Saving Corporal Adolf

Dear Mum, September 28th, 1918

Thank God! This horrible war is coming to an end. Oh, the things I have seen will stay with me forever. The countless lives lost. It’s sickening. Today something curious happened. As we advanced upon the French battlefield, the enemy fleeing in terror, a wounded German couldn’t keep up with his fellow soldiers. I pointed my rifle at the young corporal. He had dark hair and striking eyes. Our eyes met. In Fact file: that moment, I thought that he will have a Sergeant Henry family; a sweetheart; maybe a child of his own. Tandey I saw the fear in his eyes and I knew his destiny Born: 30th August 1891, was in my hands. I couldn’t do it. I lowered my Leamington rifle. The corporal nodded in thanks, and Died: 20th December disappeared. 1977, I am proud that whatever horrors the Service: enemy has committed against us, I have never , 1910-1926 shot a wounded, unarmed or retreating soldier. I’ll be home soon, Awards: Your loving son, Henry Distinguished Conduct Medal

In 1938, the British Prime Minister, , met the German leader, , to try to talk him out of going to war. It was a fruitless meeting, but Hitler showed Chamberlain a photo of an English Sergeant. He told Chamberlain: “That man came so near to killing me I thought I should never see Germany again. Providence saved me from such devilishly accurate fire as those English boys were aiming at us”. Hitler’s saviour that day was Sergeant Henry Tandey. Hitler asked Chamberlain to pass on his best wishes and gratitude, and on his return, the Prime Minister called Henry with the message. The following year, World War Two began. It was a war that was every bit as horrific and deadly as World War One, and its instigator was the quiet wounded German corporal that went on to become the brutal dictator, Adolf Hitler. In 1940, Tandey was a brave air raid warden, rescuing victims of German bomb as his home city of Coventry blazed around him. As he watched the city burn, he felt a sickening sense of guilt. “What if…” he thought. Tandey was the most highly decorated British private soldier of the First World War. Indeed he was a hero, but he will be forever remembered as the man who didn't shoot Hitler.

Questions – Saving Corporal Adolf 1) Why couldn’t the German keep up with his fellow soldiers? (1) ______2) How does Henry Tandey describe the young corporal? (2)

______

3) What crossed Henry’s mind as their eyes met? (3) ______

4) Why is Henry proud of himself? (3) ______

5) Match the years to the event mentioned in the text. One has been done for you: (7) 1918 Henry Tandey is born 1910 Henry Tandey dies 1891 Henry joins the army 1977 Henry is an Air Raid Warden 1940 Henry leaves the army 1938 World War Two begins 1926 Henry spares Hitler’s life 1939 Henry receives a phone call from the Prime Minister 6) How old was Henry when he died? (1) ______7) What awards did Henry receive? (3) ______

8) Why did the British Prime Minister meet the German leader? (1) ______

9) Why did Henry feel a sickening sense of guilt in 1940? (2) ______10) Complete the sentence that Henry thought: “What if ______

11) How do you think Henry should be remembered? ______

CHALLENGE: What do the following words from the text mean? curious providence devilishly fruitless countless destiny