General Chat

I was in London when it was blitzed and was aware of what happened in Bristol & Coventry and many other of our cities. Many of my (civilian) friends and a few relatives were killed, some vapourised by H.E., their bodies never found. I was called up in 1942 and remember well the mantra of infantry men (the p.b.i) "we will kill the enemy". Not defeat or capture, mark you. To us, at the time, Germany was the enemy, not their infantry or airmen but the whole German race and we would gladly have wiped them out. I have to admit that I helped and, at the age of 80, scarely a week passes when, at some time, I do not think of those days of over half a century ago. The anger and madness of war dissipates, thank goodness, and now I have some very good German friends. However, what the Germans of the Third Reich did to the Russians beggars belief and I can well understand the frenzy of retribution. The master race had regarded them as sub-human and sought to exterminate them. I can also appreciate the anguish of some, on both sides, when they afterwards contemplated their excesses. Suicides were not peculiar to German personnel. Len

Hi Len, I wasn't judging anyone, just comenting. I think if one has a conscience (like the description of the German soldier, in Russia who commited suicide because he was appaled by the bestiality), then even if your "superiors" throw open the city to you, to do as you wish, it doesn't meen that you have to take your revenge on the defenceless - you then become no better than they were! Regards - John.

Rebecca I watched it, hoping all the while that everyone else was watching too. Couldn't help scanning the faces of our troops, wondering if I would glimpse anyone I knew. Len

John When judging the Russians (you shouldn't really, unless you fought in WW2) one has to bear in mind the bestiality handed out to them by the Germans - and their 20 million dead. It was backlash - revenge if you like. I daresay the Russian women fighters were none too gentle. Len

Hi Rebecca, I watched all three episodes, seeing some of the civillian casualties I'm afraid I sometimes feel ashamed to be called "Human". I agree that all those who faught were heroes! Did you also notice the Russian women marching with the men through Berlin? I wonder what the Russian women were doing while their menfolk raped and pillaged? Regards - John.

Has anyone just watched Dday in colour on Itv....? What a brave and amazing journey those men all made...