Constantine

Constantine:

This is something I always wanted to do, and never got around to it.

Is this your line of work? Or your own personal enjoyment?

Let me know, I may just want to hire you to take me on an aeral tour of Cape Cod. There is a particular spot I am curious about.

You should take me on that.... just so you can know that there'll be some guy walking around in provincetown... gay, straight, asexual, it doesn't matter.

He'll be lost in thought, and will have no way of mentally dealing with the sudden shower of vomit that I'd hurl down from the heavens the minute I looked down from that stupid plane.

This guy would walk around for days, trying to make sense of what happened to him. He'd either repress it, or go insane from it.

Thanks for the great slide show, Constantine.

What kind of plane was that? Wing struts don't look like a Waco (which I've flown in) or a Stearman (which I'm dying to fly in--and experience a hammerhead stall!)

My people thank you.

Wonderful blog, Constantine. You are keeping alive a great history in this world where even last week is quickly forgotten.

To Ian Armen,

Thank you for pointing that out. I have made the requested change.

Best Regards,
Constantine

The people of Armenia demand that you break up that huge first paragraph!

10% fewer Greeks by the end of the war.This number represent 600.000 peaple both military personel and civilians.

As a Greek i can only say one thing.We will always fight againist anyone who will try to take our freedom.

Thank you Constantine. Am very proud of my Greek heritage. Some members of my family were in German prison camps and I grew up with stories of the horror told to me on the lap of my grandma. I can still feel what they went through and the courage and resourcefulness they had to survive.

BC,

When civilians are attacked by an organized military, what are they supposed to do?...wait until they can find uniforms? io% of Greece's population were killed by German invaders; do you suppose that only military personnel were inclcuded in that 10%? I certainly hope that your remarks about the Greeks who opposed the Germans is not meant as an indictment of them or their conduct.

Dear Constantine,

I am sending readers to this article
from the January 3rd issue my IBPC Newswire
column "Poetry & Poets in Rags" at
http://www.webdelsol.com/IBPC/wire_rags.htm
which had its weekly update tonight.

Thanks for posting this excellent article.

Yours,
Rus Bowden

~~~~~~~~~~~

It is always nice to read an interesting website about the Battle of Crete. However, I have studied this battle intensely for years, and there is absolutely no evidence to support the theory, that the battle of Crete delayed 'Barbarossa' for as much as a minute. The paratroop units used on Crete were never an intended part of the opening phase of 'Barbarossa'.
I would also like to point out that the Greek 'partisans' who stalked the paras were very few and far between - and they all broke the Hague Rules of Warfare and Geneva Conventions by being unmarked combatants.
Hitler's remark is taken out of context. In fact German paratroops were used again several times (Sicily, Leros, Monte Rotondo etc)and there were repeated plans for their deployment in particular in Russia. The primary reason, why they were not used on a grand scale again is simple: the paratroops is an offensive weapon, and Germany was defacto on the defence by the end of 1941. Hence there were no obvious places for deployment, except as defensive fire brigades.

An excellent history lesson. It occurs to me that Italy has suffered the reputation of being befuddled warriors in WWII. Viewed from the perspective of the Greeks, I understand. No doubt Italy would have been as determined, had it been invaded, just as every nation, whatever its ability, has always risen to its own defense when invaded.

It's also an object lesson of why the USA should stay out of other nation's business, in this hemisphere and elsewhere.

great post, thank you.
Interesting, worth reading.
A perfect example of what these blogs should be. I don't see how anyone can pick a fight with this one....

long live..

Beware of Greeks bearing gifts around Christmas.

You are a welcome addition to the mix, Constantine. Another great anecdote attributed to Franklin, one that you are probably familiar with - after John Hancock affixed his signature to the Declaration of Independence, large and bold so King George couldn't miss it, Hancock is believed to have said to the other delegates of the Continental Congress, We must hang together through this.
To which Franklin replied - Oh yes, or we most assuredly will hang separately.

Welcome to the this wonderful world of ,,,, well welcome to this group of misfits, where all can speak our minds. and share our thoughts, looking forward to reading what you have. Go to it, partner!

Hey, are you the guy from American Idol?
If you get my point, you'll keep it "entertaining".

Whoa, Constantine welcome! Can't wait for more of your posts.

Welcome 'Stan, you bring much wit & wisdom to our insular cyberworld.
Walter

Welcome aboard, Constantine.

"The emperor Constantine has rightly been called the most important emperor of Late Antiquity."

Hmmm...just don't let Alexander hear you say that...

BTW - Are you the artist formerly known as El Greco?