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top 200 commentsshow all 424

[–]FindsTheBrightSide 79 points80 points ago

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In their defense, smoking is probably the last thing that will kill them there.

[–][deleted] 39 points40 points ago

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I think some militaries now ban smoking in combat zones or front lines because the light and smoke gives away positions and ruins night vision.

[–]Sadraukar 70 points71 points ago

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Tell that to Solid Snake.

[–]FiletOfBaby 40 points41 points ago

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Banned, for the most part. Do we still do it? Yes.

[–]lalicat 15 points16 points ago

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Yes it was banned at night, we thought we could get away with it though.

Tried to light the smoke in a MRE bag and pinch it off on the end, tried smoking under a poncho as well.

You can see it light up like Christmas from miles away with IR night vision.

I got called on the radio once while trying to smoke under a poncho, it was my LT telling me to put out the cig. He was at least 3 KM away and saw it plain as day. We didn't really care because at the time the enemy didn't exactly have a night vision capability ...

[–]spydereleven 0 points1 point ago

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I tried using the Carl G during training. It was probably just as bad as an MRE

[–][deleted] ago

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[deleted]

[–]funnynickname 8 points9 points ago

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[–]purenitrogen 5 points6 points ago

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Nice try, Diamond Match Company.

[–]DumbGrunt 1 point2 points ago

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Definitely not banned, been on two tours myself. Lighting up on a roof when your on post is something different, because yes, you look like a beacon of light through NVGs.

[–][deleted] 4 points5 points ago

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After two deployments this is the first I've ever heard of it actually being banned. Not smoking at night while you are exposed to the enemy is more of a common sense thing.

[–]aceoftrachs 1 point2 points ago

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As a doughy U.S. civilian I'm proud to say this was my first thought.

[–]remingtonsteel 0 points1 point ago

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And all the gunpowder and explosives lying around wont do any good either.

[–]Ryugi 8 points9 points ago

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Actually, it gives snipers a very clear target.

[–]Ballsey 8 points9 points ago

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I wouldn't say "clear" - you still have to account for the fact that the sniper's scope wouldn't be illuminated (they wouldn't be able to see their crosshairs in order to line up the shot well,) it would be incredibly difficult to judge the range to the target, and if smoking at night, I'm sure most people had the common sense to be in a fox hole. Not to say that dumbasses haven't been shot because they were smoking though. I'm sure it's happened.

[–]Ryugi 1 point2 points ago

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Indeed, indeed. There are other factors to account for.

[–]Saac 230 points231 points ago

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"Can I get a smoke?" "Sure." hands him smoke "Tanks."

[–]spazmodic- 168 points169 points ago

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"Sherman! Any time!"

[–]Taki3d 73 points74 points ago

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/Tread...

[–]Strideo 57 points58 points ago

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Nice, you really deserve a Patton the back.

[–]Hellingame 24 points25 points ago

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GI don't know about that...

[–]Self-Defenestration 37 points38 points ago

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Can't we have one single topic that doesn't devolve into WWII puns? That'll be D-day.

[–]Goblyn614 9 points10 points ago

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Jew guys wanna stop this before it goes too far?

[–]Perk_i 7 points8 points ago

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A pun free thread would be garand. I can't tell you how bradley these hurt my head.

[–]skarface6 3 points4 points ago

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You could try giving it das boot.

[–]CyanideCloud 0 points1 point ago

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Artillery.

[–]binary_zombie 38 points39 points ago

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Do you mine if I join you guys?

[–]simplyOriginal 28 points29 points ago

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Sure, it'll be a blast.

[–]Geiz 69 points70 points ago

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[–]opterionianiaco 0 points1 point ago

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These guys must love working together. To me they're the new JD & Turk (but on a funnier show).

[–][deleted] 22 points23 points ago

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Desensitized to the tank and crumbled buildings? Just look at the back of the tank; there are pans hanging there. My guess is that the pans are for boiling water. This war and their tanking around, destroying towns, and such is their lifestyle at that particular moment. That's quite humanizing.

[–]albino_walrus 14 points15 points ago

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So this is where smokers are exiled to now?

Ahh, smokers, society's passive nicotine users. It all started with the smoking section. "You smokers gotta sit a small room filled with cigarette smoke." Well, ok fine. Not ideal, but the smokers complied. Then, society pushed smokers outside. Then, a few years later, 25 ft. away from the building.

Now, society says, "Fuck you. Go back in time, to WWII, and hide behind a tank before you light up that cigarette."

[–]munk_e_man 2 points3 points ago

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As a smoker I understand. ........ :(

[–][deleted] ago

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[deleted]

[–]munk_e_man 0 points1 point ago

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I didn't get to experience any of that, though I feel I'd be quite comfortable in that environment. Luckily as I was turning 18 or 19, the Draconian anti smoking laws where I was living were just coming into effect, so I still have my share of memories of smoking indoors over pints with friends, and coming home, passing out, waking up, putting on my coat and have that reeking scent of stale tobacco smoke. I feel sorry for people born just a few years later who never got the experience.

[–]eyecite 5 points6 points ago

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I also see a sledgehammer.

[–]Foxxxaygrandpa 16 points17 points ago

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I see helmets. Clearly they must have bikes for cruises in the countryside.

[–]supaphly42 2 points3 points ago

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I noticed those as well. Really does put things back into perspective.

[–]ohspgq 2 points3 points ago

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And a big crank to crank start that beast.

[–]eskachig 2 points3 points ago

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Well, the tank crew has to eat too, you know. Even today, you can see how much they strap to the outside of tanks - inside space is at a premium and it's not a huge deal if your shovel ends up with a bullet hole.

[–][deleted] 3 points4 points ago

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But sand would fall through it! It would greatly reduce your shovelling capabilities!

[–]eskachig 0 points1 point ago

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Requisition a new one.

[–]skarface6 1 point2 points ago

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I think the most interesting thing is how dirty everything is except the gun- they know they'll have to rely on it to live, while they can get away with dirty faces.

[–][deleted] 8 points9 points ago

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Thanks for not saying this was a picture of your grandfather.

[–]bruceleesensei 65 points66 points ago

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Mad respect for these guys, saving the world and all.

[–]r0ckarong 63 points64 points ago

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As a German I can confirm this ... or can I? Hmmm.

[–][deleted] 85 points86 points ago

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As a German American with grandfathers that fought each other, I have no idea how I should feel.

[–]CarnePopsicle 64 points65 points ago

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Swiss.

[–]Helter-Skeletor 2 points3 points ago

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Ok, that got me good. Have an upvote.

[–][deleted] 21 points22 points ago

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Mellow.

[–]parlezmoose 8 points9 points ago

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serendipitous

[–]runsoutofspace 8 points9 points ago

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I kinda Know that feel. I had greatgreatgreatgreat grandfathers fight against each other in the French/Mexican War in the 1800s. Always an interesting tale my father likes to tell.

[–]duglock 11 points12 points ago

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Don't feel bad, I'm in the same boat. One grandfather was a bomber pilot for the allies and the other was a Anti-Aircraft gunner for the Germans. My family doesn't get along at all.

[–][deleted] 4 points5 points ago

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wow you're close to my experience, my grandfathers met as well after the war I think.

[–]werdan 1 point2 points ago

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[–][deleted] 1 point2 points ago

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i wish i could upvote this more than once

[–]xaronax 12 points13 points ago

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How did your grandfather manage to impregnate your grandmother after that horrible incident where he fell out of the guard tower?

[–]r0ckarong 28 points29 points ago

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Who do you think he landed on?

[–][deleted] ago

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[deleted]

[–]knightofmars 9 points10 points ago

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Can never be sure in Germany.

[–]VeryGoodLookingMan 5 points6 points ago

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You can tell that neither of them are enjoying that because he's rollerblading in a purple tank top.

[–]DakezO 1 point2 points ago

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I can't click the link at work to see it, but thanks to you nothing that the link will show me could possibly be as good as your description.

[–]xaronax 6 points7 points ago

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Priceless.

[–][deleted] 10 points11 points ago

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That would be the Soviets.

[–]AllensArmy 4 points5 points ago

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This was the part where they saved western Europe from Soviet occupation.

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points ago

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Somewhere West of the Elbe.

[–]klngarthur 7 points8 points ago

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The Soviets would have lost or been forced into an unfavorable truce without Allied material support and Allied forces tying up German resources and preventing Japan from declaring war in the east.

[–]pinkfreude 3 points4 points ago

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Soviets could say the exact same thing about the Allies.

[–][deleted] 12 points13 points ago

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Well the Soviets did eventually fight the Japanese in the East.

I think people are just quick to point to the Western Allies as saviors when the USSR bore such a terrible burden.

[–]ssercomic 14 points15 points ago

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More than a burden. Something like 80-90% of the German army was in the east, commanded by their best, soldiered by their best. The Allies contributions to the war take on more of the "World" part of the conflict's handle. But if you are talking straight land-efforts, struggles for territory and pushes toward the antagonist's capital (Berlin), nothing compares to what was going on in Eastern Europe.

[–]Occams_rusty_razor 0 points1 point ago

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The most epic land battles ever took place there. The only thing that might compare would be the struggle between the US and Imperial Japanese navies in the Pacific but I would still have to agree with your point.

[–]klngarthur 8 points9 points ago

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They certainly paid the vast majority of the cost in lives for the Allies and I don't mean to discount that fact. Wars are not won with lives alone, though.

[–]13channelsofshit 0 points1 point ago

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Yeah but that logic works both ways.

Also, in terms of casualties the Soviets lost more than anyone didn't they?

[–]gabarnier 0 points1 point ago

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http://castroller.com/podcasts/DanCarlinsHardcore/1046227 This is a great-to-listen-to podcast about the Germans in Russia (WW2) in 4 or 5 parts that will have you on the edge of your seat. Can't imagine what WW2 would have been like if those two had remained allies.

[–]ashmole 0 points1 point ago

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It was a team effort. Saying "the Soviets won WWII" is just as idiotic sounding as saying "the US won WWII".

[–]Henkkaaaaa 36 points37 points ago

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Clothes dirty.

Boots dirty.

Leaning against a dirty vehicle.

Guns dirty.

Surrounded by dirt.

Somehow cigarettes are still clear white.

[–]JTAC_Sean 37 points38 points ago

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That weapon does not appear dirty to me and I would be very surprised if it was; after all, you tend to prioritize the cleaning of the thing that keeps you alive above all else.

[–]Nuzzgok 19 points20 points ago

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Like cigarettes?

[–]mirex0_0 24 points25 points ago

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Like cigarettes.

[–]twentyafterfour 10 points11 points ago

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Cigs help you stay alert and provide stress relief, so I feel like they are a pretty useful thing to have around.

[–]Kerblaaahhh 2 points3 points ago

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They also restore psyche and can be used to see hidden laser traps.

[–][deleted] 27 points28 points ago

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cigarette cases/plastic wrapped packs, you can't really smoke a dirty/wet cigarette so it was pretty important to GIs to keep them dry and clean as they were one of the only comforts they had.

[–]sanph 4 points5 points ago

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That gun looks quite clean to me, in terms of guns.

[–]speedbrown 3 points4 points ago*

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Keep your powder and cigs clean and dry.

[–]skawtiep 4 points5 points ago

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I doubt they had any plans of later putting their clothes, boots, vehicles, or guns in their mouths later.

[–]peacecake 1 point2 points ago

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You don't have to do anything special to keep cigarettes clean they come in a case. If they were just loose in your pocket they would be broken and there would be no point in having them.

[–]gintastic 8 points9 points ago*

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My grandfather was in the 101st Airborne during WWII and used a Thompson submachine gun like this guy. He has a great story about hiding behind a tank during the Battle of the Bulge:

He was standing guard at night with his buddy when they saw a German soldier and shot him from a distance. A US tank rolled in to give them cover in case there were any other German soldiers around. My grandfather's buddy REALLY wanted to run out see if the dead German had a sidearm on him (these were really prized trophies for the US troops). My grandfather was against the idea but his buddy ran out anyway, grabbed the pistol and then on his way back was shot by a sniper. My grandfather tried to cover his buddy by shooting his Thompson toward the area where he thought the German was hiding. Somehow, his buddy was able to get back up and run back and hide behind the tank, at which point my gramps tried to find the wound on his buddy. They found the bullet hole on his leg, exactly in the spot where his buddy had stuffed the German pistol. Turns out the bullet had ricocheted off the pistol and never even touched the guy. His buddy then immediately exclaimed in an indignant voice, "That damn German shot my Luger!" 100% true story.

[–]elmariachi304 4 points5 points ago

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(these were really prized trophies for the US troops).

Damn! It's hard to imagine how badly he wanted that pistol that he'd risk his life for it. I guess I don't understand war.

[–]AnonLegionaire 5 points6 points ago

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Actually, it makes total sense if you think about it. The basic fact is that for the men at the time, souvenirs were a bit of a sub-conscious hope for survival. If they were truly resigned to death, they wouldn't even bother with them? By picking them up, they were assuring themselves that they would make it through the end of the war.

[–]DBH114 3 points4 points ago

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I seem to recall reading about there being a black market for these types of things at the time. $$$$. Some would go so far as to pry the gold fillings out of the teeth of the dead. War makes people do crazy things.

[–]gintastic 1 point2 points ago

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That is an interesting way to view the whole "war souvenir" phenomenon among soldiers. It is a tangible way to focus their hope of survival.

But I still don't think I would run out into no man's land while the 101st was surrounded by German Panzer divisions, JUST to get a souvenir. That's crazy.

[–]gintastic 2 points3 points ago

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Yeah my grandfather thought this guy was an idiot for going after the Luger, but in reality these soldiers were 18 or 19 year-olds. I know my grandfather lied about his age so that he could enlist at age 17. I did a lot of stupid shit when I was 18.

[–]gintastic 0 points1 point ago

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I realize no one cares about this thread anymore, but I felt like I had misremembered some facts about the story because he had told it to me when I was much younger, so I emailed my grandpa and he sent this reply with the whole story. He doesn't mind me sharing it with you. (please ignore the typos--he's 87 years old!):

"Yes I did tell you the story about the Lugar. It took place at Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge, Just two days before I was wounded. We had made an attack across a railroad track into a wooded area. As we entered the area we came across a covered fox hole at the erge of the woods. I dropped a hand grenade into the fox hole and shortly after that we herd some rustling in the hole. The German soldiier had dug an "L" shaped hole so was unhurt. When he got out of the hole he surrendered, of course, then took his Lugar from the holstrer , looked around a bit then handed it to a good friend of mine ( Schneider) who wa standing next to me. Schneider looked at me and grinned the put the Luger inside his coat just in front of his chest. Shortly after that our Platoon Sargent told me to take Corporal Wyman with me and go across an open field to see if there was any one over there. I had the Corporal stay a short distance behind me and started across. We got only a short distance when we came under frie by a machine gun nest in front of us. Fortunatly we were in a low spot so coulden't be hit, however he sprayed a lot of snow on us. Someon saw our problem and sent a tank up in front of us. I sent Wyman back to the wooded area then started back myself. As I was movinf I saw Schneider stand up to try to see up ahead. I heard a rifle shot and saw Schneider go over backwards. I rushed to Schneider in time to se him come to. He raised and reached into his coat where he had put the Lugar. That rifle shot had hit the Lugar. Schneider looked at it for a bit then said "that son-of-a- bitch ruined my Lugar". That was a long day, we had quite a few killed and wounded. I helped drag two good freinds back to the medics. Two days later (Jan. 5th 1945) I was wounded, then spent seven nice warm weeks in the hospital befror returning to the front."

[–]andrewsmith1986 40 points41 points ago

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Those things will kill you.

[–]Foxxxaygrandpa 21 points22 points ago

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Not back then they didn't. MAD MEN

[–]knightofmars 19 points20 points ago

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Why'd those scientists have to go inventing cancer?! :C

[–]Charlievil 13 points14 points ago

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It's was invented by the white man to keep the numbers of black people down. I know because I've seen these videos by conspiracynation and that sounds like a reliable source to me.

[–]Foxxxaygrandpa 2 points3 points ago

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Bunch of jerks. Atheist scum!

[–]HollowPsycho 5 points6 points ago

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That's what they're designed to do. The cigarettes aren't healthy either.

[–]GrieferSutherland 2 points3 points ago

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Just shut the hell up.

[–]kingbot 8 points9 points ago

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[–]Godranks 21 points22 points ago

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:36th_AIR_9th_ID_Geich_Dec1944.jpeg

just link to wikipedia instead of putting it on imgur.

[–]dkoch0608 9 points10 points ago

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But then I can't just expand the picture with my Reddit Enhancement Suite.

[–][deleted] 14 points15 points ago

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I can't believe this actually happened in Western Europe. That constantly blows my mind. Like France and England got Blitzkrieg-ed? Same with Scandinavia? Somehow it makes more sense to me that these kind of things wars occur in the Middle East, South America, SE Asia, Africa - you know places without strong institutional infrastructures. Hell even the Pacific and Northern African theaters of WWII make more sense. But motherfucking Paris? Unbelievable.

[–]NervousMcStabby 29 points30 points ago

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[–]QCGold 2 points3 points ago

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weird how some of the locations haven't changed much in the past 60+ years. Like 91-92 with the bakery...

[–]Zipo29 1 point2 points ago

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Thanks for the link those pictures are very sobering.

[–]sigaven 1 point2 points ago

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There used to be so many more trees.

[–]Wolfszeit 1 point2 points ago

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Because of your comment I started paying attention to the trees. Something that I noticed is that there weren't neccesarily lesser trees now, but the trees there are now are all... planted. Check pic #31 en #32. In #31 it's almost as if the road is build around the tree. Whereas in #32 you can see trees in the background that are primarily there for some kind of decoration.

This somehow makes me sad :(

[–]DBH114 0 points1 point ago

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There weren't an abundance of chainsaws and power-chiper units like there are now. Much easier and quicker to get rid of trees these days.

[–]sigaven 1 point2 points ago

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Also, the American flag in this pic appears to have 49 or 50 stars on it, anyone else notice this?

[–]jayfallon 3 points4 points ago

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48 stars. Alaska and Hawaii weren't admitted the union as states until 1959.

[–]sigaven 1 point2 points ago*

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I know this. But look closely at the pattern of the stars. It resembles the 49-star flag. Definitely not the 48 star flag, in which the stars are in a grid pattern.

[–]dstrichit 1 point2 points ago

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Question: In pic #18, along with a few other pictures, there are large holes in structures. What is this from? Some sort of weaponry? What causes that specific mark? AA gun or something?

[–]ohwai 1 point2 points ago

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[–]spraynpray87 0 points1 point ago

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This needs to be it's own post.

[–]MomoTheCow 0 points1 point ago

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Deserves to be seen by more people, I think. Far too often people can't relate to how recent these events (and more importantly, the attitudes and politics that led to them) actually were.

Try posting it as its own thread, if it hasn't been already.

[–]diuge 0 points1 point ago

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What striking images. Really nails home the fact that, at some point after the war, people went back to their towns and thought to themselves, "Welp, time to patch those holes in the wall."

[–]Cezetus 9 points10 points ago

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FYI, England did NOT "get blitzkrieged" - the German lost Battle of Britain and without air superiority they couldn't begin the invasion.

[–]TheSaddestGrape 0 points1 point ago

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They did get "blitzed" however.

[–]behavedave 1 point2 points ago*

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[–]SerfNuts- 3 points4 points ago

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And that wasn't the first large scale war. 2 world wars in Europe within decades of each other blows my mind even more.... Europe is no stranger to war. All those different people, cultures and countries crammed together for thousands of years has made for a pretty volatile history.

[–]military_history 2 points3 points ago

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Just off the top of my head, starting with the 17th century:

  • The Thirty Years War.
  • Ottoman Wars.
  • War of the Austrian Succession.
  • War of the Spanish Succession.
  • Seven Years War.
  • French Revolutionary Wars.
  • Napoleonic Wars.
  • Crimean War.
  • Wars of German Unification.
  • WW1.
  • WW2.

And those are only the big ones involving more than two or three nations. There were literally always smaller wars happening in Europe.

[–]Wolfszeit 2 points3 points ago

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What about the Eighty Years War? Sounds hell of a lot more intimidating than the Thirty years war.

Admitted, in the 80 years it officially lasted it wasn't non-stop on-going, but still. Eighty Years man. 1568 - 1648. People were born in that war. And they died when that same fucking war was still going on.

Anyways, you are right. Ever since the decline of the Western Roman Empire, Europe has been the battlefield of many, many wars between different tribes (that eventually became countries). After playing my share of EUIII I realised how big of a mess Europe used to be and how fucking stable it is now. WWII is simply one of the last wars in a range of never-ending shit it's been through ever since 500 A.D.

[–]military_history 2 points3 points ago

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England got blitzkrieged? Huh? I don't think so...

[–]Occams_rusty_razor 0 points1 point ago

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Some of them still seem to think so.

[–]military_history 0 points1 point ago

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I really don't think we do.

[–]Wolfszeit 1 point2 points ago

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Wow dude. Check pic #73 and #74 in NervousMcStabby's link. I found them to be the most mind-blowing.

If you haven't seen them yet, do it man... whoa.

[–]TheTruthBeSold 1 point2 points ago

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Even harder to believe it was only 70 years ago, that there are people walking around today who were there, who saw it with their own eyes.

[–]klobster 6 points7 points ago

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Technically before all of our actions were ruled by anothers voice it was just called smoking. That you would take a break to smoke was considered ludacris.

[–]gerdsen 4 points5 points ago

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Beautiful photo. Amazing people.

[–]berrausmaximus8 3 points4 points ago

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The greatest generation. Some real men right there.

[–]torsojones 5 points6 points ago

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I love seeing WWII pictures. They're badass and make my life seem fucking awesome.

[–]Grisepik 1 point2 points ago

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And that is actually also a great place to put the kitchen gear. Ive got to remember that when i get a sherman tank.

[–]Flatline334 1 point2 points ago

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This picture relays so much emotion, awesome.

[–]Non_Farmer_Iowan 1 point2 points ago

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Lucky Strikes for the win.

[–]vph 1 point2 points ago

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Correct finger discipline, as one would expect.

[–]HalfPointFive 1 point2 points ago

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Soldiers in a war zone are never on break.

[–]LittlePooper 1 point2 points ago

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My great grandfather was sitting in a fox hole with several soldiers at night on Iwo Jima. One of them started smoking and the embers gave his position away and he was shot in the head. My grandpa was sitting right next to him.

[–]crocsim 1 point2 points ago

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without having the rear tank phone so you can talk to the crew (not sure if it had one) thats like the worst place to sit, the driver will just back up if he sees a threat. hes not going to ask.

[–]WhyHellYeah 1 point2 points ago

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Post this to r/guns and you'll get at least three comments about trigger discipline.

[–]zomgwtfbbq 3 points4 points ago

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There would have been two here if I hadn't done a search for it first...

Can't help but appreciate good trigger discipline, especially in a war zone.

[–]Palamede 1 point2 points ago

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First CoD player reflex : what weapon is that ?

[–]pickled_cock_sammich 17 points18 points ago

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CoD? You must mean DoD.

[–][deleted] 5 points6 points ago

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No, if he meant DoD then there wouldn't be any question about the weapon. On the other hand, you'd be anticipating a fucking nazi camping the side of the tank. Because they always are.

[–]Tol3ntino 6 points7 points ago

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"I NEED BACK UP!"

"NEGATIVE!"

[–]pickled_cock_sammich 2 points3 points ago

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By this point, there's a mass spamming of grenades, and they'd be dead already.

[–]simohayha 11 points12 points ago

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Anyone remember playing the original COD on PC? It was a WW2 FPS and it was awesome

[–]Elriond 4 points5 points ago

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Preferred MOHAA. Seems like the best WWII FPS were from that time.

[–]grackychan 2 points3 points ago

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Up vote for MOHAA. strafe shoot was invented with that game

[–]simplyOriginal 2 points3 points ago

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Back then, I didn't compare video games and choose which ones were better within a genre. I loved both MOHAA and COD1.

Good times LANing with my buds in cyber cafes.

[–]xIrish 0 points1 point ago

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I believe strafe shooting was around before MOHAA. Just speaking from personal experience, there was a ton of it in Rainbow Six: Rogue Spear. That was the bread and butter for that game in terms of competitive play. That's not to say RS was the first game with strafe-shooting, but the first one that I distinctly remember.

[–]grackychan 0 points1 point ago

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Fair enough sir, MOHAA was my first real foray into fps so the fondness makes me especially partial.

[–]simohayha 0 points1 point ago

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loved MOHAA. Destroyed Village was my favorite map. Fucking hated bazooka and shotgun whores though

[–]Garren191 0 points1 point ago

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Remember back when WWII FPS games were being made?

[–]fox9iner 3 points4 points ago

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Nothing like popping heads with a Kar from 300 yards on that open hedge map.

[–]Palamede 2 points3 points ago

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Remember ? I play it everyday. So good to kill some nazis.

[–]tehelectriclightbulb 2 points3 points ago

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I used to play COD2 MP everyday on PC until good NA servers started shutting down.

[–]pseudostatik 11 points12 points ago

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Thompson I believe

[–][deleted] 3 points4 points ago

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it is a Thompson

[–]lpg975 3 points4 points ago

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Thompson submachine gun. Usually made by Colt or Savage. .45 ACP round. Pretty awesome gun, really.

[–]Shamthis 1 point2 points ago

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TIL they put the cooking pans on the back of tanks/trucks.

[–]drakar 1 point2 points ago

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Lucky Strike means fine tobacco!

[–]SlightlyDarkerBlack 1 point2 points ago

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It's Toasted!

[–]humanbean612 0 points1 point ago

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Lucky Strike never made it to the front lines. From Stephen Abrose's book "Citizen Soldier" http://www.worldwar2history.info/Army/profiteers.html

"As one example, the most popular brand of cigarettes was Lucky Strike, followed by Camel. In Paris, the SOS [Services of Supply] troops and their dates smoked Lucky Strikes and Camels; in the foxholes, the men got Pall Malls, Raleighs, or, worse, British cigarettes"

[–]niarotsih2ww 1 point2 points ago

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Is that a fact the Ambrose dug up, made up, or stole from another writer?

[–]absent_with_leave 0 points1 point ago

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They're also staying warm under that tank exhaust.

[–]mmmtoohot 0 points1 point ago

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Immediately thought of this:Nice Dart Bud

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point ago

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This is going in the wallpaper rotation.

[–]akula06 0 points1 point ago

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Hmm, don't now if that is a Sherman. May be a tank destroyer of some type. Hard to tell, really. I like that they're wearing their overshoes.. must be pretty damned cold where they are.

[–]encaseme 0 points1 point ago

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looks very similar to the rear of this sherman (they did make many revisions of the sherman): http://www.wwiivehicles.com/usa/tanks-medium/m4-medium-tank-sherman/m4-medium-tank-sherman-cast-front-plate-steel-rear-03.png

[–]duleewopper 0 points1 point ago

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Smoke break? Those guys were always smoking, never breaking. Awesome pic.

[–]Fine_Be_Like_That 0 points1 point ago

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It seems like almost every picture from WWII in Europe theres at least one soldier smoking

[–]myrandomname 0 points1 point ago

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Because smoking was 'cool' back then. And they got free cigarettes in their rations.

[–]Cronoadvan 0 points1 point ago

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Is it me, or do those cigars look fake as hell?

[–]fuzzyshorts 0 points1 point ago

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I kind of hope they bring back the draft to impose some sac back into american youth culture. I know it sounds shitty but those guys didn't have time for whiny introspection and pegging their jeans for tightness.

[–]dethklok11 0 points1 point ago

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Looks like hes going for a stroke break too.

[–]vikingz0mbi3 0 points1 point ago

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Makes for an awesome wallpaper

[–]Nefilim777 0 points1 point ago

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Anyone know where to get great ww2 pics like this?

[–]c0ckBl0cker 0 points1 point ago

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This was just before the tank reversed over them.

[–]jggm2009 0 points1 point ago

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The only time I think I wouldn't be smoking is when I was running and when it was raining. Other than that, I would be a got damn chimney.

[–]zoltanps 0 points1 point ago

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That is a poignant picture. Imagine what is going through those soldier's minds!

[–]TheTruthBeSold 0 points1 point ago

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Jesus Christ, look at how destroyed the background is. I'm suddenly exceedingly thankful I'm at home and safe instead of sitting in that muddy hell hole with a loaded gun.

[–]lousku 0 points1 point ago

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Tanks for this, my new wallpaper!

[–]TL-DReddit 0 points1 point ago

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The first and last deployment of the deaf brigade.

[–]daggius 0 points1 point ago

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War is hell.

[–]Peterabit456 0 points1 point ago

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But tommy guns are really fun.

[–]SoCal2012 0 points1 point ago

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/historyporn

[–]drew1111 0 points1 point ago

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Look at how alert they are and how they are stuffing their bodies into the bottom side of the tank. Shit must have hit the fan that day.

[–]rgliszin 0 points1 point ago

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First world problems.

[–]DBH114 0 points1 point ago

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Is there more info about the photo. when,where, etc.. They look they are on watch/guard duty. No packs. Sitting down. There's a photographer(and probably his aid) taking pictures. They're looking off to the right which if there is action in that direction, would put them on the wrong side of the tank. Or maybe this is a staged shot and the photographer told them to sit there like that. Would like to know more.

[–]BentGroves 0 points1 point ago

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The reason you don't want to be third on the match in war.

[–]Teeters95 0 points1 point ago

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When men were men.

[–]mrplinko 0 points1 point ago

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Reminds me of Saving Private Ryan.

[–]cyborg_hobo 0 points1 point ago

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that's one hell of smoke break..

[–]screwScottnEvan 0 points1 point ago

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WARNING: Extreme kharma whore. This guy has about three posts on the front page of r/pics right now. And he obviously didn't take this one.

[–]Myflyisbreezy 0 points1 point ago

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Dont they know smoking can kill them?