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

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

They would be classified as terrorists

That is interesting, thanks.

John:

True, such was part of the great hypocrisy,

Colin

Sounds interesting, two of my guys who met Hitler (pilots) are still alive also.

Thanks Gevee. Working now on Aces Speak volume 2 now, then Hitler's Inner Circle. The next book comes out May 1, Four War Boer, so gearing up for another book signing tour. May do another History Channel/Military Channel show also.

This discussion facinates me. I am working on a new book from my more than 60 interviews with people who knew, worked with, and in some cases, were friends with Hitler. FYI Hitler was hans Baur's best man at his wedding, and they were close. Most of the questions will be answered when the book comes out. If you read my other WW II books, the persons interviewed also give their perspectives on him. He also suffered from Parkinsons disease, had a methampetamine habit, was an insomniac, and some of the stories I culled from those who knew him are both comical and shocking.

Veeral, you may like my book The Star of Africa, given your interest.

Colin Heaton

Christie:

This is a big deal, because from 1923-1938 Stalin starved and deported, killed over 7 million Ukrainians. This was why they first welcomed the Germans in 1941 as liberators. Also lesss known is the fact that there were 2 Waffen SS divisions created from Ukrainian volunteers, as well as the defection of Lt. Andrei Vlassov, creating the Vlassov Army and an Air Force contingent made up of White (anti-communist) Russians and Ukrainians. The Ukrainians of the UPA were truly guerrillas as opposed to 'partisans', as I stated in two of my older books. This created a historical firestorm. The distinction which I created in post graduate school was this:

Partisans fight the external invader to support of the government under threat or in exile to restore the status quo.

Guerrillas fight to repel the foreign invader, and also in opposition to the current government (in this case the USSR) in order to establish a free and new government and nation post war.

Tito in Yugoslavia was a guerrilla leader, not a "partisan", wanting to overhtorw the Karajorjevic monoarchy in exile, as well as create his own unique form of communist Yugoslavia, free of Soviet influence. Gen. Draza Mihailovic was a true partisan, fighting the Germans and even Tito on occasion, to restore the government in exile.

It was this distinction that branded the UPA as enemies of the state, even when they fought Germans, as they did not want Moscow's influence when the war was over.

My friend Kurt Schulze flew with JG-5 Eismeer as a Me-109 pilot out of Petsamo, he is alive still.

Kurt Kuhlmey was a friend of mine, and the history of Finaland in the 29th century is facinating. He was interviewed, and his comments are in my new book The Star of Africa.

Adolf worked with all of us, even me (see The German Aces Speak). he was pretty fair and open.

Colin

Stalingrad was the Verdun of WW II, and after having interviewed veterans of that battle, I tell you, they deserve to call that place anything they want.

Order a signed book from my website at www.lewisheatonbooks.com We have special editions of the Me-262 Stormbird, with 3 Luftwaffe and several USAAF fighter pilots and aces sigs

Colin

That was Oradour sur Glane massacre, and the 2nd SS Panzer Division Das Reich. Get the book by Sir Max Hastings, "Das Reich".

I have this book, Horrido!. I speak with Trevor Constable about once a month,and Ray Toliver was a great friend. I have this book signed by Toliver, Constable, Galland, Schopfel, Hans Bob, Hrabak, Schuck, Rudorffer, Glunz, Rodel, Ihlfefld, Lange, Steinhoff, Trautloft, Hartmann, and many others. This was the book in original paperback that started me on this path in the 1970s.

Rudel was a brave man according to the men he flew with. Hope you enjoyed The Star of Africa. We have some film interest in it now.

Rudel did not get his prosthesis until April 1945, but he still flew with a bandaged bleeding stump, with his rudders rigged with hand assist controls. He flew his later missions in a Fw-190D9, which was a decent ground attack fighter, but easier to fly than a Ju-87, especially with one leg. He was also shot down 30 times in 2534 missions, and had 11 air kills in the Stuka.

I interviewed many German pilots, fighter pilots and a few Stuka pilots who knew him. They all had various opinions, all quite interesting, very few flattering on a personal level, but all admired his tenacity.

Brad, send me the location and time if known of your father's shoot down. I may know which German pilot got him, unless it was flak. I have a database and 30 years of records collection and interviews with German fighter pilots.

Colin

Welcome Alan and Mark.