| Tango01 | 16 Mar 2021 9:25 p.m. PST |
"Our good friend, Sid Dobrin, of Inventive Fishing shares with us a great story about kayak history during WWII with the Cockleshell Raid. We all know kayaks have been around forever, but this story shows how integral kayaks were to the war efforts. For most of us, December 7 will always be that day of infamy on which we recall the horrific attacks on Pearl Harbor in 1941 that drew the United States into World War II. But, for us ardent kayakers, anglers or not, December 7 should also stand as memorial to another notable moment in WWII history: Operation Frankton…"
More here
link
Armand
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FusilierDan  | 17 Mar 2021 3:50 a.m. PST |
So this is why the Airfix Commando box had kayaks in it.
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| Marc33594 | 17 Mar 2021 7:16 a.m. PST |
A pity so many were executed. Presumably they were in uniform so wonder what the basis for executing them was. Nonetheless an incredible story. |
| Rod MacArthur | 17 Mar 2021 9:21 a.m. PST |
Marc, The Germans were clearly executing commandos prior to their infamous order of 1942 which confirmed that policy below: The Commando Order (German: Kommandobefehl) was issued by the OKW, the high command of the German armed forces, on 18 October 1942. This order stated that all Allied commandos encountered in Europe and Africa should be killed immediately without trial, even if in proper uniforms or if they attempted to surrender. The survivors of the Royal Engineer glider borne force on Operation Freshman were similarly executed. link Rod |
| Nine pound round | 17 Mar 2021 1:12 p.m. PST |
I have seen it said (somewhere on the internet) that Lord Lovat ordered the execution of German prisoners at Dieppe; the source I seem to remember was a Canadian officer, who was quoted telling the story to a newspaper after the fact. I don't know whether the allegation was true or not, but would be interesting to know. |
| Marc33594 | 17 Mar 2021 4:09 p.m. PST |
Many thanks for that Rod. No matter how much I read or study the war I am always amazed at how much I dont know. |
| Rod MacArthur | 18 Mar 2021 6:48 a.m. PST |
Marc, I spent 30 years in the Royal Engineers, so that German atrocity is well known to me. There is a section about it in the Royal Engineer Museum T Chatham. Rod |
| donlowry | 18 Mar 2021 9:24 a.m. PST |
I didnt read the above link, so dont know if its mentioned there, but there was a movie back in the '40s or '50s called "Cockleshell Heroes." British movie, I think, or Anglo-American collaboration. |
 Legion 4 | 18 Mar 2021 10:39 a.m. PST |
Yes, I had those Airfix UK Commandoes too ! Loved all of those !👍👌 Read the book about Cockleshell Heroes and saw the movie. 👍👍 Didn't use any kayaks in the US Army, '79-'90. But RB-15s and even in the late '80s Zodiacs … But yes, the Nazi Order to kill all Commandoes captured, and even before that, as we know in fact is a war crime. Just add that to their long list of atrocities … |
shows off the U.S. infantry from the Flames of War starter set.
