Amazing moment young Nazi soldier saved downed RAF airman from a lynching at ... trends now

Amazing moment young Nazi soldier saved downed RAF airman from a lynching at ... trends now
Amazing moment young Nazi soldier saved downed RAF airman from a lynching at ... trends now

Amazing moment young Nazi soldier saved downed RAF airman from a lynching at ... trends now

The astonishing moment a Nazi soldier stepped in with a machine gun to save a downed British airman from a baying mob has been revealed in a new book.

Captured Joseph Barratt was on crutches and still in his RAF uniform when he was taken to a railway station in northern Germany by an elderly guard.

Upon seeing the RAF airman, an angry group of locals looking for revenge for the Dambusters' devastating raid on Germany's Ruhr Valley days earlier, advanced towards him.

But in the nick of time a young German soldier emerged from a waiting room and pointed his gun at his own countrymen.

He stood between Sgt Barratt and the mob and shouted at them several times to back away.

Flight engineer Sergeant Gordon Bowles, who died in the crash that left Sgt Joseph Barratt stranded alone in Nazi Germany

Flight engineer Sergeant Gordon Bowles, who died in the crash that left Sgt Joseph Barratt stranded alone in Nazi Germany 

Sergeant Joseph Barratt (circled) and fellow airmen. Sgt Barratt's life was saved by a German soldier who challenged an angry mob

Sergeant Joseph Barratt (circled) and fellow airmen. Sgt Barratt's life was saved by a German soldier who challenged an angry mob 

A standoff ensued before he cocked his gun and the group who had been after blood relented.

The German soldier then helped Sgt Barratt on to the train, sat with him and gave him cigarettes and chocolate.

The close escape is detailed for the first time 80 years on by Sgt Barratt's son Martin, who has written a book about his father's wartime experiences titled The Greatest Escape.

Sgt Barratt recounts in the book: 'At the railway station I was attracting a lot of unwanted attention - I was still in my flying kit, on crutches and with an elderly guard next to me.

'I couldn't really hear or understand what the people milling about were saying but they were obviously hostile and so I kept my eyes fixed on the tracks.

'It was this point that I saw one of the mob was holding a rope.

'Still the crowd moved nearer and this time I could pick out a few words 'Englander' and the like.

'The old boy looked a bit panicked... when I turned to look at him again he'd disappeared - I was on my own.

'I tried to move a bit further but I was in too much pain to move. They were pretty close by this time. I thought, this is it, and I've had it.

'I braced for what was coming and just hoped it would be over pretty quick but almost at the last possible minute a young German soldier suddenly emerged from a room on my left and stood between me and the mob.

His story is featured in a new book about his experiences during the war which has been written by his son, Martin, 58

His story is featured in a new book about his experiences during the war which has been written by his son, Martin, 58

Sergeant Joseph Barratt (left) at the top of the Empire State Building. Sgt Barratt survived the war, thanks in part to the brave German soldier and would become a newsagent

Sergeant Joseph Barratt (left) at the top of the Empire State Building. Sgt Barratt survived the war, thanks in part to the brave German soldier and would become a newsagent

The telegram that informed Sgt Joseph Barratt's family that he was missing a few days after the Dortmund raid

The telegram that informed Sgt Joseph Barratt's family that he was missing a few days after the Dortmund raid 

'He was armed and levelled his machine gun at them, he yelled at them in German and they stopped, but there was still a lot of shouting and pointing.

'It seemed to go on for ages but then I heard him cock his gun ready to fire and he yelled at them again.

'They must have thought he meant business as this time they cleared off and that was that.

'God knows what he was doing there but if it hadn't been for him they'd have lynched me, of that I'm sure.

'He gave me a cigarette and shared some chocolate... He saved my life that day, absolutely no question of that.'

Sgt Barratt

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