Well, not too many replies in the positive for Volksturm, so let me try this route: Does anyone out there in the reading public know of any former members of the Hitler Jungend? If so, how about contact information for them? I am asking about VSM and HJ as a group of us are hoping to start a VSM unit for late war reenactments, and one of the ways I use to make my impressions more accurate is to contact the participants themselves. Thanks for all your thoughts on this, and hope to hear more. Wm.T.
I'd also like contact information for surviving Waffen-SS soldiers. Prefferably from LSSAH, Das Reich, Totenkopf, Wiking, Nordland, Frundsburg, Hohenstauffen, and Hitler Jugend. Thanks.
William - I only know of one individual around my area locally who served in the Hitler Jugend. He was born in Leipzig, Germany in 1929, and was 16 when the war ended. For some reason, he never was called up for active military service, even though I have read reports where boys as young as twelve were called up during the end of things in 1945. There is a very well known photo, and section of film in which Adolf Hitler is awarding the Iron Cross II Class to a group of young boys, one of them twelve years old. But anyway, this fellow I know, immigrated to Canada, worked in a mine in Alberta, moved on to a logging camp in British Columbia, and then immigrated to the United States. He met, and married a woman from Mexico while on vacation there, and brought her back to the United States. Of their two sons, the older one enjoys, and reads everything he can on the Hitler Youth and his father's time in it. The younger one could care less, and studies all things concerning Mexico's history. If interested, send me a pm, with your phone number, address or what ever, and I can give this information to him when I see him. ( He frequents my place of employment quite often ). Then, it's up to him if he wants to contact you. But, to be honest, I enjoy having German veterans to my home, for barb-b-que's etc., and have attempted numerous times to get him to come over and speak with myself, and my collecting associates, but so far, no luck. Reddog2k - Curious, who is it you want to get in touch with, and what are your reasons why? Bill
There's no one in particular I would like to get in touch with. The reason I'd like to contact Waffen-SS vetrans is because I plan on entering Marine ROTC after High School. I'd like to learn as much as possible about being a soldier in combat. I've talked to vetrans of Desert Storm(my dad was USN) most of the guys were on ships, and the guys on the ground were fighting a enemy that was clearly inferior(no disrespect) to them. Id like to learn from the prospective of men who fought in the desperate battles of the Eastern Front. Or at Normandy desperately trying to hold their positions. Men who were essentially fighting for a lost cause. Thanks in advance for your help.
Hi Reddog2k - Instead of running out our situation here, why don't you drop me a pm, and I'll fill you in there. Bill
