No. Daddy said that most of them washed out before basic
training was over. No one harassed them. This was not the
norm back then. Daddy NEVER expressed any contempt for
ANYBODY - except the Nazi officers. He felt sorry for the
ordinary conscripted German soldier. Said they did not want
to be there; but if they refused to “Heil Hitler” and go
where sent, they would be shot by the Nazis. - He always
said, “War is HELL!” It is.
My Mom’s family was in Austria during the war, her father was nominally in Civil Defense but had a protected job in the coal mines; lost an arm in unsafe conditions fulfilling unrealistic quotas, but begged for a job at half pay, his war was to keep his family from starving.
When I was young I worked with him for a summer, pushing 70 he moved 400# pilings into position with one hand and his knees. If there was nothing to do, he would crawl on his knees on the lawn pulling up weeds where no one else could see any weeds. Never saw him sick, never saw him take a day off, until his wife passed away, then he did nothing but drink his two beers a day and sit. A month later he followed her. If they make them like that any more, they’re not making the papers. Can still remember his sweaty smell on his towel...which towel is Opa’s? Definitely this one ;)
Your father sounds like a good man. If he has passed, may he rest in peace.
Sounds like your Dad was a great man.