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Through the Balkan Mt pass to the northern slopes. Timovo and Preobrajenski Monastery.

On the stepped plains towards the Danube the northerly journey continues. A rainy night with peasants in an unnamed village.

Rustchuk on the Danube - back to Europe, sort of. Loss of pack. Staying with Rosa at the inn.

Across the river and back to Rumania - description of a morose people.

From Sophia southeast down along the Maritza. Staying for a while with Nadejda in Plovdiv. Departure north back across the Stara Planina via Gabrovo - a step back in time to the Ottoman Empire.

From the Iron Gates along the Danube in northern Bulgaria. Then south across the Balkan Range to Sofia. Bulgaria more Oriental (in the original meaning of the term) than European.

Part II North Africa

von Mellenthin's insight - specifically the account of a day with the Afrika Korps staff, the use of intelligence for planning, and some of the 'what if' analysis when looking at the British 8th Army performance.

Missing was the account of Count Almasy, Brandenburger ops and use of Col Fellers' intercepts. As the Ic I would have thought he would have included this info in the narrative.

Completed Part I (Polish, French & Balkan Campaigns). Little said regarding Case White only a brief account at the corps & army levels, and to critique the lack of better armor.

Case Yellow was described in a bit more detail. Except for the assault over the Meuse at Sedan descriptions were at a high level. 37mm AT guns inadequate against the Matildas.

Balkan Campaign again at a high level except for Mt. Olympus.

In search of a pre-Christian gnostic source

Ch 3 - review of the early Church Father's gnostic heresies writings.

Ch 4 - review of Hermetic sources.

Ch 5 - review of Iranian evidence from Zoroastrian, Manichean and other sources.

Ch 6 - review of Syriac evidence.

Ch 7 - review of Coptic evidence primarily Nag Hammadi discoveries.

Ch 1 discusses challenges involved with the debate of identifying pre Christian gnosticism.

Ch 2 reviews arguments for and against of NT evidence.

Completed first two chapters. Brief discussion of Joachim's family life and specifically relationship with his dad, which was distant. Had his dad to thank for getting into flight school and keeping him from serious outcomes from the trouble he found. Many ancedotes about his time in squadrons during the Battle of Britain