World History

marked50

(1,504 posts)

10. My dad talked about the 88's he encountered in the war too.

Mon Dec 14, 2020, 09:07 PM

Dec 2020

He was in the 69th Division that arrived in European theater in Jan of '45. This was the division that eventually met up with the Russian's on The Elbe river. He was with an Armour group of 105mm howitzers.

One of the things he remembered and commented on was that one of the biggest concerns about moving along the roads to Germany was when that things seemed to go pretty unopposed until the convoy rounded some turn. The 88's were set up, just a few, to lay waste to whatever was in their sites. They were manned by the SS and they were suicidaly committed. He said it usually didn't last long as they were ultimately outgunned and out-manned. He also stayed on with the Occupation Force in 45.

It was the only thing he expressed concern about the entire race to Germany endeavor.

He always said though, he never thought he was a hero.

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German 88 Flak Guns Used By Nazis In WWII, Color Action Scenes [View all] appalachiablue Dec 2020 OP

My dad was a 7th Army artillery officer, too. DemoTex Dec 2020 #1

Great record and that's a fine photo. Where did your dad train appalachiablue Dec 2020 #4

He was Auburn ROTC .. DemoTex Dec 2020 #11

Another great photo, a well deserved good time in Rome. In college appalachiablue Dec 2020 #16

yeah, the 88's were universally feared..... getagrip_already Dec 2020 #2

I can't blame them after researching these monster guns a bit. appalachiablue Dec 2020 #7

as a rule, returning vets who saw action never spoke much about it.... getagrip_already Dec 2020 #9

That's the consensus I know, not talk about it and sadly appalachiablue Dec 2020 #13

So your Dads, like mine SCantiGOP Dec 2020 #3

Absolutely. And Gen. Eisenhower was The Antifa! appalachiablue Dec 2020 #6

Willy and Joe didn't like 'em ThoughtCriminal Dec 2020 #5

Good cartoon, thanks. appalachiablue Dec 2020 #8

My dad talked about the 88's he encountered in the war too. marked50 Dec 2020 #10

That was a seriously dangerous winter esp. Market Garden and appalachiablue Dec 2020 #14

My dad was 5th Armored. Wounded in Hurtgen Forest where they used 88s. Sneederbunk Dec 2020 #12

Hurtgen Forest was horrible, what a winter. Glad your dad appalachiablue Dec 2020 #15