Documentary: Nazi Mega Weapons Season 2: The Wolf's Lair

This is the continuing PBS series which looks at some of the Nazi mega weapons.  This episode deals with Hitler's shelters.  It also looks at the attack on Hitler in his lair.  Hitler fancied himself a military leader, and wanted to be close to the action.  This served him well inFrance as he made a shelter close to the front, and was able to monitor and direct.  The success of the Germans convinced Hitler this was good strategy.  He even went so far as to make bomb shelters for his trains, covered man made tunnels, which were rarely used.  They were rounded so bombs would bounce off.  Mussolini and Hitler held a meeting in one such structure, it's only use.  This were a waste of manpower and resources.  Hitler's Lair was as far to the west in Germany (Prussia) as Hitler could get. From this location Hitler was to monitor the invasion of Russia.  However he was hampered by distance.  The Nazis were on the verge of taking Moscow.  However Hitler order the troops to take Leningrad first, which proved to be a costly mistake.  He also ordered attacks and other strategies, without having enough information.

Claus von Stauffenberg

Tremendous amounts of concrete were used to build the lair, where Hitler Had a large personal complex, but it was mostly cement and buffer.  The living space was very small.  These enclosed rooms were a hazard,and disgruntled Germans used them to attack Hitler.  In an enclosed space, a small bomb could do great damage as the force would be concentrated.  Colonel Claus von Straffenberg attempted such a move, however the meeting to which he was invited was not held in a bunker, but an outlying building, which was not made of concrete.  However the detonator had already been triggered.  The bomb did not kill Hitler as the force of the blast was not contained.   Several other officers were killed.  For his roll Stauffenberg was executed without trial.  

Hitler's Lair was abandoned when the Russians advanced taking over the area.

Hitler's last bunker was the one in Berlin.  Again this was a massive undertaking.  The bunker was built underground in the center of the city.  In the end the Russians did not have to attack it as Hitler suicided.

Documentary Review: Secrets of the Third Reich: Hitler's General

This documentary was presented on Smithsonian TV.  The general referred to is Field Marshall Erwin Rommel.  He was one of Hitler's top commanders, and his physical specimen is the typical hard German line.  He was idolized by many in the country.   He performed miracles in Africa, before he over extended himself which resulted in the defeats of the Afrikan Corps.  He was then moved to overseeing the defenses of Europe.  He could see early on that the war was going against the Germans, and that their only hope was to get rid of Hitler.  Although he was not directly involved in the plot to assassinate Hitler, he knew of it and condoned it.  He was caught in the web of the investigation.  He was given the choice between a lengthy trial which would spill over to involve his wife and children, or to take a pill and kill himself.  He chose the latter.  The official cause of death was an illness.  I never knew that Rommel ended in this way.  Germany could have used his leadership in the field, but they were falling apart from within.

Book Review: Lincoln's Last Days

Lincoln’s Last Days: The Shocking Assassination That Changed America Forever, Bill O’Reilly and Dwight Jon Zimmerman, Henry Hold and Company, New York, 2012.

 

This book is very interesting.  It focused more on Lincoln, the end of the war and his activities until his assassination.  It also focuses on the planning and the coordination it took to carry out this attack on our government and Abraham Lincoln.  There were three attacks planned, one which was not carried out.  However John Wilkes Booth was successful in killing the president.  Lewis Powell failed in his murder attempt again Secretary of State William Seward.  However he did injure several household members with his knife.  The third attack intended against the vice president did not materialize.  George Atzerodt was too drunk, and did not take kindly to the idea of murdering, and so wondered into the night rather than make the attempt. 

The capture of Booth ended rather quickly, with only a cursory review of his capture.  This book has left me interested enough to get the adult version; “Killing Lincoln.”

Movie Documentary Review: JFK: The Lost Bullet

JFK: The Lost Bullet, National Geographic, 2013.
This documentary takes a new look at the assassination of John F. Kennedy using the various home movies taken that day, and also talking again with eye witnesses as well as using laser evidence to examine the route of the three shots people heard.  The first shot is the lost bullet. 
They first examine the last two bullets.  Bullet two is often referred to the magic bullet.  Using laser, and getting the car in the exact position of when this shot takes place using the Zapruder film (famous home video of the assassination) they demonstrate that the course was strait through the presidents back, out his neck and then into the Governor's back.  
The issue with bullet three is that the president's head whipped back instead of forward.  There are two conspiracy theories surrounding this shot.   The first, the driver shot him.  Digital enhancement clarifies this.  The driver did turn around and look at the president.  However he has nothing in his hand.  The second, the theory of a shooter on the grassy knoll.  They use other films from a different angle to refute this argument as nothing is seen on the hill.  Also the shot would have been fired form the side, and had to of hit the president in the side of the head, and then possibly hitting Jacklyn Kennedy.  The digital enhancement of the film does show a puff of moisture going forward after the president is struck.  Then his head jerks back in a reverse reaction effect.
Then the lost bullet, or the first bullet.  The contention here is that first, the Zapruder film does not record this bullet; the camera had been turned off for a few seconds to save film.  They say it took  six seconds between the first shot and the other two shots.  This is confirmed by two eye witnesses.  Then when they tried to reenact the scene using the laxer, they discovered a stop light would have obstructed the shot.  Looking back at pictures of the light, there was a mark which could have been the result of the bullet.  The bullet may have ricocheted and been lost in the street.  One woman was injured when she was struck by concrete form the curb. 
This is the conclusion of this film.  This uses high tech lasers to confirm the Warren Report.

Conspiracy? Lincoln Assassination

This is a presentation from the History Channel.  It has a warning preceding and after the presentation that the information is controversial, and not necessarily true but presented to give people an opportunity to respond. 
Did Lee Harvey Oswald act alone, or was he part of a broader conspiracy?  We know there was some coordination, because Oswald acted with others to decapitate the government.  There were other attacks the same night, against Secretary of State William H. Seward, and the Vice President Andrew Johnson (planned but not carried out). 
In addition to this, evidence of Oswald traveling to Canada, and there meeting members of the Confederate Secret Service, and after returning making a deposit of $1500 into his account, which money could be used to attract others to his plan.
One might say that the Confederacy would not be involved, that war was not made this way at that time.  However, after the Dahlgren affair, where a Union attempt to assassinate Jefferson was discovered, and after the Emancipation Proclamation, Lincoln was deemed as an open target.  
So the arguments are, Oswald acted alone, out of hatred for Lincoln and his own racial bigotry, or he was part of a plot, and some escaped prosecution.  That those working with Oswald were just a local group of near-do-wells.  And those were mopped up with the trials, which looked for further conspirators, including Jefferson Davis, but found no evidence.  The for executed and the other four prosecuted was all involved. 
The other argument is there is evidence pointing to a connection between Oswald and Confederate operatives in Canada who have a direct tie back to the Confederacy.

Documentary Movie Review: The Hunt for Lincoln's Assassin

"The Hunt for Lincoln's Assassin" is a made-for-TV movie by National Geographic reenacted documentary for the hunt for John Wilkes Booth.  The methods used our interview with historians and authors, including one who wrote the biography of John Wilkes Booth.  It also employs a few pictures, but for the most part it employs historical reenactment with narration.  Booth was not captured until a couple of weeks after the assassination.  He likely would have gotten away, but his ability to travel quickly was hampered by his broken leg which he suffered when he jump from Lincoln's booth to the stage of Ford's theater. They escaped from Washington D.C. into Maryland, before authorities could seal off the city.  Booth's escape then took him to the home of Dr. Mudd, who determined his leg was broken and put it in a splint and also provided crutches.  He traveled with David Herald.
Secretary of War Edwin Stanton lead the search for Booth.  He offered 100,000 reward to those helping in his capture.  He also appointed detective Colonel to Lafayette Baker to the lead the pursuit.  Everton Conger lead a party of 25 men who headed the investigation and pursuit. 
This documentary points out the mood of the country as a result of the assassination was one of revenge against southerners.  Many were killed or persecuted in the pursuit, and as well as a result of a general feeling of animosity.
Booth was able to finally make it into Virginia.  This was on their second attempt.  The first attempt the became confused in the fog and ended up landing again in Maryland.
A report in error of Booth and Herald crossing the Potomac, but Conger and his men on the right track.  The report was actually a witness of someone other than Booth crossing the river, but even so, as Booth had in facgt crossed, it put them within three miles of Booth.
Booth and Herald were lead by returning Confederate soldiers to the Garrett farm.   They hid out there for several days, but when federal soldiers went by, and Booth hid in the forest the family determined something as not right.  They insisted they leave, but granted them one for night, insisting the sleep in the tobacco barn.  Conger heard of these soldiers, and was determined to interview on of them, Willie Jett.  Jett was able to guide them to the Garrett farm.  It was in this barn that Conger and his men found Booth.  Booth's traveling companion was allowed to come out and was captured.  Booth refused to leave the barn.  They set fire to his barn, and being able to see Booth in the flames, Sergeant Boston Corbett shot through the cracks between the barn plank, hitting Booth in the neck.  His spinal cord was severed, and he was paralyzed.  The soldiers brought him out of the barn, and he succumbed a couple hours later.  

50 Years Since President Kennedy was Assassinated

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/11/21/jfk-conspiracy-theorist-points-finger-at-lbj/3660765/

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-LA0ypFXig

 

http://abcnews.go.com/US/people-witnessed-jfks-assassination/story?id=20531350#9

 

http://www.cnn.com/2013/11/16/us/jfk-assassination-conspiracy-theories-debunked/

These articles give some idea of the murder that will not rest.  For fifty years people have wondered what happened.  Could Oswald have acted alone, was President Johnson involved, was the mafia, the CIA, the Russians, the Cubans, Texas politicians.  Is the Warren report the last word on the subject.  One of these articles says he doesn't know what happened, but it wasn't Oswald because he had no motive.

However, recent things that have happened in the world say a motive is not always needed.  Besides, for Oswald, the notoriety could have been motive enough.  The rumors of conspiracy theory will never go away with regards to the death of President Kennedy.

Movie Review: ****^Legacy

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ulLvUw-c96o

This move tells the Mormon story.  It is based on historical happenings, but is told through the eyes of a fictional family, the Williams.  This is the story of Eliza Williams, who is presented as a contemporary of Joseph Smith.  She embraces the gospel as a young girl of 13.  Following her life and that of her family, it presents many church historical happenings.  It sets as its theme, finding Zion.  It shows the family leaving New York, to Kirtland and on to Missouri.   Eliza is present at the Missouri persecutions, Independence and Haun's Mill.  Her brother is killed at Haun's Mill.  She gets to Far West in time to see the militia arresting the church leaders, and the Mormons being expelled from Missouri.  The back track to Illinois, and many of the Mormons contract malaria from the swamps in the area.  She receives a blessing from Joseph Smith's hand in Commerce (later to become Nauvoo.)  She participates in the construction of the Nauvoo Temple.  Her boyfriend, husband is a stone cutter recently arrived from England.  He works on the temple.  They overcome the shock when Joseph Smith is murdered.  There family is part of the trek across Iowa to Winter Quarters.  This movie gets me every time when Eliza's father falls in the mud crossing Iowa.  The Tabernacle Choir is singing "Come Come Ye Saints" and that part makes me cry every time.  The muddy walk across Iowa was a trial for the Saints, followed by the miserable conditions at Winter's Quarters.  Her husband, David Walker, joins the Nauvoo Legion as part of the Mexican War.  Eliza is left to get the family across the plains.  She takes the part of Mary Fielding Smith in blessing her ox.  Her husband returns to her on the plains.
There is a rich historical heritage which is based on sacrifice and blessing.  This movie portrays this well.  I wish however they had used historical characters rather than fictional to tell the story.  This movie was first presented at the Joseph Smith Building in Salt Lake City.

John F Kennedy Assasination Revisited

Jeremy got me looking at You Tube on the assassination of President Kennedy.  There are many theories based on the Zapruder Film.  One says the film is a complete fabrication to put together to justify the magic bullet theory, where Lee Harvey Oswald was the lone shooter.  Another uses the file to show the driver killing the President.  Another uses the movie to show Governor Connelly as the shooter.  And yet another contends there were multiple shooters, with Oswald as a patsy.  This theory has Lyndon Johnson as the master mind, and points to doctored x-rays and autopsies, and photographs.
So, I don't know how President Kennedy was killed.  But is have my doubts about the Warren Report, and Oswald as the shooter.  This was something much bigger.

And if our government could cover something up this big in the 60s, what kind of coverup are they doing now.  We know that those involved in Benghazi have been silenced.  Makes you wonder what really went down and why.

Movie Review: ***^Abraham LIncoln's Assassination

This is a documentary available through Netflix Instant and produced by History Channel.  As the title states, it reviews of death of President Lincoln, who was the first president assassinated.  Things I hadn't realized before.  President Lincoln had a nightmare a few days before his assassination, in which he saw the funeral procession at the White House.
Major Rathbone, in the box with the president, tried to prevent Booth from getting away.  Booth pulled a knife and stabbed him in the arm.  However he did try to grab him, causing him to catch on the decorations, and he fell awkwardly to the stage, rather than the graceful jump he had planned.  This caused him to break a bone in his ankle.
A young doctor, Dr Charles a Leal was the first MD to arrive to the President's side.  The president was without pulse or respiration.  The doctor provided rescue breathing.  When he examined the wound, blood came out, and the president improved.  He started breathing.  Quickly other doctors reached the scene, and the all concurred the wound looked fatal.  The determined to move him to a bed, but did not think he would survive being carried to the White House.  He was taken to the Peterson House, across from Ford's Theater.  He was placed diagonally on a bed too small for his 6'4" frame.  He continued to breath, but did not regain consciousness.  President Lincoln passed away the next morning at 7:22 a.m. April 15, 1865.
His funeral services were attended by those who loved him, as well as those who may have hated him, as they decided they did not actually hit him so much.  This was the largest funeral in our country up to the time.  Thousands of mourners paid their respects.
The funeral train traveled to Springfield Illinois.  It also included the coffin of his son Willie.
Booth headed South with a co-conspirator David Herold.  He sought medical attention from Dr. Samuel Mudd.  Dr. Mudd likely didn't realize what had happened.  However he collected his mail, and there were soldiers looking for Booth.  Rather than tell the soldiers, he returned to his place and told the two fugitives to leave.  Booth made his way across the Potomac River and into Virginia.  He followed newspapers, thinking his act would be accepted as heroic.  He was shocked that it was not. 
Both was finally overtaken as he and Herold were holed up in a tobacco barn near Port Royal.  Herold gave himself up.  Booth did not.  He was shot by Sergeant Boston Corbett in the neck, severing his spinal cord.  He died three hours later.  Corbett was put on detention for disobeying orders of bringing Booth back alive.  Booth's last words were "Useless, useless," talking about his hands which someone had put before his face at his request.
Eight persons were arrested for conspiracy to kill the president.  They were tried in military court.  All were found guilty, with different penalties based on their involvement.  Some had dropped out of the conspiracy before the assassination (they had previously planned to kidnap government leaders) and these were given prison sentences.  Four, including Mary Surrat, the first woman condemned to death by the American government where condemned to death.  They were executed July 7, 1865.
Mary Todd Lincoln would never again  attend a theater.  In 1901 Lincoln's coffin was unburied, and moved to a more secure location.  His remains were viewed.  Because of the embalming process, he was still recognizable as Abraham Lincoln.