Road to Victory - Pilzen, Czech Republic

[Rick_van_Nooij]

<p>This May saw the 65th Anniversary of the Liberation of Europe from Nazi oppression. VE-Day, was celebrated from London to Moscow with parades and Living History Events.</p>

<p>2nd Armored in Europe Ltd. organized another one of their impressive tours. This time through the Czech Republic. A 10 Day trip that took us from the city of Pilzen to Podolski Bridge near Pisek, through the cities and towns of Susice, Strazny, Kaspersky Hory, Velky Bor, Mystliv and Strakonice and many more. <br>

Our group consisted of a 100 re-enactors traveling with an M4A4 Sherman tank, six M8 Greyhound armored cars, nine quarter-ton trucks (Jeeps), three M3/M4 Halftracks , three GMC trucks, two Dodge Weapon Carriers (WC51 & WC62) and two Harley Davidson motorcycles. Two low-loaders travelled behind the column in case of breakdowns and to move the Sherman over longer distances.<br>

I was part of the Press group, together with 4 friends I had made on the Roll on the Maas Tour in September. They had one of the Jimmies kitted out as a mobile press office. Not a 100% authentic with a modern generator, printers and laptop computers, but from it they managed to produce 6 editions of "The Armored Tribune" Newspaper. I helped out by proofreading and putting some thoughts to paper for articles. I was also made the paper's honorary cartoonist when they figured out I could doodle a bit.</p>

<p>Without my own jeep this time I was limited for camera space, so I only brought a single Musette bag stuffed with my Epson R-D1, Leica IIIc, Kiev 2a (as a poor-man's contax II), Jupiter-3, Elmar 35mm and 90mm Lenses, Fikus Hood and No2 Yellow Filter, 16 rolls of film (Kodak BW400CN, Ektar 100, Fujicolor 200), and a camera repairkit (screwdrivers, brush, oil, naphtha, q-tips and some grease). </p>

<p>In all I think I came home with about a 1100 images, of course I'm not pleased (so what else is new) with the result from the 35mm Elmar on the Leica, and the Jupiter-8 on the Kiev. But I still need to do some post-processing on the 380 or so scans.</p>

<p>I'll keep this topic limited to some photos I took in Pilsen, and only those taken with Leica and Kiev, of course. I'll open another topic from the other places we've visited as soon as I've finished selecting and uploading them.<br>

We arrived in Pilzen on Friday 30th of April, our camp was to be in a park in front of the stadium, a stone throw away from the old center.<br>

On Saturday we participated in a mock battle with 'Germans' from the Sturm Vehicle Club, who would also provide resistance in the days to come. Thousands of Czechs came out to watch the spectacle, with lots of pyrotechnics and smoke being set off, And both sides blasting away with blanks. Eventually the 'Germans' surrendered or retreated. Pilzen and its citizens were once again free.<br>

We participated in a big parade on Sunday, with loads of extra vehicles and re-enactors from other local groups.<br>

Monday afternoon we finally moved out of Pilzen. I spent the route up to Susice in a Halftrack with a few Czech re-enactors, but more about that next time...</p>

<p><img src="http://www.flibweb.nl/flibweb/cpg143/albums/userpics/10001/RV10028.jpg" alt="" width="660" height="420" /><br>

The Prep talk</p>

<p><img src="http://www.flibweb.nl/flibweb/cpg143/albums/userpics/10001/RV10018.jpg" alt="" /><br>

Thomas preparing the Sherman for the mock battle, by marking it with the same graffiti found on a photo from the area in 1945.</p>

<p><img src="http://www.flibweb.nl/flibweb/cpg143/albums/userpics/10001/RV10019.jpg" alt="" /><br>

Jon and Jonno, the fearless crew of "Belle Alice"</p>

<p><img src="http://www.flibweb.nl/flibweb/cpg143/albums/userpics/10001/RV10021.jpg" alt="" /><br>

More of the Press Gang</p>

<p><img src="http://www.flibweb.nl/flibweb/cpg143/albums/userpics/10001/RV10027.jpg" alt="" /><br>

Riding on the engine deck of an M8 to the site of the mock battle</p>

<p><img src="http://www.flibweb.nl/flibweb/cpg143/albums/userpics/10001/RV10032.jpg" alt="" width="420" height="660" /><br>

The crew of "Sloppy but Safe" performing maintenance</p>

<p><img src="http://www.flibweb.nl/flibweb/cpg143/albums/userpics/10001/RV10033.jpg" alt="" /><br>

One of two Shermans from the Patton Museum that came out for the Liberation Parade</p>

<p>Of course these images fail to show the grand scale of the undertaking. Here's a panorama group shot I photoshopped together to give a slightly better idea: <a href="http://www.flibweb.nl/flibweb/cpg143/albums/userpics/10001/RV10009~0.jpg">Group Photo</a></p>

<p> </p>

[JDMvW]

<p>It gets better and better. Thanks.</p>

<p>Those 'guys' have got the American slouch (not unlike der deutschen Gruß as a national trademark?) down to a tee.<br /> ;)</p>

[longname]

<p>Amazing. Beautiful pictures. Thanks Rick.</p>

[rustys pics]

<p>Well done. "THe Press Gang" really looks authentic, as do many of the B&W shots. I enjoy these posts very much. Great to see some people in Europe still recall the good things Americans are capable of.</p>

[Lou_Meluso]

<p>Excellent, Rick. The pictures show more than a space and place, they show a sense of time. Neat group shot!</p>

[ralf_j.]

<p>Very nice Rick, thank you as always for sharing your documentaries with us. I really appreciate them.</p>

[minhnguyen9113]

<p>Rick</p>

<p> Your pictures made me remember past-time in service, Thanks</p>

[rick_drawbridge]

<p>Terrific, Rick. I've just finished reading an amazing account of the Stalingrad debacle, so your pictures strike a chord. Authentic-looking in the flat light. Thanks for another fine post.</p>

[Rick_van_Nooij]

<p>Thanks everyone,<br>

I should have some more images from our trek through Susice, Kvilda and Strazny in a day or two.<br>

It's a shame this tour was planned so shortly after the last one, I think we could've had at least twice the number of people and vehicles if given an extra 6 months of planning. Though it already was a logistical nightmare from what I gather.<br>

Special mention goes to the Kitchen crew by the way. These 5 Czech gals and guys managed to cook up 2 to 3 meals a day on 2 M1937 Field stoves for a 100 hungry men. They had a very steep learning curve and sometimes it took a few hours more to cook everything properly, but they managed admirably. It was often basic stew and pasta but gosh-darn it was pretty tasty!</p>

 

[bob_miller4]

<p>Did you sample the local beer?</p>

[Rick_van_Nooij]

<p>Mainly Urquell that is brewed in Pilzen.</p>

[rustys pics]

<p>Would love to see some photographs of the Kitchen crew! My dad talked about endless hours on "KP Duty" peeling potatoes when his Sargent was mad at him for burning up a truck engine....seems that Dad was something of a Hot Rodder back then. He had a souped up "Deuce Coupe" (1932 Ford) he sold after he was drafted. When I asked him why he didn't keep it his response was "None of us ever thought we'd come back."</p>

[Rick_van_Nooij]

<p>Afraid I've only got digitals of the kitchen crew serving out beef stew on the last evening near Pisek (and a few low-light shots of the girls during our night near Susice). I'll see about sneaking them in when I'll share the next episodes. I'm sure the other photographers covered them more extensively. As the crew got an article dedicated to them in the "Armored Tribune" as "Unsung Heroes".</p>

[User_4136860]

<p>I wonder what my fathers generation who fought WW11 would have thought about people dressing up and pretending to be them, do they have holocaust re-enactors ?</p>

[Rick_van_Nooij]

<p>I can't speak for all the WW2 veterans, but the US 30th ID and 2nd AD veterans, and their families I spoke to last September, and pretty much any others I've spoken in the last 5 years were always very positive.<br>

They're certainly glad to be remembered for what they helped to achieve.</p>

<p> </p>