Thread: Honor amongst enemies

Originally Posted by tankie

Spoonman ,, i didnt dictate the story , i only forwarded it on which i thought was interesting ,as do others , its about a MAN showing some clemency and mercy towards another MAN on opposite sides of a conflict , a bit like the football game on xmas day in the trenches , and should not be confused with the whole scenario of the 2nd WW , A totally honorable act , which could have seen the German executed for failing to carry out orders .

True, and a lot were for refusing to carry out genocidal orders on the Eastern front. I'm sure you'll find similar stories somewhere in recent conflicts as well. I suppose that Iraqi doctor taking a pretty monumental risk to try and get Pvt. Jessica Lynch back to American lines is one example.

Originally Posted by -{SpoonmaN}-

True, and a lot were for refusing to carry out genocidal orders on the Eastern front. I'm sure you'll find similar stories somewhere in recent conflicts as well. I suppose that Iraqi doctor taking a pretty monumental risk to try and get Pvt. Jessica Lynch back to American lines is one example.

Agreed mate , good for him .

Originally Posted by HistoricalDavid

Beg your pardon?

Originally Posted by Officer of Engineers

It's a very fine line between honour and disgrace. Mongol and Viking warriors were certainly without fear beyond doubt but they just as soon put women and children to the knife as well slidding the throats of their enemies both armed and disarmed.

Knights might hold the bible up high but they often joined their Islamic enemies in raiding caravans as much as fighting them.

In this case, it's a nice story but there are hidden facts. That bomber has dropped bombs on women and children and while this Luftwaffle pilot may have let this plane go, he certainly have more than a few kills to his credit and those he downed with no mercy.

Take this story for what it is. A good gesture between men who has done their worst.

What you say Col is very true ref the B17 dropping bombs on civilians , but the UK , and the USA , didnt start the conflict ,and look what they did to the whole of europe , with emphasis on London and Coventry ,started by lousy politicians and carried out by some fine men n women (not all i know )on all sides ,, but it certainly was a good gesture indeed .And all the other honorable deeds that have been mentioned and the ones that have not , and there must be myriads of them , i salute them .

Originally Posted by -{SpoonmaN}-

Agreed, I read another story that a RAF pilot who escorted a Luftwaffe pilot's damaged plane back over the Channel during the blitz and was impressed by the display of chivalry and human decency.

And it'll be the windswept tundra of the Falklands in a few months... with Javelin kit.

Are you going to the Falklands mate , if you are take your long wooly underwear ,, and if your stuck for a bit of n00ky,,, make sure ya get an ugly sheep , cos no,one else will have had it , unless freddy furkensterker has beat ya to it

Good story by the way , do you have a link to it .