April 20, 2004
Euro partnership mocks 60th D-Day anniversary, says invasion veteran
click image to enlarge
"I think we should have stopped after 50 years," said Lt Col Terence Otway, who commanded the 9th Parachute Btn as it attacked a crucial German battery at Merville, near Caen, shortly after midnight on June 6, 1944.
"In 1994, we were celebrating the liberation of the French from the Germans. Now France and Germany are in each other's pockets. They are the closest partnership in Europe.
"It wasn't like that 10 years ago. This year, I believe [President Jacques] Chirac even invited German troops to take part in the march past.
"It seems all wrong to be marking the liberation in that way."
Lt Col Otway, who celebrates his 90th birthday nine days after the anniversary, was decorated with the DSO and was later appointed Chevalier of the Legion d'Honneur by the French government for his command of the battalion on the eastern flank of the Normandy invasion.
He said he would not be attending memorial events in Normandy this June where the Queen, President George W Bush and Chancellor Gerhard Schroder of Germany will be joining President Chirac.
Full Story @ telegraph.co.uk
This was an interesting point of view, I'm not too sure how I would feel about German troops marching with me if I were a D-Day vet from the allies.
I wouldn't take it to well. I wouldn't like that Shroder was there either.
Posted by: skywalker at April 20, 2004 05:36 PMOT: But that is an awesome picture!
Posted by: dilok at April 20, 2004 06:14 PM