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Post by smithy on Jul 10, 2008 10:01:19 GMT 12
Hi all,
I had an idea that I read somewhere that a German (possibly Rpmmel) said something along the lines of wishing to have Kiwi soldiers led by German officers.
Have I got my wires crossed here or does anybody know anything about this?
Cheers.
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Post by FlyNavy on Jul 10, 2008 10:37:54 GMT 12
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Post by corsair67 on Jul 10, 2008 10:45:06 GMT 12
Smithy, I think Rommel is alleged to have said something along those lines. I have read/heard two versions - one that said he wanted Maori troops, and another that said he was referring to Kiwi troops in general. But whether it is actually true or just wartime propaganda..........  |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jul 10, 2008 11:57:29 GMT 12
I know that when Hitler was told on September 3rd, 1939 that New Zealand had declared war upon Germany, he scoffed that they were just a lot of farmers and woudn't be of any consequence. I don't however have the exact quote and translation and would like to get it.
It's funny that most of NZ's air aces were farmers before the war, as was Upham and many other very successful soldiers, sailors and airmen.
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Post by smithy on Jul 10, 2008 12:12:06 GMT 12
Thanks guys, and Corsair, seems it might not be just my befuddled mind then. If anybody else has heard I'd be keen to know, and if someone can cite a reference to this supposed quote I'd be more than grateful.
That's very true about the farmers Dave. Also the LRDG was formed around NZers to begin with specifically due to many of them coming from farming backgrounds and this being deemed desirable to the nature of the unit.
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Post by flyjoe180 on Jul 10, 2008 12:19:09 GMT 12
This was quite interesting, but not quite what you were after: During the confusion caused by the Crusader operation, Rommel and his staff ended up behind Allied lines several times. On one occasion he visited a New Zealand Army field hospital, which was still under Allied control. "[Rommel] inquired if anything was needed, promised the British [sic] medical supplies and drove off unhindered." (General Fritz Bayerlein, The Rommel Papers, chapter 8.)forums.canadiancontent.net/history/47846-erwin-rommel.html |
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Post by smithy on Jul 10, 2008 12:35:52 GMT 12
It's a wonderful example of the confusion of war isn't it Flyjoe!
It also demonstrates why he was so highly respected by Allied soldiers.
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Post by flyjoe180 on Jul 10, 2008 12:42:48 GMT 12
Doing a search, I've found many small references to Field Marshall Erwin Rommel's quote about the Maori Battalion, the most likely one being
“Give me a division of Maori and I will conquer the world”.
Nothing concrete references though.
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Post by smithy on Jul 10, 2008 13:00:26 GMT 12
That'll be the one. Many thanks Flyjoe.
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Post by steve on Jul 10, 2008 14:39:19 GMT 12
Yes i recall the remarks being about the brave maori batallion and not the NZ 2 division as a whole. The remarks I understand were about the maori charge and their fearless nature..
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jul 10, 2008 15:55:11 GMT 12
I too have heard reference to his comments about the Maori Battalion, it's usually mentioned in the numerous documentaries made about Maori Battalion. As no-one bothers to make documentaries about all our other Battalions, it cannot have been about the Division as a whole.
I have also read before about Rommel accidentally visiting a NZ Field Hospital. I'll bet he was packing himself as he walked calmly away, hoping no-one twigged who he was.
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Post by phil82 on Feb 26, 2013 18:14:19 GMT 12
As for the Field Hospital incident, I knew a veteran here in Lower Hutt who lost a leg at Alamein, and later became National President of the NZRSA: [The late Alan Johnston]. He told me that there was a German Field Hospital operating within the battle, which was treating both German and New Zealand wounded, though mainly German, and which was overrun by NZ troops. The medics were joined by the NZ Surgeons and medics who worked alongside the Germans, until the Hospital was again overrun by the Germans! This may well have been the unit Rommel visited.
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Post by kiwithrottlejockey on Feb 26, 2013 18:21:56 GMT 12
It's a wonderful example of the confusion of war isn't it Flyjoe! It also demonstrates why he was so highly respected by Allied soldiers. |
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