8th Army news

[51highland]

Bet all you red blooded young men noticed this bit Ron.

[Ron Goldstein]

Far too much bromide in our tea I'm afraid !

[51highland]

Haha, nice one Ron !

[Owen]

Originally Posted by Ron Goldstein

Owen



Speaking purely for myself, I think not

I would guess that like most men of my age group living in a war zone my innermost emotions were governed by my immediate surroundings.

Had the water truck turned up that morning?, was I tired, cold or hungry, was I being bombed, shelled or mortared, had any mail arrived for a week, all of these factors would have been taken prior place in my list of "things I need to worry over".

Sorry to sound a little cynical but I believe I am being honest and I did say "speaking purely for myself"

Ron

Actually Ron, I thought that'd be your reply.
I just wondered if ever the Brass trying to stir up some "hate" with such stories.

[General Mayhem]

Sir,.
I'm a recent member and wondered about two things I have come across. I have read that in Germany, Field Marshal Rommel is not thought of in anything approaching the same regard as in Britain and America. That in Germany the North African campaign does not have the same significance as other fronts. Also that in Britain, Field Marshal Montgomey's reputation has declined. Is this "popular" opinion or the view of indigenous military historians? Equally, has Sir Winston Churchill's decision making also come under more intense criticism? In the states it is only recently that we are finally reading more honest and critical histories, ie: Carlo D'este and others.
respectfully,
General Mayhem

[Ron Goldstein]

Originally Posted by General Mayhem

Sir,.
I'm a recent member and wondered about two things I have come across. I have read that in Germany, Field Marshal Rommel is not thought of in anything approaching the same regard as in Britain and America. That in Germany the North African campaign does not have the same significance as other fronts. Also that in Britain, Field Marshal Montgomey's reputation has declined. Is this "popular" opinion or the view of indigenous military historians? Equally, has Sir Winston Churchill's decision making also come under more intense criticism? In the states it is only recently that we are finally reading more honest and critical histories, ie: Carlo D'este and others.
respectfully,
General Mayhem

Dear General Mayhem

With equal respect, may I make offer an opinion ?

I see you say "I have read that in Germany, Field Marshal Rommel is not thought of in anything approaching the same regard as in Britain and America"

I find this not all surprising....... after all, "Monty" was responsible for eventually seeing off the Afrika Corps and this would never have endeared him to a German audience.

As for his reputation declining, as someone who actually served under Monty's command and who was equally proud to have had Churchill as his Colonel BBC - WW2 People's War - Churchill and Ron enjoy a meal together
I must confess that I personally wince whenever I see the mind boggling events of WW2 pawed over by some in an attempt to re-value and discredit the leading participants.

To repeat my posting title "Any one can be clever after the event !"

Having said that, may I welcome you to the forum and hope that you will enjoy your stay

Regards

Ron

[4th wilts]

reading owens post there,about the 8th army knowing of attrocities by germans.i agree that if british,commonwealth troops knew the germans knew,everybody in germany must have known,and we still see and hear germans telling us that they did not know.bloody hypocrits,all of them.4th wilts.

[PsyWar.Org]

Originally Posted by Owen D

Cheers Richard,
So when we hear apologists saying "We didn't know it was going on" then we know that's utter rubbish as if the British 8th Army knew about them then I'm sure the general German population must have too?


Ron, did reading stories like that have any effect on British troops?

PS can we have a close up of the beach belles too?

Here's a leaflet Britain dropped over Germany in 1942:
Aerial Propaganda Database by Lee Richards
(Warning - it's quite graphic)

But guess Germans would just dismiss this as enemy propaganda.

[PsyWar.Org]

Incidentally, the printing team responsible for Eighth Army News, Tripoli Times, Crusader, Union Jack, as well as British propaganda leaflets dropped on German and Italian troops in North Africa and the Italian campaign, was headed by Major Edward Budd MBE. He then followed Monty to 21st Army Group.

He wrote an autobiography of his war experiences called "A Printer Goes to War" ISBN: 0 7030 0067 5, Howard Baker Press, 1975.