Colonel General Hans-Jurgen von Arnim,
1889-1962
Gen
Von Arnim , Monte Cassino and the
Indian connection
The
Fourth Indian Division(4 Inf Div) had the honour of capturing General von Arnim
in Tunisia, bringing an end to the North African campaign. Its major battles in
North Africa were Benghazi, Tobruk, Wadi Akarit, Enfidaville and Tunis.The
division moved in January 1944 to Italy (joined by the newly re-constituted 11
Brigade), where it took part in the Italian Campaign. It took a major role
(sustaining very heavy casualties) in the second Battle of Monte Cassino .In
November 1944 the division was shipped to Greece to help stabilise the country
after the Axis withdrawal. Holworthy was succeeded by Major-General Charles
Boucher in January 1945 who commanded the division until the end of
hostilities.
During World War II the Fourth
Indian Division
captured 150,000 prisoners and suffered 25,000 casualties, more than the strength of a
whole division. It won over 1,000 Honours and Awards which included 4 Victoria Crosses and 3 George Crosses
.
Field
Marshal Lord Wavell wrote:
"The
fame of this Division will surely go down as one
of the greatest fighting formations in
military history,
to be spoken of with such as The Tenth Legion,
The
Light Division of the Peninsular War and
Napoleon's
Old
Guard"
The
Caravan of General Von Arnim, German Army, who surrendered to the 4th Indian
Division (a.k.a. Fighting Fourth) in Tunisia, Africa. A prize war trophy, even today , with the Division.
A PRIZED WAR TROPHY WITH 4 DIV
INDIA
cleaning Italian guns captured by the 5th Indian
Division
The 4.2" mortar crews of the 5/5th Marathas, the machine gun battalion of the 8th Indian Division, in action in Italy.
s manned the Vickers machine guns and heavy mortars that supported infantry divisions
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No Surrender: My Thirty-Year War-
Onoda was thus properly relieved from
duty, and did not surrender. He
turned over his sword, his Arisaka
Type 99 rifle (in working order), 500
rounds of ammunition and several
hand grenades, as well as the dagger
his mother had given him in 1944 for
protection. Only private Teruo
Nakamura, arrested on 18 December
1974, held out for longer
Hiroo Onoda (小野田 寛郎 Onoda Hiroo, born March 19, 1922) is a former Imperial Japanese Army intelligence officer who fought in World War II and did not surrender in 1945. In 1974 his former commander traveled from Japan to personally issue orders relieving him from duty. Onoda had spent almost 30 years holding out in the Philippines. He held the rank ofSecond Lieutenant in the Imperial Japanese Army.the Japanese government located Onoda's commanding officer, Major Yoshimi Taniguchi, who had since become a bookseller. He flew to Lubang where on March 9, 1974, he finally met with Onoda and fulfilled the promise made in 1944, "Whatever happens, we'll come back for you," by issuing him the following orders.
- In accordance with the Imperial command, the Fourteenth Area Army has ceased all combat activity.
- In accordance with military Headquarters Command No. A-2003, the Special Squadron of Staff's Headquarters is relieved of all military duties.
- Units and individuals under the command of Special Squadron are to cease military activities and operations immediately and place themselves under the command of the nearest superior officer. When no officer can be found, they are to communicate with the American or Philippine forces and follow their directives.
Onoda was thus properly relieved from
duty, and did not surrender. He
turned over his sword, his Arisaka
Type 99 rifle (in working order), 500
rounds of ammunition and several
hand grenades, as well as the dagger
his mother had given him in 1944 for
protection. Only private Teruo
Nakamura, arrested on 18 December
1974, held out for longer
.Hiroo Onoda in 2001
Click here:
Japanese Surrender http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=vcnH_kF1zXc&feature=player_embedded
This is an actual film made of the surrender ceremony of the Japanese to McArthur in Tokyo Bay in September 1945.
Actual voice of the General.
THE PHOTOGRAPHS SHOWN BELOW WERE TAKEN BY ME (tonysarao@gmail.com) FROM AN ALBUM DISPLAYED IN ONE OF THE MILITARY MUSEUMS IN INDIA . THE ALBUM BELONGED TO A JAPANESE OFFICER WHO WAS CAPTURED IN BURMA IN WW2 . NOTHING MORE IS KNOWN. CAN ANYONE HELP IN TRACING THE SOLDIERS OR THEIR FAMILIES IN JAPAN.THEY HAD FOUGHT FOR THEIR COUNTRY.SPECIAL NOTE
And now -----------
Does anyone remember the Ventures and Babbitt the drummer who played "Walk Don't Run"?Do any of you remember a USAF Four Star General George Babbitt from Tacoma, WA? General Babbitt was a drummer at one time for the Ventures.Cool eh??!!
