Okay, who posted about Popski's Private Army?

by Rob Leahy ⌂ @, Prescott, Arizona, Sunday, November 26, 2017, 22:46 (2491 days ago)
edited by Rob Leahy, Monday, November 27, 2017, 12:08

I have read that, fascinating and funny, and yet another part of the Desert War and Italian campaigns that were new to me.
Also had to read His 2nd in Command's book Riding with Popski's Private Army.
and Now finished reading about the LRGD ... Have to re read about Stirling's Raiders.
Back to Popski; this one act was worth the entire story; He spoke adequate Italian, and in a friendly chat with an Italian farmer he learned that the farmer provided foodstuffs for the officers mess of the German garrison at Gravina. From a workable telephone at a railway station, he called the German quartermaster, a Major Schulz, and, posing as a loyal quartermaster of an Italian garrison that was being evacuated, asked the major if he would like to buy eight cases of good cognac for the mess. They haggled over the price and came to an agreement and, at Popski’s request, the major gave orders to the guards to admit two people in a captured American vehicle that night.

At 11 pm, in a jeep from which all military fittings had been removed, Popski and his driver, Jock Cameron, arrived at the major’s office carrying boxes of stones. Popski slugged the major with a cosh, and then they went through his papers. They found a copy of the complete strength, dated the previous day, of the 1st Parachute Division and all other troops in the area who were supplied by the Gravina distribution center. It included the locations of all units. He radioed the information to 1st Airborne.


Thank you !

http://warfarehistorynetwork.com/daily/wwii/vladimir-peniakoff-popskis-private-army/

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Of the Troops & For the Troops

Very cool read! Thanks for posting that, Roberto!

by Caz, Monday, November 27, 2017, 09:10 (2491 days ago) @ Rob Leahy

nm

That was me

by Jhenry, Saturday, December 02, 2017, 23:28 (2485 days ago) @ Rob Leahy

Glad you liked it. I did not know of his 2nd in command writing a book. I will have to look that one up.

That was me

by Paul ⌂, Tuesday, December 05, 2017, 11:12 (2482 days ago) @ Jhenry

And thanks from yours truly as well. Enjoyed it immensely. Also enjoyed "Fighting With Popski’s Private Army" by Park Yunnie and "Behind Enemy Lines" by James Dean Sanderson which includes more about PPA as well as other brave units - from both Allied and Axis forces.

Thank you JH! Reading The Red Cliffs of Zerhoun. He

by Rob Leahy ⌂ @, Prescott, Arizona, Thursday, December 07, 2017, 08:18 (2481 days ago) @ Paul

makes a few references to PPA and the LRDG... and the story line is vaguely familiar. Certainly paying homage. A great book, on it's own.

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Of the Troops & For the Troops

Thank you JH! Reading The Red Cliffs of Zerhoun. He

by Jhenry, Thursday, December 07, 2017, 09:22 (2481 days ago) @ Rob Leahy

I read Red Cliffs as soon as I could get it on my kindle. I think Bracken is really hitting his stride. Great stuff.

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