Just a reminder that ANZAC Day is this Thursday 25th April. Anyone finding themselves in Berlin on this day will be able to visit the CWGC Cemetery on Heerstrasse where as service of Remebrance is being held at 10.30 hours. Regards Tom
Cheers Tom - thanks for helping keep the Aussie & NZ flags flying in Berlin Personally, I am currently getting my uniform sorted with form-up just on an hour away here in Brisbane. Not too sure what time my unit is stepping off, but as the RAAF are leading the parade this year I'm hoping that we can get to display some decent marching. Oh well, time to suit up. cheers Dave
http://www.3news.co.nz/Anzac-Day-for-ex-German-soldier-in-NZ/tabid/423/articleID/295576/Default.aspx A handful of former German soldiers who fought in World War II are still alive in New Zealand. Anzac Day has a different complexion for 88-year-old Hans Romauch, who in World War II was a soldier in the Wehrmacht, the German army. They were the enemy then, but Mr Romauch is one of Germany's ex-soldiers who later made his home in New Zealand. "I was asked a few times to join the RSA but somehow I wouldn't feel comfortable because I was on the opposite side," says Mr Romauch. Born in Austria and not a Nazi, at 18 years old the trainee carpenter was conscripted into the German army. "You could refuse but your chances of surviving would be nil," he says. Mr Romauch was trained as an alpine soldier and after seeing action in the old Yugoslavia, was sent to the Russian front. "Temperature up to about 35 minus, ground frozen to nearly a metre down, solid frozen," he recalls. "They would bombard us for quite a long time, but we got used to it." Like many of his colleagues, Mr Romauch was wounded. "It wasn't too bad, I just got shrapnel in my bum." Later he was taken prisoner by the Russians, released after three years and in 1953 ended up in New Zealand where he worked as a carpenter and brought up a family. War doesn't interest Mr Romauch - he has no photos, no mementos, and doesn't go to Anzac services. "I try not to live in the past, I live today, not yesterday," he says. He's an old soldier quite happy with a peaceful life in New Zealand.
"You could refuse but your chances of surviving would be nil," he says. Nonsense.. Is he implying he'd be executed for refusing draft ? There were many opportunities to serve as a medic aid or transporter/driver for those who do not wish to fire a gun. Even in Nazi (wehrmacht = not SS but simply the Army) Germany/Austria. "was trained as an alpine soldier".. alpine soldiers were in those pre-war times regarded as 'elite' soldiers (having these special skills). If you don't care about soldiering and pretend to be a conscientious objector..then why enlist in an ' elite' force ? And why would the army put you in this elite corps ? "and after seeing action in the old Yugoslavia,".. euphemism for hunting partisans, ..and mostly killing innocent but assumed supporting civilians in retributions. The "action" period in Yugoslavia doesn't read like a "clean" war like "possibly" under Rommel in Africa. "I try not to live in the past, I live today, not yesterday," he says. Says someone who knows has no positive or proud memory to recount, and thus buries all his memories (I talked to german wehrmacht veterans and they always could tell something memorable/positive despite all hardships). I think this man still is uneasy to tell us what he witnessed or perpetrated himself.
But I personally still hope he had a pleasant ANZAC day, Mr/Herr Romauch has my best wishes - and I hope his war was not so unpleasant, and his memories not too grim. Nuremberg seems to have left him alone, and I imagine he's personally fully entitled to "try not to live in the past ... live today ... not yesterday,"
I have created an album for todays Memorial Service for ANZAC Day in Berlin 2013. I could only take some photographs before and after the ceremony due to taking part, but as soon as I receive more from members I will post them. Frank, our Branch Vice Chairman is also our web Master. He will place photographs as and when he recieves them, onto our website below. http://www.britishlegion.org.uk/branches/berlin A reasonable April day with both a little sun and cloud, but no rain. Regards Tom
Cheers Tom - a great day in Brisbane. 1000s of people lining the streets and we managed to march the whole route without having to change step. A couple of mark-times but no actual halts. After the parade I had a few shandies with blokes & blokettes from the SQN and home in time for the football. My wife had taped the march and I got to see myself as we went past the saluting dias. (PS - the camera really does add 10 pounds......) All in all, a perfect day with brilliant weather.
Well done to you and all Tom. In Melbourne, the dawn service was very successful with a massive 45,000 people in attendance. The march following the service saw the streets lined with further 1,000's showing their support. Cheers Geoff
Wendy, I offered the Australian Embassy both the RBL Berlin Branch Standard plus the Union Standard as per the last year's that I have been chairman. The reply was just to bring the RBL Standard. We were the only standard there. But Yes, we continue to fly the flag. Regards Tom
As an aside - on Wednesday afternoon before the end of the working day I asked some work colleagues (fellow members of the RAAF) a couple of simple questions concerning ANZAC day and was left a bit disheartened by some of the responses. The main question was: besides the fact that ANZAC day is to commemorate all those who have fought / died for this country, what year specifically does April 25th refer to? (ie what year were the ANZAC landings at Gallipoli?) Of the three personnel I asked the closest got within 7 years of the correct answer. Even when I pointed out that the 100th anniversary was two years away they still struggled!! I was somewhat depressed for the rest of the day.
I was taking an Australian group round the Western Front this week and we were among the 4,000 who attended the Dawn Service at Villers-Bretonneux. Some photos of our trip on my Twitter feed; http://www.twitter.com/sommecourt
<p>The annual ANZAC Day Commemoration Service at the Cannock Chase Commonwealth Cemetery in Staffordshire UK is always held the following Sunday morning. It is attended, and wreaths are laid, by the Lord Lieutenant of Staffordshire as HM the Queen's representative, by senior representatives of the Australian and New Zealand High Commissioners and Defence Forces, by the Lord Mayors or Mayors of every city in North and South Staffordshire and by representatives of every branch of the Royal British Legion in the County. The muster includes the Standards of the fifty-odd local RBL branches and a few other ex-Service organisation, each Standard Bearer taking station behind one of the gravestones, having been ceremonially marched in to the tune of "Waltzing Matilda", played by a local Silver band, that takes over from a lone Piper, in Highland dress. There is often a detachment of "ANZAC Re-Enactors" attending. The religious Service and Address is rotated annually between local clergy and, although seats are provided for disabled veterans, the whole ceremony is conducted with the assembly standing, regardless of the weather. Last year, not unusually, there was torrential rain throughout. Yesterday the weather was dry, but with a cold biting wind which had me shivering. This had me a bit worried, as I shall be 90 next year, and I had a massive heart attack a few months ago, as happened to one of the Standard Bearers during the Service four years ago - so he's no longer with us. I wasn't able to take many pictures this year, as my mobile phone succumbed to the cold, but I've been promised some which I'll post later.Meanwhile I attach the Order of Service, which this year includes some of the names.</p>
The 2013 Anzac Day Remembrance at RAF Driffield, Yorkshire. Photos put together to the mixed music of The Last Post and Waltziing Matilda. https://www.facebook.com/spidge52/posts/10152801314488712?notif_t=like
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-27152919 http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-04-25/live3a-anzac-day-2014/5409444
