Politicians and Chiefs of State contemplate wars and leave the dirty work to the soldiers; at this time of year, people around the world commemorate and mourn all those poor wretches who gallantly suffered as a result of man’s unwillingness to place wise and just endeavours above personal agenda.
It is right to remember all fallen soldiers, regardless of allegiance, as pawns of differing ideologies.
There are many examples throughout history attesting to the respect combatants have felt for each other.
Field Marshall Rommel was publicly honoured by Churchill as a noble adversary, and German professionals, in turn, respected many allied generals.
Even while they were fighting, many U.S. Union and Confederate soldiers maintained friendships, sometimes crossing the lines under flags of truce to enjoy friendly reminiscences; at the end of hostilities, those who had brought their own firearms or horses were invited to take them home.
President Lincoln and General Grant shared the hopeful position that the Rebels were now their brothers again; re-enactments always ended with former adversaries charging each other, only to embrace when they met.
Richard Lion Heart and Saladin felt mutual respect for one another. Often, Buffalo Bill Cody was called in as mediator, because of his excellent rapport with American Indians; he spoke several of their languages.
Aviators, in both world wars, felt a certain camaraderie, the Red Barron known for sending floral arrangements to the squadrons of his victims, and Battle of Britain rivals regularly meeting after the war.
There are stories of flyers escorting an enemy back to the lines, in sympathy at the sight of a plane so mutilated.
Seamen, especially submariners, tend to consider their foes as “their own” - an important influence in the drafting of maritime law.
The great Gallipoli hero Mustafa Kemal, later known as Ataturk, described the fallen Anzac’s as being among Turkey’s adopted sons.
Apparently the Turks knew what was going on during the evacuation – they didn’t want any more killing, they were content just to see them gone.
It has been reported that German soldiers felt sorry for the men they were forced to kill during the Canadian led invasion of Dieppe in ’42 which stood no chance of success.
And a group of German commandos in Italy said they wouldn’t have fought so furiously, had they known they were up against their allied counterpart – all in the same family.
Until recent times, prisoners have, generally, been treated with compassion and even friendliness in the spirit of “hors-de-combat”.
We can take pride in the fact that the father of one young German soldier told him, early in the second world war, to find an Australian soldier and surrender to him right away.
The atrocities witnessed since the mid 20th century are the result of a hatred which had to be taught.
It is noteworthy that the Japanese were known for their kindness toward prisoners, during the Great War.
In WWII Europe, an escaped Jewish commando later confronted his torturer, who begged that his family not be harmed. The Jewish man answered, “What do you think we are, Nazis?”
Even Himmler and many of those who carried out his orders became physically ill, so forcing more impersonal methods to be used for the Final Solution.
Even in the war on Terror, we should pity the pawns, brainwashed into conducting suicide attacks, courageous, though misguided; calling them cowards is an insult to our own brave men who similarly, sacrificed themselves for their comrades.
And so, on November 11 at 11am we take the time to remember all the fallen, in every part of the world, and all those they left behind, as victims of man’s stupid inhumanity towards man.
– Delano Dube, Benalla RSL
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