Thomas F. (hardtack) -
Helpful Score: 1
A very easy and fascinating read about one man's experiences in World War II.
Native German Louis Hagen made one nasty comment too many about the Nazis in his teenage years and ended up in a concentration camp. Fortunately, his father's connections got him out of that, but then he had to flee the country.
Arriving in England as a "displaced alien," he did well until war was declared and found, as an "displaced alien," he couldn't work in "war work." So he basically joined the underground economy. He was finally arrested for not answering his draft notice, which he didn't know about as he had no permanent address.
What happened next was basically one piece of good luck after another, until he found himself in Holland fighting with the British 1st Parachute Division at the disastrous Battle of Arnham, under an assumed, but non-Jewish, name.
If a movie was made about his experience before, during and after the war, most people would believe it was made up by Hollywood screenwriters. But it was all true, including the bit about standing before the King of England, receiving a medal and being asked where he was from. The King was startled when Hagen replied, "Potsdam."
Native German Louis Hagen made one nasty comment too many about the Nazis in his teenage years and ended up in a concentration camp. Fortunately, his father's connections got him out of that, but then he had to flee the country.
Arriving in England as a "displaced alien," he did well until war was declared and found, as an "displaced alien," he couldn't work in "war work." So he basically joined the underground economy. He was finally arrested for not answering his draft notice, which he didn't know about as he had no permanent address.
What happened next was basically one piece of good luck after another, until he found himself in Holland fighting with the British 1st Parachute Division at the disastrous Battle of Arnham, under an assumed, but non-Jewish, name.
If a movie was made about his experience before, during and after the war, most people would believe it was made up by Hollywood screenwriters. But it was all true, including the bit about standing before the King of England, receiving a medal and being asked where he was from. The King was startled when Hagen replied, "Potsdam."
