Its sad really. I have deep sympathy for the poor German Average Joes (Average Fritzes?) who where on the Eastern Front or facing the oncoming Russian Army in Germany. Extremely brutal fighting, and so many lives lost un-necessarily due to the tremendous brutality of the Soviets.

The more I read and learn , the more I am deeply suspicious of the leading figures in Germany that resurface after the war. I really believe that many of these figures had nefarious motives. Von Braun was in the SS, and knew the ins and outs of the labor camp system. Walter Dornberger (who later became a bigwig at Bell Helicopter) as well. I have always thought that there was some sort of shadow organization many of these folks belonged to- whether it was just a German old boys club or more sinister (like an extra-territorial state) I haven't yet been able to discern.