ACG WebOps (7 October 2007)
Welcome to WebOps, Armchair General’s weekly recon of links to military history news, articles, websites, and more. This week we take a look at Appomattox the play, newly uncovered information regarding Hitler’s Operation Sealion, the everlasting women in combat debate, and New Zealand’s increasing military history focus, among other news. Clicks away!
News
Japan May Overturn Revision of Okinawa War History in Textbooks – Bloomberg.com
Japan’s government said it may rescind an order to remove references in school textbooks to the military forcing hundreds of people to commit suicide in Okinawa during World War II, after protests among local people.
{default}Hitler planned to halt invasion at Northampton – Northampton Chronicle and Echo
Adolf Hitler was plotting to make Northampton his northernmost outpost in an invasion of Britain, according to secret war documents unearthed by Oxford University academics.
Remains of WWII Bomber Crew Buried – Hickory Daily Record
The remains of Canadian and British crewmen of a Royal Air Force bomber shot down in World War II were buried Thursday in southern Poland with full military honors.
Simard, a Quebec City native who moved to Owen Sound two years ago to learn English, is the first woman to join a Kabul-based unit of Canadian troops playing a key role in training the new Afghan National Army. She may be the first woman ever to be involved in training combat soldiers in this rigidly patriarchal society.
Passchendaele remembered in NZ – Yahoo!xtra News
The day after Prime Minister Helen Clark said New Zealand needed to do more about its military history, commemorations to remember New Zealand’s bloodiest day have been announced.
Articles
Photo Journal: Philip Glass’s Appomattox Has World Premiere at San Francisco Opera – PlaybillArts
Appomattox, commissioned by San Francisco Opera and general manager David Gockley in honor of the composer’s birthday, examines the lead-up to the end of the U.S. Civil War, the South’s surrender to the North at Appomattox Court House in Virginia, and the characters of Generals Robert E. Lee and Ulysses S. Grant.
Bands play Civil War music, keep history alive – CTV.ca
Now several dozen bands around the United States perform music from the Civil War era — often on authentic instruments and in period attire — but not just to entertain. By telling stories that go with the music, they also provide a lesson in history, a glimpse into the lives of the soldiers and their families as they fought to define the country’s future.
A surplus of military history – Evening Sun
Karl Anderson spends many of his days at a counter, surrounded by flak vests, steel helmets, bayonets and fatigues.
Perham vets museum preserves experiences “in their own words†– The Fergus Falls Daily Journal
When it comes to military history, nothing hits home more than seeing veterans and hearing them relate their experiences while in war zones overseas. To that end, the veterans museum in Perham — which opened in August 2006 — is unique.
Announcements
History Center honors more veterans Saturday – AccessNorthGa.com
The Northeast Georgia History Center is honoring all military veterans and their families with four special receptions this fall – and the second is this weekend.
Opinion – Editorial
False valor, bad history – Army Times
On Sept. 17, the Web site for the Library of Congress’ Veterans History Project — which has spent the past seven years collecting the oral histories of tens of thousands of combat veterans — listed the names of 24 false Medal of Honor recipients.
Women deserve a place on the front – The Cavalier Daily
No defensible arguments remain for barring women from combat
Blogs – Netcasts
Robert E. Lee: A Traditional General in a Modern War? – Civil War Memory
Last night Gary W. Gallagher presented a talk as part of UVA’s on-going symposium, "Lee at 200." Gallagher’s talk challenged a number of assumptions concerning Lee that collectively point to an old-style or traditional general who struggled to understand the tenets of modern war.
WebOps is a weekly report linking to military history news and articles published in mainstream online media. Excerpts are taken exactly as they are on the noted source websites; quotation marks are not used. The hyperlinks are added by me as I can find them. Please visit the Armchair Forums to discuss the topics in WebOps. If you just can’t wait until Sunday for the next WebOps, plug yourself into the new del.icio.us Armchair General WebOps feed and get each link as its posted!
Stay Alert, Stay Alive!
Jim H. Moreno
