"don't trust the hun"

Originally posted by Flood
Maybe – but there are very very few people around now who would remember it, unlike the time Adolf waltz across Europe…

Flood.

You’re right. And the old Entente creates no business case, other than old Adolf stories. But the whole celebrations were an unfriendly gesture towards Germany.

Originally posted by Distiller
You folks think the past is past? Then tell me why HM The Queen visits Paris to celebrate 100 years of Entente Cordiale. Is it because she wanted to strengthen the friendship between Tommies and Frogs, or she wanted to show the Krauts who still runs the show in our United Europe? Tell me!

Maybe – but there are very very few people around now who would remember it, unlike the time Adolf waltz across Europe…

Flood.

Distiller

You missed out the Eyeties!

What have they done to offend you? :confused:

Moggy

You folks think the past is past? Then tell me why HM The Queen visits Paris to celebrate 100 years of Entente Cordiale. Is it because she wanted to strengthen the friendship between Tommies and Frogs, or she wanted to show the Krauts who still runs the show in our United Europe? Tell me!

Difficult subject. But about the volunteers, I think that with any organisation depending on volunteers it is very difficult to get them all ‘in line’. They are donating their time and effort, and although certain rules are logical, in other aspects it can be difficult to ‘control them’ (so to speak) as they have no official obligation to you. This can be both good and bad. Many of the volunteers at Brooklands have very close ties to the site and talking to them you are getting first hand stories from sometimes extremely knowledgable people who worked there or were otherwise connected to the site. The drawback is that you also get peoples personal opinions through these conversations but you cannot avoid that much. Personally, both as a visitor and if I would be running a museum, I would gladly accept the drawbacks for the benefits of getting or providing an extra ‘service’, namely the stories and experiences of the guides.

And lost.

Very difficult topic.

I’m sure the terms “Hun” or “Boche” could be used between friends across the national divide in a friendly and joking manner. Much as if they called me “Tommy” I wouldn’t take offence – might even be touched.

But broadcast as a commentary, or used in a museum to an unknown group? Could well cause offence.

Moggy

Mind you. it’s their own fault. They started it. 😉 😉 😉

agree with Snapper that everyone has the right to their own views but volunteers at museums have to be aware that when “on duty” they are representing the organisation and should choose their words carefully, especially in view of the fact that many visitors to our museums are from overseas.

personaly i dont think we will get rid of that attitude until ww2 is out of living memory. My grandad refused to buy anything German or Japanesse using a string of expletives when he read the made in sticker/label. Maybe in 50 years time the “hun” attitude will be gone or perhaps ww3 will blow up in our faces.

I agree with you Snapper.
At the end of the day each person is an individual and the level of forgiveness of those who fought at the time varies so much.

What bugged me most I think about the commentator was that he was trying to be funny but it didn’t come out in his tone of voice and there were a number of muttered agreements in the box with him.

The story of the two brothers is a facinating one and one I’d not heard of before. I hope the day goes well for the unveiling.

I’m unveiling a memorial to a Belgian RAF pilot near Duxford in July. He was concerened one time about a combat he was involved in over the Channel. Reason being his half-brother / step-brother was flying for the Luftwaffe…

Ok, forgive and forget perhaps – we have that luxury as we haven’t really been affected in my generation. But lets just ask some of those people I know – the ones who fought, who were wounded, who were captured, and in one case put into Buchenwald. I don’t think that they will forgive and forget. For myself it is a historical enemy, not a contemporary one (bar sunbeds and queuing) and don’t hold anything against the current generation of Germans. But ‘the Hun’? I haven’t made up my mind.

I quite agree.

Two years ago the Germans came over in numbers to the Helidays and on departure flew a 7 ship flypast. The “experienced” commentator made a comment that it was a good job his dad wasn’t around to see this – he’d be spinning in his grave! How unacceptable is that!:eek: 😡 😡

Last year I got talking to a young German Naval flyer and he couldn’t understand the underlying hatred that was still there. He said “I wasn’t in the war and yet I’m treated as if I was. It was nothing to do with me.” He lost his either his father or Grandfather on the Russian Front. He was just a soldier. He was not a Nazi. He was there doing his job otherwise he’d have been punished (in ways we can’t imagine I shouldn’t wonder).

The war killed alot of people who didn’t agree with it on all sides.
Whilst I appreciate that for some the anger (for want of a better phrase) is still there and still very real but its up to the rest of us to be realistic.

No I’m not a peace campagner – I work in the “war” business and I had relatives that were miss-treated in the Far East, ones that fought in Europe and I am justly proud of them.

Time for a balanced history.

Indeed they all need comercial backing and peoples attitudes can affect this. I heard rumour that Duxford were asked if they wanted a Virgin aircraft, but they wouldn’t take it because if the British Airways backing, with aircraft and I guess the new hangar money. Things like this are not condusive to what the museum is set up for.

I am biased though I don’t like BA since the Concord incident