Never heard of this story until reading this book last night. Why the Germans Lost The Rise and Fall of the Black Eagle by Bryan Perrett http://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Why-the-Germans-Lost/p/4165/ Pre-WW1, German Officers were so respected , no-one thought to question their actions. This chap used that to his advantage. An amusing story. I'll leave you to click the links & have read of his crazy caper. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilhelm_Voigt http://victorianexplorer.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/wilhelm-voigt-captain-of-kopenick.html http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=10729341
There is a coda to this story. IIRC from the Luftwaffe Diaries, at one point during WW2 Hermann Goering took personal charge of the Luftwaffe air defences and made a complete mess of the fighter direction vectoring the defenders i the r=wrong direction.. The fat one had a sense of humour and is supposed to have sent a message to all fighters that the attack had been on Kopernik..
Owen, The film starring Heinz Rühmann ( Hauptmann von Köpenick) is frequently shown on German TV Channels. http://www.geocities.ws/films4/koepenick.htm Regards Tom
An adaptation of the play (In English) was put on at what used to be called the 'Century Theatre' (or 'The Blue Box Theatre') one season at Keswick, Cumberland. At that time, as a young child, I was taken to see it and I remember it still.
Owen, Searched but could not find an English language Version or Subtitles. Whole Film here on Youtube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EutbTGKnTTk Regards Tom
Bit of a dissappointment to be honest, I think I was expected it to be writen in a different way. Starts of with Frederick William I & ends with Adolf in his bunker. Each chapter on a different period of history with important battles described, so the reader can see how the Prussians became top dog in Germany & then the path to ultimate destruction. Thanks for looking .
