New to the WWII Forum!!! Glad I found it!!!

Hello all!!!

My name is Chris and I am from NW Pennsylvania. Let me start off by saying that I am glad I found the site. I hope to learn, from the great members of the forum, as much as I already know. I am a firm believer in that a person can not know too much.

I became really interested in World War 2 in high school. On the first day (a Friday) of the WWII segment of tenth grade American History class, my teacher told all the students not to bother bringing our history books to class for the next six weeks. You can imagine the reaction of the class when he said that!!! He told us to "bring a three-ring binder, a couple different color highlighters and our brains to class on Monday. Because this is going to be your best six-week period of tenth grade!" Let me say that he was right!!! Everyone stayed involved. Even the "slackers". Anyways...we all learned so much, and no one in my class got less than a "B" for a final grade. He kept everyone that interested. But enough about that...

My main area of interest of WWII may seem a little controversial, but everyone has their favorite parts. In no way do I condone what Adolf Hitler did during his time of "rule", but the way that he empowered the entire country of Germany to buy in to his beliefs is astounding to me. Hitler, even though he did what he did, can not be discredited as to how much of a great leader he actually was. That being said, we had our great leaders, too. Presidents Roosevelt and Truman; Generals Patton, MacArthur, Marshall, Bradley and Eisenhower; Admirals Nimitz, Halsey and McCain; as well as numerous others.

My personal library contains well over 1000 books, most of which are related to WWII in some fashion. My two most prized possessions in my "library" are a first printing of Mein Kampf in German; which I got as a college graduation present; and a "first translation" edition of Mein Kampf in English. Both of which are very valuable, of course. They are both displayed in a glass case, along with a Hitler youth knife and an original authentic War Merit Cross medal. I am currently in negotiations with private collector to acquire an original Panzer Badge and an original gold German Cross.

Enough of boring everybody!!! Like I said, I am glad to have found this site!!! I can't wait to dive into some conversation about my favorite piece of history.

 

Welcome to the forum mate.

 

welcome to the forum. on a side note be extremely cautious about that german cross as there are some fantastic reproductions out there. In fact i was just offered 3 today, at only 90 bucks each,(3 different guys).we have some true wise collectors on here who could advise you on the cross, guys like skipper.

 

Gunbunny...I appreciate the advice. I have seen some reproductions and you're right, they are unbelievable! The one that I have the chance on purchasing has been authenticated by a company from Chicago. Their name has escaped me, but I checked it out and they appear to be legitimate.

Thanks again!!!

 

Welcome Chris!

 

G'day Chris and welcome!

 

Your comments suggest to me an unhealthy admiration of Adolf Hitler
and the paraphernalia of an evil regime.


Dave

 

Dave-

I don't know if I would call it admiration. I, myself, would call it a fascination. How can one be so evil and demented against some and yet loved by his own countrymen? All while being a failure at everything else he did.

I want to know what his ulterior motive was for the genocide. Why was he the way he was? Why did he think the way he did? Was it because of his childhood? Why??? I have a pretty good idea, but it is all speculative.

As far as the memorabilia goes. My US and Allies memorabilia far outnumbers the German and Japanese memorabilia. But as for the type of collector I am, I feel it is important to have a piece of each side that way the perspective is complete. I am one that wants to know the complete story, not just the "good" parts!!!

The next part of my "research" is going to be why Commander Isoroku Yamamoto thought he needed to attack Pearl Harbor. Does that mean I am any less patriotic towards the US? No, I just want to know what drove these "tyrants" to do what they did!!!

God bless the USA!!!

 

"The course of German History" by A.J.P. Taylor

"The Origins of Second World War" by A.J.P. Taylor

Welcome to the forum

 

Hello and Welcome. Don't forget the rest of the world in ww2 as to World War and its participants. USA is good you are American Understood. Germany Obviously. But we are not all American on here. You may wish to bone up on your allies in this particular World War?

As to admiration. I have no problem with that, I can and do admire many German individuals from ww2. I am interested though in your Great leader statement as to Hitler reference...Can you expand? In what way do you have him down as a Great Leader? What is your reasoning rather than the Germans liked him..Many liked Churchill over here in Britain. Many would not say he was a great leader though. I am of the opinion he was but am willing to back it up with my thoughts as to why. Please do so with your thoughts on Hitler or others may get the incorrect impression.

 

Welcome, Chris.

 

Welcome to this great place!