Interesting -- do you all remember my "Nazi" friend?

[OneGrassRoot]

;)

Seriously. ;) I connected several years ago with a gentleman who was part of the Hitler Youth, and who served (at gunpoint) in the Nazi Army and the US Army (dual citizenship...long story). He wanted me to ghostwrite his memoir.

(Before I continue, I have zero interest in doing the actual writing or editing any longer; I'd rather guide the bigger picture and allow others who DO enjoy the process to dive in and work with the mechanics of the process.)

He not only has an amazing perspective and wisdom to share regarding current events (economic, cultural, political), but is very much in alignment with everything we discuss here. He is knowledgeable about alternative medicine (his brother-in-law was/is quite well known: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hans_Alfred_Nieper).

He's currently reading about the Knights Templar and Rosicrucians. :)

When I tried to get publishers interested in his story a few years ago, of course it fell on deaf ears. I've convinced Werner to -- with help (I may be asking for help here...lol) -- start blogging and comment on current events, interjecting his life story in the process as it pertains to the issues being discussed.

A manuscript can gradually be compiled in the process.

Isn't he someone you all would have an interest in? Especially if you can ask questions -- such as at the Our Collective Wellness site I need to work on. LOL

I suppose I'm asking in order to gauge whether or not my personal interest and fascination is unique, or if there is a larger audience for his sharings, as I believe there to be.

I think I have a sinus infection (I'm taking turmeric!), so please forgive any lack of clarity...beyond my usual lack of clarity. :eyes:

:grouphug:

[OneGrassRoot]

1. He specifically mentioned the Tea Party...

(though I recall him being pretty conservative), and how fascinating it is to compare Hitler -- and his cadence and modulation of speech -- is employed by those who are able to sway others.

[OneGrassRoot]

2. I feel the need to apologize.....

In order to conserve energy and keystrokes, I often use nicknames or other identifiers that usually enable others to remember who or what I'm talking about quickly, without a long description. The gentleman in question has used "Nazi guy" in referring to himself before, not because he is proud of it...not at all...but it is an easy way for people to remember him and his story.

I used that term in the same way here, yet realized that this one word alone can trigger a negative response, for very obvious reasons. It can especially affect those who are very sensitive, such as many here.

My apologies if by writing that word in a casual way as I did was hurtful or offensive to anyone. That wasn't my intention at all.

I can't edit it or I would.

:grouphug:

[I Have A Dream]

4. OGR, I understood what you meant.

:)

No problems here. :hug:

[OneGrassRoot]

8. ...

:hug:

[teenagebambam]

3. I share your fascination!

[OneGrassRoot]

9. Thanks!

:hug:

[Celebration]

5. Sure sounds like

he has a story to tell!!

I actually went to Germany when I was sixteen years old, with my great aunt and uncle. I was then introduced to an extremely prominent landed German guy who was in his 30s who had been a youth in the Hitler era. I didn't know any better and questioned him a lot about this, even though it made him uncomfortable. LOL, me at 16!!! So, yeah, I found him interesting, and anyone who has a personal story to tell about all that, especially when that person is connected to politics here, heck yes, that is interesting.

You gave him good advice, I think.

I hope you feel better soon. I finally settled on colloidal silver nasal spray for stuff like that.

[OneGrassRoot]

10. nasal spray?

I didn't know there was a colloidal silver nasal spray. Interesting!

Thanks for the feedback, Celebration. :hug:

[Celebration]

15. yeah, they sell it at Whole Foods here

Interestingly, they don't carry it at Seattle Whole Foods, or at least my daughter doesn't think so. I'm sure you can get it online.

Generally, though, I substitute the stronger strength in the bottle-- 30 ppm rather than 10ppm. That is just me pushing the envelope though. For all I know the 10 ppm works, too.

[PADemD]

6. I would love to read what he has to say.

[OneGrassRoot]

11. Thank you...

:hi:

:hug:

[SheilaT]

7. Sounds like his life story

would be a fascinating read.

Isn't there some ghost writer or the like who can work with him? Or, does he have even semi-adequate writing skills to do his own memoir? Done correctly, it could be a huge best-seller.

[OneGrassRoot]

12. There probably is...

I just don't know anyone who would do it for free. I've always done so with a royalty-sharing arrangement, but I don't know anyone else willing to do so nowadays. The business is just so brutal and the likelihood of getting picked up by a publisher -- a publisher who will actually pay an advance and promote the book -- is dismal without a built-in following and thus sales. They pretty much want a sure thing.

That's why I suggested blogging, as that serves several purposes: 1) It starts to get his story down in writing in a more organized format (I have some typed biographical notes from working with him a few years ago); 2) tying it in with current events helps gain a more immediate following (hopefully); and 3) it's easier to find help to compose/edit blogs than an entire manuscript.

Plus, time is of the essence. He's 86.

Another interesting thing I suggested to him is to start off with, in addition to blogging, strictly an e-book, which doesn't require a publisher at all (of course, neither does a traditional book; self-publishing is very viable these days). I'm finding senior citizens are discovering renewed interest in reading due to Kindle; the ability to make the format much larger, not have to go to the library, etc., is like a gift to them. I think the audience for his story are those online, over 40, and definite e-book readers (did you know you don't even have to own a Kindle in order to read a Kindle book? They have apps for that! LOL).

That's very cool!!!

I know there are several writers here who may have an interest in this project. ;)

Thanks for the thoughts and questions. :hug:

[rucognizant]

13. OGR

I might be interested. Like Celebration, I was in Germany at 17 yrs old ( 1955) with the AFS.
I talked to several young men who were VERY resentful at mandatory membership in the Hitlerjunge. They were younger than your friend....so didn't have to seve very long until the war was over./...........
COntact me.

[Celebration]

17. those are stories we don't often hear

In the case of the guy I talked to, he was just totally indoctrinated by all the Nazi stuff as a youth. Even though his parents were steadfastly and thoroughly anti-Nazi (and they were an extremely prominent, wealthy German family who had been quite political), this guy was completely unaware that the Nazis were controversial, bad, or anything as a youth. That is because the youth were indoctrinated to tattle on their parents, and his parents had no political discussions with the son, for fear of being turned in...........(think the messenger in Sound of Music.)

It's odd because I never got around to talking about the war with him. I was just too interested about his life when he was younger than my age at the time (16 and younger). Fortunately he spoke perfect English--he had even lived with my great aunt and uncle at one time in Waco, Texas, when he came to the USA to study farming methods. It was in the early 60s, and it didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that dredging up his youthful experiences was pretty painful for him. But, I was just too fascinated with it to let go. I would never have been able to get away with this sort of questioning had I been a more mature person. He indulged me because of my age, I think. Also we sort of had a minor crush on each other, even though he was probably more than twice my age.

So, this discussion brings up a heap of old memories.

[OneGrassRoot]

18. You both would thoroughly enjoy interacting with him...

and I'm sure it would be mutual. I must say, when I met with him (I met with him in person several times) and he showed me his memorabilia and I held the swastika patch/arm band...geeez....that was very powerful.

He was also the one who educated me about how Hitler essentially co-opted ancient symbols, and that the swastika was originally an ancient rune symbol. I love that his wisdom includes such spiritual aspects.

Really, he is quite amazing.

He is also QUITE the ladies man; seriously. No, I mean, SERIOUSLY. I have to keep him on track to talk about the project or else he goes off on tangents about his love life. Oy.....

He's very involved in Senior Olympics here in NC; he swims regularly. In act, it was his involvement on the swim team in Germany that saved him from being pulled into Hitler Youth any sooner.

I've just contacted a few oral history projects (thanks again, Japple!). We'll see where that goes, but in the meantime I may set him up with a group at OCW if he is able to maneuver there well enough. I think he would prefer speaking than typing as far as conversation, however.

Lord, I'm gonna have to get on Skype next. I'm still figuring out twitter...lolol.

Let's stay in touch about him, okay?

:hi:

:hug:

[Celebration]

19. yes, keep it going

The oral history projects seem like a great idea.

It is so hard to imagine what it must have been like to have been a preteen or teenager in Germany in the 30s.......coming of age in Nazi Germany. Oh.my.gosh

[japple]

20. I have a German friend (now a US citizen) who was a preteen in those years

and she said "they didn't teach anything else in school," meaning that Nazi propaganda was the whole curriculum. Her parents were killed in the war and she had to look after her brothers and sisters. Even now, she has a very hard time talking about those painful years. I never asked her what her parents or other family members believed, but I know they all lived in fear.

[OneGrassRoot]

21. For your friend....

:hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug:

[japple]

14. Maybe you could find an oral history project that would be interested

in recording his story. I would like to hear or read his story and think that others would too. If you live near a large university, you might contact their archivist and ask if there are any projects like that going on or if they might be able to refer you to one.

Just a minute of google "oral history projects" turned up this: http://oralhistory.rutgers.edu/

Also, if you have any contacts with newspaper people who might be interested in covering his story for the papers, that might get him hooked up with someone who would be willing to help him get written/published.

[OneGrassRoot]

16. Great idea!!!

I went that route two years ago, with no luck, but things change in two years; I guess it just wasn't quite time for many things then.

I had connected with a gentleman working on videoing WWII veterans way back when but that never worked out for some reason (can't recall now).

But, yes, that's a great idea, japple. I'll follow up on that. Thanks! :hi: