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

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

I'm game, what about the air campaigns in Europe, Pacific, Africa?

A.L. wrote: "Dhiraj wrote: "Otto Skorzeny led a squad of Germans dressed in US Uniforms behind the Allied lines with the intention of creating general confusion, generating misinformation and adding to the pre..."
The British ran similar operations thorugh Yeo-Thomas (see the book The White Rabbit) and the SOE throughout Europe. Yugoslavia was a big target of SOE disinformation missions, along with OSS operations there and in France, Belgium and Italy.

I remember those days in the 1970s in high school, playing Panzer Leader and other games.

No problem. Speer saw the value of the heavy suspension and interlocking road wheels to help distribute the massive 56 tons that the tank weighed empty. However, several exerienced tank commanders who had been through the first Russian winter had reservations when brought on board. They knew that the interlocking road wheels would be prone to freezing and locking up in caked in frozen snow and ice. They suggested copying the Christi suspension used by the Soviets. This was not done.

This reservation proved accurate. Tank crews were issed with "breaker bars", large iron crowbars about 4-5 feet long to break up material within the roadwheels. Otto Carius told me about a very interesting scenario just like that.

Albert Kerscher had the problem with his Tiger II in the winter fighting in Hungary, when during a battle, his crew had to jump out and clear the road wheels, as the tank took two dozen hits. They jumped back in and continued fighting. They killed 7 Soviet tanks, and Albert received the Oak Leaves for the mission.

yes, Porsche senior had several designers, even Albert Speer was brought on borad when he was armaments minister in 1942 to evaluate the Tiger I design, and later at Grafenwoher during field testing and he made a few design suggestions, such as the extra wide field track as opposed to a standard narrow track, which they used for rail transport, etc. One other design change before production was the inclusion of the 88mm kwk cannon rather than the high velocity 75mm that was standard on the Mk IV and Mk V Panther. It proved to be the teeth of the Tiger as we all know.

It is amazing that some of these guys have great memories. I have interviewed many in their 80s, 90s and a few over 100. I have three Luftwaffe pilots, 2 Me-262 jet pilots, over 90, still very mentally active.

I interviewed Ferry Porsche, who's father Prf. Dr. Ferdinand Porsche Sr. designed the Tiger I and II. I was able to look at his original blueprints. I also interviewed over a dozen Tiger crew and 6 commanders. They had a love hate relationship with it. Amazing how Porsche went from desining the best tanks to the best sports cars.

Peter Cremer's book is a good read also.

I have a Knight's Cross, Oak Leaves and Swords, among other deocrations from one of my WW II German veteran friends. Luckily he had a spare set and gave them to me a long time ago.

Thanks, we appreciate that.

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "I wonder what other members think would be the crucial battle for their country during WW2. I know in Australia most people, or those who think about WW2 at all, always regard Kokoda during the cam..."

For America, the two most significant battles that were THE game changers and THE turning points were Midway in the Pacific and D-Day on June 6, 1944 in Europe.

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "I wonder what other members think would be the crucial battle for their country during WW2. I know in Australia most people, or those who think about WW2 at all, always regard Kokoda during the cam..."

Read my book The Star of Africa, where the Aussies and South Africans were well represented.

I knew Dick Winters. His tactic against the guns is still taught at West Point. He did deserve the MOH in my opinion, and I have known many recipients, and served with or under three of them.

There is a group in Minnesota reading my book The Star of Africa as their selection. I found that interesting. They already read my book The Me-262 Stormbird.

I corresponded with Wilhelm Bittrich a few times in the 1970s, and his insights were interesting regarding this operation. He did after all win the battle.

Welcome Karen

Of interest, I knew and interviewed SS Standartenfuehrer Johannes-Rudolf Muhlenkamp, 5th SS Division "Wking" commander during the 1944 General Uprising. He was second in command to Obergruppenfuehrer Erich von dem Bach-Zelewski. He actually saved the lives of the soldiers captured when the fighting was over. One was the father of news journalist Rita Cosby. Read her book about her father, his fight and captivity in Quiet Hero.

You may like a few of my books, which are heavy with first person interview content. We try and display the human side of war, with WW II beign a priority.

Colin D. Heaton

We are looking at putting our book The Star of Africa on audio, along with Noble warrior, and a few others.

A Higher Call was written by my friend Adam makos. Good book, and I felt honored to be mentioned in it and contribute.