General Discussions
This is the place to discuss general issues related to the U-boat war or the war at sea in WWII.
STARLING ORDER - Reply from Axel Niestle
Posted by:
Innes McCartney
()
Date: August 14, 2002 09:09AM
<HTML>HI All
As promised my reply from Axel is posted below. No surprises really, but very interesting nonetheless.
Aye
Innes
Hi Innes,
just returned from a 3-week holiday in sunny Denmark, so I was unable to
respond earlier. My mail box was full of msg on this matter, both from the
BBC and others. Least to say I am somewhat surprised by the public reaction
on this part of the series. Walker's attitude towards the Germans,
especially the U-boat crews (he alwasy titled the "Boches" or "huns" even in
his officcial reports to the Admiralty) is long known. Likewise several
books written about him include stories of his somewhat special behavior
towards U-boat men, both when in the water or after being rescued (sinking
of U 574, casualties aboard his ship in the unintentional collision with
another warship thereafter, depth charging of crew of U 462, etc.) He
obviously took great joy in the continuation of the fight even after it was
over. Certainly he was a man was low morale standards despite his
unquestioned fighting spirit and success. The characteristics do not exclude
each other.
But I am sceptic about the results of a discussion about this part of walker
in a country that has carries the tradition "Right or wrong, my country".
Otherwise no one would have dared to honour Bomber Harris as late as a few
years ago when it was already accepted in historical circles that the allied
doctrine of indiscriminate area bombing against civilian quarters was a
first class war crime. History is always the way it wanted to be seen, often
regardless the truth. Take two persons with two different perspectives on a
certain action and you will have two different stories thereafter.
Best wishes
Axel</HTML>
As promised my reply from Axel is posted below. No surprises really, but very interesting nonetheless.
Aye
Innes
Hi Innes,
just returned from a 3-week holiday in sunny Denmark, so I was unable to
respond earlier. My mail box was full of msg on this matter, both from the
BBC and others. Least to say I am somewhat surprised by the public reaction
on this part of the series. Walker's attitude towards the Germans,
especially the U-boat crews (he alwasy titled the "Boches" or "huns" even in
his officcial reports to the Admiralty) is long known. Likewise several
books written about him include stories of his somewhat special behavior
towards U-boat men, both when in the water or after being rescued (sinking
of U 574, casualties aboard his ship in the unintentional collision with
another warship thereafter, depth charging of crew of U 462, etc.) He
obviously took great joy in the continuation of the fight even after it was
over. Certainly he was a man was low morale standards despite his
unquestioned fighting spirit and success. The characteristics do not exclude
each other.
But I am sceptic about the results of a discussion about this part of walker
in a country that has carries the tradition "Right or wrong, my country".
Otherwise no one would have dared to honour Bomber Harris as late as a few
years ago when it was already accepted in historical circles that the allied
doctrine of indiscriminate area bombing against civilian quarters was a
first class war crime. History is always the way it wanted to be seen, often
regardless the truth. Take two persons with two different perspectives on a
certain action and you will have two different stories thereafter.
Best wishes
Axel</HTML>
STARLING ORDER - Reply from Axel Niestle