This Day in History...

September 30, 1938 : Hitler appeased at Munich

On this day in 1938, Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini, French Premier Edouard Daladier, and British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain sign the Munich Pact, which seals the fate of Czechoslovakia, virtually handing it over to Germany in the name of peace. Upon return to Britain, Chamberlain would declare that the meeting had achieved "peace in our time."

Although the agreement was to give into Hitler's hands only the Sudentenland, that part of Czechoslovakia where 3 million ethnic Germans lived, it also handed over to the Nazi war machine 66 percent of Czechoslovakia's coal, 70 percent of its iron and steel, and 70 percent of its electrical power. It also left the Czech nation open to complete domination by Germany. In short, the Munich Pact sacrificed the autonomy of Czechoslovakia on the altar of short-term peace-very short term. The terrorized Czech government was eventually forced to surrender the western provinces of Bohemia and Moravia (which became a protectorate of Germany) and finally Slovakia and the Carpathian Ukraine. In each of these partitioned regions, Germany set up puppet, pro-Nazi regimes that served the military and political ends of Adolf Hitler. By the time of the invasion of Poland in September 1939, the nation called "Czechoslovakia" no longer existed.

It was Neville Chamberlain who would be best remembered as the champion of the Munich Pact, having met privately with Hitler at Berchtesgaden, the dictator's mountaintop retreat, before the Munich conference. Chamberlain, convinced that Hitler's territorial demands were not unreasonable (and that Hitler was a "gentleman"), persuaded the French to join him in pressuring Czechoslovakia to submit to the Fuhrer's demands. Upon Hitler's invasion of Poland a year later, Chamberlain was put in the embarrassing situation of announcing that a "state of war" existed between Germany and Britain. By the time Hitler occupied Norway and Denmark, Chamberlain was finished as a credible leader. "Depart, I say, and let us have done with you!" one member of Parliament said to him, quoting Oliver Cromwell. Winston Churchill would succeed him as prime minister soon afterwards.

I posted the following question on Mark Bando's site earlier today. Here's what I asked:

Okay I know what "stick" is, but what I don't know is how the term came about. I have even asked members of the 101st and even the guys at the 326th Reunion this week, and they didn't know either. Anyone have a answer for all of us?

Went back to the forum later in the day and lo and behold, who should answer my question but Don Burgett from the 101st. Thanks Don, as usual you're the best.

"Stick,"

Was coined during WWII when bombers entered the conflict. Bombs were installed in tube like affairs in two racks with their fuse end up and exposed, their fin ends down, one rack running along the floor on either side of the the inside of the bomber

A "Bombardier" would move between the two racks of bombs and "cut" or arm the fuses to go off immediately on contact or delayed. In time the bombardiers came to call the two rows of bombs "sticks" of bombs. The bombers could or would, if needed, drop one or two "sticks" at a time or as needed.

The Germans continued this practice into WWII on bombers carrying "sticks" of bombs so they could "cut" the fuses just before the drop. Watch old WWII newsreels of Germans dropping "sticks" of bombs; you will see the bombs drop fin first, turn almost imediately and head earthward nose first.

The term "stick" was later applied to two lines of paratroopers in a troop carrier plane during WWII, one stick on either side of the inside fusalage, to be dropped as needed as were the sticks of bombs. The term "stick" still applies.

Credit to WWII German Bombardiers.

The term "cut" a fuse came from the practice of actually cutting a fuse inserted into a muzzel loading cannonball to a guestimated length with a knife to explode at a given time after firing from the cannon. The term "cut" still applies even though "cutting" a fuse today on a bomb or artillery shell is done with a wrench.

Donald R. Burgett

Major Winters honorary citizen of Eindhoven

During the September 18, 2006 celebrations, in remembrance of the liberation of Eindhoven, Major Winters was awarded with the Medal of the City of Eindhoven.

A very unique award that is only given to very few people.

In this award, all the men of E Company, 506 PIR, 101st Airborne Division, also known as "Band of Brothers" and all Allied soldiers who were involved in the liberation of Eindhoven and the surrounding region, are honoured too.

During the commemoration 4 Easy Co. veterans were present in Eindhoven: Bill Guarnere, Babe Heffron, Don Malarkey and Paul Rogers.

The certificate and golden pin that goes with this Award will be handed over in person to Major Winters later on this year in the US, by the Mayor of the City of Eindhoven, Drs. A.Sakkers.

The news of the Award was brought to Major Winters in a direct phone call to his home in Hershey, witnessed by all people present at the Town Hall square in Eindhoven.

Received this letter today:

....What I am trying to do is to find information about the history of Company A, 53rd Signal Battalion during WWII. They were in Italy and North Africa. My grandfather was in this battalion at this time and he passed away 6 years ago. You think that you are going to remember the things that they told you forever, but as time moves on, it gets fuzzy. If I can't find much about the battalion during this time period, I would like to find living members of the 53rd.

I want to be able to tell my children more about their great grandfather and I want to record this history for future generations of my family...

Thanks, and have a great day,

Chad Tipps

Grandson of Harold G. Tipps, First Lieutenant

U.S. Army 1940 - 1952

Army National Guard 1952 - 1962

I am going to list some links, etc.

http://www.tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil/Sig/53Si...alBattalion.htm

II Corps

http://www.milhist.net/ordbat/2corpsus.html

I am going to suggest that you do the following first.

Contact Richard Horrell from WW2 Connections (go back to the referred list you went to in the beginning). He may be able to give you some initial info.

Secondly, you many wish to contact NARA in College Park. Send them a letter similiar to the one you sent to me. See what archives they may have on the 53rd. Give them as much info as possible, including dates. If you want, I can look over your letter prior to you sending it.

If you choose to take that route, then be prepared to make the trip yourself once you find out what info is available, or you can also hire a college research student to copy the info, or you can even hire a private researcher as I did. I can give you more advice once you have contacted NARA.

I hope that helps you get started. Don't hesitate to ask for further assistance.

This link was referred to in another thread, but I felt I should place it here in a permanent spot making it accessible for all time.

http://www.skylighters.org/photos/robertcapa.html