Our Good Friends

[allenlondon]

Looking for something else, came across this amazing story of a very good German.

In 1940, there was a naval battle between the British destroyer Glowworm, and the German battleship Admiral Von Hipper. The British ship was outgunned and far smaller, and ended up ramming the Von Hipper in an attempt to sink her.

It was the Glowworm that sank, but the Admiral Von Hipper stood by and dropped ropes over the side so that the British seamen could clamber aboard out of the icy, oily sea. They managed to save many of the British sailors, and then continued on their voyage, after holding position for over an hour, all the time under threat of another British battleship finding them.

The captain of the German ship, Helmuth Heye, sent a message to the British Admiralty (through the Red Cross) praising the gallantry of the Glowworm and her crew, and recommending them for the Victoria Cross.

Here is an account of this incredible action:

https://www.quora.com/Whats-the-most-honorable-act-in-the-history-of-war

I have long known that there were many honorable Germans, from the White Rose students upwards. All the way up to the level of Battleship Captains, apparently.

Unsere guten Freunde.

[pixie374]

One story I remember, from an elderly man that I met at a wake... was that they were on a boat, with a German prisoner... and somehow, he managed to dive overboard and started swimming to the shore. Although they could have done... they gave him over a couple of hours, before they alerted anyone.

[allenlondon]

There are so many such personal stories of 'enemies' behaving decently to each other. Singing 'Silent Night' to the Germans across the trenches, who answered with 'Stille Nacht', moves me to tears, I must admit.

They try so hard to make us hate each other, but we're just people manipulated by generals.

[pixie374]

Yes.

[grumpy01]

Not so much Generals as Vain Glorious Politicians and Despopts.

[grumpy01]

Despots

[Hopkirk]

Hitler and his cronies were the real enemies, not the ordinary German.

[allenlondon]

Makes you wonder about other theatres of war, like the Far East.

Were Japanese squaddies, notorious for their bestial conduct to enemy soldiers and civilians, actually any worse than any others? Or were they, too, brainwashed into hatred?

[emmie]

Yes there must have been some good one, but millions of men and women took part in German rallies, for the Fatherland take at look at any footage, were they all deluded.

[emmie]

as to The Japanese, they were ordered to fight to the last man woman and child, Thelands dad i think was a prisoner of war of the Japanese who came home a broken man, sure he might have some thoughts on were the Japanese any worse or any better than us.

[Theland]

According to Dad, he only ever came across one Japanese soldier who showed any compassion, as for the rest, they were bound by their belief that they were a superior race, that their Emperor, Hirohito, was a demigod, ''Son Of Heaven,'' and dying in battle for him was the highest honour.
They were brutal to each other, with face slapping, punching and humiliation, which culminated in, ''Loss Of Face.''
So a mere prisoner of war was less than nothing, and regarded as such for being taken prisoner, and not, like the Japanese, dying rather than surrendering.

[emmie]

6 million Jews, Mentally ill patients, Gypsies,, Homosexuals those who didn't fit in with the master plan, are they just to be swept aside as casualties of war. Hitler was the instigator alongside his henchmen, but the ordinary Germans didn't stop it, nor did anyone.
As to just 1939 - 1945, Germany was arming long before then, killing their own people, Teachers, Lecturers, the intelligensia, and so forth, long before Britain entered the war.

[Theland]

These days watching the news coming out of Russia, China, their people are not brainwashed, and given the chance, we could all rub along together in peace.
The ego of Putin and the CCP are the culprits.

[royfromaus]

Baldric
There are/were no good Germans.
____________________

Have you had another bang on the head?

[emmie]

this is Q and A site as far as i know, one is entitled to an opinion

[pixie374]

Theland //their people are not brainwashed//

It isn't possible to "brainwash" someone. Many have tried, everyone has failed. Force, pressure and so on.... but that isn't the same thing.

[allenlondon]

Ah, I see, we have an immoderate one today.

Never mind.

In some ways it underlines the point I was making at 14:08.