ratings of German experts

[Furio]

“On 5 July 1943 (aboard his cannon armed Il 2) Ivanov attacked a column of 12 of the potent German Tiger tanks. Always aiming for the tank’s lightly-protected rear which housed engine and fuel, he was able to claim destruction of all 12 tanks single-handed.”

It is quite a piece of Soviet propaganda, isn’t it? Okay, now stop laughing. I’ve cheated, changing names and sides. The real one reads as follows:

“On 5 July 1943 (aboard his cannon armed Ju 87), Rudel attacked a column of 12 of the potent Soviet T34 tanks. Always aiming for the tank’s lightly-protected rear which housed engine and fuel, he was able to claim destruction of all 12 tanks single-handed.”
(From “German Aircraft of the second World War, by Anthony L. Kay and J.R Smith, published by Putnam).

This is the kind of “facts” that we accepted as historical for years, and that often still we accept without a doubt. Nazi propaganda is not dissimilar from Soviet propaganda, but, to be honest with ourselves, we accept it much more readily.