What was the British Purchasing Commission?

Introduction The British Purchasing Commission was a United Kingdom organisation of the Second World War. Also known at some time as the “Anglo-French Purchasing Board”, it was based in New York City, where it arranged the production and purchase of armaments from North American manufacturers. After the 1940 French Surrender it became the ‘British Purchasing… Read More

What was Cash and Carry (US)?

Introduction Cash and Carry was a policy by US President Franklin Delano Roosevelt announced at a joint session of the United States Congress on 21 September 1939, subsequent to the outbreak of war in Europe. It replaced the Neutrality Act of 1937, by which belligerents could purchase only nonmilitary goods from the United States as… Read More

What was the Brazilian Expeditionary Force (1942-1945)?

Introduction The Brazilian Expeditionary Force (Portuguese: Força Expedicionária Brasileira, FEB), nicknamed Cobras Fumantes (literally “the Smoking Snakes”), was a military division of the Brazilian Army and Air Force that fought as part of Allied forces in the Mediterranean Theatre of World War II. It numbered around 25,900 men, including a full infantry division, liaison flight,… Read More

What was a Hiwi (Volunteer)?

Introduction Hiwi, the German abbreviation of the word Hilfswilliger or, in English, auxiliary volunteer, designated, during World War II, a member of different kinds of voluntary auxiliary forces made up of recruits indigenous to the territories of Eastern Europe occupied by Nazi Germany. Adolf Hitler reluctantly agreed to allow recruitment of Soviet citizens in the… Read More

What was the Blue Legion (1943-1944)?

Introduction The Blue Legion (Spanish: Legión Azul; German: Blaue Legion), officially called the Spanish Volunteer Legion (Spanish: Legión Española de Voluntarios; German: Spanische-Freiwilligen Legion), was a volunteer legion created from 2,133 falangist volunteers who remained behind at the Eastern Front after most of the Spanish Blue Division was withdrawn in October 1943 because Francisco Franco… Read More

What was Blue Division (1941-1944)?

Introduction The Blue Division (Spanish: División Azul, German: Blaue Division) was a unit of volunteers from Francoist Spain operating from 1941 to 1944 within the German Army (Wehrmacht) on the Eastern Front during World War II. It was officially designated the Spanish Volunteer Division (División Española de Voluntarios) by the Spanish Army and 250th Infantry… Read More

What is the British Army Land Navigation Advisor Course?

Introduction The Land Navigation Advisor Course is the new qualification required to instruct navigation elements of the British Army’s Individual Training Requirements (ITR) and replaces the Land Nav SME qualification (refer to MATTs). Where Does the Course Take Place? The course takes place at the Royal School of Military Survey (RSMS) at Dennison Barracks, Hermitage.… Read More