was: Forthcoming book on JG 5 ace Walter Schuck (copy of original thread)

[Horst Kube]

Hello Hans,

this morning I spoke with Walter Schuck and informed him about your post referring to his so-called statement ..."but a book, no, I don't think so...".

His answer to your report was very clear and very detailed:"Der spinnt wohl", which comes close to bullshit.

And he cleared the matter, that he answered to this (your) question: "I can not say, when the book comes out, because I do not know how far Christer is with his compilings".

He asked me to tell you, that his short and long term memory is excellent and that he never would sign PR posters (one was hanging right behind him, see it also on Christer's webside) of a forthcoming Walter Schuck biography, if he would have not any idea about such a book, which -by the way- was written in cooperation with him.

Strange post you gave us Hans - and I wonder, if your short time memory played games with you?

Anyway, you can fresh it up - latest on the 15th of October 2005 during the next Speyer event. Come and ask again, but most of all: Listen!

All the best,
Horst (one of the companions...)

[sveahk]

Hello Horst,

If the misinterpreting of our conversation in Speyer is due to my not listening too closely, well, I'm sorry and please tell Herr Schuck this. But believe me, what I thought I heard when asking Herr Schuck about the book was that he didn't know about it and when you, sitting beside Herr Schuck, then told me, yes, there will be a book, well... see above...

Anyway, i still think it's a valid discussion, when we read biographies, personal recounts and such from those times, with all due respect to the participants in the war, to ask, how much can truthfully be remembered after such a long time.

And I believe it's very much up to a good historian and author to know WHAT to write, and perhaps even more, WHAT NOT...! As a reader, without all the background information, I certainly want to trust as much as possible of what is written down in the books of my choice. And I think a critical reader is a good reader...

Hans

[Christer Bergström]

this morning I spoke with Walter Schuck and informed him about your post referring to his so-called statement ..."but a book, no, I don't think so...".
His answer to your report was very clear and very detailed:"Der spinnt wohl", which comes close to bullshit.

Well, Horst, petty envy has played a sinister role in many posts on TOCH, so let's not get upset, and let's not even be surprised.

I've talked to several other successful WW II aviation authors, and they all say that each of them has his own "tail" of pathetically envious pursuers who take every opportunity to attack them with the attempt to bring down their credibility. TOCH is a free-fire zone for such obsessed people, and that is why some of the most famous authors refrain from going here, or at least limit their presence here. Ruy has made his choice, and he has, objectively, chosen the mudslingers instead of some of the most famous authors.

[Ruy Horta]

Originally Posted by Christer Bergström

Ruy has made his choice, and he has, objectively, chosen the mudslingers instead of some of the most famous authors.

Christer means himself and probably a very french famous publisher and translator...

If you play with mud Christer you are bound to get dirty.

This thread has no more purpose, I'm closing it.



The next step will be an easy one for me... wel sort of, anyway.

[Ruy Horta]

The thread has been reopened to address the issue of my last post, a childish reaction caused by my initial anger.

Also I made a mistake earlier in the thread of joking at the expense of Christer Bergstrom, who took the opportunity to announce his latest project on this forum.

Both are acts you cannot commit when you are supposed to be the objective host of a forum, supposed to be above the mudslinging level. The above is a good example of my limitations as a human being, as such I utterly failed to act as an example on my own forum.

For the above I offer my apologies

Also to that other "very french" person that may have been offended by my remark.

edit:
Note however that I do not side with Bergstrom on the further content of this thread.

[edwest]

As a published author, I find your comments strange also. Of course, when certain concrete facts are not known, the author uses words like "likely'" "possibly" and "it seems reasonable to conclude," and "according to such and such report."

Perhaps you have read one or more bad history books where it was not clear what could be verified and what could not. And even that word "verified" still needs to refer to a contemporary document and/or photo. You raise some good points but I, for one, would be interested in what you have to say after this book is released.


Regards,
Ed West

[Ruy Horta]

I've copied the original thread and left the original announcement as made by Christer Bergström a (temporary) sticky. The following debate has been left under this new title.

The original clash between Hans and Christer may have been a misunderstanding in many ways, thanks to Horst Kube for clearing matters up.

The thread still contains good information and I will leave it alone.