Colin’s Comments (group member since Dec 16, 2012)

Colin’s comments from the THE WORLD WAR TWO GROUP group.

I was in discussion with Adam as he was writing the book, we have worked together for years.

Mark wrote: "Sweetwilliam wrote: "

I just finished this disturbing book."

About 10 years ago I had a wonderful telephone conv..."

Of interest I met and spoke with Pamela Churchill Harriman his lst wife I believe. She was something else indeed.

That can be said of 95% of all historical films. As a consultant to film and TV I know this first hand.

Zenith published 5 of my books, they do not spend money on gloss I can tell you.

Big Week and Warsaw are both good subjects, I interviewed participants regarding both events. Great choices.

Most people do not realize that there were two uprisings, the Jewish revolt in 1943, and the general uprising in 1944. I interviewed three persons involved, one was Waffen SS Standartenfuehrer Johannes Rudolf Muehlenkamp, who took command of the 5th SS Division during the 1944 uprising. Interesting indeed. It was Muhlenkamp who convinced SS Obergrueppenfuhrer Erich von dem Bach-Zelewski to allow the soldiers captured to be sent to legitimate POW camps, and not Auschwits, in defiance of Himmler's direct orders. He also pleaded for leniency for General Tadeusz Bor Komorowski. Luckily he was listened to, because a friend of mine, TV journalist and author Rita Cosby's father was captured in uniform afterward, and he lived as a result. Otherwise she would not be here.

He was in not so good health in the 1980's when I spoke with him. He was just worn out I think. Hashimoto still carried a lot of guilt, unlike his nation.

Dennis has another one, he cranks them out.

You have to remember, Admiral Ernest J. King hated the McVay family, since he was a young ensign, McVay's father had written him up for disciplinary action early in his career. King was the reason for the court martial. Hashimoto told me that he was stunned that any naval officer would be McVay's situation due to being sunk. Even the draconian Japanese military code would not hold a skipper at fault for losing a ship like that. King wanted to make a statement, a real bastard.

Read my book The Star of Africa, where the German pilots I interviewed discussed their meeting with Rommel after Clive Caldwell strafed one of their pilots in his parachute, witnessed by a dozen Germans, and his views of killing in such a manner. Remember Rommel openly stated that he would disobey Hitler's Commando Order, and he kept his word.

I interviewed Lemay and he will be one of the full length chapters in my new series of books on American Air Heroes. Same format as my German Aces Speak books. He was one of a kind.

I interview Hashimoto, the Japanese sub commander who sank her, and two of the Indy survivors.

I interviewed quite a few Bomber Command guys, and the German night fighter pilots (Wolf Falck in particular) called them "the bravest men alive, knowing what they were facing. What courage."

He was a legend

I interviewed some Waffen SS soldiers who fought with them, they were impressed with their determination and fighting spirit. Leon Degrelle said they were 'worthy of being Waffen SS men."

Betsy wrote: "What about the autobahn and the VW or don't they count as 'redeeming features'?"

The Germans (see my book Night Fighters among other publications) in their technology race against the Allies and British in particular resulted in most of the modern scientific devices and conveniences we use today, from weather radar, microwave ovens to the axial flow and gas turbine engines.

Galland and Wick were the best of friends along with Moelders. Galland told me that when he learned that Wick was missing in action, he personally took off with two wingmen to sweep the area to see if he could be located. It hit him very hard. Gerhard Schoepfel confirmed the story.

I knew Hans, supreme intellect, great guy.

Not sure if this works, but my book The Me-262 Stormbird covers a few of the developments, as well as my book Night Fighters. Both full of interviews with WW II participants.

Seeing as how Mussolini waged a ruthless war against the Mafia in Sicily, and the need to have the locals on board, I can see how they thought it was a good idea at the time.
Luciano did stop the dock strikes, and their guys were more effective at sniffing out spies and saboteurs.