大象传媒

My father , now deceased told me an amusing story.
When they were going into battle during the North African campaign they were always told who the opposition were to be. The attacks invariably took place during the night,orjust before dawn.

If they were told that the opposition was to be the Italian Army then there was mighty relief.
This was because it was almost certain that once the Italians came under attack they would quickly come out of their trenches with their hands up, often displaying photograhs of tgeir children and loved ones. They appeared to be very anxious to surrender and would immediatley ask for food.

However if my father and his Battalion were told that the opposition was to be German troops and particularly Panzer units, then the mood would be very different.My father and his chums would be extremely fearful as they knew that the German troops would hold their ground and hand to hand fighting was likely to ensue.

A priest would always come up to the front line before the battle, in order to say a few words, to pray with the lads, and to comfort them. He would always inquire as to whom the opposition were to be. If the answer was Italian troops he would stay only for a few minutes. If however the answer was German troops,then he would stay
for a good deal longer.

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