An overdue apology?
What do you make of this news item ?
Personally I feel that the bombing of an English city cannot possibly be 'sua culpa'. So far as I can see he has nothing whatsoever to apologise for.
I firmly believe that any German, Nazi civilian or service personnel, who committed atrocities should be brought to justice whatever his/her age and that no apology should be accepted from criminals. But this veteran falls into a different category completely.
What are your views on this?
Personally I feel that the bombing of an English city cannot possibly be 'sua culpa'. So far as I can see he has nothing whatsoever to apologise for.
I firmly believe that any German, Nazi civilian or service personnel, who committed atrocities should be brought to justice whatever his/her age and that no apology should be accepted from criminals. But this veteran falls into a different category completely.
What are your views on this?
posted by Peter G at 10:35 am
6 Comments:
He was doing his job as our bomber crews did theirs.
War causes hatred on all sides, after we had been bombed a few times I had nothing but revenge on my mind so our planes bombing German city's left me feeling good.
Criminals as some not all of the Nazi's were should be punished but men doing the job they had to do in wartime is not criminals.
If that was the case our own pilots could be called to answer, they had their orders, it was cowdice to refuse, so they did what they had to do.
Welcome the Pilot who obviously needs to clear his consciene.
Peter
After reading your post I sat and pondered for a very long time wondering how to respond not to differ I add, in any way from your point of view in fact I think the man is very brave and has no reason to apologise for doing his duty for his country if the role was reversed and he was British he would be hailed as an hero anyway.
The tragedy of war is that both sides are trained to win and that is accepting that there are going to be times as terrible as it sounds that there is going to be killing’s irrespective of what service you are in army navy or air force.
As a lad I was educated in a school in the east end of London that was run by the local church and would say I was reasonably pious when I went into the army and I was astounded to find that the ordinary German soldier had the inscription around the buckle of his belt God With Us which posed a serious question in my mind why am I supposed to kill him or vice versa incidentally I know and understand what it was like
to be bombed night after night as it is a well known fact the east end of London was heavily bombed because of the docks but then so were lots of other towns and cities
Revenge? And the vicious circle starts all over again when will we ever learn
Not having the whole story makes it difficult but if as Frank says it was a pilot apoligising for bombing an english city. He had noithing to apologise for.War is war and we bombed civilians just as they did.
Bob.H.
As I understand it - he apologised for bombing Bath - since this was one of the Baedecker raids and with no miltary targets whatever - he probably felt it was wrong and as a "spite" raid felt the need to apologise - however since he was under orders - this wa unecessary to my mind !
I saw the article about this gentleman in the press. It is something he wants to do. If it is only for the good of his own peace of mind that he apologises, then it can only be a good thing. I trust his trip goes well.
For anyone interested there is an extraordinary documentary called Passing Poston about the Japanese American citizens forcibly placed in interim camps during WWII. The film is being shown at the Two Booths Pioneer Theater from August the 8th till the 14th. The documentary follows the tales of four former internees, and shows their struggles with their painful past and their search for a place to belong in a country that labeled them the enemy. It is a must see!!
For tickets and info go to www.twoboots.com/pioneer
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