American paratrooper fought for the Russians

I SEE that the world’s longest rail tunnel, at 57 kilometres, has just opened in Switzerland.

I’m sure the Channel Tunnel won’t count, as it’s not solely in Britain, but what is our longest tunnel? – B.

The Channel Tunnel is 50.5km long but, as you say, not wholly in Britain.

Tunnels are usually defined as an underground passageway at least twice as long as it is wide. Some civic planners define a tunnel as 160m in length or longer.

So, at 27.8km, the title of Britain’s longest tunnel goes to London Underground’s Northern Line, from Morden to East Finchley, via Bank.

As far as canal tunnels go, the longest is Standedge Tunnel on the Huddersfield Narrow Canal at just over 5km.

LAST week’s query about General Zhukov, Russia’s most successful general of the Second World War, had me intrigued.

I seem to recall seeing a documentary about an American who fought for the Russians during the war and Zhukov was involved. Can you refresh my memory? – A. It may seem bizarre, but a US soldier did indeed fight for the Red Army during what the Russians call The Great Patriotic War.

Sergeant Joseph R. Beyrle, a US Army paratrooper, was captured by the Germans in France, shortly after D-Day.

Sent to a prisoner of war camp in eastern Germany, he escaped and headed for the Russian lines, where he met up with a tank unit.

As he was experienced in the use of explosives, the unit’s commanders allowed him to fight with them.

He was wounded in action and sent to a Russian military hospital.

On a visit to the hospital, General Zhukov was told about Beyrle, who had no papers, which meant he couldn’t get home.

Zhukov immediately made arrangements for Beyrle to go to Moscow, and then home to the US.

In 2004, Beyrle was presented with medals by both the then US and Russian presidents, Bill Clinton and Boris Yeltsin.

Beyrle died in 2004, four years before his son, John, was appointed US ambassador to Russia.

He was quoted as saying: “Zhukov helped save my father’s life.”