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

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

Manray9 wrote: "Colin wrote: "Alex wrote: "Bought a copy of the Fall of Crete by alan clark for 5 euro at Shakespeare's in paris"

The best book I have read was by Bernard Fall on Crete. I interviewed several of t..."

Sorry my fault, I was thinking of Fall's book on Dien Bien Phu, "Hell in a Very Small Place." The Crete book was by Anthony Beevor, 2005 edition. I interviewed a few of the Germans on Crete, very strange things happened there.

I knew and interviewed Bill Reid, VC Lancaster pilot, who knew Gibson well. No doubt he was very brave.

Alex wrote: "Bought a copy of the Fall of Crete by alan clark for 5 euro at Shakespeare's in paris"

The best book I have read was by Bernard Fall on Crete. I interviewed several of the Germans there and their info supported his facts.

I interviewed Ernst Barkmann who destroyed a dozen Shermans in as many minutes with only a 75mm from his Panther V. Other German tankers related the same results, the Sherman had a chance against the 75mm in frontal armor, but not flanks. Not even the Sherman could take a frontal 88mm hit or higher. I just winced at it, knowing that US doctrine was to send at least 4 Shermans against one Tiger, expecting a 75% loss.

Fury "infuriated" me as I interviewed MANY German Tiger I, Tiger II, and TD crew and commanders, as well as Sherman crews. The fact that there was anything resembling survival even from a frontal 88 mm hit was disturbing. However, I relaxed a little when my blood pressure lowered.

Hasso von Manteuffel was also one of only 27 recipients of the Diamonds to the Knight's Cross, and was my great grandmother's 3rd cousin on my mother's side.

Pamela wrote: "Hi Colin,
What sort of research are you involved in?
Also note on your profile that Vercingetorix is an influence. lol.
Pamela

Colin wrote: "KOMET wrote: "Pamela wrote:

fascinating ... absurd ..."

Hey there. I do military history, and have written a few books on the subject, all from interviews as well as research. I also wrote a book on the laws of war, and working on another book now. I have researched for TV shows, movies, and did a History Channel show as a guest historian once. See my website at www.lewisheatonbooks.com

KOMET wrote: "Pamela wrote:

fascinating ... absurd ...

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Pamela,

Here are 2 books on this matter that you might want to check out ~

1) [book:Lives of Hitler's Jewish Soldiers..."

Bryan Rigg is a good long time friend, and we have helped each other over the least 20 years with mutual research.

There was an Indian battalion, mostly from the Sikh community who served in the Caucasus and also with the German Army under Manstein.

I interviewed a couple of IJN pilots who attacked Pearl Harbor. Interesting stories, and I knew John Finn, MOH there.

German Admiral Bernhard Rogge's mother's family was Jewish, as was Luftwaffe Chief of Staff Field Marshall Erhard Milch, also a half Jew under the Nuremberg Laws. both were given "Aryan Certificates" due to their service, and their families were spared.

Indian troops were heavily engaged in Malaya and Burma. I interviewed VC recipient Umrau Singh who served in that campaign.

The next ship in that class being built will be the USS Hudner, named for MOH recipient Thomas Hudner, one of the two major ficures in my friend Adam Makos' book "Devotion"

Erich wrote: "Michael--I believe it's less about burdening "others with the horror of what they have experienced" than burdening themselves. To talk about it is to open it all up again, with all that entails. Fo..."

I understand this all too well. My own military experience in places like Central America and Africa left impressions on me. My oldest did 2 tours in Afghanistan, survived 6 IED's, others did not. The Taliban once set up an IED trap in a school, killing kids, luring in and then trying to kill his Marines going in to save them. I still hear him at night when he sleeps. My wife listened to me, and she is very understanding of us both. Same with my dad, a Vietnam vet. I guess it runs in the family.

happy wrote: "I finished Target Tokyo: Jimmy Doolittle and the Raid That Avenged Pearl Harbor

Gooooood book - I rate it 4.75 stars rounded up. Everything you want to know about the Dolittle raid..."

I knew Jimmy Doolittle, he will be one of the interviews in our next book in progress on American Pilots Speak.

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "Good quote Bevan.

I found this account from my book amusing. This incident occurred just a few days before the German attack began and Oberstleutnant von der Heydte is trying to get some informati..."

I knew Baron Friedrich August von der Heydte, interviewed him. He was 1st cousin to Claus von Stauffenberg, and both men were my grandmother's 3rd cousins, making them my 5th cousins.

I knew and interviewed a few of the Flying Tigers, great guys, RIP

I humped the 81mm mortar base plate and tube on occasion, but not at the same time. Try jumping with all that carp.

My wife Anne and I are also honorary Doolittle Raiders. The new book we are working on has several interviews, like our German Aces Speak series, only with Americans, and Jimmy Doolittle is one of those men I knew in the book. In fact, my wife and I first met at the Doolittle Raiders Reunion, she was their photographer and I was conducting interviews.

Most of the French partisan groups, and the most effective, were also communists, such as the Maquisard.