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![[image] News Section](images/header.jpg)
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Enemies Re-united
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| News
Release issued: 14th May 2005 |
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Sixty-Two
years ago they faced each other in the heat of the Tunisian
desert, preparing for a fight to the death.
Today at The Tank Museum, they stood together
as friends; united by a shared experience of
combat that has blossomed into mutual admiration and
friendship. |
Karl Konig, 81
of Hamburg, and Ken Ewing, 82 of Poole, were
both young men when circumstances beyond their control
and understanding placed them on opposite sides in the
titanic struggle of World War Two.
Ken, who fought in tanks with the Sherwood Rangers said;
"We had a lot of respect for the Germans in
the desert; they were good soldiers, brave, and had
much better tanks than we did.
"In the desert there was a code of honour between
us and the Germans - it was a `rule` never to shoot
crews who had bailed out of tanks and were heading back
to their own lines. But all that changed after Normandy.
They were a different breed." Both were keen soldiers
committed to their national cause, when they found themselves
inside tanks rolling into action at the Battle of
Tebaga Gap in March 1943.
Karl said; "I was a gun-loader in a Panzer tank
of the 21st Panzer Division. To me, the war was
an adventure; I was a very ambitious officer candidate
and very keen to prove myself in this battle. So I was
disappointed when our tank was knocked out as we advanced
by a Hurricane fighter."
Karl never met Ken on the battlefield. In fact,
this was Karl's first and last time in a major action
- as soon after this battle the Germans were pushed
back and forced to surrender. He was eventually wounded
whilst trying to escape and captured by the Americans,
spending the rest of the war as an interpreter at various
prison camps in the States, England and Belgium.
It was a coincidental meeting in Bayeux over 15 years
ago that brought the two men together.
Karl said; "I was staying in the same hotel as
Ken, who was in Bayeux for a Sherwood Forrester's memorial
march. We got talking, and when I told him I was in
the 21st Panzers, he said; "You Swine!"
and gave me a bear hug!
"He and his other old comrades wanted me to march
with them - and when I said I didn't think it would
be right he said; "Why not? You are one of us!"
and handed me a beret. So I marched with them."
Ken and Karl have been friends ever since, and
Karl is now an honorary member of the Sherwood Foresters
veterans association. He frequently visits Ken in
Poole, and a visit to The Tank Museum is always high
on the agenda.
"There is such warmth between them that it is
almost impossible to believe they were ever enemies,"
said Museum spokesman Nik Wyness.
"I think there is perhaps something unique about
soldiers of both sides who fought in North Africa; they
shared a common enemy in the harsh conditions of the
desert - so their experiences were very similar." |
| ENDS |
![[image] Karl (right) and Ken (left) compare the vehicles fielded by The Allies and Germans during WWII as they visit The Tank Museum.](images/new-images/karl_ken.jpg)
Photo above: Karl (right) and Ken (left) compare
the vehicles fielded by The Allies and Germans during
WWII as they visit The Tank Museum.
© Tank Museum
Hi Quality image: Right hand click on the above
picture (© Tank Museum) and click 'save target
as' (745KB) |
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![[image] Karl (right) and Ken (left) compare the vehicles fielded by The Allies and Germans during WWII as they visit The Tank Museum.](images/hiquality-images/karl_ken(745KB).jpg)