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The Herald Scotland
08-05-2025
- General
- The Herald Scotland
1,198 passengers and crew perished in a disaster that shocked world
The ship gently eased out untethered into the Hudson River as the passengers joyfully waved farewell to those on shore. Like all Scottish immigrants to America, James had come with great hope. In America he discovered and embraced abundant opportunities. Though he found what he sought, he never truly left Scotland. As he began this trans-Atlantic crossing at 36 years-old, images of loved ones and special places stirred within him. A German submarine torpedo struck the Lusitania (Image: © Time & Life Pictures/Getty Image) On May 7 in the early afternoon the Lusitania came to the southern coastline of Ireland about 12 miles away from Old Head of Kinsale. Excitement permeated through the ship as it prepared to edge around the coast up through St George Channel into the Irish Sea then to Liverpool. Passengers then heard a loud explosive pop followed seconds later by a second that rocked the ship and made it list. A German submarine torpedo had struck. In a matter of seconds, the joy of cruising across Ireland and moving toward the final stages of the journey shifted to terror and fear. The evacuation was chaotic as water rapidly filled the ship. Only 8 of the 22 wooden life boats made it into the water safely. James was one of the last to leave the ship. The images he saw in the water haunted him. One in particular was a man and his 18-month old infant child. James described how the man had got hold of a hatch cover and had lifted the child on to it. The man was desperately trying to balance the child while holding on for his own life. The waters then swallowed the two up and they were gone. The Glasgow built Lusitania dipped below the water's surface and passed down to the sea's bottom - its final resting place. In all 1,198 passengers and crew perished. Read more James Haldane was first reported dead, but survived. He was the only one to have seen both the birth of the Lusitania as a worker on the project at Clydebank and the death of it that tragic May day. The event so outraged James that upon his return to America, he enlisted in the Canadian Army to avenge and honour those lost. He pledged his life to fight for their memory. James was brave in his faithful commitment to that pledge. While on the front in France this courageous Scot was killed in action in August 1918. He is memorialised alongside many others at the Canadian National Vimy Memorial at Givenchy-en-Gohelle, France. There are many ways we might consider the story of the Lusitania and the ship's eventual demise during this time of remembrance. I choose to remember those who built it, sailed on it, and those innocents who tragically lost their lives that horrible day in May of 1915. I am also reminded as I pondered the story of James Haldane that each day is a precious gift. On certain days the current swings quickly from an unassuming calm to one of deep unrest – the wind shifts directions in an instant from joy to grief. Today I simply write this final sentence feeling gratitude for the day, the moments, and the remaining journey I have been granted alongside thoughtful and decent people. Ian Houston is a regular writer for the Herald. He has spent his career as an advocate for diplomacy, trade, poverty alleviation, and intercultural dialogue. He promotes commercial, educational, artistic, and charitable linkages between Scotland, UK, and the US. He is an Honorary Professor at the University of the West of Scotland. He is located in the Washington, DC area. His views are his own.
The Herald Scotland
07-05-2025
- General
- The Herald Scotland
110 years ago today, we witnessed a disaster that shocked the world
The ship gently eased out untethered into the Hudson River as the passengers joyfully waved farewell to those on shore. Like all Scottish immigrants to America, James had come with great hope. In America he discovered and embraced abundant opportunities. Though he found what he sought, he never truly left Scotland. As he began this trans-Atlantic crossing at 36 years-old, images of loved ones and special places stirred within him. A German submarine torpedo struck the Lusitania (Image: © Time & Life Pictures/Getty Image) On May 7 in the early afternoon the Lusitania came to the southern coastline of Ireland about 12 miles away from Old Head of Kinsale. Excitement permeated through the ship as it prepared to edge around the coast up through St George Channel into the Irish Sea then to Liverpool. Passengers then heard a loud explosive pop followed seconds later by a second that rocked the ship and made it list. A German submarine torpedo had struck. In a matter of seconds, the joy of cruising across Ireland and moving toward the final stages of the journey shifted to terror and fear. The evacuation was chaotic as water rapidly filled the ship. Only 8 of the 22 wooden life boats made it into the water safely. James was one of the last to leave the ship. The images he saw in the water haunted him. One in particular was a man and his 18-month old infant child. James described how the man had got hold of a hatch cover and had lifted the child on to it. The man was desperately trying to balance the child while holding on for his own life. The waters then swallowed the two up and they were gone. The Glasgow built Lusitania dipped below the water's surface and passed down to the sea's bottom - its final resting place. In all 1,198 passengers and crew perished. Read more James Haldane was first reported dead, but survived. He was the only one to have seen both the birth of the Lusitania as a worker on the project at Clydebank and the death of it that tragic May day. The event so outraged James that upon his return to America, he enlisted in the Canadian Army to avenge and honour those lost. He pledged his life to fight for their memory. James was brave in his faithful commitment to that pledge. While on the front in France this courageous Scot was killed in action in August 1918. He is memorialised alongside many others at the Canadian National Vimy Memorial at Givenchy-en-Gohelle, France. There are many ways we might consider the story of the Lusitania and the ship's eventual demise during this time of remembrance. I choose to remember those who built it, sailed on it, and those innocents who tragically lost their lives that horrible day in May of 1915. I am also reminded as I pondered the story of James Haldane that each day is a precious gift. On certain days the current swings quickly from an unassuming calm to one of deep unrest – the wind shifts directions in an instant from joy to grief. Today I simply write this final sentence feeling gratitude for the day, the moments, and the remaining journey I have been granted alongside thoughtful and decent people. Ian Houston is a regular writer for the Herald. He has spent his career as an advocate for diplomacy, trade, poverty alleviation, and intercultural dialogue. He promotes commercial, educational, artistic, and charitable linkages between Scotland, UK, and the US. He is an Honorary Professor at the University of the West of Scotland. He is located in the Washington, DC area. His views are his own.
Scottish Sun
30-04-2025
- Scottish Sun
‘Body double', final moments & last words to aide… Secret docs on Hitler's death 80 years ago today released by Russia
Read on the see Hitler's yellowed teeth and the bunker where he spent his last days THE HITLER FILES 'Body double', final moments & last words to aide… Secret docs on Hitler's death 80 years ago today released by Russia A BOMBSHELL bundle of documents detailing Hitler's death has been released by Russia's intelligence service 80 years later to the day. The stash includes Hitler's rotted teeth, showing evidence of his cyanide suicide, and the last known photograph of him. 10 New details about Hitler's suicide have been unearthed in the documents Credit: Getty 10 Hitler's teeth - showing evidence of his cyanide dose - were part of the released stash Credit: East2West 10 A picture from inside Hitler's bunker Credit: Time & Life Pictures Also declassified were originals of statements and interrogation notes of the Führer's valet, Heinz Linge, and personal assistant, Otto Günsche. Linge revealed a 'deluded' Hitler killed himself partly because he was 'afraid' of being 'caught while trying to escape from Berlin'. Both Hitler aides fell into Soviet hands after the war, and their testimony was crucial to Stalin understanding Hitler final days as his Nazi regime collapsed. Linge was reportedly the first to enter the room after Hitler's suicide, and helped carry and burn the corpse with Günsche and others. While the broad testimony of the pair has been long known, this is the first time the original sources - long hidden in Soviet KGB archives - have been published, and there are new details. A Russian archivist appeared on video going over Linge's account, which even details the clothes Hitler and Eva Braun wore when they killed themselves. He said: 'Testimony about Hitler's reasons for taking his own life - he believed it was utterly pointless to continue the fight. 'He was afraid of being caught while trying to escape from Berlin. 'There was also his severe physical condition, which was beyond doubt, as well as his delusions of grandeur, which would not allow him to bow to the victor or enter into negotiations with him.' Morbid footage also showed Hitler's teeth which were used to identify him. Hunt for neo-Nazis who celebrated Hitler's birthday in UK pub with swastika cake Russian defence ministry channel Zvezda TV reported: 'Here they are, particles of universal evil. 'Fragments of Adolf Hitler's jaw, a man whose very name makes even water molecules take on hideous forms. 'The remains of the one responsible for the deaths of over 26 million of our fellow citizens. 'Today [30 April] marks exactly 80 years since the death of the main culprit of the bloodiest war in human history. A strange feeling.' Linge wrote in his 1945 testimony: 'At the moment of suicide, Hitler was dressed in a white shirt with a white turn-down collar and a black vest, a grey double-breasted uniform jacket made of fine gabardine, long black trousers of fine gabardine, thin black paper socks, and black leather half-boots. 'His wife was dressed in a fine silk dress, very thin silk stockings, and shoes with wedge heels (possibly of Italian make). 'Three canisters of petrol, prepared by Reichsleiter Martin Bormann for the cremation of the bodies of Hitler and his wife, were standing on the last landing leading from the bomb shelter into the garden of the Reich Chancellery. 'All the contents of the canisters were poured over the bodies of Hitler and his wife. Bormann pointed out the canisters to us and went down himself to get his own. 'This was around 4 p.m., and it was still light. A total of 60 litres of petrol was poured. 10 A Russian archivist reads Linge's account of Hitler's suicide Credit: East2West 10 Hitler's teeth were also examined Credit: East2West 10 The last known photograph of Hitler, taken shortly before his death in April 1945 Credit: East2West 'Before spreading the blanket on the floor, I placed Hitler's pistols (calibres 7.65 and 6.35) on the writing desk. Who took them from there, I do not know. 'Possibly it was Reichsleiter Martin Bormann, or the soldiers who carried out Eva Braun's body, or Hitler's valet Helm Krüger, or the orderly Willy Stiewitz. 'When saying goodbye to Hitler on 30 April 1945, I asked: 'Führer, whom should we try to break through to in the West?' 'And I received the answer: 'For the sake of the one who is still to come'.' Linge answered a Soviet leadership after they stormed Berlin - whether it was a double who had died in the bunker, and the real Hitler had escaped. A note translated into Russian says: 'A double of Hitler could not have committed suicide because: 1) Hitler did not have a double. 2) It was impossible to leave the premises without being seen, as there was only one exit from the room. 30.12.45. Linge Heinz.' Over many months, Linge slightly altered his version of events, telling the Russians: 'I must admit that my earlier testimony was incorrect. 'I did not hear any gunshot sounds but only noticed the smell of gunpowder and, based on that, informed Bormann that the suicide had occurred. 'I previously stated incorrectly that Eva Braun's body was wrapped in a blanket. I now recall that it was not.' The historic documents have been locked in a vault by the FSB, successor to the KGB, in the Ivanovo region. 10 SS-Sturmbannführer Heinz Linge was Hitler's valet Credit: East2West 10 The docs also included statements from SS-Untersturmführer Otto Günsche, Hitler's personal assistant Credit: East2West After the war, Günsche was flown to Moscow with other Hitler associates. Intriguing new details, including how the Soviets pressured Günsche into opening up about Hitler's death. The documents show that a German POW and war criminal Colonel Remlinger was put in a cell with him and instructed by the Soviet authorities to convince him to cooperate. It was a cunning way of using Hitler's suicide to turn the Nazi's fanatical loyalty into cooperation by reinterpreting his 'oath'. Remlinger wrote a report that 'we convinced him that the events in Germany—especially Hitler's suicide—freed him from his oath to the Führer. 'Now, with the complete collapse of Germany and the Nazi system, there was no longer any reason to hide the events that unfolded in the Führer's headquarters from the Russians—it was now only of historical interest. 'It became easier to persuade him when it emerged that some of Hitler's close associates (Göring, Himmler) had abandoned him and turned to the Western powers.' More documents reveal the examination of Hitler's teeth to verify hit corpse. The FSB account reads: 'On 5 May 1945, in the garden of the Reich Chancellery, SMERSH officers from the 79th Rifle Corps of the 3rd Shock Army, 1st Belorussian Front, discovered the heavily charred corpses of a man and a woman in a bomb crater." 'The bodies lay about 3 metres from the entrance to the bunker and were covered with soil. 'By 8 May 1945, a forensic report on the man's corpse—presumably Hitler—was completed.' 10 Picture from inside Hitler's bunker Credit: East2West 10 A written statement from Heinz Linge Credit: FSB Russia/e2w This showed 'the presence in the mouth cavity of crushed glass ampoule fragments [...] a distinct bitter almond smell […] and results from chemical testing of internal organs showing cyanide compounds'. This allowed the commission 'to conclude that death resulted from cyanide poisoning'. 'On 10 May 1945, Kӓthe Heusermann, assistant to Hitler's personal dentist Professor Hugo Blaschke, was questioned in the Reich Chancellery's dental office. 'On 11 May, dental technician Fritz Echtmann, who had made Hitler's dentures, gave testimony. 'Both witnesses gave detailed descriptions of Hitler's dental work from memory. 'The unique features of the bridges, crowns, and fillings matched exactly with the dental records and X-rays in the possession of SMERSH investigators. 'Each was shown the jaw fragments recovered from the male skull separately, and both unhesitatingly confirmed they belonged to Reich Chancellor Adolf Hitler.'
