this post was submitted on 30 Mar 2025
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hopeposting

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[–] taiyang@lemmy.world 88 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (4 children)

This comments section is wild. It's really a pretty simple post even if it's not spelled out as clearly as it could be; it's just saying in WW2 an allied bomber (American) was attacked with explosives by Nazi defenses (Germans during WW2) and was thwarted by Czech made blank anti-aircraft shells because they only pretended to work for the Nazis. Given current context, I assume the analogy is that now that Americans are the Nazis, you can still resist the regime by doing what the Czechs did.

That said, I don't really believe the story since it reads as "and everyone clapped" levels of evidence, but the overall message is fine. This is hope posting, anyway.

Edit: fixed a term

[–] LaLuzDelSol@lemmy.world 58 points 4 days ago (1 children)

https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2023/12/28/all-we-can-do-for-you-now-how-czech-sabotage-saved-a-b-17-crew/

I was pretty suspicious as well, but I was able to trace it back to this story from Military Times which is a pretty respected outlet. Of course, the vet could just be lying, but also WW2 was an insane time and stuff like this really did happen. I have also read about how slave laborers in Nazi Germany would do other things to sabotage, like cutting wires in the planes they were building.

[–] sushibowl@feddit.nl 12 points 3 days ago (1 children)

https://greglewisinfo.com/2020/04/18/the-b-17-saved-by-a-miracle/

The ultimate source appears to be a guy's memoirs:

I came across this story in Elmer Bendiner’s marvellous 1980 memoir, The Fall of the Fortresses, while researching the lives of USAAF crews flying out of England during WW2.

I'm still very sceptical. This guy is not even the primary source actually:

Bohn said the shells had been sent to the armorers to be defused but had then been rushed away by an intelligence officer.

Bohn had tracked down the officer and had hounded him until eventually he had told Bohn the full story – before swearing him to secrecy.

Now, sabotage like this undoubtedly happened, although the scale is impossible to verify. However I think this specific story has just way too flimsy a chain of evidence to put any faith in. Good story though.

[–] brbposting@sh.itjust.works 3 points 3 days ago

🌟

S-Tier Post

[–] Dasus@lemmy.world 20 points 4 days ago (1 children)

You know the thing about "and everyone clapped" meme is silly because those things actually do exist.

It's just unlikely.

Like winning the lottery. You can read up on hundreds of lottery winners, but winning one yourself is kinda unlikely.

I literally had a "and everyone clapped" thing, where a bus full of people literally everyone clapped and cheered for me. I was pretty drunk and just a few years out of the army and the driver was having some issue with a drunken older woman (like not 60 but close enough, still pretty spry but super drunk), so I ran to the front of the bus, demanded for the to exit the vehicle in a booming voice (I have a very strong voice and I was and NCO) and when she wouldn't, I just dragged her out. The bus driver closed the door and drove off slightly, I thought he was taking off but he was just driving a bit further so I'd run there. I did, got back on the bus and literally everyone clapped.

Felt pretty great I have to say.

[–] Trail@lemmy.world 7 points 3 days ago

That NCO's name? Albert Einstein.

[–] wewbull@feddit.uk 7 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Only post in the thread that seems to understand. Wow!

Just a small correction. Not bombs...shells. The Czechs were sabotaging anti-aircraft shells so they didn't explode.

[–] taiyang@lemmy.world 3 points 4 days ago

Sorry, I'll edit it for clarification. I was quickly typing and the word slipped.

[–] xorollo@leminal.space 3 points 3 days ago

Ideas can be powerful.