Fascinating and horrific. But also a moving testimony to our humanity and our need to honor all who died in wars. Thank you for this emotional interview. I will read this "personal journey of discovery and remembrance.
My father was a German fighter pilot shot down over Eastbourne in 1943. In 1967 I visited Cannock Chase where 5000 German servicemen from both world wars lie buried. The attendant who took me to my father’s grave talked about how his former enemy deserved this quiet resting place and that he was honored to tend his grave with love and care.
I was moved to tears by the kindness and compassion of this old man, even more than by the gravesite of a father I had never known. Gabrielle
Very good chat. Personally I find the CWGC headstones marked “Known Unto God” particularly moving. I’ve seen a couple of VDK headstones marked “Ein Deutscher Soldat” or “Unbekannter” and that made me think too. I know a little of the significant efforts made the US DoD to recover and identify their MIAs; I’m not sure we have a similar effort. They did of course have an avoidable fiasco over their Vietnam War Unknown Warrior. It transpired they had a fairly good idea of the identity of the deceased: a USAF pilot called Michael Blassie (shot down in 1972 I think), and eventually had to admit it, pressure of the family I believe. Anyway another book for the wish list.
Fascinating and horrific. But also a moving testimony to our humanity and our need to honor all who died in wars. Thank you for this emotional interview. I will read this "personal journey of discovery and remembrance.
My father was a German fighter pilot shot down over Eastbourne in 1943. In 1967 I visited Cannock Chase where 5000 German servicemen from both world wars lie buried. The attendant who took me to my father’s grave talked about how his former enemy deserved this quiet resting place and that he was honored to tend his grave with love and care.
I was moved to tears by the kindness and compassion of this old man, even more than by the gravesite of a father I had never known. Gabrielle
Very good chat. Personally I find the CWGC headstones marked “Known Unto God” particularly moving. I’ve seen a couple of VDK headstones marked “Ein Deutscher Soldat” or “Unbekannter” and that made me think too. I know a little of the significant efforts made the US DoD to recover and identify their MIAs; I’m not sure we have a similar effort. They did of course have an avoidable fiasco over their Vietnam War Unknown Warrior. It transpired they had a fairly good idea of the identity of the deceased: a USAF pilot called Michael Blassie (shot down in 1972 I think), and eventually had to admit it, pressure of the family I believe. Anyway another book for the wish list.