Hi!

Points well taken!

Regards,

Hello,

Please don’t understand me wrong, I do not want to call Prien as a killer, but I think he is not a hero. He became an order and then he does his work and that very well. So he was a good worker and not a hero. We have in the history of Germany a lot of heroes, who fight for “unity, justice and liberty”. For example: The siblings Scholl from “Die weise Rose” (a resistance group) or von Staufenberg, who try to kill Hitler.

So I think is difficult to make a movie, where Prien is a hero. To make the right message is not easy.

Lothar-Günther Buchheim wrote an interesting book: " Zu Tode gesiegt" (To death triumphed). Buchheim told of used for heating U-Boot driver, not of heroes.

Ragards

Holger

 Hello!

I feel that any solider who was in combat and awarded his nations highest award  as an example;  the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was and is a hero.  Unlike the view of the movies, the Iron Cross  even the lowest 2nd Class Award was not "passed out with  the rations" .  I would honor any soldier as a hero if he won my nations Cogressional Medal of Honor as an example.  When it comes to these awards, we can't put politics into it.  They served thier countries with honor and bravery. We should not take that away from them.   I myself was in the US Marines for 10 years,  I was in Beruit  in 1984. I was in two fire-fights and saw men die.  Anyone who was a commander of a U-Boot during  WWII and was awarded the Knights Cross was and is a hero!

Hello,

I must contradict the thesis that each carrier of the medal is a hero.

I try to represent times my opinion.

In order to clarify my (German) opinion, I would first like to briefly represent the relationship of my family with the Second World War.

From my family many members were soldiers in the Second World War. 4 of uncle of my mother died, one is still missed. An uncle was wounded on the way after Stalingrad. My father lost a brother (member of the Kriegsmarine) and a brother-in-law. A brother and a brother-in-law were wounded. A brother came for 1.5 years into American war prison.

A widow in the neighbourhood of my father had 4 sons and a daughter. All four sons died in the war. One of their sons was Dietrich Schöneboom, commander of U-431. Carrier of the iron cross (1^st class) and knight cross. My father told me that the mother had suffered her whole life under the loss of their sons. The medals of their son were there also no consolation.

None from my family and circle of friends, those the war survived spoke ever of heroism. There were heroes only in propaganda.

Most felt betrayed, for a wrong thing used for heating. They came into a destroyed and split country home, the result of their "heroful fight”.

They could not say like the allied soldiers that their blood tariff for the liberty of Europe was.

Medals were after the war only a piece sheet metal. A piece sheet metal that the will to strengthen should go over for the Führer into death.

Toward end of the war the medals became also mass-produced goods.

Also the award depended not always on acts, but also on relations and political necessities.

People such as Prien were developed partially purposefully as heroes, in order to strengthen the war will of the population.

Also one should with the statement that all carriers are heroes, considers that people carried such as Hitler, Goering and Goebels many medals. Medals were lent also to the SS men, whose achievements were based on the number of destroyed Jews.

Therefore am I the opinion that a medal is not equal to medals. The background of a medal must be always regarded, before one calls someone hero.

Therefore the hero anniversary imported after that 1 world war also after the Second World War in people mourning day was renamed.

One day, to which one intends the victims of the two world wars. One day for reminder at the following generations.

Thus, Prien and the other carriers were heroes? I say no, which was most like lambs, which one sacrificed.

Regards Holger

      The war cost your family deeply, and you are right, when you say a piece of medal can not replace a loved one.

       Welcome to the forum Holger. Glad to have you aboard.

Kaleun wrote:  some party hack lowlife who might have been awarded the RK for organising the delivery of Hitler's birthday cake.

       Well put Rick.  Although I must say I'm interested in Holgers view of things.