Henry Tandy was one the most decorated British Soldiers in the first world war. He won the DCM as well as the Victoria Cross. He was the subject of a famous photograph showing him carrying a wounded soldier out of a battle. The photo was later the inspiration for a famous painting by Italian artist Fortunino Matania that to many symbolised the struggle known as the Great War.

So what does all this have to do with a World War II what-if thread?

First we need to go back to 28 September 1918 to the battle for the villiage of Marcoing. Tandey's regiment was pinned down by a machine gun nest so he single handedly took it out. Later he repired a bridge under fire so his regiment could move forward. (It was for these actions that Tandey received the VC.) As the Germans retreated a wounded German soldier came into Tandey's sights. The German saw that Tandey had the drop on him and appeared to resign himself to his fate, but Tandey motioned him past, sparing his life. Tandey later said he couldn't bring himself to kill a wounded soldier.

In 1938 during his peace conference with Hitler, Neville Chamberlain was invited to Hitler's mountain retreat in the Bavarian Alps near Berchtesgaden. While showing him around Chamberlain saw a reproduction of the famous Matania painting on the wall. He obviously thought it was curious, so he asked Hitler about it. Hitler recounted the story of how Tandey had spared his life that day in September of 1918. He asked Chamberlain if he would send his regards to Tandey when he got back to England.

So, anyway. What if.

I wonder if there is any collaboration of Hitlers regiment being in that area that day? Ordinarily Hitler was a unprincipled manipulative politician. He may have very well placed the painting there in order to play upon Chamberlains sentiments. Conversely Hitler was strangely emotional about some things, and he was certainly a active soldier winning medals himself. Perhaps there was some sort of genuine connection betwen the painting and Hitler.

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