12-05-2014 7:44 PM - edited 12-05-2014 7:45 PM
..... I thought to myself, "Who better to ask than the folks that were there?"
OK, we see a lot of films about British soldiers stood in the trenches. A whistle blows and they all go "over the top" and charge across No Man's Land towards the German trenches. But here's the thing, was it ever done in reverse. I mean, did German soldiers ever dtand in their trenches waiting for the whistle to blow?
12-05-2014 7:55 PM
12-05-2014 11:36 PM
13-05-2014 8:42 AM
Well I contacted EMB's estranged son who was actually there, and he can't remember (like father like son)
Well unless we always gained ground, which of course we did not, then the Germans had their own pushes to take a few yards, whether it was a whistle or a trumpet the push must have been started somehow, timing was of the essence so I would imagine a sharp whistle, must have been nerve wracking to say the least, how they can glamourise it now I don't know.
13-05-2014 12:13 PM
13-05-2014 12:42 PM
3 posts in one day seems reasonable to me,oh sorry just realised we are not the FH&G are we.
13-05-2014 1:28 PM
13-05-2014 4:02 PM
The German army varied its attack procedure in WWI. At times a signal pistol was used to start an attack, sometimes a barrage of targeted artillery fire was used to 'soften' up British defences. Given that communication was in its infancy in those days and even pidgeons were used I am sure it is more than likely that at times a whistle was also used to start a German attack.
13-05-2014 5:11 PM
Thanks for the replies, Guys, but you got hold of the wrong end of the stick. I wasn't asking if the German troops waited for the sound of a whistle, I was asking if ever the German powers that be wasted millions of lives by sending their men running across no-man's-land while being shot at by British machine guns. Only you never see it in films.
Ta very much,
Steve.
14-05-2014 2:09 PM
Dont think the Germans did Steve but had they done so they may not have lost the war 😉
You need 1 more post for the round 1000 🙂
14-05-2014 2:25 PM
The Round 1,000. What's that then?
Cheers,
Steve.
14-05-2014 2:57 PM
Just for you 🙂