Twentieth Century War & Weapons

For those interested in the big picture of advances in military technology and tactics driven by wars of the Twentieth Century, from the Boer War to Gulf War 1.

[WWII Pictures @WWIIpix]

"Lost German Girl", a beaten woman filmed on a country road near the Czech border during the surrender of Wehrmacht troops. Her identity is still unknown.

This footage was filmed 75 years ago today. #WW2

[Twentieth Century War & Weapons @century_war]

An estimated 18 million people passed through the Soviet Gulag system and were subjected to forced labor in freezing, remote locations, starvation, beatings and torture. Victims were dissidents, priests, professors or just unlucky citizens who found themselves in the wrong place.

[Twentieth Century War & Weapons @century_war]

Hans-Ulrich Rudel, the most decorated German pilot of WW2, flew 2530 combat missions a Stuka pilot against the Soviet Union. Sole recipient of the Knight's Cross with Golden Oak Leaves, Swords, and Diamonds. His book "Stuka Pilot" is a cracking good read.

[WWII Pictures @WWIIpix]

A postman stands amid the rubble of Watling Street, after a bombing raid in the city of London, 1941. #WW2

[Twentieth Century War & Weapons @century_war]

Today marks the 83rd Anniversary of the first flight of RJ Mitchell's Spitfire, the most iconic aircraft of WW2. Over 20,000 were produced between 1938 and 1948.

[Twentieth Century War & Weapons @century_war]

The Churchill was the most successful British tank of WW2. The rugged and and adaptable chassis allowed for conversion to mine sweepers, bridge layers, and flame-throwers. A total of 5,640 Churchill tanks were produced, remained in service with the British army into the 1950s.

[Lindybeige Lloyd @Lindybeige]

Why use clips when you can use magazines?: https://t.co/dg2m58vfdM via @YouTube

[World War II History @WW2Facts]

Russian Katyusha rocket launchers in action somewhere on the Eastern Front.

#History #WWII

[ww2db @ww2db]

18 Jan 1943: [Photo] Troops of L Detachment SAS in North Africa https://t.co/qPWd6ohTHa

[Vulcan XH558 @vulcantothesky]

Our next #558XmasTreat image is from a 'mini-series' we will show from John Dibbs. This #photoshoot took place overhead The Solent in 2015. Hayling Island on the right, the Isle of Wight on the left. Do share them with #family & #friends ... #FridayFeeling

[ww2db @ww2db]

25 Dec 1926: Crown Prince Hirohito ascended to the throne of Japan https://t.co/Bp3PmAtqAK

[ww2db @ww2db]

25 Dec 1939: Red Army resumed attacking the Taipale sector in Finland. https://t.co/FL07vZgapg

[Twentieth Century War & Weapons @century_war]

Merry Christmas to all our readers.

[Twentieth Century War & Weapons @century_war]

14,533 Hawker Hurricanes came off the production line between December 1937 and the end of WW2. The very last Hurricane to be made, number PZ865, is still flying and performing at airshows as part of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. #Hurricane #BattleofBritain #PZ865.

[Twentieth Century War & Weapons @century_war]

June 1944: Douglas A-20G Havoc bombers attack Point Du Hoc in Normandy in preparation for the D-day landings. Strategically located between Omaha Beach and Utah Beachs, the Pointe du Hoc battery provided the German forces with artillery cover of both beaches. #Dday #PointeDuHoc

[Twentieth Century War & Weapons @century_war]

The T1154 and R1155 radio transmitter/receiver pair were widely used in British bomber aircraft during WW2. Over 80,000 were manufactured. After the war many found their way into the surplus market and were snapped up by radio amateurs. #T1154 #R1155 #Aircraftradio

[Twentieth Century War & Weapons @century_war]

At the end of WW2 Britain helped secure the French and Dutch colonies in East Asia in anticipation of the return of those colonial powers. On this day in 1945, Spitfires of 273 Sqn attacked Viet Minh guerrillas surrounding a French garrison at Banme Thuet, Vietnam. #Spitfire

[Twentieth Century War & Weapons @century_war]

The V2 rocket, the world's first long-range guided ballistic missile, and the first man-made object to travel into space, was decades ahead of it's time. One of a series of "vengeance weapons" that Germany deployed as retaliation for the Allied bombing of German cities. #V2

[Twentieth Century War & Weapons @century_war]

Barrage balloons deployed over Buckingham Palace. Tethered to the ground with heavy metal cables, they were an effective defense against low-level air attack. 1,400 such balloons were deployed in London in 1940 alone. #BarrageBalloon #AirDefence #Blitz

[Twentieth Century War & Weapons @century_war]

The Messerschmitt ME262 was the world's first operational jet fighter. It represented a massive leap in technology and performance. 1,400 were constructed but only 300 ever saw combat, towards the end of the war. #ME262 #Fighter #WW2 #FirstJet