When I tried to look up my grandfather's WW2 service records the government (I will not say which one) said they were 'lost' and to 'stop asking.' The government also concocted an outrageous story as to why the records were 'lost.'
It actually does not bother me because we know governments lie and destroy documents to cover their crimes, and we are witnessing the biggest crime in human history right now. We can only focus on our own actions.
Don't say it, then. I was merely curious about these circumstances, for where I come from, gov't agencies 'losing' their files, actors failing to 'remember', and the like is apparently the only relevant qualification that's ever required. That is, apart from no conscience and the willingness to carry out orders (and I'm explicitly not referring to WW2 here).
I'm glad you liked these musings, though, for it is the appreciation by you and the other interested readers that drives me.
When I think of the regular army in Germany during those years, I think of Hogan’s Heroes and the difference between the Nazis and the Wehrmacht. If you have read Caravans (Michener), you’ll remember the main character’s motive to find the murderer of his father, regular army officer doing his job, by a Nazi officer he got in the way of. And in the book 999: The Extraordinary Young Women of the First Official Jewish Transport to Auschwitz (Macadam), she describes the bombing of the prison camp by the British or American planes-can’t remember which-where the only building hit was the barracks of the regular army men, who had been kind and given food to the women prisoners. I know that plenty of the Wehrmacht soldiers had no problem going along with the Nazis, but not all. And you will eventually find out on which side your grandfather chose to reside. But we know that circumstance can make monsters of people-look at the last four years-and I’ve been surprised by the choices some people have made.
So face the truth when you find it. Either way it’ll be okay. We can continue to love people we disagree with. Some of my ancestors held slaves, and some of my ancestors were driven onto reservations. It is what it is.
A book sounds wonderful. Hope you do that. I’ll order one
I'm somewhat torn on this one, tell you the truth.
The 'clean Wehrmacht' was something concocted at the Nuremberg Trials to kinda prevent naming what was going on in occupied Germany 'collective punishment'. I haven't done more than cursory reading on the matter, hence I shall reserve judgement for time being.
I do have his itinerary, which he meticulously kept throughout his wartime service. I haven't done much with this information for lack of time, but I shall get to it.
I recall a friend in the US asking what I'd do should I learn about my grandfather's involvement in war crimes. I replied something like, 'nothing', for he's dead, and I'm not going to piss on his grave. (As a corollary, the same question also applies to, say, the Vietnam veterans or those who fought in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Libya in more recent years…)
Yes. Exactly. War is not something that brings out the best in leaders, much less followers. Having lived through men coming back from Vietnam, I can tell you that they suffered from being involved in that madness. War is always the same and there are no winners, just losers.
My dad spent his service in the Aleutians being bombed by the Japanese and was able to leave it behind, but he never saw the “enemy” face to face. My sister-in-law’s husband spent his service in Vietnam and slept with a gun under his pillow and hated anyone who looked Asian. He didn’t talk about the war. Some of them were just there, and some of them became part of it. You’ll find out what your grandfather went through and, maybe, who he was. Hoping for the least painful results in your search. It won’t change anything, but sometimes we have to know
You know, there are 'winners' in every war (they just aren't the likes of you and me), and the episodes you shared are indicative of that, I'd think.
To me, it's not so much as this is going to be 'painful' (although I'm already learning to tell apart facts from fiction--family lore--as I move along. I'm open-minded about the research, and I consider it what Herder called a 'monad', that is, the history of something bigger, told through a human--and thus intelligible--lens.
From any reader's perspective, it is not easy to ascertain the age of the author and seeing you on the photo with your grandfather now gives us a clue. The reverse side of the image containing greetings to sender is also fascinating, not just from what is written, but handwritng style too. My dad, born 1926, was sent to the eastern front on call up in 1943 then Normandy later. There is a digitised photo database for East Prussa which is no more and gives a wonderful insight to life in the region. I hope you manage to get this project up and running and no doubt others can contribute to this historical database of yesteryear!
Oh, well, you could have asked--I'm 42. I think I was 4-5 years old when that picture was taken.
I do know about the East Prussia database, but I'm also referring to postcards showing buildings and landmarks that were either damaged (some later restored) or destroyed.
I do hope others will contribute; I don't think the stuff I have is the only one that survive, but for reasons you surely know about, many don't care, and those who do are often 'ashamed'.
I actually discovered a photo of a school class with my mother and sister on it! For decendants of refugees, who fled with minimal belongings and the areas bombed so much, or of places to never to return, these websites are very important. I do know about the shame, having been called the 'N' word in school, and of course, you'll know it was not about skin colour. I'm sure there will be interest and contributions.
I'm both happy about your 'discovery' and dismayed by the slurs thrown at you.
I agree, these websites are important, not merely on an individual level but also as 'historical' documents. I'm convinced there will be interest and contributions, and, as far as I'm concerned, I could care less about whatever epithets are thrown my way.
This is amazing.
When I tried to look up my grandfather's WW2 service records the government (I will not say which one) said they were 'lost' and to 'stop asking.' The government also concocted an outrageous story as to why the records were 'lost.'
It actually does not bother me because we know governments lie and destroy documents to cover their crimes, and we are witnessing the biggest crime in human history right now. We can only focus on our own actions.
All governments lie, which is the one lesson of history that's never taught in (government-run) schools. Guess why…
What did the gov't say about why they 'lost' the records? I'm just curious…
If I say I would dox myself but it was not an 'accident' and they absolutely have back ups.
Thanks again for this really great article. Yes, the government will never give us the education necessary to overthrow the government.
Don't say it, then. I was merely curious about these circumstances, for where I come from, gov't agencies 'losing' their files, actors failing to 'remember', and the like is apparently the only relevant qualification that's ever required. That is, apart from no conscience and the willingness to carry out orders (and I'm explicitly not referring to WW2 here).
I'm glad you liked these musings, though, for it is the appreciation by you and the other interested readers that drives me.
Your Substack is wonderful and I enjoy it a lot.
It takes one to know one, I'd offer in return. You're very kind!
When I think of the regular army in Germany during those years, I think of Hogan’s Heroes and the difference between the Nazis and the Wehrmacht. If you have read Caravans (Michener), you’ll remember the main character’s motive to find the murderer of his father, regular army officer doing his job, by a Nazi officer he got in the way of. And in the book 999: The Extraordinary Young Women of the First Official Jewish Transport to Auschwitz (Macadam), she describes the bombing of the prison camp by the British or American planes-can’t remember which-where the only building hit was the barracks of the regular army men, who had been kind and given food to the women prisoners. I know that plenty of the Wehrmacht soldiers had no problem going along with the Nazis, but not all. And you will eventually find out on which side your grandfather chose to reside. But we know that circumstance can make monsters of people-look at the last four years-and I’ve been surprised by the choices some people have made.
So face the truth when you find it. Either way it’ll be okay. We can continue to love people we disagree with. Some of my ancestors held slaves, and some of my ancestors were driven onto reservations. It is what it is.
A book sounds wonderful. Hope you do that. I’ll order one
I'm somewhat torn on this one, tell you the truth.
The 'clean Wehrmacht' was something concocted at the Nuremberg Trials to kinda prevent naming what was going on in occupied Germany 'collective punishment'. I haven't done more than cursory reading on the matter, hence I shall reserve judgement for time being.
I do have his itinerary, which he meticulously kept throughout his wartime service. I haven't done much with this information for lack of time, but I shall get to it.
I recall a friend in the US asking what I'd do should I learn about my grandfather's involvement in war crimes. I replied something like, 'nothing', for he's dead, and I'm not going to piss on his grave. (As a corollary, the same question also applies to, say, the Vietnam veterans or those who fought in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Libya in more recent years…)
Yes. Exactly. War is not something that brings out the best in leaders, much less followers. Having lived through men coming back from Vietnam, I can tell you that they suffered from being involved in that madness. War is always the same and there are no winners, just losers.
My dad spent his service in the Aleutians being bombed by the Japanese and was able to leave it behind, but he never saw the “enemy” face to face. My sister-in-law’s husband spent his service in Vietnam and slept with a gun under his pillow and hated anyone who looked Asian. He didn’t talk about the war. Some of them were just there, and some of them became part of it. You’ll find out what your grandfather went through and, maybe, who he was. Hoping for the least painful results in your search. It won’t change anything, but sometimes we have to know
You know, there are 'winners' in every war (they just aren't the likes of you and me), and the episodes you shared are indicative of that, I'd think.
To me, it's not so much as this is going to be 'painful' (although I'm already learning to tell apart facts from fiction--family lore--as I move along. I'm open-minded about the research, and I consider it what Herder called a 'monad', that is, the history of something bigger, told through a human--and thus intelligible--lens.
From any reader's perspective, it is not easy to ascertain the age of the author and seeing you on the photo with your grandfather now gives us a clue. The reverse side of the image containing greetings to sender is also fascinating, not just from what is written, but handwritng style too. My dad, born 1926, was sent to the eastern front on call up in 1943 then Normandy later. There is a digitised photo database for East Prussa which is no more and gives a wonderful insight to life in the region. I hope you manage to get this project up and running and no doubt others can contribute to this historical database of yesteryear!
Oh, well, you could have asked--I'm 42. I think I was 4-5 years old when that picture was taken.
I do know about the East Prussia database, but I'm also referring to postcards showing buildings and landmarks that were either damaged (some later restored) or destroyed.
I do hope others will contribute; I don't think the stuff I have is the only one that survive, but for reasons you surely know about, many don't care, and those who do are often 'ashamed'.
I actually discovered a photo of a school class with my mother and sister on it! For decendants of refugees, who fled with minimal belongings and the areas bombed so much, or of places to never to return, these websites are very important. I do know about the shame, having been called the 'N' word in school, and of course, you'll know it was not about skin colour. I'm sure there will be interest and contributions.
I'm both happy about your 'discovery' and dismayed by the slurs thrown at you.
I agree, these websites are important, not merely on an individual level but also as 'historical' documents. I'm convinced there will be interest and contributions, and, as far as I'm concerned, I could care less about whatever epithets are thrown my way.
Holy smokes!! (That’s awesome) ❤️
It truly is, isn't it?