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My grandfather was a cook on a navy ship. He met Ike and supposedly kicked him in the butt for some reason. He was nuts. He was also petrified of guns, and once was asked to watch some German POWs and handed a gun. Apparently, once the higher-up left, he gave the gun to one of the prisoners and told him to watch everyone.
Its my impression that by the late stages of the war, a German POW was happy to be captured. The part about the SS officer spitting on the Jewish American Officer reminds me that not ALL of them were just along for the ride- there were plenty of fanatics, and I bet they were mostly in the upper German Ranks, or (as written) the young kids.
Man, it would be really hard to shoot a 12 year old.
I understand your sentiments about wishing to have been a part of something great Supe, but I think for many soldiers there was a lot of horror that I'd just as soon do without.
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