He didn't wear a uniform. He presented quite a sorry figure when he landed in a small private prop driven light plane. I watched this item on the news. He didn't speak any English, and had a pilot with him who translated. He was met on the tarmac by a relative of some of the victims of the raids who shook his hand and bade him welcome. He was also shown the graves of the relatives, and looked quite forlorn. This wasn't a hardline nazi, this was a man simply doing his 'job'. Like many on both sides of the conflict, I think he's come to lay his ghosts to rest, and more power to him for doing so.
Still a welcome gesture. It takes courage to do so and I respect that. I'm glad to see people welcomed him too. As you say he needed to do this before he dies.
Congratulations to this guy for admiting what he has done, even if he was just doing his job. I agree, it takes a real man.
It was nice of him to do that. I gotta wonder though if any British pilots have apologised to the people of Dresden or another city that got levelled by the allies. I know that the Germans were the aggressors but there no doubt the people of Dresden suffered just as much as those of Bath due to air raids.
There are numerous examples, many of which are private. For more open discussions and expressions of regret I'd recommend such books as Miles Tripp's famous 'The Eighth Passenger' ( which, as it was first published in 1969, cannot be dismissed as the regrets of an old man ). In the same vein is the more recent 'Dresden And The Heavy Bombers' by Frank Musgrove and of course, the collection 'Why Dresden?' published in 2001 by The Dresden Trust.
I recall reading about a British pilot in Bomber Command who in the 70s began a campaign to repair a cathedral and/or the stained glass windows in Germany. It was in Readers Digest back then so I'm afraid my memory is not clear on all the details. Amazing gestures that no one expected to be made. Courageous, and I hope he found the peace for which he was looking.
Landmark German church completes rise from the ashes Sun Oct 30, 9:34 AM ET DRESDEN, Germany (AFP) - Sixty years after it was destroyed by Allied bombs in World War II, Dresden's rebuilt Frauenkirche, or Church of Our Lady, was re-consecrated. The painstakingly restored baroque church and its spectacular dome, originally built in 1743, is a symbol both of the wartime suffering of German civilians and of reconciliation between former enemies. The service of consecration was the culmination of an 11-year, 180 million euro (218 million dollar) project that saw the church reborn after lying in ruins for almost half a century. The Dresden Bishop Jochen Bohl said in a sermon: "A deep wound that has bled for so long can be healed. From hate and evil a community of reconciliation can grow, which makes peace possible." At least 35,000 people perished in the British and US bombing of the eastern city on February 13-14, 1945, less than three months before the end of the war. The Protestant church was hit and finally collapsed two days after the first wave of bombing. Throughout the communist era of East Germany, the remains were left where they had fallen as a ghostly reminder of the Allied attack. Only when the Berlin Wall fell in 1989 were plans made to raise the Frauenkirche from the rubble and reconstruction began in 1994. The consecration was an emotional moment for Katarina Koenig, 78, who recalled seeing the "sky lit up red" the night the bombers came. "I was working in what we called civilian service in a small town outside Dresden, but when I heard about the attacks I rushed home. From my village you could see smoke rising from the city for days," she said. "In communist times, we never believed we would see the Frauenkirche again." Although two-thirds of the funding for the reconstruction came from donations, German President Horst Koehler acknowledged in his speech that there was considerable opposition in the immediate post-reunification period to committing any state funds to the Frauenkirche project. "Did eastern Germany not need roads, roofs and factories more than an expensive church? But a group of residents said Dresden needed more. And now we can see that those people were right," Koehler said. Lifelong Dresden resident Herbert Rummel, 67, one of the 60,000 people watching the service on giant TV screens outside the church, said the Frauenkirche's worth could not be measured only in financial terms. "I was not near the church on the night of the bombings, but many people had taken shelter nearby. They were never seen again," he said. "So to see the church back to its former glory is important to me in so many ways. And it fills me with joy to know that so many countries donated to the reconstruction." The Duke of Kent, who spearheaded a British campaign to raise 1.5 million euros, represented the royal family at the service. And Queen Elizabeth II had sent Koehler a letter expressing her happiness at the church's rebirth. In a symbolic gesture, Britain, which sent the first wave of bombers to level the city, donated the golden cross and orb that sits atop the dome. Outgoing German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and Angela Merkel, the conservative leader who will succeed him, were among the 1,700 people who attended the consecration service. The rebuilding project has involved more than 200 specialist builders and craftsmen. The only original wall left standing after the bombing has been incorporated into the rebuilt structure, although it has been left blackened in stark contrast to the honey-coloured sandstone around it. The Frauenkirche has regained its place as the jewel in the crown of the city once dubbed "Florence on the Elbe" for its artistic riches. The trustees of the church say they hope it will also become a beacon in the fight against far-right extremism, which is gaining a foothold among unemployed, disaffected youths in eastern Germany. http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20051030/ts_afp/germanyhistorywwiibritain_051030143459
I found this from 4 years ago German WW2 pilot says sorry for 1942 church bombing 82 year old Wiili Schludecker now living in Cologne, Germany is making a pilgrimage to StAndrew's Church Northumberland England to say sorry for bombing this church with his Dornier 215 bomber in 1942. Attacked by RAF fighters over Northumberalnd, England, Herr Schludecker jettisoned his bombload and damaged the church with his bombs after takingoff from Holland on April 30th 1942. I take my hat off to you Herr Willi!. However, also this week the artist son of a British Lancaster bomber pilot who bombed Dresden in 1945 prsented the city of Dresden with a cross which will sit on top of Dresden's ancient kirke which was damaged in the 1945 raid-so the spirit of reconciliation is mutual. PS One of Herr Willi's bomb craters was converted into a duckpond post-war. History Channel: German WW2 pilot says sorry for 1942 ...
Is bombing wasn' t a act of violence on that church though it sounds as though it was a mistake, or fluke that his bombs hit the church.
Found this story today by complete accident! The story about the plane crash just outside of Bath was amazing. I think this may have been the first time I've heard of a story like this happening "in the west", I've heard plenty of stories about German and Russian veterans, civilians, etc doing similar things. I'm sure there are more (as stated above), just the first I've heard of. This could be of significance a few years down the line for someone wanting to do some research so here are a few more links to stories that provide more information. German WW2 vet crashes near city he bombed - UPI.com Luftwaffe pilot flies to Britain 66 years on to say sorry to the city he bombed in Second World War | Mail Online (includes uniformed picture) RAF - News by Date (on a R.A.F. base, he met with pilots and even went through a simulation) Bomber drops in | The Jewish Chronicle I don't think he had to apologize but the fact that he did is very admirable, kudos should also be given to the British who from what I can find greeted Schludecker with respect and kindness, even those who had lost relatives in his bombing runs. Does anyone know if Mr. Schludecker is still alive?
You may want to try the Luftarchiv.de site (in German) there are certainly people there who know about this pilot.
I agree. Pretty amazing story and one that has been thankfully repeated by many on both sides of the war in the years since. I am sure at least some part of this gentleman's psyche can now rest easy. Thank you for posting this.
