Destroying a Book.

I was criticised strongly for what I did here, the worst kind of censorship, that sort of thing. But I looked upon it as my moral duty to defend the brave young men and women of Bomber Command. The following letter tells the story.

The President
Milne Bay Military Museum
O’Quinn Street
Toowoomba
Queensland 4350

Dear Mr Flexman,

A couple of weeks ago I took my parents and their nephew to your museum and we had a great time looking at your exhibits and as we usually do in such places, linking them up to our own shared experiences. All four of us have military pasts of some kind - mine nothing like the contribution they have made. As we were leaving, I held up the party by looking through your books to add to my, already too big, collection. Among the books I bought was "Where is Home" by Hubert C Krause.

Let me say at the outset, I am not a person that is easily shocked, nor overly sensitive, but I was shocked at this little book. In my collection of firsthand accounts, I have several from the German side, but none have left me as disgusted with the author as this one. I am returning it, not with any request for a refund, but so I can label the more offensive passages and also so I don’t have to decide what to do with it. I couldn’t dishonour the memory of the brave men and women who are represented in my bookcases by giving this book space among them and burning books is something that is associated with the people that Mr Krause feels are hard done by.

Here is a list of some of the worst passages:
Page 12. The Author accuses Bomber Command of dropping bomblets in the shape of dolls and fountain pens. While admitting he never saw any, he was warned about them. No evidence was offered to back up this bizarre claim.
Page 14. The airmen of Bomber Command are described as "Cold blooded" murderers who deliberately targeted civilians and ignored factories. This baseless allegation is repeated elsewhere.
Page 25. The Author claims that Dresden was a "Guaranteed" safe haven. Once again, he offers no evidence as to who gave this guarantee and presents no comparison with Rotterdam, Coventry, Birmingham or Glasgow. The Author also regurgitates the old myth that Dresden was not a legitimate target as it had no war industry or value. This lie was comprehensively exposed by Frederick Taylor in Dresden, Tuesday 13 February 1945 (Published by Bloomsbury 2004)
Page 60. The Author repeats his "murderers" accusation and calls the bombings a "Holocaust".
Page 61. The Author says that the bombing of Dresden was "The worst single Massacre and War Crime against Humanity of all time". He then goes on to compare the German concentration camps with the bombing campaign over Germany. Regarding the gassing of the Jews as more favourable and once again writes that the men in the Lancasters, Halifaxes and B17s were war criminals and murderers who deliberately targeted civilians.
Page 62. The Author accuses the Allies of flying low and shooting civilians. All of the bombers were flying too high for this. Flying low made bombers too vulnerable, none would do it by choice. However the impression of shooting at civilians could be made by escorting Thunderbolts or Mustangs chasing and being chased by German fighters at low level.
Page 64. The Author bemoans the fact that the SS and Gestapo are always portrayed in a bad light and calls for the men of Bomber Command to be prosecuted for war crimes.

Bomber Command were treated badly at the conclusion of the Second World War by the very people who cheered them on as they flew overhead to strike back. They were the only unit of any size denied a place in the post war victory parade and on a percentage basis they suffered casualties more than any other unit. Most soldiers had a good chance of coming home. Most RAF bomber crewmen had little hope of completing a tour. And yet they went. Time and time again, the very best of our young men went out knowing that this night could be the night when their number came up.

In the light of the contemptible nature of this book and the bravery of the men of Bomber Command I ask you to remove this book from your shelves and not add to the injustice they have suffered. Should you wish to discuss this with me my numbers are below.

Yours faithfully

Paul Hannah