The History Channel’s claim that Adolf Hitler’s life was spared by a British soldier named Henry Tandey in the First World War, thus changing the course of 20th century history, is a sensational story without any foundation. The programme shows a British soldier, Henry Tandey, having Hitler in his sights but letting him go because he was wounded and unarmed. It claims this was one of the greatest what-ifs of history. What if Tandey had pulled the trigger? The whole of 20th century history would have been changed. (The History Channel, The World Wars, YouTube, A British Soldier Spared Hitler’s Life) But did it really happen?
The basic Hitler/Tandey story is as follows. At Marcoigne in France on 28th September, 1918, Tandey had Hitler in …show more content…
On Friday, 28th July, 1939 the Yorkshire Evening Post published a story describing how in the Matania painting Private Henry Tandey, VC, was carrying a man shot by a machine gun team commanded by Corporal Hitler (Yorkshire Evening Post). On Saturday, 5th August 1939, the Coventry Herald (Coventry Herald, 1939) came out with a story that at the reunion Tandey was given a curious piece of information which led him to exclaim, “According to them, I’ve met Adolf Hitler. Maybe they’re right, but I don’t remember him. I’ve met the dictator and taken no notice of him.” Alas, Tandey had no more details, but his comment that there were several machine gun teams ranged against him suggests the machine gunner story is upmost in his mind. There is no mention of the scene depicted in the History Channel.
What was Hitler doing with a photograph of Tandey? Evidence quoted from the Green Howards Regiment tells of a copy of the Matania painting being sent to Hitler in 1937. Capt. Wedenmann, Hitler’s adjutant, thanked the Green Howards with these words, “The Fuhrer is naturally very interested in things connected with his own war experiences. He was obviously moved when I showed him the picture. He has directed me to send you his best thanks for your friendly gift which is so rich in memories.” (Johnson, “The Man Who Didn’t Shoot
The basic Hitler/Tandey story is as follows. At Marcoigne in France on 28th September, 1918, Tandey had Hitler in …show more content…
On Friday, 28th July, 1939 the Yorkshire Evening Post published a story describing how in the Matania painting Private Henry Tandey, VC, was carrying a man shot by a machine gun team commanded by Corporal Hitler (Yorkshire Evening Post). On Saturday, 5th August 1939, the Coventry Herald (Coventry Herald, 1939) came out with a story that at the reunion Tandey was given a curious piece of information which led him to exclaim, “According to them, I’ve met Adolf Hitler. Maybe they’re right, but I don’t remember him. I’ve met the dictator and taken no notice of him.” Alas, Tandey had no more details, but his comment that there were several machine gun teams ranged against him suggests the machine gunner story is upmost in his mind. There is no mention of the scene depicted in the History Channel.
What was Hitler doing with a photograph of Tandey? Evidence quoted from the Green Howards Regiment tells of a copy of the Matania painting being sent to Hitler in 1937. Capt. Wedenmann, Hitler’s adjutant, thanked the Green Howards with these words, “The Fuhrer is naturally very interested in things connected with his own war experiences. He was obviously moved when I showed him the picture. He has directed me to send you his best thanks for your friendly gift which is so rich in memories.” (Johnson, “The Man Who Didn’t Shoot