New Member -- Kumpel

[cyberia]

Greetings! I signed on here because while looking over the sight I noted that Klaus mentioned he had a relative who was a German POW.

My father, now deceased, was also held a a prisoner of the Soviet Union until 1952. He was an officer with the 14th Panzer Division and taken at Stalingrad.

I would be very interested in learning more about such events from others who share a similar family experience.

As for myself, I was born in Germany and now live in the U.S.A.

[Jim O]

Originally Posted by Kumpel

Greetings! I signed on here because while looking over the sight I noted that Klaus mentioned he had a relative who was a German POW.

My father, now deceased, was also held a a prisoner of the Soviet Union until 1952. He was an officer with the 14th Panzer Division and taken at Stalingrad.

I would be very interested in learning more about such events from others who share a similar family experience.

As for myself, I was born in Germany and now live in the U.S.A.

Welcome to the site.

If memory serves me correctly, Klaus's great-grandfather was taken prisoner at Stalingrad and not repatriated until 1955. I don't think that he spopke much about it. His grandfather was captured by the British and held in the United States if I'm not mistaken. There is a thread or two about it.

[cyberia]

Originally Posted by Jim O

Welcome to the site.

If memory serves me correctly, Klaus's great-grandfather was taken prisoner at Stalingrad and not repatriated until 1955. I don't think that he spopke much about it. His grandfather was captured by the British and held in the United States if I'm not mistaken. There is a thread or two about it.

Thanks for the info Jim O. I'll look into the two threads. Fortunately my father spoke at length about both his service and captivity, though not until late in life, and there are a few missing from his history.

But I'll be happy to share what I know.

[Tom Houlihan]

Originally Posted by Kumpel

But I'll be happy to share what I know.

Please do!

Where in the US?

[cyberia]

Originally Posted by Tom Houlihan

Please do!

Where in the US?

I see now that I mistakenly posted in SRF's new member thread.

Sorry about that.

I live in Pennsylvania in the Scranton-Wilkes Barre area.

I'll start a new thread elsewhere with details on my father's service and will be glad to answer any questions. Also hoping for any help in filling in some question marks or talking to others who had family held as POWs.

[Jim O]

Originally Posted by Kumpel

I see now that I mistakenly posted in SRF's new member thread.

Sorry about that.

No problem. I'll split it.

[cyberia]

Originally Posted by Jim O

No problem. I'll split it.

Thanks Jim O.

[Klaus]

Hallo Kumpel!

Welcome to the forum. Why was your father released in 1952? That's 3 years before my greatgrandfather got released. Now that I come to think of it, I never wondered if any prisoners were released earlier. I'll have to look it up.
Do you speak any German?

[Jim O]

Originally Posted by Klaus

Hallo Kumpel!

Welcome to the forum. Why was your father released in 1952? That's 3 years before my greatgrandfather got released. Now that I come to think of it, I never wondered if any prisoners were released earlier. I'll have to look it up.
Do you speak any German?

Some were released earlier, Klaus. Maybe officers only? Field Marshall Paulus was released in 1953 for instance. The last 10,000 surviving POW's were released in 1955 according to my reading, so perhaps others were earlier.

[cyberia]

Originally Posted by Klaus

Hallo Kumpel!

Welcome to the forum. Why was your father released in 1952? That's 3 years before my greatgrandfather got released. Now that I come to think of it, I never wondered if any prisoners were released earlier. I'll have to look it up.
Do you speak any German?

Guten abend, Klaus. I have no clue as to why he was released in 1952, but he did come home with a train load of others. He was sentenced to eight years as a "war criminal", but held for nearly nine years.

I do know he said he refused to sign his name to statements during the war to used against his countrymen and also refused to take part in some Soviet puppet organization he and other prisoners were being pressured to join. Perhaps that is why he had the extra year added on.

I do speak some German, but its rusty. I came over to the U.S. when I was nine months old, and Pop died in 1985. After his passing, I had no one left to use conversational German with, but I am now trying to regain my native tongue. Not as easy as I thought it would be.

I did start posting in the German POW section here and look forward to trading info with you pertaining to your great-grandfather.

Perhaps we both can add more to what we need to know.

We also share another common thread. My mother's side of the family is originally from Austria. I'll have to look up as to where. They relocated to Bavaria after WWI and settled in Bad Toltz.