LETTERS Lest we forget
Sir I am simply amazed and horrified by Takes article on the 'German contribution' (High life, 8 March).
I don't want to be drawn into arguments about the Holocaust nor as a competent amateur military historian do I wish to deny that the German army in the second world war proved itself to be a most formidable fighting machine.
However, as an old-fashioned philhellene who went to the same school as Lord Byron, I take strong issue with Takes extravagant praise of Teutonic military virtue.
Has Taki forgotten what the German army did in his fatherland? It is all clearly set out in Mark Mazower's much acclaimed work, Inside Hitler's Greece. Has he forgot- ten what the German army did to their erst- while allies (the Italians) on the island of kefallonia? It is all clearly stated in Louis de Bernieres's much admired novel, Cap- tain Corers Mandolin. These are not matters of which one can say perasmena ksehasmena, and I know that most Greeks who lived through the horrors of the occupation will never forgive and forget.
In any case, forgiving and forgetting are not classical Greek virtues and I am sur- prised that one who is so rightly proud of his great heritage should have forgotten this!
C. Lyon The Old Rectory, East Dereham, Norfolk
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