Still they go on and on and on...

[jaffaonajappa]

Errr.
This topics kinda sensitive yeah - why dont some of yas (Am refraining from pointing fingers here) do some study on it before goin and making alkl them statements.

And....by-the-by.....had to watch this a coupla weeks ago. A bit dry in parts, but the 2nd half of it was an eye opener.
torrent the movie if ya want to know what happened in the camps in WW2 - includes an interview in early '90's with a repentant Nazi Medical doctor - stunning.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forgiving_Dr._Mengele

[jaffaonajappa]

There was one in Featherston. One bloke killed most of those 48 dead Japanese PoWs and 1 Kiwi camp guard. He was celebrated as a hero.

No. From what I have heard - he was half crazed after hearing his brother (think it was brother) had been murdered by the Japs (Possibly beheaded in fact) - and it was suspected this was some form of madness/revenge. It does seem to have been kept under the covers - but hes long gone now - however his family still bear the brunt of all them 'what if' questions Im sure. How the hell can you claim he was celebrated as a hero? Which history book implied this?

[James Deuce]

Errr.
This topics kinda sensitive yeah - why dont some of yas (Am refraining from pointing fingers here) do some study on it before goin and making alkl them statements.

And....by-the-by.....had to watch this a coupla weeks ago. A bit dry in parts, but the 2nd half of it was an eye opener.
torrent the movie if ya want to know what happened in the camps in WW2 - includes an interview in early '90's with a repentant Nazi Medical doctor - stunning.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forgiving_Dr._Mengele

The irony is that Joseph Mengele advanced the knowledge of human anatomy and physiology enormously, especially through the vivisection of those with chromosomal disorders and other crippling pathologies. The developments that lead to open heart surgery and neuro-surgery show clear links to his work.

[James Deuce]

No. From what I have heard - he was half crazed after hearing his brother (think it was brother) had been murdered by the Japs (Possibly beheaded in fact) - and it was suspected this was some form of madness/revenge. It does seem to have been kept under the covers - but hes long gone now - however his family still bear the brunt of all them 'what if' questions Im sure. How the hell can you claim he was celebrated as a hero? Which history book implied this?

Half crazed? It isn't an excuse to commit a crime. There's a myth that senior Nazis were insane. I don' t believe they were at all.

History books don't tell the whole story - the camp medic I refer to is family and I have spoken with extended family throughout the Wairarapa. Books are only one source of history and they are often devoid of emotion, prejudice and bigotry. That camp medic was treated poorly by some in his family. He's a coward you see. In my view, he's one of the bravest people I've ever met. You can see clear evidence throughout KB how a little misinformation can colour people's responses negatively about people who do not deserve hatred and disdain.

[jaffaonajappa]

This

You can see clear evidence throughout KB how a little misinformation can colour people's responses negatively about people who do not deserve hatred and disdain.

+1.

Who has that motto - Live and Let live?

[Winston001]

It's 'Lest' and it isn't justice to hunt down forced conscripts. Justice was served at Nuremberg. There have been very few of the surviving Holocaust organising cabal hunted down since then, apart from Adolf Eichmann.

This stinks of an organisation rapidly running out of potential targets attempting to justify its continued existence.

Given the logic displayed in this thread Jack Owen, the camp guard at Featherston who did most of the shooting should have been executed for war crimes.

Oops my bad, did ponder that, should have remembered Kipling.

I'm not going to argue. Its a sensitive subject. The Holocaust is a vast black reminder to every human of the evil that men do. Lest we forget.

[Paul in NZ]

Oops my bad, did ponder that, should have remembered Kipling.

I'm not going to argue. Its a sensitive subject. The Holocaust is a vast black reminder to every human of the evil that men do. Lest we forget.

Exactly which is why I got a bit wound up about the bloody germans (of all people) finding this guy guilty of something they caused? This poor prick was forcibly conscripted by both sides into a war that he wanted nothing to do with. He has been in jail (mainly on death row) for years for something he didnt do, lost his US citizenship, lost everthing and this is all they can find him guilty off? What the heck is he supposed to do now as a stateless 91 year old?

There are thousands, no millions of borderline war crimes but it seems only ones committed (or not in this case) against jewish victims matter? Its pathetic that they would revictimise this poor bastard again and again for jusr being in the wrong place.

This is a lot of things but its not justice.....

Christ - he survived Stalin, Hitler, the worst israel could do and not the fuggin Germans want another crack. Shit, he was born under a lucky star eh?

[Dadpole]

on a lighter note: The the family of the guard killed (by his own side) in Featherston are after a medal for him as he "Died while on active service"

[Dadpole]

There are thousands, no millions of borderline war crimes but it seems only ones committed (or not in this case) against jewish victims matter

For a long time, they have been the only ones pushing the matter. It is good PR for them. I note however, that they fail to ever mention any non-jewish victims.

[schrodingers cat]

tut tut their god is the one with the capital g. But God has nothing to do with it, the victor gets to write the history, at least initially, and set up the war crimes trials and they, rightly or wrongly, have been allowed to consider themselves the victors.

Strictly speaking, Jews, Christians and Muslims all agree that they have the same God. It is the prophets where they fall out.

[Paul in NZ]

Strictly speaking, Jews, Christians and Muslims all agree that they have the same God. It is the prophets where they fall out.

I dont think prophets are the real issue - its the profits where the real problems lay.

[huff3r]

I dont think prophets are the real issue - its the profits where the real problems lay.

Well War IS good for the economy....

[jaffaonajappa]

I dont think prophets are the real issue - its the profits where the real problems lay.

In recent wars - certainly.
But again - this thread is about WW2 and the attempted Genocide of certain races/religions. Germany may have initially bought into that madness resulting from financial practical needs - but by the time the Mass murdering began - there was no longer Any attempt at finding an excuse. It wasnt about the money at that stage.

Respect.

[Katman]

Imagine this......

You're locked in a room with a stranger, given a gun and told that if you don't execute the other person that you yourself will be executed (and there is absolutely no doubt that the threat will be carried out).

I wonder what most people would do.

(And I'm not asking people to give their answer - it's simply something to think about).

[jaffaonajappa]

Imagine this......

You're locked in a room with a stranger, given a gun and told that if you don't execute the other person that you yourself will be executed (and there is absolutely no doubt that the threat will be carried out).

I wonder what most would do.

Really?
OK - following on a bit.....say you repeat this process 5 times, then a 100 times, eventually you are a trusted member of the Team. 50,000 prisoners, hundreds of guards, with 20 bosses (Read: SS Officers). At what stage would you make an attempt to quit/flee/escape?