At the Sharp End

This is the side blog of @duxbelisarius - This is where I'll be posting my answers from reddit/r/AskHistorians, as well as other military history stuff, mostly from the two World Wars - Feel free to ask me anything about the period; if you find any of my...

[the-ww2-vault]

A member of the 131st Field Artillery Battalion loading a 105mm shell packed with D-ration chocolate bars for an infantry battalion cut off in the Belmont Sector, France, Oct 29 1944

[vintageeveryday]

Motorcycle ambulances were used during World War I by the British, French, and Americans. At the time, the advantages of light weight, speed, and mobility over larger vehicles was cited as the motive for the use of motorcycles with sidecar in this role. See more here...

[enriquemzn262]

Italian Arditi special forces soldier wearing Farina helmet and body armor.

[scrapironflotilla]

They apparently have some facetious Germans opposite Givenchy now. One of them shouted across to the Welsh Regt. “Is there anyone there from Swansea?” Several answered “Yes”, whereupon he hurled a hand grenade across, with the remark – “Then you can divide that among you, you blighters.”

From the diary of Brigadier-General Cecil Lowther, 20/1/1915.

[federer7]

Wounded British soldiers and German prisoners heading to the rear during the Battle of Bazentin Ridge (part of the battle of the Somme), 19 July 1916

Photo: Ernest Brooks

[through-a-historic-lens]

A man demonstrates a steel cap, splinter goggles (vision is obtained through thin slits in goggles), and a steel dagger gauntlet, manufactured for the British military during World War I.

[theworldatwar]

British and Canadian soldiers prepare their defences - Arras, France, April 1917

[theworldatwar]

A British patrol makes its way through the village of St Mauvieu during Operation Epsom - June 1944

[holy-ghost-fire]

A group of Japanese American soldiers in France, December 1944. Nisei soldier's caption: "Mule skinners. Charlie Co. were really in the hills. All supplies being brought up by mules went up to operate our radio and lead one of these critters. But halfway up I had the mule drag me. Lucky that my animal was tame enough not to mind."

[viktor-sbor]

Soviet self-propelled guns SU-85 and a T-34 tank cross the Dniester near the city of Khotyn, Chernivtsi region, Ukrainian SSR. The photo shows German equipment: the Sd.Kfz.250 armored personnel carrier, the Sd.Kfz.9 half-track tractor. April 1944

[freetheshit-outofyou]

Approaching an enemy patrol on the beach, Teikansaari, September 28, 1941.

[enriquemzn262]

German MG08/15 water-cooled machine gun. 

[derpanzergraf]

A Fallschirmjaeger and  his horse in North Africa.

[theworldatwar]

Major Lord Lovat gives orders to his men before setting out on a commando raid on the French coast near Boulogne, in the Pas-de-Calais - France, 21st April 1942 Operation Abercrombie was an Anglo-Canadian reconnaissance raid on the area around the French coastal village of Hardelot in the Pas-de-Calais. It had been scheduled for the night of 19/20 April 1942 but was delayed until 21/22 April. The raid was largely unopposed but the benefits were thought not to have been worth the effort. Due to a navigation error the Canadian detachment lost their way and had to abort.

[hiddenwwi]

Entryway to a WWI underground city

[theworldatwar]

A US 7th Armored Division 3-inch M5 antitank gun covers the approach road near the railroad crossing at Vielsalm, Belgium - 23rd Dec 1944

[usafphantom2]

"Semper Fi Skies" by John D. Shaw. Archie Donahue of VMF-112 becomes an Ace-in-a-Day in the skies near Guadalcanal in May 1943. #WWII #WW2

@WW2HQ via X