WW2 Family Photos

[mfelzien]

Thank you for sharing these family pictures. As a 2nd generation German American it's often dilemmatic to feel pride and shame about the war (being German America in the 40's wasn't great as my parents often attested to). But, it's very interesting to view a different time, and I'm proud to be an American German today. Thanks for sharing again.

[danielsand]

Thank you for sharing these.

I also have many photos and artifacts from my high ranking grandfather, and not so high ranking father (Oberst). Grandpa died long before I was born, and my parents emigrated from Germany couple years after the war.

Father was a Nazi Party member from his college days in Heidelberg, and an SS officer during the war. He spent 18 months in the captivity after the war (in former Yugoslavia), and was allowed to emigrate in the US in 1947. He was tried in Yugoslavia, and several witnesses from the local villages testified on his behalf, stating that the units under his command never "appropriated" any goods, without paying for them in Reichmarks, unlike Communist Partisans, nationalistic Croatian Ustasha, or nationalistic Serbian Chetniks who took anything they wanted, and killed civilians indiscriminately.

I never posted any pics on this forum to show the stuff he left behind, for the concern of offending older members of the forum, who probably lost relatives in Europe.

There is certain camaraderie among soldiers from different sides of any conflict (I have some first hand stories from the conflicts I was in). I also understand why some members might be offended by looking at pictures like these. But consider this.....(small example of MY recent family).....my Grandfather served Kaiser, my Father served Hitler, and I served Uncle Sam. Should I be ashamed of my family's history? I am most certainly not.

Soldiering is a profession, and the "employers" change with times. Both sides of my family have career military officers in their history, going four generations back.

[wlyon]

How soon we forget. Bill

[P08Leder]

My Dad was a BAR man in Korea, 1953-1954, with the US Army
I only have two photos of him in Korea and they are damaged and blurry.

My grandfather was sent home after the war to the family outside Frankfurt where they lived.
My Dad was in Germany after the Korean war studying Physics on his GI bill when he met mom.
Not sure how to attach an image directly, the photo button just asks for a URL.
My photos are on photobucket and are public

[P08Leder]

according to his papers, he started out as an Oberzahlmeister (High Rank Pay Master)
on 6-1-1940, he was promoted to Arbeitzahlmeister (Work Pay Master)
and then on 5-1-1944 he was promoted to Stabsintendent

[Zorba]

Originally Posted by P08Leder

I have more photos and artifacts if folks are interested.

I for one appreciate your sharing - one should never be afraid of the past, but should study it closely and learn from it. The WW II era has always fascinated me as my father was USN (Pacific Theatre) during the war, and I grew up with all the stories and history.

[Diver6106]

We don't forget Bill, it is just that in the '40's America was a nation mostly composed of European immigrants. Why I'm very proud of my father who flew 35 missions over occupied Europe as a B-17 pilot with the 95th, I also know he had relatives on the ground in several of the belligerent countries. To include German families, as I'm 1/4+ German, 1/4 Italian, 1/4 Finnish, and 1/4 Austro-Hungarian (now Slovakia who's mother was German). And while one of our family names is Haake, and there was a Haake who was among Hitler's 100 and has a Nazis coat of arms, I am all American. For an interesting read on the issue, I recommend Gerhardt Thamm's books. I worked with him in several agencies.

[MikeP]

My dad was 506th PIR.
Wounded at Eindhoven, but repaired and reissued.
Rode the cattle trucks to Bastogne, picking up gear dropped by fleeing GIs.
He was involved in liberating camps and had pics of same. He had unkind word for Germans the rest of his life.
Also had pics of him and buds at the Eagles' nest on the big veranda.
They were gearing up to go to the Pacific when Hirohito gave up.
These were mostly farmboys and others who stood up when the call came.
They all would have preferred to stay at home.
Both Grandfathers went in 1917. They would have preferred to stay home as well.
My dad could have had a farm exemption, but never used it.
My Airborne inspration. Rear center.

[DonVoigt]

What was his rank and branch of service?

Already answered, thanks.

[Sergio Natali]

Briefly since I don't want to bore anybody, both my grandfathers were in the Italian Army in WWI and fought against the Austrians, they both got injured, and one of them (my father's dad was a "bersagliere" light infantry with rooster feathers on their hats) received also a bronze medal to the valour for saving a group of his comrades.
My father (born in 1920) at the beginning of the WWII was on the border with France ad soon after sent to "occupy" (simply ridiculous) the South of France where he remained until the Armistice of September 8 1943. After that day even the Army fell apart and they came back to Italy.
In the meantime the German army here sequestered all the weapons and became "occupying troops", the dictator Mussolini was taken prisoner by the King , and in two words a Civil War started: Fascists on one side and non-fascists on the other.
My father like many others didn't have many choices: decided to join the Partisans and took refuge on our mountains.
So in my case there were no "high ranking" people, just plain history written by common people that rebuilt this Country after the war.

Kind regards to all

[MAUSER88]

OUTSTANDING!!!! I could look at pictures like that all day!!!