+00002009-01-15T16:19:17+00:00312009bUTCThu, 15 Jan 2009 16:19:17 +0000 31, 2008 by gmcknight
This BBC documentary posted at GoogleVideos looks at the clampdown on satire and other undesirable comedians as the Third Reich grew in power. The plight of specific groups (or “art”) tends to get lost in the scale of the much bigger human cost of WWII.
However here the film looks at how satire and jokes at Hitler’s expense were encouraged to some degree as he came into power but gradually anything deemed “subversive” was squeezed out and telling such jokes gradually became more and more dangerous. We hear about German comedians who are sentenced to hard labour in camps or even death as punishment for making jokes. This is recalled with well chosen recollections from a couple of people involved in the period and it serves to only make things worse by not being at all surprising. After this the film explores the general sense of humour on the street as the war started to turn back against German cities and civilians, where understandably there was a certain amount of gallows humour. Throughout the film the jokes are recreated by two German comedians
Canadian Nurses at the Front
Nursing sisters played a major role during the First World War. Between 1914 and 1918, 2,504 served in Europe. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPJ4JXp5wd8
+00002009-01-12T23:15:05+00:00312009bUTCMon, 12 Jan 2009 23:15:05 +0000 31, 2008 by gmcknight
This is a collection of politically incorrect cartoons which were a staple at movie theatres during World World Two. Many of their story themes were adult oriented and aimed at the parents rather than children.
As the war years pressed on, actors and entertainers were actively engaged to help boast moral of the troops and the home guard , it is no wonder that the cartoons followed suit do a similar job. Interestingly these cartoons are far more racist and deliberate that the film noir movies and serials during the same period which worked overtime to influence public opinion.
We have set up another blog with a cross section of WW 2 cartoons from various video feeds including Disney, Tex Avery and a German Nazi cartoons
+00002009-01-12T20:27:58+00:00312009bUTCMon, 12 Jan 2009 20:27:58 +0000 31, 2008 by gmcknight
(Flickr picture)
Germany’s use of poison gas during World War 1 meant that one had to have a gas mask for one’s horse too
Over 8 million horses died on all sides during World War One . Two and a half million horses were treated in veterinary hospitals with about two million being sufficiently cured that they could return to duty. Special acknowledge needs to be made to the Convalescent Horse Depots run by the Veterinary Corps
Note:
A great site dealing with the role and contribution of the light and draft horses go to http://www.firstworldwar.com/features/forgottenarmy.htm
In acknowledgement of the suffering of animals In 2004, at the 90th anniversary of the First World War, the UK erected a monument in Park Lane to honour all those animals who have suffered and died in warfare.
Gunner the Horse Story
Dawn Gilliant Hembling relays a personal story of her childhood growing up on the family farm in Granville Centre, Nova Scotia, during WW2 . She relays a story of a Clydesdale horse called Gunner which was destined to serve in France as a Field Gun Horse during WW One, fortunately for this horse, the war was over and it escaped the fate of other horses during World War One.
It is a common misconception that all Canadians were anti-war protesters during the Vietnam war, some were, but the reality was not much different, in in fact many Canadians volunteered with the Americans in every one of their conflicts spanning from the Civil War to present day Iraq. In the case of the civil war Canadians financed and fought on both sides of the blue and grey.
As stated in a previous story on Canadian POW, Canadian’s served with American troops and the largest number was the Vietnam war which saw action. It is estimated that as many as 40,000 Canadians fought during the Vietnam war and 103 remain missing in action to today. Over 100 names are on the Vietnam Memorial in Washington.(The wall contains 60,000 names). The reason for the loss fatality rates is in part to the vast majority were not engaged in direct fighting but rather peacekeeping roles. To learn more about the Canadians who fought in US wars. Visit the war memorial in Windsor called the North Wall.
Sixty Canadians have received the Congressional Medal of Honour since the Civil War Names Example -Sgt Peter Lemon, Norwich, Ontario served in the 8th Cavalry, 1st US Divsion received the Congressional Medal of Honour
Oshawa resident William Sam Magee received the Bronze Star and Sliver Star and Gallantry Metal while serving with the First Special Service Force. He also received the Purple Heart but it was taken back by another US officer while hospitalized in Italy.
We are seeking names of Oshawa residents who were awarded honours from the US government.
+00002008-12-27T22:34:04+00:00312008bUTCSat, 27 Dec 2008 22:34:04 +0000 31, 2008 by gmcknight
In 1940 an urgent request was issued by the British Government for hardrock miners to work on the rock of Gibraltar. Canada responded by sending Noranda Mine workers who became part of the Royal Canadian Engineers and began one of the most impressive tunelling work during WW2. The task of the workers was to carve out a cavern in the rock (the whole of Gibralter is less than 3 miles wide) In fact,, a total of 48 kilometers of tunnels were escavated.
According to Wikipedia, Inside the Rock of Gibraltar itself, miles of tunnels were excavated from the limestone. Masses of rock were blasted out to build an “underground city”.[4] In huge man-made caverns, barracks, offices, and a fully equipped hospital were constructed, complete with an operating theatre and X-ray equipment.
Oshawa Remembers Project
The Foundation for Building Sustainable Communities (FBSC)
is
proudly supporting the Canada Remembers Initiative which strives to build communities of shared history.
For more information about FBSC
Http://www.fbsc.org
To participate:
Contact Glenn McKnight 905-434-5544
Doug Finley, Korean War Veteran
William “Sam” Magee, First Special Service Force during WW 2
P. A. Daniel, 35 years in Canadian Military
Source: http://archives.cbc.ca/war_conflict/vietnam_war/topics/1413/
