Hemingway

[Raven26]

An interesting thread. I would like to read his book.

I, in no way, am trying to imply what D-Day would have been like, I wasn’t there. But, a machine gunner would never know how many "kills" he really gets. The gunner shoots a target, some close and some far. If the target falls or stops the gunner moves on to the next one. There are just too many variables to consider when estimating “kills”. I am sure he had many "kills" and would rather not like to remember any.

I am sure the beach was a target rich environment, and I am sure he fired a lot of ammo. Regardless of the numbers involved, this guy had some brass balls to face an overwhelming enemy force like D Day. I am sure he was scared to death and deserves credit for being a honorable soldier, regardless of which side he fought.

Frank

[cricketchris44]

It seems odd though. I know most of the division at the beach area left with Severloh and a certain few others by themselves, but I would imagine more than one MG. It just doesn't seem reasonable.

And I do not really think Severloh's claims are extreme. He claimed 1200 kills (though some people state it's around 2,000; he underplays it) and that's not something unreasonable with a MG42. I talked to a 4th Army veteran (U.S on Omaha) who said the boat next to him was completely wiped out (50 men) as soon as the hatch fell open. At a rate of 50 men in around 3 seconds, that's not hard to rack up at all, especially firing 12,000 rounds, which I also believe.

I believe he said he fired somewhere in the 400 region with his kar, which I could believe, but that might include retreat from the beach bunker etc.

He also showed much remorse for the lives he took, but hopefully everyone recognizes he was only doing his duty. Many US servicemen that landed on D-Day even forgave him and became friends. From a thread on AHF (which was an article on SPIEGEL)



Hein Severloh
The frustration of Hein is that he himself says he is probably the only German who killed so many enemy's


"I visited his grave in Normandy ten years after the war. He took a head
shot from one of the Americans as he tried to follow me. I was taken
prisoner that night. I don't think I would have survived had I been
captured at my post."

"They knew what I had done to their friends. I don't think those
first-wave troops would have shown me any mercy."

Some 2,300 Americans died on 'Bloody Omaha' before overwhelming the German
defenders.

Mr Severloh was sent as a PoW to America and put to work picking cotton
and potatoes before returning to Germany in 1947 to resume his pre-war
life in farming.

Through his many visits back to Normandy he became friends with visiting
American veterans, and realised they has christened him The Beast of Omaha
Beach.
One veteran, David Silva, who took three bullets in the chest that
day-possibly fired by Severloh-became his close friend.

"I told David how I had dreams about two men that day-the first American I
killed and Lieutenant Ferking," he said. "The memories make me cry."



David Silva & Hein Severloch


"I wont be back on the beaches this year, I am sick. I suffered a stroke
and must sleep a lot."

"Besides, I think there will be a lot of glorifying events and I wouldn't
be welcome."

"There was no glory on the beach that day-just a lot of blood and screams
and good young men dying.".......

There is a very interesting thread on warrelics.eu about the discovery of his barrels back in 1984

[juoneen]

http://tksanders.com/gottmittunsgrey.htm