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

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

Lilo wrote: "@ Manray9: The weather seems to be off-kilter in many places, indeed. I just heard from a GR friend who lives on the island of Cyprus, in the Mediterranean, that they are freezing there, as well. T..."

I lived in Nicosia, Cyprus for two years. It does get cold indeed.

Manray9 wrote: "'Aussie Rick' wrote: "Just finished reading about Sergeant Mikhail Fedorovich Borisov who destroyed seven German tanks on the outskirts of Prokhorovka Station on 11th July 1943.

That's pretty good. Ernst Barkmann destroyed 9 M4 Shermans, and disabled 4 others in a 12 minute tank battle. He was alone. Kurt Knispel and Michael Wittman were two other legends. Otto Carius, Paul Eggar and Albert Kerscher each knocked at about a dozen apiece I think at Prokhorovka.

The interviews I conducted with Erich Hartmann, Gunther Rall, Johannes Steinhoff, and Dietrich Hrabak. See at Amazon or my website at www.lewisheatonbooks.com

Tytti wrote: "Of course they usually use last names, it happens in civilian life, too, but I meant the difference between "tu" and "vous" in French. It is a custom to use "vous" but "tu" was pretty common, I sus..."

Tytti, our last book, The Star of Africa, is now out in Finnish. Thought you would like to know. It will be out in French and Polish next year.

I have a new WW II book, The German Aces Speak vol. II out in March, for those who read vol I.

Kris wrote: "Colin wrote: "Kris wrote: "I am looking forward to getting The Rzhev Slaughterhouse The Red Army's Forgotten 15-month Campaign against Army Group Center, 1942-1943 I have read littl..."

You have no idea. both Germans and Soviet. The Red Army threw Ukrainians (not Russians) in at a large rate, because they were expendable.

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "For our new members here are the forthcoming theme reads in case anyone is interested in joining in:


January 2014 - Mediterranean Campaign (books covering any aspect of this campaign: land, air o..."

The book by Anne and I, The Star of Africa may be of interest to the group.

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "Below are two new titles that sound quite interesting however they aren't due for release until June 2014. I'm sure some members will be keen to add them to their wish list:

[bookcover:Forgotten F..."

Barrett Tillman and I have worked together on several projects, including doing a History Channel show together. He is a solid historian. He has been kind enough to write a foreword and blurbs for some of our books.

High above the earth
Machines and men engaged
The ground around
Where wreckage was found
As hatred of man had raged

The sky was filled with chutes
Like snow on a summer day
Victims and victors
Bled and died
Stayed motionless where they lay

The sound of gunfire
And burning metal
Echoes finally fade
Screams never heard
Only silent words
From those surviving the day

The cost was high
The carnage great
The men had met the test
Yet when complete
Was bitter sweet
As the fallen were laid to rest

Kris wrote: "I am looking forward to getting The Rzhev Slaughterhouse The Red Army's Forgotten 15-month Campaign against Army Group Center, 1942-1943 I have read little about this part of the ea..."

The Rzhev Gap was in fact the most brutal campaign numerically regarding total casualties. I interviewed German and Soviet participants. It was Antietam, Shiloh and Gettysburg all rolled into one. Gripping stuff indeed.

Nadya wrote: "Hia. I'm looking for a book on ...well..
If it can be said to be true that a person learns through suffering, I wondered what can be learnt through inflicting suffering.
So I thought about a book w..."

Read my book, The Star of Africa: The Story of Hans Marseille. I think you will find what you are looking for.

Chrissy wrote: "carl wrote: "i wondered when you were going to clear that up!"

I was enjoying the debate so didn't want to provide y'all with the answer too soon ;) On a book note,
[book:A Few Great Captains: T..."

I knew and interviewed James H Doolittle (I still have the Raybans he wore in WW II that he gave me), as well as Curtis Lemay. Both were as different as night and day, but both crucial to winning the war.

Mike wrote: "'Aussie Rick' wrote: "Picked up a copy of this book today on sale at a local book shop:


by Frank McLynn"

Nice..."
I knew and interviewed quite a few of the old AVG guys, like Howard, Hill, Rossi, Boyington, and they were a very interesting group.

Mike wrote: "That wil be must-see TV. Did you also notice that Masters of the Air: America's Bomber Boys Who Fought the Air War Against Nazi Germany is also to be a miniseries?"

So far the project has been scrapped due to lack of funding and interest.

Escort is a solemn duty. Meeting the families, even when you know them as I did, removes words from the event.

The Comet had round windows I believe, which was the cause of the structural failure. Notice planes today that fly at high altitude have rectangular windows, double sealed.

Lilo wrote: "I just talked to my husband. He said I must have mixed it up. He doesn't recall any of his family ever talking about Paulus. The high regard for Paulus must have been his own (my husband's) opinion..."

I have a new book, The German Aces Speak II, where one of the interviews was with Erich Hartmann. He gives his story of 10 1/2 years in the gulags.

Read Inside Hitler's Greece by Mark mazower

KOMET wrote: "I'm reading "Dying for Saint-Lo: Hedgerow Hell, July 1944" by Didier Lodieu. This book is of special interest as my father was one of those GIs who fought at Saint-L..."

I interviewed some German vets of that campaign, including Panther commander Ernst Barkmann. He had high praise for the US and British forces.

Manray9 wrote: "Mike wrote: "Air Force guys always have to put Army guys in their place. I wouldn't presume to tell the Army guy how to employ his artillery but Army guys seem to think they are airpower experts. H..."

MacArthur issued the order for the surrender, and Gen Wainright followed those orders. His command and POW actions saving his men saw him recommended for the Medal of Honor. MacArthur tried everything he could to block that, but Truman allowed it to go through. MacArthur's reason? "Wainright surrendered!"