berman@ihlpg.UUCP (Andy Berman) (05/06/85)
-------------------------------- Perhaps the most revealing words on the meaning of President Reagan's visit to Bitburg come from the Veterans of the SS meeting in West Germany: New York Times, May 3rd, 1985: "They stood relaxed, shaking hands, introducing wives, these men of Germany's dark past, looking forrward to a three-day meeting... The Hotel Knone in Nesselgang [is] where 250 veterans of the Waffen SS Death's Head Division have gathered. Conversations with the veterans leave no doubt that President Reagan's insistence on going to Bitburg has made them feel better about their role in history. Said Gerd Hofer, a 77-year old SS veteran: 'You have to congradulate your President. When he says yes, he means yes'" "In response to a reporter's question about whether he felt rehabilitated by the President's gesture, Johan Rosenberg, a 63-year old Death's head veteran said: 'I can only say he is a real straight guy'" There where anecdotes about the Fuhrer, usually in a tone of subdued reverence. 'My proudest moment as an SS man', Mr. Hofer related, 'was when I stood guard outside his hotel room in Leipzig in 1941. Hitler was such a modest man', he said with a slight fleeting modualation in tone, 'he would come out, take you by the arm, chat with you'" "The veterans bitterly deny the contention [that SS soldiers were drafted]. 'That is nonsense, pur nonsense. No one was forced into the SS'" Refering to the President's visit to Bitburg, Maj. Gen Otto Remer, a 73-year ofld Waffen SS veteran said: 'It was high time, after all we're all in NATO'" -----------------------------------------------------------