Last year, I learned that there's a special spot in German culture for the American West in general, and Custer's last stand in particular. Apparently it stems from a 19th century German author named Karl May, who wrote several hugely popular fiction books set in the American West. Despite the fact that he'd never visited America, Karl based his personality off Buffalo Bill and went around dressed with a beartooth necklace.

Anyway, this German friend is incredibly knowledgeable about Custer's life. He told me about his family's vacation to the site of Little Bighorn, and described in great detail the unit formations and troop movements that led up to the engagement.