Question Regarding Band of Brothers (1 Viewer)

H

Harrytheheid

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Towards the end of Band of Brothers there's a scene where the paras are tooling down the autobann and witness some German prisioners being executed by the side of the road with a bullet in the back of the head. The executioners appear to be dressed in early war French (or it might be Czech or even Polish) uniforms. I'd need to check up, but I can't recall reading about this in the book. Can anyone shed some light on this one? I.E. Why the early war uniforms?
 
That was always one of the big questions I had from the film as well- I don't know what it was supposed to add to the film at all. I know in the book there was discussion about the on Captain shooting the POWs there on June 6th. I just don't know what it added at all to the show.

Yeah, I just don't ever recall reading that or anything like "PFC Miller was cruising along in a deuce and happened to observe two WW1 Poilus execute some Wehrmacht behind an old shed.
 
The book doesn't have as much as detail as the movie and frankly the movie is better where normally it's the other way around. I'm not a big fan of his books. Anyway, I'm surmising that this scene was added to show that atrocities happened on both sides. I think we as readers of history are aware of that but I don't believe the public at large is.
 
jazzeum said:
The book doesn't have as much as detail as the movie and frankly the movie is better where normally it's the other way around. I'm not a big fan of his books. Anyway, I'm surmising that this scene was added to show that atrocities happened on both sides. I think we as readers of history are aware of that but I don't believe the public at large is.
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Agree- I get so confused reading his books- Mr. Ambrose himself did mention that he was a bit surprised that they took BoB as he admitted himself it wasn't one of the better books. I am reading DDay right now and it is much better than BoB.

It was pretty funny because my wife knew I was in the 1/506 but then after watching the first couple episodes, she was just in awe of me!! It was really pretty funny as I told her my experience, thankfully, was nothing like what they went through- heck they aren't even an airborne unit anymore- the First Bat is straight leg (at least it was when I was in) and the other two Bats with the 101st are Air Assault (fast ropers out of helicopters- stuff like you see in BHD). Anyway, after a day or two, the adoration wore off and I was back to being just old Chris. :D- the "quasi- celebrity" status was fun while it lasted.
 
I just got done reading a book about the experiances of two charectors in the Band of Brothers series, Bill Guarnere and Babe Heffron.
And in it Heffron mentions that they observed French soldiers executing German prisoners at the end of the war.
Although I agree I don,t believe the French would have been in those uniforms.
I also read on a website that the young lieutenant, just out of West Point, in the episode where they crossed the river to get prisoners, was played by Tom Hanks son.
Wonder how many of the main charectors are still alive?
Gary
 
gk5717 said:
... was played by Tom Hanks son.
Wonder how many of the main charectors are still alive?
Gary
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That's correct- I didn't know that either till I read it some time ago on the website as well. A lot of the characters are actually still alive. Dick Winters doesn't live too far from me here but I have heard from others who have seen him that is health is deteriorating.

I met Wild Bill back in 03 or 04 at the WW2 show in Reading Pa. Captain Nixon passed in 1994. Otherwise, most of those guys are still up and kicking- LT. Mularkey is still alive- he was at the Reading Airshow this past summer- didn't get a chance to meet him though as we missed it this year.
 
Couple of interesting accounts in "Day of Battle" of mass execution of German POWs in Sicily.
 
I've seen that mini series so many times I know them by heart. Those were true men in every sense of the word. After what those men went through, death was easy. As that scene was playing out, you could see the new recruits bewilderment to the shooting, and the oh well attitude of the D-Day Para. After seeing friends blown up and maimed, you get a second personality in War. They were just trying to show how the gung ho recruitment's, really did not know what they were in for. That same soldier with the big deal attitude, had his fill of war, and just wanted it to be over. I think that series is a must watch for any WWII collector. The Last Patrol was one of my favorites, what Dick Winters did was what should be done in War. When Colonels and Generals are using soldiers to get stars on their chest, orders should be over ruled.
 
Harry,

It's Rick Atkinson's book, just came out in October. Excellent. The first one was about the war in Northwest Africa and the third one will take place in West Europe, probably D Day to Berlin.
 
jazzeum said:
Harry,

It's Rick Atkinson's book, just came out in October. Excellent. The first one was about the war in Northwest Africa and the third one will take place in West Europe, probably D Day to Berlin.
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Thanks Brad.
Yeah I know the book(s) now. I almost bought the two that are available when I was in Singapore recently, but ended up getting a massive tome about the Crusades instead, "GOD'S WAR a New History of the Crusades" by Christopher Tyerman. It's so heavy, it probably accounts for around 50% of the overweight luggage charge I had to stump up when I flew up to Dalian from Hong Kong last Saturday.
Well, it sounds like Mr Atkinson's books are the biz, so I'll put them on my must obtain list. I'm especially interested in the first one cos I'm planning on building a Tunisian Diorama when I get home again in April.
Cheers
H
 
Return to the threat, if my memory is good, I remember this scene… before the shooting they spoke in French.

I loved this series special the 7th part The Breaking Pointing
 
modwalls said:
... The Last Patrol was one of my favorites, what Dick Winters did was what should be done in War. When Colonels and Generals are using soldiers to get stars on their chest, orders should be over ruled.
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I have always wondered about that ... if this came out during the war, would the kind major have been subject to a court martial ? In some other army, he would have been lined up against the wall ...

Perhaps its something easier said than done.

OD
 
After what Dick Winters and Company had done, I highly doubt Colonel Sink would dare court martial him. If the things in BOB that Easy Company did are true, I think Dick Winters and many others in the Airborne units, should have been given CMH's. Just holding off the Germans in Bastone alone. They were under the toughest circumstances any soldier could be in. Low on ammo, winter gear, and surrounded by enemy. Under constant bombing by 88's, and temperatures that freeze spit. They were the best of the best.:)
 
debrito said:
Return to the threat, if my memory is good, I remember this scene… before the shooting they spoke in French.

I loved this series special the 7th part The Breaking Pointing
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I watched it again the other day Rod. Yes, they're speaking French, and yes, they appear to be wearing French uniforms circa 1940....:confused::confused::confused:
They can't have been released POW's surely, cos their uniforms looked new and I can't see a POW being allowed to keep his steel helmet in captivity..(??)
Cheers
H
 
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