Luftwaffe Unteroffizier POW grouping

[Lisa Thompson]

Well, I won a neat thing on ebay.de that I wanted to share. This is a German POW that was actually shipped to the states. His name is Josef Ehrle and seems to spent time here from some time in presumably late 1943 to 1945. His last major entries in the datebook included are May 22, Left Aliceville May 23 arrived in Fort Jackson and "My First Working Day" on May 26, 1945.
There are 3 photos of Josef; one it looks like before capture, one during and one possibly post war.
I also have his POW sack stamped with his name, which is in the freezer killing any left over transatlantic hitchhikers.
Also a translation book, and a certificate for which he got 100 on a US Government True/False test, an empty envelope from Germany dated 11/03/1944, and lastly, his copy of Bericht Aus Tokio by Joseph Grew which is stamped by the censors at Ft. Jackson.
The datebook is fascinating; he records each letter received by his wife Liesel and each week he sends her another. The back of the book counts fastidiously how many letters he sent and received in 1944.
I do know Aliceville closed it's doors to POWs in July of 45 - it makes sense he was transferred.
I am welcoming comments, etc.

[Lisa Thompson]

The photos

[Lisa Thompson]

The documents..

[Lisa Thompson]

One thing I forgot to ask - does anyone know how I would look up this number the name to get more information on Josef Ehrle?

[J.von Canon]

Aliceville

Several years ago the town of Aliceville,Alabama hosted former German P.O.W.'s who had been held there during the war years.
A very large number of Afrika Korps men were there.
I attended this gala reunion at it was a great experience talking with former Ramcke Fallschirmjaeger,pilots & crewmen,artillerymen,and Landser.
The town hosted an old time Southern barbecue(about 300 German vets & former guards,with guests)and there is a very close relationship with Aliceville and the Afrika Korps Survivor Association.
I would suggest you contact the Aliceville Chamber of Commerce and request this information.There is a P.O.W. museum in town also and they may be of help.
If that does'nt work PM me and I'll get you in touch with the Afrika Korps Survivors Association(in Germany)and perhaps they will be of help.

[Lisa Thompson]

Perfect suggestion - I called the museum and spoke to a very helpful young lady who wouldn't hear of accepting my offered donation - I gave her his name and Kriege number and last date of internment.

So you have good reason to think that Mr. Ehrle was in the Afrika Korps?

Several years ago the town of Aliceville,Alabama hosted former German P.O.W.'s who had been held there during the war years.
A very large number of Afrika Korps men were there.
I attended this gala reunion at it was a great experience talking with former Ramcke Fallschirmjaeger,pilots & crewmen,artillerymen,and Landser.
The town hosted an old time Southern barbecue(about 300 German vets & former guards,with guests)and there is a very close relationship with Aliceville and the Afrika Korps Survivor Association.
I would suggest you contact the Aliceville Chamber of Commerce and request this information.There is a P.O.W. museum in town also and they may be of help.
If that does'nt work PM me and I'll get you in touch with the Afrika Korps Survivors Association(in Germany)and perhaps they will be of help.

[J.von Canon]

Maybe-maybe not...

Hi;
This fellow may have been with the Afrika Korps,maybe not.
But MOST of the men at the Aliceville Camp were captured in Africa.
I remember speaking to a crewman on a JU 88 who was captured in Africa;another fellow(Fallschirmjaeger)was captured in Italy.So not all the men there were taken in Africa.I spoke to around 15-20 of them and all but one were associated/in the Afrika Armee.
The attractive young woman who is/was the German organizer for this past gathering was the daughter of a Luftwaffe flier captured in N.Africa.
By the way,if you are ever down this way the German Cemetery at Fort McClellan,Alabama(they had prisoners too)has many beautiful landscaping(rock art)around the fort golf course-made by German P.O.W.s.
Also,the German/Italian cemetery has a large Fallschirmjaeger memorial (by the gate)showing the diving eagle(sans swastika.)This is the only Fallschirmjaeger monument that I'm aware of in the country.
Good luck & keep us posted on the results.J.v.C.

[J.von Canon]

Possibly a Ramcke Fallschirmjaeger?

Would'nt it be wild if this fellow turned out to be a Ramcke Brigade Fallschirmjaeger?
Could very well be one of them as a large number of Ramcke's boys were at Aliceville.This might be of to the Fallschirmjaeger Forum,if he turns out to be a parachutist...