TV Gold

I remember when I watched this the first time it was broadcast 30 years ago how shocking it was. Last night, instead of being dumbfounded, I was crying with rage and ranting at the screen.

I appreciate that it was - as usual - superbly written and brilliantly acted and of course the things that happened were all plot devices for dramatic purposes etc, but: -

Was Monique so loved up that she stopped using her brain! She obviously realised that Madeleine's "brother" was likely to be Kessler. I can understand her getting a pass for Madeleine since she liked her and was not judgemental about the relationship with Kessler but Madeleine even gave her a chance of a cop out when she said that her brother "could probably get his own but ...". Not only was Kessler responsible for the deaths of thousands of people but also - on a more personal level - he was responsible for the death of Natalie's aunt. Natalie - Monique's best friend, who searched for her for three days when the communists took her and who let Monique live in her flat for three months so she could conduct her romance!!! What a fantastic friend - can you imagine how she would have felt if she ever found out what Monique did?

Why was the German Oberst so intimidated by Kessler? He no longer had any clout and was not a superior officer, in fact as "Major Spitzbeg" he was a subordinate. When he started demanding they court martial Reinhardt why didn't the Oberst just tell him - frankly - to F off? The same when Kessler demanded they actually carry out the sentence - and why in God's name the Canadian commander allowed it to happen is beyond me. What I found particularly gut wrenching was the "there are no Nazis in this camp" routine and the determination to avoid the war crimes trials, yet they were prepared to execute an honourable man.

I know it is based on a true incident that happened in Holland in 1945 but nothing more. It would be very interesting to know just what the poor German in the real case was supposed to have done and if the Allied camp commander was censured at all for allowing it to go ahead.

Hi This is my first post, although I have been browsing on this site for a while.

I heard an explanation of the original incident that the execution story is based on. Apparently 2 Wehrmacht soldiers who deserted their unit in April 45 were either captured by or gave themselves up to the allies. They were then placed in a POW camp in Holland which was controlled by the Canadian forces. When their fellow German POWs discovered they were deserters they were given a field court martial for desertion. I am not at all familiar with military rules but apparently this generally carries a death sentence in wartime and so the Canadian commander allowed them to be shot, which was unnecessarily cruel but not illegal. Perhaps he had the attitude of the commander in SA who clearly didn't have time for any of the Germans and didn't look at them as individuals. I am sorry that I cannot tell you exactly where I heard this, but I think it may have been on a site discussing the movie Black Book where something similar happens.