What Happened at the End: What a Ruckus!

Zemke said, “The matter of self defense became an increasing concern with the prospect of the Third Reich’s demise and fears as to what would be the fate of the Allied POWs. Rumors were rife, but we could do little more than speculate as to what the Nazi beasts would do in its last throes.”

To prepare, the prisoners begin expanding the training of the commando-type force as well as those who would become military police. Zemke wanted to take over the camp peacefully and to this end, he felt they should begin by letting the Luftwaffe administration know how they would be treated in the event of the Allies taking control. He begin having regulations posted that detailed how Allied and enemy personnel would conform when the camp was transferred. It stated plainly that there would be no reprisals against the enemy. Von Warmstedt fortunately chose to ignore these postings. In the early days of April, the changing attitude of the Luftwaffe personnel was evident. Zemke even began drawing salutes from German guards. As the first signs of spring appeared, post-roll call shouts of “Come on Joe (Russians)" and “Come on Ike” became a regular feature and ignored by the guards. Athletics were encouraged to get the men in shape; they had to be prepared for the worst.

Then von Warnstedt suddenly informed Zemke that all German personnel and prisoners had to evacuate Stalag Luft I within 24 hours. Zemke, conferring with his staff, felt that his men could not march the proposed 150 miles and should sit tight so he expressed his refusal to von Warnstedt who actually did nothing. 

On the morning of April 30, Zemke was asked to report to von Warnstedt’s office. Warnstedt asked him to walk outside the camp area and said, “The war is over for us.”  He asked that the “Provisional Wing X take over Stalag Luft I and permit all German personnel to leave without bloodshed.” They wanted to travel West to keep away from the Russians. Zemke replied yes, provided they all left together at midnight that night. They shook hands on the deal. Zemke and his staff took care that the word did not get out to keep the whole camp from going wild at the prospect of freedom. At 11:50 p.m. (or 23:50), the Allied officers waited at the main gate as the Germans assembled, and with a formal “Auf Wiederschen” and a military salute, the motley group disappeared into the night. (This would be last anyone saw of the guard, Heinrich Haslob, Grete Koch’s father.) (Shown below is Zemke with Russian officers.)

Here's a smuggled "Happy Anniversary" note on April 2, 1945, from Phil "Stinky" Crum, my father's co-pilot, about the anticipated end of the war. He says, "I don't expect much, but I hope for plenty." There were plenty of good things to come for the prisoners. 

The Diary

I was surprised to find a small diary in which my father had written about the end of the war. The diary, furnished by the YMCA War Prisoners Aid, looks like the blue book we used in college. The end must have been such an astounding event after 13 months of captivity that he wanted to record every detail.

April 29 –Night we could hear the “Jerry” (the Germans) moving out, plenty of activity during the day.

April 30 – Jerry started blowing up Flak School. We dug some slit trenches, mostly with Klim (milk spelled backwards) cans. Jerry pulled out tonight. Americans manned the tower at 01:10

May 1 – As a field force member at 12:00, left barracks and moved to Jerry barrack. Went on guard at 8:45 on road at east side of Flak School. Was on guard 7 plus hours. Took bayonet and rifle off Polish boy.

May 2 - Russians came in this morning. Went over to Flak School, picked up bunch of souvenirs. Have had 4 RedX parcels issued, eating like rascals.

May 3 – Sick last night & most of today. Russians seem to be running things. Krieges going wild – lots of them taking off (Zemke said that as the Allied prisoners were transported from Barth in mid-May, 600-700 prisoners remained unaccounted for) – lots of discontent

Friday, May 4 – Pulled guard duty from 8 PM till 12. Milked cow – fine fresh milk

(When the Russians arrived, Zemke began working with Colonel T. D. Zhovanik, the regimental commander of the 65^th Soviet Army. One time he requested help in getting beef for the camp.  Zhovanik’s men promptly rounded up 21 beef cattle and 21 milk cows from local farms. Zemke reported, “it was like a western cattle drive when these came rushing through the main gate past ranks of yelping ex-kriegies.”)

Saturday, May 5 – Went over to airport this afternoon – pretty much a mess – pulled guard from 8 PM till 12. Had my first milk today. Fine big batch of beans

Sunday, May 6 – Went out on scrounging party at 2. Saw some more of Flak School. Picked up radio, saw concentration camp at airport. Went on guard for a while. Traded for a pair of boots.

May 7 – went on guard at 5:30 stayed till 8 – went to Russian movie at 11 AM – got haircut – 3:15 - went to Russian GI entertainment show, exceedingly good. Had steak for lunch. Germany surrendered today at 02:41

May 8 – Pulled guard from 8 AM til 11. Went to Flak School for chairs, tables & such, fixing a platoon mess hall – had supper in press hall – hamburgers, beans and French fries – good.

(May 8 was named VE Day, Victory in Europe,  and in 1950, my sister’s birthday.)

May 9 – War was officially over at 00:01 this morning.

May 9  – Went over to Flak School, scrounging pictures, etc. for mess hall. This afternoon went into Barth, walked around, drank coffee with some Jerry civilians tonight. Guard duty 11 PM till 2 AM

May 10 – Showered, shaved washed with the helpers with the mess hall. Cook French fry.

May 11 – Went to Flak School, put up lights in Mess Hall, get lens from large camera

May 12 – Got packed this morning. First Kriegies left today. The sick and the English, over 900 of them. We were on patrol duty in town. Heard rest of us are supposed to go tomorrow.

May 13 – Got up late, spent from 11:30 til 9:15 in Barth. Gordon & I traded for some stuff. About 6,000 of the fellows were moved out. Camp is quite a place. Some of the fellows have Jerry crazy out here; some out drunk, what a ruckus!

Note: Red McCrocklin said that he and my father often wandered many of the old city streets of Barth after the liberation. They “fraternized” with the Russians (see below), but didn’t like them. They were “Allies,” but not friends.

More of my father’s diary to come.