r/ww2

I'm listening to Beevor's "Stalingrad" and he mentions the Zaitsev-König "sniper duel," which was also a feature of the Enemy at the Gates movie (which I'm aware is not great history). Supposedly Soviet sniper ace Zaitsev fought a days-long duel with Major Erwin König, schoolmaster of the German sniper school, defeating him.

But Wikipedia seems to cast doubt on whether he ever existed. I would think someone so prominent as König would have left some kind of paper trail, though I understand German records are fragmented. But between fellow soldiers, relatives, the snipers he would have trained as the "sniper school director," etc. there should be more history of him.

Supposedly a daughter confronted Zaitsev in post-war Germany, but her name is not recorded so that episode might be an invention or the woman may have been inventing this story.

It seems Zaitsev is the only real source for König's existence. I'm inclined to think he's an invention of Zaitsev or Soviet propagandists or perhaps with the latter amplifying the former's romanticizing of his wartime role. Zaitsev would hardly be the first veteran to embellish war yarns. Beevor notes that during the battle of Stalingrad, the role of snipers themselves became almost mythical and very romanticized.

Your thoughts?

It was written later in the man's life, when he was a teacher or professor. I remember it started with some student asking how he lost his leg(s). He told them he lost it/them fighting in WWII. The student called them a hero, but the author couldn't bring himself to tell them which side they were fighting for. The story of their time in the Nazi infantry started with them aboard a train, I don't think I read past that point.

The poles dropt days into the operation and ended up dropping near Driel. The Brits dropped on day 1 super far away. Only John Frost and a small part of the Brits managed to reach the bridge.

Yesterday i was at my mom's helping repair some some ceilings and walls from a water leak and found myself going through a old hutch from my great grandparents house. My great grandfather passed away in 2017 at 93 years old he was in the Navy during WW2 but what i found i had never heard off, a thick folder with the Logo of the "43rd bomb group association, INC." on the front i opened it and was surprised when i read the note typed on a typewriter on the first page saying

"Dear Richard (My Great Grandfather)

I finally finished my story. I tried to get somebody to type it for me but could not find anybody except professional people and they wanted an arm and a leg. So i finally sttled down and typed it myself. It was not easy but the more I typed the better I got. The first copy I typed was a draft and very rough. The first copy had no pictures..Jack (my great grandfathers other brother) has a copy of the draft. He thought it was very good reading. I like to think of it as my contribution to peace and freedom in my time. I hope you like it.

Your Brother, signed Francis Denault"

They're about 75 pages detailing and including pictures he took during his time in Panama, New Guinea, Australia, New Britain. He details about 40 missions of skip bombing/bombing the town of Rabual, many Japanese ships/occupied camps, shooting down Japanese fighter pilots, and his part in the battle of the Bismarck Sea Flying the "LuLu Belle" B-17 Bomber. I finally read it all and needless to say he was HIM and probably killed thousands and borderline committed war crimes. If any historians could tell me more information about the subject/ him in general or want to see it for themselves I have many pictures that I took of the "Book" I would be happy to show for I cannot post them here or I would they are very interesting and assuming they are all his that he took, never seen WW2 photographs.