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Pope Recalls Being German POW
Fox News & AP ^ | April 19, 2005

Posted on 04/19/2005 1:38:13 PM PDT by yoely

BERLIN — In May 1945, thousands of German prisoners of war trudged down the highway toward the Bavarian town of Bad Aibling (search). Among them — tired but grateful to be alive — was 18-year-old Joseph Ratzinger (search), who just days before had risked death by deserting the German army.

"In three days of marching, we hiked down the empty highway, in a column that gradually became endless," the new pope recalled years later in his memoirs.

"The American soldiers photographed us, the young ones, most of all, in order to take home souvenirs of the defeated army and its desolate personnel."

(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...


TOPICS: Extended News
KEYWORDS: benedict; benedictxvi; gloriaolivae; pope; ratzinger
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To: TFine80
Did you read the article?

He says he did not engage in battle against US forces.

21 posted on 04/19/2005 1:56:05 PM PDT by ohioWfan ("If My people, which are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray.....")
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To: The_Victor
Re: "The Nazis were anti-Christian? That's not going to sit well with the left."

I don't know about that, it might engender in the Left warm feelings for Nazis.
22 posted on 04/19/2005 1:56:29 PM PDT by Mark in the Old South (Sister Lucia of Fatima pray for us)
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To: yoely

WWII is over. But it doesn't surprise me that the media wants to demonize this guy with the Nazi label.


23 posted on 04/19/2005 1:56:41 PM PDT by Brilliant
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To: livius

Of course--Nazis persecuted Catholics with ZEAL. Hence Pius XII's supposed "silence" on the matter--the more the Church in various cities and countries protested, the more faithful were rounded up and killed.

It was a cult of personality, and most men in Germany at the time were "compelled" to join some sort of Nazi organization--Hitler's Youth just happens to be the one into which Benedict XVI was forced.


24 posted on 04/19/2005 1:56:44 PM PDT by jcb8199
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To: Sprite518
So, are you accusing the new Pope of being a liar? (And Pope John Paul II of being a dupe for supporting him?)

What exactly is your purpose here?

25 posted on 04/19/2005 1:58:47 PM PDT by ohioWfan ("If My people, which are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray.....")
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To: Saundra Duffy

Remember Katie bashing Arnold for his father's affiliation?


26 posted on 04/19/2005 2:00:25 PM PDT by Fido969 ("The Irish are the blacks of Europe ... So say it once, say it loud, 'I'm black and I'm proud'. ")
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To: Sprite518

He's a hero for abandoning the army risking capture and summary execution or the camps even where most traitors met their end.


27 posted on 04/19/2005 2:00:50 PM PDT by cyborg (Serving fresh, hot Anti-opus since 18 April 2005)
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To: mad puppy

"...had risked death by deserting the German army."

Right. That's bingo. This might even make him a hero. Case closed.


28 posted on 04/19/2005 2:01:52 PM PDT by Arthur Wildfire! March (<<<< Profile page streamlined, solely devoted Schiavo research)
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To: MeekOneGOP

Nazi matter resolved:

"...was 18-year-old Joseph Ratzinger (search), who just days before had risked death by deserting the German army..."

Also heard he escaped on Hannity.

FReegards....


29 posted on 04/19/2005 2:03:23 PM PDT by Arthur Wildfire! March (<<<< Profile page streamlined, solely devoted Schiavo research)
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To: Sprite518
I would not call any German in WWII a hero. Sorry that is just not in the vocabulary.

That's pretty myopic. There were lots of heroic Germans who resented the dictatorship they suffered under.

30 posted on 04/19/2005 2:05:23 PM PDT by Puddleglum (Thank God the Boston blowhard lost)
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To: Sprite518

Kurt Student? Not a hero! Surely you jest.

Nobody in their right mind likes the Nazi cause, but they had some darn fine fighting soldiers.

Read up on what Student's guys did at Eban Emael and Crete. Heroic stuff, regardless of the uniform.


31 posted on 04/19/2005 2:11:06 PM PDT by Kiss Me Hardy
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To: Sprite518
You've not heard of Schindler. It is time for an education. May I recommend the movie "Schindler's List" as a beginning.

Then, from my own lips: ~ I once attended a work associate's house warming party. There were three or four people there who'd been saved by Schindler. They showed me the serial numbers the Nazis tatooed on their wrists. My work associate's wife was, in fact, the first offspring of a couple Schindler had saved.

Schindler existed. The people he saved existed. When they bear witness it is first of Schindler's heroism.

32 posted on 04/19/2005 2:13:18 PM PDT by muawiyah
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To: Arthur Wildfire! March
Thanks. :)

bump!


33 posted on 04/19/2005 2:14:55 PM PDT by MeekOneGOP (There is only one GOOD 'RAT: one that has been voted OUT of POWER !! Straight ticket GOP!)
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To: Saundra Duffy
And someone was spreading a story that he was a Nazi. For God's sake!!

Yeah. It's called slander. Ugly beyond words.

34 posted on 04/19/2005 2:15:44 PM PDT by BigSkyFreeper ("Stupidity is also a gift of God, but one mustn't misuse it" - Pope John Paul II)
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To: Mark in the Old South
I don't know about that, it might engender in the Left warm feelings for Nazis.

They already do, although they'll (mostly) deny it.

NAZI = "Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei".

Today's lefties aren't National Socialists.

They're inter-National Socialists.

35 posted on 04/19/2005 2:16:40 PM PDT by Sooth2222 (NOBODY expects the Spanish Inquisition!)
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To: ohioWfan
When did I say he is a liar? Quit putting words in my mouth. I said I just hope nothing more comes out of this. The German army committed a lot of war crimes during WWII. So I am just saying it could be a bad P.R. move?
36 posted on 04/19/2005 2:17:09 PM PDT by Sprite518
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To: BigSkyFreeper

Wow didn't take long for the name calling to start...lessee what? Four or five hours after the fact?


37 posted on 04/19/2005 2:17:09 PM PDT by cyborg (Serving fresh, hot Anti-opus since 18 April 2005)
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To: Puddleglum

Well that is your opinion.


38 posted on 04/19/2005 2:19:05 PM PDT by Sprite518
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To: Sprite518

It appears you've never heard of Dietrick Bonhoeffer either.


39 posted on 04/19/2005 2:19:11 PM PDT by tabsternager
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To: muawiyah
Schindler was not a Soldier.
40 posted on 04/19/2005 2:20:35 PM PDT by Sprite518
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