Luftwaffe invited to BoB anniversary celebrations

The_Historian · #1 (**permalink**) October 29th, 2009, 03:15 PM

German Luftwaffe invited to UK's Battle of Britain 70th anniversary celebrations | Mail Online

Mehar · #2 (**permalink**) October 29th, 2009, 04:26 PM

That's very nice of them, most of us might take these events for granted, I wonder how the Germans (and possibly Italians?) feel when events such as this are coming up and they are invited. (since Germany doesn't hold these type of commemorations but allows Veterans to go to ones held outside of Germany)

C.Evans · #3 (**permalink**) October 30th, 2009, 03:24 AM

Glad to see something like this is happening. Its not commonly percepted about the Germans but, for many many years had they been given a half a chance to do so? they would have had gatherings that would have had an open hand extended to their former adversaries to attend. The Germans wouldn't be looking at those men as former enemies, but as fellow Brothers in Arms.

WotNoChad? · #4 (**permalink**) October 30th, 2009, 04:19 AM

About time too. Of course they now have more in common with each other than they do with the rest of society, who are typically clueless.

Mehar · #5 (**permalink**) October 30th, 2009, 04:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by C.Evans

Glad to see something like this is happening. Its not commonly percepted about the Germans but, for many many years had they been given a half a chance to do so? they would have had gatherings that would have had an open hand extended to their former adversaries to attend. The Germans wouldn't be looking at those men as former enemies, but as fellow Brothers in Arms.

The only troubling thing is how long stuff like this took which I guess you're trying to say as well. Now if only the French would cave and let the Germans visit during the D-Day anniversaries, I doubt most would mind sitting in the bunkers as the French president suggested if it meant paying respects to people largely forgotten about by history, time, people, etc from all sides.

After re-reading, two things the article doesn't make clear,

1. When is this event? (I assume Saturday)
2. Will it only include German/Italian veterans of WW2, post war, or both?

C.Evans · #6 (**permalink**) October 31st, 2009, 01:19 AM

Hi Meher, I can't say on the above but, i can say this. I was at a Militaria/Gun Show a few years ago in which I met 4 WWII vets-two famous. I've already talked about the two famous ones on several occasions so I purposely leave those two Gents out.

Anyway, I met at the same show, a man who was a Gurkha and fought in and around Imphal-Kohima, and I also met an eldery Japanese gentleman who happened to be a Junior Officer who fought against this Gurkha and his unit. That was a sight to see, these two former adversaries sitting next to each other and having a great time. I was fortunate enough to get to spend at least 30-45 minutes chatting with these men. I had not known that I would have another chance to see these Gents again let alone later that day. That's an experiance ill never forget. I thoroughly enjoyed being with those two Vets even though at that time, I was wrongfully stupid on my opinions of the average Japanese soldier of WWII. Thanks to that rare chance meeting with a Japanese Vet, I then started to change my mind about a lot of things dealing with the Imperial Japanese Army in WWII. I was able to open my eyes wider and be more fair in my views, thanks to those two vets. I never not not had respect for the Japanese fighting ability-but my opinions wnet deeper than that thanks to what I heard about all my life.

My point to this is that even though these former opponents seldomely took prisoners of their opposition during the war, these two Gents were able to sit side-by-side-and as very good friends. I remember when the show ended for the day and I saw these two vets get into the same car and drove away. Well, I was with a few friends and we were hungry having not eaten anything all day, decided to go to a nearby restaurant that also had a BAr in it, and we walked in and who did we see? we saw those two Vets sitting at the bar having a great time with each other. We didn't want to pester them and we waited to be sat at our table. As we were doing so, the Japanese vet had seen us in the mirror turned around and tried to get our attention and to have us join them.

The sent a waiter to go get us and we were asked to join the Gents sitting at the bar. We did, were there for about an hour or so, then we in turn asked them if they would allow us to return their buying us drinks of our choice (in my case my drinks were either Iced Tea-or a Roy Rogers) and we got them to accept our offer. We wound up sitting at out table till closing time. I regreat that we lost tose Gents addresses as both of them lived in San Antonio. The friend I was with who had their addresses in a small notebook, must have accidently left it at that restaurant as we looked in everything and everywhere-and no notebook.

I do not remember the Japanese Gents name but I do remember the last name of the Gurkha Sergeant-which was Bahkta.

Mehar · #7 (**permalink**) October 31st, 2009, 01:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by C.Evans

Hi Meher, I can't say on the above but, i can say this. I was at a Militaria/Gun Show a few years ago in which I met 4 WWII vets-two famous. I've already talked about the two famous ones on several occasions so I purposely leave those two Gents out.

Anyway, I met at the same show, a man who was a Gurkha and fought in and around Imphal-Kohima, and I also met an eldery Japanese gentleman who happened to be a Junior Officer who fought against this Gurkha and his unit. That was a sight to see, these two former adversaries sitting next to each other and having a great time. I was fortunate enough to get to spend at least 30-45 minutes chatting with these men. I had not known that I would have another chance to see these Gents again let alone later that day. That's an experiance ill never forget. I thoroughly enjoyed being with those two Vets even though at that time, I was wrongfully stupid on my opinions of the average Japanese soldier of WWII. Thanks to that rare chance meeting with a Japanese Vet, I then started to change my mind about a lot of things dealing with the Imperial Japanese Army in WWII. I was able to open my eyes wider and be more fair in my views, thanks to those two vets. I never not not had respect for the Japanese fighting ability-but my opinions wnet deeper than that thanks to what I heard about all my life.

My point to this is that even though these former opponents seldomely took prisoners of their opposition during the war, these two Gents were able to sit side-by-side-and as very good friends. I remember when the show ended for the day and I saw these two vets get into the same car and drove away. Well, I was with a few friends and we were hungry having not eaten anything all day, decided to go to a nearby restaurant that also had a BAr in it, and we walked in and who did we see? we saw those two Vets sitting at the bar having a great time with each other. We didn't want to pester them and we waited to be sat at our table. As we were doing so, the Japanese vet had seen us in the mirror turned around and tried to get our attention and to have us join them.

The sent a waiter to go get us and we were asked to join the Gents sitting at the bar. We did, were there for about an hour or so, then we in turn asked them if they would allow us to return their buying us drinks of our choice (in my case my drinks were either Iced Tea-or a Roy Rogers) and we got them to accept our offer. We wound up sitting at out table till closing time. I regreat that we lost tose Gents addresses as both of them lived in San Antonio. The friend I was with who had their addresses in a small notebook, must have accidently left it at that restaurant as we looked in everything and everywhere-and no notebook.

I do not remember the Japanese Gents name but I do remember the last name of the Gurkha Sergeant-which was Bahkta.

Amazing story, thanks for sharing! I can't say I've had the honor of witnessing such a thing first hand but I have read stories, news reports, etc about such meetings occurring. The post war world is definitely a interesting one especially when you compare the conceptions by veterans and civilians.

C.Evans · #8 (**permalink**) October 31st, 2009, 08:53 PM

Hi Meher, thanks and, I have many other meetings of Vets stories as well. Some might actually be interesting to others other than myself ;-))

Hufflepuff · #9 (**permalink**) October 31st, 2009, 11:54 PM

Good story, it was nice of them to invite those guys.

Martin Bull · #10 (**permalink**) November 1st, 2009, 08:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mehar

1. When is this event? (I assume Saturday)

Future Dates For The Air Tattoo

Robby101st · #11 (**permalink**) November 1st, 2009, 09:37 AM

how great.. i really like to go.. think ill go with my vw van.. lol

Martin Bull · #12 (**permalink**) November 1st, 2009, 08:32 PM

More up-to-date and hot-poop-off-the-press excitement from the UK media in the form of the Daily Telegraph....

German Airforce to join RAF at International Air Tattoo - Telegraph

So - it's Meet The Fokkers at RIAT 2010 !

The German Air Force has a collection of veteran Messerschmitts and 'Fokkers'?

Really ? Should be worth seeing - especially as the Regia Aeronautica will be there too, it seems.....

Obviously there's a secret cache of airworthy warbirds which has been carefully kept from prying eyes all these years........