21-08-2013, 08:52 AM
I posted this somewhere else, but it likely belongs here. Ernst Titovits was very impressed with J.A.'s work and book, but found what he considered errors about Oswald in Minsk. Here are a few he sent me....
Commentson deviations from the real facts I found in the book Harveyand Lee byJohnArmstrong. I touched only upon Oswald's Russian period of life thatis familiar to me.
Armstrong: "I wanted to be sure that I understood her answer and said, "Ana,you knew
Oswaldfrom the time he arrived in Minsk until the day he and Marina leftfor the
UnitedStates. You and your parents accompanied them to the train stationand took
photographs(published in the Warren Volumes). During this time he never spokeany
Russian,even up to the day he left Minsk?" Ana, once again, replied,"No-not a word.
Myfather always interpreted for him-he was the only one in our familywho spoke
English."..."
"AnEnglish-speaking medical student, Erich [Ernst] Titovets, first metOswald at the Hotel Minsk and later was a regular visitor to hisapartment.
Titovets:Actually,I met Oswald not at the Hotel Minsk but at the Ziggers apartments. Itwas in the presence of the whole family: Alexander Ziggers, his wifeSignora Anna and his two daughters, Anita and Eleanora. Oswald spokeRussian and there was absolutely no need to interpret for him.
Armstrong: Atthe factory Oswald met another person who spoke English, PavelGolovachev, the son of a famous Soviet Air Force General. … AfterPavel and Oswald began spending a lot of time together the KGB askedhim to report on Oswald's activities. He dutifully informed them ofhis contacts with Oswald and kept them apprised of his movements.
Titovets: PavelGolobachev did not speak English at all. Once he confided in me thathe wished he did and was sorry he did not speak the language.
Armstrong:OnOctober 18 Lee Harvey Oswald celebrated his 21st birthday. EllaGermann,
agirl from the Horizon factory who Oswald had been dating for the pasttwo months and
spokevery good English, attended a small birthday party at his apartment.
Titovets:EllaGermann did not speak English at all.
Armstrong:"It is clear that Marina associated with Americans, spoke Englishwith Webster, and almost certainly spoke English with Oswald." …"Marina's ability to read, write, and speak English fluently beforeshe left Russia is indisputable".
Titovets:Marinadid not speak English at all. It would have been really surprising ifshe would have spoken English with Oswald and completely ignored meeven when the three of us were together.
Armstrong:" When Oswald and Marina met, danced, and agreed to a date thefollowing Friday
theyspoke a common language. Was it Russian or English? The HSCA askedMarina,
"Atthis time you were speaking in Russian together.P" She answered,"Yes. He spoke
withan accent so I assumed he was from another state. "70 Oswaldcame in contact with
hundredsof people in Russia, but Marina is the only person-THE ONLY PERSONwho
saidthat Oswald spoke Russian while in Russia
Titovets:Armstrong is right about so many people who met Oswald in Minsk.There are still many living who would have willingly testified to thefact that Oswald spoke Russian to them had John Armstrong followedNorman Mailer's example of having come to Minsk and interviewedthem.
Inthe book Oswald:Russian Episodeby Ernst Titovets one can find an illustration with Oswald'slonghand in Russian on an inside cover of a book where Oswaldcontemplates the names for his future child. Incidentally, Oswaldsigned his writings.
About Ana telling that Lee did not speak Russian. I take it that Ana is Anita Ziger, the junior daughter. It beats me why she would say so to Armstrong.
You might tell John Armstrong that I might sent him a copy of my book so that he would get familiar with my side of the story. If he comes over here to Minsk he might personally interview those who knew Lee to settle the issue once for all. I would do my best to help him along.
Commentson deviations from the real facts I found in the book Harveyand Lee byJohnArmstrong. I touched only upon Oswald's Russian period of life thatis familiar to me.
Armstrong: "I wanted to be sure that I understood her answer and said, "Ana,you knew
Oswaldfrom the time he arrived in Minsk until the day he and Marina leftfor the
UnitedStates. You and your parents accompanied them to the train stationand took
photographs(published in the Warren Volumes). During this time he never spokeany
Russian,even up to the day he left Minsk?" Ana, once again, replied,"No-not a word.
Myfather always interpreted for him-he was the only one in our familywho spoke
English."..."
"AnEnglish-speaking medical student, Erich [Ernst] Titovets, first metOswald at the Hotel Minsk and later was a regular visitor to hisapartment.
Titovets:Actually,I met Oswald not at the Hotel Minsk but at the Ziggers apartments. Itwas in the presence of the whole family: Alexander Ziggers, his wifeSignora Anna and his two daughters, Anita and Eleanora. Oswald spokeRussian and there was absolutely no need to interpret for him.
Armstrong: Atthe factory Oswald met another person who spoke English, PavelGolovachev, the son of a famous Soviet Air Force General. … AfterPavel and Oswald began spending a lot of time together the KGB askedhim to report on Oswald's activities. He dutifully informed them ofhis contacts with Oswald and kept them apprised of his movements.
Titovets: PavelGolobachev did not speak English at all. Once he confided in me thathe wished he did and was sorry he did not speak the language.
Armstrong:OnOctober 18 Lee Harvey Oswald celebrated his 21st birthday. EllaGermann,
agirl from the Horizon factory who Oswald had been dating for the pasttwo months and
spokevery good English, attended a small birthday party at his apartment.
Titovets:EllaGermann did not speak English at all.
Armstrong:"It is clear that Marina associated with Americans, spoke Englishwith Webster, and almost certainly spoke English with Oswald." …"Marina's ability to read, write, and speak English fluently beforeshe left Russia is indisputable".
Titovets:Marinadid not speak English at all. It would have been really surprising ifshe would have spoken English with Oswald and completely ignored meeven when the three of us were together.
Armstrong:" When Oswald and Marina met, danced, and agreed to a date thefollowing Friday
theyspoke a common language. Was it Russian or English? The HSCA askedMarina,
"Atthis time you were speaking in Russian together.P" She answered,"Yes. He spoke
withan accent so I assumed he was from another state. "70 Oswaldcame in contact with
hundredsof people in Russia, but Marina is the only person-THE ONLY PERSONwho
saidthat Oswald spoke Russian while in Russia
Titovets:Armstrong is right about so many people who met Oswald in Minsk.There are still many living who would have willingly testified to thefact that Oswald spoke Russian to them had John Armstrong followedNorman Mailer's example of having come to Minsk and interviewedthem.
Inthe book Oswald:Russian Episodeby Ernst Titovets one can find an illustration with Oswald'slonghand in Russian on an inside cover of a book where Oswaldcontemplates the names for his future child. Incidentally, Oswaldsigned his writings.
About Ana telling that Lee did not speak Russian. I take it that Ana is Anita Ziger, the junior daughter. It beats me why she would say so to Armstrong.
You might tell John Armstrong that I might sent him a copy of my book so that he would get familiar with my side of the story. If he comes over here to Minsk he might personally interview those who knew Lee to settle the issue once for all. I would do my best to help him along.
"Let me issue and control a nation's money and I care not who writes the laws. - Mayer Rothschild
"Civil disobedience is not our problem. Our problem is civil obedience! People are obedient in the face of poverty, starvation, stupidity, war, and cruelty. Our problem is that grand thieves are running the country. That's our problem!" - Howard Zinn
"If there is no struggle there is no progress. Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and never will" - Frederick Douglass
"Civil disobedience is not our problem. Our problem is civil obedience! People are obedient in the face of poverty, starvation, stupidity, war, and cruelty. Our problem is that grand thieves are running the country. That's our problem!" - Howard Zinn
"If there is no struggle there is no progress. Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and never will" - Frederick Douglass