I’d heard the story about a year ago and thought well shit I should write about that. Then I heard the song in the grocery store yesterday and was all fucking hell I can’t even change the station. But it reminded me to write the story. Then I went down a rabbit hole because a lot of it was bullshit.
I can not fathom what attracts people to fascism. Do they have a need for some heavy-handed daddy figure? When it comes to that bloated asshole in the U.S., he knows who he is, I would never ever want him in office. Being an expat here in Toronto, folks ask me if I support Trump. I tell them "I wouldn't piss in his mouth if his gums were on fire." I recon that more than sufficiently answers their inquiry.
One of the US Governors of Spandau Prison was Maj. Ronald Speirs, who commanded the legendary "Band of Brothers" Easy Company of the 506th, after Lt. Norman Dike fell apart at Bastogne.
In the 1960s, the British replaced many of their warders with professional prison warders from prisons back home.
Despite his craziness, Hess was a big fan of the US manned space program, constantly asking about it. On January 31, 1973, when NASA launched Apollo 14 and Al Shepard's golf balls and club to the Moon's Fra Mauro Highlands, Hess followed the space-to-ground transmissions on his cell radio and read about the mission on materials NASA sent him. While I have little use for Hess, it was a decent gesture to a man who was probably the loneliest person in the world.
Seven men were held at Spandau, including Nazi Finance Minister Walther Funk. He suffered from a urinary tract infection brought on by his predilection for little boys. When he seemed near death, and the Soviets were reluctant to release Funk, the prison guards built a coffin. However, Funk was let out, and the coffin was saved for Hess.
After Hess died, the prison was demolished, to keep it from being a shrine for neo-Nazis. The site became a shopping center for the nearby British Army bases and their families. When the British Army left, the shopping center was sold to civilians.
My favorite take on Hess's death was an editorial cartoon that shows a glum Hess down in hell, meeting with Hitler, and Adolf says, "So, Rudolf...how did that peace plan work out?"
Spandau prison dit not become a neo-Nazi-shrine - Hess' grave in Wunsiedel, bavaria did. Nazis pilgrimed there on the returns of his deathday. 2011 the town finally had enough. They cancelled the contract with his heirs about the grave, and it was ultimately demolished, and his remains cremated and scattered into the ocean. A bit harder to worship for the Nazis!
Secondly, the machine gun 08 also became a part of everyday german language - albeit in its revised form of 1915, aptly called "08/15". This MG was so common and ordinary, that its name became synonymous to "completely ordinary" or "nothing special" and to this day anything "completely ordinary" is shortened to be "08/15".
Well..... dang. So much for that one. I always liked the song, "True", but I probably won't listen to it the same way again. Even though it is now swimming in my head. Thanks James! lol!
Dammit, I now have “Gold” stuck in my head (not helped by it being on an advert for Bold washing tablets at the minute, so I’d only just got it out of my head from last week!). I always found that one way catchier than “True” (and I’m just too young to remember them in the charts, but my dad played the tapes in the car when I was a kid - couldn’t escape it then either!).
I’d heard the story about a year ago and thought well shit I should write about that. Then I heard the song in the grocery store yesterday and was all fucking hell I can’t even change the station. But it reminded me to write the story. Then I went down a rabbit hole because a lot of it was bullshit.
I hate that fucking song too. Great story though - I learned something new today!
I liked that song by Spandau Ballet.
I can not fathom what attracts people to fascism. Do they have a need for some heavy-handed daddy figure? When it comes to that bloated asshole in the U.S., he knows who he is, I would never ever want him in office. Being an expat here in Toronto, folks ask me if I support Trump. I tell them "I wouldn't piss in his mouth if his gums were on fire." I recon that more than sufficiently answers their inquiry.
New one for me, and immediately a favorite: "I wouldn't piss in his mouth if his gums were on fire."
Feel free to use at your pleasure. 😀
One of the US Governors of Spandau Prison was Maj. Ronald Speirs, who commanded the legendary "Band of Brothers" Easy Company of the 506th, after Lt. Norman Dike fell apart at Bastogne.
In the 1960s, the British replaced many of their warders with professional prison warders from prisons back home.
Despite his craziness, Hess was a big fan of the US manned space program, constantly asking about it. On January 31, 1973, when NASA launched Apollo 14 and Al Shepard's golf balls and club to the Moon's Fra Mauro Highlands, Hess followed the space-to-ground transmissions on his cell radio and read about the mission on materials NASA sent him. While I have little use for Hess, it was a decent gesture to a man who was probably the loneliest person in the world.
Seven men were held at Spandau, including Nazi Finance Minister Walther Funk. He suffered from a urinary tract infection brought on by his predilection for little boys. When he seemed near death, and the Soviets were reluctant to release Funk, the prison guards built a coffin. However, Funk was let out, and the coffin was saved for Hess.
After Hess died, the prison was demolished, to keep it from being a shrine for neo-Nazis. The site became a shopping center for the nearby British Army bases and their families. When the British Army left, the shopping center was sold to civilians.
My favorite take on Hess's death was an editorial cartoon that shows a glum Hess down in hell, meeting with Hitler, and Adolf says, "So, Rudolf...how did that peace plan work out?"
Boy this was dark, but highly educational.
Thanks for the earworm. Dammit.
I will never think of that band the same way ever again!!
two adendums from germany:
Spandau prison dit not become a neo-Nazi-shrine - Hess' grave in Wunsiedel, bavaria did. Nazis pilgrimed there on the returns of his deathday. 2011 the town finally had enough. They cancelled the contract with his heirs about the grave, and it was ultimately demolished, and his remains cremated and scattered into the ocean. A bit harder to worship for the Nazis!
And yes, I have sources: https://www.sueddeutsche.de/politik/wunsiedel-ende-einer-nazi-pilgerstaette-grab-von-rudolf-hess-existiert-nicht-mehr-1.1122689
Secondly, the machine gun 08 also became a part of everyday german language - albeit in its revised form of 1915, aptly called "08/15". This MG was so common and ordinary, that its name became synonymous to "completely ordinary" or "nothing special" and to this day anything "completely ordinary" is shortened to be "08/15".
Well..... dang. So much for that one. I always liked the song, "True", but I probably won't listen to it the same way again. Even though it is now swimming in my head. Thanks James! lol!
Dammit, I now have “Gold” stuck in my head (not helped by it being on an advert for Bold washing tablets at the minute, so I’d only just got it out of my head from last week!). I always found that one way catchier than “True” (and I’m just too young to remember them in the charts, but my dad played the tapes in the car when I was a kid - couldn’t escape it then either!).
The book is awesome and I love the Stack. Thank you, James Fell. I am a big fan of sweary history.