02.02.2010, 10:18
For some time I've known about the secret German plans for Britain should the Operation Seelowe of 1940 follow a victory in the Battle of Britain for the Luftwaffe. It does make sobre reading. All fit males were to be transported to the continent for slave labour, all properties (presumably the expensive ones) were to be parcelled out to German officers and officials, and so on. British life was to be deconstructed completely.
What shocked me was an interview with Ray leoperd, a US Army veteran who fought in the Ardennes of 1944, that I saw on a documentary last night. He was watching a German captive, who eventually approached his captor and asked "Where are you from?" in perfect english.
A little taken aback by the flawless accent, Mr Leoperd replied that he was from America.
"Yes, but where in America?"
North east.
"Where in the north east"?
Connecticut.
"Where in Connecticut?"
Mr Leoperd gave in and said he was from Waterbury.
"Ah yes. Where the river meets the stream."
Somewhat stunned by his expert knowledge, Mr Leoperd asked the German how he knew the area.
"I was trained for the administration."
Administration? What administration?
"We were trained for the German occupation."
Yep. That's right. The Germans had even planned for the administration of captured American territory, though it isn't clear when exactly this training took place. Quite a thought, isn't it?
What shocked me was an interview with Ray leoperd, a US Army veteran who fought in the Ardennes of 1944, that I saw on a documentary last night. He was watching a German captive, who eventually approached his captor and asked "Where are you from?" in perfect english.
A little taken aback by the flawless accent, Mr Leoperd replied that he was from America.
"Yes, but where in America?"
North east.
"Where in the north east"?
Connecticut.
"Where in Connecticut?"
Mr Leoperd gave in and said he was from Waterbury.
"Ah yes. Where the river meets the stream."
Somewhat stunned by his expert knowledge, Mr Leoperd asked the German how he knew the area.
"I was trained for the administration."
Administration? What administration?
"We were trained for the German occupation."
Yep. That's right. The Germans had even planned for the administration of captured American territory, though it isn't clear when exactly this training took place. Quite a thought, isn't it?