Nazi pilot given opportunity to apologize

BATH, England, March 28 (UPI) -- A World War II-era German military pilot says Bath, England, officials have agreed to allow him to visit the city and apologize for Nazi air raids.

Willi Schludecker, 87, said his final wish in life is to have the opportunity to apologize for his participation in air raids that killed more than 400 people in Bath, The Sun reported Friday.

Schludecker, whose health is ailing, said he is slated to speak April 25 at the city's annual memorial service.

"The war was madness. I realize now what I did and will come back to say sorry," Schludecker said. "We were told what to do and we did it, just like the British pilots."

"We were more opponents than enemies," he said. "It is just such a great pity so many people had to die."

Chris Kilminster, a memorial organizer who lost several relatives in the Nazi air raids, said he wrestled with the idea before deciding to allow the former pilot to speak.

"It took me a while to come to terms with the idea, but I owed it to other people affected by the Blitz to let them hear what he has to say," he said.