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In Memoriam
We Remember What They Did
Three World War II veterans died this April.
(Page 2 of 2)
Alex Cassie did not become famous and prominent in public affairs; he did his job as he had done it during the war, in years of less drama of course: loyally and honestly.
Ben Bella was released from the house arrest under which his erstwhile friend and comrade had kept him and spent a number of years in Europe, with a residence in Switzerland, like the other “historic FLN leader” whom he had defeated in the 1962-3 civil war, the Kabyle chief Hocine Ait Ahmed, who is still alive and well. But the other “historic leaders” are dead, killed in action against the French army or in purges at the hands of their own comrades or in exile by the long arm of the revolution.
Was it the same revolution Raymond and Lucie Aubrac thought they were serving during the years of fellow-travelling and what the Europeans called “tiers-mondisme,” third-worldism? Before the war, many were disappointed in bourgeois democracy, viewing it as the cause of the death instinct of the West — or at least impotent to reverse it — that seemed, since August ‘14, to be prevailing over a culture of life and progress. Even so clear headed a man as Eric Blair, pen name George Orwell, hesitated at first — as did many Americans — then found his inspiration in the plain courage of ordinary people and the green meadows of England that he knew would turn red with blood, including his own, before foreign boots trampled them. The same initial ambivalence touched many in France, even as the country was invaded, and could be at least in part explained by the collapse of will and utter confusion displayed by the government. The Communist Party, however, chose a deliberate policy of non-belligerence which translated into collaboration with the occupiers.
This was due to the Soviet-Nazi pact, designed to enslave Poland while allowing both sides to prepare for what each knew would be an apocalypse in the eastern plains of Europe. But even after the Party entered the Resistance in the summer of ‘41, following the German invasion of Russia, some ambiguity remained in many minds regarding the ultimate aims of the war, and betrayals, based on longer-term calculations, occurred. Some preferred to banish such thoughts, celebrating the common cause —
Mon parti m’a rendu les couleurs de la France, sang the most lyrical of the Resistance poets, the Surrealist-turned-Communist Louis Aragon, “My party has clothed me in the colors of France.” The Aubracs’ network welcomed the Communist reinforcements because they shared vision of the kind of world that should emerge from the global conflict. This led to tensions with the Gaullists represented by men like Jean Moulin, as well as the networks of men of the right like Henri Frenay.
Wickedly exploiting rumors, insinuations, false allegations and unproven accusations that had lingered for decades, Klaus Barbie, before he died in a French prison in 1990 — caught in South America and extradited, he was tried in a sensational trial during which his attorney defended him by arguing that he had done nothing the French army did not do a few years later, in the prisons and torture houses of Algiers and environs — claimed the tipster of Caluire was none other than Raymond Aubrac. This led to further proceedings that eventually cleared the legendary Résistant, but it left, as it had to, a bitter taste. It was no secret that there were deadly rivalries within the Resistance in France — as there were in Poland and Yugoslavia, as there would be in the anti-colonial war in Algeria, the revolutionary war in Indochina.
Ben Bella, if you put it in a comparative frame, did pretty well. After the “Spring” of 1989, when single-party rule was abolished and freedom of the press permitted, he launched the MDA, Democratic Movement of Algeria, an Islamic party that proposed a moderate alternative to the Brothers in the Islamic Salvation Front. Yet his rants against Israel and the Jews (and the Kabyle Berbers) were as filled with hate as theirs and, anyway, he got nowhere. He was given a state funeral, however, by President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, who had been a young comrade-in-arms but who ditched him to become Pres. Boumediene’s foreign minister.
Alex Cassie’s war was the least complicated — there was no unfinished business afterward for him, except the continuing business of defending his island nation. Yet — of course — even Great Britain could not be unaffected and untroubled by the aftershocks and the sequels of the world wars, the European civil wars if you want to call them that, or the wars to save the liberties Europeans had strived for so long to secure. We need not, should not, get histrionic and over-excited about where we are now, in the unending work to preserve our freedom and our liberties. We should learn, remember, transmit what we know or think we know about what others before us tried to do, wanted to do, did.
About the Author
Roger Kaplan, a Washington-based writer, covers the Middle East and Africa (and tennis) for The American Spectator.
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Mike Hawk| 4.25.12 @ 6:30AM
SL III was in Sagan, Lower Selisia and was part of Germany in 1942. It was not Poland until after the war.
North Compound was the location of "The Great Escape" March 24th, 1944
Congratulations Roger, you wrote something of interest for a change.
Jack in Wi.| 4.25.12 @ 7:36AM
What was WW2 but a bailout of 2 failed states the British Empire, and the Soviet Union? We got rid of Hitler, to give his far worse partner in starting the war Stalin, half of Europe. In the end both these empires ended up broke and on the asheap of history. Which is exactly where we are heading if we don't get some sane leadership in this country.
WW1 led to WW2, which led to a 50 year cold war. For the last 20 years we have dropped trillions defending the rest of the world from ghosts and fighting a fanciful war on Isalm. Isalm is a backward idea, who's only threat is that it isn't yet under the domination of the New World Order. To hell with war and warmongers. 100 years of fighting other peoples wars and defending other peoples borders have led to our ruination.
Vern Crisler| 4.25.12 @ 10:44AM
As usual, Paulistas have no understanding of why we fought in WW1 and WW2. We were ATTACKED. Of course, Paulistas like Jack would rather repeat their mantras about "war and warmongers" and "chickenhaws" and "neocons" than to acknowledge the reality of German aggression or of today's Islamic aggression.
Mike Hawk| 4.25.12 @ 10:55AM
The Paulistinians are neo-isolationists at best.
Clint| 4.25.12 @ 6:50PM
You & Your Chickenhawk Candidate Wouldn't Know Real Conservtism If It Jumped Up And Bit Ya RINO-CINO Mittens' Kitten.
Read George Washington's Farewell Address, Thomas Jefferson's First Inaugural Address, The Old Right And Get Back To Us.
" George Will, "Today, we have a very different kind of foreign policy. It’s called Wilsonian. And the premise of the Bush Doctrine is that America must spread democracy, because our national security depends upon it. And America can spread democracy. It knows how. It can engage in national building. This is conservative or not?"
William F. Buckley, " It’s not at all conservative. It’s anything but conservative. It’s not conservative at all, inasmuch as conservatism doesn’t invite unnecessary challenges. It insists on coming to terms with the world as it is …”
Monkey Overstreet| 4.25.12 @ 11:05AM
We were attacked because they hate our freedoms! Obama hates our freedom too and he plans to attack us at Dawn!
Clint| 4.25.12 @ 6:43PM
Ronald Reagan,
"Ron Paul is one of the outstanding leaders fighting for a stronger national defense. As a former Air Force officer, he knows well the needs of our armed forces, and he always puts them first. We need to keep him fighting for our country."
Crassus| 4.25.12 @ 10:51AM
Yada, yada, yada.
Clint| 4.25.12 @ 6:46PM
" Crassus| 4.12.12 @ 11:31AM
All right you, RINOs, you got your boy Mittenz the nomination. Now see if you can get him elected. Don't worry, you can always blame us conservatives when he loses. That's what you always do."
Monkey Overstreet| 4.25.12 @ 10:18AM
Thank you for wiping out fascism and giving a boost to communism.
Harry the Horrible| 4.25.12 @ 8:20AM
Funny. I thought the Japanese attacked us and that the Germans declared war on us in support of their Japanese allies.
Mike Hawk| 4.25.12 @ 8:51AM
For Jack that was all a ruse by Big Oil to take over and by the Bilderbergers to rule the world. Ron Paul wasn't old enough to run for President yet or he would have stopped it.
Clint| 4.25.12 @ 6:55PM
" Dr. Ron Paul served in the United States Air Force as a flight surgeon for several years (1963-1965). While in the air force, Paul reached the rank of Captain. Directly after his service in the air force, Paul worked again as a flight surgeon for the United States Air National Guard (1965-1968).
" Paul served as a flight surgeon in the U.S. Air Force in the 1960s, spending time on the ground in countries like Ethiopia, Iran, Pakistan, South Korea, and Turkey. He also sits on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs."
Where'd Your Chickenhawk Candidate Serve, Mittens Kitten.
gearjammer| 4.25.12 @ 9:54AM
A hateful group called Freedom From Religion is attacking any display of a cross or other religous symbol at a memorial commemorating veterans. In Woonsocket, R.I once a tough working class town that really produced some great tough men who served such an effort is underway. Who funds such groups ? Where are the conservative hackers ? Such outrages need to fought.
Dave Williams| 4.25.12 @ 3:51PM
Sorry, this country has enshrined in its Constitution a hands-off policy on religion, and that includes the freedom to practice no religion at all. As an atheist, I am offended by "In god we trust" on our money, when I do no such thing. Any rational examination of religion (ALL religions, not just christianity) will force an honest mind to conclude along with Mark Twain that "faith means believing things that ain't so."
Nick| 4.25.12 @ 4:08PM
Sorry, Mr. Williams, but putting "In God We Trust" on the currency is not forcing you to practice a religion.
Also, the Constitution of the United States of America does not guarantee you the right not to be offended. Your understanding of the First Article of Amendment to the Constitution is severely lacking.
Your opinion of religion is meaningless and does not represent rational examination. You are in a very small minority.
Moe Blotz| 4.25.12 @ 6:02PM
Better men than Dave Williams have sacrificed their own lives so that he can be an atheist and enjoy this free forum. Had the founders themselves not been men of faith, Williams might be digging for coal in Wales. I suggest that Dave Williams owes his existence to God, for more reasons than he could imagine.
Mike Hawk| 4.25.12 @ 6:34PM
Williams, the Constitution does not enshrine a hands off policy. It says "Congress shall pass no law..." so there will be a state established "Church of the US "(my Quote) as found in the Anglican Church or Church of England or in some of the colonies. The Constitution also states '..nor prohibit the free exercise thereof." You atheists offend me by attempts to prohibit the free exercise of religion. What is enshrined is religious liberty not religious prohibition. You are free to be an atheist, but not free to restrict my freedom to pratice. You are free to be offended, but I am free to not give a sh!t that you are offended.
Frank Natoli| 4.25.12 @ 2:50PM
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/new.....assie.html
Thanks, Rog. Above link is the obit for Cassie in the Telegraph.
My dad was a WW2 combat infantryman, and for me as much a giant as the three men you describe above.
Chester Wilmot wrote the first great scholarly history of the fighting in northwest Europe, "The Struggle for Europe". He began his opus magnum with a brief extract from Milton's Samson Agonistes which is truly the best and most terse summary of the existential fight that was WW2. It was the chorus saying:
Oh, how comely it is and reviving
to the spirits of just men long oppress'd
when God in the hands of their deliverer
puts invincible might
My father was one of the "deliverers" and my mother, a native of Belgium, was one of the "just [wo]men long oppress'd". So while growing up in the 50s, I got a wonderful double dose of what Milton and Wilmot were talking about.
They were giants, and we'll never know such men again, not in this world.
Occam's Tool| 4.25.12 @ 6:05PM
Frank: they were great men, but they still exist, and we reap the benefit of what they do every day---the men and women of the United States Armed Forces.
Eric Blair, by the way, had a listed phone number in London during the war, and had an open invitation for American servicemen, if they wished, to call him to arrange a lunchdate to discuss literature. Can you imagine that famous a writer being that gracious with his time today?
Paul McGrath| 4.25.12 @ 10:53PM
"Wickedly exploiting rumors, insinuations, false allegations and unproven accusations that had lingered for decades, Klaus Barbie, before he died in a French prison in 1990 -- caught in South America and extradited, he was tried in a sensational trial during which his attorney defended him by arguing that he had done nothing the French army did not do a few years later, in the prisons and torture houses of Algiers and environs -- claimed the tipster of Caluire was none other than Raymond Aubrac."
What in the world are you talking about?
"We need not, should not, get histrionic and over-excited about where we are now, in the unending work to preserve our freedom and our liberties. We should learn, remember, transmit what we know or think we know about what others before us tried to do, wanted to do, did."
This is at least to some degree comprehensible, but could you maybe express yourself in a slightly more eloquent fashion?
And to fail to mention the superb French film, Lucie Aubrac, after using much of your article writing about her and Raymond, is nothing less than criminal.
Geez, Kaplan, take off the toupee and retire already.
Oumi| 4.26.12 @ 7:33AM
Such ill manners of the half educated! Learn to read, and I'll advise my man next time to remember Mat. 7:6 with witless snots like you in mind, sir. Witless? Burned fuses, I'd say. Get yourself a neurosurgeon.
Seegee| 4.26.12 @ 8:28AM
Gracious, let's talk about Claude Berri and John Sturges -- and wh0 else? Jack Lee, who made the first movie about the men in Stalag III who refused to give up? How about Jean-Pierre Melville and his "Army of Shadows"? Rene Clement, John Frankenheimer? Why not David Lean -- "The Bridge on the River Kwai"?
You are right, the problem with Mr McG is that he cannot or will not read, he will not think, he wants, dear me, to engage in mental onanism. This is a common disease, to be pitied more than condemned (Gen. 38:9, since you are getting Biblical), and it is encouraged by the electronic technology that the editors of these on-line publications could control if they treated these "contributions" the same way they do "Letters to the Editor" in print publications.
POST American| 4.25.12 @ 11:24PM
--With ALL due respect to those
who served and sacrificed---
"KOREA, and NOT the long gone
World Wars, is rapidly emerging
as the DEFINITIVE conflict of the
20th century viz a viz the unfolding
21st."
-POST American
(2005)
NOW, is that looking less true?
--or MORE TRUE? in this, the 11th
hour of the CFR---RED China handover
and FINAL EUGENICS OP?
Just a little REALITY CHECK as capstone
CON-trolled Hollywood and media
continue to 'overlook' the unspeakably
relevant 60th Anniversary of the
RED China, Globalism and EUGENICS
'unfriendly'
----------------KOREAN WAR----------------.
AMEN