Koreans in Normandy

[englandphil]

Steven Ambrose's book on D-Day mentions Korean POW's being found at Normandy.....




The photo shows a Korean soldier in German uniform on a Normandy beach in 1944. The photo itself had been previously featured in “D-Day” by Stephen Ambrose. Apparently an American soldier from the war had told Ambrose that he had met four Koreans wearing German uniforms when his unit participated in action against German troops on the beaches of Normandy.
It seems that the Koreans had been conscripted into the Japanese Army but after being captured by the Russians at the Battle of Nomonhan in the Russo-Japanese War (part II, the 1940’s one, not the 1904-05 one). They were pressed into service in the Russian Army. Captured by the Germans in a battle near Moscow, the Koreans were then pressed into service in the Wehrmacht. They were then captured by the Americans whilst they were engaged working on the Atlantic Wall. The Americans (mercifully) did not press them into service but rather held them as prisoners of war.
It seems that these poor souls never made it back home to Korea as apparently the Koreans were exchanged with the Soviets for American POWs liberated by the Red Army. This I find a little suspicious as at that time the Red Army and the US Army were on the same side and no POW exchanges should have been necessary. I could accept that they were returned to the Soviet’s however as at that time there was a largish Korean Diaspora under Soviet control and they therefore would have seemed like a Soviet problem to deal with.

SOURCE : Korean Soldiers in WW2 German Army | Thomo's Hole

[Elven6]

Interesting, these guys had it rough that's for sure! Didn't Germany have relations with many Asian nations from before the first World War to around the second?

Any idea as to what happened to these guys afterwards? What about during/after the Korean War? (The site isn't loading for me so apologizes ahead of time if it is mentioned)

[englandphil]

Elven, some more info.

The name of the soldier in this photo is Kyoungjong Yang who was born in Shin Euijoo, Northwestern Korea on March 3, 1920. He was conscripted to the Kwantung army in 1938 and captured by the Soviets in Nomonhan and captured again by Germans in Ukraine in the summer of 1943, maybe in the battle of Kharkov, and captured finally by Americans in Utah beach, Normandy on June 6, 1944.

He was freed from a POW camp in Britain on May, 1945 and moved and settled in America in 1947. He lived near the Northwestern Univ. in Illinois until he died on April 7, 1992. He lived as an ordinary US citizen without telling his unbelievable life story even to his two sons and one daughter.

His story was revealed by an article of ‘Weekly Korea’ on Dec. 6th, 2002, which became a big topic in the Korean society here at the time.

His surprising story will be told in a new movie which is now being made in the United States. The title of this movie is ‘A POW in Normandy’ and will focus on the real story of a Korean POW(Kyoungjong Yang) and a US soldier who helps him. It is said that the budget for this movie will amount to more than 40 million dollars.

[Drew5233]

I've seen that picture before. Can't remember where or if it referred to them as Koreans though. Eastern USSR springs to mind somewhere like Mongolia etc.

[Owen]

bit more here.

Alvin's Wehrmacht Homepage - OstBattalion43 - Wartime Picture Gallery - Asiatic soldiers in German service during WW2

[WotNoChad?]

Originally Posted by englandphil

His surprising story will be told in a new movie which is now being made in the United States. The title of this movie is ‘A POW in Normandy’ and will focus on the real story of a Korean POW(Kyoungjong Yang) and a US soldier who helps him. It is said that the budget for this movie will amount to more than 40 million dollars.

Every time I've read a mention of this I've thought it'd make a good film, so good to hear it will be.

[cash_13]

Certainly a different topic

Many thanks

Lee

[2EastYorks]

Well you learn something every day! Truely a World War for them!

[arkrite]

Films don't work for me but what a fantastic autobiography we all missed the chance to read. Another part of the jigsaw never to be found.

[A-58]

Originally Posted by Drew5233

I've seen that picture before. Can't remember where or if it referred to them as Koreans though. Eastern USSR springs to mind somewhere like Mongolia etc.

The same picture and topic was carried over on ww2f some time back. Maybe you came across it there. I read it there, and after reading it here, I still find it interesting. I hope the movie is a good representation of his experiences.