HITLER Tried To Get My Dad...

Eichhörnchen · 05-28-16, 03:29 AM

I remember seeing a TV programme about a reunion of the Afrika Korps. You always get the feeling that the Desert Rats had a special regard for these men and that their war was untainted by the atrocities of the SS, I don't know for sure. But we also appreciated that they were led by a decent and honourable man, Rommel.

Oberon · 05-28-16, 05:24 AM

Pretty sure Luftwaffe pilots had get togethers post-war, also pretty sure that some uboat crews did, but I think a lot of them were instigated by former allied soldiers, sailors and airmen. For most Germans I think they wanted to forget it happened and focus on putting Germany back together, well...whatever half of it they were living in.
I certainly imagine that reunions in Eastern Germany were a good way to get a room full of Stasi.

Catfish · 05-28-16, 06:44 AM

"Hitler tried to get my dad"
I guess it was nothing personal. Mind you after all, England declared war to Germany, not the other way round.
You know "Churchill then tried to get my" dad, too. As well nothing personal, of course.

Regarding veterans, reunions and the like:
A lot of german soldiers of course plain did not suvive, after the war there was a big dent in the numbers of young male population, in Germany.

Then there were reunions, but a lot of soldiers had not exactly known what was going on in Germany, in concentration camps and so on. The civilian population living near concentration camps, knew more about that.
The Wehrmacht of course perpetrated atrocities, too.
Let's say a lot were not particularly proud

After all when seeing all that, all but the most fanatic idiots would have held patriotic (!) reunions or whatever. They were forced to realize what had happened. That they met inofiicially as friends who had gone through hell, of course.

Atrocities perpetrated by the Allies have never been punished or publicised, so their soldiers probably did not have the urge to look into their own country's behaviour, let alone be critical about themselves.

This is certainly not true for all soldiers or people who have lived through the war, but i think for most.

Eichhörnchen · 05-28-16, 06:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Catfish

"Hitler tried to get my dad"
I guess it was nothing personal.

This is just a silly "Anglicism", Catfish... the British population commonly referred anything done to them or their serving relatives in the war directly back to Hitler, in a manner suggesting he personally was at the controls of the plane or the levers of the tank

In a similar way, our armies were fighting "Tojo" and "Mussolini", rather than the Japanese and Italians.

Jimbuna · 05-28-16, 06:55 AM

^ Good post Catfish....fair and balanced

Eichhörnchen · 06-06-17, 03:58 PM

I learned only today that an uncle of mine was in the 'second wave' ashore on D-Day at Sword Beach. Not surprising, since he never spoke about the war and died before I was really old enough to be really appreciative of what this meant.

August · 06-06-17, 07:38 PM

Stalin got my Grand Uncle Eduard in Sept 1941 and Churchill (or Roosevelt we don't know) got my Grand Uncle Josef somewhere in Italy in 1944

Uncle Joseph

Eichhörnchen · 06-07-17, 12:19 AM

Thanks, August. Honour their memory.

05-28-16, 03:29 AM	#1
Eichhörnchen Starte das Auto Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: The Fens Posts: 17,435 Downloads: 5 Uploads: 0	I remember seeing a TV programme about a reunion of the Afrika Korps. You always get the feeling that the Desert Rats had a special regard for these men and that their war was untainted by the atrocities of the SS, I don't know for sure. But we also appreciated that they were led by a decent and honourable man, Rommel. __________________

05-28-16, 06:44 AM	#3
Catfish Dipped Squirrel Operative Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: ..where the ocean meets the sky Posts: 17,797 Downloads: 38 Uploads: 0	"Hitler tried to get my dad" I guess it was nothing personal. Mind you after all, England declared war to Germany, not the other way round. You know "Churchill then tried to get my" dad, too. As well nothing personal, of course. Regarding veterans, reunions and the like: A lot of german soldiers of course plain did not suvive, after the war there was a big dent in the numbers of young male population, in Germany. Then there were reunions, but a lot of soldiers had not exactly known what was going on in Germany, in concentration camps and so on. The civilian population living near concentration camps, knew more about that. The Wehrmacht of course perpetrated atrocities, too. Let's say a lot were not particularly proud After all when seeing all that, all but the most fanatic idiots would have held patriotic (!) reunions or whatever. They were forced to realize what had happened. That they met inofiicially as friends who had gone through hell, of course. Atrocities perpetrated by the Allies have never been punished or publicised, so their soldiers probably did not have the urge to look into their own country's behaviour, let alone be critical about themselves. This is certainly not true for all soldiers or people who have lived through the war, but i think for most. __________________ >^..^<*)))>{ All generalizations are wrong.

05-28-16, 06:55 AM	#5
Jimbuna Chief of the Boat Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 250 metres below the surface Posts: 190,751 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 13	^ Good post Catfish....fair and balanced __________________ Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something. Oh my God, not again!!

06-06-17, 03:58 PM	#6
Eichhörnchen Starte das Auto Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: The Fens Posts: 17,435 Downloads: 5 Uploads: 0	I learned only today that an uncle of mine was in the 'second wave' ashore on D-Day at Sword Beach. Not surprising, since he never spoke about the war and died before I was really old enough to be really appreciative of what this meant. __________________ Last edited by Eichhörnchen; 06-06-17 at 04:09 PM.

06-06-17, 07:38 PM	#7
August Wayfaring Stranger Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 23,217 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Stalin got my Grand Uncle Eduard in Sept 1941 and Churchill (or Roosevelt we don't know) got my Grand Uncle Josef somewhere in Italy in 1944 Uncle Joseph __________________ Flanked by life and the funeral pyre. Putting on a show for you to see.

05-28-16, 05:24 AM	#2
Oberon Lucky Jack Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 25,976 Downloads: 61 Uploads: 20	Pretty sure Luftwaffe pilots had get togethers post-war, also pretty sure that some uboat crews did, but I think a lot of them were instigated by former allied soldiers, sailors and airmen. For most Germans I think they wanted to forget it happened and focus on putting Germany back together, well...whatever half of it they were living in. I certainly imagine that reunions in Eastern Germany were a good way to get a room full of Stasi.

06-07-17, 12:19 AM	#8
Eichhörnchen Starte das Auto Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: The Fens Posts: 17,435 Downloads: 5 Uploads: 0	Thanks, August. Honour their memory. __________________