I know that this certainly cause some contraversy and mybe should not be posted here, but I can’t help but give my feelings too. My heart goes out o any one who has lost a relative or friend during a war. My heart truly goes out to one man in particular “fightin joe”, I am a proud German decent of a grandfather who commanded a Tiger 1 tank in the Ardennes of the SS Pbft 505 during world war 2. I was fortunate to get my grand father back. The stories alone will remain with me till the day I die.
I have been building armor tanks since I was 15. Now I am 40. German tanks mostly thanks to grandpapa, but I enjoy all the same. Fightin Joe, I truly can say I am sorry.
Hope this does not offend any one and I hope that there are no hard feelings.
To Grandpapa Heinrich Schmitstein I love you.
Hopefully Loylein, many of us can put the war behind us and move forward. Today our countries are at peace. This may be harder for some members who lost relatives in the war, I’m not sure. All I can say is that your grandfather was as brave as any combatant in the war. I for one would be interested in some of the stories he may have shared with you. He may have told you things that might even help us modelers build a better Panzer. Feel free to share with the forum or email me direct, it’s up to you if wish to or not.
It’s all in the past. Many veterans (from both sides) who fought in the war did so because they were told or made to believe that they are doing it for the good of their country and were not really cruel or sadistic men (although history tells us that there were many also who were such) who take pleasure in killing. They did what they thought was right at that time and specific circumstance. From what I have read, many who fought the war hated the war. They were honorable men in their own rights (except of course who don’t deserve to be honored.)
As Tigerman said, many who lost relatives may find it hard to accept…but there is nothing much that we can do about it except accept the fact that the war did happen. We have to learn from it and move on. Further hatred will bring us nowhere.
loylein, you grandfather did wehat he thought was right at the time. Now that many years have past, it may be tough to do but we must all move on. Many veterans who fought against each other in that war eventually met afterwards and are now friends. If they can do it, then they offer a lesson to us all.
I too would love to hear some of those stories. My E-mail is in my post. Feel free to forward any stories to me as well.
As my dad said,"We did what we had to do."Most Germans did what they thought was right and was doing there job weather it was right or wrong.My dad loved the German poeple and never blamed them for what happen.He also married a fine German woman,my mom.Common poeple don’t blame others just those in power who gives the orders.So Loylien if you want e-mail.Digger
loylein, there are different ways to handle the past, we do tank modelling and so we get information about this time and about the people. I think this is much better than people who ignore it.
Think everone here is interessted in your stories so post it here.
loylein wow didnt expect a thread like this. no apology was necessary. war makes friends to enemies. and peace makes enemies to friends. you see i am third generation american. my relatives on my mothers side were from frankfurt. they fought in ww2 on the axis side. i have others that fought in the eto on the allied side. war is war, and like the others have said it is long since over. your grandfather must have had some fantastic stories, i hope you will share them. something you might do is to build some of the equiment he was attached to. it proves to be a great way to understand the veteran more.
i look forward to hearing his stories and to seeing your work.
I’ve read quite a few memoirs of front line soldiers from both sides. To a man, they all we’re fighting for the guy next to them, not politics. They all complained about the conditions and they all just wanted to get home.
Almost every German memoir includes accounts of being treated as Liberators by Russians. Some were involved with taking time to bury church bells and the like during the retreat to be recovered by the villagers at a later date.
Most believed they were fighting for Europe against Russia. Quite a few were also told in POW camps that they would soon be fighting with the Americans against Stalin. I believe Otto Carius thought he was to help train tankers and was upset that it never happened.
It must be difficult as a Country to come to terms with a past that is so recent, but you have an invaluable source in your Grossvater, it’s important for him and you that talk about it.
My mother in law’s father came from a family of five brothers. He was killed in Brest as a US infantryman. She visited one uncle in New Jersey as a POW. Another uncle died in a camp as a political prisoner. The others served in the Wehrmacht.
I for one would love to hear what the conditions were in a Tiger, bits of info technical manuals can’t give: the feel, sounds and smells of sitting inside one of those beasts.
Some books eluded to this, Otto Carius frost bite from falling asleep against the turret wall, another using the muzzle-break cover as a latrine, tankers washing their clothes in gasoline and so forth.
Any info like this would be a pure gem, please feel free to post or email.
I guess I need to come up with a site where I can put the stories. I might need some help. I really didn’t think I would get this much response to the sounds of a rambling german boy. LOL…Jim
The Germans were painted as evil and bad, however no where near the extent the Japanese were. Since most americans at that time could trace their hertiage to europe or there abouts, the people on the other side of the gun were just like us. To this day i have neighbors who are both us vets and german vets. They live side by side and are good friends. Perhaps time does heal wounds.
Well since there is so much interest in the stories, I guess I should start somewhere.
I am thinking about doing the TIGER 1 Early since this is the panzer that my grandpapa
started with in afrika. He was assigned in Tunisia and saw a lot of action, I am not sure about all the details in his early tank years as to where and to whom he was assigned.
I know through the years he had recieved many awards, the most distinguished being the Knight cross. I know that at the end of the war he was assigned to the 6 panzer battallion. I believe SS but not 100% sure.
Any ideas on a good kit for early production Tiger I would appreciate the help. I am also looking for aftermarket stuff too.
Loylein, thank you for your willingness to share your grandfathers stories of long ago. It’s probably fair to say that we all in one way or another have been impacted by the events of 60yrs. ago. It is always gratifying to hear the stories of the men and women who actually lived through those very terrible times. I to believe that many on both sides fought for the honor and duty to protect those they loved. Sadly the politics of the time as has historically been the case in most conflicts between man were for all the wrong causes. I try to refrain from these kinds of comments but yours is well thought out and deserves acknowledgement. semper fi, mike
jim i cant think of a better tribute to your grandfather. i am not going to venture an opinion on a suitable kit but i will say i know there are some out there. i look forward to your build.
Tigerman
from my recollection, his tiger was hit my arty fire while they “were cought napping” and transffered back to Dusseldorf about mid '43. He then was transferred to Eastern front, given new Tiger and made Oberleutnant, His crew was credited with 4 kills in Afrika. Two of his crew members were killed that day and he was injured from shrapnel in leg.