You could meet any one person from WWII...

This one is usually a pretty fun thread when it comes up. Who would you like to meet and why?

For me, after reading the marvelous book Grenadiers, Id have to say Id like to meet Kurt Meyer more then anyone else. He just seems like such a righteous man who was so close to his men, and fought by their side through the entire war as a unit, and eventual division commander. He knew the injustices of the war but he was always willing to make sacrifices for Germany. He was human, and had a family who he always thought about.

A very close second would have to go to Erwin Rommel, who I have always admired since I started studying the Second World War in-depth. He has to be one of the most honorable commanders I have ever read about and would be a real good guy to talk to.

I normally wouldve said someone like Rommel, Manstein, Guderian, or Kesselring hands-down, but Panzermeyer is at the top of my list now

[ 24 July 2001: Message edited by: Gibson ]

 

But Mein Herr? I thought YOU were Rommel?

Seriously, I would want to meet all my friends of U 181, at the time they served with Wolfgang Luth, then with Kurt Freiwald.

Then I would HAVE to meet Lother von Arnauld De La Perrier, my all-time favorite U-boat commander. Manfred von Richthofen and his brother Lothar von Richthoffen.

My next choices would be Remy Schrijnen because he is a good friend of mine. Then Burkhard Frhr v Mullenheim-Rechberg (officer on the Battleship Bismarck).

Then I would round this out with: Gunther Viezenz, Prof Dr Bodo Spranz, Hans-Ulrich Rudel, Adolf Ferdinand Galland, Gunther Rall, Hajo Herrmann, Erich Hartmann for Heer and Luftwaffe.

For Waffen SS and more Kriegsmarine: Michael Wittmann, Paul-Albert Kausch, Panzer Meyer, Felix Steiner, Paul Hausser and Joachim Peiper. KM: Reinhard Hardegen, Erich Topp, Hans-Gunther Lange, Paul Brasack, all the men serving on U 47, and the men of the real U 571.

Americans: Audie Leon Murphy, Walter D. Ehlers, Ens. George Gay, Col Pappy Boyington, Maj Bong, George Patton, Omar Bradley, Ike, Frank D. Merrill just to name a few.

British: Churchill, Bomber Harris, Dick Churchill, Mr Lightholler former Officer on the Titanic, and a hero of the evacuations at Dunkirk. Any men in the Desert Rats division.

Russian: Zhukov, Rokkosovsky, Zaitsev, Konev, and Maj Dyatlenko.

Japanese: Fujita and Yamamotto.

Australian: Mel Gibson--he he he

[ 28 July 2001: Message edited by: C.Evans ]

 

I would have to pick Hans Von Luck because he fought in Poland, France, Russia, North Africa, Normady. Plus he knew and served under Rommel.

My second pick would be Gunther Prien. I would love to hear about his attack in Scapa Flow.

 

Ah ha, A Prien fan too (U 47) or (U 49) whichever.

Hans von Luck, is a good choice and I have to add Siegfried Knappe, as he too served on every front in ww2. Knappe served with Rommen, when Rommel was an Oberstleutnant and Commander of Gruppe B, at the Kriegsschule in Potsdam; in 1937.

By the way, Siegfried Knappe lived in Xenia, Ohio.

[ 25 July 2001: Message edited by: C.Evans ]

 

What, no Otto Skorzeny, the most colourful Waffen SS officer of the entire war? He was the one who rescued Mussolini and trained the German SS who disgused themselves as American soldiers during the Battle of the Bulge.
Second FDR - I have had a chance to study his papers at Hyde Park and was shocked to find that there is practically nothing of interest in them! Apparently he was not given to writing his thoughts down, kept no diary and even his closest aides had no idea what he was thinking about at any one time. I would love the opportunity to quiz him on some of his decisions - but I doubt if he would tell me.

Chris Ray

 

Well at least at this time, I would have no interest in wanting to talk to Otto Skorzeny, but would consider Josef "Sepp" Dietrich, but only because of his involvement in the Ardennes Offensive.

Plus I would have to add Heinz Harmel, because he was a totally correct Waffen SS General, and if im not mistaken, he commanded Hohenstauffen. I would like to talk about his experiances during the allied assault on Arnhem. He was also very loved by his men and was one of the few high ranking officers (from any Wehrmacht branch) that would give a man, the shirt off his own back, to help him out. You dont see that type of person very often and especially these days

[ 25 July 2001: Message edited by: C.Evans ]

 

An interesting question, and maybe the most interesting aspect of it, is what reasons would motivate my desire to meet them?

If the answer is I'd want to meet them because I admire them, then Guderian, Zhukov, and Otto Kretschmer (the u-boat commander). Guderian for brains, Zhukov for balls, and Kretschmer for guts. Nimitz I also admire, perhaps for a well-balanced combination of all three organ systems mentioned.

Another approach would be wanting to meet people because the historical accounts we have access to, still leave big questions unanswered. People who make you say, "I wonder what the hell he was thinking, and why he did what he did."

For that, I'd go with Stalin and Hitler.

 

C. Evans, I believe that Von Luck was once a student of Rommel. I can't exactly remember when and were.

Also wasn't Otto Kretschmer the highest scoring u boat captian of the war? My memory is horrible.

 

Great topic. Like most of us, it would be a close toss-up. Among them would definitely be Patton. He was a loud-mouthed blowhard that would have offended just about any self respecting women's libber!

Chuck Yeager. Born only about an hour from my house. Good 'ol boy.

Erich Hartmann. Obviously. Greatest fighter pilot of all time (I'm open to anyone who argues the contrary), survived 10 greuling years in a Soviet prison, drove a Porsche, became a leading advisor/officer in the West German Luftwaffe, and oh! A connection here:

Hartmann tried to politically push for the F-104 Starfighter to be an integral frontline fighter in the same exact way Yeager later did! Getting kinda spooky here (enter ghost sounds)

 

I would have liked to met Hitler and had a conversation with him.

Even though he was a maniac, it would be interesting to know what ran through his mind.

Other than that I would've liked to have met Rommel, Patton, Stalin and Churchill.

 

I'd like to meet Hitler and kick him in the nuts. Hard. Twice.

 

LOL Sopwith, give him on for me

 

What do you mean nuts? Shouldn't that be nut - surely you've heard the rumours.

Chris Ray

 

PzGdr: The answer is ...yes to both questions. I dont remember when von Luck served with Rommel, but it was sometime while he was in the Afrika Korps. Knappe served under Rommel at the Officers School in Potsdam in 1936, and saw him one more time before he had to commit suicide.

Great post Alath. Brains, Balls Guts and all.

Welcome aboard Sopwith, and thanks for the laugh <

Chris, the rumors were found to be wrong about Hitler only having one gonad. I have read that in Joachimsthalers book on Hitler and the last days in Berlin. The book is so foresnically done, that there is verly little doubt in what the auther wrote.

For the most part, I thought he went way too far, and almost wrote this as a medical journal on Hitler, instead of as a hostory subject-like it should have been. It then became a very boring book, with a few interesting pages thrown in. I tried my best to finish it but could not.

 

i did some research thru my books and found were and when Von Luck was a student of Rommel. It was at the infantry school in Dresden. Rommel was a caption at the school and it was in 31-32.

 

I would like to meet Richard Feynman (a scientist working on the Manhatten project), Jochim Peiper (to ask what really happened at Malmady), I would like to introduce Hitler to my father for a little psychoanalasis, I would like to meet Halividar Umrau Singh VC (defended his gun in Burmah, too numerous serious injuries, killed more Japanese and is now alive and well living in Nepal aged in his hundreds).

To be totaly honest though, given the choice I would like to go to Italy in 1943 ant talk to Lt. Derek D Bridle of the 5th Batalion Kings Own Royal East Kents (The Buffs). Why? Because he is my late grandfather (died a couple of years ago) and I would like to know how anyone as kind, compassionate and caring as he could lead men into battle. Basicaly I would also like to see him when he was younger (and find out if he was as much like me as I am told).

 

My definite pick would be Simo Häyhä, the alltime #1 sniper. In fact, I still hope to meet him, as he is still alive, and a group of American militaria collectors met him in May. They're making a new trip late this year, and they say I'm invited!!!

What can I say... can hardly wait for it!

Cheers,
Sami

[ 30 July 2001: Message edited by: Sami ]

 

Hey Sami: Welcome aboard and keep us posted will you?

 

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by C.Evans:
Hey Sami: Welcome aboard and keep us posted will you?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Hi Carl,

Thanks, I'm glad I found this Forum. Looks excellent!

If God permits, and Mr. Häyhä is still alive and well in October (he's way over 90 years old), I'll give some feedback of our conversation.

Cheers,
Sami

[ 01 August 2001: Message edited by: Sami ]