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

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

I saw the PBS TV documentary, very well done by Tom Hanks.

ironically my next WW II book in the same genre and style as my "German Aces Speak" books with be with US pilots from my first person interviews, and Doolittle is one of them.

I knew and interviewed many people who either knew or pursued Barbie, Simon Wiesenthal, Karl Wolff, and I knew Pierre Deshayes (look him up), and the overall picture of Barbies was interesting.

KOMET wrote: "Next month, I plan to read "4th Fighter Group - Debden Eagles" by Chris Bucholtz



The 4th Fighter Group of th..."
I knew Col. Donald Blakeslee, the CO of the 4th FG, and many of the pilots. Good choice.

Liam wrote: "I'm on Colin's side this time- Stephen Ambrose, aside from his many other faults, was the most overrated writer of history I'm aware of. I have owned several of his books, but I'm happy to say I ne..."

Ambrose was just a nasty man, all the way around, and he sabotaged other historians every chance he could, Mark Bando, me, others, stole research from other historians, and used graduate students to do research claiming it as his own. I knew Hans von Luck, and Hans really did not think much of Ambrose personally, but did not hate him, so he was happy to be involved with him regarding the interest in his memoirs. I think Loringhoven had much more impact on Luck doing his book than Ambrose.

Doolittle was a great interview, and one of the subjects in my next book.

The father was a thieving, lying plagiarist, and we hated each other.

I know Linou, and the church, our friends had family there. We attended a Greek wedding, lasted 3 days

4ZZZ wrote: "I have the 2 Kershaw bios sitting on the shelf to be read Jonny. One day I will get to them. I have read a couple of Hitler bios years back, Toland's but can hardly recall it and one other whose au..."

I was living in Nicosia, and spent time in the Troodos MOuntains, and also a lot of time in Kyrenia, Famagusta, Limassol and Larnaca when I lived in Cyprus with my family from 1972-74. I was 12 when the Turks came in and we had to evacuate. I remember that time quite well from when I was a student at The Junior School in Nicosia.

That statement was very true, I have interviewed almost 50 Waffen SS vets, 7 generals and many colonels, only 2 thought well of Himmler.

Glad to be able to help.

I knew Jim and Sybil Stockdale, McCain, Throsness, Lerseth (who I worked with), Bud Day (also MOH), Dick Stratton and many others from the Hilton.

No problem. I interviewed Wolff and over 20 SS officers, including almost a dozen generals. All but two thought well of Himmler, and I have corroboration that during the war most of the Waffen SS front line commanders who had openly debated and disagreed with Himmler's policies, and several joined the Stauffenberg plot and fortunately went unnoticed, avoiding execution. Himmler was well aware of the open dissent, but in a chat with Wolff he stated "What would the Army do, even the SS if I purged these men?" Hence the great need for continued secrecy of the Final Solution program regarding the establishment of mission oriented death camps. Not even Himmler trusted his own generals, and he had a list. I have that list from Wolff, hence my ability to contact and interview several others. Wolff had to deny complicity to avoid being charged by the war Crimes Tribunal and justify Dulles' support of him. However, the West German government was not so lenient.

Himmler studied the Koran because he was active recruiting Bosnian Muslims into the Waffen SS (13th SS Handschar Division) to fight in the Yugoslav partisan war. He wanted to see their differences from Judaism. He also suffered from ulcers.

I also interviewed Jimmy Stewart (my wife/coauthor has his signed photo), where we spoke about the war to some degree. He was a very genuine person.

Jerome wrote: "A January 2017 release:

by Robert Gaudi
Description:
At the beginning ..."
Read my book Four War Boer, which gives a first person account from my interview with Piet Krueler, who served as a Schutztruppen platoon sergeant and knew Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck.

You may like my book Night Fighters, interviews with US, UK and German airmen, including night fighter pilots.

I had a friend who fought for Andrei Vlassov in the ROA as a pilot. Himmler did not mind them fighting against Stalin, he just did not want them integrated within the German military proper.

We call them liberals

I have been on the decks of the USS Laffey many times, as it is moored next the the USS Yorktown (2nd ship). Great living museums.