First off, I'd agree with RB about the ATB books. I rate them very highly indeed for the pictorial content and over the years have had much pleasure visiting the 'Then & Now' locations - which would have been impossible without the efforts of the ATB researchers.

That said, I don't use the books for historical source information.

And I wasn't at all comfortable with the caption reference to 'scalping'. Of course, ugly things happen in war, but references to atrocities at Arnhem are scarce on either side. Mutilation of corpses by British airborne forces seems highly unlikely. The body remained where it fell throughout the battle. One therefore assumes that it was recovered and buried by the Germans at the end of the battle ; wouldn't they have made propaganda use if the corpse had been abused ? Thousands of British soldiers passed Kussin's body ; I have never read any first-hand account referring to mutilation.

Looking closely at the photo, there is a suspicious absence of 'gore' around the head. The hair is still in situ which prompts another thought. It looks fairly luxuriant and rich-coloured for a middle-aged man ; could we be looking at a wig or hair-piece ? Not as ludicrous as you may think ; the gloves and cigarette-holder point to Kussin being concerned with appearances, as one would expect of a a high-ranking Wehrmacht officer.

Anyhow - that is pure speculation, and so, I think, is the 'scalping' theory......

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