Page last updated at 10:32 GMT, Friday, 30 April 2010 11:32 UK

The Germans who took up arms against Hitler


The German who fought for Britain

By Mario Cacciottolo
BBC News










Colin Anson
Colin Anson joined the British Commandos




These documents, typed in German on parchment, were quickly identified by Mr Rothman and his colleagues as Hitler's personal and political wills, along with Joseph Goebbels' addendum.



'Scum of the earth'



Adolf Hitler made three copies of his personal and political wills





Identity change




Adolf Hitler
Hitler made his wills and died soon after this image was taken

Now aged 88 and living in Hertfordshire, Mr Anson has co-operated on his memoir, called German Schoolboy, British Commando, with author Helen Fry. He says he received "friendly interest and compassionate understanding" from Britons who detected his Germanic origins.




Brain exposed



Herman Rothman
Herman Rothman fled to the UK when he was 14



Did he have any qualms about fighting fellow Germans?







Mario Cacciottolo examines Mr Rothman and Mr Anson's stories in more detail on Breakfast on BBC 1 at 06:00 BST, Saturday 1 May.

Below is a selection of your comments.

Brilliant. Good men. I had always understood that any Germans in Britain at the time of the outbreak of the war were assumed hostile at worst, or at best, not utterly dependable. I recently worked with a German friend whose uncle had been both decorated by, and murdered by, the SS. The entire German nation was as afraid of Hitler and the Reich if they spoke out, as they were afraid of Bomber Harris' efforts. The guys in this story really should be celebrated - had they themselves become POWs you can assume that the Nazis would have created a whole new level of foul brutality for their treatment.
Joe, Glasgow

It must be very hard to take sides against your country of birth, even when you believe the people in charge are in the wrong. The actions of these men, at a time when the full extent of the wickedness of the Nazi regime was not as obvious as it was to become, are particularly courageous.
Paulm, Braintree

What a decision to have to make by the parents of these boys, and by the boys themselves. The biggest decisions most people have to make cannot compare.
Barry Simpson, Stoke-on-Trent

There were many brave Germans who worked on the inside against the Nazis. They begged for support from the Allies, but it was usually impossible until the later stages. During the famous ill-fated conspiracy to assassinate Hitler, contact was made with the Allies, but Roosevelt had publicly insisted on unconditional surrender, and the destruction of Europe continued. Had Germany been allowed to negotiate for peace, the Holocaust might not have been exposed to the world.
Glenn Knowles, Houston, Texas, US

Who were the British fighting in WWII? The Germans or the Nazis? These very brave men fought against their country, and are lauded for it. But, William Joyce fought, or at least acted against his country, and is branded a traitor. If we were fighting the Nazis, why were the Germans held to be responsible? I suppose it's a case of the victors making the rules.
Derek Angelis, Stow, Scottish Borders, UK

This is very moving. The humanity of the two men is very touching.
Chris Gelauf, Southampton

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