1943

A Psychological Study of Valor
(Yank Magazine, 1943)

This is yet another excerpt from Psychology for the Fighting Man which addresses a grave concern that has been on the mind of all soldiers from time immemorial: how to be brave and safe?. In simply three paragraphs the psychologists charged with answering this question actually do a pretty feeble job, but they did a fine job summing up the heavy responsibilities that the front-line G.I. had on his mind when great acts of courage were expected of him.

Perhaps one of the most lucid definitions of bravery was uttered by an anonymous soldier from the Second World War who offered that courage is like a bank, with a finite balance; each soldier is allowed to make a small or a large withdrawal from the account and they can do so when ever they wish, but when the account is empty they can’t go to the bank any longer.

Click here to read a psychological study of fear in combat.

Hollywood Fights Its Slowdown
(Click Magazine, 1943)

Hollywood’s manpower problems have multiplied, as in any large industry, since the U.S. entered the war. The draft, war plants, and the Government need for technicians depleted studio staffs all along the line, from producers to prop boys. The majority of Hollywood stars have devoted an untold number of hours to Army camp tours, war work, canteens; they have raised funds for war relief and war bonds. Robert Montgomery (pictured in uniform) is only one of many stars who have entered the armed services. Now he’s a lieutenant in the Navy in charge of a torpedo boat squadron….With the reduction in Hollywood’s talent ranks and the new ruling for a $25,000-net-income ceiling, movie companies face a crises in production.

Click here to read a about a particularly persuasive and
highly effective W.W. II training film…

The German Luger
(Yank Magazine, 1943)

Two black and white diagrams illustrating the unique features of the German Luger pistol appear alongside a brief history of the weapon. Additional information included in the article are operating instructions and a table of characteristics which lists assorted fun facts about the weapon; it’s weight, length and range, as well as an explanation as to how the piece compares to the M1911 A1 Colt 45 (the standard issue side arm of the U.S. Army):

Since 1908 the Luger pistol has been the official German military side arm. George Luger of the DWM Arms Company in Germany developed this weapon, known officially as Pistole 08, from the American Borchart pistol invented in 1893

The German Walther P-38
(Yank Magazine, 1943)

Attached is black and white diagram of the Walther P-38 pistol, with all parts named.

This diagram, accompanied by a few paragraphs concerning it’s unique characteristics, appeared in the American Army weekly YANK MAGAZINE, and was intended to be read by all those who were most likely to stand before the business end of this German side arm.

We regret that the scan is not very clear and should be printed for better viewing.

Weird Combat Training at Fort Knox
(Yank Magazine, 1943)

Erroneously believing that their new recruits were lacking in a sufficient amounts of anti-Teutonic zeal, the brass-hats in charge of the U.S. Army training gulag at Fort Knox, Kentucky decided to employ roving bands of faux-Nazis to frustrate and bedevil the men in training. The hard-charging editors of YANK belittled the scheme.

Which Hollywood actors received draft deferments?

Optimistic Plans Regarding the Use of Cavalry
(The Alertmen, 1943)

This illustrated article from an obscure U.S. Army weekly states quite clearly that in light of the successful use of cavalry on the Eastern Front, the U.S. Army was once again training men to fight on horse-back. Referring to the writings of a Soviet General named O.T. Gorodoviko (a probable reference to General O.T. Gorodovikov: 1879 -1960) who had stated in an article written in an undated issue of The Cavalry Journal, that cavalry proved effective in fighting the Nazis when deployed as mounted infantry in limited engagements. The journalist conveyed his enthusiasm that the era of the mounted man was back.

Please give us your thoughts about this article, something seems terribly fishy; did over-extended Soviet Generals have time to write for American journals? Furthermore, you might find that the accompanying photos seem deliberately out of date. The hard-charging post-debutants at OldMagazineArticles.com tend to feel that this article was a hoax intended to throw someone off the trail…

A Psychological Study of Valor(Yank Magazine, 1943)

Hollywood Fights Its Slowdown(Click Magazine, 1943)

The German Luger (Yank Magazine, 1943)

The German Walther P-38(Yank Magazine, 1943)

Weird Combat Training at Fort Knox(Yank Magazine, 1943)

Optimistic Plans Regarding the Use of Cavalry(The Alertmen, 1943)