tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6768259291370607121.post6856857392227241104..comments2023-03-29T23:36:52.482+02:00Comments on The war diaries of Dieter Finzen in both world wars: 31. Mai 1918Dieter Finzenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06564917834898528473noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6768259291370607121.post-16810870868633727852011-06-20T08:59:57.073+02:002011-06-20T08:59:57.073+02:00Strange thing; Dieter does not realize that he is ...Strange thing; Dieter does not realize that he is an intruder to Belgium. He talks of belgian "traitors". Actually he should have an understanding that betraying for them would mean to help the german army instead of fighting against them....Thomasnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6768259291370607121.post-16406592432554441352011-06-16T09:13:08.435+02:002011-06-16T09:13:08.435+02:00We are participating in a large divisional maneoev...We are participating in a large divisional maneoevre. Everything runs seamless. <br />---<br />We are quartered in barracks, which also shelter english POWs. In the evening I sometimes do chat with them. Sometimes german comrades trade cigarettes, soap and other things with the Tommies for other goods. The Englishmen receive a lot of parcels with the finest things from home, and spend a very comfortable live, even better than we do. Nevertheless, they are very reluctant to work, and a large portion of them always shams an illness. The air activity again increases steadily. Day and night, english aeroplanes appear and throw bombs onto Tournai.<br />It is awful. Larger factories and barracks are being hit. Our artillery commander is killed by a bomb in his house. All attacks are caused by belgian traitors. It has been observed, that civilians flashed lights to enemy aeroplanes from the rooftops of their houses. Many catholic priests are arrested under suspicion of taking part in espionage activities. Even in front of the house of our crown prince Rupprecht von Bayern, a bomb has come down. As far as I know, an adjutant has been killed. The crown prince is said to be in the cathedral during the air raids. Our barracks have not been bombed so far. Probably Tommy thinks that the whole area is ocupied with POWs. The anti aircraft guns are fiercely firing all night; in the morning the whole barrack yard is strewn with splinters and grenade pieces that originate from the guns.Thomasnoreply@blogger.com