Battle about Cherbourg 1944 - Capt. Topley ???

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Ronny25
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Battle about Cherbourg 1944 - Capt. Topley ???

#1

Post by Ronny25 » 22 Feb 2007, 00:40

In an other forum i found this picture: ....

Image

description: This dead German soldier was one of the "last stand" defenders of German-held Cherbourg. Captain Earl Topley, who led one of the first outfits into the fallen city, blamed him for killing three of his boys. France, 06/27/1944

# Source: U.S. National Archives and Records Administration ARC Identifier: 531214


I want to know from which Unit Capt. Topley was and why he blamed especially THIS german soldier for killing 3 of his men?
If this are knowed by someone. :wink:

Stephan
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#2

Post by Stephan » 25 Feb 2007, 22:56

The word "blame" sounds also peculiar. It was the duty of a soldier to kill enemy soldiers. He wasnt guilty, he was rather a hero... (even if he fighted on the wrong side).

The photo is interesting. He dont look like someone fallen in hot fight. More like sleeping. Executed?


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AlifRafikKhan
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Re: Battle about Cherbourg 1944 - Capt. Topley ???

#3

Post by AlifRafikKhan » 20 Jun 2013, 10:56

Image size: 1600 x 1308 pixel. 472 KB
Date: Tuesday, 27 June 1944
Place: Cherbourg-Octeville, Manche Department, Basse-Normandie, France
Photographer: Unknown

This dead young German Luftwaffe soldier wearing Zeltbahn M31 was one of the "last stand" defenders of German-held Cherbourg. Captain Earl J. Topley from St. Paul, Minnesota (left), who led one of the first outfits into the fallen city, blamed him for killing three of his men, until they got him with a grenade. France, 27 June 1944. The speed with which Cherbourg fell demoralised many German generals. Once the original landings had succeeded, and it became clear that the Allies were not going to be swept back into the seas, the Germans knew that they could only win if they could move reinforcements to the front quicker than the Allies. Like the Allies they underestimated how much could be done on the beaches, and believed that the capture of a major port was essential. As a result every major port was heavily fortified, but the fall of Cherbourg made it clear that even the best fortifications could be beaten, and quickly.
Source: http://ww2images.blogspot.com/2013/06/t ... bourg.html

Hans Sturm
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Re: Battle about Cherbourg 1944 - Capt. Topley ???

#4

Post by Hans Sturm » 27 Jun 2016, 22:56

This is the location the photo was taken....

https://goo.gl/maps/qbaYX9nan3J2

49.626730,-1.617261

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Kingfish
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#5

Post by Kingfish » 28 Jun 2016, 13:57

Stephan wrote:The photo is interesting. He dont look like someone fallen in hot fight. More like sleeping. Executed?
I agree, it is an odd place to set up a defensive position.
The gods do not deduct from a man's allotted span the hours spent in fishing.
~Babylonian Proverb

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