German drawing titled "The Unknown Soldier - Anyone who has experienced war loves peace".

Today 105 years ago, on September 28, 1918, British Private Henry Tandey allegedly spared the life German Gefreiter Adolf H*tler on the battlefield at Marcoing.

Although it's most likely just a myth, as this post will shine a light upon, if true, this event may be one of the biggest "What if's?" in history. Here's how the story goes:

On September 28, 1918, British Private Henry Tandey, serving with the 5th Battalion, 62nd (Duke of Wellington's) West Riding Regiment, participated in an attack near the village of Marcoing near Cambrai, as a follow-up to the Battle of the Canal du Nord.

Attacking across the St. Quentin Canal at Marcoing, Tandey and a Lewis Gun squad established a bridge, killed a German machine-gun team and took 37 German prisoners in a bayonet charge.

At one point during this event Tandey stood in front of a line of wounded German soldiers, having a clear sight at them. As the Germans were no threat, Tandey chose to spare them, letting them walk off as he lowered his rifle.

One of these German soldiers were allegedly Gefreiter Adolf H*tler, serving with the 16th Bavarian Reserve Regiment. Tandey was awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions, which H*tler apparently saw reported in a newspaper, as he clipped the article.

In 1937 H*tler, now Chancellor of Germany, was made aware of a 1923 painting depicting British soldiers during the First Battle of Ypres in 1914. H*tler recognized Tandey on the painting from his memory and the newspaper article and soon had the painting hung up in his home.

In 1938, in an attempt to maintain world peace, British Prime Minister Chamberlain visited H*tler. Reffering to his painting, H*tler told him about the encounter with British Private Tandey and requested Chamberlain to telephone Tandey, expressing H*tler's gratitude to him.

Chamberlain allegedly did telephone Tandey about it, yet Tandey claimed to have been told by an officer who'd heard it from Chamberlain. Tandey confirmed he did spare the lives of some German soldiers

SOME FACTS

However, it is very unlikely this story is actually true:

H*tler's regiment was positioned some 80 km further north of Tandey's regiment at Marcoing, meaning they couldn't possibly have fought each other.

In addition, H*tler was reportedly on leave in Germany since September 10, though returning to the frontlines on September 28.

In Prime Minister Chamberlain's diary and records there aren't any mention of Tandey either. Tandey didn't have a telephone either, so it's unlikely he was called up.

What's likely is that H*tler constructed this story in order to corroborate his own theory of being chosen by God to do great things.

But what still remains unanswered is how H*tler knew of Tandey sparing the lives of some German soldiers, if H*tler wasn't one of them. It wasn't mentioned in Tandey's Victoria Cross citation.

In the event it did happen, it is certainly one of the most interesting "What if's?" in history, and although I don't think anyone can directly judge Tandey for sparing the life of an unthreatening enemy soldier, just how different could the path of history have turned out, if Tandey had pulled the trigger?

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