hi guys!
i just wanted to show you what my grandpa gave to me some years ago before he died!
he was born in 1921 in western germany. in 1941 he became a soldier in a flak-unit which was send to northern africa in 1942. he often told me about the time when he was shipped to bengasi, the ship he was on was attacked by british spitfires but the flak managed to shoot 2 planes down. they were also attacked by a submarine which was destroyed lateron by german stuka-bombers.
grandpas unit did not fight very much but it took part in the battle of gazala. he told me that they once downed a spitfire which came down near where they were and it started burning. some soldiers, including my grandfather, ran to the plane and tried to rescue the british pilot who was still alive. but they couldn´t because of the fire and so they had to see how the poor guy burned and finally died. grandpa said that this moment was one of most horrible in his life. he always respected the british and american enemies.
after the campaign in africa the flak-unit was moved to italy where they took part in the battle of anzio. here my grandfather earned the iron cross II. class. he also got wounded by shrapnels in the face and the upper part of his body. therefore he got the wounded badge (black).
in early 1945 his regiment surrendered in northern italy and was captured by american troops.
after the war my grandfather became a successful salesman. he earned a lot of money and died after a long, exciting life in 2005.
before he died he gave his military inheritance to me: cufftitle "afrika" (1 original, 1 repro which he bought on a veteran´s meeting) inclusive document, wounded badge black (de-nazified in war captivity), iron cross II. class, german-italien medal for the campaign in northern africa, round about 350 photos, wehrpass, binoculars and canteen.
i will always keep this treasure!
best regards,
matthias
i just wanted to show you what my grandpa gave to me some years ago before he died!
he was born in 1921 in western germany. in 1941 he became a soldier in a flak-unit which was send to northern africa in 1942. he often told me about the time when he was shipped to bengasi, the ship he was on was attacked by british spitfires but the flak managed to shoot 2 planes down. they were also attacked by a submarine which was destroyed lateron by german stuka-bombers.
grandpas unit did not fight very much but it took part in the battle of gazala. he told me that they once downed a spitfire which came down near where they were and it started burning. some soldiers, including my grandfather, ran to the plane and tried to rescue the british pilot who was still alive. but they couldn´t because of the fire and so they had to see how the poor guy burned and finally died. grandpa said that this moment was one of most horrible in his life. he always respected the british and american enemies.
after the campaign in africa the flak-unit was moved to italy where they took part in the battle of anzio. here my grandfather earned the iron cross II. class. he also got wounded by shrapnels in the face and the upper part of his body. therefore he got the wounded badge (black).
in early 1945 his regiment surrendered in northern italy and was captured by american troops.
after the war my grandfather became a successful salesman. he earned a lot of money and died after a long, exciting life in 2005.
before he died he gave his military inheritance to me: cufftitle "afrika" (1 original, 1 repro which he bought on a veteran´s meeting) inclusive document, wounded badge black (de-nazified in war captivity), iron cross II. class, german-italien medal for the campaign in northern africa, round about 350 photos, wehrpass, binoculars and canteen.
i will always keep this treasure!
best regards,
matthias
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