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

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

Adam was never a professional interview focused historian, as I was. I was pleased to assist him with the book. He gets better with every new book.

People do not like to admit the reality that the majority of humans are like water and electricity, they take the path of least resistance. Likewise, the most venal attitudes we hold within may come to the surface given the proper circumstances. Avoiding these pathways is what separates the true professional soldier from the mediocre civilian amateur and psychopathic man in uniform. I have seen it in Africa, Asia, etc.

Stalin had a similar view of all Eastern Europeans, especially the Poles, hence the Katyn massacre, and his stopping the Red Army short of Warsaw in 1944 during that uprising.

My interviews with participants on both sides were some of the best I ever had, tankers, pilots and grunts.

I interviewed Rudolf Muhlenkamp regarding his participation, and after more research I was amazed at his humanity towards the POWs in uniform, and even the civilians.

I have all the scoop on Himmler throughout the war, especially his sudden humanity being displayed as mentioned above, or his secret proxy meeting with Alan Dulles, when he was working on a deal for a separate peace, which Hitler found out about. Goering did the same thing with the Swiss Red Cross, hence his being dumped as well. SS Lt. Gen. Karl Wolff was one of my best interviews, and one of my first with Germans. Another interview, Leon Degrelle also gave me interesting data on his meeting with Himmler in Denmark in 1945.

Most of these books on the Eastern Front discussing Soviet failures and German successes fail to mention that German forces, in particular tankers had far superior inter-communications and radios, with the throat microphone being a great invention. This eliminated sound distortions from outside the mic itself, providing clear communications.
Otto Carius in particular told me that on many occasions, they won small engagements due to the enemy having to use hand and arm signals to direct their attacks in formation.
Most Soviet tanks did not even have radios throughout the war. As a former old grunt, good com is just as critical as good intel. FYI my old book on the Eastern Front (full of interviews) may be of interest: "Occupation and Insurgency: A Selective Examination of The Hague and Geneva Conventions on the Eastern Front, 1939-1945"

'Aussie Rick' wrote: ""A Higher Call" is an excellent book Susan and I am sure you will really enjoy it.

[bookcover:A Higher Call: An Incredible True Story of Combat and Chivalry in the War-Torn Skies of World War II|1..."

Adam is a good friend, 30% of his data came from me, but he does acknowledge me in the credits. Franz Stigler is also mentioned in my book The Star of Africa, which has my partial interviews with Franz, Steinhoff, Galland and others mentioned in A Higher Call. Adam did not have access to any Germans other than Franz, and he was a very god guy as well as his wife Haya. My full interviews with these men are in my books The German Aces Speak vols 1 and 2.

That was one the required books I had my students read when I was Holocaust studies professor.

Karl Wolff said it best, "no one worked in a vacuum, as all knew their duties, whether written or spoken, and we all knew our limitations which were few."

Many of my interviews included RAF and Luftwaffe pilots involved over the beaches, interesting material.

When I was on active duty we had some free falls with dogs, they were amazing creatures.

I agree the film was problematic, and full of inaccuracies, such as the romantic story, it never happened. On top of it, Zaitsev was a great sniper, but not the top sniper at Stalingrad. That would be Nikolai Ilyin.

Dj wrote: "Jonny wrote: "Colin wrote: "Dj wrote: "Colin wrote: "Those Soviet citizens were thrown into the grinder by the Yalta Agreement, where Stalin offered free elections in eastern Europe (see how that w..."

When DeGaulle fled (with his mistress, his wife had to be picked up by a Lysander pilot later who I interviewed), that soured many perceptions of him. The opinions I wrote about regarding him were based upon research, and interviews with a dozen senior US and British officers who knew him. Even Pierre Deshayes (look him up) knew that deGaulle was not the best leader to represent his nation, but he was the best they had at hand with at least some name recognition. The propaganda machine rehabilitating DeGaulle's image was exhaustive.

Pamela Churchiill Harriman told me that when she met him, "I had the distinct feeling that he was sizing me up as a mistress, at the expense of his duties, which Winston said were somewhat too challenging for him."

Omar Bradley called it a sad day when the French had someone like DeGaulle as their champion. Pierre said that "The unfortunate reality was that, despite all of our open resentment for the Germans, and our great national pride, DeGaulle was chosen, because others were too afraid, disinterested, or were collaborating with the Germans. As a figurehead he was excellent, but as a leader, especially as post war president, I was rather disappointed, as was much of the nation."

General Matthew Ridgeway told me that after meeting with DeGaulle, "I felt that we had in place representing our French allies, a man whose political ambitions overruled his common sense. Remember, Dieppe was his brainchild, so I am very happy our troops did not fall under his command. Incompetent leadership is a death sentence."

J. wrote: "I've finished reading "Hitler Directs His War" (1950). ☆☆☆☆ My report is here:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Hitler Directs His War

Having interviewed over 400 Germans, 100 who knew or met Hitler, and the last 7 living from the bunker, including secretaries and bodyguards, I can assure you that Goering was trying to remove himself from blame. Hitler's physical condition was effected by his Parkinson's Disease, and the years of methamphetamine injections Theodor Morrell gave him. I never interviewed Schroeder, but I did know Traudl Junge very well, just to name one.
Some ..."

Dj wrote: "Colin wrote: "Those Soviet citizens were thrown into the grinder by the Yalta Agreement, where Stalin offered free elections in eastern Europe (see how that worked out), but in return he wanted all..."

FDR did many things that were positive and notable, both domestically and on the international stage. He did manage to violate more US and international laws than any other president, but given the times, it was accepted.

He did manage to keep the Allied coalition together, even keeping DeGaulle (DeFraud) as the de facto French leader in exile. This was despite every other national and military leader realizing that he was at best a token, and at worst a post war, if not during the war liability.

FDR had a perfect chance to integrate the military and kick start the civil rights movement before Truman did it, using the war as the necessity, and he failed on personal and political reasons. It was also his solo statement (without consulting either Churchill, Stalin via Molotov) that only Unconditional Surrender would be accepted. That prolonged the war for about a year according to the general staff Germans I interviewed, most directly involved in plots to remove Hitler. Following this FDR decree, many of the senior plotters thought the effort futile. There many more issues that could fill a book.

Those Soviet citizens were thrown into the grinder by the Yalta Agreement, where Stalin offered free elections in eastern Europe (see how that worked out), but in return he wanted all Germans captured fleeing westward, and all of his soldiers who were POWs returned (no asylum), and any and all collaborators (Hiwis) handed over. Their fates were sealed because FDR the Imbecilic still trusted Stalin to keep his word, and ignored the horrors of his communist regime.

For Luftwaffe night fighter pilots, killing the Pathfinder was the ultimate objective, even in lieu of getting multiple bomber kills. Some of my interviews with German pilots who scored kills over these point men are quite telling.

Sadly, I am now working on my Vol. I of "American Air Heroes: The ETO in WW II". Then there will be a volume on the Pacific pilots, vol. I also. Staggering to shift interest by readers. later my German tankers, SS officers and U-Boat men.

I wrote rather extensively on this subject, interviewed many participants as well.