WAR AND SOLDIERS
WILDERNESS RATS
Allied leadership met in July 1945 in Berlin
the last war conference.
War in Nazi Germany against was over, and Japan also had almost beaten.
Berlin was held on victory parade
where the march of the British 7th armored division, Desert Rats.
The parade was received by the division commander, Field Marshal Montgomery.
This was the end point of Rats Desert long march.
Their war had begun in Egypt and the Libyan desert in 1940.
They progressed during the two and a half years of fighting in Tunisia.
After Desert Rats were transferred across the Mediterranean to Italy.
Eventually they landed in Normandy and proceeded to Germany.
Now the fighters stood in Berlin
boldly defy the enemy's capital city.
7th armored division was set up in Egypt.
1869 opened the Suez Canal
considerably shortened the journey from the UK to India and the Far East
and made Egypt a strategically important position.
Egypt was in danger, the threat of war grew 30's.
Benito Mussolini wanted to expand the Italian regions of Africa.
It already dominated by Libya and areas of the Horn of Africa.
Troops invaded Abyssinia in 1935.
The Italians invaded the country quickly.
Libya placed strong Italian forces were threatening Egypt.
At the same time Hitler's armament and regional requirements
forced the British to equip.
They founded, inter alia, a motorized division to Egypt.
It brought armored battle familiar with Major-General Percy Hobart.
He created a year the unit who knew how to act in the desert.
"Hobo" afoul with their managers before the summer of 1940
and he was pressured to retire.
But "Hobon" men are not forgotten what they have learned.
The unit's name was changed to 7th armored division in February 1940.
It became a symbol of the desert jumping rat
and the current 7th armored brigade continues to recognize the value.
It froze in the car the spotlight in the middle of the road.
I saved the car tires
and it has ever since been there.
The unit was given the nickname PATCH Desert Rats
which remained permanently in use.
Division consisted of three parts.
4th and 7th armored brigade had three Armor
with a total of 150 armored cars and 12 cannon to reach the radiator.
Kalustona oli Mark VI Lighteja.
It was armed with a machine gun in intelligence wagon.
The master Cruiser wagon was armor grenade launching cannon.
The third part of the support unit, which consisted of two infantry battalions
and 24 cannon artillery regiment.
The inquiry took care of armored cars moving 11th Hussars.
It remained part of the division throughout the war.
Erämaarotissa was before the war, only professional soldiers
who served at least six years.
They saw themselves as a unit champion
because this was the first British armored division.
7th armored division organized into a war broke out, the fence
which ensures began belonged to Italy to Libya.
Egypt had only 30,000 Britons
and Libya had 250,000 Italians.
Mussolini remained nine months away from the war.
Desert Rats received only watch Hitler's lightning war in Europe.
Italy finally declared 10.6. 1940 War, Britain and France.
Desert rats War began as soon as the next day.
11th Hussars crossed the border and organized ambushes.
More than 70 Italian was captured.
Desert Rats did attack a few weeks of Italian stations
while waiting for a superior enemy invasion to Egypt.
Italian attack began on 13 September.
Desert Rats went back, just in case
but maintained a full-time martial touch.
The Italians progressed 100 km side of Egypt and began to build the stations.
Two weeks later, the British commander Archibald Wavell
received a much-needed reinforcements.
Britain was brought to 150 tanks.
Wavell began to plan for the counterattack.
Desert Rats, organized at the end of November exercise
which in reality was only a dress rehearsal for an attack.
The second "lesson" ryhmityttiin starting positions
but it was revealed only at the beginning of the attack December 9.
British mood was despite the shorthanded good
because the Italians do not even want to go.
Matilda chariots equipped with a 7 Regiment and the 4th Indian Division
who formed the western desert army
beat the Italians easily and proceeded along the coast.
Desert Rats were protected by the desert-hand side flank.
Egypt is no longer 20, 12 had other living Italian as prisoners.
Wavell took the Indians in East Africa, to destroy the Italian settlements.
In its place came the Australian 6th Division
who continued to attack and captured Bardia and Tobruk ports.
The Italians retreated along the coast to Benghazi
Libyan Cyrenaica province's capital.
The Force Commander, Gen. Dick O'Connor
sent Desert Rats surpass Cyrenaica peninsula in the south part.
4. armored brigade marched very difficult terrain
to break the Italian vetäytymisreitin south.
Beda Fommissa held a three-day battle
where the Italian 10th Army was destroyed once and for all.
3000 Erämaarottaa received 20,000 prisoners
as well as vehicles, tanks, guns and other equipment.
Home Front rejoiced first victory with Respect.
Stories Desert rats performance created a reputation of the unit.
Foreign Minister Anthony Eden thanked them for Churchill paraphrase the words:
"Never have so many been surrendered so few."
Jubilation was short-lived, as the war there appeared a new factor.
Hitler sent General Erwin Rommel's Afrika Korpsin Libya.
In front was a harsh confrontation between two committees set of
which surged back and forth in a large theater of war for more than two years.
Afrika Korpsin prepares for battle
Desert Rats were returned to Egypt to seek additions.
In its place came just in Britain imported 2nd armored division.
But part of it transferred to Greece.
Who Kyrenaikaan Department declined significantly.
Rommel seized the opportunity. He was attacked in March 1941
and quickly pushed the Britons back to Egypt.
Australialaisten miehittämä Tobruk
was the only British beachhead.
It was besieged tightly.
Desert Rats were returned to the front in the summer of 1941
and met for the first time the German kammotun 88 millimeter cannon PST.
It was able to destroy any British wagon 1800 m away.
The wagons weapons did not charge so far.
Two counterattack resulted in heavy losses.
Wavellin was replaced in July by General Claude Auchinleck.
He did not want to attack against Rommel
before the designated 8th army department confirmed.
It was a genuine Empire army
which were men from Australia, South Africa and India.
It also included a free French brigade ...
... And spaced Tobruk Poles.
7th armored division, Desert Rats, was still in the army core.
Favorite name is often used throughout the international 8th Army.
The War had developed their own routines.
Carriages were a kind of a camp for the night.
It was divided into the following day's commandments.
With a supply imported vehicles with fuel and ammunition.
Men ate and serviced the equipment.
Then they got to sleep as much as you have time to watch the evening shift.
All rose hours before dawn.
At daybreak carriages were already in position.
The battle was very rarely
and the Desert Rats were waiting for the day the enemy's movements.
In the desert orienteering aurinkokompassilla.
The direction was calculated from the map and set the compass
and distance traveled were considered a vehicle odometer.
During the day, the wagon deck could easily fry the eggs
as men on both sides did.
Sometimes the landscape was covered in sand storm.
The sand penetrated everywhere.
Desert Rats were completely dependent on their vehicles.
Water was rationed, and frequently the water was poured chillers.
Food was canned. Fresh bread or vegetables were a luxury.
The food was monotonous. Desert Rat mostly drank tea.
Carriages drove back to camp until nightfall.
Desert Rat thanked his luck if he was allowed to sleep for four hours.
The soldiers were still in good health and good mood.
Desert War was a luster that other fronts missing
served as the 7th armored division Marshal Carver says:
It was much "cleaner" war.
There were no residents who would be affected.
Really dangerous and scary situations were quite rare.
And even though life was heavy between them
it was accompanied by a sense of good comrades even pleasant.
We experienced are doing very important work, which required all our time.
It was a purely military war
On the vast battlefields were not civilians or other obstacles.
Auchinleck launched an offensive 18/11/1941.
Its aim was to relieve Tobruk and Rommel evict Cyrenaica.
7th armored division fought in Sidi Rizeghin airport
about 40 km south-east of Tobruk.
It is one of the largest wilderness in rats battles.
The unit earned 21 11. As many as three Victorian clubs.
One of them received the Brigadier Jock Campbell
which led to full-time armor convertible.
He died three months after a car accident.
Lieutenant George Gunn led to four pts cannon division.
Against it attacked 60 tanks.
He continued firing until the last cannon crash.
Rifle Male John Beeley crashed
they captured alone in his company have restrained PST cannon.
Tobruk defenders finally reached an attacker creates.
8. The army was again evicted the enemy Cyrenaica.
But the enemy had not been beaten, and the desert war continued.
Rommel attacked in January 1942 and drove the British Gazalan updated.
Each side was preparing invasion
but Rommel got there first and circled the defense at the end of May.
British carriages were scattered and unable to defend themselves.
General Messervy was captured in command in place
but escaped and returned to his division commander.
June saw a lot of armored battles and withdrawals
when Rommel pushed forward.
Tobruk was lost, and the 8th Army withdrew from El Alamein
the last defensive position before the Suez Canal.
Rommel attacked 1.7. but could not get through the lines.
British counter-attack also failed
and each party was completely exhausted at the end of the month.
Winston Churchill visited in August brave 8th Army's house.
He brought a new supreme commander, Harold Alexander
and Commander Bernard Montgomery's 8th Army.
Montgomery was a dynamic leader who is not hiding husbands.
He began to restore the 8 army of self-confidence
and declares that the Afrika Korps was defeated.
Desert rats organization and equipment were significantly changed.
Still had two armored brigades, 4 and 22.
but the infantry was now a full brigade, 131 Queen's.
Division had received two new American wagon models.
Grant's body was a 75 millimeter and 37 millimeter cannon tower.
Sherman was a 75 millimeter cannon.
They pulled compares to the German wagons
arms, but the range was still less than 88 s.
Rommel attacked again El Alamein in August 1942.
Montgomery had prepared for it.
Experienced Pip Roberts commanded a tank brigade 22
rejected the German päähyökkäys wedge and destroyed about 40 wagons.
Desert Rats distinguished again and reaped more fame.
Monty now going to move to the offensive. He had the overwhelming
but the enemy was in our strong positions that have not been able to get around
Qattara lowlands through difficult terrain.
Through Rommel lines was achieved. It knew the work Erämaarotille.
When the Dark 23 October 1942
Desert Rats, and the entire 8th Army were preparing for battle.
Montgomery's attack began 900 cannon centering.
The pioneers paved the way through the minefields.
Infantry seized bridgeheads minefields behind.
Tanks were able to battle through the fifth day.
The enemy was persistent, and Desert Rats were unable to break through.
Pst German cannons did evil in the trace. Former leader of the caravan, says:
It felt a hard jolt, and the wagon caught fire.
Komensin men out, and maastouduimme the sand.
We, but the crest was able to get only one trolley
and even burned.
We went to the crew creates. We had a total of 9.
We saw that one of our caravans left to withdraw.
We looked after it, and someone said: "The taxis took scram."
This situation was repeated many times
until Montgomery shifted the focus to the north.
Rommel defense crumbled gradually.
The enemy retreated 4. 11 already at full blast.
Churchill was glad "This is the end of the beginning."
8. Army drove the enemy from behind 2.5 months.
Desert Rats were often at the forefront.
They drove 19 11. Benghazi, which is 720 km from El Alamein.
Rommel held a delaying battles from time to time
who kept Britons away from the safe.
Desert Rats rolled into the still in Tripoli on 23 january 1943
after propagating over 1600 km in 11 weeks.
Great British flag fluttered in port
through which the archenemy Afrika Korps had arrived in theater of war.
More than two years in the desert fluctuated war had finally ended.
Montgomery came to a halt after the victory parade.
His supply lines were stretched too long.
8. The army did not have to worry about a strong counterattack.
Rommel had in fact encountered a problem
which forced him to retreat to Tunisia.
The British and the Americans had risen to 11. 8. 1942 countries
Morocco and Algeria.
They proceeded to Tunisia to face the troops
who had been sent to protect against Rommel my back.
The Allies were stopped 32 km from Tunis.
Stalemate continued until February 1943
when the Axis went on the offensive in Western Tunisia.
The attack came as a surprise and caused huge losses to the Americans.
Montgomery invaded from the east to Tunisia.
Rommel turned the fight on 8 army.
His armor met the Medenine 6.3.
Desert rats Queen's Brigade PST guns
did the hardest work towards stopping.
Sergeant Cranglesin cannon destroyed the entire 14 wagons.
1. The army was advancing from the west and the 8th Army coastal plain.
It destroyed the enemy positions Marethissa and Wadi Akaritissa.
Desert Rats met March 1st Army.
Americans was fascinating to meet men of the famous unit
which American cigarettes and food were a refreshing change.
Desert Rats were completely different from those of the British 1st Army
which were clean and followed closely statute.
They watched in amazement Desert Rats
which dented vehicles, tan and miscellaneous clothes
brought to mind primarily mustalaisjoukkion.
8. The army camped Enfidavilleen coastal plains
and was ordered to support the 1st Army a decisive attack.
7th armored division advanced to the attack at the tip of Tunis.
Be the first to Tripoli driven 11 Hussars
drove the first in the Tunisian capital.
Axis North African troops surrendered 11.5. 1943
and the Allies were 250,000 prisoners of war.
Desert Rats interested in the men of the German Afrika Korpsin
who were more than two years have been their opponents.
During the respite from the Desert Rats were reorganized
in accordance with the lessons learned.
22 armored brigade had 150 cars and motorized battalion.
Queen's consisted of three motorized battalions
as well as a machine gun battalion.
Desert Rats also have time to relax and rest.
They got even on vacation to Cairo
but home country reached only by those who were transferred to trainers.
King George VI visited in June Division
to greet the prestigious group of departments.
This victory was a turning point in the Desert rats story.
They went for the first time in North Africa
and well above the Mediterranean countries to embark in Italy.
8. The army was supposed to land at the southern tip of Italy
and Mark Clark commanded the US 5th Army attacked Salerno.
Desert Rats were separated by 8 the army to support the Americans.
Landings tip encountered strong German resistance.
Queen's brigade units received division that assembly area.
Desert rats carriages drove ashore landing on the fifth day.
Then they went out of it towards Naples.
The terrain was mountainous, and the Germans used it to their advantage.
They blasted through the winding slopes of roads and bridges.
The desert was no room for learned in the fast trip to NW.
Patience and resourcefulness replaced them.
Naples was reached despite everything, October 1.
Proceeding farther north got stuck in the mud of autumn.
On the way there were many rivers.
The majority of the division was transferred to the reserve in November 1943.
Montgomery went to Western Europe from attacking the 21st Army Group.
He had to farewell their husbands.
What I would say to you now, when I go away?
This heavy heart is not easy to talk to.
I say this: you did this from the army, as it is.
You made ​​its name world famous
and that is why you have to keep its reputation and tradition above.
But some went to Montgomery, the
because he wanted to hold three division champion trap.
They were 51. Highland, 50. Northumbria, and Desert Rats.
They came to England in January 1944.
Desert Rats had been away four years
but the holiday did not have time.
They had to start preparing the Normandy landings increase.
The division ID reformed.
The new rat received a longer tail.
It also has a modern Desert rats, 7th armored brigade, ID.
Montgomery was still desert rats supreme commander
and he was always a welcome guest.
Division moved to the end of May to the south coast guarded the camp.
Civilians must not talk with the soldiers!
There it heard the mission disembarkation.
Vehicles were loaded on ships
who brought them across the English Channel.
Desert Rats were not included in the first wave.
They came ashore days later and drove immediately to battle.
They rejected the German armor companies to destroy amphibious forces.
Desert rats was once again get used to the new terrain.
Normandy narrow roads, high hedges and small open fields
helped considerably the German defenses.
Frequently ambushed and shot from very close 88 millimeter cannon
there was still more dangerous than the desert.
Also, the Tiger tank was a formidable weapon.
Even the 88 mm cannon
and its frontal took any by enemy fire.
Normandy had good sides.
Desert Rats look back warmly region of Calvados and Camembert.
Division participated in Operation Goodwood in July
on the east side armor attack of Caen.
It was supposed to attract the German armor of the British section
so that Americans got it.
RAF prepared a severe bombing attack.
At first all went well.
Typerryttämät bombing the Germans surrendered.
But the enemy recovered quickly and stopped the attack.
The Americans still made a breakthrough.
The German defense crumbled
and the General George Patton's 3rd Army broke through the lines.
This was the beginning guarantees driving, which resembled the progress of the Desert rats in Libya.
7th armored division crossed the Seine 28.8.
has proceeded about 200 kilometers.
After 9 days, it freed Ghent city 320 km away from Belgium.
Victory seemed to be within reach.
Allied progress in France and Belgium in 1944
maintenance of the route from the port of Cherbourg made increasingly longer.
In the end, it was cut off completely, and the progression towards Germany came to a halt.
Proceeded to Holland Desert Rats had for some time status of the war.
7th armored division, who issued the onset of winter
but the defenseman was assembled ranks, and progress was slow.
Some of the Erämaarotista got Christmas holiday, but most remained in front.
End of the war was nevertheless close
and the Desert rats a long march be forgotten.
On Christmas Day, Corporal Bob Pass, El Alamein veteran
was chosen to read Christmas greetings BBC.
Home Our journey began on
North Africa across Tunis , and across the sea to Italy.
It was a hard journey, which continues today.
We visited at home preparing for another journey across the sea.
We traveled toward home
Normandy, France, Belgium, the Netherlands and finally through Germany.
Has been a long march.
Pass crashed a couple of weeks later,
Entering the take against an enemy surrender.
The last step in the wilderness of rats story began in January 1945.
Division cleared the tough battles with the route of the Rhine
and then preparing to cross this last natural barrier.
It took place on 24 March.
Since then, the division took it northeast of the German crack.
It often encountered Germans, who do not yet believe in defeat.
But the 7th armored division did not stop there.
Desert Rats extricated 16.4. Fallingbostel close the prison camp.
There had previously been captured by the division's men missed
who fought both in Arnhem and in France in 1940 veterans.
Germany's main port, Hamburg, surrendered Erämaarotille 3 May.
From there, the division continued north towards languages.
On the way Desert Rats were forced to protect their enemy embassy
who negotiated with Montgomery's capitulation.
Antautumispaperi was 4.5. The fighting ended 7.5.
But the Desert rats journey had not yet expired.
The unit served as an occupying force
and then moved to Berlin in the British zone of the garrison.
General Lou Lyne took 4.7. to move against the troops.
The unit celebrated 21.7. a parade in its history uljainta days.
Victory march was received by Churchill, Alexander and Montgomery.
Churchill spoke of divisions:
"Do not ever glory kalvetko, do not let your wreath of victory fade away."
"Let the glorious ways, El Alamein in Berlin is forgotten."
"Military History can not be found marssillenne compare."
It was a befitting tribute to fighters
which personified the best of the British armed forces.
Translated by: Kai Laine www.sdi media.com