Germans in Afghanistan (pics)

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Nice weapons. And nice camo. I'm not satisfied with the US Army camo pattern and the developer needs to be fired. The poor pattern no doubt has cost American lives. We need badly to get a better pattern, much like the ones pictured above.
 
I find it odd that the patch on their uniform says "Germany" and not "Deutschland". Germany is the English word for the country a German would call Deutschland. You would think that the patches on a German soldiers uniform would be in German and not English.

I spend a couple of weeks with the 2nd Company, 362 Panzer-grenadier Battalion training at Hammelburg back in 1982. I found the German soldiers to be tough, well trained and motivated soldiers. One notable difference from American soldiers that I noticed is that the German troops didn't bitch as much as American troops tended to do. Their Marder IFVs and MG-3s were a world ahead of our tired old M-113 APCs and worn out M60 machineguns. Not to mention their bier is world class... :)
 
I find it odd that the patch on their uniform says "Germany" and not "Deutschland". Germany is the English word for the country a German would call Deutschland. You would think that the patches on a German soldiers uniform would be in German and not English.
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Did you notice that the "NATO" patch also says "OTAN"? That's the French acronym for NATO.
 
Since they are there as part of NATO's ISAF and the two offical langauges of NATO are English and French, it would make sense the the patches were either in English, French, or both.
 
I would guess the english is also for the practical benefit of us ignorant americans. Almost everything called Dutch in the US is actually German.

A lot of militaries, even if they have their own alphabet and numbers will use roman letters and numbers on their military stuff.
 
OTAN is NATO backwards..:)

And those Germans probably speak better English than most Americans.
 
You can't shave regularly if you're in a small patrol base miles from anywhere with irregular supplies, where ammo comes first and razors last on the priority list.

British army you can't just grow a beard during normal down time or deployment, but if you're in the arse end of nowhere getting shot to buggery, the length of your facial hair is the last thing on anyone's mind! It also allows you to disguise yourself as a bush for close in recce work :p
 
I was attatched with the German Army several times in the mid 70's. They are excellant soldiers. They know their stuff. As history has shown, politics aside.
 
International Security Assistance Force, the NATO mission in Afghanistan.

And the US Army is changing its uniforms (again) due to the camo pattern not being effective.

Lastly, I know certain US military individuals in Afghanistan are allowed to grow beards (I worked with some when I was there); I was referring to some SF teams that were told to shave after some GO saw pictures of them with beards. Yet another classic example of cultural ignorance; but I have to say the current US leadership in Afghanistan seem to be much smarter than that!

Lastly, I've worked with the German military on several occasions and agree with swiftak, they are great soldiers!

Cheers! M2
 
The US military are sticklyers on facial hair mostly for getting a proper seal on gas mask, although that pretty much is a minimal threat in that part of the world.
 
Sorry if I don't gush over their cool guns and classy camo.

German soldiers buried two of my great-uncles forever in the muck of the Somme in 1916, and then did their best to do the same to my father and uncles from '39 to '45.

Ein Volk, Ein Reich.

Tinpig
 
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Sorry if I don't gush over their cool guns and classy camo.

German soldiers buried two of my great-uncles forever in the muck of the Somme in 1916, and then did their best to do the same to my father and uncles from '39 to '45.

Ein Volk, Ein Reich.

Tinpig
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Since you're so eager to blame folks that weren't even alive during the Nazi regime for the sins of their fathers, how do you feel about the Brits?
 
German soldiers buried two of my great-uncles forever in the muck of the Somme in 1916, and then did their best to do the same to my father and uncles from '39 to '45.
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I wonder how natives should feel about YOU...

as someone said earlier.. blaming people that are born 35 years after those events is just nonsense..

As for the camo, I find it very good.. along as the italian pattern... Last year I was at a range with German, Italian and US soldiers.. and obviously, the US pattern wasnt the most appropriate for Afghan type landscapes..
 
The Germans are still some fine soldiers! Very disciplined and professional. I've had the opportunity to work with them on a couple of different occasions.
 
That guy with the beard? Swear I ran into him in 1979 in the Grand Canyon backpacking. In flip flops. Wearing a bandanna as a loincloth. Same look on his face.
 
talking about the Grand Canyon, I went down the "Bright Angel trail" starting at 7AM, was down to the Colorado at 12, and was back up 6pm.. In august..

And everybody I met on the trail, mostly coming up had this kind of face.. I mean, it's a pain ! ;)
 
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