Berlin, 1945 | After the Fall: Photos of Hitler’s Bunker and the Ruins of Berlin, 1945 | LIFE.com
In April 1945, as Russian and German troops fought — savagely, street by street — for control of the German capital, it became increasingly clear that the Allies would win the war in Europe. Not long after the two-week battle for Berlin ended, 33-year-old LIFE photographer William Vandivert was on the scene, photographing the city’s devastated landscape — and the eerie, almost unfathomable scene inside the bunker where Adolf Hitler spent the last months of his life; where he and Eva Braun were married; and where, just before war’s end, the two killed themselves.
2nd May 2013
Notes: 38
Two Japanese diplomatic gifts | Royal Armouries
A gift of armour by Iwai Yozaemon from Shogun Tokugawa Hidetada to King James I of England, VI of Scotland via Captain John Saris of the East India Company in 1613. It was possibly originally made for Takeda Katsuyori and modified for presentation about 1610. On display in the Tower by at least 1662.
The horned helmet | Royal Armouries
This helmet originally formed part of the court armour of Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I and was made by Konrad Seusenhofer.
Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I presented Henry VIII with the armour that included this extraordinary ‘Horned helmet’ in 1514. This helmet was chosen as the symbol of the Royal Armouries in Leeds because of its extraordinary appearance and association with Henry VIII.
Putin Brings Back Soviet-Era ‘Hero of Labor’ Medals - Tom Balmforth - The Atlantic
Russian President Vladimir Putin has once again tapped into Soviet nostalgia by awarding Soviet era “Hero of Labor” stars to Russians in return for their laudable deeds. It is the first time the medals have been bestowed since they were discontinued in 1991.
Nagasone Tojiro Mitsumasa; signed “Echizen no kuni ju Mitsumasa; Nagasone Tojiro saku” Helmet in the form of a sea conch shell, 1618 Japan.
(Source: higgins.org)
Crazy monster helmet at The Musée de l’Armée in Les Invalides in Paris.
This helmet reminds me of Howard The Duck.
(Source: coolstuffinparis.com)
Yesterday, I wrote a post about how body armor could have saved lives in World War I. Today, I will be posting some amazing helmets from history.
Imagine walking into battle wearing this bad boy. I wasn’t able to find information on this helmet but it is pretty awesome.
(Source: historum.com)
Reblogged From life
By Mark Wilson
Michael Vlahos of The Atlantic contends that millions of lives could have been saved in World War I.
How? Two words. Body armor.
(Photo: Bashford Dean. Helmets and Body Armor in Modern Warfare. 1920. Yale University Press, 1920.)
While many young soldiers fantasized and idealized medieval knights, many of them lacked the protection that could have saved their lives. While knights wore body armor and took care to protect themselves, soldiers in the Great War weren’t afforded such precaution.
Most injuries inflicted in World War I were caused by artillery and mortar fragments. But as Vlahos points out, it took two years before European armies were even issued helmets. Two years? Simply issuing helmets would have prevented at least some injuries.
(Photo: Bashford Dean. Helmets and Body Armor in Modern Warfare. 1920. Yale University Press, 1920.)
Three reasons why armor wasn’t used:
- it is The Allies were too afraid to look too German. The most effective helmet of the era was the German Stahlhelm but as Vlahos points out, “Get this: We let 5,000 of our young men die after 1941 because we did not want them to look like Germans.”
- It was too heavy. “Those boys will never wear this stuff; they’ll throw it off at the first opportunity.”
- The myth that armor was too heavy was simply a rationalization used by military leaders who felt the ultimate sacrifice was for one’s nation. According to Vlahos, “Sacrifice would not only renew the nation; but in blood let it come alive.”
Body armor surely would have saved some lives. The exact number is unclear and purely speculative. Vlahos comes to the somewhat depressing conclusion, “Protecting soldiers was not part of the program.”
