South African Military History Society

CAPE TOWN BRANCH

JANUARY 1985


The next two meetings take place as indicated below, commencing at 8 p.m., in the DU TOIT ROOM of the ATHENAEUM, 154 CAMPGROUND ROAD, NEWLANDS.


THURSDAY 10TH JANUARY 1985: Documentary film feature: "THE LAST NAZI". Albert Speer, who rose from obscurity to become Hitler's official Architect and, later, his World War Two Armaments Minister, a power in the land, was unique in being the only one of those on trial at Nuremberg after the War to admit his guilt, for which he paid with a lengthy prison sentence served in full. The feature consists of a forthright, no holds barred interview which a Canadian television journalist had with him after his eventual release from prison, interspersed with newsreel and documentary flashbacks as Speer's rise and downfall are followed step by fatal step. (FILM BY COURTESY OF THE CAPE PROVINCIAL lIBRARY SERVICE VIA THE CAPE TOWN MUNICIPAL LIBRARY SERVICE).

THURSDAY 14TH FEBRUARY: Video documentary feature: "THE STORY OF SIR FRANK WHITTLE AND HIS DEVELOPMENT OF THE JET ENGINE". Did Adolph Hitler and bumbling British World War Two Bureaucrats have something in common where the development of the jet fighter was concerned? Hitler's researchers, with ample official facilities, finance, support and encouragement, gave him a jet fighter which could have swept the skies clear of Allied aircraft. Hitler chose instead to use it as a bomber, thus nullifying its dangerous potential.

By contrast, Britain's Frank Whittle battled against limited facilities and finance, apathy, lack of support by the British Government, and final fatal bureaucratic interference, to produce a jet engine suitable for fitting to a fighter, and it wasn't till the closing stages of the War that limited numbers of British jet aircraft finally took to the air, too little and too late to make any impact on the outcomeof events. A bitter Frank Whittle reasoned that given Governmental support and assistance, and with the bureaucrats kept at bay, his jet engine could have been produced at sufficiently early a stage for British jet fighters to have made a substantial contribution to the War effort. Was Whittle right? In this feature whittle and various associates are interviewed, interspersed with newsreel and documentary flashbacks from both the British and German side. (FEATURE BY COURTESY OF MR. GREG PULLIN).


VISITORS ARE WELCOME

n Southdown Court
1st Avenue, KENILWORTH 7700
Tel.: 61-nnnn After Hours
Alternatively, Ring Mr. Garschagen, Hon. Secretary, at 72-nnnn.

PAUL LANGE, VICE-CHAIRMAN
(In charge of public relations and publicity)


JUNE 1985 MARKS THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SOCIETY'S CAPE TOWN BRANCH. DO PLEASE LET US HAVE YOUR VIEWS ON HOW YOU FEEL THIS OCCASION SHOULD BE COMMEMORATED.


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