Cold Harbor Union order of battle

The following Union Army units and commanders fought in the Battle of Cold Harbor (May 31–June 12, 1864) of the American Civil War. The Confederate order of battle is listed separately. Order of battle compiled from the army organization May 31, 1864, army organization May 26-June 3, 1864, the casualty returns and the reports.
Forces operating against Richmond May 31-June 5, 1864.
LTG Ulysses S. Grant
Escort:
Army of the Potomac.
MG George Meade
General Staff:
General Headquarters:
Provost Guard: BG Marsena R. Patrick
Engineer Troops:
Guards and Orderlies:
Unattached:
II Corps.
MG Winfield S. Hancock
Escort:
V Corps.
MG Gouverneur K. Warren
Provost Guard:
VI Corps.
MG Horatio G. Wright
Escort:
IX Corps.
MG Ambrose E. Burnside
General Staff:
Provost Guard:
Cavalry Corps.
MG Philip H. Sheridan
Escort:
Army of the James.
XVIII Corps.
MG William F. Smith
Forces operating against Richmond June 6-12, 1864.
LTG Ulysses S. Grant
Escort:
Army of the Potomac.
MG George Meade
General Staff:
General Headquarters:
Provost Guard: BG Marsena R. Patrick
Engineer Troops:
Guards and Orderlies:
II Corps.
MG Winfield S. Hancock
Escort:
V Corps.
MG Gouverneur K. Warren
Provost Guard:
VI Corps.
MG Horatio G. Wright
Escort:
IX Corps.
MG Ambrose E. Burnside
General Staff:
Provost Guard:
Cavalry Corps.
MG Philip H. Sheridan
Escort:
Army of the James.
XVIII Corps.
MG William F. Smith


Confederate order of battle at the Battle of Raymond

The following Confederate Army units and commanders fought in the Battle of Raymond; the Union order of battle is listed separately.
Major General Ulysses S. Grant of the Union Army landed 24,000 men at Bruinsburg, Mississippi, on April 30, 1863, as part of the Vicksburg campaign, an operation intended to capture the important Mississippi River city of Vicksburg, Mississippi. On May 1, his men having driven east from the river, the Grant's men defeated the Confederates at the Battle of Port Gibson. After Port Gibson, Grant could choose to either attack Vicksburg from the south, or to march further to the east and then turn around and move west against the city. He decided upon the latter, as it gave greater prospects of capturing the Confederate army defending Vicksburg, in addition to the city itself.
As part of his movement to the east, Grant sent Major General James B. McPherson's corps in the direction of Raymond, Mississippi. Meanwhile, a Confederate brigade commanded by Brigadier General John Gregg, moved into Raymond on May 11. The next day, the two sides made contact southwest of Raymond along Fourteenmile Creek. Gregg did not realize he was outnumbered, and fought aggressively, attacking part of the Union line. Eventually, Union reinforcements arrived on the scene, and Gregg's left flank was driven back. The Confederates then broke off the fighting and fell back to Jackson, Mississippi, reaching their destination on May 13. McPherson's men suffered 442 casualties, while the Confederates suffered 514 men killed, wounded, or missing.
Gregg's command consisted of his brigade of infantrymen from Texas and Tennessee, as well as Bledsoe's Missouri Battery, an artillery unit. During the battle, Colonel Cyrus A. Sugg commanded the brigade itself, while Gregg was in overall command on the field. The Confederate force was also supplemented two by small cavalry units. Colonel A. P. Thompson's unit of mounted infantry from Kentucky reinforced Gregg after the fighting ended, and 1,000 men commanded by Brigadier General W. H. T. Walker arrived during the retreat. Modern historians disagree as to the number of Confederate troops actually present during the fighting. Shelby Foote gives a Confederate strength of 4,000 men, Donald L. Miller places Gregg's strength at 3,200 men, Edwin C. Bearss gives 3,000, and Christopher Losson provides a range of 2,500 to 3,000 men.
Confederate forces.
Gregg's Task Force.
BG John Gregg


Invisible Children

Invisible Children is a 2006 American documentary film which depicts the human rights abuses by the Lord's Resistance Army in Uganda.
Synopsis.
In the spring of 2003, Jason Russell, Bobby Bailey, and Laren Poole traveled to Africa to document the War in Darfur. Instead, they changed their focus to the conflict in northern Uganda, Africa's second longest-running conflict after the Eritrean War of Independence. The documentary depicts the abduction of children who are used as child soldiers by Joseph Kony and his Lord's Resistance Army (LRA). This film centers around a group of Ugandan children who walk miles every night to places of refuge in order to avoid abduction by the LRA.
Exhibition.
The film was first screened on June 22, 2004, at the Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice at the University of San Diego.
Since then, Invisible Children, Inc. has hosted more than 10,000 screenings at colleges, high schools, churches, concerts and other venues. As of June 2009, it is estimated that more than 5 million people have seen "Invisible Children: The Rough Cut."
Social activism.
The story of children depicted in the film was the basis for a grassroots movement mobilizing thousands of American teens into action to raise money to rebuild war-torn schools in northern Uganda and provide scholarships to African youth.
In 2005, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, Invisible Children, Inc., was created, giving individuals a way to respond to the situation in Uganda. An employee of the organization, Nate Henn, was killed in the July 2010 Kampala attacks.
DVD.
The film is roughly 55 minutes long, and the DVD includes a shorter 35-minute version for different screening options. The DVD also includes special features; deleted scenes, extras, filmmaker commentary, update on the war, and trailers from Invisible Children, Inc.


Honour Roll Clasp

The Honour Roll Clasp () was a decoration of Nazi Germany during World War II. There were different versions for the Army ("Heer"), Air Force ("Luftwaffe") and Navy ("Kriegsmarine").
History.
The Honour Roll of the German Army () was first issued in July 1941 after the German invasion of the Soviet Union. The roll recorded the names of soldiers who had distinguished themselves in combat in an exceptional way, and was published in the Army Ordinance Gazette ("Heeres-Verordnungsblatt"). Until 30 January 1944 it was a paper award only. On this date, Adolf Hitler introduced a physical decoration to be worn in uniform by those who appeared on the Honour Roll.
A similar Honour Roll of the German Navy ("Ehrentafel der Deutschen Kriegsmarine") was instituted in February 1943, with a wearable decoration introduced in May 1944.
The Honour Roll Clasp of the German Air Force ("Ehrenblatt der Deutschen Luftwaffe") was instituted on 5 July 1944, with the decoration introduced at the same time. Air Force members who had previously received The Luftwaffe Honour Goblet or the automatically received the Air Force Honour Roll Clasp.
For all three services, to qualify for the Honour Roll Clasp a recipient must have:
Awards were at the discretion of the German High Command and were awarded sparingly to retain a high level of prestige. A total of 4,556 were awarded to members of the army and Waffen-SS. The Waffen-SS was not legally part of the German Army, but were nevertheless eligible on the same conditions as the army.
Description.
The Honour Roll clasp of the Army was made of gilt metal. The decoration contained a wreath measuring 24.5 mm across, formed of six bunches of oak leaves on each side. The width of the wreath was 5 mm at the widest point and tapered to the apex where two oak leaves meet tip-to-tip. The height of the badge from base to tip was 26 mm. The swastika was superimposed upon the separately-made wreath and was soldered onto the wreath assembly.
Of the other versions, the Navy clasp comprised a swastika superimposed on an anchor, with the Air Force clasp showing the Luftwaffe eagle, both types displayed within a circular gilt metal oak wreath.
The reverse side of all versions had four pins for attachment to allow securing to a strip of Iron Cross second class ribbon. This ribbon was then looped through the second button hole on the tunic of the recipient. The decoration was not worn on the ribbon of the iron cross when the cross itself was worn.
Nazi era awards were initially banned by the post-war Federal Republic of Germany. In 1957 many World War II military decorations, including the Honour Roll Clasp, were re-authorised for wear. Re-designed to remove the swastika symbol, the army version now displayed two crossed swords in the centre, with the Navy and Air Force clasps unchanged apart from the absence of the swastika. Members of the Bundeswehr could wear the clasp on the ribbon bar, represented by a small replica of the award on an iron cross ribbon.


Second Petersburg Union order of battle

The following Union Army units and commanders fought in the Second Battle of Petersburg (June 15–18, 1864) of the American Civil War. Order of battle compiled from the casualty returns. The Confederate order of battle is listed separately.
General in Chief.
LTG Ulysses S. Grant, commanding general, U.S. armies
Army of the James.
MG Benjamin F. Butler
Headquarters units.
Naval Brigade

BG Charles K. Graham
Siege Artillery

Col Henry L. Abbot
X Corps.
BG Alfred H. Terry
XVIII Corps.
MG William F. Smith
Army of the Potomac.
MG George Meade
Headquarters units.
Provost Guard

BG Marsena R. Patrick
Artillery

BG Henry J. Hunt
Volunteer Engineer Brigade

BG Henry W. Benham
II Corps.
MG Winfield S. Hancock

MG David B. Birney
V Corps.
MG Gouverneur K. Warren
VI Corps.
MG Horatio G. Wright
IX Corps.
MG Ambrose E. Burnside
Cavalry Corps.
MG Philip H. Sheridan


352nd Infantry Division

The 352nd Infantry Division ("352. Infanterie-Division") was an infantry division of the German Army during World War II. Deployed on the Western Front, the division defended Omaha Beach on D-Day, 6 June 1944.
History.
Formation and strengths.
The 352nd Infantry Division was formed in occupied France in early November 1943; this followed the German High Command order issued in September that year to raise ten new infantry divisions to replace losses on the Eastern Front. These new divisions were to be combat ready by May 1944. The 352nd was placed under the command of "Generalleutnant" Dietrich Kraiss. Once up to strength and trained, the 352nd was expected to transfer to the Eastern Front, however there was no clear timetable or confirmation of that deployment and by March 1944, with the threat of an Allied invasion in the West, the 352nd received orders to prepare for the defence of the Atlantic Wall, in the Normandy area. The 352nd, when formed, was a mix of experienced soldiers drawn from worn-out or disbanded divisions that had served on the Eastern front, young German, conscripts and a significant number of Ost volunteers, the latter mainly employed in divisional support roles. Throughout the training period there were shortages of men, equipment, and fuel and by early 1944 the Division, though reasonably equipped, was far from properly prepared for front-line infantry combat.
With the Normandy coastal area extending 100 km, Field Marshal Rommel made the decision to split the area in half, by providing the static 716th Division with a shortened 47 km long 'Caen zone', (supported by the 21st Panzer Division) and deploying the 352nd Infantry Division to defend the 53 km long 'Bayeux zone' (bringing the 352nd in between the 709th Division and the 716th Division). Even with the benefit of all the fortifications under construction, this frontage was still far beyond what was considered prudent in German tactical doctrine. This led to a number of disagreements between Rommel, Dietrich Kraiss and the Corps Commander on how best to deploy the Grenadier Regiments of the 352nd. In the end it was decided that two infantry regiments would be stationed forward, and one infantry regiment would be left in reserve. However, the Regimental Commands were disrupted as some battalions were operating independently.
On the divisional right flank just south of Bayeux, Grenadier Regiment 915, (with 2 battalions) were positioned as a counterattack reserve, along with the Fusilier battalion. On the divisional left flank the 2nd Battalion of Grenadier Regiment 914 was positioned behind the gun emplacement at Pointe du Hoc. In the centre of the Divisional area was the 2nd Battalion of Grenadier Regiment 916, defending Omaha beach. The self-propelled anti tank battalion were positioned between the left and centre Divisional areas, in reserve. The 1st Battalion of GR 916 were deployed to the 716th Division’s defence sector and would oppose the British in the western area of Gold Beach.
D-Day.
The 352nd began its coastal duty by improving the beach obstacles, emplacing mined stakes and timber structures. This involved not only cutting and hauling timber from miles inland, but also driving stakes and piles deep into the sand. The first band of obstacles – about out from the waterline at high tide – consisted of 'Belgian Gates' – reinforced iron frames with supports that were built atop rollers. Next came a band of mined stakes and log ramps, meant to tear the bottoms out of landing craft or tip them over. Finally, there was a row of metal obstacles, including 'hedgehogs', made of steel rails. Although the Germans had attached mines to many of the obstacles, few of them were waterproofed, and corrosion had long since taken its toll of many of the explosive devices.
By June 1944, many of the coastal strongpoints in their sector were still being manned by personnel from the 726th Infantry Regiment, of the neighboring 716th Division. As a tradeoff, one infantry battalion from the 352nd Division was placed under the command of the 716th Division to help shore up their defenses. In the 'Bayeux zone', 914th regiment was stationed in the west, 916th regiment was stationed in the east, while 915th regiment was in reserve to the south. The soldiers of the 916th and 726th Regiments occupied slit trenches, eight concrete bunkers, 35 pillboxes, six mortar pits, sites for 35 Nebelwerfer, (multi-barrel rocket launchers) and 85 machine-gun nests. The defenses were clustered in strongpoints. In the early hours of 6 June the first reports of Allied activity in the 352nd zone came from the Cotentin Peninsula and elements of the 915th Grenadier Regiment were despatched to investigate, those units manning the defences on the coast also reported large numbers of vessels out to sea, and just before sunrise at 06:00 the allied naval bombardment began, ending 35 minutes later as US tanks and the first wave of infantry landed on the beach to a hail of fire from the heavily fortified strongpoints. Throughout the morning the Americans received heavy casualties on the beach but by 13:00 groups of US soldiers were in possession of key fortifications, had reached some heights overlooking the beach, and opened several beach exits. Just after 15:00 the 916th Grenadier Regiment counterattacked from the Colleville-sur-mer area but was forced to fall back once again, at around 17:00 the village of St Laurent-sur-mer fell to the Americans.
The 916th Grenadier Regiment and a mix of other units either already in place or brought forward throughout the day defended Omaha beach against the landings of the US 1st and 29th Divisions at Omaha Beach, holding the bluffs above the beach for several hours, inflicting heavy casualties, before being overwhelmed. The survivors of the 916 Grenadier battalion along with other units retreated in the morning hours of 7 June after the commander, Colonel Ernst Goth, could no longer hold the positions retaken in the night of 6/7 June.
After the invasion.
The 352nd was shattered in the fighting during June and July 1944, and having taken heavy casualties by 30 July it was considered no longer capable of operating as a division, the survivors having been amalgamated into various ad hoc battle groups and other divisions.
It was reformed as the 352nd "Volksgrenadier Division" in September 1944 and fought in the Battle of the Bulge. Thereafter, it fought defensively around Trier and the Moselle until in mid-March 1945 it was once again considered not to be strong enough to be an active division, with only the remnants escaping across the Rhine at Worms. It was partially reconstituted one last time as a battlegroup in mid-April and surrendered near Darmstadt.
Werner Pluskat.
Major Werner Pluskat, who was featured in Cornelius Ryan's book "The Longest Day", was in the 352nd Artillery ("Artillerie Regiment") and fired his guns on Omaha Beach until he ran out of ammunition. He was forward observer on 'WN59 – Resistance Point 59' above the beach on the Eastern flank.
Order of battle.
The 352nd's order of battle on the eve of the Allied Invasion was as follows (NB: the artillery component is also shown):


Operation Perch order of battle

This is the order of battle for the Operation Perch, a World War II operation between British and German forces in Normandy, France between June 6 and June 19, 1944.
British Order of Battle.
21st Army Group.
General Officer Commanding-in-Chief: General Sir Bernard Montgomery
Chief of the General Staff: Freddie de Guingand
Second Army.
General Officer Commanding-in-Chief: Lieutenant-General Miles Dempsey
I Corps.
Lieutenant-General John Crocker
XXX Corps.
Lieutenant-General Gerard Bucknall
German order of battle.
I SS Panzer Corps.
SS-Obergruppenführer Sepp Dietrich


Naval Front Clasp

The Naval Front Clasp () was a World War II German military decoration awarded to officers and men of the "Kriegsmarine" in recognition of long, front line service for all naval units, except the submarine service, which had their own clasp to award. This bronze clasp was awarded for service or valor above that of the basic war badge. The award was instituted on 19 November 1944 by Grand Admiral Karl Dönitz.


186th (2/2nd West Riding) Brigade

The 186th (2/2nd West Riding) Brigade was a formation of the Territorial Force of the British Army. It was assigned to the 62nd (2nd West Riding) Division and served on the Western Front during the First World War.


William G. Walsh

Gunnery Sergeant William Gary Walsh (April 7, 1922 – February 27, 1945) was a United States Marine who heroically sacrificed his life to save the lives of his fellow Marines during the Battle of Iwo Jima during World War II. For his actions on February 27, 1945, he posthumously received the Medal of Honor.
Biography.
William Walsh was born on April 7, 1922, in Roxbury, Massachusetts. He attended public schools in Boston before enlisting in the United States Marine Corps in April 1942. He went to boot camp at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina, and advanced training at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.
From Camp Lejeune, he went to Samoa and was assigned to a unit of Marine scouts. His next assignment was with the 2nd Marine Raider battalion, the famed Carlson's Raiders. During the United States' war with Japan in the Pacific, he saw action at Guadalcanal, Bougainville, Tarawa, and in the Russell Islands.
Following two years of service in the Pacific theatre, he returned to the United States. He returned overseas later with the 5th Marine Division in time for the Iwo Jima invasion.
It was at Iwo Jima, while leading his men against a fortified hill on February 27, 1945, he threw himself on a hand grenade, sacrificing his life to save the lives of fellow Marines. For this heroic act, he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.
Initially buried in the 5th Marine Division Cemetery on Iwo Jima, GnySgt Walsh's remains were later reinterred in Arlington National Cemetery on April 20, 1948.
Medal of Honor citation.
The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR posthumously to
GUNNERY SERGEANT WILLIAM G. WALSH
UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS RESERVE
for service as set forth in the following CITATION:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as Leader of an Assault Platoon, serving with Company G, Third Battalion, Twenty-seventh Marines, Fifth Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces at Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, on 27 February 1945. With the advance of his company toward Hill 362 disrupted by vicious machine-gun fire from a forward position which guarded the approaches to this key enemy stronghold, Gunnery Sergeant Walsh fearlessly charged at the head of his platoon against the Japanese entrenched on the ridge above him, utterly oblivious to the unrelenting fury of hostile automatic weapons and hand grenades employed with fanatic desperation to smash his daring assault. Thrown back by the enemy's savage resistance, he once again led his men in a seemingly impossible attack up the steep, rocky slope, boldly defiant of the annihilating streams of bullets which saturated the area, and despite his own casualty losses and the overwhelming advantage held by the Japanese in superior numbers and dominate position, gained the ridge's top only to be subjected to an intense barrage of hand grenades thrown by the remaining Japanese staging a suicidal last stand on the reverse slope. When one of the grenades fell in the midst of his surviving men, huddled together in a small trench, Gunnery Sergeant Walsh in a final valiant act of complete self-sacrifice, instantly threw himself upon the deadly bomb, absorbing with his own body the full and terrific force of the explosion. Through his extraordinary initiative and inspiring valor in the face of almost certain death, he saved his comrades from injury and possible loss of life and enabled his company to seize and hold this vital enemy position. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
/S/ HARRY S. TRUMAN


Chickamauga Union order of battle

The following Union Army units and commanders fought in the Battle of Chickamauga of the American Civil War. The Confederate order of battle is listed separately. Order of battle compiled from the army organization during the campaign.
Army of the Cumberland.
MG William Rosecrans, Commanding
General Staff
Chief of Staff: BG James A. Garfield
General Headquarters
Pioneer Brigade
BG James St. Clair Morton, Chief Engineer (w)
XIV Corps.
MG George Henry Thomas
Headquarters
Provost guard:
Escort:
XX Corps.
MG Alexander McDowell McCook
Headquarters
Provost guard:

81st Indiana Infantry, Company H: Cpt William J. Richards
Escort:

2nd Kentucky Cavalry, Company I: Lt George W. L. Batman
XXI Corps.
MG Thomas Leonidas Crittenden
Headquarters
Escort:

15th Illinois Cavalry, Company K: Cpt Samuel B. Sherer
Reserve Corps.
MG Gordon Granger
Cavalry Corps.
BG Robert B. Mitchell


Rear admiral (D)

In the British Royal Navy, a Rear Admiral (D) or Rear Admiral Destroyers is a flag officer in command of the destroyer flotillas of a fleet.


Irish Defence Forces rank insignia

Rank insignia in the Irish Defence Forces are an indication of the wearer's military rank, and worn by officers and other members of Ireland's Defence Forces as an element of their uniform, typically on a single chest tab or as a shoulder board.
Irish Air Corps.
Irish Air Corps rank insignia are an indication of the wearer's military rank, and worn by officers and other members of the Irish Air Corps as an element of their uniform.
Irish Naval Service.
Naval reserve.
Prior to 2002 ranks for NCOs in the Naval Reserve were in blue instead of gold.


European Bureau for Conscientious Objection

The European Bureau for Conscientious Objection (EBCO) is a European umbrella organisation for national peace organisations supporting conscientious objectors. Its seat is in Brussels and it was founded in 1979. Its aim is to organise solidarity campaigns for conscientious objectors facing legal charges in European countries as well as to lobby for the rights of conscientious objection to military services n European institutions. Together with War Resisters' International, which is also one of its members, it is considered one of the leading international NGOs working on conscientious objection.
Objectives.
ECBO stands up for the right to conscientious objection to abstain from warfare or any other military activity as well as from preparations to them. They claim this right as a human right. They lobby for the right to asylum for conscientious objectors, if their home countries don't recognise their rights accordingly. They also promote the abolition of conscription as well as cuts in military budgets.
Activities.
The organisation creates a network between national organisations from Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Russia., Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine and United Kingdom. Since 2017, Friedhelm Schneider from Germany acts as the organisation's president.
The organisation lobbied for European countries to sign and ratify the Optional Protocol on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict to the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
ECBO writes reports and conducts research on conscientious objection around Europe. Since at least 2008, ECBO writes an annual repport on conscientious objection and civilian service for the European Parliament Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs.
ECBO has participatory status with the Council of Europe since 1998. Since 2005, it is also a member of the INGOs Conference of the Council of Europe. Since 1995, it is a full member of the European Youth Forum.


232nd Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)

The 232rd Infantry Brigade was a formation of the British Army during both World War I and World War II.
First World War.
It was assigned to the 75th Division and served in the Sinai and Palestine Campaign. Units included:
Second World War.
The 232nd Infantry Brigade was formed from the 2nd (Malta) Infantry Brigade. It was based in Malta and Egypt.
Commander was Brigadier F.A.J.E. Marshall.


Killer Shrike

Killer Shrike is the name of two fictional characters appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics.
Publication history.
The Simon Maddicks version of Killer Shrike first appeared in "Rampaging Hulk" #1 (January 1977) and was created by John Warner and John Buscema.
Fictional character biography.
Simon Maddicks.
Simon Maddicks was born in Williamsburg, Virginia. He began his career as a soldier in the United States Army. However, after that, not even Maddicks recalls much about his own past for some reason. When he was selected to be a special agent of the Roxxon Oil Company, Maddicks became a mercenary and professional criminal, more specifically a special agent in covert operations. He was sent to the Mutagenics Laboratory of the Brand Corporation, where he underwent extensive conditioning which increased his human abilities. He also underwent surgery which implanted a miniature anti-gravity generator in his spine. Roxxon later gave Maddicks his super-villain costume and the codename "Killer Shrike".
For his first mission, Roxxon sent him to infiltrate the subversive organization called the Conspiracy, which Roxxon learned about through major purchases of technology from the Brand Corporation. The Conspiracy sent Killer Shrike to capture a monster known as Goram. The plan was thwarted by the super-hero known as Ulysses Bloodstone who short-circuited the villain's electrical weapons, badly injuring him. Feeling sorry for Killer Shrike's condition, Bloodstone's agents sent the villain to a New York hospital, where he lay comatose for several weeks.
Upon awakening from the coma, Maddicks was contacted once again by Brand scientists led by Dr. Stephen Weems. Weems, better known as the villain Modular Man, sought revenge against his enemies Spider-Man and Beast. In return, the Modular Man promised Shrike information about his past. In battle with Spider-Man and the Beast, Weems was killed before he could uphold his end of the bargain. Shrike escaped and was soon contacted by agents of the Brand Corporation. They helped restore his memory, and assigned him to undercover work as bodyguard to Brand president James Melvin. His costume became controlled by the Will-o'-the-Wisp, and he was forced to abduct Dr. Marla Madison to reconstitute the immaterial Wisp. In the end, he was defeated by Spider-Man. With Brand's public dissolution, Killer Shrike became a free agent.
With other superhuman adventurers and criminals, Killer Shrike was later captured and imprisoned by the Locksmith. He was freed by Spider-Woman. He later robbed a bank, but was defeated by Spider-Man. He then attempted a theft of a power booster from the Tinkerer after commissioning him to build it for him, but was again defeated both by Spider-Man and a failsafe function the Tinkerer installs in his products to deal with such situations.
During the events of the "Acts of Vengeance", Killer Shrike attacked Moon Knight, alongside the second Ringer and Coachwhip. He shot down the Mooncopter, seriously injuring Moon Knight's pilot Frenchie and then escaped.
Killer Shrike was later hired by Surge and battled the She-Hulk alongside Grey Gargoyle and Dragon Man, but was defeated.
Ever since, Killer Shrike was most often seen getting beaten up by several super-heroes, most often the Hulk. Killer Shrike was briefly a member of the Cardinal's team of flying super villains known as Air Force. Killer Shrike was oddly absent when the team was blackmailed by Night Thrasher into providing relief for Rwandan refugees.
Killer Shrike appeared to have been murdered by the Soldiers of Misfortune.
In the "Secret War" miniseries, Killer Shrike's equipment got updated by the Tinkerer. This still was not enough for Maddicks to gain a victory, as he was soon afterward defeated by the Avengers, and apprehended by S.H.I.E.L.D..
During the "GLX-Mas Special", Killer Shrike tried to steal a device from Roxxon Company known as "Project Z" but was defeated by the Grasshopper, an employee of the company.
Killer Shrike was later apprehended by Baron Helmut Zemo and forced to join the Thunderbolts, for so far unclear reasons.
Killer Shrike later made a cameo at the Bar With No Name.
Killer Shrike was beat up by Moon Knight and attacked in the hospital by the Black Spectre.
Killer Shrike later appeared as a member of the Shadow Council's Masters of Evil. Killer Shrike is present when Max Fury and the Masters of Evil capture John Steele after he attempts to escape Bagalia with the Serpent Crown and the Crown of Thorns.
Killer Shrike was among the villains to join Swarm's Sinister Six when they attacked Spider-Man and the students of the Jean Grey School for Higher Learning. After Swarm was defeated by Hellion, Killer Shrike and the other villains surrendered.
During the "Hunted" storyline, Killer Shrike is among the animal-themed characters that were captured by Taskmaster and Black Ant for Kraven the Hunter's "Great Hunt" that was sponsored by Arcade's company Arcade Industries. He watched the fight between Spider-Man and Scorpion until the Hunter-Bots created by Arcade Industries arrived. He then ran from the Hunter-Bots. Killer Shrike later helped the animal-themed characters in fighting the Hunter-Bots.
Unnamed criminal.
Killer Shrike sold his original costume to Roderick Kingsley, who then sold it to an unnamed criminal. Killer Shrike was present with Hobgoblin (who was actually Roderick Kingsley's butler Claude) when he led his forces into battle against the Goblin King's Goblin Nation. After Hobgoblin was killed by Goblin King, Killer Shrike was among the villains that defected to the Goblin Nation.
Following Spider-Man's victory over the Goblin King, Killer Shrike was seen with the former Hobgoblin henchmen at the Bar with No Name where they encounter Electro. Killer Shrike is later among the villains at the Bar with No Name that convinces Black Cat to lead them.
During the "AXIS" storyline, Killer Shrike was among the supervillains that Missile Mate assembled to join the side of Phil Urich (who was operating as Goblin King) and the remnants of the Goblin Underground upon claiming that Roderick Kingsley "abandoned" them.
Killer Shrike and Melter later beat up Ringer to serve as Black Cat's warning to anyone who steals from her.
Powers and abilities.
Extensive conditioning and surgery by Brand Corporation scientists enhanced Simon Maddicks's strength and other physical abilities. He is capable of flight by means of a surgically implanted anti-gravity generator at the base of his spine, activated by a neural link.
Besides that, he has extensive training and experience in hand-to-hand combat and martial arts, and proficiency with hand weapons including guns and knives.
Killer Shrike wears body armor, an armored suit made of an insulated steel alloy mesh capable of protecting him from flight turbulence and small caliber weapons fire. His major weapons system is the twin power-blasters worn on his wrists, with titanium talons capable of slashing flesh, wood, cinderblock, and light metals, and of discharging high-frequency electrical bolts.
Other versions.
Ultimate Marvel.
The Ultimate version of Killer Shrike made a cameo in "Ultimate Spider-Man" #72, trying to rob Roxxon Energy Corporation Industries of their supply of Adamantium - but was apprehended by Spider-Man. This version was a deranged, desperate man who seemed to almost froth at the mouth; Spider-Man himself referred to him as 'Steroid-Boy with a Laser Tag Fetish'. It was later revealed that he was an employee of Tinkerer hired specifically to bother Donald Roxxon as part of his revenge for firing him.
In other media.
The Simon Maddicks version of Killer Shrike appears in the "" animated television series, voiced by Ty Olsson. This version is an enforcer for the Maggia in season one and Justin Hammer / Titanium Man in season two, along with Unicorn. Additionally, his anti-gravity generator is incorporated into his wrist blasters. Introduced in the episode "Secrets and Lies", Shrike and Unicorn kidnap Tony Stark, Pepper Potts, and Gene Khan on their Maggia boss Count Nefaria's behalf to send a message to Khan's stepfather and their rivals, the Tong. However, James Rhodes is able to bring Tony his Iron Man armor so he can defeat Shrike and Unicorn and help his friends escape. Following this, Gene as the Mandarin captures and tortures Shrike and Unicorn before returning them to the Maggia in the episode "Pepper, Interrupted". In the episode "Don't Worry, Be Happy", Shrike and Unicorn break into a Tong vault, only to come into conflict with the Tong, the Mandarin, and Happy Hogan as Iron Man before fleeing the battle. In the episode "The Invincible Iron Man: Disassembled", Shrike and Unicorn assist the Maggia in a heist until War Machine foils them. As of the episode "Hostile Takeover", Shrike has fallen in with Hammer as he assists him and Whiplash in capturing Iron Man, though the hero is able to activate his armor's lockdown function beforehand. Shrike and Unicorn oversee Mr. Fix's attempt to dissect Iron Man until Pepper uses Iron Man's stealth armor to save him and defeat the villains. In the episode "The Hammer Falls", Shrike and Unicorn attempt to leave town due to Hammer's increasingly paranoid behavior, only to be attacked by him as Titanium Man, who severely injures Unicorn. When Iron Man intervenes, Shrike attempts to get the hero to kill him so he can avoid Hammer's wrath, but ends up in protective police custody instead. Titanium Man later intercepts the prison transport and kidnaps Shrike before subjecting him to zombification gas to prevent him from revealing his illegal activities.


Second Bull Run Confederate order of battle

The following Confederate States Army units and commanders fought in the Second Battle of Bull Run, called the Second Battle of Manassas by Confederate records, of the American Civil War. The Union order of battle is listed separately. Order of battle compiled from the army organization during the battle, the casualty returns and the reports.
Army of Northern Virginia.
Gen Robert E. Lee, Commanding
Right Wing.
MG James Longstreet
Left Wing.
MG Thomas J. Jackson
Chief of Artillery: Col Stapleton Crutchfield


Radio Operator Badge

The Radio Operator & Air Gunner's Badge () is a commonly accepted title for the "Luftwaffen-Fliegerschützen-Bordfunker-und Bordmechanikerabzeichen" (Combined Air Gunner, Radio Operator and Flight Engineer Badge). It was a German military decoration awarded to radio operators, air gunners and mechanics (flight engineers) who were members of the German Air Force (Luftwaffe) after they completed two months training or had taken part in at least five operational flights. If wounded during an operational flight, the badge could be awarded and worn earlier. Later in June 1942, a separate badge was introduced for air gunners and flight engineers. That badge had the same qualifications.
Description.
The badge came into existence in 1935. It was to be placed on the lower part of the left breast side of the tunic, below the Iron Cross. The badge was oval in shape and had a silver-plated outside wreath around the rim. The middle of the wreath had a national eagle "flying from left to right in a downwards direction"; clutched in its claws were two crossed arrow-head lightning bolts. The polished eagle was also silver-plated but made of "oxidized old-silver" giving it a different shade of color than the polished wreath. The right side of the wreath was composed of laurel leaves and the left side of oak leaves. A Nazi swastika was at the bottom middle of the outside wreath. The badge was originally made of aluminum, however, in the latter stages of World War II it was made only of a simple metal alloy. There was also a cloth version of the badge for Luftwaffe N.C.O.'s. The officer's cloth version was made of "silver bullion".
On 22 June 1942, a separate Air Gunner's and Flight Engineer's badge () was introduced. It was awarded after an air gunner, mechanic (flight engineer) or aircrew meteorologist completed the same criteria which was required for this badge.


Ronald Read (philanthropist)

Ronald James Read (October 23, 1921 – June 2, 2014) was an American philanthropist, investor, janitor, and gas station attendant. Read grew up in Dummerston, Vermont, in an impoverished farming household. He walked or hitchhiked daily to his high school and was the first high school graduate in his family. He enlisted in the United States Army during World War II, serving in Italy as a military policeman. Upon an honorable discharge from the military in 1945, Read returned to Brattleboro, Vermont, where he worked as a gas station attendant and mechanic for about 25 years. Read retired for one year and then took a part-time janitor job at J. C. Penney where he worked for 17 years until 1997.
Read died in 2014. He received media coverage in numerous newspapers and magazines after bequeathing US$1.2 million to Brooks Memorial Library and $4.8 million to Brattleboro Memorial Hospital. Read amassed a fortune of almost $8 million by investing in dividend-producing stocks, avoiding the stocks of companies he did not understand such as technology companies, living frugally, and being a buy and hold investor in a diversified portfolio of stocks with a heavy concentration in blue chip companies.
Early life and career.
Read was born on October 23, 1921, to George and Florence Ray Read into an indigent family that managed a farm. He was raised in Dummerston, Vermont, in an extremely tiny house. To travel to high school, he daily walked and hitchhiked to Brattleboro. Read graduated from Brattleboro Union High School in 1940 and was the first high school graduate in his family. He had an older brother, Frank. During World War II, he enlisted in the United States Army and was deployed to North Africa, Italy, and the Pacific Ocean theater. In Italy, he worked as a military policeman. He reached the Army rank of technician fifth grade. Right before Christmas 1945, he finished his deployment, was honorably discharged, and traveled back to Brattleboro.
Read worked for almost a quarter of a century as an attendant and mechanic at Haviland's Service Station, a gas station that he and his older brother, Fred, later purchased and then sold upon retiring. He retired in 1979, which lasted a year. He then worked part-time at J. C. Penney where he did custodial and maintenance work before retiring in 1997 after working there for 17 years.
Personal life.
Read met his future wife, Barbara March, at Haviland's Service Station when she was a customer and he worked as a gas station attendant. March had two teenaged children including Phillip Brown who was in college when Read and March married in 1960. Read purchased for US$12,000 a house where he lived with his wife and stepchildren. He financed his stepchildren's college education. His wife died in 1970 of cancer and he did not remarry.
Read's hobbies included wood chopping, stamp collecting, and coin collecting. He frequently drove his car to his family's homestead and stored firewood he chopped there, and looked for tree branches on the ground to use for the wood-burning stove at his house. Read frequently patronized Brattleboro Memorial Hospital's coffee shop to drink one cup of coffee and eat a breakfast of an English muffin with peanut butter. After the coffee place shuttered, he began to eat breakfast at Friendly's. Read met the hospital development director, who suggested he check out the library and helped him secure his first library card in 2007. He regularly visited the library to return a pile of books and check out another pile.
Investing and frugality.
"Reader's Digest"s Juliana LaBianca said Read was "a blue-collar guy with blue-chip smarts". "The Wall Street Journal" noted that his roughly $2,380 purchase of 39 Pacific Gas and Electric Company shares on January 13, 1959, grew to $10,735 by the time he died. Read bought many shares of The J.M. Smucker Company, CVS Health, and Johnson & Johnson and held for long-term several blue chip companies, including Procter & Gamble, JPMorgan Chase, General Electric, and Dow Chemical Company. He focused on companies that paid generous dividends, which he would reinvest into purchasing additional stock. He did not invest in technology companies and the stock "du jour" because he concentrated largely on companies he knew about. When he died, he had no fewer than 95 stocks that were diversified in many industries such as healthcare, telecommunications, public utilities, rail transport, banks, and consumer goods. Although he owned shares of Lehman Brothers when it went bankrupt in 2008, the bankruptcy minimally affected his returns because his investments were diversified. In a safe deposit box at his bank, Read stored his stock certificates, which when piled together reached five inches high. To remain updated on his investments, he relied on "The Wall Street Journal", "Barron's", and the public library near him. Read read "The Wall Street Journal" daily.
His neighbors, family, and friends did not know the scale of the money he had amassed. Read used a safety pin on his fraying khaki denim jacket so he could continue wearing it and put on shabby flannel shirts. Read was a regular at a Friendly's where one time a patron paid for his meal because the patron thought Read could not afford the meal. He owned a used 2007 Toyota Yaris, which Read's lawyer, Laurie Rowell, said despite his being a millionaire, whenever he visited, he parked in the further parking spaces that did not have parking meters.
Writing in "The Boston Globe", Nik DeCosta-Klipa called Read "the epitome of Yankee frugality, according to those who knew him". Despite the limited salary from his employment, he was able to amass a substantial fortune through purchasing equities. Barry Ritholtz of "The Washington Post" praised Read, writing, "How a man of modest means accumulated so much wealth contains exemplary lessons for saving that apply to all of us." He noted that lessons could be learned from Read's experience: "But there is also a cautionary tale about recognizing the value of your finite time here on Earth. Perhaps learning to enjoy life while you can is part of that equation." "The Wall Street Journal" said that "Besides being a good stock picker, he displayed remarkable frugality and patience—which gave him many years of compounded growth." Referring to Thomas J. Stanley's 1996 book "The Millionaire Next Door", Los Angeles Times columnist Michael Hiltzik found Read to be "a Vermont retiree who appeared to be one of Stanley's emblematic secret blue-collar millionaires".
Death and legacy.
As Read's health deteriorated, Brattleboro Memorial Hospital attended to him. He died there on June 2, 2014, at 92. Read was a widower, survived by two stepchildren, Philip Brown and Bonnie Brown. His funeral was conducted with military honors, and he was buried at Meeting House Hill Cemetery.
His estate was nearly $8 million, much of which was in shares of stock. He bequeathed $2 million to his stepchildren, caregivers, and friends. He donated $4.8 million to Brattleboro Memorial Hospital and $1.2 million to Brooks Memorial Library, which at the time had a $600,000 budget and a $600,000 endowment and was affected by the local budget squeeze like other libraries in the state. Both bequests were the largest donations the institutions had received. Read also gave a historic phonograph and a collection of drums to the Dummerston Historical Society. The news of his donations was reported in numerous newspapers and magazines.


General der Luftwaffe

General der Luftwaffe (en: "General of the air force") was a General of the branch rank of the Deutsche Luftwaffe (en: German Air Force) in Nazi Germany. Until the end of World War II in 1945, this particular general officer rank was on three-star level (OF-8), equivalent to a US Lieutenant general.
The "General of the branch" ranks of the Luftwaffe were in 1945:
The rank was equivalent to the General of the branch ranks of the "Heer" (army) as follows:
The rank was also equivalent to the German three-star ranks:


Nashville Union order of battle

The following Union Army units and commanders fought in the Battle of Nashville of the American Civil War. Order of battle compiled from the army organization during the battle (December 15–16, 1864). The Union force was a conglomerate of units from several different departments provisionally attached to George H. Thomas’ Department of the Cumberland. The IV Corps and the District of Etowah were permanently attached to the Department of the Cumberland while the Cavalry Corps had been attached to the Army of the Cumberland until October 1864 when it was transferred to the Military Division of the Mississippi. The XXIII Corps was detached from the Department of the Ohio and Smith’s Corps (formerly known as the "Right Wing-XVI Corps") was detached from the Department of the Tennessee. Other brigades and regiments from the Army of the Tennessee which were unable to rejoin their respective commands were organized into the Provisional Division and attached to the District of the Etowah.
The Confederate order of battle is shown separately.
Army of the Cumberland.
MG George H. Thomas, Commanding

Headquarters
IV Corps.
BG Thomas J. Wood
XXIII Corps.
MG John M. Schofield
Detachment, Army of the Tennessee.
MG Andrew J. Smith
Provisional Detachment (District of the Etowah).
MG James B. Steedman
Cavalry Corps.
MG James H. Wilson
Escort:
Mississippi River Squadron.
10th District.
Lt. Commander LeRoy Fitch


Appomattox campaign Confederate order of battle

The following Confederate States Army units and commanders fought in the final military encounter of the American Civil War, the 1865 Appomattox campaign, which lasted from March 29 to April 9 and resulted in Confederate surrender on April 9 at the Appomattox Court House. Order of battle has been compiled from the army organization during the campaign. The Union order of battle is listed separately.
Army of Northern Virginia.
Gen Robert E. Lee, Commanding
Staff:
First Corps.
LTG James Longstreet
Staff:
Second Corps.
MG John B. Gordon
Staff:
Third Corps.
LTG A. P. Hill (k, April 2)
Provost Guard
Fourth Corps.
LTG Richard H. Anderson
Cavalry Corps.
MG Fitzhugh Lee
Department of Richmond.
LTG Richard S. Ewell (c, April 6)
Ltc Thomas J. Spencer


Fredericksburg Union order of battle

The following Union Army units and commanders fought in the Battle of Fredericksburg of the American Civil War. Order of battle compiled from the army organization during the campaign. The Confederate order of battle is listed separately.
Army of the Potomac.
MG Ambrose Burnside, Commanding
General Headquarters units.
Escort:
Provost Guard: BG Marsena R. Patrick
Volunteer Engineer Brigade: BG Daniel Phineas Woodbury
Artillery Reserve: Ltc William Hays
Unattached Artillery: Maj Thomas S. Trumbull
Right Grand Division.
MG Edwin Vose Sumner
II Corps.
MG Darius N. Couch
IX Corps.
BG Orlando B. Willcox
Escort
Cavalry Division.
BG Alfred Pleasonton
Center Grand Division.
MG Joseph Hooker
III Corps.
BG George Stoneman
V Corps.
MG Daniel Butterfield
Left Grand Division.
MG William B. Franklin
Escort
I Corps.
MG John F. Reynolds
Escort
VI Corps.
MG William F. Smith
Escort
Reserve Grand Division.
"Further information":
XI Corps.
BG Julius Stahel
XII Corps.
MG Henry Warner Slocum
Escort


Ceylon Communist Party (Maoist)

Ceylon Communist Party (Maoist) is a political party in Sri Lanka. The party surged in 1964 following a split in the Ceylon Communist Party. Initially the party just called itself 'Ceylon Communist Party' as well, and was distinguished from the main CCP in Sri Lanka by denominations like 'Ceylon Communist Party (Peking Wing)', etc. In the end of the 1960s the party was one of the major leftist parties in the country. Initially Party was led by Premalal Kumarasiri and N. Shanmugathasan.
History.
1960s.
Background.
In June 1963, K.A. Subramaniam and D.B. Alwis have signed an agreement with All-China Youth Federation on behalf of the Ceylon Federation of Communist and Progressive Youth Leagues for cooperation between the two organizations. They met China's vice premier and foreign minister Chen Yi during this trip to the People's Republic of China in 1963.
Initial Organising Committee.
The Organising Committee as on November 17, 1963 consisting of Premalal Kumarasiri, N. Sanmugathasan, D. N. Nadunge, D. K. D. Jinendrapala, Higgoda Dharmasena, K. Manickavasagar, N. L. Perera, K. Wimalapala, K. Kulaveerasingham, W. S. de Siriwardene, A. D. Charleshamy, Watson Fernando, W. A. Dharmadasa, S. M. Wickremasinghe, A. Jayasuriya, D. A. Gunasekera, Cyril Kulatunge, Victor Silva, K.A. Subramaniam, Susima, K. V. Krishnakutty, S. Janapriya, Kanti Abeyasekere, E. T. Moorthy, Dharmadasa Jayakoddy, H. G. A. de Silva, S. M. P. de Silva, H. M. P. Mohideen, D. M. J. Abeyagunewardene, O. A. Ramiah, D. B. Alwis, C. S. Manohar, S. Sivadasan, Samarasiri de Silva and P. Wijayatileke.
Founding.
CPP founded in 1964. Premalal Kumarasiri received the Zhou Enlai, first Premier of the People's Republic of China, on behalf of the Ceylon Communist Party (Maoist) when Zhou visited Sri Lanka in 1964.
Early years and first splits.
In 1964, Rohana Wijeweera became a functionary of the Ceylon Communist Party (Maoist). Soon he was at odds with party leaders and impatient with their lack of revolutionary purpose and formed his own movement on 14 May 1965 after a discussion with like minded youth. It became known as the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna or JVP. Subsequently, the “Peradiga Sulanga” (Broad Wind) team led by Gamini Yapa also left the Party.
In 1965, W. A. Dharmadasa returned to the Ceylon Communist Party. He was actively working for Ceylon Communist Party (Maoist) in Tamil speaking areas also.
Representation in the Parliament.
From 1965 to 1970 S. D. Bandaranayake was representing Ceylon Communist Party (Maoist) views in the parliament. During the struggles in the North against caste oppression and untouchability, he spoke in support of the struggles in parliament as well as visited the north with N. Shanmugathasan and K. A. Subramaniam to personally express solidarity with the struggling masses.
In 1966 S. D. Bandaranayake questioned in the parliament regarding the mass uprising procession held from Chunnakam on 21 October 1966 to protest the caste oppression. Ceylon Communist Party (Maoist) took the decision to carry forward the struggle and to conduct the procession in defiance of the ban by the police, this gave revolutionary enthusiasm to all the fronts of the Party. The blow struck on the procession opposing casteism in Chunnakam on 21 October 1966, many cadres were brutally assaulted by the police and received bleeding injuries.
S. D. Bandaranayake, D. K. D. Jinendrapala, and Watson Fernando were arrested on 1 May 1969 in Colombo when the UNP Government banned the May Day rally. The Ceylon Communist Party (Maoist) key leaders were brutally assaulted and arrested by the Police in Jaffna. Among them K.A. Subramaniam bed ridden for months at the residence of N. Sanmugathasan for treatment. S. D. Bandaranayake questioned in the parliament regarding these atrocities against the mass rally held in Jaffna on 1 May 1969 to protest the ban.
1970s.
In 1972, some cadres criticized the party leader N. Shanmugathasan's opposition to the United Front government, arguing that UF was a 'progressive force'. Whilst the party leader N. Shanmugathasan was abroad in Albania in April 1972, D. N. Nadunge, Watson Fernando, E. T. Moorthy, D. A. Gunasekara and V.A. Kandasamy tried to seize control over the party. This faction regrouped and at a meeting on November 12, 1972 it took the name Communist Party of Sri Lanka (Marxist-Leninist). They sought to bring the Maoist movement closer to the UF orbit, but this faction remained a minor group compared to N. Shanmugathasan's Ceylon Communist Party (Maoist) which had the strong support from Samal De Silva, Kanti Abeyasekere and K.A. Subramaniam.
Following the death of Mao Zedong and the take-over in China by Deng Xiaoping, the party strongly denounced the new line of the Chinese leadership. In 1978, Party, led by N. Sanmugathasan, issued a public statement in defiance of the decision of the Central Committee not to accept the decision of the Tamils self-determination and reject the Three Worlds Theory. This decision led to a split with Tamil self-determination and TWT defenders, and many, including Samal De Silva, K.A. Subramaniam, S. K. Senthivel, S. D. Bandaranayake left the party and formed a new political party called the Communist Party of Sri Lanka (Left).
1980s onwards.
The party regrouped internationally amongst those who reaffirmed Maoism, and was one of the signatories of the founding declaration of the Revolutionary Internationalist Movement.
In 1991 a conference was held which reconstructed it as 'Ceylon Communist Party (Maoist)'. N. Sanmugathasan led the party until his death in 1993.
International affiliations.
The party already maintained strong connections with China in the era of Mao Zedong. Following the beginning of the Naxalite insurgency, CCP supported the CPI (M-L) by working as the liaison point between the Naxalites and China. Ajith Rupasinghe Surendra was affiliated the pro-Democracy factions in the Nepalese Civil War. Party was a member of the former Revolutionary Internationalist Movement.


279th Infantry Division (Wehrmacht)

The 279th Infantry Division () was a planned infantry division of the German Heer during World War II. Its deployment, ordered in May 1940, was interrupted in June after the Franco-German armistice.
History.
On 22 May 1940, the assembly of the tenth "Aufstellungswelle" was ordered by a military directive, and the divisions of the tenth wave were scheduled to complete deployment by 1 July. After the Armistice of 22 June 1940 between Germany and the French Third Republic, the deployment of the divisions of the tenth wave was aborted. The regiments assigned to the 279th Infantry Division, the Infantry Regiments 550, 551, and 552, as well as the Artillery Regiment 279, were returned to their reserve formations in Germany. The 279th Infantry Division was not redeployed.
The sole commander of the 279th Infantry Division during its assembly was Herbert Stimmel.


8th Armoured Division (United Kingdom)

The 8th Armoured Division was an armoured division of the British Army during the Second World War. It was deployed to Egypt in June 1942 but never operated as a complete formation and was disbanded in January the following year.
History.
The division was sent to North Africa but never saw active service as a complete formation. As the division could not be provided with a lorried infantry brigade, it was broken up and was finally disbanded in Egypt on 1 January 1943.
Following the Second Battle of El Alamein a plan was put forth to use the remains of the division as a self-contained pursuit force to dart forward into the German-Italian rear as far as possibly Tobruk, however the plan to use the division was shelved and units in the forward area were used instead. Afterwards, the name of the division was used for the purpose of military deception.
Order of Battle.
The units which formed part of the division included (day/month/year). Worth to note, in the six months the division was in Egypt, it never operated as a complete formation. Order of battle was:
Commanders.
Commanders of the brigade included:


William Matix


Bentonville Union order of battle

The following Union Army units and commanders fought in the Battle of Bentonville of the American Civil War. The Confederate order of battle is shown separately.
Grand Army of the West.
MG William T. Sherman, commanding
"Headquarters Guard"
"Engineers and Mechanics"
Right Wing (Army of the Tennessee).
MG Oliver O. Howard
"Escort"
"Pontoon Train Guard"
XV Corps.
MG John A. Logan
XVII Corps.
MG Francis Preston Blair, Jr.
Escort
Left Wing (Army of Georgia, Recently the Army of the Cumberland).
MG Henry W. Slocum
Staff:
"Pontoniers"
XIV Corps.
Bvt MG Jefferson C. Davis
Staff:
XX Corps.
Bvt MG Alpheus S. Williams


Aufstellungswelle

In the German Wehrmacht before and during World War II, infantry divisions were raised as part of a designated Aufstellungswelle (deployment wave) or "Welle" (wave), sometimes translated as "draft". The "Aufstellungswelle" system was adopted by the Wehrmacht in late 1938. Peacetime units were the first wave, and 34 other waves followed until the 35th wave in April 1945. Several types of divisions were organized by "Aufstellungswelle", including infantry, security, shadow and Volksgrenadier divisions.
Background.
The mobilization model for the Wehrmacht's active and reserve forces in multiple waves was first issued in the annual mobilization plan of 8 December 1938. The system initially had four waves, the first of which would be the peacetime army and the other three raised in anticipation of the invasion of Poland. The first wave (the peacetime army) consisted of divisions with ordinal numbers of one to 50. The second wave, reservists who had completed their compulsory training, consisted of divisions numbered 51 to 100. The third wave, numbered 201 to 250, would consist of reservists with less training than those of the second wave who would need refresher training due to their age (born between 1901 and 1913). The fourth wave, numbered 251 to 300, would be formed from training units in Germany. The first wave would be fully operational on the second day of mobilization, the second wave on the third day, the third wave on the sixth day, and the fourth wave on the seventh day.
Waves.
Before World War II.
Deployed between 1934 and 1939, the first "Aufstellungswelle" raised the 1st through 36th Infantry Divisions (trained during peacetime), the 44th through 46th Infantry Divisions, and the 50th Infantry Division; the latter four were raised in August 1939 and equipped similarly to the earlier first-wave divisions. First-wave divisions were armed with German weapons. A total of 40 divisions were retroactively designated as part of the first wave.
The divisions were intended to be staffed by 518 officers, 102 bureaucrats, 2,573 NCOs and 13,667 soldiers, for a total of 16,860 staff members. Equipment included 3,681 pistols, 12,609 rifles, 535 machine guns, 26 infantry support guns, 75 anti-tank guns, 48 artillery guns, 530 motorcycles, 394 cars, 536 trucks, and 5,375 horses. A first-wave infantry division was organized in three infantry regiments, each containing three battalions. Each battalion consisted of three rifle companies with, initially, nine light and two heavy machine guns each (later replaced with twelve light machine guns and three light grenade launchers each). Each battalion also contained a machine-gun company with eight heavy machine guns, later upgraded to twelve. It also had an infantry-gun company with two heavy and six light infantry guns, and an anti-tank company with twelve PaKs.
1939.
Second wave.
Units of the second "Aufstellungswelle" were among the three waves mobilized in 1939 before the invasion of Poland on 1 September of that year. The second-wave divisions were smaller than those of the first wave by at least 1,000 to 2,000 men. A second-wave division included 491 officers, 98 bureaucrats, 2,273 NCOs and 12,411 soldiers. Equipment included 3,801 pistols, 10,828 rifles, 459 machine guns, 26 infantry-support guns, 75 anti-tank guns, 48 artillery guns, 597 motorcycles, 393 cars, 509 trucks, and 5,854 horses. The second wave raised 18 divisions: the 52nd Infantry Division, 56th through 58th Infantry Divisions, 60th through 62nd Infantry Divisions, 68th Infantry Division, 69th Infantry Division, 71st through 73rd Infantry Division, 75th Infantry Division, 76th Infantry Division, 78th Infantry Division, 79th Infantry Division, 86th Infantry Division, and 87th Infantry Division.
Third wave.
Units of the third "Aufstellungswelle" were part of the three waves raised before the invasion of Poland. Third-wave divisions were larger than those of the first wave, usually by about 600 men. The difference was less than intended: the required strength of a third-wave division included 578 officers, 94 bureaucrats, 2,722 NCOs and 14,507 soldiers, compared with 16,860 for a first-wave division). The third-wave divisions were armed with 4,640 pistols, 11,423 rifles, 709 machine guns, 26 infantry-support guns, 75 anti-tank guns, 48 artillery guns, 425 motorcycles, 330 cars, 248 trucks and 6,033 horses. Although a third-wave divisions had more men, the quantity of their motorcycles, cars and trucks was lower than that of a first-wave division.
Divisions of the third wave, many of which were deployed under Army Group C in defensive roles against France between September of 1939 and the summer of 1940, were considered lacking by Army Group C commander Wilhelm Ritter von Leeb (who reported to Franz Halder on 3 October 1939 that third-wave divisions were, in his view, suitable only for relatively-quiet conditions). The wave consisted of 22 infantry divisions: the 205th through 209th, 211th through 218th, 221st, 223rd, 225th, 227th, 228th, 231st, 239th, 246th and 311th.
Fourth wave.
Units of the fourth "Aufstellungswelle" were among the three waves raised before the invasion of Poland. Fourth-wave divisions were smaller than those of the first wave by at least 1,000 to 2,000 men. The nominal strength of each division was 491 officers, 99 bureaucrats, 2,165 NCOs and 12,264 soldiers. They were equipped with 3,639 pistols, 10,807 rifles, 457 machine guns, 20 infantry-support guns, 75 anti-tank guns, 48 artillery guns, 529 motorcycles, 359 cars, 536 trucks and 4,077 horses.
Army Group C commander von Leeb reported to Halder on 3 October 1939 that the fourth-wave divisions were, in his view, only suitable for combat if they received additional defensive training. The wave consisted of 14 infantry divisions: the 251st through 258th, the 260th, the 262nd, the 263rd and the 267th through 269th.
Fifth wave.
The fifth "Aufstellungswelle" was the first wave of units raised with World War II in mind. Raised in September 1939, the units had their infantry regiments' 13th companies' infantry guns replaced with grenade launchers, and their 14th companies were armed with horse-drawn anti-tank guns. The fifth-wave units replaced their reconnaissance detachments with bicycle companies. Unlike the first four waves (which were armed with German-produced materiel), the fifth-wave units' weapons were taken from Czechoslovakia (which Germany annexed between 1938 and 1939). The fifth wave consisted of five infantry divisions: the 93rd through 96th and the 98th.
Sixth wave.
In the units of the sixth "Aufstellungswelle", assembled by 14 November 1939, the 13th companies of the infantry regiments were not deployed. The anti-tank and the reconnaissance detachments were one company each. Like the fifth-wave units, the sixth wave was armed with Czechoslovak materiel. The sixth wave consisted of four divisions: the 81st through the 83rd and the 88th.
Seventh wave.
In the seventh "Aufstellungswelle" units, the anti-tank detachments were supported by a bicycle company. They were armed with German materiel, rather than the Czechoslovak materiel of the fifth and sixth waves. The seventh wave consisted of 16 infantry divisions: the 161st through 170th, the 181st, the 183rd and the 196th through the 199th.
1940.
Eighth wave.
The units of the eighth "Aufstellungswelle" (organizationally identical to those of the seventh wave) were assembled in February 1940, when the Wehrmacht was preparing for the Battle of France. The eighth wave consisted of the 290th through the 299th Infantry Divisions.
Ninth wave.
Armed with three infantry regiments, an infantry-gun, engineer and intelligence company, an artillery battery and a bicycle squadron each, the units of the ninth "Aufstellungswelle" were raised in preparation for the attack on France in February and March 1940. The ninth wave consisted of nine infantry divisions: the 351st, 358th, 365th, 372nd, 379th, 386th, 393rd, 395th and 399th.
10th wave.
The units of the 10th "Aufstellungswelle" never saw service; they were mobilized in anticipation of a prolonged war in France, and the units were dissolved during deployment. The tenth wave consisted of nine infantry divisions: the 270th through the 273rd, and the 276th through the 280th.
11th wave.
Armed with captured French materiel, the units of the 11th "Aufstellungswelle" were formed in October 1940. The mobilization consisted of 10 infantry divisions: the 121st through 123rd, the 125th, 126th, 129th, 131st, 132nd, 134th and the 137th.
12th wave.
Armed with French materiel in November 1940, the 12th "Aufstellungswelle" was similar to its predecessor. It consisted of nine infantry divisions: the 97th, the 99th through 102nd, the 106th, and the 110th through 112th.
13th wave.
Intended as occupation forces of territories seized along the Western Front, the 13th "Aufstellungswelle" of November–December 1940 consisted of divisions whose infantry regiments were not equipped with infantry-gun or anti-tank companies, lacked reconnaissance or intelligence detachments, and had smaller artillery and anti-tank detachments. Armed with French materiel, the wave consisted of nine infantry divisions: the 302nd, the 304th through 306th, the 319th through 321st, the 323rd and the 327th.
14th wave.
The final mobilization of 1940, the 14th "Aufstellungswelle" was raised in November and December of that year and was similar to its predecessor. It consisted of eight infantry divisions: the 332nd, 333rd, the 335th through 337th, 339th, 340th and the 342nd.
1941.
15th wave.
The divisions of the 15th "Aufstellungswelle" began to be assembled in April 1941 as occupation forces in the Balkans, where the Germans had recently invaded Yugoslavia and assisted Italy in the Battle of Greece The divisions, two infantry regiments, were weaker than the previous waves. Their regiments lacked infantry-gun and anti-tank artillery companies, and their battalions lacked heavy machine-gun companies. The divisions saw significant combat with the Yugoslav Partisans. The thirty regiments needed for the fifteen divisions were raised in accordance with a 13 April 1941 order, with two regiments assembled from each military district ("Wehrkreis"). The 702nd and 704th Divisions were ready by 1 May 1941, and the remaining divisions were ready two weeks later. The wave consisted of 15 infantry divisions: the 702nd, the 704th and the 707th through 719th.
16th wave.
At four brigades, the 16th "Aufstellungswelle" (assembled in June 1941, just before the German invasion of the Soviet Union) was the smallest deployment waves. Consisting of the 201st through 204th Security Brigades, the brigades were merged into the 201st Security Division and 203rd Security Division by the summer of 1942.
17th wave.
The first mobilization wave during the German-Soviet War, the 17th "Aufstellungswelle" was assembled in December 1941. It consisted of four infantry divisions: the 328th through the 331st.
18th wave.
Assembled at the same time as the 17th wave, the units of the 18th "Aufstellungswelle" lacked a heavy-artillery detachment and had only one engineer company each. The wave consisted of five infantry divisions: the 383rd through the 385th, the 387th and the 389th.
1942.
19th wave.
The 19th "Aufstellungswelle", raised in March and April 1942, consisted of four infantry divisions: the 370th, 371st, 376th and 377th.
20th wave.
The 20th "Aufstellungswelle" was raised in July 1942. It consisted of three infantry divisions: the 38th, 39th and 65th.
1943.
21st wave.
The 21st "Aufstellungswelle" was raised in October 1943. It consisted of eight infantry divisions: the 349th, 352nd, 353rd, 357th, 359th, 361st, 362nd and 367th.
22nd wave.
The 22nd "Aufstellungswelle" was raised in December 1943. It consisted of six infantry divisions: the 271st, 272nd and the 275th through 278th.
23rd wave.
The 23rd "Aufstellungswelle", the last wave of 1943, was raised from December 1943 to January 1944. It consisted of four divisions: the 388th through 391st Security Divisions and the 52nd Field Training Division.
1944.
24th wave.
As a result of losses sustained by the Wehrmacht, the 24th "Aufstellungswelle" was the first to include shadow divisions. Shadow divisions were trained "in the shadow" of regular divisions, and were called into action as reinforcements if the shadowed division incurred losses. Such divisions were typically named after their location, usually their exercise grounds. The wave was raised in January 1944. It consisted of four infantry shadow divisions: Mielau, Wahn, Milowitz and Demba.
25th wave.
Raised at the same time as the shadow divisions of the 24th wave, the 25th "Aufstellungswelle" consisted of five regular infantry divisions: the 77th, 84th, 89th, 91st and 92nd.
26th wave.
The 26th "Aufstellungswelle", in April 1944, raised four shadow divisions: Böhmen, Neuhammer, Ostpreußen and Wildflecken.
27th wave.
The 27th "Aufstellungswelle", in June 1944, was the first wave raised after the Normandy landings. It consisted of five infantry divisions: the 59th, 64th, 226th, 232nd and 237th.
28th wave.
Raised in July 1944, the 28th "Aufstellungswelle" was the third wave of shadow infantry divisions. It consisted of four divisions: Jütland, Schlesien, Münsingen and Grafenwöhr.
29th wave.
Raised in July 1944 at the same time as the 28th wave, the 29th "Aufstellungswelle" was the first of two waves of "Volksgrenadier" divisions. Consisting of 17 divisions (541st through 553rd, 558th, 559th, 561st and 562nd), it was the first "Aufstellungswelle" which raised ten or more divisions since the 15th wave's 15 divisions.
30th wave.
Raised in August 1944, the 30th "Aufstellungswelle" recreated several units which had been part of the first waves and were dissolved or destroyed in combat. It consisted of six divisions: the 12th, 16th, 19th, 36th (all part of the first wave) and 560th Infantry Divisions and the 563rd Volksgrenadier Division.
31st wave.
Raised in August 1944, the 31st "Aufstellungswelle" was the fourth (and penultimate) wave of shadow divisions. It mobilized five infantry divisions: Breslau, Döllersheim, Groß-Born, Mähren and Röhn.
32nd wave.
The largest mobilization since the first wave and the last in 1944 , the 32nd "Aufstellungswelle" in August attempted to raise large numbers of "Volkssturm" conscripts to fill gaps in the regular divisions. The conscripts were initially organized into "Volksgrenadier" divisions, which were usually absorbed by other units to replenish weakened divisions. It consisted of 26 divisions: the 564th through 588th "Volksgrenadier" Divisions.
1945.
33rd wave.
The first of three waves mobilized in 1945, the 33rd "Aufstellungswelle" was called up in January; several divisions were reactivated from previous waves. It consisted of ten divisions: the 48th Infantry Division, 85th Infantry Division (from the 25th wave), 189th Infantry Division, 245th Infantry Division, 246th Infantry Division (from the third wave), 275th Infantry Division (from the 22nd wave), 361st Infantry Division (from the 21st wave), 553rd Volksgrenadier Division, 708th Volksgrenadier Division and 716th Infantry Division (from the 15th wave).
34th wave.
The fifth and final wave of shadow divisions, the 34th "Aufstellungswelle" was assembled in February 1945. It consisted of five divisions: Dresden, Hamburg, Hannover, Donau and Jäger Division Alpen.
35th wave.
The third wave of 1945 and the final wave of the war, the 35th "Aufstellungswelle" was ordered on 29 March 1945. Three divisions were called up from the RFS education centers, and another three from the Reich Labour Service. Five of the divisions received officers from dissolved divisions which had been active; the sixth, Potsdam, received staff from the 85th Infantry Division who had not been deployed as part of the 33rd wave.
The wave consisted of six infantry divisions: Potsdam, Ulrich von Hutten, Scharnhorst, Schlageter, Friedrich Ludwig Jahn and Theodor Körner. A seventh division (ordered on 29 April 1945) was planned for Reich Labour Service members, but was not mobilized. The Ferdinand von Schill division followed the 35th-wave naming convention, but was not listed by the "Feldpost" military-mail service.


Functional brigade

A functional brigade —or functional support brigade— is a brigade specialized in combat support or combat service support for a particular military role. The primary purpose of a functional brigade is to plug into operational formations at the theater level or those commanded by corps or division commanders performing as the Army Service Component Command (ASCC) once deployed, and to conduct operational or theater level tasks or support. Functional brigades, like modular support brigades, have a modular subordinate structure that may vary considerably among brigades of the same type. Unlike the modular support brigades, functional brigades typically operate under theater control and depend on theater-level elements for signal and other support. The theater force may task-organize them to corps or division headquarters. Types of functional brigades include:


Order of battle of the Battle of Trenton

The Battle of Trenton was fought on December 26, 1776, during the American Revolutionary War campaign for New Jersey. In a surprise attack, the Continental Army led by George Washington attacked the winter quarters of a brigade composed primarily of German troops from Hesse-Kassel in Trenton, New Jersey. The Hessian brigade was under the command of Colonel Johann Rall; he died of wounds sustained in the battle, and about two thirds of his men were taken prisoner. It was the first major victory after a long string of defeats that had resulted in the loss of New York City, and was a significant boost to American morale. It was followed by two more American victories, first in a second battle at Trenton on January 2, 1777, and then on January 3 at Princeton.
Most of the German brigade comprised three Hessian regiments: those of Rall, von Lossberg, and von Knyphausen. The remainder of the brigade consisted of artillery corps attached to each regiment, a detachment of Jäger, and a small company of British dragoons. The attacking American army consisted of units from the Continental Army, including companies of its artillery, and a few companies of militia. Additional units were intended to also participate either in the attack, or in diversions to draw attention from the main thrust; these units failed to cross the icy Delaware River and did not participate in the action.
Hesse-Kassel and British Army.
After the war broke out in 1775, the British government realized that it would need more troops than it could raise on its own to fight the war, so it sought to hire troops from willing third parties in Europe. All of these hired troops came from German principalities of the Holy Roman Empire. The single largest contingent, with more than 12,000 arriving in North America in 1776, came from the Landgraviate of Hessen-Kassel. The garrison that was quartered at Trenton was a brigade of about 1,400 men, almost all from Hesse-Kassel, under the command of Colonel Johann Rall. The brigade was composed of three regiments, each of which had an artillery company attached. Also included in the brigade were a company of Hessian Jäger (basically light infantry) and a small company from the British 16th (Queen's) Light Dragoons.
The Hessian regiments were named for their formal commanding officers. Since many general officers were also commissioned as colonels of regiments, they were often not present with the regiment, or were busy with their other duties even if the regiment fell under their higher-level command. Since Rall commanded the entire brigade, his regiment's operations were directed by its lieutenant colonel, as were the regiments of Lieutenant Generals Wilhelm von Knyphausen and Friedrich Wilhelm von Lossberg, the second and third ranking general officers in the North American forces of Hesse-Kassel after Lieutenant General Leopold Philip von Heister.
The information in this table is based primarily on the reports of surviving Hessian officers submitted during inquiries into the disaster demanded by Frederick II, the Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel, with some estimates provided by David Hackett Fischer and other historians. The reported strengths do not include the 28 regimental officers. The casualty figures are from an official Hessian return (a formal report on the unit's strength) that also does not include officers. Officers killed or who died of their wounds included Col. Johann Rall and Maj. Friedrich von Dechow, the acting commander of the Knyphausen regiment.
Continental Army.
Washington organized his army into two columns for the attack on Trenton. After crossing the Delaware River, Brigadier General Adam Stephen's troops guarded the bridgehead while the remaining troops crossed. The divisions marched together for several miles before taking different roads into Trenton. Stephen's men led Major General Nathanael Greene's division southward along an inland road (which was accompanied by Washington and his entourage), while Major General John Sullivan's division followed a road along the river, intending to prevent the Hessians from retreating across the Assunpink Creek.
Most of the figures in this listing are derived from a return prepared by George Washington on December 22, 1776, four days before the battle. Historian David Hackett Fischer includes estimates made by either himself or other historians for strength counts that were not provided in Washington's return. The counts include all officers and musicians, in addition to the rank and file marked as present and fit for duty. Washington required everyone to carry muskets, including officers and musicians who did not normally carry them. Also, a few Marines under Major Samuel Nicholas were in the battle.
American casualties in the battle were very light, and are therefore not listed in the table below. Two Virginia officers, Capt. William Washington and Lt. James Monroe of the 3rd Virginia Regiment, were injured, as was James Buxton, an ensign in the 4th Virginia Regiment. (Monroe, the future United States president, suffered a wound to the neck that very nearly killed him. His life was saved by a doctor who volunteered his services to the army as it marched through New Jersey that morning.) Two privates are known to have died in the battle, and one account includes mention of two men dying from exposure on the march. The most pessimistic estimate of American casualties lists four killed and eight wounded, although Fischer points out that many more American troops probably died of non-combat causes (including illness, hypothermia, malnutrition, and exhaustion) in the days and weeks following the campaign of late December and early January.
Other American units in the campaign.
Although the main Continental Army force was the only American formation involved in the attack on Trenton, Washington had planned two additional crossings of the Delaware to assist in the attack. Pennsylvania militia Brigadier General John Cadwalader's brigade, composed of militia companies called "associators" and a number of smaller Continental Army regiments, did get some units across the river at Dunk's Ferry, but ice jams on the far side made it impossible to cross everyone, including Cadwalader and the artillery, and the effort was abandoned. Pennsylvania brigadier James Ewing was unable to cross any of his troops (militia companies that had been assigned to the reserve force known as the Flying Camp earlier in the year) due to difficult icy conditions at the Trenton Ferry. Ewing's artillery did fire across the river during the battle.


Norm Brown (baseball)

Norman Ladelle Brown (February 1, 1919 – May 31, 1995) was a professional baseball player. He was a right-handed pitcher over parts of two seasons (1943, 1946) with the Philadelphia Athletics. For his career, he compiled a record of 0-1, with a 3.14 earned run average, and four strikeouts in 14⅓ innings pitched. Between his stints with the A's, Brown served in the United States Army 1944–1945 during World War II, achieving the rank of TEC-5.


Kunoichi

A is a female ninja or practitioner of ninjutsu ("ninpo"). During the feudal period of Japan, ninjas were used as killers, spies and messengers. The training of kunoichi differed from the training given to male ninjas, although they had a common core of skills, being trained in martial arts, such as taijutsu and ninjutsu. Kunoichi training tended to prioritize traditional female skills.
Etymology.
The term is thought to derive from the names of characters that resemble the three strokes in the Japanese kanji character for in the following stroke order:
The word "kunoichi" was not used frequently in the Edo period. This is probably because in this era, the kanji letter "女" was not written in regular script but usually in cursive script, and the cursive script of "女" cannot be decomposed into "く", "ノ", and "一".Yoshimaru
History of use.
The eighth volume of the ninja handbook "Bansenshukai" written in the late 17th century describes "Kunoichi-no-jutsu" (くノ一の術, Ninjutsu of female ninja). This can be translated as "a technique to use a female"Yoshimaru and was employed for infiltration purposes. The "Bansenshukai" compiles the knowledge of the clans in the regions of Iga and Kōga dedicated to the formation of ninjas. According to this document, the main function of the Kunoichi was espionage, finding functions in enemy house services, to gather knowledge, gain trust or listen to conversations. A disputed historical example is Mochizuki Chiyome, a 16th-century noble descendant who was commissioned by warlord Takeda Shingen to recruit women to create a secret network of hundreds of spies.
The meaning "female ninja" might be a purely modern use, that possibly first appeared in the novel "Ninpō Hakkenden" (忍法八犬伝) written by Futaro Yamada in 1964 and became popularized in the following years.Yoshimaru
Iga FC Kunoichi, a women's football club which is based in the city of Iga, takes its name from the term.


Army of Norway (Wehrmacht)

The Army of Norway, also simply Army Norway (), was a German army operating in the far north of Norway and Finland during World War II. The Army of Norway was under "Armeeoberkommando Norwegen" (Army High Command Norway), abbreviated "AOK Norwegen", which was one of the two army echelon headquarters controlling German troops in the far north.
"Armeeoberkommando Norwegen" was directly subordinate to OKH, the high command headquarters of the Wehrmacht. It was created from Army Group XXI in December 1940, itself a successor of the XXI Army Corps, and disbanded in December 1944, with its assets taken over by the 20th Mountain Army.
Operations.
The Army of Norway took part in Operation Barbarossa in 1941. In talks between Finnish and German staffs in Helsinki in June 1941, the Germans were given military responsibility over northern Finland; Army Norway was to take Murmansk and the Murmansk railway. The plan was codenamed Operation Silberfuchs ("Silver Fox").
The Army was evacuated from Norway in 1945 as part of the Operation "Uberbirkhahn".
Assets.
German Army of Norway (Falkenhorst)


End Conscription Campaign

The End Conscription Campaign was an anti-apartheid organisation allied to the United Democratic Front and composed of conscientious objectors and their supporters in South Africa. It was formed in 1983 to oppose the conscription of all white South African men into military service in the South African Defence Force.
Apartheid government's policy on military conscription.
The apartheid government had a policy of compulsory conscription for young white men who were expected to perform military service at regular intervals, starting with an extended training which began in the year immediately following the one in which they left school or as soon as they turned 16, whichever came last. Many were granted deferment, for example to attend University and complete an undergraduate degree first, but very few young men were exempted from conscription for any reason other than being medically unfit or for a race classification error. Valid reasons included conscientious objection based on religious beliefs, but these exceptions were tightened in 1974. Increasingly stringent laws were passed increasing periods of service, broadening the base of eligible white men who could be called up, and providing stringent sentences for those men who objected.
Conscripts comprised a significant part of the South African Defence Force.
Formation.
The End Conscription Campaign (ECC) was formed in 1983, in protest against compulsory military service. It mobilised support for its campaigns, proposed service alternatives, supported conscientious objectors and provided a forum for the public with information and education on conscription and the alternatives. The ECC was founded in response to a resolution passed by Black Sash at their annual conference, which condemned South Africa's occupation of Namibia and charged the South African Defence Force with fighting a civil war.
Conscientious objection was a serious choice as the consequences were severe. The reasons for conscientious objection included political, ethical and religious reasons. Some religious organisations, parent groups and student organisations such as the National Union of South African Students also engaged in anti-conscription activities.
At its peak, conscription in South Africa consisted of two years of mandatory military service, followed by camps at intervals. Under apartheid, the call-up applied to all white men after completing their schooling or further studies.
Objections to war and participation.
Objections to military service were generally based on the role of the military and security forces in enforcing the policy of apartheid, as well as opposition to ongoing South African military commitments in South West Africa (Namibia) and Angola.
Those who refused military service were subject to contempt from the minority white community, and left with the choice of either going underground (internal exile) fleeing the republic (external exile) or imprisonment of up to double the length of the allotted military service. Many conscripts simply went absent without leave, failed to report, or got lost in the system.
The End Conscription Campaign, one of many anti-war movements alongside Congress of South African War Resistors mobilised against the draft, promoted alternatives to military service, provided information about the situation in the townships and support to those brave enough to speak out against the war, as conscientious objectors.
Troops out of the townships.
In 1985, the ECC held the "Troops out of the Townships" rally and were overwhelmingly successful in demonstrating the growing dissatisfaction within the white community, with the government of the day
The rally was preceded by a three-week fast by objectors Ivan Toms, Harold Winkler and Richard Steele.
It was announced in parliament that 7 589 conscripts failed to report for National Service in January 1985, as opposed to only 1 596 in the whole of 1984. As there were two intakes annually, in January and July, this would suggest a tenfold increase in non-reportees over the previous year. An estimated additional 7 000 "draft-dodgers" were also said to be living in Europe in 1985. This campaign received as significant boost when at 1983 Durban Conference the National PFP Youth, its Western Cape Chairperson Stephen Drus (Stephen Darori) endorsed the ECC and proposed a motion calling for Alternative to Conscription. The motion was passed unanimously. He proposed the same motion at the Annual Conference of the PFP in Cape Town a few months later which passed with little opposition. Following intense backroom negotiations between Harry Schwarz and Philip Myburg, the Defense Spokesmen of the PFP, the Nationalist Government passed an amendment that introduced a four-year Alternative to Conscription. 1452 people opted for the Alternative to Conscription between 1984 and the cancelling of Conscription in South Africa in 1993.
January 1985 and July 1985 were the first so-called "immigrant intakes" after the involuntary nationalisation of white immigrant men (all foreign nationals (men and women) who had been resident in South Africa for an extended period) of a predetermined age group in November 1984. The high number of non-reportees was due to many of these immigrants opting to return to their countries of origin rather than do military service, since this opportunity was easily available to them because of their dual citizenship.
Group of 23 refuse military call-up.
In 1987, a group of 23 conscientious objectors from the Universities of Cape Town and Stellenbosch, including Cameron Dugmore, then University of Cape Town Students Representative Council Chairperson and Jonathan Handler, South African Union of Jewish Students chairperson, refused to do military service in the South African Defense Force. Handlers' objection was based upon the notion of an "Unjust War" as opposed to the Pacifist position held by many Christian students.
ECC banishment.
The organisation was banned in August 1988 under emergency regulations. In a press statement Adriaan Vlok, then Minister of Law and Order said: "The changes posed by the activities of the End Conscription Campaign to the safety of the public, the maintenance of public order and the termination of the State of Emergency, leave no other choice than to act against the ECC and to prohibit the organisation from continuing any activities or acts."
The same month, an issue of an alternative newspaper, the "Weekly Mail", was confiscated by security police, "on the grounds that it had covered, and therefore promoted, opposition to conscription." News coverage included a cartoon, an advertisement from War Resisters International, and "a report on 143 men who stated they would never serve in the South African Defence Force."
As a result of the banning of the ECC and confiscation of the "Weekly Mail", protests at the University of Cape Town and other campuses were held. According to Grassroots, a crowd of 3000 university students marched on campus after a meeting condemning the banning. The paper said, "government fears losing control of white youth. This is the message sent by the banning of the ECC under emergency regulations...the ECC pointed out that there is a civil war in our country, and that the South African Defence Force is being used against fellow South Africans... ECC's growing influence, led PW Botha and Magnus Malan to close it down. They fear that the message of the ECC will undermine apartheid's defence force." After the End Conscription Campaign was banned, hundreds of white South African war resisters refused the call-up, and conscription into the War in Angola and Civil War raging in South Africa's Black Townships continued. Some dodged the draft, others fled the country, some stood-up and faced the consequences for what they believed. None were ever given recognition by either the South African government or the newly elected democracy.
Shortening of conscription.
In 1989, conscription was reduced from two years to one year, and during the negotiations to end apartheid from 1990 to 1994, it was less rigorously enforced. A Kairos campaign against conscription was the 1989 Campaign focussing on the End Conscription Campaign with participation of Alistair Teeling Smith, Rob Watson and Mandy Tailor. Saul Batzofin, 27, a member of the End Conscription Campaign, was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment in 1989 for refusing to serve in the South African Defence Force. After he had completed his sentence he later told the Truth and Reconciliation Commission that he wanted to apply for amnesty to clear his criminal record. Although he was proud to have been a conscientious objector, the record caused difficulties with visa applications for foreign countries.
During September 1989, thirty Stellenbosch conscientious objectors joined more than 700 listed COs nationwide by publicly refusing to do military service. The National Registry of Conscientious Objectors was also launched.
End of conscription.
On 24 August 1993 Minister of Defence Kobie Coetsee announced the end of conscription. In 1994 there would be no more call-ups for the one-year initial training. But although conscription was suspended it was not entirely abandoned. Indeed, in January 1994 for the first time there was no call-up for initial training, but at the same time conscripts who had already undergone training could be subject to "camp" call-ups, as they were technically subject to military law rather than civilian law. Actually "camp" call-ups reached record proportions over the period of the April 1994 elections, and for the first time in history the ECC called on conscripts to consider these call-ups to be different from previous call-ups.
Conscription moratorium.
Until the August 1994 moratorium on prosecutions for not responding to call-ups, several of those who did not respond to "camp" call-ups were fined. After the first multi-racial election in 1994, conscription has no longer applied in South Africa and the civilian draft has been exchanged for a professional standing army. However, conscripts who failed to report for duty, still faced prosecution under South Africa's Defence Act. An amendment to the act promulgated in 2002 allows for absentee members of the SANDF to be regarded as discharged from official duty.
Absent without leave.
3 Section 59(3) of the Defence Act determines that: A member of the Regular Force absent from official duty without permission of their commanding officer for more than thirty days is regarded as having been dismissed if an officer, or discharged if of other rank, for misconduct with effect from the day immediately following the day of attendance to duty or last day of official leave, but the Chief of the Defence Force may, with good cause, authorise reinstatement of such conditions as they determine.
According to a Department of Defence bulletin, dated 10 July 2003, "In essence, this means that if a member has absented himself or herself for a continuous period of thirty days, he or she is automatically discharged from the SANDF. It is therefore no longer necessary to approach the Minister of Defence for such a dismissal or discharge, as the individual will effect their own discharge if absent thirty days without permission. Should a member wish to be reinstated in the SANDF, he or she should approach the Chief of the SANDF with sound reasons why he or she was absent without permission."
Forces Favourites and musicians against conscription.
In 1986, Shifty Records released "Forces Favourites" in conjunction with the ECC. Named after a radio programme for sending greetings to the troops fighting in the South African Border War.
The ironically titled "Forces Favourites" compilation features some of the strongest political songs of the time.
Counter-operations against the ECC.
Many ECC members were subject to persecution. During 1986, 98 members were detained, and others subjected to systematic harassment and intimidation. Meetings, publications and activities of the organisation were banned. Disinformation, death threats, fire-bombings, assaults, break-ins, and anonymous counter-propaganda against the organisation was commonplace. Evidence in a Cape Town court in 1988 revealed that the South African Defence Force had been running a disinformation campaign against the ECC.
Political and military figures adopted varying and sometimes contradictory methods and messages to try to contain the threat of conscientious objection. National Party politicians characterised ECC activists as naive, malevolent in intent, in league with 'communist revolutionaries' and also as sexually deviant (i.e. homosexual) and cowardly. However, there is evidence that sentencing magistrates and even state prosecutors came to admire objectors for their stand.
Psychiatric oppression and the ECC.
In order to get out of forced conscription into the South African Defence Force, many conscripts allowed themselves to be labeled as mentally ill, sick, or incapable of carrying a weapon. The price was incarceration in one of South Africa's psychiatric facilities. Instances of psychiatric abuse of conscripts who refused national service have also been recorded. The cases of conscripts who ended up in mental hospitals are in the process of being documented by groups such as MindFreedom International.