Today is not the day, but we need to be wary of post-hoc re-interpretation of what VE day meant. In Austria, which has done a very good job post-1945 of re-inventing its own history since 1938, 8th May is commemorated as the victory of the Austrian freedom fighters against the Nazi occupiers. Yes, there were a few, maybe a few score, and undoubtedly they risked much. But it would be nice to see a mention of the British army, which raced to occupy southern Austria on 8th May before the Russians did, and who turned back a Jugoslav land-grab. But that's for another day. So long as you remember that no-one in Austria ever supported Hitler, you'll be fine.
Again, my heartfelt thanks to the generation that made our todays possible.
7 comments:
My father's comment, when I asked him...
Was simply relief that it was OVER.
For some others, of course, it wasn't.
One of my uncles was only found to be alive on about 20th August, when the fucking Japs released their still-living prisoner names. They'd had him since very late March '42 - having captured him on Sumatra ( He'd escaped from Singapore with a small group )
And, yes, he had survived "the railway"
My dad was in the Eighth Army and looked after a small prison camp in Austria. He told me he got on all right with the Austrians and they taught him to ski and mountain climb. At one point the troops were taken to a concert in Vienna put on by what was left of Austria's musicians. Dad reckoned it was bloody good. In the end people are people.
One oft related tale. In 1934, David Hilbert, by then a grand old man of German mathematics, was dining with Bernhard Rust, the Nazi minister of education. Rust asked, “How is mathematics at Göttingen, now that it is free from the Jewish influence?” Hilbert replied, “There is no mathematics in Göttingen anymore.”
We should probably be very grateful for that strategic mistake of Adolf's.
Greg, an uncle of mine the same and he never forgave the Japanese. Also couldn't face rice!
I was very pleased to see a much wider than expected display of bunting and flags out today with more than a few 'keeping respectful distance toasts. Also in the three villages (brownstone, sets off the Union Jack wonderfully). Very touching. My foreign ex-wife whom I was taking to her essential work was also very moved.
I was around at the time, but I was too young to know fear. I had the air-raid shelter to play on and in, after all.
I'm sure most Austrians never supported Hitler. And no "ordinary" German ever suspected what was going on at the extermination camps either.
Down here in my little west country town, Boris' lockdown is coming apart at the seams. More cars around; more people around; several shops operating phone/email & collect purchasing; some cafes opening a few hours a day for takeaways.
This afternoon a group of about 18 neighbours gathered in our Close for a VE Day celebration with fizz, nibbles for sharing and minimal social distancing. And today the town Chippy re-opened, with a queue down the street .... and very nice it was.
What Boris says on Sunday is behind the curve .... and largely irrelevant.
“But it would be nice to see a mention of the British army, which raced to occupy southern Austria on 8th May before the Russians did, and who turned back a Jugoslav land-grab.”
I spent a few very pleasant days a few years ago in Krumpendorf near Klagenfurt on Lake Worhersee.
I was astounded when the owner of the self-catering apartment in which we stayed informed us how grateful they were to the British army for saving them from the Russians and hence from becoming part of Yugoslavia.
It’s the only occasion on my European travels that I have found the British to be appreciated.
I am in awe of the unbelievable bravery of the men who took part in the D-Day landings. I just don’t know how they did it. I will always remember them and thank them.
Just to add to the memories - my father was in the Italian campaign from the beginning (doesn't get mentioned much) and finished up running a requisitioned hotel in Vienna as a transit camp for officers - was only too keen to be demobbed in 46 having lost 7 years of his adult life to war. And on the Far East campaign - too long to explain detail, but used to commute to London as a boy and for a time travelled together with an ex POW - didn't quite understand as a 13 year old why this chap once told me he didn't mind orientals but couldn't walk on the same side of the street as a Japanese man - something to do with his time spent building a certain railway. RIP both - and grateful thanks.
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