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

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

Liam wrote: "Hahaha, great story as usual, Colin! Wasn't it Hajo Herrman who got into the papers in the late '80s for wearing his original decorations (i.e. not M1957 versions) to some fancy dinner, and finishi..."

I believe you are thinking of Hans-Ulrich Rudel, that was in 1978-80 time frame. I was Hajo's house guest several times during our interviews, and he will be another subject in a future German Aces Speak book. See my website at www.heatonlewisbooks.com where my subjects are posted

Marc wrote: "Just finished this one yesterday and hope to get a review up soon:

Omaha Beach: D-Day, June 6, 1944

Quick review: Excellent book ..."

My late friend Hajo Herrmann had just created his JG-300 "Wild Boar" single seat night fighters, and he was ordered up by Goering that night. He was vectored toward Peenemuende, but ordered by radio to not enter the airspace even as bombs were dropping, because the location was so top secret not even German aircraft were allowed in. Herrmann later asked Goering, "If it is so top secret how did the British know to bomb it?"

One of my good friends was on that A-Team depicted.

Axmann said, "When I heard Marseille was coming to Berlin I assumed it was to be treated for venereal disease, to my shock he was meeting the Fuherer to get his medals. Well deserved I guess, and he was the perfect role model for the German youth until he opened his mouth."

I met and interviewed Richard von Rosen, and he had a crazy career indeed, but a very great sense of humor

Jonny wrote: "It's not the one about syphilis killing him if the allies didn't is it?"

Actually Artur Axmann made a comment similar to that, and he was not joking either.

Liam wrote: "Colin wrote: "I have some great anecdotes about Kesselring from some men who met him during the war. Some of his comments were riotous, especially concerning one Hans Joachim Marseille."


Unfortunately due to the strict word count imposed by my editor/publisher much great stuff was left out. Hopefully in the revised 2nd edition I will have more room to add a lot. The hardcover is currently out of print, but we are waiting to see of they will reprint hardcover of go to paperback.

Kesselring paid one of his visits, and according to Eduard Neuman, this is what happened:

Kesselring came to give out the Knight's Cross to a couple of pilots, although Marseille knew he was in the running. Kesselring decided to wait until the next day to give him a medal, and when he pulled out the case, he opened it and said:

"I will give you this when you get a haircut and learn how to wear a uniform properly," then he turned around and walked away a bit, but turned around again, laughed and handed it to him. "Now get the damned haircut."

Later back in
I was l..."

I have some great anecdotes about Kesselring from some men who met him during the war. Some of his comments were riotous, especially concerning one Hans Joachim Marseille.

FDR pushed US territorial waters responsibility to Iceland using USN destroyers to escort British and US supply ships. This was what how the USS Reuben James was sunk by my late friend Erich Topp in U-552 on Oct 31, 1941, when he fired a spread of torpedoes at the British ships. Topp was called to Berlin for a special meeting with all the brass including Hitler after that one.

Esther wrote: "Wow!! That is pretty cool!! I always wanted to meet someone who was is any type of battle.My Mom used to work with a Guy who apparently was the only survivor of the 1st group on Omaha Beach,for his..."

I was never in a real battle, being a scout sniper recon type, i spent most of my time gathering intelligence, a few times on "personal interdiction', but my son did two tours in Afghanistan, once in Sangan, big battle there. He and his combat engineers (explosives finders) were trapped in an IED chain field and had to crawl/probe out under fire as the explosives went off around them.

Max Hastings contacted me a couple of years ago to help him get introduced to some of the more luminary Vietnam Vets as I work in that arena for many flag officers, now retired. I set him up with some face to face time, especially with former Marine Corps Commandant Alfred M. Gray, who was chief when I was in the Corps. Sir Max is always solid because he, like me, always goes to the sources who were there.

Tell me about it, I had students who really believed that we entered WW I as a way to liberate Europe in a great sense of altruism, as well as the same thoughts applied to WW II. I had students in the UK who had no idea that US military power and economic influence helped the Allies win the war.

KOMET wrote: "I'm reading now "Jagdgeschwader 1 'Oesau' Aces 1939-45" by Robert Forsyth.

It's a short history, chockful of photos and illustrations, of one Luftwaffe fighter win..."

JG-1 was assigned western duty to support JG-26, JG-2, parts of JG-54 with JG-6 and Kommando Nowotny (later designated as JG-7). Many top pilots from the east were brought in to organize the unit, but the method of fight in the west was an entirely different way of war in the east. They suffered high losses for a while.

I was in Somalia, Panama and a few 'quiet' places we do not discuss

Keith Nolan did the book Magnificent Bastards about the battle of Dai Do/Dong Ha in Quang Tri Province, April 30-May 4 1968, which was great research for Anne and I as we wrote the autobiography of Maj Gen James E. Livingston, who received the Medal of Honor as CO of Echo Company 2nd Bn 4th Marine Regt.

Then a Col. Livingston was my Regt. CO when I was a Marine Scout Sniper, and he reached out to me, and wanted us to write the book "Noble Warrior: The Life Story of Maj Gen James E. Livingston" with him so Nolan's work was crucial for small details and he is always very solid on the research.

Jonny wrote: "The Merchant Navy Memorial at Mill Dam, South Shields

Fortuitous that we had a storm of good weather a fortnight ago; he'll be channelling his arctic convoy look at the moment."

My great uncle Vernon Harris was a merchant seaman, and was one of four brothers serving in WW II. My grandfather was the oldest, survived D-Day at Utah Beach, killed at Metz Oct 1944, so I never knew him. His younger brother Vernon was torpedoed twice, once by Erich Topp, and again by Reinhard Hardegen ( I knew both men), and he survived the war. Go figure.

I wrote about these events as the catalyst for the Ukrainian Freedom Movement under Stepan Bandera. The Ukrainians and even ethnic Russians joined and created 4 additional Waffen SS Divisions and several Luftwaffe flying squadrons during the war all due to their experiences under communism.

I made the conclusion based upon my research and interviews that Karl Wolff, Leon Degrelle, Otto Kumm and many others were correct in their assessments that up to 20 million Soviets including Vlasov could have been converted and used against Stalin had Nazi policy not been what it was.

Jonny wrote: "I'd guess that's a privilege not many of us can share Colin. I'm usually happy with vaguely accurate events and a decent story. The early British World War Two movies hit the spot there. Other than..."

The British made the best early and post war films beyond doubt. I think that was because the British were more focused on "getting it right" than supporting wartime or post war propaganda. Platoon was a great film, decent history, and partially accurate as to the actions of the 25th Infantry at that time, and director Oliver Stone was also a soldier in that division at that time. As far as accuracy in film, I would give Hamburger Hill higher marks. One reason was because I served in both the Army with the 101st Airborne, and later in the Marines, and I knew a couple of the veterans still on active duty who were involved in that particular battle.

Good review

good link indeed