“Please, don't build Bomber Command memorial”

[Velvet Glove]

.
The mayor of the German city of Dresden flies into London today under pressure from her countrymen to beg Britain not to build a memorial to Second World War bomber crews.

Conservative Helma Orosz, 57, is officially in the UK to open an exhibition tonight detailing the bombing of London, her city and that of its twin, Coventry, during the war.

But other politicians - and Germany‘s largest daily newspaper - are pressuring her to try to get the memorial planned to recognise the long-overlooked courage of RAF bomber crews scrapped.

Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldne ... crews.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[SteveS]

I'm assuming there's no memorials to the German Luftwaffe crews who died bombing England anywhere????



Oh no, here's one....in Sussex.....

http://www.gravelroots.net/gall4a_1c.html

[the beast]

Deleted.

[captain scarlet]

There should be a memorial in every village that once had a bomber command airfield next to it!! How many brave young men (and women) died in bomber command? 55,000 wasn't it! . . . . and they are still the only service not to receive a campaign medal, outrageous if you ask me.

We should be honouring our brave servicemen and women otherwise we may well have all been speaking german!!!

[HawkEye001]

What them in Germany should remember is that they bombed London first and in retaliation we bombed Dresden.

They broke the agreement that no civilians should be bombed. Giving them no right to beg us not to build a memorial to our brave people.

Its non of their business anyway so just tell them to do one.

[SteveS]

Let's hope Boris tells them, in his unique style, to mind their own business.

[Newcastle_Paul]

I think it's very important that the courage of the bomber crews is separated from what they were asked to do.

It was the politicians and Harris that ordered them to bomb cities night after night. In doing their service to all civilised nations, what they endured can not be imagined.

They weren't even recognised in Churchill's victory speech so after 65 years it's about time we as a nation recognised their courage.

And as for considering the sensitivities of our German friends, it didn't stop us erecting a statue to Harris...

[SteveS]

Exactly right Paul, their task was a terrible thing to have to do, but you cannot look back in this day and age and judge how Bomber Command went about their campaign under Harris. It was a different time, we know how the war ended - Harris and those who supported night-time area bombing did not know. They were fighting for the very lives of the British people and had to do all they could to ensure the war wasn't lost.

Steve

[Figure8]

I agree with Newcastle Paul, there is plenty of room to recognise the bravery and sacrifice of these crews and it is up to us how, when and where we do it.

The bombing of civilian populations can never be condoned but the crews who took part had no choice in the matter considering they were countering Hitler's unspeakable crimes against the world.

Note that the bombing of innocent civilians takes place in all wars, current ones included.

[keith2uk]

I'm a little late coming into this thread, but when I read it, I just felt that I had to make a reply.

Having been involved with with Bomber Command for many years now, I don't wish to sound un-loyal, becasue the veterans have fuelled my interest in the subject over a prolonged period, but I really do think all the people who say there should be a memorial to BC, should take a trip around many of the ex and some current Bomber Command airfields. They all have their own memorial to the units that operated from them. The trip around Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, would be quite an eyeopener to many. There is also Cambridgeshire as well. If everyone wished to support what these chaps fought for, maybe not what they had to do, they should talk to the various associations and support them at their local level, where it is still possible to meet and talk with the chaps that had to do the job.

[Tiger Tim]

Until D-day in 1944 Bomber Command was the only force in Northern Europe taking the fight to Hitler's Germany.

The local Scout Troop in the village were I live lost two of their members who were flying with Bomber Command and WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

It is time to say thank you to those fallen Heroes.

[DeanW]

Isn't it a bit hypocritical that she's over here to open an exhibition about the German bombing of the UK but doesn't want a memorial to the British bomber crews?!

[deerhunter]

My old man flew in wellingtons, both over the North Atlantic and in North Africa,

my reply is, stuff her, they were our lads, just like the ones taking to the air today, lets honour the past and the present and above all NEVER forget

[jem60]

If you ever come into the delightful village of Chedburgh, Suffolk, where I live, the first thing you will see is the village sign, which, in colour, depicts a Lancaster flying over some horses in a wheat field. Lovely. Immediately next to it is the War Memorial, erected in memory of the Polish Bomber Squadrons based on RAF Chedburgh. Just down the road, is the only pub, The Marquis Cornwallis, which has photos of Bomber Crews, Lancasters etc. adorning the walls. Whilst the pub stands, these will never be removed. The memorial is tended all the time by volunteers in thevillage. We, in East Anglia, never forget the Military, past or present. In my opinion,These individual memorials are sufficent, and easier to relate to, for youngsters, than one central one. There is, of course, a mobile memorial to Bomber Command, seen by thousands of people every year, whilst transitting to and from Airshows [makes a beeline for my bungalow every time it's in Suffolk it seems.] It is, of course, the Lancaster.