Comments on: German POWs and the Art of Survival http://www.historynet.com/german-pows-and-the-art-of-survival.htm?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=german-pows-and-the-art-of-survival From the World's Largest History Magazine Publisher Tue, 14 Feb 2012 22:24:31 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Texian http://www.historynet.com/german-pows-and-the-art-of-survival.htm#comment-788817 Texian Sun, 12 Feb 2012 17:42:17 +0000 #comment-788817 Varied, some as late as the early 1950s, mostly officers. My wifes uncle returned from captivity in the Soviet Union in 1981. He was an air force radar technician captured by the Soviets in 1943 and used as virtual slave labor until out of the blue being let go. He was 19 when captured. Varied, some as late as the early 1950s, mostly officers. My wifes uncle returned from captivity in the Soviet Union in 1981. He was an air force radar technician captured by the Soviets in 1943 and used as virtual slave labor until out of the blue being let go. He was 19 when captured.

]]> By: Garret Graf http://www.historynet.com/german-pows-and-the-art-of-survival.htm#comment-788701 Garret Graf Fri, 10 Feb 2012 07:27:27 +0000 #comment-788701 My great uncle (A Canadian citizen) was taken captive by the Soviets after WW2. He was sent to some prison camp in Siberia where he worked until the 1960's. Finally he was released and sent to Canada. My grandfather tried for years to get the Red Cross to help him out but they didn't do anything. My great uncle died a few years ago. He apparently went to Germany in the 1930's, as his family was from there. He was in the Hitler Youth and was quite the marksman but worked as an ambulance driver during the war. I often wonder if he really was an ambulance driver, or perhaps a sniper that killed a few Russians. My great uncle (A Canadian citizen) was taken captive by the Soviets after WW2. He was sent to some prison camp in Siberia where he worked until the 1960's. Finally he was released and sent to Canada. My grandfather tried for years to get the Red Cross to help him out but they didn't do anything. My great uncle died a few years ago. He apparently went to Germany in the 1930's, as his family was from there. He was in the Hitler Youth and was quite the marksman but worked as an ambulance driver during the war. I often wonder if he really was an ambulance driver, or perhaps a sniper that killed a few Russians.

]]> By: Bianca http://www.historynet.com/german-pows-and-the-art-of-survival.htm#comment-787116 Bianca Thu, 19 Jan 2012 01:41:36 +0000 #comment-787116 No - My father went home from Russian prison camp (mines actually) in 1949 and there was nothing for hime - a small amount of money and clothes from the red cross was all he got. He eventually got a war pension because he lost use of his hand No – My father went home from Russian prison camp (mines actually) in 1949 and there was nothing for hime – a small amount of money and clothes from the red cross was all he got. He eventually got a war pension because he lost use of his hand

]]> By: Rainer http://www.historynet.com/german-pows-and-the-art-of-survival.htm#comment-787094 Rainer Wed, 18 Jan 2012 18:56:27 +0000 #comment-787094 Heute hätte ich einige Fragen: 1. Warum erhalte ich keine schriftliche Antworten auf meine zwei Briefe, welche ich per Post an das Wiener Wiesenthal Institut für Holocaust-Studien /VWI) nach Wien sandte? 2.Was kostete 1941 eine Fahrstunde für LKW in Hamburg, konnte sich dieses ein Stallbursche damals leisten? 3. War das GEMEINSCHAFTSWERK-VERSORGUNGSRING HAMBURG eine Tarnfirma? 4. Gibt es Mitarbeiterlisten von Aufseher, welche im Dienste der SS standen und ander menschenunwürdige Taten ausführten, die in den KZ arbeiteten? 5. In einem E-Mail erhielt ich eine Antwort, das mein Vater Mitglied bei den NSDAP war, ich soll mich in Freiburg in Breisgau melden. Auf alle Fragen erhielt ich bis heute keine Antwort. APPROXIMATE TRANSLATION FROM YAHOO! BABELFISH: In English Today would have I unite questions: 1. Why don't I receive written answers to my two letters, which I by post office to Viennese the Wiesenthal Institut for Holocaust studies /VWI) to Vienna sent? 2.Was cost a driving lesson for truck in Hamburg to 1941, could this at that time Stallbur afford? 3. Was JOINT WORK SUPPLY RING HAMBURG a cover firm? 4. Are there coworker lists of custodian, which stood in the service of the SS and implemented other acts beneath human dignity, which worked into the KZ? 5. In an email I received an answer, who was my father member with the NSDAP, I am in Freiburg in mash gau to announce itself. On all questions I received to today no answer. Heute hätte ich einige Fragen:

1. Warum erhalte ich keine schriftliche Antworten auf meine zwei Briefe, welche ich per Post an das Wiener Wiesenthal Institut für Holocaust-Studien /VWI) nach Wien sandte?

2.Was kostete 1941 eine Fahrstunde für LKW in Hamburg, konnte sich dieses ein Stallbursche damals leisten?

3. War das GEMEINSCHAFTSWERK-VERSORGUNGSRING HAMBURG eine Tarnfirma?

4. Gibt es Mitarbeiterlisten von Aufseher, welche im Dienste der SS standen und ander menschenunwürdige Taten ausführten, die in den KZ arbeiteten?

5. In einem E-Mail erhielt ich eine Antwort, das mein Vater Mitglied bei den NSDAP war, ich soll mich in Freiburg in Breisgau melden.

Auf alle Fragen erhielt ich bis heute keine Antwort.

APPROXIMATE TRANSLATION FROM YAHOO! BABELFISH:
In English

Today would have I unite questions: 1. Why don't I receive written answers to my two letters, which I by post office to Viennese the Wiesenthal Institut for Holocaust studies /VWI) to Vienna sent? 2.Was cost a driving lesson for truck in Hamburg to 1941, could this at that time Stallbur afford? 3. Was JOINT WORK SUPPLY RING HAMBURG a cover firm? 4. Are there coworker lists of custodian, which stood in the service of the SS and implemented other acts beneath human dignity, which worked into the KZ? 5. In an email I received an answer, who was my father member with the NSDAP, I am in Freiburg in mash gau to announce itself. On all questions I received to today no answer.

]]> By: Andrew Dufresne http://www.historynet.com/german-pows-and-the-art-of-survival.htm#comment-787066 Andrew Dufresne Wed, 18 Jan 2012 09:16:32 +0000 #comment-787066 Unfortunately you are correct about their treatment. The entire thing sickens and angers me. As do the silly masses, still to this day reciting anti-German war time propaganda as fact over 65 years later when so much of the accusations against them have proven entirely baseless and much of it impossible to have even happened. Nobody learned a damned thing, but everybody sure thinks they have. It will most likely prove disastrous for the public at large not to have dug a bit deeper to check on their so called leadership, press and "historians". Also, from the public records it appears Japan had tried to surrender numerous times before hand. I guess they werent good enough tries? Well, especially for you, at least your Mother met your Father! Its a crazy world isnt it... Unfortunately you are correct about their treatment.

The entire thing sickens and angers me. As do the silly masses, still to this day reciting anti-German war time propaganda as fact over 65 years later when so much of the accusations against them have proven entirely baseless and much of it impossible to have even happened.

Nobody learned a damned thing, but everybody sure thinks they have. It will most likely prove disastrous for the public at large not to have dug a bit deeper to check on their so called leadership, press and "historians".

Also, from the public records it appears Japan had tried to surrender numerous times before hand. I guess they werent good enough tries?

Well, especially for you, at least your Mother met your Father! Its a crazy world isnt it…

]]> By: Margit http://www.historynet.com/german-pows-and-the-art-of-survival.htm#comment-787038 Margit Tue, 17 Jan 2012 19:01:32 +0000 #comment-787038 Hi Marta, The Red Cross is a good start but if they don't give you the info you are looking for you can request his Military records from the Archieve in Berlin. I am not sure why you are calling it a problem that so many germans did not speak about there exsperiences,or Nazi past as you call it after all most of the german had a horrible story to tell. I think germs had a hard time talking about the things that hapened since so many believed, if you lost the war and were german you had everything coming to you. Besides that generation was not one to comunicate. Even though my mother is still alive and was on a treck as child when the russians went in to poland she does not speak of the horrors. Only when asked specific questions but even then she has a hard time to bring herself to remember it.She says she does not want to remember. My Father was arested after the war, in1951 I believe and a russian trybuneral sentenced him to 15 years in prisson( in Bautzen,east germany) He was released after 6 years since he would not conform to there idiolagy. He never spoke to my mothr about it and she never asked. I overheared him talking to my great Uncle who too spend 10 year in Bautzen and found out it was pretty much like the conzentration camps, just different uniforms. Margit Hi Marta,

The Red Cross is a good start but if they don't give you the info you are looking for you can request his Military records from the Archieve in Berlin.

I am not sure why you are calling it a problem that so many germans did not speak about there exsperiences,or Nazi past as you call it after all most of the german had a horrible story to tell.
I think germs had a hard time talking about the things that hapened since so many believed, if you lost the war and were german you had everything coming to you.
Besides that generation was not one to comunicate.
Even though my mother is still alive and was on a treck as child when the russians went in to poland she does not speak of the horrors. Only when asked specific questions but even then she has a hard time to bring herself to remember it.She says she does not want to remember.
My Father was arested after the war, in1951 I believe and a russian trybuneral sentenced him to 15 years in prisson( in Bautzen,east germany)
He was released after 6 years since he would not conform to there idiolagy.
He never spoke to my mothr about it and she never asked.
I overheared him talking to my great Uncle who too spend 10 year in Bautzen and found out it was pretty much like the conzentration camps, just different uniforms.

Margit

]]> By: Marta http://www.historynet.com/german-pows-and-the-art-of-survival.htm#comment-786997 Marta Tue, 17 Jan 2012 01:43:24 +0000 #comment-786997 Hi Monicka, My Father (who has passed away) knew very little about my the details of my Opa's imprisonment by the Russians following WWII. I know that he was gone for 5 years and I have documentation that suggests he was in a place called Kraljevo. I teach German History and lately I really want to know more about what happened to him. Isn't part of the problem the fact that so few Germans spoke to their children about their Nazi past after the war? My Father said he never gave details about what happened to him. Seeing this discussion has given me hope that maybe I can learn more after all these years. Would you say that the Red Cross is the best place to start my search? Marta Hi Monicka,
My Father (who has passed away) knew very little about my the details of my Opa's imprisonment by the Russians following WWII. I know that he was gone for 5 years and I have documentation that suggests he was in a place called Kraljevo. I teach German History and lately I really want to know more about what happened to him. Isn't part of the problem the fact that so few Germans spoke to their children about their Nazi past after the war? My Father said he never gave details about what happened to him. Seeing this discussion has given me hope that maybe I can learn more after all these years. Would you say that the Red Cross is the best place to start my search?
Marta

]]> By: Barry Wood http://www.historynet.com/german-pows-and-the-art-of-survival.htm#comment-786902 Barry Wood Sun, 15 Jan 2012 05:07:50 +0000 #comment-786902 I also cannot locate any books that are written about German WWII soldiers who were say captured at Stalingrad en masse and became Russian prisoners. I wish to know about their experiences in the Gulags and hear about the lucky few who managed to survive and become repatriated to Germany. Can anyone please provide a list of books. It's a silent area! I also cannot locate any books that are written about German WWII soldiers who were say captured at Stalingrad en masse and became Russian prisoners. I wish to know about their experiences in the Gulags and hear about the lucky few who managed to survive and become repatriated to Germany. Can anyone please provide a list of books. It's a silent area!

]]> By: Rainer http://www.historynet.com/german-pows-and-the-art-of-survival.htm#comment-785893 Rainer Tue, 03 Jan 2012 18:03:48 +0000 #comment-785893 Liebe Bianca für Dein E-mail danke ich dir. Ich SUCHE EINE VERBINDUNG zwischen meinem Vater FRISCHKNECHT Willi und den Nazis. Vater kam 1913 in Eutin Norddeutschland auf die Welt. Meine Mutter WIEMERS Anna-Christine, verwitwet LUES, wurde 1913 in Scherfede in Westfalen Deutschland geboren. Zur Zeit lese ich das Buch "Die unterbrochene Spur" von Mathias Knauer und Jürg Frischknecht (nicht Verwandt). Dieses Buch erschien im Limmat Verlag Genossenschaft Zürich 1983. Mit dem Untertitel "Antifaschistische Emigration in der Schweiz von 1933 bis 1945. Über 200 Seiten mit vielen Dokumentationen und Fotos. Leider kann ich auf Deinen Text keine Mitteilung schreiben. Alles Gute im Neuen Jahr 2012! APPROXIMATE TRANSLATION FROM YAHOO! BABELFISH: Dear Bianca for your email I thank you. I SEARCH a CONNECTION between my father FRESH FARMHAND Willi and the Nazi. Father came 1913 into Eutin Northern Germany into the world. My mother WIEMERS Anna Christine, verwitwet LUES, 1913 in Scherfede in Westphalia Germany was born. At present I read the book " The interrupted Spur" of Mathias Knauer and Jürg fresh farmhand (not relatives). This book appeared in the Limmat publishing house cooperative Zurich 1983. With the sub-title " Anti-fascist emigration in Switzerland from 1933 to 1945. Over 200 sides with many documentations and photos. Unfortunately I cannot write report on your text. All property in the new year 2012! Liebe Bianca für Dein E-mail danke ich dir.

Ich SUCHE EINE VERBINDUNG zwischen meinem Vater FRISCHKNECHT Willi und den Nazis. Vater kam 1913 in Eutin Norddeutschland auf die Welt. Meine Mutter WIEMERS Anna-Christine, verwitwet LUES, wurde 1913 in Scherfede in Westfalen Deutschland geboren.

Zur Zeit lese ich das Buch "Die unterbrochene Spur" von Mathias Knauer und Jürg Frischknecht (nicht Verwandt). Dieses Buch erschien im Limmat Verlag Genossenschaft Zürich 1983. Mit dem Untertitel "Antifaschistische Emigration in der Schweiz von 1933 bis 1945. Über 200 Seiten mit vielen Dokumentationen und Fotos.

Leider kann ich auf Deinen Text keine Mitteilung schreiben. Alles Gute im Neuen Jahr 2012!

APPROXIMATE TRANSLATION FROM YAHOO! BABELFISH:
Dear Bianca for your email I thank you. I SEARCH a CONNECTION between my father FRESH FARMHAND Willi and the Nazi. Father came 1913 into Eutin Northern Germany into the world. My mother WIEMERS Anna Christine, verwitwet LUES, 1913 in Scherfede in Westphalia Germany was born. At present I read the book " The interrupted Spur" of Mathias Knauer and Jürg fresh farmhand (not relatives). This book appeared in the Limmat publishing house cooperative Zurich 1983. With the sub-title " Anti-fascist emigration in Switzerland from 1933 to 1945. Over 200 sides with many documentations and photos. Unfortunately I cannot write report on your text. All property in the new year 2012!

]]> By: BIANCA http://www.historynet.com/german-pows-and-the-art-of-survival.htm#comment-785722 BIANCA Mon, 02 Jan 2012 01:31:08 +0000 #comment-785722 My father was a german soldier in WW2 on the Eastern Front and was taken by the Russians as a prisoner of war in 1943. Many of his fellow soldiers died but he was one of the lucky ones. He resorted to fighting for his life, eg.: by eating weeds that were edible as was tought him by his father who was a market gardener. He was 18. He was moved around several prison camps and ended up working in coal mines. He was actually paid for this but had to pay for his 'accomodation' and 'food'. He has many stories to tell and I think I would like to write his story. My father was a german soldier in WW2 on the Eastern Front and was taken by the Russians as a prisoner of war in 1943. Many of his fellow soldiers died but he was one of the lucky ones. He resorted to fighting for his life, eg.: by eating weeds that were edible as was tought him by his father who was a market gardener. He was 18. He was moved around several prison camps and ended up working in coal mines. He was actually paid for this but had to pay for his 'accomodation' and 'food'. He has many stories to tell and I think I would like to write his story.

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