Private, trained in communications, wireless, telephone etc. besides Army basic training, specialized in heavy machine-gun.

What unit were you part of when captured ?

A heavy-machine gun support company for an Infantry [Grenadier] Division, I believe it was the 368' Infantry Division which was stationed on "D-Day", June 5, 1944, in and around the French City of Brest, Province of Brittany, North-West France.

This Division marched immediately [on foot] towards the Allied Invasion Beachheads in Normandy, and arrive there in about 2 weeks [at the end of June 1944, was immediately engaged in heavy fighting with US Forces in the Cherbourg Peninsula.

Where were you captured ? Who captured you and when ?

Near a town called St.Mere d'Eglise on the Cotentin Peninsula, someplace like North-West of Carentan in that area on July 6, 19449 by U.S. Forces, in the late afternoon. Our unit was cut off by heavy artillery barrages, and withdrawing while US Forces had advanced in the meantime on both sides, some of us had stayed behind to delay the US advance by sporadic fire, I personally was on the second floor of a lonely farm house, and looking out the farm was surrounded by Hundreds of US Troops with plenty of tanks and armored cars.

What was the route that brought you to the U.S. ?

For a few days, captured Germans stayed in a barbed wire enclosure near the Invasion Beach-Heads [Omaha, Utah, etc], then I and appr. 200 PoW's were shipped by Tank-Landing Craft to Portland [South-England] always under US Army Guard, and from Portland continued by rail to a Tent Camp near Nottingham, stayed
there for about 3 weeks, and boarded the USS Manhattan in Liverpool for a voyage of about 5 days to Boston Mass. The ship zig-zagged across the Atlantic, was not in a "Convoy", as it was pretty fast

What was your first reaction to the U.S. ? to Houlton ?

Landing in Boston around Aug. 10, 1944 on a very sunny day, - at shore we were given immediately a hot shower, attended by very friendly peoples, holding hot towels, - and my first impression of the U.S. was :''Brothers, this is life ! Why did I not know earlier about all this!" The few personal belongings, like family pictures, were taken away, - and I got mine back only after trying and asking for about another year.

In Boston, a special train was waiting, very clean, not overloaded by us [3 POW's for 4 seat] the train was stocked with food [rations, oranges by the crate], and on each end of the coach was a soldier, armed with a rifle. Iced water was available - and our spirits were high. The trip to Houlton took about 1 1/2 day, with lots of stop
my impressions of the countryside during our ride through the New England States ware very favourable, as the scenery remembered me of my home-town of Dramburg in the Province of Pomerania near the Baltic Sea. [Now, a part of Poland since 1945].

Arriving in Houlton, we were loaded on trucks, driven through the Town, townspeople on the street were mostly reserved, some were faintly waving, no "boos".

Describe the camp, its facilities, food, recreation, guards.

The camp [barracks, brick buildings, like kitchen] were all new, just finished, and very modern. Build like any Army camp with the necessary facilities, like Dispensary, Administration buildings, kitchen, canteen, etc. The Barracks were US Army regulation style and type with modern facilities [washrooms, showers, etc]. A soccer field was within the fenced-in compound, fence was wire-mesh, illuminated by search lights during the night, and watch-towers every few hundred yards, manned by one guard, - very often no guard. The food was cooked in a very modern kitchen by our own cooks, - and served "cafeteria-style" in an adjoining Dining-Hall. The Fireman for the kitchen-complex was a US citizen [there were several, as they worked shifts around the clock]. With one of them [unfortunately, I cannot remember his name], I had lengthy conversations, and I thought, he had a very good job, when I saw him coming on shift with his lunch-pail, when he told me about his wages, his family, his hobbies [Fishing & Hunting & Boating], the peaceful countryside with lots of lakes and woods, "yes", he had it made, what more could a healthy person ask for ?

The Food served was excellent, plenty, very rich [because our people mainly worked for lumber companies, cutting timber for paper mills], the food served was of all varieties, nothing whatsoever missing. Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner were served, one could eat as much as he liked. Work Projects that went for work outside the camp [Woods, Farms, etc] would take their lunches in bulk container that kept the food warm.

The canteen would sell the necessities of life, like tooth-paste and brushes, and all other Sundries that one requires, for US Army Commissary prices: Cigarettes were 13 cent a 20-pack, Candy Bar for 5 cent, Beer 1 quart for 25 cent. - Everything was available in reasonable quantities and I never saw these privileges abused, there was hardly a "drunk", and if so, he was "helped away" by his friend to his bunk-bed in the barracks.

POW's interested would take up Sports, like Soccer, or concentrate in athletic fields of their choice.

Clothing supplied was good and plentiful, qualities excellent, variety available and all sizes, also excellent Winter clothing [Coats, snow boots, etc], as the lumber companies. supplied and complemented, as they were very much interested in a high Production return of cut wood.

"Hard Liqueur'' was not for sale, but was available through friendly guards and cooperative civilians [inside and outside the camp]. Also "moonshiners" inside the camp would make their own "Brew", using mainly bases from grapefruit, raisins, dates, figs, and other fruits. When the powerful potency of a brew was too obvious, occasional raids by the guards resulted in the confiscation of the spirits, which were hidden under the barracks, the "Searchers" often admitt that it would be a "crime" to destroy the spirits at the source - and would lorry it away for later "disposition".

What various jobs did the prisoners do? Your job?

The Prisoners would go out on Work-Details, mainly in the neighboring woods to cut lumber, stack it in "cords" for big lumber-companies, which used it mainly as timber for paper-pulp. At that time 11944/19451 there were no chainsaws [power] available, - so everything was cut by hand in "two-men-teams". A daily quota was set for each team, however, this quota was very normal and could be easily reached if the team worked together. I cannot recall, that there were quota-problems. If it turned out that certain people were physically not fit or able to work, they be assigned to other work or projects. I would say, that appr. 75% of the POW Camp Force was engaged in the Winter-Season 1944/45, that I experienced in Houlton, - in working cutting lumber.

Other POW's would work in small or larger Work-Details on surrounding farms, harvesting beans, and potatoes [Houlton, Maine claiming to be the Potato-capital of the World].

Still others would work at the Houlton Air Force Base on the Air Field and in the Hangars right next to the camp. The US Air Force used Houlton Air Base as a "Ferrying"-Stop mainly for bombers on their way to Great Britain, planes would be re-fueled and maintenance jobs performed by qualified German POW Mechanics. I myself did do some loading and unloading jobs on aircraft for a few days at the Air Base. [to my knowledge no cases of sabotage were known in my time there].

Other POW's would work on Civic [municipal] projects in the Town [on roads] or in the Camp Administration [inside the Camp for our own maintenance, - or outside for the Guards, Motor-Pool, and other US Army installations]. Some would work as far as "Presque Isle Airport", if a special detail was required.

Pay for a day's work [8 hours work, traveling time not counted] would be 80 cents [per day]. No tax. POW's who did not work or were sick, would not get paid - and would have to rely on charity of their comrades. This proved to be a very good system, there hardly was any noticeable "professionally cultivated lazyness" If one wanted to frequent the "P.X." or Canteen - then one needed money, which was obtainable through work.

Regular pay-checks per month could amount to $22.00, Pay-Day was once on a monthly basis. Pay was correct, hardly any complaints about shortages. We had our own POW time-keepers and administration.

Super-performers could be paid up to $1,20 per day, if the Lumber Companies recommended the individual, which happened sometimes.

My job was in the camp administration, I was the Supply-Sergeant for a company of about 200 POW's responsible for issuing of clothing, shoes, soaps, etc, - everything for maintaining the maintenance of a company of 200 people and their accommodations.

I received this job due to my knowledge of the English language, as I had English in a German High School for years. Which I considered a very "poor" knowledge with a very limited vocabulary and English Grammar. However, it proved to be "worth a Million", arriving in Houlton.

When we arrived in the late afternoon in Houlton, the Company Commander, a US Army Reserve Captain [I believe, his name was Capt. Powers (or Powell)], asked for anyone speaking English, as he was eager to establish every man's occupation at once. As no one stepped forward, I reluctantly told this very fine gentleman, that I would give it a try, - and try we did - and it turned out to be a success. The men would step forward and I would ask them what their occupation/trade/job or profession was in German, - and then I would try to translate it into English, we encountered many humorous situations, - for example : I did not recall the expression "bricklayer", but would translate it as a "mason", while the Captain would ask me in turn : "What Lodge"'? Now, I did not know what 'lodge" meant. Was it a Hostel or something? Anyway, it took well into darkness until we had established the occupations of our people, so that they could be properly scheduled in competent work details. The Captain thanked me profusely for my co-operation - and I had a permanent job, which I enjoyed, - from time to time I would join various work details for a day or so, to get the experience of their jobs, and to have a change, like working in the woods, in the hangars of the air base, etc.

The company of POW's was administered by our own people: we had a German Company Chief [which was elected by us by secret ballot ]. Appointed by the US Army Administration : one translator, one clerk, one supply-sergeant, one trustee [for each barrack].

This was overseen by an US Army Captain, who was assisted by an US Army-Sergeant. These two would keep contact with the outside US Army Camp Administration, and submit our requirements and needs directly.

Where there any problem prisoners and what was done with them if there were these types?

To my knowledge and recollection , there were very few problem prisoners or incidents during the 6 months that I was in Houlton/Maine. Somebody might go wild due to mental disorders or stress, then the medical people would take over. If there was Homosexuality - it was not tolerated by the majority-opinion of the POW's themselves, - and it was at that time also punishable under US Military Law, I heard of one case, where the individual was taken out of our Camp and transferred to another camp or dealt with by the US Army Authorities. There were no problems with rebellion, sabotage, refusals to work, etc. that were of any importance at my time in Houlton. There were, - amongst the POW's - three (3) factions of political thinking/opinions:

1. those that thought the war was lost [by now] and came out openly to state their opinions [and prepare for postwar- activities], b] 
2. the hard-core, so-called "Nazis", who would not give up.
3. the "Neutral-ones" , who did not care either way or had no opinions of their own, - and did not bother.

Occasionally, arguments and physical fights would erupt between factions "a" and "b". However, these would be stopped by the "barracks-trustee" with the help of POW's to restore order. If certain POW's would not get along with each other, bringing it to the attention of the German Company Chief would result in a transfer into another barracks, or in more serious cases it would mean a transfer to another POW camp many miles away in a different US State.

There never ever was a Drug Problem at my time in Houlton, as the use of drugs was not known among German POW's, and I suppose, -if-, hardly obtainable, - unless through the medical people.

Where there any escapes from the Camp?

Not to my knowledge. - Of course, we discussed it - and made "trial escapes" - which always succeeded, - as the guards were very lax in their duties "at the fence". You could watch them sleeping - and dozing in the day-time, - and presumably - also at nights, - we sometimes tried - "just for fun" - no harm intended, and threw rocks [small pebbles or stones] against the guard towers used "sling shots" against the upper-platform windows, and sometimes it would take 10 minutes to wake-up the guard. We would watch from 40-60 Ft. from his Tower, - and after waking up, he would rush out and shout: "what is all this commotion for "?

If you wanted, you could have marched out the entire company. Especially under "night-or morning-foggy conditions" [visibility: 3 FT] But why escape? Where would you go?

We all knew, that Canada was at war with Germany. Even down South, Mexico was at war with Germany. By 1944/1945, almost 70 countries were at war with Germany. So, only "adventurers" had notions to escape. These types of adventurers I did meet lateron in Fort Devens [Mass.], after I left Houlton.

Did the guards relax their position with the prisoners?

"yes,- they did" [without being judge or jury - we POW's appreciate this, the guard attitude, we called it the "guard-fatigue"], these guards were "human-beings" and fed up with the war, the same way we were. We also had many private dealings with the guards, they would be buying "stuff" that we wanted, we would pay them, some
guards were big "wheelers-dealers". In general, I would say, we had a very good, common and mutual relationship with our Houlton guards. Though, we did respect them, - there was no misunderstanding on our part, - the guards always were the "bosses".

How many POW's were at the camp?

I would say that there were not more then 600 POW's at my time in the Houlton POW Camp.

As I said before, the POW's were divided up in individual companies, with about 150-200 POW's in one company unit. I do not think that there were more then 3-4 companies at the time, I was there.

How many Guards were at the camp?

I cannot recall any figures in regards to guards. By observation, I would say, there were not very many around, may be one company of about 120-150 men? But I could be very wrong, as at that time I was not interested at all about the US Army setup for the camp.

Where there any special units that these prisoners came from?

Yes. - The majority came from captures at the Normandy Invasion, that's mainly, when the camp started [Summer of 1944].

I also met many POW's from Rommel's Afrika-Korps, captured in Egypt and Tunisia - also German U-Boot [Submarine crews], - also "Elite" SS-Troops and I still have pictures and names from many of these people in my files. [Lateron, in Fort Devens, Mass., - I encountered many more Germans, which were captured all over the world, - name it, - the were there with many phantastic stories].

Originally, Houlton Camp was for enlisted men, - a up to Staff Sergeant [by German Rank - or equivalent if the man was from the Navy or Air Force], however lateron, I also met German POW Officers, highest rank I met in my Supply Room was a Major. By the rules of the Geneva Convention, soldiers up to Sergeant were required to work in "no-war-essential occupations", officers were not required to work and would draw a salary, unless they requested to work. - These officers, that came to Houlton Camp must have requested to work, - as they integrated into our companies, without any say of former rank or privileges.

How did the townspeople treat the prisoners?

There hardly was any direct contact with individual townspeople. Main contacts were, when the POW's were transported to and from. their jobs by open truck through the Town of Houlton. As it is often, when you have a bunch of people together [like POW's who had a kind of happy disposition] they would joke from the truck, make comments or gestures, - especially towards girls. Very often, you got a smile back, or people would wave back, - or others would just ignore the passing truck with a bunch of POW's. However, we never ever noted any hate or condemnation on the part of Houlton people. I personally think, that they are in Houlton, - as all over the United States, - good people, who think fair and are outgoing and friendly.

What was your reaction to being released as a prisoner?

It was not as simple as that So reaction was mixed [with different feelings in each individual case].

When the preparations began to repatriate the POW's, - you were not send directly home [wherever home might have been at that time, or before you joined the German Army].

Very few were send directly to Germany [Bremen or Hamburg].

Many were brought to Great Britain, where they spent additional time in camps, working on farms or in coal mines, etc.

Many were brought to France and turned over to the French Authorities for restitution work [clear away rubble of war damages, etc.], and came back to Germany may be 2 years later, after they had left the U.S. for repatriation.

Some were returned to the Soviet Russian Authorities by way of Murmansk [as I remember from Fort Dix, N.J.], these were Ethnic Germans, whose Forefathers had immigrated centuries ago to Russia these descendants, who were inducted into the Soviet Army, captured after 1941 by the Germans, pressured into joining the German Army - captured by the US Army, - and Joseph Stalin insisted, I believe in the Yalta Agreement [or may be Potsdam], that he gets these "turncoats" back, also his own Soviet Nationals [from the Vlasow-Army] who had joined the German side. These unfortunate men were returned with by force [several committed suicide before and during the "delivery" into Soviet hands]. A very tragic story,- I knew one man, who pleaded, that the Geneva Convention prohibited this, that a POW must first be returned to the country, whose uniform he was wearing at time of capture, but it did not help him, - he was extradited. Stories about these happenings appeared in the New York Times at that time, - but it did not help these unfortunate victims, the U.S. Gvt. fulfilled promises made to "Uncle Joe".

Now, to myself I had very mixed feelings, when the repatriation-process started. Where should I go to ? After this lost wart I had no homeland anymore because the Province, where I was born [Pomerania at the Baltic Sea] had been turned over to Poland after the Potsdam Agreement. From the newspapers we knew that all the German population had been driven out by the new owners [Poland]. Where were my people? There was no mail service, I knew that all my townsfolk had left, that my mother, my two brothers and one sister were somewhere in Eastern Germany, that my father was missing at the Eastern Front. - So, I delayed my departure [from Fort Devens, Mass.] I talked to my superior American Officer [Major Frank L. Reeder from Springfield, Mass.], whether he could hold me as long as possible back in the U.S. - I did not want to be turned over to the British in England for more time there, - I did not want to be turned over to the French for similar-reasons, - and I did not want to be repatriated to Eastern Germany into Soviet hands.

So, Major Reeder delayed my departure to the 2nd last shipment of returning POW's from Fort Devens via Camp Shanks, N.Y. to Le Havre, France until July 1946. - When our ship arrived in Le Havre [France], we were brought to a camp near the Town of Bolbec, but still under US. jurisdiction. There, I worked about another 6 weeks for the US Army, and then I was promised a safe passage to Germany with release [into freedom] at Bebra [Hesse].

"They kept their word"! The train-load of POW's from Bolbec [LeHavre] was
escorted by US Army guards, - at the German Station of Bebra these guards
gave us our discharge papers and from there on we could go into any direction, the individual would choose.

Did it, feel good - to be a "free" man again ? yes & no! Now, I was on my own with no place to go, - misery, bombed out cities all around you. What should I do - what would I start, where would I sleep this coming night ? The little paid-out money in my hands was very little, - good for a few meals - not enough for a new life. Heretofore, - I had the care and protection of the US Army for the past two years, -they told me what to do, where to go, provided the meals and sleeping quarters. Even paid me, so I could buy cigarettes, candy, beer, tooth-paste and razorblades, - I had no worries in the beautiful wide world. Thanks to the U.S. of America! For a moment I felt as a Prisoner, who had served many years in prison - was released, - and did not know, now, what to do with himself. Well, - LIFE had to go on, I spoke to myself and said: "Hans, now, you must do it yourself, you got to start from ZERO"! - So, I did!

What affect did the experience have on your life?

To be a "Prisoner of War" gave me an entire new look on life. First of all, as part of the definition describes, you are a "prisoner"! It means, you cannot move or go about, as you, please, would like to do it. There are "STOPS"! So, You start looking at the world from "the other side of the fence", - which - as we know, looks always "greener". You start manipulating, what can I do? How should I go about it, how do I conceal my intentions? I do not want to be caught. I want to be ahead of the "game"! I want to gain, with/by my smartness, because I think, I am ahead of "them" - I know all about it. So, being a "prisoner" of some kind, furthers your education of being a sophisticated "criminal". This is the negative side, I feel.

Here is what I gained: I saw watched and registered "the human race" [U.S. People & my own POW's] thru. my own "lenses"! And I found, that basically, all people of all nations are good people, they do not want to do you any-harm, they might even help you in your personal shortcomings, they do not want wars, they love their dear-ones and families, they like to be happy, they want to enjoy life [whatever it means: food, entertainment, - the "works"]. Meeting many races, different nationalities, - with their habits and customs, etc. - makes you to realize, that "you" or "me" are very small particles in this big rat-race of nations, nationalities, etc. - You slowly start to respect "that other man" [or woman, or child]. They want to live, too, - they have the same goals in life basically: "to live", whatever that means to the individual in his or her own environment.

My POW experience did make me a "Pro-American", because I saw, at a very limited level and experience "democracy" in action and how it works, can work and should not work].

Yet, - I did not choose to become an U.S. American, myself, - admitted, I had some chances - and probably would have succeeded, who knows ? Why not ? Let me say it like this :"I have gained freedom through my past POW experience, - but I would like to keep my own independence. [big words, but they have a certain meaning- to me alone].

Let me repeat, I feel "pro-American" all the way, despite sometimes irritations caused by US Gvt. actions throughout the world. Which are hard to understand for "foreigners". But nevertheless, I do feel, that in general, the U.S. people have at heart, 
the best intentions, - to try and help - to better this world! "May God help them"

As the German Army had more victories, did the German people give more support to Hitler?

Yes, definitely! Remember the old saying : "When I was well, I heard it never, when I was ill, I heard it ever ....

Yes, I and I believe many more Germans were elated, when Hitler, by his shrewdness, cleverness, trickyness, or whatever you want to call it, demonstrated to his critics and opponents, - "that he could do it"! He took part of the world by "their tails"! And of course, many Germans rejoiced! However, by no means, not all! I was a kid, but I heard many of the older people shaking their heads in disapproval, fearing a very bad ending. Of course, Hitler's propaganda [with Dr. Goebbels] was superb - and many other branches did their best [like the GESTAPO]. Actually, in a very short time, there were no more opponents around, and shaking their heads did not help the old people and "warners" anymore. They would be "swept" away. Of course, the way the "concentration camps" operated was not known by the general public, - I would say, - by hearsay, I knew, there was something like a concentration camp, where people were put, who opposed the "regime", - but nobody ever came back from there to tell you how these camps looked from the inside. I am most certain, that the German people [as such] , and I myself, would not approve of such methods, - - to Put women, children and men away by gassing them. After all, Germans in general are just ordinary, peaceful people, like other nationalities.

As the war dragged on - and an , people in general became disenchanted, - and the Allied War Bombings did not bolster any German resistance. You saw that with the Vietnam War, - people did not want it in the first place, - so end it quick.

I remember my father saying :"I do not know anyone in London, in London, in Moscow or New York, what do I want to go to war for ?" But he got to go - he was only a simple farmer, tending his fields and cows, - and he paid for it, - as he is still missing!

For myself, the tide turned in 1943, - when I was drafted out of school, - Stalingrad had just happened in January 1943, a few survivors came back and related very discouraging stories. I was lucky and fortunate to be dispatched to the Western Front. And when I saw the mighty Allied Forces pounding upon us, - I thought that no longer had we any chance to win.

And I think, many of the German people thought likewise. It was a very dreadful, unnecessary experience...................