Walter Schuck book available in Finish
 

Walter Schuck's book "Abschuss" (shoot down) was tranlated by the publisher Koala Kustannus into the Finish language, see

http://www.koalakustannus.fi/kirjat/ilmailu/schuck.htm

The English version should be published in spring 2009.

All the best,
Horst

Re: Walter Schuck book available in Finish
 

I will check the library copy first as the translator used by Koala has ruined their translations since the first one (Rudel´s memoirs) by his personal PC rants and commentaries on nearly every page.

Re: Walter Schuck book available in Finish
 

Would you please name the translator???
Thanks, Horst

Re: Walter Schuck book available in Finish
 

He is a retired FAF Major and the former director of the FAF MUseum PhD Hannu Valtonen. He is otherwise a capable translator, but for example, Hannig´s memoirs has 52 footnotes by him + numerous additions + 3-page foreword. Lipfert´s memoirs suffer from 51 notes + numerous additions + a 3-page foreword by the translator. His translation of Rudel´s memoirs begins with his rant on Rudel´s politics. Due to his ranting I have bought none of his translations.

Re: Walter Schuck book available in Finish
 

Well, if memories are totally bogus at times, as Rudel's are, such comments should be warmly welcomed.

Re: Walter Schuck book available in Finish
 

I hope, I must not learn the Finish language, either to confirm or to reject your early statement on a book, which you haven't seen yet. But I am pretty sure you will tell us more, whenever you had the chance to look into it.
__________________________________
No prejudgment - no problem. Horst Kube

Re: Walter Schuck book available in Finish
 

Hallo!

This is really good news as far as I am concerned. I had already pondered getting the German edition. The Koala book will probably be both cheaper and much, much easier read for me. Do you know if there are photos included in the book?


Of mr. Valtonen's translations and footnotes. His translations are very good especially because he is able to understand and translate also the pilots' jargon. His footnotes are at times on and at times off mark as are his photo captions. Some of the extras like unit strengths and loss details really do add to the book material while some are apparently sort of hasty (personal) comments which could have been as easily left out. But if one is used to read footnoted text they are easy to ignore.

And indeed Valtonen hinted Rudel being a nazi in his comments. I once asked this from a veteran pilot who knew him (Rudel) post-war. Rudel may have been more an anti-bolshevist and/or nostalgic for the Teutonic Order Knights than a nazi. Perhaps Valtonen knows more? In that case more elaboration of the subject would have been in order. Personally I would be very careful when using such stamps even if it would be correct in this particular case.


Cheers,
Kari

Re: Walter Schuck book available in Finish
 

Kari, take a look at the link Horst provided. It clearly mentions "260 photos".

As for Valtonen´s footnoting, it must be borne in mind that we are mostly dealing with MEMOIRS where adding footnoting borders on forgery.

What is even more funny is that for some reason Koala (=Lassi Eskola) tolerates footnotes in Valtonen´s translations, but no footnoting can be found in e.g. Matti Hämäläinen´s bomber squadron histories or Jukka Piipponen´s pilot biographies*. Especially on the former proper source noting would be important. I asked the publisher why don´t these books have footnote apparatus and the response was that "Koala´s average reader consider them obtrusive". So where is the logic in Koala´s footnoting policy?

*Piipponen seems to be the Finnish Franz Kurowski, with invented dialogue etc.

Re: Walter Schuck book available in Finish
 

So Jukka, what have your above comments to do with the Walter Schuck book?

Did you already look into the translation and can you confirm your comments, that there are "rants" in it?

BTW: Walter was never in a Nazi party or in any another similar organization, he was just flying and doing his duty - at those times also for Finland - as so many honourable Luftwaffe pilots...

If you could read or detect only one of these special from you mentioned footnotes in Hannus's translation of the book, please let us know.

Otherwise, please shut up and concentrate on stuff from which you (may) have a better knowledge.

____________________________
No prejugment, no problem. Horst

Re: Walter Schuck book available in Finish
 

Hello
I'm with Kari on the Lipfert's memories, the translation is much better than that of the earlier translation by H. and I value the extras like unit strengths and loss details as useful extra info. Some of Valtonen's personal remarks are unnecessary but one can ignore them.

Juha