First World War veterans in Germany

shillelagh · 26-01-2008, 23:09

Germany's last world war 1 veteran died on 1st January. There was nothing in the papers about this and its only just come out. Germany doesnt keep a register of their war veterans.

BBC NEWS | World | Europe | Germany's 'last' WWI veteran dies

Compare it to this:

BBC NEWS | World | Europe | France's oldest WWI veteran dies

France's president sent his condolences.

I know Germany lost the war, i know that many people lost fathers, grandfathers, brothers, uncles etc but it does say something about how Germany has kept the memory of the world wars - we lost so we dont do or say anything.

MargaretR · 26-01-2008, 23:33

Nobody wins wars - just some lose more by them than others

Bonnyboy · 26-01-2008, 23:34

Frought with danger replying to this one shillelagh, seems to be being avoided at the moment

steeljack · 27-01-2008, 00:15

Typical of the BBC to come up with this story .....If Germany had "celebrated" the passing of this old guy they would have been castigated and accused of raising the spectre of re-newed militaryism ,(not to mention the stink jewish groups would have raised thru the media they control) they let the passing go quietly and they are accused of having no sense of history ....impossible situation to be in

cashman · 27-01-2008, 01:34

agree with steeljack, they would have been damned if they had. its a no win situation for the krauts.

shillelagh · 27-01-2008, 01:35

If i remember rightly when the last british ww1 veteran dies there will be a memorial service in westminster abbey.

cashman · 27-01-2008, 01:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by shillelagh

If i remember rightly when the last british ww1 veteran dies there will be a memorial service in westminster abbey.

that i think is correct n should be, but i wouldnt be saying that if we had gassed 6 million.

steeljack · 27-01-2008, 02:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by cashman

that i think is correct n should be, but i wouldnt be saying that if we had gassed 6 million.

two different Wars ...in the first one they were 'gentlemen' took time-outs on Christmas day to play football on no-mans land

cashman · 27-01-2008, 02:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by steeljack

two different Wars ...in the first one they were 'gentlemen' took time-outs on Christmas day to play football on no-mans land

yeh i know that, but round 2 ruled it out.

garinda · 27-01-2008, 02:24

The Canadian government want to give their last veteran of WWI a state funeral...but none of the three surviving vets want one.

First World War veterans don't want state funeral

steeljack · 27-01-2008, 02:30

in about 20 years if we are lucky we will be having the same conversation about the last WW 2 veteran .....and thinking is it Deja Vu or senility

Doug · 27-01-2008, 12:43

Right or wrong, win or lose every country who lost sons in war should honour, respect and above all remember their dead without fearing adverse comments of victorious nations or over zealous media. Just as we do. You never know, by allowing all sides to excising our ghosts we might just prevent it happening again.

West Ender · 27-01-2008, 15:02

The men and boys who fought for Germany in WW1 were no different to those who fought for Britain. They were patriotic, believed the cause was good and wanted to serve their country.

Germany was bitterly humiliated by defeat in WW1 which led to the terrible monetary depression of the 20s, the rise of Naziism amd, eventually, WW2 so not drawing attention to it now is probably understandable. I think, though, they could have made an exception for this one, last old man as a symbol of a very difficult time.

cashman · 27-01-2008, 20:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by West Ender

The men and boys who fought for Germany in WW1 were no different to those who fought for Britain. They were patriotic, believed the cause was good and wanted to serve their country.

Germany was bitterly humiliated by defeat in WW1 which led to the terrible monetary depression of the 20s, the rise of Naziism amd, eventually, WW2 so not drawing attention to it now is probably understandable. I think, though, they could have made an exception for this one, last old man as a symbol of a very difficult time.

know n understand what yer saying, but if they had the outcry from certain quarters would be bad -to put it mildly, i think its a catch 22 for em - damned if ya dont, damned if ya do.