My Dad "won" his appeal with the German Supreme Court

JOEJOEJOE

During WWII, my dad was "involuntarily" housed, employed, brutalized, dehumanized and orphaned by the Nazis.

His attorneys had been trying to get his "back wages" from the German government, but were always refused. Many survivors get a "pension" from the Germans, and some get back wages if they can show proof of the "employment" during the war.

My dad worked as a tailor for the German Police, so, the German supreme court has ruled that he is due a lump some payment. No amount of money can erase the past, but I am glad that he can help pay for his grandkids' schooling.

Until 10 years ago, he refused to take any reparations, but once he retired, he needed the dough, so he finally gave-in.

Byrnzie

JOEJOEJOE wrote:

My dad worked as a tailor for the German Police

I bet your old man has a few interesting stories to tell. A friend of my Dad's was in the special forces in North Africa and Italy. He died just last year. I really regret not sitting down with him and asking him all about it. I remember bringing the subject up with him and he spoke about seeing his friends being killed alongside him e.t.c. My Dad told me that the bloke didn't like to talk about it and so my Dad interrupted the discussion. I think my old man was wrong though. The old fella seemed like he wanted to talk about his experiences. He was a tough bastard. He ran his won garage and was as strong as an ox. I'd have loved to have sat down and heard every detail. I remember him once talking about how he once stayed in the basement of a hotel whilst the Germans were upstairs on the floor above. I really regret not sitting down with him and properly asking him about his experiences.

Songburst

My wife's grandfather fought in the German army on the Eastern front. He had some pretty crazy stories from the war including some pretty brutal hand-to-hand fights in Stalingrad. He spent 7 years as a POW in Russia, was released in 1952 later finding out that his parents and sister were killed from Allied bombing. So he said "fuck it, I'm moving to Winnipeg" lol. We got him to tell his story on cassette just before he died a few years ago. It's really cool to talk to WW2 vets -- especially the ones who had hard core combat experiences.

Come to think of it, he worked as a mechanic while he was a POW -- we should see if the Ruskies will pay his wife any back-pay for his work.

Byrnzie

Songburst wrote:

My wife's grandfather fought in the German army on the Eastern front. He had some pretty crazy stories from the war including some pretty brutal hand-to-hand fights in Stalingrad. He spent 7 years as a POW in Russia, was released in 1952 later finding out that his parents and sister were killed from Allied bombing. So he said "fuck it, I'm moving to Winnipeg" lol. We got him to tell his story on cassette just before he died a few years ago. It's really cool to talk to WW2 vets -- especially the ones who had hard core combat experiences.

Come to think of it, he worked as a mechanic while he was a POW -- we should see if the Ruskies will pay his wife any back-pay for his work.

Whoah, only a handful of German's survived incarceration after Stalingrad -

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_ ... Casualties
'Of the 91,000 German prisoners, only about 5,000 ever returned.'

Byrnzie

My Granddad on my Mum's side was a a radio operator - signaler - on Lancaster bombers during WWII. He was involved in the Battle of the Bulge and dropped bombs on Frankfurt and Cologne.

j-bug

my great uncle fought in the Battle Of Britain.when he died it was in the Natinal Press.

strange to think it was so long ago.

Songburst

Byrnzie wrote:

Songburst wrote:

My wife's grandfather fought in the German army on the Eastern front. He had some pretty crazy stories from the war including some pretty brutal hand-to-hand fights in Stalingrad. He spent 7 years as a POW in Russia, was released in 1952 later finding out that his parents and sister were killed from Allied bombing. So he said "fuck it, I'm moving to Winnipeg" lol. We got him to tell his story on cassette just before he died a few years ago. It's really cool to talk to WW2 vets -- especially the ones who had hard core combat experiences.

Come to think of it, he worked as a mechanic while he was a POW -- we should see if the Ruskies will pay his wife any back-pay for his work.

Whoah, only a handful of German's survived incarceration after Stalingrad -

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_ ... Casualties
'Of the 91,000 German prisoners, only about 5,000 ever returned.'

Ya -- he said that the only reason he survived was because he was willing to work as a mechanic. Lots of his fellow POWs refused to work for the Russians and were promptly disposed of.

Claireack

Both my grandfathers fought in WWII, great grandfathers in WWI. Infantry & Tanks. Now my brother and brother in law.

decides2dream

JOEJOEJOE wrote:

During WWII, my dad was "involuntarily" housed, employed, brutalized, dehumanized and orphaned by the Nazis.

His attorneys had been trying to get his "back wages" from the German government, but were always refused. Many survivors get a "pension" from the Germans, and some get back wages if they can show proof of the "employment" during the war.

My dad worked as a tailor for the German Police, so, the German supreme court has ruled that he is due a lump some payment. No amount of money can erase the past, but I am glad that he can help pay for his grandkids' schooling.

Until 10 years ago, he refused to take any reparations, but once he retired, he needed the dough, so he finally gave-in.

wow.
good for your dad joe.


absolutely nothing will make up for all he has suffered, watch his family suffer, watch his family be taken away/murdered....of course not. but sure, he is totally entitled to get his due if they are offering, so i am glad he has taken what he rightfully deserves.


my father fought in WWII, but he was stationed in hawaii...and my fil was stationed in italy.

DB41

Wow. This is a really heavy thread. It's very interesting to read about the different lives our parents, grandparents etc. led during WW2. My grandfather grew up in a small village in the former Czecheslovakia and had to hide when the Nazis invaded. He lived in the woods for a few weeks before he was captured and deported to a concentration camp. When the war began he had his parents and 11 brothers and sisters. When it ended it was just him and one of his sisters. She passed away a few years ago and my grandfather is a healthy 88 years old.

Byrnzie wrote:

A friend of my Dad's was in the special forces in North Africa and Italy. He died just last year. I really regret not sitting down with him and asking him all about it.

That's exactly what my cousin and I are planning. My cousin will be in town in a few weeks and we're going to sit down with our grandfather and a video camera and get the entire story.