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Former Enemy who turned True Friend Passed Away - German Wehrmach Soldier who fought Russians - Vanity
Watts Funeral Home ^ | 1/6/22 | Family

Posted on 01/06/2022 10:41:15 AM PST by srmanuel

Excuse the Vanity Post, I think some may be interested in a personal friend of mine who passed away recently, whose funeral is tomorrow.

My dear friend Hans Heine, was born in Danzig, Germany in 1928 and was drafted into the Wehrmacht in 1944 and immediately sent to the Eastern Front to fight against the Russians, he has obviously seen the worst of humanity.

In 1958 Hans, his wife and children immigrated to the USA and became citizens, he had a very successful business career and was a true friend, one of his sons joined the USAF and had over a 20 year career.

He would always meet us with a smile, glass of scotch, cigar and the most incredible stories about WW II you can imagine.

Tomorrow we attend his funeral and pay tribute to a great friend.


TOPICS: Government
KEYWORDS: hans; heine; ii; ww
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1 posted on 01/06/2022 10:41:15 AM PST by srmanuel
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To: srmanuel

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LgD_-dRZPgs


2 posted on 01/06/2022 10:42:46 AM PST by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegal aliens are put up in hotels.....................)
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To: srmanuel

Your friend seems blessed to have you share some of his story.


3 posted on 01/06/2022 10:43:04 AM PST by Magnum44 (...against all enemies, foreign and domestic...)
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To: srmanuel

One of the great stories he told me was him and 3 friends writing the own discharge papers and attempting to flee the Russians when it was all over, the Gestapo had shoot on sight orders for anyone deserting, Hans could speak english which allowed him and his friends to enter the British Sector at the end of WW II, which saved his life an allowed him to live a full and complete life, just an incredible story..


4 posted on 01/06/2022 10:45:03 AM PST by srmanuel (`)
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To: srmanuel

Its a blessing your friend survived the Russian Front, winters there, avoided capture - and made it to the West / United States where he was a productive and model citizen who raised good children to carry on his name.

An interesting life, full of meaning!


5 posted on 01/06/2022 10:51:52 AM PST by PGR88
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To: srmanuel

You had a fascinating experience. I once spent an entire wedding reception sitting next to Two German couples, with both men having fought the Soviets at Stalingrad. The odds of both surviving were about 20%. The history they shared from their days in Hitler youth to their trek home after being beaten on the Eastern Front was amazing. It was an amazing couple of hours for me.


6 posted on 01/06/2022 10:58:54 AM PST by JonPreston (Q: Never have so many, been so wrong, so often)
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To: srmanuel

My condolences. I’m sure he was a great friend.


7 posted on 01/06/2022 11:02:45 AM PST by grimalkin (Communism is the final logic of the dehumanization of man. -Fulton J. Sheen)
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To: srmanuel

I took judo lessons when I was a kid at the Salt Lake Judo club. Lots of Japanese black belts, one of whom was a former imperial pilot. I asked him how he felt when the war ended and he said pretty good. He explained that he was in training as a kamikaze pilot, an assignment he had not volunteered for. It was a real revelation for a 13 year old kid, and I realized that they were just people too. Then came the RVN war where I unlearned my newfound humanity. Life is complicated.


8 posted on 01/06/2022 11:02:46 AM PST by Spok
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To: srmanuel

Anyone interested in reading a very good book on the campaign in Russia (written by a French national serving in the Wehrmacht) should pick up “The Forgotten Soldier” by Guy Sajer.


9 posted on 01/06/2022 11:04:36 AM PST by Captain Walker ("The side that has Truth gets Humor as a bonus.")
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To: Spok

I asked my friend Hans and his Wife one time when she was still alive how they were treated when they immigrated to the USA where they could be neighbors with people who died fighting the Germans.

Both of them said they never experienced any discrimination based on Hans fighting for Germany and were solid American Citizens.


10 posted on 01/06/2022 11:07:55 AM PST by srmanuel (`)
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To: srmanuel

Bttt.

5.56mm


11 posted on 01/06/2022 11:13:24 AM PST by M Kehoe (Quid Pro Joe and the Ho need to go.)
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To: srmanuel

RIP.


12 posted on 01/06/2022 11:22:21 AM PST by fieldmarshaldj (Plugs the Pedo - The Shart Heard 'Round The World)
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To: Captain Walker
“The Forgotten Soldier”
I've read Sajer's book at least half a dozen times in the last 25 years. Just an absolutely mind boggling tale.
As a VN vet I experienced many extreme situations - but nothing even close to the horrors Sajer had to put up with.
13 posted on 01/06/2022 11:36:50 AM PST by oh8eleven (RVN '67-'68)
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To: srmanuel

I’ve sat and played cards as a youth with a couple who were in Concentration Camps and survived.
They would share stories of the camps, life before and after the war.
My next door neighbors they were, had a grandson, my friend.
We played often and the stories will be with me forever.
Talk to the folk and ask them questions it will only enrich YOU.


14 posted on 01/06/2022 11:38:41 AM PST by Joe Boucher (Kimber .45 )
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To: oh8eleven
As a VN vet I experienced many extreme situations - but nothing even close to the horrors Sajer had to put up with.

IMHO, I think the horrors of that campaign between the Germans and Soviets is almost unknown here in the US.

(BTW, you're much more familiar with the book than I am; I read it once 30+ years ago.)

15 posted on 01/06/2022 11:41:14 AM PST by Captain Walker ("The side that has Truth gets Humor as a bonus.")
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To: srmanuel

A model of the kind of immigrant we want. RIP.


16 posted on 01/06/2022 11:44:51 AM PST by jmaroneps37
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To: srmanuel
Nice story.
My family sponsored my Uncle Rudy (Rudolf) after the war to bring him to the States. He worked in a brewery in Toledo where he meet his wife who was from Ireland (Aunt Mary). I also meet a lot of Ex-Wehrmacht soldiers that worked at GM (engineers) at the bar I used to frequent. Dakota Inn on the East Side of Detroit.
17 posted on 01/06/2022 11:45:07 AM PST by MotorCityBuck ( Keep the change, you filthy animal! ,)
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To: srmanuel
I asked my friend Hans and his Wife one time when she was still alive how they were treated when they immigrated to the USA where they could be neighbors with people who died fighting the Germans. Both of them said they never experienced any discrimination based on Hans fighting for Germany and were solid American Citizens.

Some just didn't harbor ill feelings realizing war is hell for all sides.

I was adopted out of a German orphanage by an American couple who the husband was in the US Army and was a part of the Normandy invasion and terribly wounded.

18 posted on 01/06/2022 11:48:34 AM PST by redcatcherb412
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To: Captain Walker

Thanks!


19 posted on 01/06/2022 11:52:17 AM PST by griffin
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To: srmanuel

Read his Obituary. I bet he was an interesting guy. Condolences and thanks for bringing his life to my attention!


20 posted on 01/06/2022 11:53:15 AM PST by griffin
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