h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Peter
I remember writing on one of your threads that I envied your extensive library...... may I now say I envy your staying power.
Once you've got your teeth into a subject you just simply won't let go!
In years to come they will probably produce a book entitled 'The Best of BBC WW2'. I hope that my descendants are given the chance to admire the immense detail of research that you have provided in some of the threads.
More power to your elbow
Ron

Ron

I wasn't seeking admirers (more! more!)

It was just that I was puzzled at all this revisionist history. At times common sense seems to be shoved aside if it clashes with a fixed idea. There also now seems to be a prevalent notion that the lower ranks in WW2 were aware of entire battle plans. The dominant rule in war is 'A need to know', whatever your rank, you are only told what you need to know. It follows that a WW2 veteran can only speak of his/her own experiences. Of course, this is not to say that a WW2 veteran cannot later become an expert on WW2 or a first class historian, many did become academics after the war. Often what happens now when you point out some seemingly incontrovertible event, you are told 'That's not true ... a lot of WW2 veterans have told me that's rubbish ...', and it always seems to be 'a lot' or 'many'.

For example, if you tell me about the merits or demerits of a Sherman Mark IIa tank I listen to you as a valuable expert, and in your novella I was struck by the young tank commander's 'accident' ["Mr.Russell's very cleverly managed to drop the hatch cover on his left hand and he's now minus two fingers"], here you are a most valuable primary source. But if, for example, we were discussing who attended Hitler's Situation Conference at the Wolfsschanze on 1 September 1944, then I would have to assess any opinion you gave on its merits, and not believe it simply because you are a WW2 veteran.

All this seems so obvious that it should not need saying, yet it seems to crop up time and time again.

End of moan

Peter