More on Willi Schludecker

Dear Friends and Family,

My mind is still preoccupied with the Luftwaffe pilot Willi Schludecker. I did not mention it in my previous post but Willi is actually a good friend of mine. We live in the same part of Cologne and have for many years been drinking partners. This is probably why I object so strongly to criticism of what he did when he went over to England to apologise. I know from first hand conversations with him that he was deeply divided over whether to go or not. He was advised by his family not to go as they said that he would not be made to feel entirely welcome and it would be like a murderer facing the families of his victims. I think that this interpretation is entirely wrong. As I said in my previous blog, he was simply part of a war, a world war in which he had to do as he was commanded. I personally think that he made the right decision in going. The media attention that he had to face was, I imagine, quite stressful and so I am pleased he managed it at his age.

I have not seen Willi for many weeks now as he has become very ill. He has fulfilled his dying wish of making an apology so I am pleased that he can rest in peace. I hope that you will all think of him at this time.

Guten Abend