Today I met a 95 year old former German prisoner of war - advice please!

[rusticalex]

Hello all - I haven't posted in here for a good while, and I hope I'm putting this post in the correct place (sorry admin if I'm not!).

 

Today I knocked on the door of a couple that live near me, and got talking to them.  I'd met her before, but not him.  They invited me in and we chatted for about 20 minutes.  It turns out that he originally came from Prussia.  During World War II he fought for the Germans on the Russian front.  He eventually got captured and ended up at a POW camp in Devon.  After the war he wasn't able to return to Prussia, so he went to live and work on a farm in Devon, and ended up years later with the daughter of the farmer, who he's still with now.  He came across as being a sweet natured chap, and seemed keen to tell someone about his experiences, which according to someone else that knows him are quite fascinating.  It's not really something that I have time for unfortunately, nor the expertise to do a good job of it.  However, if there is anyone that could spare the time to work with this man to document what he went through, then please let me know.  I guess it would be very handy if the person lives in Devon!

Thank you, Alex

[ostprussenmann_new]

Very neat story

[peter monahan]

Alex

 

I took a quick look and it seems that BBC Devon is creating a permanent on-line archives of wars stories about the 19239-45 conflict, to be called 'People's War'.  It already has 112 stories submitted by/about POWs, so your man's recollections should fit in nicely.

 

Below is the news story, a bit dated now, and a direct link to a page which tells you how to collect the stories.  I suspect that if you contact them they can identify a 'storytaker' as they call them in your area.  In the alternative, a call to your local legion branch might turn up someone who has the time you lack.

 

Good luck!

Peter

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/devon/community_life/features/2005/peoples_war.shtml

https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2peopleswar/

[rusticalex]

On 11/11/2021 at 13:21, peter monahan said:

Alex

 

I took a quick look and it seems that BBC Devon is creating a permanent on-line archives of wars stories about the 19239-45 conflict, to be called 'People's War'.  It already has 112 stories submitted by/about POWs, so your man's recollections should fit in nicely.

 

Below is the news story, a bit dated now, and a direct link to a page which tells you how to collect the stories.  I suspect that if you contact them they can identify a 'storytaker' as they call them in your area.  In the alternative, a call to your local legion branch might turn up someone who has the time you lack.

 

Good luck!

Peter

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/devon/community_life/features/2005/peoples_war.shtml

https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2peopleswar/

That's great, thank you Peter.  Definitely gives me something to go on.  Much gratitude, Alex