26.06.2009, 16:09
Hi Struwwelpeter,
Just a few lines on your comment. Living in North America, but having been born in Germany, I am exposed to a lot of clichee-like negative and stereotypical representations of Germans during WWII, and to some extent even WW I, as cruel, mindless, slightly stupid, and evil automatons. So, normally, I would agrre with your statement, since I am somewhat tired of those same old clichees.
However, Caldrail's story is told from the perspective of French people in 1940. In the view of his protagonists, the German planes may well have appeared as "evil" and "angular." Thus, I saw it as a literary stylistic device to provide immersion and insight into the mind of the characters telling the story.
There is one thing, though, that jarred me even more than the "evil angular" German planes, namely them strafing a column of civilian refugees. Things like that probably happened during the campaign against France in 1940. However, I grew up with plenty of people who actually survived strafing attacks by Allied pilots over Germany. Most of these folks were civilians, some of them relatives of mine. They all pretty much tell the same story, stating that Allied "Jabos" or "Tiefflieger," as they called them, would shoot at anything that moved, laundry on a cloth line, livestock, kids on tricycles, farmers on fields and of course military targets, too.
I don't mean to sound bitter or accusing. It's just that this fact is far less frequently mentioned than the same kind of conduct performed by Axis troops. Perhaps, it's just a matter of each side favouring their own representations or the typical line of "the winner tells the story."
Perhaps, a more balanced portrayal of these events, times and people involved is possible?
That said, though, I found Caldrail's story quite captivating and immersive and would like to read more of it.
Regards,
RB
Just a few lines on your comment. Living in North America, but having been born in Germany, I am exposed to a lot of clichee-like negative and stereotypical representations of Germans during WWII, and to some extent even WW I, as cruel, mindless, slightly stupid, and evil automatons. So, normally, I would agrre with your statement, since I am somewhat tired of those same old clichees.
However, Caldrail's story is told from the perspective of French people in 1940. In the view of his protagonists, the German planes may well have appeared as "evil" and "angular." Thus, I saw it as a literary stylistic device to provide immersion and insight into the mind of the characters telling the story.
There is one thing, though, that jarred me even more than the "evil angular" German planes, namely them strafing a column of civilian refugees. Things like that probably happened during the campaign against France in 1940. However, I grew up with plenty of people who actually survived strafing attacks by Allied pilots over Germany. Most of these folks were civilians, some of them relatives of mine. They all pretty much tell the same story, stating that Allied "Jabos" or "Tiefflieger," as they called them, would shoot at anything that moved, laundry on a cloth line, livestock, kids on tricycles, farmers on fields and of course military targets, too.
I don't mean to sound bitter or accusing. It's just that this fact is far less frequently mentioned than the same kind of conduct performed by Axis troops. Perhaps, it's just a matter of each side favouring their own representations or the typical line of "the winner tells the story."
Perhaps, a more balanced portrayal of these events, times and people involved is possible?
That said, though, I found Caldrail's story quite captivating and immersive and would like to read more of it.
Regards,
RB