Folks,

Dux:

I agree that suicide would have been out of character for the Fuhrer if he had any other way out of it. We are told that the body found by the Russians and said to be Hitler's had only one testicle. In my mind that indicates the corpse was that of a doppelgänger disfigured in such a way that he might be distinguished from the real Leader. There was another Hitler lookalike body found in front of the Chancellery, the photo of which everyone has seen. That one is definitely not much of a twin. All the major leaders of both sides of that war had lookalikes. Churchill's double was kept quite active.

As an aside to that, the Germans had developed a wire recording device that was so advanced for the time that when they made recordings of Hitler's speeches and replayed them over the radio in various major German cities at the same time the Fuhrer was making an address in Berlin the Allies were amazed and could not figure out how Hitler could be in more than once place at the same time giving a speech.

I believe Hitler escaped the bunker. Whether he made it to relative safety or was blown to bits in the air I do not know. Most likely we shall never know. All the physical evidence purported to be that of Hitler placed in secret graves or dug up and kept deep inside the Kremlin vaults has been more or less discredited. There is no proof either way of what happened to Hitler. Stalin always believed Hitler had escaped.

In my most recent reading of the account of those last days in the bunker the author of "Soldat" relates that when pressed to leave the bunker and save himself he stated he would rather kill himself than die in the street like a common homeless person. This statement went over with the soldiers there like the Hindenburg loaded with anvils instead of hydrogen. So many good German men and boys had died just like that just to keep the Fuhrer's sorry hide intact for a few days longer. Apparently that was a major turning point for the author. After that statement he looked upon Hitler in an entirely different light.

At first he and his commanding General had been required to relinquish their pistols when they arrived at the Fuhrer bunker for a conference. In the last days they were ignored by the SS guards and they kept their sidearms. The author recounts that at this time he actually considered shooting Hitler as he was within easy range many times. He did not he says, because at that late date,it would have changed nothing. He would not have survived the act however he expected to die one way or another anyway even if he surrendered to the Russians. The Allies had stopped short of the city instead of advancing on Berlin thus leaving it for Russian troops. These troops were known to shoot German officers on sight.

In fact, the author was captured but the red stripes running down his uniform trousers indicating his general staff connection saved him and so early on at least he received very good, even courteous treatment from his captors.

A very intriguing read. Thanks for posting.

Folks,

MG:

Like most articles it probably produces more heat than light and is better at creating in our minds more questions than answers.

I have just now returned fro another perilous journey down into the bowels of the earth beneath HWH Hall where I was doing some research on Olga. I uncovered several items I hope may be of interest. I will post the first one now.

Chaps...

Even in the flower of her youth she presented a repulsive visage - and an uncanny resemblance to our enduring inspiration - Alfred E. Neumann. Shame about the beer stains.

Gents,

I am not sure whether this fine picture of our main-player in the Battle of Britain has been put up before, but here it is for your admiration. The pic was taken by Adrian Pingstone and is available as public domain and for whatever purpose. She looks to be in landing configuration. The ground crew will no doubt be anxious to reach the aircraft and make a show of extending the step before the pilot notices that it has been left extended for take-off.

The aircraft sports original markings - 605 Squadron, County of Warwick, as she looked in August 1940 - and is the sole surviving Hurricane still flying that participated in the Battle of Britain, with three E/A destroyed and two damaged as credits.

Folks,

Dux:

Yes, that is a beautiful bird indeed. If she continues to fly I suppose her demise is inevitable at some point and yet who could deny posterity their right to see her in the air dressed for war but offering no harm without serious soul searching? Would that I, no, make that 'Would that we all' could see her or a Spitfire in the air just once. Thank you for posting her.

Beer stains? What beer stains? Would that it were beer. It is difficult to tell in digital form of course however held lightly in my hand protected by a latex glove, it appears and smells more organic to moi. Here is another archival item pertaining to Olga recently retrieved from way down under and I do not mean from Australia. Here she is looking unusually well washed and splendid in her Red Air Force uniform.



Tomorrow we celebrate our Thanksgiving Day here in the States. Traditionally it is the beginning of the holiday season. With that in mind I plan to post our traditional HWH holiday greeting. Remember that you were warned in advance...

JRT,

She cuts a dashing figure, resplendent with medals and sundry adornments. It makes a change to see her without the usual accompaniment of dung-flies, eh? Don't tell her I said that until I have left for the fortnight's Christmas leave!

My mouth waters at the prospect of your enjoying roast piggy or wild turkey. I wonder what the latter tastes like compared with our poor old intensively reared birds? No comparison, no doubt! We hope you all enjoy your Thanksgiving!

Such great pictures of Olga, JRT!

What must it not have felt like, for a young, dashing and debonair Dux, sniffing for the first time at that heady seductive scent of "Tractor Factory no. 57"

Currently I've picked up an old book from my extensive private war library. It's Colin Hodgkinson's Best Foot Forward. Douglas Bader was not the only legless Fighter pilot in the RAF and in spite of a fear of flying, "Hoppy" went on to fly Hurricane's and Spits.

I've found a short clip at British Pathé featuring the author as well as a few other well-known pilots.

McG,

Thanks for jogging my memory about Hodgkinson. I heard about that fellow way back in my teens - but that was rather later than when mammoths and sabre-toothed tiger roamed the Derbyshire plains.

HWH pilots, too, have also triumphed over adversity and gone on to fly despite the obvious disability of being legless.

Folks,

Thanks MG. Happy Holidays everyone!