"There are countless horrible things happening all over the world and horrible people prospering, but we must never allow them to disturb our equanimity or deflect us from our sacred duty to sabotage and annoy them whenever possible." -Auberon Waugh
Saturday, August 15, 2020
More weird WWII history.
The two Irishmen who fought for the Waffen SS (sounds hard to believe, but alcohol was involved).
There's a popular Korean movie about a Korean and the son of his Japanese colonial boss (and his athletic rival) both ending up in an SS unit in Normandy on D-Day. In English it's called My Way. It's based on a true story and apparently only part of the back story (about their track-and-field rivalry) is fictionalized.
The Republic of Ireland was "neutral" during WWII, but Luftwaffe crews during the Blitz knew if they made emergency landings in Ireland, they'd be back with their units in less than a week, while RAF pilots who landed or crashed in Ireland would be interned for the duration.
(In reality, British air force and naval personnel would eventually be repatriated during the war, but it took much, much longer than for the Germans.)
Similar things happened with Switzerland - Germans being repatriated, but Americans not. After the war, the Swiss had entire fighter squadrons of "interred" Messerschmitt 109s and P-51 Mustangs, and a B-17 bomber squadron.
Spiny, that's interesting. Looks like maybe some lingering resentment on the part of the Irish for past...unpleasantness...between England and Ireland?
8 comments:
Fascinating. That would make a good movie, if done right. Thanks Paco! The things you learn here.
Alcohol was definitely involved at the start, but given they said "Up the IRA, and [bleep] the King!", they certainly had other motives.
Ah, the Irish.
A classic tale of the Enemy of my Enemy is my Friend.
There's a popular Korean movie about a Korean and the son of his Japanese colonial boss (and his athletic rival) both ending up in an SS unit in Normandy on D-Day. In English it's called My Way. It's based on a true story and apparently only part of the back story (about their track-and-field rivalry) is fictionalized.
The Republic of Ireland was "neutral" during WWII, but Luftwaffe crews during the Blitz knew if they made emergency landings in Ireland, they'd be back with their units in less than a week, while RAF pilots who landed or crashed in Ireland would be interned for the duration.
(In reality, British air force and naval personnel would eventually be repatriated during the war, but it took much, much longer than for the Germans.)
Similar things happened with Switzerland - Germans being repatriated, but Americans not. After the war, the Swiss had entire fighter squadrons of "interred" Messerschmitt 109s and P-51 Mustangs, and a B-17 bomber squadron.
Interned, not "interred". Yikes.
Spiny, that's interesting. Looks like maybe some lingering resentment on the part of the Irish for past...unpleasantness...between England and Ireland?
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