Blog MIrror: The American Springfield Krag–Jørgensen Rifle

 

The American Springfield Krag–Jørgensen Rifle

Sunday Morning Scene: Churches of the West: Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Denver Colorado.

Churches of the West: Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Denver Colorado.: 

Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Denver Colorado.

This is Our Lady of Mount Carmel in North Denver, Colorado.

Built between 1899 and 1904 for an Italian population, the church is located in a neighborhood known as Little Italy, although its rapidly gentrifying and experiencing a change in neighborhood character.  Nonetheless, one Mass per month is offered in Italian.

Sunday, October 18, 1949. Hitler issues the Commando Order.

British Combined Operations patch.

Hitler issued the illegal Commando Order. It stated:

On 18 October, after much deliberation by High Command lawyers, officers and staff, Hitler issued his Commando Order or Kommandobefehl in secret, with only 12 copies. The following day Army Chief of Staff Alfred Jodl distributed 22 copies with an appendix stating that the order was "intended for commanders only and must not under any circumstances fall into enemy hands". The order itself stated:

For a long time now our opponents have been employing in their conduct of the war, methods which contravene the International Convention of Geneva. The members of the so-called Commandos behave in a particularly brutal and underhanded manner; and it has been established that those units recruit criminals not only from their own country but even former convicts set free in enemy territories. From captured orders it emerges that they are instructed not only to tie up prisoners, but also to kill out-of-hand unarmed captives who they think might prove an encumbrance to them, or hinder them in successfully carrying out their aims. Orders have indeed been found in which the killing of prisoners has positively been demanded of them.

In this connection it has already been notified in an Appendix to Army Orders of 7.10.1942. that in future, Germany will adopt the same methods against these Sabotage units of the British and their Allies; i.e. that, whenever they appear, they shall be ruthlessly destroyed by the German troops.

I order, therefore:— From now on all men operating against German troops in so-called Commando raids in Europe or in Africa, are to be annihilated to the last man. This is to be carried out whether they be soldiers in uniform, or saboteurs, with or without arms; and whether fighting or seeking to escape; and it is equally immaterial whether they come into action from Ships and Aircraft, or whether they land by parachute. Even if these individuals on discovery make obvious their intention of giving themselves up as prisoners, no pardon is on any account to be given. On this matter a report is to be made on each case to Headquarters for the information of Higher Command.

Should individual members of these Commandos, such as agents, saboteurs etc., fall into the hands of the Armed Forces through any means – as, for example, through the Police in one of the Occupied Territories – they are to be instantly handed over to the SD

To hold them in military custody – for example in P.O.W. Camps, etc., – even if only as a temporary measure, is strictly forbidden.

This order does not apply to the treatment of those enemy soldiers who are taken prisoner or give themselves up in open battle, in the course of normal operations, large-scale attacks; or in major assault landings or airborne operations. Neither does it apply to those who fall into our hands after a sea fight, nor to those enemy soldiers who, after air battle, seek to save their lives by parachute.

I will hold all Commanders and Officers responsible under Military Law for any omission to carry out this order, whether by failure in their duty to instruct their units accordingly, or if they themselves act contrary to it.

It figures, somehow, that he'd issue the order on a Sunday. 

On the same day, as Sarah Sundin notes:  "Vice Adm. William Halsey replaces Vice Adm. Robert Ghormley as Commander South Pacific Area and South Pacific Force."

Halsey was a 1904 graduate of the Naval Academy and was in his early 60s, having been born in 1882.

Sunday, June 19, 1921. Sliver dollars.

While Sunday was an odd day in which to do it, the U.S. resumed minting silver dollars for the the first time since the 1904, with the pattern that was first minted being the Morgan pattern.  A  new pattern was introduced later in the year.

Mid Week At Work. Wolfer, 1904

A note on yesterday's camel image

Yesterday, we published this:

Lex Anteinternet: January 3, 1920. A Roaring Start:

January 3, 1920. A Roaring Start

1920 was certainly off to a "roaring" start.

The image was cross posted on Reddit's 100 Years Ago subreddit, where I learned that the camel, which was baffling me, is the symbol of the Prohibition Party.

I had no idea.

The party still exists.

It's an interesting party and slightly reminds me of the American Solidarity Party in that it takes positions from the left and the right.  It's "liberal" on its environmental positions, for example, and "conservative" on social issues.  It still runs a presidential candidate for every Presidential election, but since 1976, it's received less than 10,000 votes per year.  It peaked in the 1904 Election when it received 260,000 votes.

It's nominees for the 2020 Presidential Election were determined in a telephone conference, which shows how small it is.  Phil Collins of Nevada and Billie Joe Parker of Georgia are their Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates.

Camels, it should be noted, are never thirsty in the popular imagination.