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Harry,

You mentioned Sven Hassel in one of your posts. Thought you may like to know that he lives a few miles east of York.

Or rather Charles Whiting, his nom de plume does.

A well known and respected author and specialist on the closing months of WW II/

Chunks, can`t remember posting much about him, so I`ve just searched for Sven Hassel under my name and this is all that came up.

Well done mate, theres loads of information there, for the likes of me and Parry
However, on this occasion, I shall restrain meself
Aye,
See, I didn`t even mention Sven Hassel

You`ve totally ruined "Wheels of Terror" for me now, bastard
I thought old Sven was gen
Aye, Harry von Hackedoff, Obergerfreiter First Class
Deuchtsland Sont Seigt Am Allen Fronten
Sieg Hiel, Gott Mit Uns

Harry,


As I said Charles Whiting is a well respected military author who specializes in the last few months of the war in the west, Rhine crossing , breaching the Siegfried Line etc.

However he met and interviewed a lot of SS from the Wiking division and these tales under the name Sven Hassel are tales he has heard but can not verify as absolute truth.
So he has had to publish them as fiction.

The fanatical SS unit that defended Berlin in the final days was in fact composed of French and Belgian volunteers from the SS Charlemagne Regiment of the SS Wiking Division.
In fact they had to fight their way in to continue the defence.

So I think a lot of his fiction is not far from the truth.

Chunky

Cheers! An amazing bit of info. Mind you, I'm not sure why I'm amazed - but I am

I would never have even had a moment's idea he was a Brit (or, rather, wasn't a German.
But I do wonder what happened to the 58 members of the Britische Freikorps when they returned. I know John Amery was executed for treason. And the others served varying terms of imprisonment but after that.........?

Sorry, off on another tangent!

Sisyphus,

Regarding the British Free Corps, a chap called Adrian Weal ( I think) wrote the definitive book on them.

The Germans, with their usual love of paperwork, kept detailed records of them. They would have seen combat once they reached company level about 60 men but never got to that strength. They were sent to Dresden to stage on to the Eastern Front, but got there at the same time as the allied bombers and spent the closing days of the war clearing up there.

Most of them then donned their old uniforms, one of them (possibly) SAS and tried to fade away, but all were captured. According to a documentary on Discovery Chanel one of them lives in Australia now. But he is the only one they Could;d find.

Cheers Chunky

I'll check out Weal and see what I can come up with!

The book is called "Renegades, Hitler's Englishmen" by Adrian Weale.
ISBN No: 0-7515-1426-8. I managed to pick up a copy at a car boot sale. Very interesting read. Anyway I hope this helps.

Cheers Lazarus,

Many thanks.

Glad to see you're feeling 'alive' again!

charles whiting is an excellent author. His books on westwall and hurtagen forest are excellent though he is very hard on the americans.

Can an one recomend any books on the royal ulster rifles in WW2 either of the BNs wh where with 3 inf div & or 6abn div?

You'll be telling me next the Leo Kessler is in fact a retired school mistress from Pocklington

Chunks

You have ruined my view of Sven Hassal. (used to read his books yonks ago)

I now have this vision of some Bluff Yorkshire lad shouting out to the advancing Red Army troops;

"Cum on yer buggers! Alst ave thee guts fer garters thay bunch of poncy woofters!" (Compo, Clegg and Foggy bringing up the rear)

Artist

Chunky Wrote:-

Most of them then donned their old uniforms, one of them (possibly) SAS and tried to fade away, but all were captured. According to a documentary on Discovery Chanel one of them lives in Australia now. But he is the only one they Could;d find.

HH Wrote:-

Aye, Harry von Hackedoff, Obergerfreiter First Class
Deuchtsland Sont Seigt Am Allen Fronten
Sieg Hiel, Gott Mit Uns



well, are you lot thinking what i`m thinking?

No he isn't the missing man! Had you all fooled now didn't I?

BenChug der grose britische Supermann
SS-Scharführer, Britische Freikorps
2 SAS Kerl gegangenes Schlechtes

Trev, that`s kin priceless mate

Ben, you claiming to be the one , reminds me of one of Kirk Douglas`s sons. Fancied himself as a bit of a stand-up comic. He was doing a spot on the Comedy Club in that London and he bombed, mainly due to the fact that he was shite. The audience began chatting amonst themselves, much to Douglas Jnr`s annoyance.
Eventually, he shouts at the audience"Do you people know who I am?" which shuts them up, if only out of curiosity." I am Kirk Douglas`s son!" he proudly proclaims.
"No, I am Kirk Douglas`s son" shouts some wag, followed by another and another and another untill the whole audience were shouting " No I am Kirk Douglas`s son"
Laugh? I nearly got the round in

Bert, you don`t deny it then! and i notice you were a, "Obergerfreiter First Class" and not a second class.