Pope Joseph Ratzinger: former German Soldier and POW

[asian1]

Strange history about the new Pope:
His parents are anti NAZI, but he and his brother (George Ratzinger) was recruited into German Army (anti aircraft defence unit) in 1943/1944.
He was stationed at BMW factory near Munich.
After the massive bombing, he was stationed in Austrian border (anti tank mine unit).
He went AWOL / desertion in 1945 and hide in his hometown.
May 1945: US Army occupied his hometown and turned his family home into their local HQ. He and his brother were captured by US Army and sent to POW camp.
They are released in June 1945 and July 1945.

Source: Ratzinger Fans Club.

Is it possible that Joseph Ratzinger shot down US/UK airplanes and kill US/UK pilots during WW II?

[PMC]

Helmut Kohl was assigned to an AA battery during the war IIRC, Murray Walker (Grand Prix commentator for BBC/ITV) was serving in a tank brigade during the Normandy landings, Spike Milligan was in a signals unit during the Salerno landings. Even Idi Amin served with the British Army during the war. George W Bush was a decorated fighter pilot serving with the US Marine corps in the pacific during WW2.

That didn't stop Kohl building a very successful relationship with Britain, France and the USA during his time in office, Murray Walker counts a certain Michael Schumacher amongst his friends and George W famousy barfed his fish starter into the lap of a Japanese dignitary in 1992 in the middle of a White House reception.

Milligan himself was involved in the action at El Alamein, and to his amazement twenty years later befriended a soldier who had served with a Wermacht artillery unit which fired on Milligan's own comrades during the battle. Afterward the German sent him note saying "Dear Spike, great to finally meet you, sorry I missed you in 1942!".

I guess I'm saying that I don't care a jot what Pope Benny 16th did during his youth, as going by the evidence above it's got naff all to do with his abilities as Pope.

[Wilse]

@PMC:

Well said.

[PMC]

As someone who has German ancestry and a German surname I guess I find myself feeling quite offended by posts like "Could Cardinal Ratzinger have shot down GB/US aircraft" or stuff about Prince Harry, his German roots and the unfortunate fancy dress party.

Sure, I have a certain amount of national pride in being British and a healthy rivallry with my distant cousins across the north sea, I certainly don't subscribe to the notion that anyone with connections to Germany is instantly a goose-stepping fascist under the skin.

[Wilse]

@PMC:

I know what you mean. I lived in Germany for awhile and had to constantly put up with my friends 'back home' making references to the war, invading Poland, etc, etc.

It was funny when Basil Fawlty did it but downright embarrassing when your mates try.

[Speelgoedmannetje]

The last pope always said at Easter "bedank voor die bloeme" (in Dutch; Dutch companies took care of the flowers then, and it means: "thanks for the flowers")
During war, the German army stole many bicycles from the Dutch, so now the "oh so funny" joke is: "bedank voor die fietse" ("thanks for the bicycles")

[cecilia]

Onion spoof: Papal Election Brings End To Worldwide Unsupervised-Catholic Sin Binge (http://www.theonion.com/news/index.php?issue=4116&n=1&ref=myy)

Let's here it for the pope, "Joey Ratz*" ! :banana:




*(Daily Show joke)

"When the pope was alive, I never would've thought of flouting the 1917 Pio-Benedictine Code Of Canon Law. But once he was out of the picture, I immediately bore false witness against my neighbor. And then I coveted his wife."

:roflmao::roflmao::roflmao::roflmao::roflmao::rofl mao:

[PMC]

Nice one Cecelia,

You can always be relied upon to make me grin

:-D