Any WWII history buffs?

[OneGrassRoot]

Has anyone heard of a soldier having served in both the German Army and later the US Army? I've been contacted by a veteran interested in telling his story which involved this very scenario. He was born in Germany and became a naturalized US citizen, then he and his family moved back to Germany before WWII.

He was coerced into serving with the German Army; after being injured and the hospital facility being taken over by the Allies, he served the remainder of time on the Allied side.

I am not knowledgeable about WWII history, so I don't know how unique (or not) this scenario may be, and was hoping members here could enlighten me as to the potential interest such a story may hold for those interested in WWII history. Then again, like most memoirs, the lessons learned and then imparted to others can be timeless and have appeal for many, eh?

[ulysses]

1. I've never heard of such,

but that certainly doesn't mean anything. Interesting story if true.

[MannyGoldstein]

2. Sounds Pretty Odd

I do know that many Germans kept in POW camps in the US fell in love with the US and even opted to stay here when they were released after the war. But I'm pretty sure that they were not allowed to serve after their "conversions".

[OneGrassRoot]

5. He didn't return to the US until the war was over...

he served as a translator for the occupation forces after healing from a sickness/injury (sustained in Germany while a soldier in the German army).

I've posted a similar question on the History Channel's WWII messageboard. It seems his story may be unusual indeed.

[Selatius]

3. I don't think the US Army would officially accept someone who was still from a hostile nation

Unless you're talking about as a defector, but they're usually given non-military roles like an informant or advisor to intelligence officers if they have valuable information on troop positions, enemy technology, information on communications, etc. However, given the scope of the war, I wouldn't be surprised if some Germans did offer help in an "unofficial capacity."

[OneGrassRoot]

6. Remember that he was also a US citizen...

and he served as a translator for the US Army, not a combat role. Your point in that regard makes a lot of sense.

[no_hypocrisy]

4. Shoot me a PM. I know a filmmaker who is in production for WWII

veterans' stories. I think the story you're proposing would be fascinating for him to document.

[GOPisEvil]

7. I know a little bit about WWII, but I've never heard that story.

I would think it would be very unique. That story should be easy enough to verify though. Contacting the military in Germany and the Dept of Defense here should answer the veracity of the claims.

[Rageneau]

8. In "Band of Brothers, there was a case like this.

The 501st PIR captured some German soldiers soon after D-Day. One of them turned out to speak flawless American English. He revealed that he had been raised in the U.S. by German parents who returned home when the war started. A year or so after that, he was old enough for the German Army and got drafted into it.

In the TV version, at least, the indication is that this "German" soldier was summarily executed.

But I'm sure there were other cases where similar "German" soldiers decided they were American after all.

[Postman]

9. Does Wernher von Braun qualify?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wernher_von_Braun

A Nazi scientist who went to work for the US govt.

[JPZenger]

13. Von Braun was after the war

Yes, Von Braun was a V-2 rocket scientist. He and other scientists were secretly taken to the US at the end of the war and were instrumental in US space efforts.

[Wiley50]

10. Drop our buddy Joe Bageant (Deerhunting With Jesus) a note about this

Before his book deal went through and he retired

He was Senior Editor over the two top US military history magazines.

I'm sure he'd be glad to help you. Just tell him you're from DU.

[e-mail]

[Ikonoklast]

11. There was a baker at the store I used to work

He was a Romanian National, who was drafted and fought for Nazi Germany under the fascist Antonescu on the Eastern Front against the Russians.

He was shot through a lung and captured.

He recuperated, and was told by his Russian captors that he had two choices: 'volunteer' for the Russian Army and fight against his former compatriots, or get taken out and shot.

He 'volunteered'.

He was with the Russian Army when it invaded Romania, and was fighting his former compatriots until King Michael overthrew Antonescu and allied himself with the invading Reds.

He was fighting with the Red Army through Czechoslovakia until wounded by shrapnel from a German artillery shell, and the war in Europe ended soon after.

Now, get this. He got a pension from Romania as a wounded war vet, and POW. He got a Russian vet pension. He got a German wounded vet pension.

He said it all added up to about $47 a month, together.

[UTUSN]

12. Nope, not a buff. I remember this Am.Hist course re Post Civil War

And the prof said, you know, after the war the veterans got years of free land and benefits, until letters to the editor started in, saying, "The veterans have had ENOUGH!1"



Everything happens again and again.

[OneGrassRoot]

14. Thank you all - DUers are the best! Really....

:hi:

Thanks for responding and sharing.

Wiley50, I just sent him an email. :)

[krispos42]

15. Maybe if they sent him to the Pacific Theater, it could have happened

No loyalty issues.

"Okay, Herr Schmidt, you're now in the US Army. Paris to Normandy to London to New York to San Fransisco to a little place called the Phillipines."

[Aristus]

16. I had a patient once who was in the German Army and fought in the

Battle of the Bulge. He later emigrated to the States and became a citizen. The American veterans organization Veterans of the Bulge accepted him as an honored member, despite having fought for the other side.

I thought that was kind of cool.

[leftofthedial]

17. never heard that one

although many soldiers fought with one army, were captured and later fought with the opposing army