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

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

Goring

From this AM's "London Telegraph," concerning the passing of LtCdr Kenneth Cobley, 101, gun direction officer in HMS Duke of York during its battle with Scharnhorst. Above and beyond that, looks like he had quite a career:

Lt-Cdr Kenneth 'Tom' Cobley – obituary

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/obituaries...

Larry wrote: "Colin wrote: "I corresponded with SS Lt. Gen Wilhelm Bittrich (played by Max Schell) for almost three years, he loved the film and was a consultant. I also spoke with the late Col Frost, played by ..."

Go to my website at www.lewisheatonbooks.com and see the various pages, full of pic of my interview subjects who are the primary sources for my books. Future Books and other pages will have data for you.

Maybe The Longest Day started the A list films, with The Dirty Dozen close behind, and in the 1970s The Wild Geese was the A list topper after A Bridge Too Far, I think.

My late friend Hajo Herrmann sank 70,000 tons of shipping as a Ju-88 and He-111 pilot, and he described his technique, honed to excellence after the Spanish Civil War

I knew Lemay and interviewed him, he was definitely one of a kind, and he and Doolittle (who I also knew) did not see eye to eye on many things.

Jerome wrote: "A November release:

by David Wragg
Description:
On the declaration of war in 1939, the Bri..."

Interesting to note that Erich Raeder was also Jewish, and given a pass by Hitler, just as Luftwaffe Chief Erhard Milch (also Jewish) was given the same treatment.

I corresponded with SS Lt. Gen Wilhelm Bittrich (played by Max Schell) for almost three years, he loved the film and was a consultant. I also spoke with the late Col Frost, played by Hopkins, I consider it the most realistic war movie ever made, only equaled by Das Boot which was fiction base upon historical fact. Yes, "A Bridge Too Far" is the best in my humble opinion. FYI I also knew and spoke with Gens. Maxwell Taylor (101st) and Jim Gavin (82nd played by Ryan Oneill).

I interviewed many B-24 men, including BGEN and actor James Stewart, they all had their stories about the Lib.

Croatian president Ante Pavelic made a deal with Hitler, and many Croats joined the German military. In fact there were two Croatian staffeln in assigned to JG-52 commanded by my late friend and fighter ace Dietrich Hrabak (125 kills). Ground forces pursued anti-partisan operations against Tito.

Yes, there was an Indian volunteer battalion under German command in the Caucasus, mostly Sikhs, three SS Divisions of Ukrainians and Russians, not to mention French,Danish, Finnish, Belgian and Norwegian SS Divisions, Spanish Blue Division on the Eastern Front, and a Muslim Bosnian SS (13th SS) Division, plus many others.

J. wrote: "Jamie wrote: "The RAF grew out if the RN (in part), a shared history that the Luftwaffe and KM didn't have...."

According to Schellenberg, the bureaucratic in-fighting among various arms of the Ge..."

In my many interviews with Germans from the war (see my books), that was not unusual.

Mike wrote: "On sale at Amazon (and other places?) for $1.99:

[book:The Fighting 30th Division: They Called Them Roosevelt's SS|2..."

My grandfather was a LT in the 30th Division, he was from Pickens, South Carolina

My late friend Johannes Steinhoff (see The German Aces Speak II) met Shirer in 1939 after the Wilhelmshaven mission of Dec, 1939, like him a lot.

The people I interviewed eyes Morrell with great suspician, such as one of his bodyguards, Otto Guensche, all thought he was a quack.

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "Yes indeed!"

I knew Saburo, and the short version of my interview with him was published several years ago. Look for the long version in a future book, like my German Aces Speak series.

As someone who is considered by some to be a world renowned expert on the Luftwaffe in particular, as well as the RAF in general, I agree with the previous assessments.

I have to correct the record, Hitler never touched hard alcohol, he disdained liquor of any kind but he did occasionally have a small beer when in a political gathering. He also hated smokers and he was a strict vegetarian. His issues came from treatment for his Parkinson's Disease and an amphetemine addiction.

I would suggest Storm of Steel by Ernst Junger, for the WW I read. I interviewed Ernst many years ago, and he was the youngest recipient of the Pour le Merite (Blue Max) as an infantry lieutenant, later promoted to captain. Gripping story, just one of his many books.

Erik wrote: "I think one of the biggest drawbacks from the anti-tank gun armed aircraft was the high degree of skill needed and the vulnerability to enemy fighters. Limited ammo was also an issue.

I think Hans..."

I interviewed (with some material published) many Germans who knew and a couple who flew with Rudel, and they all admired his bravery and tenacity which they often witnessed, but kept their distance due to his very fervent Nazi/Anti-Semitic beliefs which he did not keep secret. My late friend Col. Robert S. Johnson, P-47 ace in ETO was brought to work with Rudel as part of the Fairchild-Republic design team to create the A-10 Thunderbolt II as a ground support and anti-tank aircraft.