World War II Lancers: History and Role
World War II Lancers: History and Role

During World War II, a multitude of nations employed a variety of tactics and strategies in the struggle for victory. The German Lancers, which represented a distinct formation within the Wehrmacht, became one of the most prominent and little-known factions in this terrible war. In this article, we will delve into the history and role of the German Lancers during World War II. The Lancers were an elite unit of the Wehrmacht that was used for reconnaissance and raiding operations. They got their name because their equipment included long bayonets resembling spears or “lancers”. Although lancers could perform many different […]

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Lancers: The Wehrmacht’s Elite Warriors of World War II
Lancers: The Wehrmacht’s Elite Warriors of World War II

During World War II, Germany stunned the world with its military innovations and strategic decisions. Prominent among the Wehrmacht’s many military units were the Lanzers, elite troops that engaged in reconnaissance and raids behind enemy lines. In this article, we will examine the history and role of the Lancers in the context of World War II. The origins of the Lancers: Lancers, or “lanzersturm”, were created in the early 1940s in the Wehrmacht in response to the need for specialized units for raiding and reconnaissance operations. They were so named because of their special equipment, which included long bayonets resembling […]

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World War II Lancers Specialties of the equipment and armament of World War II Lancers
World War II Lancers Specialties of the equipment and armament of World War II Lancers

During World War II, the Lancers, or “Lancerssturm,” were elite Wehrmacht troops specializing in reconnaissance and raiding operations. These troops were characterized not only by their fearlessness and effectiveness in combat, but also by their unique equipment and weaponry. In this article, we will take a closer look at the equipment and armament features of World War II Lancers. Light automatic rifles: The main small arms of the Lancers were light automatic rifles such as the Karabiner 98k. These rifles had excellent accuracy and high firepower. The Lancers were well trained in the use of these rifles and used them […]

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Famous Concerts & Shows to Keep Troops Entertained During Wartime

Avatar photo James,

Wartime isn’t all about guns, tanks and death, but also a mental game. No matter how mentally strong troops used to be, seeing death everywhere could take anyone down.

With more options to keep the morale up, concerts seemed to be the best way. Entertainment in this form brought a bit of home life and normality in the war zone.

With these thoughts in mind, here are some of the most famous entertainment shows for the Allied troops during World War II.

Most famous entertainment shows

Entertainment National Service Association in the UK

The ENSA (Entertainment National Service Association) started big. Established with the one and only purpose of providing entertainment for British forces throughout World War II, the association quickly became part of the institution and started operating as part of the military.

The association organized a plethora of concerts, but that’s exactly what led to its fall. The first one brought together Adelaide Hall, Mantovani and The Western Brothers, among a few others. It was held in the fall of 1939, at RAG Hendon, in the northern part of London.

The ENSA gained popularity overnight. But at the same time, too much popularity meant the association had to organize one concert after another, with little to no breaks at all. This meant the quality overall went down. At some point, it was mockingly referred to as Every Night Something Awful.

The Kiwi Concert Party in New Zealand

Established in 1941, The Kiwi Concert Party was known by different names. It was initially created to help troops around the Middle East, as well as Italy. Later on, the group was mainly working in the Pacific area. Entertainment was quite varied and involved musicals or just random fun shows.

The group’s most famous concert took place in May 1941. The group was sent to Crete in Greece. Everyone performed for four days while the island was being bombed. Eventually, the members had to fight as well, but the allied troops lost. Five members of the party were lost to the Germans.

What made The Kiwi Concert Party so popular was the fact that there was a bit of everything, as well as sub-groups and different types of shows. The concert party was also a military unit for unexpected situations, such as the dramatic fight in Crete.

United Service Organizations Inc. in the USA

The USO was established in 1941 and brought in all kinds of programs and entertainment to troops, not to mention their families. It was a mix of six different organizations, including the Salvation Army. For many military troops, it felt like a home away from home.

The first show started soon after it was made. By the end of 1941, nearly 200 military theaters organized such events. In November, the group started going abroad, anywhere from the Caribbean and UK to Australia and South America.

Irving Berlin singing aboard USS Arkansas was one of the most significant shows in USO’s portfolio. In 1944, the group traveled to France. While each show had a few people only, things changed in France, when The Barretts of Wimpole Street brought in a whole theater company.

Back in the day, everyone was invited. There was no need for tickets unlike the present, where online ticket booking companies require purchases. However, it’s important to consider the legitimacy of StubHub when obtaining tickets. Check out this guide on Is Stubhub legit? And get to know about this by reading the review.

The Army Show in Canada

The Army Show was initially created as a musical program mainly aimed at Canadian troops. However, it evolved and turned into a program for civilians as well, promoting recruitment while boosting morale among civilians.

One thing led to another and planning for a big show started in the winter of 1943. By April, The Army Show was ready to launch at the Victoria Theater, in Toronto. The show went all around the country, in both urban centers and military bases.

The group was stopped later on and split into five different units. They initially came to the UK, but they were later transferred all around the western side of Europe, from France and Germany to Belgium and Holland.

Bottom line, while there are also a few famous singers who tried to support troops in one way or another, these organizations and associations took everything to another level and their shows actually made a difference.

World War II