Is anyone related to a WWII Veteran?

mrbeast · 06-23-08, 07:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kiwi_2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kapitan_Phillips

Apologies for the double post, but I saw a television documentary a few weeks ago where veterans from the British side and the German side met. Some of them were even shooting at each other. The whole show was very emotional, and there was mutual respect. One German fighter pilot spoke before a whole village and apologised for his actions. I dont think that was appropriate, as he was doing his duty and following orders, but still, to see two veterans of the opposite sides shaking hands and hugging was a very emotional experience for me.

I read about the same kinda thing happening during WW1, one christmas day both sides cease fire and celebrated Christmas - shook hands, traded cigarettes celebrated Christmas together then they ran back to their trenches and started firing at each other again.

I read about a similar kind of thing happening in France in 1944 to a British airborne sniper.

IIRC, as he was going out for his watch he turned a corner and almost walked into his German equivalent doing the same thing! Both of them were standing there stunned, in a kind of stand off, niether with his weapon ready to shoot; so the Brit whipped out his packet of cigarettes and offered the German one. So for the next 5 minutes or so they had a smoke together and then went on their separate ways.

Was the kind incident that demonstrates the futility of war.