Military Despatches Vol 34 April 2020 Flip-flop Generals that switch sides Surviving the Arctic convoys 93 year WWII veteran tells his story Joseph Stalin Revolutionary, politician, Generalissimus and dictator Aarthus Air Raid RAF Mosquitos destory Gestapo headquarters For the military enthusiast CONTENTS April 2020 Page 14 Click on any video below to view How much do you know about movie theme songs? Take our quiz and find out. Hipe’s Wouter de The old South African Goede interviews former Defence Force used 28’s gang boss David a mixture of English, Williams. Afrikaans, slang and techno-speak that few Russian Special Forces outside the military could hope to under- stand. Some of the terms Features 34 were humorous, some A matter of survival were clever, while others 6 This month we continue with were downright crude. Ten generals that switched sides our look at fish and fishing for Imagine you’re a soldier heading survival. into battle under the leadership of Part of Hipe’s “On the a general who, until very recently 30 couch” series, this is an been trying very hard to kill you. interview with one of How much faith and trust would Ranks you have in a leader like that? This month we look at the author Herman Charles Army of the Republic of Viet- Bosman’s most famous 20 nam (ARVN), the South Viet- characters, Oom Schalk Social media - Soldier’s menace namese army. A taxi driver was shot Lourens. Hipe spent time in These days nearly everyone has dead in an ongoing Hanover Park, an area a smart phone, laptop or PC plagued with gang with access to the Internet and Quiz war between rival taxi to social media. Yet using this organisations. violence, to view first- technology can have dangers for 13 hand how Project those in the military. 26 World War II tanks Ceasefire is dealing with 24 Navy veteran revisits history This month we’re looking at the situation. When Royal Navy veteran Jo- tanks that all saw action during Restoring Cape Town’s gun World War II. We show you 15 Hipe TV brings you videos ranging from actuality to humour and every- Looking a little sad and forlorn, seph WIlkinson visited the Rus- sian missile cruiser Marshal tanks, you tell us what they are. thing in between. Interviews, mini-documentaries and much more. it was time for the memorial gun And this one isn’t as easy as in the Cape Town Company Gar- Ustinov in Cape Town Harbour, history had come a full circle. you think. Check out Hipe TV and remember to like, comment, share and subscribe. den to receive a refurbishment. 00 3 CONTENTS Page 68 Editor’s PUBLISHER Sitrep Hipe Media EDITOR Matt Tennyson PHOTO EDITOR ay you live in in- once, they can actually make Regine Lord teresting times” good on their promises. CONTRIBUTORS is an English ex- I received quite a few e-mails April in military history “M Kevin Ashton, Raymond Fletch- pression which purports to be a from readers asking me if Mil- er, Regine Lord, Ryan Murphy, translation of a traditional Chi- itary Despatches will still be Matt O’Brien, Matt Tennyson. nese curse. published during the lockdown Head-to-Head Forged in Battle Book Review And let’s face it, we are cur- period. Military Despatches is pub- 44 54 67 rently living in very interesting, The answer is yes. As long as lished on-line every month. The Fighting Doc if not downright scary, times. I am able, I will publish Military Strongest military forces de Havilland Mosquito The articles used in Military The diaries of John Coey dur- Covid-19 is causing panic, Despatches. I will be remaining Despatches are copyrighted This month we take a look at Nicknamed the ‘Wooden Won- der”, it was the fastest aircraft ing the Rhodesian War. fear and havoc throughout the in isolation but will have to go and may not be used without the self-propelled artillery of in 1941. world. And personally, without out every Sunday. I do a radio prior permission from the edi- the ten strongest military forces trying to be a prophet of doom, show and radio has been deemed tor. in the world. I believe that this pandemic is a an essential service. The views stated in this mag- lot worse that we currently be- I do a show from 09h00 to azine do not necessary reflect Famous Figures Battlefield Front Cover lieve. 12h00 every Sunday and you the views of Hipe!, the editor, 60 Many South Africans are still can listen to it via the Internet. the staff, or Hipe Media. 48 An Italian soldier on patrol not taking this whole thing seri- Check out the ad on page 23 of Joseph Stalin Aarhus Air Raid while enforcing the country’s ously enough and believe that it this issue and follow the link. Hipe! Revolutionary, politician and When RAF Mosquitos took out lockdown rule. In South Afri- is not as bad as people are say- You can also WhatsApp me P.O. Box 31216, Tokai, 7966 dictator, Joseph Stalin was all the Gestapo headquarters in ca the SANDF is assisting the ing. in the studio on 072 447 8044 South Africa. this and more. But who was Jo- Denmark. SAPS during our lockdown. So please, all of you, stay at and request a song, or you can seph Stalin? home if you can and, above all, just say hello and let me know email Gaming stay safe. Most of us are in the you’re listening. [email protected] age group that is high risk. So Until next month, stay safe 64 let’s take this thing seriously. and stay healthy. Back Issues Tank Mechanic Simulator And if things aren’t bad To view any back issues of Repair and restore World War II enough, Moody’s has just down- Until next time. Military Despatches, go to tanks. graded South Africa to junk sta- www.militarydespatches.co.za Movie Review tus. As if the economy wasn’t or click here. bad enough. One bit of good news is that 66 Eskom has promised that there Saving Private Ryan will be no load shedding during A must see movie set in World the lockdown. Let’s hope, for Matt War II and starring Tom Hanks. 4 5 Top Ten Top Ten War (66 – 73 AD), also known the Romans, who shouted an ordered Jerusalem’s complete Ten generals that switched sides as the Great Jewish Revolt. offer down the well for Jose- destruction, while tens of thou- The revolt had erupted in 66 phus to surrender, as Vespasian sands of prisoners were sold Imagine you’re a soldier heading into battle under the leadership of a general who, until very -re AD after the Roman authori- wanted him alive. off as slaves or forced to fight cently, had been in command of troops that were trying very hard to kill you. How much faith and ties responded to tax protests Josephus wanted to surren- to the death in games for Titus’ trust would you have in a leader like that? by arresting prominent Jews der, but the other leaders insist- amusement and to celebrate his and looting the Jewish Temple ed that they all commit suicide victory. hroughout the history of 10. Hermann in the Teutoburg Forest in which in Jerusalem. That heavy-hand- instead. So Josephus suggested Titus then took Josephus warfare it has not been Hermann (circa 18 BC – 19 three legions were annihilated. edness transformed the protests they do so in an orderly fashion, back with him to Rome, where uncommon for soldiers AD) was a German tribesman Not wanting to be taken pris- into a full-blown rebellion, by drawing lots, with the loser he held a triumphal parade T which forced the Romans to of each round getting killed by featuring captive rebel lead- to switch sides - either volun- in Roman service. oner, Varus committed suicide. tary or against their will. By all accounts he was a pret- Which was probably a wise de- flee Judea. Armed bands seized the others. ers chained to models of their Soldiers that had been cap- ty good soldier and rose through cision on his part. forts across the country, while As we’ve already seen, Jose- towns on floats that paraded tured by the enemy were some- the ranks to command an auxil- The disaster shocked Rome, in Jerusalem, which the rebels phus was no fool. He rigged the down Rome’s street, and off to times given a choice - join us iary cohort. and in its aftermath, Augus- captured, a national military lots so that by the end of it there their execution sites. Josephus and fight for our side, or die. Such was the respect given to tus went into mourning, let his government was organized. was only Josephus and one oth- joined Vespasian’s household, Many soldiers have displayed him by his employers that they beard grow out, and took to In Galilee, Josephus, a 29 year er survivor. He convinced the and spent the remainder of his their loyalty to their country or bestowed Roman citizenship banging his head against the old priest, was chosen to lead. other survivor that they should life writing, leaving behind a cause by holding their chins up and high social status upon him. wall while wailing “Quinctil- With a combination of guile and surrender. They did, and while valuable history of the Jewish high and declaring that they Hermann was posted to the ius Varus, give me back my le- force – such as his bluffing the the other man was summarily Revolt.