Achievable objectives.

[Majo]

Do you guys know the story of a young German soldier who escaped from a prison camp in Siberia during WWII and after 3 years of walking in the wild got home?

How could he survive, at his own, such long time... the war, winters?

His answer was:
"I defined for my self achievable objectives to avoid frustration and desperation. My final goal was to survive, of course, but I needed something more tangible to live the next few minutes."

and how did you do that?

"I took ten little stones and put them into my right hand. Every 1000 steps I would move one of those little stones from my right hand to my left hand. My achievable objective was to move another stone... because to survive was impossible."

Salutes.

[KG26_Alpha]

"I took ten little stones and put them into my right hand. Every 1000 steps I would move one of those little stones from my right hand to my left hand. My achievable objective was to move another stone... because to survive was impossible."






Hmm

My Chuck Norris survival handbook is definitely different from that.

:cool:

[LukeFF]

And what relevance does this have to IL2?

[TheGrunch]

Did you go into the "German WWII and earlier news broadcasts" thread and say that? It's just an interesting story about a man's will to survive during WWII.

[Novotny]

Well, LukeFF (if that is your real name) IL2 is historically based during World War 2, which was a major conflict that occurred during the last century.

For reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II

Now, this might require something of an intellectual leap for you, my dear chap, but the vast majority of us who are interested in IL2 also find other aspects of the conflict quite interesting too.

As the majority of our fellow forumites did not serve during said conflict, we often find related information and stories - particularly those concerning extreme human endeavours, very interesting: witness the many requests for Oleg to incorporate the ability to escape from behind enemy lines after have being downed.

The above post offers an insight into how a man managed to escape from so, so far behind enemy lines: detailing how he managed the incredible feat of maintaining both his sanity and the will to go on in the most adverse of circumstances.

Sometimes, it's the grit and determination of surely a much greater generation than ours that inspires our interest in these men.

Nevertheless, I thank you for your ignorant, flippant remark. It elevates the more considered responses from those posters who are actually respected around these parts.


Good day to you sir.

[AndyJWest]

Does anyone actually have a source for this story? Unless we have one, this isn't 'history' at all, just something posted on a website.

And Novotny, I very much doubt that anyone has 'LukeFF' on their birth certificate. What has this to do with anything?

As for 'a much greater generation', I refuse to apply that to anyone who fought for the Nazis. There may have been acts of individual heroism, but collectively they were fighting for an ignoble cause.

[Novotny]

Yes, you're right quite right Andy. Apologies for facetiousness. I just didn't like the tone of LukeFF's response.

Edit:: Ignoble cause: well, the Nazi cause was ignoble, but I can't apply that to each and every German soldier. Many thought they were fighting Bolshevism for Europe and believed they were doing the right thing. I am, by no means, a Nazi apologist and am very proud of my Grandfather's fight directly into the heart of Berlin.

[AndyJWest]

No, problem, Novotny. I'm not sure LukeFF was trying to be facetious, but I can see how it might be read this way. Personally, I'm more interested in the original posting. I've a vague recollection of seeing another version of this, many years back - and I don't think it was a German soldier in that version. I suspect the whole thing is apocryphal.

Edit---
"Many thought they were fighting Bolshevism for Europe" - well yes, this was the way they were expected to see it - the Bolsheviks/Jews (Nazi propaganda often conflated the two) as an alien invasion, an attack on 'European civilisation'. Utter nonsense. The 'Bolsheviks' (and their Stalinist successors) were as much a part of European history as the Nazis. It is tragic that good people can be suckered into fighting for bad causes, but it doesn't make the cause good.

[Novotny]

I meant my facetiousness!

[IceFire]

I like the idea of the story if nothing else... I'd love to know if there is more historical background available.

Plus even if the story is false... with everything I've dealt with recently... achievable objectives sounds really nice. The little things keep you going sometime.

[AndyJWest]

I meant my facetiousness!

Oops! I think I misread something, or we were falling over each other's edits...:rolleyes:

[Majo]

This is the closest you can get to the facts...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/As-Far-Feet-Will-Carry/dp/1841197262/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top/277-5885916-5288508

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clemens_Forell

And yes I do think it has a lot to do with the work of the TD & SoW teams.

Salutes.

[LukeFF]

Did you go into the "German WWII and earlier news broadcasts" thread and say that? It's just an interesting story about a man's will to survive during WWII.

Come to think about it, I should. Off-topic posts should be marked as such or not posted at all.

[Icewolf]

an interesting story. I have one of a surivor as well. A classmate of mine and still today a neighbor ,whose father was of German ancestry. Born and raised in Russia, which at the time was not a good combination during WW2. His family lost everything and he was the only one to survive by living for two years in the wild ,stealing food where he could till he finally escaped to the west and eventualy made his way to Canada.
Somehow he survived and to this day is one of the toughest men I have ever met. God rest his soul.

[Novotny]

I would love to meet such a man. Thanks for sharing.

[rakinroll]

Majo, thank you for this good historical information. ;)

[4./JG53_Task]

Yes, the story is real. I've also seen that movie. I would recommend it for anyone to watch.

[Untamo]

I've seen it too, great movie.

[Friendly_flyer]

Even if this may just be a myth, it is a nice moral to it. Good story, thanks!