[DocCasualty]

Nazi War Prisoner Married By Proxy
McAlester, Okla. - Married by proxy to his sweetheart in Germany, A prisoner of war (second from left front) in camp at McAlester, Okla., is surrounded by comrades who witnessed the ceremony. At left of bride’s picture on table is her bouquet and at right is small-tiered wedding cake. Oil painting, a wedding present, has been censored. Bridegroom wears a ribbon indicating he has received the Iron Cross, second class; the medals are a wound medal and an athletic medal.

[Holly6]

Great Find Doc. Thanks

[cyberia]

Was he carrying a party card? Although a man or woman may have been in service of the Reich this did not automatically make them a nazi.

During the war, and a few decades thereafter, the term nazi was applied to everything German from tanks to ships to troops.

Cool story though.

This post has been edited by cyberia: December 02, 2008 - 12:26 AM
Reason for edit: Took the edge off.

[Tom Houlihan]

He ain't got no monocle, neither!

Damned propagandists!!

[MikkoH]

And he has Panzer assault badge next to wound badge! Could be DAK panzer trooper cause shoulder straps seems to be have black background. And for that nazi term I would say.. crap!

[DocCasualty]

cyberia said:

Was he carrying a party card? Although a man or woman may have been in service of the Reich this did not automatically make them a nazi.

During the war, and a few decades thereafter, the term nazi was applied to everything German from tanks to ships to troops.

Cool story though.

Good point. As you see, I just lifted the title from the press release, at which time I'm sure Nazi was more a synonym than anything else.

[cyberia]

DocCasualty said:

cyberia said:

Was he carrying a party card? Although a man or woman may have been in service of the Reich this did not automatically make them a nazi.

During the war, and a few decades thereafter, the term nazi was applied to everything German from tanks to ships to troops.

Cool story though.

Good point. As you see, I just lifted the title from the press release, at which time I'm sure Nazi was more a synonym than anything else.

Absolutely understood Doc, and I'm sure you meant no offense.

True, the press at the time and the mass media thereafter including movies and comic books associated everything German with nazi. A hot button for me because my family fought for the Reich but not a one to my knowledge was ever a party member.

In fact my parents hated the nazis right up to their deaths. As for me, I refuse to give nazis even the benefit of proper noun capitalization.

[Wicked]

Right you are, Paul.
Here, in Russia we know it very good, what is that "the common opinion".
The silly untolerate comprisons such as "bears" "communists" "offensive hordes"... i will not even say all of them to you, becuase i`m sure sure you know them very well(and may be sometimes believe in the depth of your consciosness),they do not make me feel good. The complicified unusual charachter and mentality of Russian people to both western and eastern ways of thinking always made some confusion and misunderstanding. Faithfully, on the present day, i do not see the solution, when it might be ended.

On subj. I know few stories when the German prisoners married Russians women here, and more another when, Russian soldiers and officers married women in Germany.. There lots of them who were devided by the communist regime. On the TV, not so far away, i saw a story about a russian pilot, who was on duty on allied aerodrome in Italy in 1945-47, and he loved an Italian girl.. Last year they finally found each other and began to live together.. they are both over 80 years old..!!
Lots of people nowdays in Russia are searching for their beloved ones, german friends and freinds from the allied army all over the world..

[Jim O]

This is getting a bit but bears some further mention. The use of political and/or ethnic epithets to describe soldiers of other nations, was common on all sides. It was a useful propaganda tool to help dehumanize the enemy.

Hence, in Soviet newsreels, German armies and soldiers are referred to as "fascists" and in German newsreels, the Soviet armies and soldiers are referred to as "Bolsheviks". In US and British newsreels, Germans were called "Nazis". That it persisted after the war was probably as much from force of habit as from lingering resentment.

[cyberia]

Sorry Doc. Didn't mean to hijack the thread.

[DocCasualty]

Nah, I didn't intend to start a controversy!

[Wicked]

Jim O said:

This is getting a bit but bears some further mention. The use of political and/or ethnic epithets to describe soldiers of other nations, was common on all sides. It was a useful propaganda tool to help dehumanize the enemy.

Hence, in Soviet newsreels, German armies and soldiers are referred to as "fascists" and in German newsreels, the Soviet armies and soldiers are referred to as "Bolsheviks". In US and British newsreels, Germans were called "Nazis". That it persisted after the war was probably as much from force of habit as from lingering resentment.

I was telling not about war period. It is rather clear point with propaganda, besides you can not insult soldiers diring the war by naming them "bol`shevicks", "nazis" or "fascists" whille it was their official self given names at the period. I told about nowdays But no more off topic!
Sorry Doc.