[Andreas Brekken]

Hello, all.

I just realized that I am using time better spent on my own research trying to get other people which I do not know to be as cautios with regards to facts about this period of time as I try to be myself.

Of course, from past experience, I should know this to be futile.

The main problem here is that you can not take information, any information, from two of the most extreme dictatorships the world has known at face value.

You have to go to the sources that are least likely to be tainted by propaganda, fear of reprisals or both. On the German side for example GenQu 6 Abt records (not perfect but for a system before the computer with databases suite good), the British have excellent records, the Americans also - most of it openly accessible for researchers that bother to go to the source and do not rely on second or third or whateverhand information.

And the Soviets/Russians? I wouldn't use 'openness' as the best fitting word when describing their practice on military historic records...

Khatyn or Chernobyl ring a bell? The leader of the reactor at Chernobyl asked his staff what level of radiation they measured. The answer was that the main devices was broken, and the handheld devices had the readings at their max level. The next question was if they could then prove positively that the real values really were higher. Of course they could not even if they knew it. The reading reported to Moscow was the handheld devices max reading, multitudes lower than the real values. This was in 1986 - 33 years after Stalin died - but in the system he was central in creating.

I personally think one should use caution before characterizing named persons or indistinguished groups as fraudsters, dishonest or liars - even if the internet has made this possible for any anonymous selfclaimed expert to do so. This of course goes for combattants of all sides.

In my opinion - try to do something more useful. If you are close to whatever archive or historic site - go there - try to find some new information and post that as a piece of info for the enligthenment of the community.

If not (and I guess as an invitation for a flame war) - in my not so polite version - just stop posting (in my local language Hold kjeft). What Johannes of course could do was to publish his thousands of ace biographies for scrutiny at this site or another one. Would be nice as reference!

Everyone is of course allowed to post whatever (almost) they want here - but a general progression in quality would be nice. Agree with James, and sadly discussions on this topic has looked the same on this board for a decade...

Regards,
Andreas B




Regards,
Andreas B