Russians Taking Watches
Moderator: John W. Howard
- gavmeister13
- Contributor
- Posts: 290
- Joined: Tue Oct 15, 2002 7:48 am
- Location: Cornwall, England
Russians Taking Watches
Why did Russian soldiers take the watches from Germans they killed/captured?
Geniesset den Krieg, der Frieden wird furchtbar sein
Maybe they could use them like currency? Or possibly sell them oncce they got back home?
Most accounts that I've read of German POWs in the East (that don't get killed, that is) do seem to start with watches being stolen but I hadn't really thought about it until just now.
Most accounts that I've read of German POWs in the East (that don't get killed, that is) do seem to start with watches being stolen but I hadn't really thought about it until just now.
Cheers,
Patrick
When I was single, I had three theories on raising children. Now I have three children and no theories.
Patrick
When I was single, I had three theories on raising children. Now I have three children and no theories.
- books1924
- WWII Vet
- Posts: 41
- Joined: Tue Nov 19, 2002 3:56 pm
- Location: Reston, Virginia, USA
- Contact:
Why did US/UK/CN, etc. take watches and other personal items from German prisoners? Nationality was not an issue I assure you.. As for the Russians soldiers I met in Austria, many had multiple wirst watches up both arms. Why? Sell, trade, take home, etc.
James
James
WW II US Army veteran, 101st Infantry Regiment, 26th "Yankee" Infantry Division, Third Army.
- derGespenst
- Associate
- Posts: 776
- Joined: Fri Jun 06, 2003 5:12 am
- Location: New York City
- gavmeister13
- Contributor
- Posts: 290
- Joined: Tue Oct 15, 2002 7:48 am
- Location: Cornwall, England
-
- Member
- Posts: 37
- Joined: Wed Dec 03, 2003 4:58 pm
Servus,
When I was stationed in Berlin, back when there was still a wall, there was a Soviet monument just down from the Brandenburg gate. It showed a Soviet Soldier holding a small child in one arm and stretching the other arm out in a protective gesture. Officially the Soviet interpretation was that the soldier was casting his protective arm over the liberated German people. the cynical Berliners, however, said that he just couldn't raise his hand any higher due to the weight of the stolen watches.
Regards,
Helmut
When I was stationed in Berlin, back when there was still a wall, there was a Soviet monument just down from the Brandenburg gate. It showed a Soviet Soldier holding a small child in one arm and stretching the other arm out in a protective gesture. Officially the Soviet interpretation was that the soldier was casting his protective arm over the liberated German people. the cynical Berliners, however, said that he just couldn't raise his hand any higher due to the weight of the stolen watches.
Regards,
Helmut
- 101stDoc
- Associate
- Posts: 742
- Joined: Mon Jul 21, 2003 7:55 pm
- Location: Midwest, United States of America
Re: Russians Taking Watches
The same reasons the Germans, Americans, British, Canadian, japanese, Aussies...well you get the picture.gavmeister13 wrote:Why did Russian soldiers take the watches from Germans they killed/captured?
Doc
The russians took watches because the majority of them were uneducated and poor. They considered the watches are very valuable "little machines". Their tank crews were called "engineers" because they thought that any man using a machine is an engineer.
When they entered Romania, they didn't take only watches, they even drinked perfume from shops thinking it's some kind of votka.
In Bucharest there is a statue of the russian soldier too. About it romanians used to say : "russian soldier, why did they put you so high? was it because you liberated the people or because your feet stink so hard?".
I don't think that we can compare the russian soldier with any other in ww2.
Dragos
When they entered Romania, they didn't take only watches, they even drinked perfume from shops thinking it's some kind of votka.
In Bucharest there is a statue of the russian soldier too. About it romanians used to say : "russian soldier, why did they put you so high? was it because you liberated the people or because your feet stink so hard?".
I don't think that we can compare the russian soldier with any other in ww2.
Dragos
- derGespenst
- Associate
- Posts: 776
- Joined: Fri Jun 06, 2003 5:12 am
- Location: New York City
Hi,
I´m new member here. interesting forum i would say.
Well, never heard about that. Yes, they were simple guys and they haven´t heard about Chopin, but ... Maybe you should read some memoirs of the russian soldiers, here, for example: http://www.iremember.ru
Oh, that´s true..
Cheers
Sorry for my English. Haven´t written or spoke it since 2 years
I´m new member here. interesting forum i would say.
Their tank crews were called "engineers" because they thought that any man using a machine is an engineer.The russians took watches because the majority of them were uneducated and poor.
Just like as Americans, Britons, Germans et cetera too
Well, never heard about that. Yes, they were simple guys and they haven´t heard about Chopin, but ... Maybe you should read some memoirs of the russian soldiers, here, for example: http://www.iremember.ru
I don't think that we can compare the russian soldier with any other in ww2.In Bucharest there is a statue of the russian soldier too. About it romanians used to say : "russian soldier, why did they put you so high? was it because you liberated the people or because your feet stink so hard?".
I don't think that we can compare the russian soldier with any other in ww2.
dragos03, I understand, 45 years under the Soviet regime and all that, but for me the whole thing looks like as one more of these tales about the barbaric asiatic hordes which-will-destroy-our-old-European-civilisation.
Lots of stories such art are just rumors, believe me. Maybe just like a lots of the stories about the Romanian soldiers in Russia.
Oh, that´s true..
Cheers
Sorry for my English. Haven´t written or spoke it since 2 years
- derGespenst
- Associate
- Posts: 776
- Joined: Fri Jun 06, 2003 5:12 am
- Location: New York City
Well, the Russian soul is a big mistery, especially for themselves
In pre-war Soviet Union in almost every single Kolchoz was MTS, "mechanized tractor station" or so, and a lot of young men could drive tractors and other mechanized things.Fast all of them were tankers later.
Maybe some of the Kalmykians, yakutians or citizens from Asian part of soviet union don´t knew how tank looks like, but majority of the population wasn´t in such unknowlege.
Don´t forget propaganda factor, for example in cinemas in villages, towns were shown Red Army parades, tanks also
In pre-war Soviet Union in almost every single Kolchoz was MTS, "mechanized tractor station" or so, and a lot of young men could drive tractors and other mechanized things.Fast all of them were tankers later.
Maybe some of the Kalmykians, yakutians or citizens from Asian part of soviet union don´t knew how tank looks like, but majority of the population wasn´t in such unknowlege.
Don´t forget propaganda factor, for example in cinemas in villages, towns were shown Red Army parades, tanks also
My grandfather was an officer in the Romanian Army during the war and i don't think he lied about the "engineer" story. Other veterans told me that some russians even wrote "engineer" after their names when they signed. I have nothing personal against russians but these are the facts.
Veterans also told me that there were asians in the russian army who didn't speak russian and their officers had problems communicating with them.
I am sure there are stories about Romanian soldiers in Russia but i don't think they are about how barbaric was the Romanian soldier. My grandfather told me that russian civilians were very happy when they encountered Romanians instead of germans. He slept many times in their houses without fear of being killed by them.
Dragos
Veterans also told me that there were asians in the russian army who didn't speak russian and their officers had problems communicating with them.
I am sure there are stories about Romanian soldiers in Russia but i don't think they are about how barbaric was the Romanian soldier. My grandfather told me that russian civilians were very happy when they encountered Romanians instead of germans. He slept many times in their houses without fear of being killed by them.
Dragos
Hi,
Dragos, I don´t want to say that your grandfather lied you telling that , Ijust´n haven´t heard such stories. Tankists in the Soviet Army were called "tankists" :-) Other variants are unknown to me.
About a signature. I don´t see anything strange when russian officers signed as a engineers . For example, "Ivanov, Engineer" sounds to me just like a "D-r Schmidt". When you´re talking about a military ranks , it could be "Ivanov, kapitan ingenernyh voisk", "Ivanov, captain of the Engineering Forces or Combat Engineers", don´t know exactly.
And one thing. With respect to the romanian veterans who have told you that, I´ve heard a lot things from the russian veterans which sounded unbelievable to me.
Dragos wrote :
Dragos wrote:
If I find this memories in Net, I ´ll give a source
Cheers
Dragos, I don´t want to say that your grandfather lied you telling that , Ijust´n haven´t heard such stories. Tankists in the Soviet Army were called "tankists" :-) Other variants are unknown to me.
About a signature. I don´t see anything strange when russian officers signed as a engineers . For example, "Ivanov, Engineer" sounds to me just like a "D-r Schmidt". When you´re talking about a military ranks , it could be "Ivanov, kapitan ingenernyh voisk", "Ivanov, captain of the Engineering Forces or Combat Engineers", don´t know exactly.
And one thing. With respect to the romanian veterans who have told you that, I´ve heard a lot things from the russian veterans which sounded unbelievable to me.
Dragos wrote :
That´ true.
Veterans also told me that there were asians in the russian army who didn't speak russian and their officers had problems communicating with them.
Dragos wrote:
Well, I think I´ve seen some but don´t know exactly where . Now, they aren´t about it , there was something about Romanian prisoners. Their condition was bad, their clothes were dirty and all of them were hungry (what I think is typical for all prisoners just-captured). Some of them told iterrogating officer that relationship between officers and privates is very poor, officers beat soldiers when they not obey their orders and they become not a same food rations as a soldiers. Something like that.
I am sure there are stories about Romanian soldiers in Russia but i don't think they are about how barbaric was the Romanian soldier. My grandfather told me that russian civilians were very happy when they encountered Romanians instead of germans. He slept many times in their houses without fear of being killed by them.
If I find this memories in Net, I ´ll give a source
Cheers