Under New Management

[sapper740]

Originally posted by Bill Murray
A very clear photo of what I take to be a Morris CS8 that has been rebodied (umbauwagen) by the Germans and a very tidy conversion at that.

Excellent picture Bill, I'm hoping that the Morris wasn't acquired via the bullet hole in the windshield!
While we're on the subject of "Under new Management", here's an interesting twist that I don't think has been seen on this forum before. This picture shows a group of G.I.s driving a Gaz 64, reportedly in Italy as stated in the caption. I'm not convinced this picture was taken in Italy as it would be rare to see a Communist vehicle in a Fascist country, no?

[Jan Mostek]

I am almost sure I have seen the above picture of GIs in GAZ with comments that the picture was taken in Korea which would be more likely.

Jan Mostek

[Noel Burgess]

From "PhotosNormandie" here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/photosnormandie/426572487/
this is quoted as a requisitioned 1939 Fiat Topolino

Noel

[Bill Murray]

Noel:

If the photo was taken in Normandy, it is almost 100% going to be a Simca 5 or Cinq which was a license built Fiat. NSU did the same thing in Germany.

There were detail differences but not a whole lot.

Sapper:

I am with Jan. It almost cannot be Italy as no Soviet forces were fighting very near there. It could still be Europe somewhere 1945 but I also think I saw that photo in a Korean war publication.

Bill

[sapper740]

Originally Posted by Bill Murray

I am with Jan. It almost cannot be Italy as no Soviet forces were fighting very near there. It could still be Europe somewhere 1945 but I also think I saw that photo in a Korean war publication.

Bill and Jan, those were my thoughts exactly when I first saw the caption under the picture, thoughts which I echoed in my post. However, it isn't out of the realm of possibility if one considers that the Gaz could have been acquired from Yugoslavia. Tito and the anti-fascist forces were closely allied to the Soviets and were perhaps receiving aid in the form of vehicles from Russia. Italy and Yugoslavia share a border so, who knows? I agree with both of you that it is more likely a picture from Korea but haven't completely ruled out Italy. Derek.

[Steve Black]

If you look at the M-1 carbines that they are carrying, they have the bayonet lug on them and while I have never seen one from World War II they might exist, but I would say that this is Korea.

Steve

[Radek]

From my new book British Trucks in Wehrmacht Service