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.
Your friend seems blessed to have you share some of his story.
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..
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!
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.
My condolences. I’m sure he was a great friend.
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.
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.
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.
Bttt.
5.56mm
RIP.
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.
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.)
A model of the kind of immigrant we want. RIP.
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.
Thanks!
Read his Obituary. I bet he was an interesting guy. Condolences and thanks for bringing his life to my attention!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.