Sergeant Stanley Martin Lieber: 1st. Motion Picture Unit

     Because of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941, early in 1942, Stanley Martin Lieber enlisted in the U.S. Army and entered the Signal Corps as a lineman. Posted stateside, Lieber maintained and serviced communication equipment and effected repairs to damaged telegraph/telephone lines and poles. Later, Lieber would transfer to the 18th. Army Air Forces Base Unit, better known as the 1st. Motion Picture Unit (FMPU) which was housed in Culver City, California. 

     The FMPU’s mission was to produce propaganda films, create training films and documentation, and also serve as the sole training provider for combat photographers and cameramen who would be deployed to the frontlines. Training, to include regular infantry combat instruction, for these men was conducted at Page Military Academy which was in nearby Los Angeles, California. Lieber was tasked with the writing of military manuals, scripting for training films, and illustrating. Lieber received the MOS (Military Occupational Specialty) of 288 (Playwright) though other sources list his MOS as 286 (Motion Picture Production Technician). Lieber would be discharged from the Army in late 1945 and with the war over, the FMPU was disbanded in December 1945. By the time of his discharge, Lieber had achieved the rank of sergeant and was decorated with the World War II Victory Medal and the American Campaign Medal. He also earned the right to wear the Honorable Service Lapel Button which was given to honorably discharged servicemen. It was better known as the “Ruptured Duck” due to the appearance of the oft said poorly rendered eagle which made up the button or pin. 

     Because of his service and significant post-war contributions, Lieber was inducted into the Signal Corps Regimental Association and made an honorary member of the 2nd. Battalion, 3rd. Infantry Regiment in June 2017. The 3rd. Regiment, nicknamed the “Old Guard”, is the oldest active duty unit in the Army, having been formed in 1784. Lieber would pass away in November 2018. 

     Stanley Lieber is much better known to us as comic creator Stan Lee.

SA-Sturmmann: SA-Standarte Feldherrnhalle

(Author's Collection)

     Formed in 1935, SA-Standarte Feldherrnhalle was one of the elite units within the Sturmabteilung (SA). The unit derived its name from the Feldherrnhalle, or Field Marshall's Hall, that had been erected in Munich, Germany by King Ludwig I of Bavaria to honor the Bavarian Army. Commissioned in 1841, the Feldherrnhalle was completed in 1844 and is situated on the Odeonsplatz in Munich. It features the statues of two famous Bavarian military leaders: Johann Tserclaes, Count of Tilly who commanded the Catholic League's military forces during the Thirty Years' War (1618-1648) and Karl Philipp von Wrede who went against Napoleon Bonaparte at the Battle of Leipzig in October 1813. A third statue was added in 1892 that commemorates the Franco-Prussian War of 1870. The monument became associated with the Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei (NSDAP; National Socialist German Workers' Party) when, on November 9, 1923, NSDAP marchers clashed with Bavarian State Police following the coup d'état attempt by NSDAP leader Adolf Hitler and some 600 SA men. Hitler and his SA troops surrounded the Bürgerbräukeller beer hall where Gustav Ritter von Kahr, the Bavarian state commissioner, was holding a speech. It was here Hitler sought to gain governmental support for the putsche (violent overthrow of a government) and while he stirred up the people in the hall with his rhetoric and tacitly had Kahr's support, the putsche was escalating within Munich with buildings being seized and sporadic firefights between Reichswehr troops and state police. It came to a head on November 9 when, the putsche petering out, the SA men marched in the streets and decided to head for the Bavarian Defense Ministry building. They were met in front of the Feldherrnhalle by 130 men under the command of State Police Senior Lieutenant Michael von Godin. Shots rang out and four policemen and sixteen SA men were dead and with them, the Beer Hall Putsche was over.

     SA-Standarte Feldherrnhalle was headquartered in Berlin with, at its maximum strength, nine battalions (Wachsturmbann) spread across Germany with the tenth battalion, X. Wachsturmbann, stationed in Warsaw, Poland. The primary mission of SA-Standarte Feldherrnhalle was to provide security for SA, state, and NSDAP offices. By February 1939, much of the manpower of SA-Standarte Feldherrnhalle was absorbed into the Luftwaffe to fill out fallschirmjäger (paratrooper) units while another portion became Infanterie-Regiment 271 under the 93. Infanterie-Division. What was left of SA-Standarte Feldherrnhalle continued to operate in a lessened capacity until the close of the war. In 1942, Infanterie-Regiment 271 was renamed Infanterie-Regiment “Feldherrnhalle” in honor of the original SA-Standarte Feldherrnhalle. The unit was withdrawn from the East Front in the spring of 1943 and was used to form 60. Panzer-Division (later renamed Panzergrenadier-Division “Feldherrnhalle”) which was subsequently crushed by the Soviets during fighting along the Dnieper River in 1944. Several other units carried the “Feldherrnhalle” honorific, including Panzer-Brigade 106 and 110 “Feldherrnhalle”. Panzer-Brigade 110 was absorbed into 13. Panzer-Division which was then renamed Panzer-Division “Feldherrnhalle”. The latter division along with Panzergrenadier-Division “Feldherrnhalle” were combined to form Panzer-Korps “Feldherrnhalle” that saw combat in Hungary, Czechoslovakia, and finally Austria.

     The photograph shows a SA-Sturmmann of SA-Standarte Feldherrnhalle. The unit had its own unique collar tab color, being carmine (a deep red color) with silver threaded borders. On the right collar tab was the “Kampfrune” (literally, “Fighting Rune”) with the circular portion of the Kampfrune consisting of the emblem of the SA. The left collar tab denoted his rank. Not visible was the “Feldherrnhalle” cuff title which was a 27mm wide brown band with either silver threading or gray cotton borders with “Feldherrnhalle” written in Sütterlinschrift (Sütterlin Script) using silver-aluminum thread. The cuff title was worn on the lower left sleeve of the uniform. In some cases, the SA man could request the wearing of a dark green oval with the “Kampfrune” centered on it in place of the cuff title as it was worn in the same location. The shoulder boards appear to be the second style which was brown with white stitching and if so, that dates the photograph to at least 1938. Men of the SA-Standarte Feldherrnhalle had their own special decals for the stahlhelm (steel helmet) which consisted of a white shield bordered in black with a white circle bordered with red within which was a black swastika on the right side of the helmet and on the left, a red shield bordered in white with a simplified front face of the Feldherrnhalle monument in white with three black arches to highlight the statues and underneath it was a Wolfsangel rune in white.

     In the German Heer (Army), the units derived from SA-Standarte Feldherrnhalle were allowed to continue to wear the SA cuff title but sometime in 1943, a machine-woven variant was produced and issued, likely as stocks of the original SA cuff title had dwindled. The Kampfrune emblem continued to be worn but in a modified form that consisted of three horizontal Wolfsangel runes superimposed over the single vertical Kampfrune with the SA emblem in the center. This was worn as a metal cipher on the shoulder boards. Also in contrast to the Heer, the SA standard bearer gorget was worn and in parades and other formal occasions, the standard was the same as that used by SA-Standarte Feldherrnhalle which consisted of the “Deutschland Erwache” vexillum standard with a rectangular plaque reading “Feldherrnhalle” above the standard and below the metal eagle and wreathed swastika.

 

Ilio Capozzi: Frogmen Commando Corps

(Photograph by Life Magazine)

     When civil war broke out in the Dominican Republic on April 24, 1965, one of the more interesting personages fighting on the side of the Constitutionalist faction was the Italian, Ilio Capozzi (sometimes written as Cappoci). Capozzi's background is hazy but the consensus is that during World War Two, he served with Decima Flottiglia Motoscafi Armati Siluranti (Decima Flottiglia MAS) which was an elite unit of the Regia Marina (Italian Royal Navy) consisting of highly trained commando frogmen and naval personnel. Following the war, Capozzi is said to have joined the French Foreign Legion (FFL) and during his time with the FFL, saw action in the First Indochina War (1946-1954) and later in the Algerian War which ran from 1954 to 1962. Capozzi, in 1956, answered a call by the dictator of the Dominican Republic, Rafael Leónidas Trujillo Molina, seeking experienced soldiers to provide instruction to a new unit Trujillo wanted to create, the Cuerpo de Comandos de Hombres Ranas (Frogmen Commando Corps) as part of the Dominican Republic Navy. Capozzi was not the only Italian enticed and other former Decima Flottiglia MAS veterans such as Victorio Tudesco and Enzo Lobasto joined Capozzi. Many other experienced and decorated Italian veteran commandos and instructors would assemble at the naval base located in Las Calderas. Once the cadre was in place, the first selections of personnel for the unit commenced in August 1957. The training was extensive, dangerous, and rigorous. A modern day analogy would be the United States Navy Sea, Air, and Land (SEAL) Teams. Instruction included demolition (sea and land), small unit operations (for example, intelligence gathering), sabotage techniques, establishment of beachheads, survival in all climates, and being able to operate on little to no support. About 2,000 men were selected for the training but in the end, only 108 of them made it through, forming four platoons. The unit was commanded by Vice Admiral Manuel Ramón Montes Arache.

     When the civil war erupted, the Cuerpo de Comandos de Hombres Ranas joined the Constitutionalist faction that supported the deposed Juan Emilio Bosch Gaviño. Situated in Santo Domingo, the Cuerpo de Comandos de Hombres Ranas established a hasty training facility to rapidly instruct civilian Constitutionalist faction rebels in urban guerrilla combat techniques. The forces of the Constitutionalists outnumbered the Loyalist faction's troops that supported acting President Donald Reid Cabral though the latter enjoyed more armored support and air power. At 10:30am on April 25, Constitutionalist forces, including elements of the Cuerpo de Comandos de Hombres Ranas, stormed the presidential palace in Santo Domingo, arresting Reid. This assault, though, was the last battle for Capozzi as he was killed during the attack. It was the U.S. intervention that commenced on April 30 that saw the end of the Constitutionalist uprising which had been on the verge of victory. The arrival of U.S. Army and U.S. Marine forces would see a ceasefire go into effect that very night. Some sources state Capozzi died on May 19, 1965, also while attacking the presidential palace. I was not able to find a definitive accounting of the combat that took place commencing on May 13 when Loyalist forces broke the ceasefire to attack Constitutionalist forces within the Santo Domingo area. It is possible that the Constitutionalists sought to retake the palace which was within the demilitarized zone that divided the two factions.

     The photograph is one of many featuring Capozzi. His rank is unknown, sources citing he was a Captain while others state he was a Colonel. He is wearing French battle dress made with the U.S. M1942 “Frog Skin” camouflage pattern which was widely utilized by the U.S. Marines during World War Two and for a short period of time by the U.S. Army in the European Theater before its use was discontinued. Following World War Two, the U.S. sold the camouflage pattern to the French who utilized it in their uniforms through the 1950s with much of the production going to the French Foreign Legion, specifically the 1st. Foreign Parachute Regiment and 2nd. Foreign Parachute Regiment that saw combat in the First Indochina War. The helmet he wears is the U.S. M1 “steel pot” but it has been refitted with the French TAP/EO system as used by French parachutists. While not definitive evidence, the fact he has such equipment suggests Capozzi may have served in one of the two regiments. His web gear is a mixture though the majority is U.S. Army issue. Of note is his rifle, a 7.62mmX51mm ArmaLite AR-10. Numerous Central American countries purchased the AR-10, including Guatemala and Nicaragua. Capozzi, however, is said to have used a Cuban AR-10, Cuba having been another buyer. The grenade on his belt appears to be a U.S. M26 fragmentation grenade. Capozzi also carried a pistol sidearm and the brown leather magazine pouch is visible on his left hip along with a fighting knife. Behind the magazine pouch is the U.S. issue pouch (he had two) that he carried his extra AR-10 magazines in. The civilian rebel he is chatting with is armed with a .30cal. Cristobal M2 carbine.

 

Private Lemuel Engle: Company K, 148th. Indiana Regiment (Infantry)

(Photograph taken by the author)

     The Civil War isn't my specialty but on a recent business trip, a cemetery was visited which resulted in a few interesting soldier graves. I won't divulge the location as many of the headstones have been vandalized and even outright stolen. This marker is for Private Lemuel Engle who served in Company K, 148th. Indiana Regiment (Infantry). He mustered into the unit on February 23, 1865 at the age of 24. Much of the men taken into the regiment came from the 6th. Congressional District of Indiana and the regiment was formed in Indianapolis and was fully mustered on February 25, 1865 with a strength of 1,027 men. The unit was considered a "One Year Regiment." Within three days, the regiment was dispatched to Nashville, Tennessee. Bear in mind that by this time, the Confederacy was all but pushed out of the area following the Union victories during the Franklin–Nashville Campaign which ended in December 1864. Thus, when the 148th. Indiana Regiment arrived, it served as a garrison force in the central Tennessee area under the overall command and control of the Army of the Cumberland which was, at this time, commanded by Major General George H. Thomas. 

     The 148th. Indiana Regiment ceased to be on September 5, 1865 when it was stood down. PVT Engle was released from duty on that day. For the just over 6 months of the unit's existence, it had 75 desertions of which Company K accounted for ten of those men. The unit had 36 fatalities of which Company K accounted for two of the deaths. Both men, PVT William Harper and PVT John Henderson, died on July 22 and August 16, 1865 respectively in Pulaski, Tennessee. Pulaski, about 73 miles south of Nashville, was the site of Fort Hill though some current historians don't think such a fort existed. However, records show that at least by 1862, some sort of fortified position was established by Union troops in Pulaski and given the name Fort Hill. It is possible that unit(s) of XIV Corps, who encamped in Pulaski for some months in 1862, could have erected the fortified position upon the hilltop. Pulaski, however, was also the site of several Union hospitals and according to records, 34 of the 36 deaths from the 148th. Indiana Regiment were due to illness of some form. 

     Interestingly, Engle was mentioned in Volume E of the 1912 U.S. Senate Reports where he was requesting an increase in his pension from $12 (granted in 1907) to $24 due to deteriorated health. By this time, he was 71. He would die in 1921 at the age of 80.

Soviet T-35 Heavy Tank: Abandoned in Gorodok

     Photographed by a kriegsberichter (war correspondent) attached to the 257. Infanterie-Division, a T-35 (chassis 744-62) belonging to the Soviet 67th. Tank Regiment sits abandoned in the village of Gorodok along the T1425 road. On June 26, 1941, the tank was reported as broken down due to its clutch friction discs having burnt out. It was intended that the tank be towed away for repairs and tow ropes were deployed (not visible in this photograph) but the tank was abandoned instead, apparently in haste as only one of the two ropes was attached to the hull front’s two rings. Still, the crew stripped the tank of its machineguns before departing the area between June 27-30, 1941. This hasty departure was perhaps due to the continued advance of Army Group South (which contained the 257th.) through the region. 

     This T-35 is notable as being one of the last six T-35 tanks built in 1939 before production ceased. It features the final modifications to the design, the most obvious being the conical shaped turrets which afforded better protection due to its sloped armor. 

     After sitting in the road for months, by February 1942, the derelict tank had been pushed off the road where it continued to attract the photographer’s eye. Photographs of the T-35 in the summer of 1942 show the tank missing all of its tracks (possibly taken by tank and assault gun troops to affix to their vehicles for added armor). The ultimate fate of this tank is unknown but presumably it was scrapped.

Jagdtiger "332": Thunderbolt Victim near Forstheim

(U.S. Army Signal Corps)

     Jagdtiger “332” of 3rd. Kompanie, Schwere Panzerjäger Abteilung 653 (3/s.Pz.Jg.Abt.653). 3rd. Kompanie, commanded by Knight’s Cross holder Oberleutnant Franz Kretschmer, on March 14, 1945, were positioned some 12 kilometers away from the U.S. bridgehead over the Moder River. That night and into the early morning hours of March 15, 3rd. Kompanie engaged U.S. M4 Sherman tanks who were caught moving in a column formation. The front and rear Shermans were knocked out by the Jagdtigers who then continued the attack, focusing on the remainder of the Shermans which were trying to get off the road. U.S. artillery was called in to pound the Jagdtigers but the veteran Kretschmer had already ordered the Kompanie to withdraw. Later in the morning of March 15, U.S. forces resumed the attack, pushing towards the town of Morsbronn. Again, they met 3rd. Kompanie who inflicted severe damage to the advancing troops. In the afternoon on March 15, 3rd. Kompanie received orders to go on the offensive and push U.S. troops off a ridge near Forstheim. 

     No doubt Kretschmer thought the orders unwise at best as the Jagdtiger was not a vehicle designed for offensive operations and the attack was in daylight, no less. Nevertheless, he followed orders and after covering less than 2 miles, U.S. Army Air Force P-47 Thunderbolts arrived and unleashed rockets upon the advancing Jagdtigers. “332” was struck on the right side, damaging the running gear and the crew abandoned the vehicle. Overall, s.Pz.Jg.Abt.653 was able to hold the U.S. troops at bay until the unit was withdrawn from the area on March 17, 1945. This time allowed the crew of “332” to return to their stricken vehicle, set demolition charges, and blow the Jagdtiger up as recovery was not possible.

     During the combat, Kretschmer was wounded by artillery fire on March 16 while commanding Jagdtiger “301”. So severe was the concussion suffered that Kretschmer was no longer able to command the unit and was relieved by Leutnant Herman Knack. Kretschmer would survive the war, spending a brief time as a POW. He would pass away on May 28, 1987, survived at the time by his wife and three children.