That was so interesting! Watching a long time after the original airing as I'm off to Lofoten in February and hoping to visit the sites of the landings. I'm particularly interested in the long term implications of the raids on the Norwegian people.
The book "Combined Operations The Official History of the Commandos" that came out in 1943 page 31 has" the English manager of the firm of Allen and Hanbury" a cod liver factory on this raid being taken back to England.
Having had Rogers Rangers in the French and indian wars which drew from men from regular regiments. The army kept relearning the lessons. The fact that this was thought about seems to be in the chiice kf commando rather than ranger which itself has a older connection in Britain. I susppose there was a cknxern about confusion with regular army regiments with Ranger in thekr names.
Was late getting online so watching this post original airing. Love watching the channel, I learn so much and different perspectives are always good. Keep up the good work and hope to see you at CVHF this year.
Just some follow up info. Casualties were mentioned, but not the German. So far I've identified 18 German dead, half being navy sailors from the armed fishing trawler 'Krebs' where the Enigma rotors came from and half from the German merchant ship Gumbinnen.
The suggestion that the British army was slow and reluctant to change is a bit of a falsehood. In the early 1920s, the army went threw the lessons learned from the Great War and decided to go down a path of mechanisation. Granted it was a slow prosses, as a lot of the initial plans for mechanisation had to be scaled back during the Great Depression. But with the onset of German aggression in the late 1930s, the military budget was increased to try and meet the threat. Meaning more thought was given to mechanisation along with further development of the RAF (largely for defence). This shows that like most nations armies that it was willing to learn from past conflicts and budgetary restraints lead to the prioritisation of certain military technologies across the entirety of the British Armed Forces. That being said a nation is prepared for the last war it fought. The Thompson M1928? in the photograph had is magazine removed other than that it's a pretty standard Thompson.
Certainly agree. Necessity is the mother of invention and the creation of the commandos shows the army's willingness to adapt to circumstance. This was indeed discussed in the stream just after the statement of the British army was reluctant to change. Wich as a blanket statement seems odd. It is certainly true to say that particular head honchos in the army where reluctant to give over equipment and supplies to specialised units. But this was not the case for new technology. Still thoroughly enjoyed the video, the Commandos are certainly an interesting topic and I am thoroughly looking forward to Burma week.
That was so interesting! Watching a long time after the original airing as I'm off to Lofoten in February and hoping to visit the sites of the landings. I'm particularly interested in the long term implications of the raids on the Norwegian people.
Great stuff - as I am sure others have probably pointed out (but I will just in case!), the Tommy gun is missing its magazine.
The book "Combined Operations The Official History of the Commandos" that came out in 1943 page 31 has" the English manager of the firm of Allen and Hanbury" a cod liver factory on this raid being taken back to England.
Having had Rogers Rangers in the French and indian wars which drew from men from regular regiments. The army kept relearning the lessons. The fact that this was thought about seems to be in the chiice kf commando rather than ranger which itself has a older connection in Britain. I susppose there was a cknxern about confusion with regular army regiments with Ranger in thekr names.
That was really entertaining Paul . Niall's got a great turn of phrase.
Really good stuff plus Arthur Lowe type near end.
Was late getting online so watching this post original airing. Love watching the channel, I learn so much and different perspectives are always good. Keep up the good work and hope to see you at CVHF this year.
Think you still have the typo in this episode.
Just some follow up info. Casualties were mentioned, but not the German. So far I've identified 18 German dead, half being navy sailors from the armed fishing trawler 'Krebs' where the Enigma rotors came from and half from the German merchant ship Gumbinnen.
Have to watch it next but as far as I know this Operation was in 1941, not 1940 as the title says. Will comment again after the view :)
The suggestion that the British army was slow and reluctant to change is a bit of a falsehood. In the early 1920s, the army went threw the lessons learned from the Great War and decided to go down a path of mechanisation. Granted it was a slow prosses, as a lot of the initial plans for mechanisation had to be scaled back during the Great Depression. But with the onset of German aggression in the late 1930s, the military budget was increased to try and meet the threat. Meaning more thought was given to mechanisation along with further development of the RAF (largely for defence). This shows that like most nations armies that it was willing to learn from past conflicts and budgetary restraints lead to the prioritisation of certain military technologies across the entirety of the British Armed Forces. That being said a nation is prepared for the last war it fought.
The Thompson M1928? in the photograph had is magazine removed other than that it's a pretty standard Thompson.
Agree about mechanisation and technology, but it took the outbreak of war to think about what we would now call special forcrs
Certainly agree.
Necessity is the mother of invention and the creation of the commandos shows the army's willingness to adapt to circumstance. This was indeed discussed in the stream just after the statement of the British army was reluctant to change. Wich as a blanket statement seems odd. It is certainly true to say that particular head honchos in the army where reluctant to give over equipment and supplies to specialised units. But this was not the case for new technology. Still thoroughly enjoyed the video, the Commandos are certainly an interesting topic and I am thoroughly looking forward to Burma week.
That Arm patch in the photo may possibly be from one of the Armoured units, such as the 17th Lancers.🤔
I believe that they are wearing their leather jerkins under their battle dress blouses.