Léo Major (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L%C3%A9o_Major)
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[...]
In the beginning of April, the Régiment de la Chaudière were approaching the city of Zwolle (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zwolle), which presented strong German resistance. The Commanding Officer asked for two volunteers to reconnoitre (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reconnaissance) the German force before the artillery began firing at the city. Private Major and his friend Corporal Willie Arseneault stepped forward to accept the task. In order to keep the city intact, the pair decided to try to capture Zwolle alone, though they were only supposed to reconnoitre the German numbers and attempt contact with the Dutch Resistance (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dutch_Resistance).
Around midnight Arseneault was killed by German fire after accidentally giving away the team's position. Enraged, Major killed two of the Germans, but the rest of the group fled in a vehicle. He decided to continue his mission alone. He entered Zwolle near Sassenport and came upon a staff car. He ambushed and captured the German driver, and then led him to a bar where an officer was taking a drink. Inside he found that they could both speak French (the officer was from Alsace (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alsace)), and Major told him that at 6:00 am Canadian artillery would begin firing at the city, causing numerous casualties among both the German troops and the civilians. As a sign of good faith, he gave the German his gun back.
Major then proceeded to run throughout the city firing his machine gun, throwing grenades and making so much noise that he fooled the Germans into thinking that the Canadian Army was storming the city in earnest. As he was doing this, he would attack and capture German troops. About 10 times during the night he captured groups of 8 to 10 German soldiers, escorted them out of the city and gave them to the French-Canadian troops that were waiting in the vicinity. After transferring his prisoners to the troops, he would return to Zwolle to continue his assault. However, four times during the night he had to force his way into civilians' houses to get some rest. He eventually located the Gestapo HQ and set the building on fire. Later stumbling upon the SS HQ, he got into a quick but deadly fight with eight ranking Nazi officers: four were killed, and the other half fled. He noticed that two of the SS he just killed were disguised as resistance members. The Zwolle resistance had been (or were going to be) infiltrated by the Nazis.
By 4:30 am, the exhausted Major found out that the Germans had retreated. Zwolle had been liberated,[5] and the Resistance contacted. Walking in the street he met four members of the Dutch Resistance. He informed them that the city was now free of Germans.
[...]
I only recently became aware of this soldier's accomplishment. Our media prefer to celebrate a deserter's life rather than that of a hero. Shameful.
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3b/Leo_Majorlaan.jpg)
That's a very impressive action he did! Wow!
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fchc2dv-04.weebly.com%2Fuploads%2F2%2F9%2F8%2F5%2F29852361%2F2252916.jpg&hash=d962e7d5ea85476595609f0b8830bba5c5e3ec8b)
Wow. I bet he slept well the next night.
Quote from: viper37 on April 13, 2015, 01:17:19 PM
Léo Major (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L%C3%A9o_Major)
Quote
Awesomeness
I only recently became aware of this soldier's accomplishment. Our media prefer to celebrate a deserter's life rather than that of a hero. Shameful.
What deserter? :unsure:
Quote from: jimmy olsen on April 13, 2015, 07:00:26 PM
Quote from: viper37 on April 13, 2015, 01:17:19 PM
Léo Major (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L%C3%A9o_Major)
Quote
Awesomeness
I only recently became aware of this soldier's accomplishment. Our media prefer to celebrate a deserter's life rather than that of a hero. Shameful.
What deserter? :unsure:
There was a popular movie in Quebec about a deserter from WWII. Le déserteur (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Le_d%C3%A9serteur_%28film%29).
While I can excuse it because it was conscription and I can appreciate the fact that it was tragic that he was shot to death while unarmed, I do not like the glorification of the gesture.
Quote from: viper37 on April 13, 2015, 07:31:56 PM
Quote from: jimmy olsen on April 13, 2015, 07:00:26 PM
Quote from: viper37 on April 13, 2015, 01:17:19 PM
Léo Major (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L%C3%A9o_Major)
Quote
Awesomeness
I only recently became aware of this soldier's accomplishment. Our media prefer to celebrate a deserter's life rather than that of a hero. Shameful.
What deserter? :unsure:
There was a popular movie in Quebec about a deserter from WWII. Le déserteur (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Le_d%C3%A9serteur_%28film%29).
While I can excuse it because it was conscription and I can appreciate the fact that it was tragic that he was shot to death while unarmed, I do not like the glorification of the gesture.
One movie seven years ago only justifies a statement that "our media prefer to celebrate a deserter's life" if your media consists of one movie company and one reviewer.
As far as Major is concerned, the wiki article looks like the usual wiki trash, but one can discount 90% of its bullshit and still end up with an impressive story. Leo major was a hero, indeed (in two wars - what he did in korea is even more impressive than what he did to a surrendering German army). One doesn't need to gild that lily, Maladict.
Quote from: viper37 on April 13, 2015, 01:17:19 PMHe noticed that two of the SS he just killed were disguised as resistance members
That's his story and he sticks by it! :P
Seriously, though, he sounds pretty badass.