Hello, here from the Special Places challenge.

Fandom-blind, but POV character's explanations of who people were helped out a lot with this (and made sense, given that he was new to the POW camp himself). Despite being fandom-blind, I feel like I was able to sense the atmosphere of the show. The blustery incompetence of Colonel Klink, for example, or the sense that this is a mostly lighthearted show in which there's never any real danger that a main character could die.

There's a lot of attention to detail in your descriptions of the airplanes, equipment, and the unfolding of various events in the war and how they affect the characters' situation. I can tell that either a lot of prior knowledge or research (or both) went into the story, and it's enjoyable to learn about those details.

My biggest suggestion for this story would be that Kinch's changing his mind about wanting to stay-as well the speed with which he accepts it once it becomes clear that he can't-both occur pretty rapidly. Part of it is the limitation of the first-person point of view: you can't exactly show moment-by-moment what Kinch is thinking as he is being held by the Gestapo, since Baker isn't there. But his emotional acceptance that he has to be sent back also comes a little quickly; I feel like it wouldn't hurt the story for him to stew in his dejection for a bit so that the news from the radio at the end will have more of an emotional impact. The concept itself, though, of having Kinch want to return to his special place, but then questioning where his place is and whether it's the right time to return, is interesting, though, I just felt those transitions could be dwelt upon a bit more.

Overall, I think the biggest thing I liked about the story was (based on your author's notes) what you did with the concept of the story, taking an unexplained change in the characters in the show and turning it into not just an explanation of how Kinch was sent home (though it is a great explanation filling in that plot hole) but also a story of the camaraderie between the two men.

Good luck with the challenge!

Hello! I'm here reading your story from the Special Places Challenge. I was excited to see a "Hogan's Heroes" fanfic as it's one of my favorite classic series. I even have to admit to watching episodes several times a week on MeTV. ;)

I was glad to see a story that takes up the question of what happened to Kinch and you answered it perfectly. I appreciate the way you stayed in canon. The people, conversations and actions are true to the series. I don't normally care for first person stories but I found myself enjoying this one very much.

Several special places come across to the reader. Stalag 13 might be a POW camp but to those there it became special because it allowed them to continue the good fight. Home was a special place because it was where they all wanted to be and hoped to see again. And at the end Kinch had the best of both worlds, he was home but he was still fighting alongside his other family at Stalag 13.

This was a very good, enjoyable story. Good luck in the challenge.

Reading for the Special Place Challenge. I’m fandom blind, and despite that wasn’t such a problem following the story, it may have not helped me caring all that much about the characters.

I liked the opening going straight to the point, but I have to admit you lost me quite soon. You got my attention back with the suspicious stain, but lost me again with the description of the equipment the narrator needed for the mission.

You did a good job showing the camaraderie and strong bonds between those soldiers even though they were trying to not form such deep relationship with each other since losing one another was a concrete possibility at any moment. That said, I didn’t really feel very keen or connected to any of them, not even the narrator, but again, I’m fandom-blind. Also, I don’t know if it is for the choice of narrating the story in first person, but I found it in its whole a bit too much telling and too little showing, and that didn’t helped with the emotional sphere.

I liked the twist from believing the place Kinch regarded as special was his home land with his family to acknowledging it was that prison camp with his mates, fighting to complete the mission. The theme of the ‘special place’ is present with a couple of reference early in the story and the most pointing lines toward the end, and I think it takes an original turn.

Overall, this was a fine read, filled, despite everything, with a good massage of hope and love.
Good luck in the challenge.

I really enjoyed this speculation on a slightly irritating lacuna from the original series - what actually happened to Kinch? You've also provided a much-needed explanation for Baker's presence in Germany.

Characters are well-drawn, especially the two at the forefront of the story, but also those who for once serve as background. Narratively it flows very naturally from start to finish. I particularly like the heart of the story - home thoughts, which are detailed just enough without overdoing it.

Michelle fits in nicely as support although I admit I didn't care for the character in canon.

Very well done, and I love the ending.

hi,
I found your story through the WA Challenge post and I think you did a great job.
As a german who enjoyed watching HH and was as confused as you were by the sudden change in actor this story is a great way to fill this void.
Home is where the heart is. A quote that for me was always present throughout your story.
The guys in Stalag 13 were like their own little (slightly dysfunctional) family.
Every time I drive past the Hammelburg exit on the highway (or as we say Autobahn) I remember the show.
Oh and another thing I loved here: your historical accuracy. You seem to have done a lot of research and even if you used it for story purposes: I believe that it could be true that in a pinch they would use a Negro on a plane. Even if it was only to repair the darn radio on the flight.

I might check out more in this fandom. You certainly have me intrigued.

I've seen a number of seasons of Hogan's Heroes, but it's been years. Not that it mattered. This made sense without having seen them in forever.

- Double “the” here: the the German Luftwaffe were cutting
- Gonna be honest… I skipped most of paragraphs four and five. Too much info for me.
- so we've made a pact not allow: missing a “to”
- Baker was a great narrator.
- Schultz’s chocolate memory enhancers. XD
- The special places element was subtle, but definitely present in a couple of different ways: Kinch and Baker both thinking about home, and Kinch saying how Stalag 13 was special to him because it was the place his chosen family was.
- Overall, this was an enjoyable read, as usual.

Great work and good luck in the contest.

This is a wonderful story, and your explanation as to how Baker ends up being captured is very plausible. Your engineering expertise clearly shows in the narrative.

I like to think that Baker was Kinch's relief man and they were there at the same time, but your plot works very well. Nice work using Michelle.

Well-done, my friend.

I enjoyed reading this, loved the attention to detail and think it fits in very well with canon events. Well penned:-)

Nice work here and love how you gave a little backstory info on the terms and technology of the era. Not everyone is a history buff so they may not know that. I do that with any fic of mine with historical refrence or settings. (I honestly hope it will get some of my readers to learn more on their own. ;) ) But anyway, good story and best of luck in the contest.

Hi, here for the WA Special Places challenge.

As a WWII history buff, I was really excited to read another story from this fandom, and it didn't disappoint. :) I recognized and appreciated things such as the restrictions on African - Americans in service, soldiers trying to call each other by their last names so they "wouldn't get too attached", the question whether the "Germans have what they need to keep going" (one of the main reasons why Germany eventually surrendered was because they were running of able - bodied men), the German Underground, the seductive power of female spies, and one of the most important rules of any spy network: never let them catch you alive.

The voice of your POV character is very clear and fits well with a WWII soldier: he sounds tough, a bit cynical, but very duty - bound. And that duty comes through very clear when he realizes he doens't want to go home unless everyone can.
But of course, Hogan explains that it would be safer for everyone for him to return home.

The suspense built up very well in this story, between the way Baker/Rich ends up at the POW camp, establishing his friendship with the other black POW, and then said other black POW is captured by the Gestapo, which is not only a problem for Baker, because it's his friend, but a huge security risk if he is tortured. (Which as the Gestapo were well - known for torture tactics, is not unreasonable.)

P. S. I know you wanted show how Rich Baker, as a Black man, ended up flying a plane, and subsequently captured, in the beginning. But it reads a bit like an "info dump." I suspect someone who isn't as excited as I am to read WWII history would find it very boring. Might you trim it down a little?

It's a wonderful reflection on what is a "Special Place" for a soldier? Their home, that they dream about? Or their base, where all their mates are that they care about and feel a duty to? I'm sure there's no easy answer for many of them.