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Posted: 02-09-2013 19:28 Post subject: I could have killed Hitler, but...

Often-expressed "alternative history" theme -- "if only I'd had the chance to kill Hitler early in his life..."

Story in my local paper, the Birmingham Mail, of 2 / 9 / 13: about a local World War 1 soldier who supposedly had Adolf Hitler in his gunsights, but failed to kill him.

I see a possible hole or two in the story; but, precis-ing: this happening, supposedly took place in the French village of Marcoing, in the closing weeks of World War 1. Private Henry Tandey, from near Birmingham, came face to face there with Hitler -- who was wounded, and did not try to raise his rifle or defend himself; so Tandey took the decision not to shoot him. Tandey had greatly distinguished himself in various ways in WW1, becoming the subject of a widely-disseminated painting of himself performing a heroic feat.

The meetings in 1938 between Hitler and Neville Chamberlain, abortively trying to head off World War 2, included -- in moments of relaxation -- Hitler showing the abovementioned painting, claiming to recognise Tandey from it, and asking Chamberlain to thank Tandey for sparing his life. Which Chamberlain did; come the outbreak of World War 2, Tandey expressed great regret for not having killed Adolf when he had the chance; and though aged nearly 50, tried unsuccessfully to re-enlist in the Army, hoping to see that "he didn't escape a second time".

That's one possible "take" -- various others, IMO equally possible. Tandey might have said, "I'm not sodding psychic -- to me in 1918, he was just an ordinary Joe, who was wounded and who I had no need to kill." Or, "how does that bloody loony know for sure, that it's me in the picture? What little I remember of the incident, I've no way of matching up to what he looks like now. He's probably talking complete crap." Or, as some have propounded -- if Hitler had been killed in WW1, the Nazi party or equivalent might, in the circumstances which obtained, have arisen in Germany under a different charismatic leader who was, mostly, more mentally stable than Adolf -- less inclined to strange beliefs and impulsive crazy stuff -- whereby Germany could have won WW2.

Posted: 02-09-2013 21:57 Post subject:

Exactly, it'll come as no surprise, especially not to you Amyasleigh, that I've had such thoughts about Able Tasmin, Tobias Furneaux, Cook, Bligh etc, etc all the way to Wilf Batty and the bloke who beat up Arthur Reid.

Posted: 02-09-2013 23:00 Post subject:

Everyone kills Hitler on their first trip.
http://www.tor.com/stories/2011/08/wikihistory

Posted: 03-09-2013 01:55 Post subject:

Posted: 03-09-2013 11:16 Post subject:

Arthur Reid curator of Hobart Zoo, Alison Reid's father. He died from injuries sustained while confronting a thief, which led to the debacle with Alison and the council which ultimately played a large part in Benjamin's death.

Posted: 03-09-2013 17:11 Post subject:

Posted: 03-09-2013 17:17 Post subject: