Charley Koenig – 21st Panzer Division – Africa Corps
Charley Koenig and Paratrooper Thomas Blakey at the National World War II Museum in New Orleans
Karl Friedrich Koenig was 19 when he entered combat as an officer candidate in 1943. After arriving in Africa, he fought against both the British and the Americans as a part of the 21st Panzer Division, Regiment 5. Six weeks after he arrived, the Germans surrendered. Karl Friedrich was taken as a POW by the Americans, and transported to the United States. Actively working to improve his English skills and pick up Americanisms, he became a translator and soon went by the name Charley.
After spending over two years in camps in Arkansas, Louisiana and Oklahoma, Charley and many POW’s were sent back to Europe in 1946. Expecting to return home, they were instead diverted to POW camps in Belgium, and then on to England. Finally, in 1947, Charley returned to Germany where he had a successful career in business, raising four children.
He has been an invaluable partner, sharing his wisdom in regards to peace, healing and reconciliation, as well as gaining the trust of German veterans we have interviewed.
Guenter Halm – 21st Panzer Division – Knight’s Cross
Guenter Halm served in the 21st Panzer Division as an anti-tank gunner. While preventing a British tank breakthrough, Field Marshall Rommel drove by to get an idea of the situation himself. Seeing Guenter’s performance and persistence, Rommel recommended him for Germany’s highest honor for bravery, the Knight’s Cross. He personally awarded it to Guenter, who, at 19, was the youngest recipient at the time. Guenter went on to fight in Normandy, and was captured in the Falaise pocket.
Guenter and Charley represented the 21st Panzer Division during remembrance ceremonies every year, and were very close friends. Guenter also believed in reconciliation and took the opportunity to connect with his former enemies whenever the opportunity arose.
Article about meeting with Victor Gregg in England in 2016.
To our great sorrow, Guenter passed away in late 2017.
This interview is ready for transcription, please contact us if you would like to volunteer to transcribe this interview: info (at) ww2historyproject.org
Dates of Interview: Various between 2010 and 2012
Language: German
Interviewers: Heather Steele and George Cone
Format: Standard Definition Video and Audio
Length: 329+ minutes
Hugo Broch – JG54 – Knight’s Cross
Hugo Broch flew 324 missions and claimed 81 victories as a fighter pilot in Jagdgeschwader 54. He is a holder of Germany’s highest order for bravery, the Knight’s Cross.
This interview is ready for transcription, please contact us if you would like to volunteer to transcribe this interview: info (at) ww2historyproject.org
Dates of Interview: Various 2012 – 2014
Interviewer: Heather Steele
Language: German
Format: Standard Definition Video and Audio
Length: 140 minutes
Heinz Roekker – JU88 Night Pilot – NJG2 – Knight’s Cross
Heinz Roekker flew JU-88’s night fighters, and claimed 64 British bombers. He holds the Knight’s Cross, Germany’s highest order for bravery, with Oak Leaves.
This interview is ready for transcription, please contact us if you would like to volunteer to transcribe this interview: info (at) ww2historyproject.org
Date of Interview: November 13, 2013
Interviewer: Heather Steele
Format: High Definition Video
Length: 123 minutes
Alfred Eick – U-510 Commander – Knight’s Cross
Alfred Eick, Knight’s Cross holder, was the Commander of U-510, the only one of five “monsoon” U-Boots to make it to Japan and back to Europe.
This interview is ready for transcription, please contact us if you would like to volunteer to transcribe this interview: info (at) ww2historyproject.org
Dates of Interviews: June 23, 2013; July 6-8, 2013
Interviewer: Heather Steele
Language: German
Format: High Definition Video
Length: 360 minutes
Joerg Czypionka – ME262 Jet Pilot
Joerg Czypionka was a flight instructor during most of the war. He, however, saw combat as an ME262 jet pilot at the end of the war. He had one victory to his credit. After the war, he moved to the United States and became an American citizen. He is an honored member of the Old Bold Pilots, Oceanside, California, where he and other World War II German pilots are treated as brothers by their former American opponents.
This interview is ready for transcription, please contact us if you would like to volunteer to transcribe this interview: info (at) ww2historyproject.org
Date of Interview: January 14, 2012
Language: English
Interviewer: Heather Steele
Format: Standard Definition Video
Length: 115 minutes
Brigadier General Wilhelm Woermann – 16th Panzer Division
Wilhelm Woermann served as a lieutenant in the 16th Panzer Division during the war. After the war, he joined the West German army and worked mainly in training and education of Bundeswehr and NATO troops, especially for armor, until his retirement with the rank of brigadier general.
This interview is ready for transcription, please contact us if you would like to volunteer to transcribe this interview: info (at) ww2historyproject.org
Date of Interview: June 17, 2012
Language: German
Interviewer: Heather Steele
Format: Standard Definition Video
Length: 56 minutes
Christian von Lucke – 16th Panzer Division – Stalingrad – Salerno
Christian von Lucke served in the 2nd Regiment of the 16th Panzer Division, which was wiped out in Stalingrad while he was on leave. His brother did not make it out of the encirclement alive. He went on to fight at Salerno, and had to bail out of 11 tanks during his career.
This interview is ready for transcription, please contact us if you would like to volunteer to transcribe this interview: info (at) ww2historyproject.org
Date of Interview: May 5, 2011
Interviewer: Heather Steele
Language: German
Format: Standard Definition Video
Length: 107 minutes
Emilio Schulz – Cavalry – France & Russia
Emilio Schulz served in the cavalry – normally reconnaissance in armored cars in World War II – but when he was forced to park his armored car behind the lines in the invasion of France, he jumped on a horse, which was promptly shot out from under him by French colonial troops. After participating in the half-hearted attempts to train for the invasion of England, he survived serving on horseback in Russia, but barely, as a “cavalry captain” or Rittmeister. Emilio lived and died as a bachelor – he was an unrepentant womanizer, and his photo albums are full of pictures of beautiful women. We interviewed him when he was 99 years old, and he gave a surprisingly candid, and detailed, interview over two days.
This interview is ready for transcription, please contact us if you would like to volunteer to transcribe this interview: info (at) ww2historyproject.org
Date of Interview: November, 2012 and June, 2013.
Interviewer: Heather Steele
Language: German
Format: Standard and High Definition Video
Length: 664 minutes
Theo Nau – ME109 Pilot – Jagdgeschwader 11
Theo Nau was an ME109 fighter pilot in Jagdgeschwader 11. He had three victories but was shot down himself and seriously wounded.
This interview is ready for transcription, please contact us if you would like to volunteer to transcribe this interview: info (at) ww2historyproject.org
Date of Interview: June 24, 2014
Interviewer: Heather Steele
Format: Standard Definition Video
Length: 86 minutes
