The World War

[FastEd]

While enjoying the "World Wars" series on the History Channel I was surprised to see the British, Americans, Japanese, and Germans were all using Enfield rifles...

 

[Colonialgirl]

Well, Given how many years that variations of that weapon was proving itself on Various battlefields in the world, there MUST be a whole uhhh one of them there smelly pots full of them available in the world.
I've got THREE myself including one MFG'd by Savage arms for the Brits during WW2.
They were an excellent rifle with an excellent rate of fire despite being Bolt action.

 

[RFP]

I noticed that too, everyone has an Enfield . In Part 2 have you noticed the that the economic policies are similar to ours today. America and the Europeans are spending huge amounts on social projects while cutting military spending. The Germans and Japanese are building up their military. Today the exact same thing is happening but its the Chinese and the Russians.

 

[stevemb]

There's a 1917 Enfield by Winchester in 30-06 in the closet behind me.

 

[Bob Wright]

While enjoying the "World Wars" series on the History Channel I was surprised to see the British, Americans, Japanese, and Germans were all using Enfield rifles...

Your are being facetious, aren't you?

Bob Wright

 

[Pal Val]

I don't look for historic accuracy in those shows when it comes to small arms. If I did, I'd go insane. Notice Winston Churchill carrying a Colt 1911 in WWI. Hah!

 

[Wyandot Jim]

I don't look for historic accuracy in those shows when it comes to small arms. If I did, I'd go insane. Notice Winston Churchill carrying a Colt 1911 in WWI. Hah!

Well a lot of GIs did so why not him. He probably didn't want one of those Webly things

 

[Cooperhawk]

His Mother was American by the way.

 

[smoke-eater]

I can't help it. These historical inaccuracies bother me to the point that they detract from my enjoyment of the show.
The scenes portraying events in 1914 show both German troops and "tommies" wearing steel helmets, the Germans wearing M1916 "coal scuttle" helmets, and the British with the classic "brodie" helmet. Neither were in use in 1914. At that time, the Germans wore the spiked "pickelhaub", and the Brits only had cloth hats.

 

[toysoldier]

The inaccuricies in the combat scenes were appalling. Not only did they have Germans firing Enfields in many scenes, they "flipped" the image more than once to get the guns pointed one way, resulting in southpaw bolt-actions. I don't know what Churchill carried in WWI, but in the Boer War he carried an M96 (broomhandle) Mauser. I suspect that the gas masks were incorrect, too.

The most egregious error involved Patton's "mechanized raid" in Mexico. At one point during the 1914-15 campaign, Patton acquired information that one of Pancho Villa's lieutenants was at a nearby ranch. Loading men into open touring cars, he sped to the site and surpried several bandits. Dismounting from the vehicles, the Americans killed three bandits, with Patton shooting one out of the saddle as he tried to escape.

BUT ON TV-----

A husky, brunette Patton (he was tall, slender and blond) is seen fixing a tripod in a post-1914 automobile and mounting a water-cooled 1917 Browing machine gun. We are then shown three men on horseback being chased along a straight road by this single car, with Patton firing the machine gun over the driver's head.

AND LATER, we see Patton riding into combat in WWI, crouched behind the turret of a WWII Stuart light tank. We DO NOT get to see Patton wounded in the gluteus as he crawled forward under fire.

I'm going to try to find a site to provide feedback to the History Channel, and flame them.

 

[smoke-eater]

BUT ON TV-----

A husky, brunette Patton (he was tall, slender and blond) is seen fixing a tripod in a post-1914 automobile and mounting a water-cooled 1917 Browing machine gun. We are then shown three men on horseback being chased along a straight road by this single car, with Patton firing the machine gun over the driver's head.

AND LATER, we see Patton riding into combat in WWI, crouched behind the turret of a WWII Stuart light tank. We DO NOT get to see Patton wounded in the gluteus as he crawled forward under fire.

I'm going to try to find a site to provide feedback to the History Channel, and flame them.

The series is insulting to anyone with even a smidgen of knowledge about 20th century military history. Very disappointing, since I was really looking forward to watching it. :x

 

[GunnyGene]

C'mon, y'all. The History Channel has never been about history. It's about entertainment. :roll:

If you want real history, here's some from the Sino Japanese Hostilities in 1937 that my father took.

http://s79.photobucket.com/user/43gm94l/library/History/Sino-Japanese%20Hostilities?sort=9&page=1#

 

[FastEd]

While enjoying the "World Wars" series on the History Channel I was surprised to see the British, Americans, Japanese, and Germans were all using Enfield rifles...

Your are being facetious, aren't you?

Bob Wright

I also noticed that they took liberties with the situations that were supposed to be historically correct. Well. it was something interesting to watch, anyway.

 

[96/44]

At least they're trying to show some history on the History channel again. I thought they had given it up for reality shows. When the History channel first came out their shows were pretty accurate and informative, but that seems to have been sacrificed for action scenes, and computer generated special effects.

 

[ProfessorWes]

The inaccuricies in the combat scenes were appalling. Not only did they have Germans firing Enfields in many scenes, they "flipped" the image more than once to get the guns pointed one way, resulting in southpaw bolt-actions. I don't know what Churchill carried in WWI, but in the Boer War he carried an M96 (broomhandle) Mauser. I suspect that the gas masks were incorrect, too.

The most egregious error involved Patton's "mechanized raid" in Mexico. At one point during the 1914-15 campaign, Patton acquired information that one of Pancho Villa's lieutenants was at a nearby ranch. Loading men into open touring cars, he sped to the site and surpried several bandits. Dismounting from the vehicles, the Americans killed three bandits, with Patton shooting one out of the saddle as he tried to escape.

BUT ON TV-----

A husky, brunette Patton (he was tall, slender and blond) is seen fixing a tripod in a post-1914 automobile and mounting a water-cooled 1917 Browing machine gun. We are then shown three men on horseback being chased along a straight road by this single car, with Patton firing the machine gun over the driver's head.

AND LATER, we see Patton riding into combat in WWI, crouched behind the turret of a WWII Stuart light tank. We DO NOT get to see Patton wounded in the gluteus as he crawled forward under fire.

I'm going to try to find a site to provide feedback to the History Channel, and flame them.

Yeah, the filmmakers must have gotten a smokin' deal on Brit-pattern Enfields, as many of them were depicted being used by US, British and German troops.

One scene did show the young WWI Corporal Hitler shooting what looked like a Mauser bolt-action (actually, it looked quite a bit like my antique 6.5 Swede Mauser)...ten to fifteen times in a row without reloading as the narrator filled in various details of Der Schickelgruber's military service.

 

[Rick Courtright]

If you want real history, here's some from the Sino Japanese Hostilities in 1937 that my father took.

Hi,

Thanks for all those pictures, Gunny! It doesn't take too many of them to figure out why the Chinese still haven't forgiven the Japanese completely for that precursor to WWII...

Rick C

 

[toysoldier]

One scene did show the young WWI Corporal Hitler shooting what looked like a Mauser bolt-action (actually, it looked quite a bit like my antique 6.5 Swede Mauser)...ten to fifteen times in a row without reloading as the narrator filled in various details of Der Schickelgruber's military service.

From the cocking knob, I'd say it was an 03 Springfield. They did show Mussolini using a Carcano, but I think it was a post-WWI model. And anyone reloading an Enfield was shown attaching a new magazine, instead of using stripper clips. :roll:

 

[FastEd]

I think when a Historical film is shot they should have somebody there that actually knows History.

When the Nazis invaded Poland they had a lone B-17 dropping bombs. I thought everybody knew what a B-17 was.

When the British and Americans took Sicily they said it was the most important battle so far.
What happened to the North African Campaign against Rommel and his Africa Corps?

 

[mohavesam]

I guess everyone wants to feel smarter than someone else... :roll: :roll:

Any history show, short, or movie cannot possibly be 100% accurate. But the only humans capable of denying that accuracy are ones who WERE THERE.

C'mon, take it for what it is and be entertained while learning something. There were so many goods and weapons sold to enemies of the Allies before and during the war(s), I would find it believeable to see a Colt 1911A1 on Adolph's nightstand! 'Course, I wasn't there... :wink:

 

[toysoldier]

I guess everyone wants to feel smarter than someone else... :roll: :roll:

Any history show, short, or movie cannot possibly be 100% accurate. But the only humans capable of denying that accuracy are ones who WERE THERE.

C'mon, take it for what it is and be entertained while learning something. There were so many goods and weapons sold to enemies of the Allies before and during the war(s), I would find it believeable to see a Colt 1911A1 on Adolph's nightstand! 'Course, I wasn't there... :wink:

This goes far beyond a little slipup, here and there. It is obvious that historical accuracy was NOT a priority during filming, which calls into question the accuracy of the narration. There's a big difference between history and historical fiction.

 

[GunnyGene]

The further back in time you go, the less certain are the actual events, since it all depends on the accuracy and bias of the teller and the interpretations of those who strive to bring it to us.

An example, that is relatively famous, of the best information available at the time is Minards graphic depiction of Napoleons march to Moscow. I have a copy of it hanging on my den wall that serves as a reminder for me of the importance of accurate information. Compare this to the soundbites and hashtag diplomacy that we are subjected to now. :roll:

The graph displays several variables in a single two-dimensional image:

the size of the army - providing a strong visual representation of human suffering, e.g. the sudden decrease of the army's size at the battle crossing the Berezina river on the retreat;
the geographical co-ordinates, latitude and longitude, of the army as it moved;
the direction that the army was traveling, both in advance and in retreat, showing where units split off and rejoined;
the location of the army with respect to certain dates; and
the weather temperature along the path of the retreat, in another strong visualisation of events (during the retreat "one of the worst winters in recent memory .

 

[Thunderhawk]

I don't look for historic accuracy in those shows when it comes to small arms. If I did, I'd go insane. Notice Winston Churchill carrying a Colt 1911 in WWI. Hah!

Or large arms. They showed a modern day US Frigate, with Japanese Flags and paint on the stern, as a Japanese Destroyer.

 

[Cooperhawk]

I don't look for historic accuracy in those shows when it comes to small arms. If I did, I'd go insane. Notice Winston Churchill carrying a Colt 1911 in WWI. Hah!

Or large arms. They showed a modern day US Frigate, with Japanese Flags and paint on the stern, as a Japanese Destroyer.

Yep saw that. :roll:

 

[ProfessorWes]

I don't look for historic accuracy in those shows when it comes to small arms. If I did, I'd go insane. Notice Winston Churchill carrying a Colt 1911 in WWI. Hah!

Or large arms. They showed a modern day US Frigate, with Japanese Flags and paint on the stern, as a Japanese Destroyer.

Looked like an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer; if I'm not mistaken the modern Japanese Naval Self-Defense Force does operate a version of that ship, complete with the Aegis radar.

I'm sure Yamamoto and Nagumo would have loved to have had a couple of the Burke-sans along for their little jaunt to Pearl Harbor...and especially at Midway. :wink:

But yes, the multiple errors and anachronisms are really distracting and embarassing, especially for something that calls itself the "History" Channel.

 

[737tdi]

Oh man: Y'all have blown me out of the water for watching these 3 programs. I recorded them because I work nights and wanted to see them. I guess I will just delete them and be done. Nothing good there?

Semper Fi:

Karl

 

[wizofwas]

I thought it was a decent show but really bad on accuracy. I did notice the WWI rifle problems. Was really upset when they said that FDR had the Hoover Dam built. And I didn't know that we had so many 5 Star Generals before the war started. And that's not to mention the other stuff that's already been mentioned. Oh and almost forgot, how he paid for his government expansion, but cutting the military. What a joke.

 

[Jeepnik]

While enjoying the "World Wars" series on the History Channel I was surprised to see the British, Americans, Japanese, and Germans were all using Enfield rifles...

Not really, soldiers have been picking up and using weapons recovered the battlefield or taken from prisoners since the first sharp stick.

 

[Merle1948]

The inaccuricies in the combat scenes were appalling. Not only did they have Germans firing Enfields in many scenes, they "flipped" the image more than once to get the guns pointed one way, resulting in southpaw bolt-actions. I don't know what Churchill carried in WWI, but in the Boer War he carried an M96 (broomhandle) Mauser. I suspect that the gas masks were incorrect, too.

The most egregious error involved Patton's "mechanized raid" in Mexico. At one point during the 1914-15 campaign, Patton acquired information that one of Pancho Villa's lieutenants was at a nearby ranch. Loading men into open touring cars, he sped to the site and surpried several bandits. Dismounting from the vehicles, the Americans killed three bandits, with Patton shooting one out of the saddle as he tried to escape.

BUT ON TV-----

A husky, brunette Patton (he was tall, slender and blond) is seen fixing a tripod in a post-1914 automobile and mounting a water-cooled 1917 Browing machine gun. We are then shown three men on horseback being chased along a straight road by this single car, with Patton firing the machine gun over the driver's head.

AND LATER, we see Patton riding into combat in WWI, crouched behind the turret of a WWII Stuart light tank. We DO NOT get to see Patton wounded in the gluteus as he crawled forward under fire.

I'm going to try to find a site to provide feedback to the History Channel, and flame them.

Yeah, those left handed bolts bothered me too! :mrgreen:

 

[Merle1948]

I don't look for historic accuracy in those shows when it comes to small arms. If I did, I'd go insane. Notice Winston Churchill carrying a Colt 1911 in WWI. Hah!

Or large arms. They showed a modern day US Frigate, with Japanese Flags and paint on the stern, as a Japanese Destroyer.

Looked like an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer; if I'm not mistaken the modern Japanese Naval Self-Defense Force does operate a version of that ship, complete with the Aegis radar.

I'm sure Yamamoto and Nagumo would have loved to have had a couple of the Burke-sans along for their little jaunt to Pearl Harbor...and especially at Midway. :wink:

But yes, the multiple errors and anachronisms are really distracting and embarassing, especially for something that calls itself the "History" Channel.

You are correct about Japan using Burke class destroyers.

 

[Merle1948]

While enjoying the "World Wars" series on the History Channel I was surprised to see the British, Americans, Japanese, and Germans were all using Enfield rifles...

Not really, soldiers have been picking up and using weapons recovered the battlefield or taken from prisoners since the first sharp stick.

I have seen some WW 2 footage of Normandy where a German was using a No 4 sniper rifle. Any port in a storm, eh?