tanks!!!), was mass-produced by the Alko corporation, and could be used with a sling.

Did I win?

90%, but I'll accept it... I knew this was too easy, even with the extra questions..

It wasn't invented by the Finns, though: the first military use was by Francos troops in the Spanish civil war against (again!) Russian tanks.
This is also where the name originated, NOT with the Finns.

The mass production by Alko was one of the specials I was looking for; the other is that the mass-produced version didn't use a flaming rag for ignition, but storm matches that were fixed to the bottle.

You're up jlvr

 

[jlvfr]

The mass production by Alko was one of the specials I was looking for; the other is that the mass-produced version didn't use a flaming rag for ignition, but storm matches that were fixed to the bottle.

You're up jlvr

Damn, forgot the matches...

Ok, here goes.

I'm one of the best planes in the war. Was built and used in Europe but, when I got to the Pacific, I had to go back home 'cause the area was bad for me... who am I and what happened?

 

[nonconformist]

Uh, Supermarine Spitfire?

The heat played up with the engine?