Hermann Bernhard Ramcke was born on January 24th 1889 into a family of farmers. He decided not to follow in the family trade but instead joined the Navy. Ramcke fought on the Western Front in WW1 as a Marine Infantryman. In WW2 he joined the Fallschirmtruppe (parachute unit) and was awarded the parachute qualification badge at the age of 51. After he fought in Crete and North-Africa his last mission was to defend the fortress of Brest. His men accorded him great respect and they called him "Papa" (daddy) or "Vater Ramcke" (father Ramcke).
General Ramcke described in his memoirs his experiences in the defense of the fortress of Brest in France, the captivity and the treatment as alleged war criminal in British and French prisons. Out of this memoirs I like to publish the translation of Ramckes experiences in America.
The translation was made by Martin Gallas
.
