Souvenirs of Stalag Luft 3

Discussion in 'Prisoners of War' started by Son of POW-Escaper, Feb 14, 2011.

  1. Son of POW-Escaper

    Son of POW-Escaper Senior Member

    Here are some of Dad's souvenirs of his time at Stalag Luft 3.

    Enjoy!

    Marc
     

    Attached Files:

  2. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Interesting they record a PoW's home address.

    Not sure if your aware but they have spelt his address wrong-I grew up in that area and I can tell you its Footscray Road and here's a picture of where he used to live-The one with the green door and dirt in the front garden. I suspect your family must have been quite wealthy pre WW2 as it was quite a affluent area.

    [​IMG]
     
  3. Son of POW-Escaper

    Son of POW-Escaper Senior Member

    Hi Andy,

    Actually, Dad's family was indeed quite wealthy, but back in Hannover, in pre-Nazi times. I have visited his family homes in Hannover, and some are quite extravagant. It is believed that his grandfather was a millionaire, but most of that money was lost to the Depression and the Nazis.

    The address shown on Dad's POW card is a complete mystery to me; I've never been able to figure out its significance. I believe that his Next of Kin is shown as "Mother-in-law", however Dad was not married at the time, and had no ties in England other than his brother and sister, and he was estranged from both. So, just another little question about Dad that has not yet been answered...

    Thanks,

    Marc
     
  4. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Maybe the local authority archives will be able to tell you more about the house pre-war and during the war. It may have been used as a hostal or any other manor of uses.

    I think Eltham comes under Lewisham Council incase you want to contact them.

    Cheers
    Andy
     
  5. Son of POW-Escaper

    Son of POW-Escaper Senior Member

    Hi Andy,

    Since Dad was indigent in the few months before the war, I'm assuming only that it was a rented room.

    It's possible there was some other connection, but I have no way of knowing what that might be. And yes, I'd always assumed the correct spelling of the road and town.

    Thanks,

    Marc
     
  6. Harry Ree

    Harry Ree Very Senior Member

    I would think that the London address and Mother in Law reference were all part of the fabrication of the new personality "Peter Stevens".

    The principle would be to build up your father's background as one of being genuine English in order to satisfy any interest that the Germans would have in a POW,especially one who might turn out to be of German extraction.

    I wonder if your father at the time spoke English with a noticeable German accent.Must have disguised it well if he did.
     
  7. Son of POW-Escaper

    Son of POW-Escaper Senior Member

    I would think that the London address and Mother in Law reference were all part of the fabrication of the new personality "Peter Stevens".

    The principle would be to build up your father's background as one of being genuine English in order to satisfy any interest that the Germans would have in a POW,especially one who might turn out to be of German extraction.

    I wonder if your father at the time spoke English with a noticeable German accent.Must have disguised it well if he did.


    What you say about fabricating an identity makes perfect sense.

    Dad arrived in London in Jan /34 (just before his 15th birthday), not speaking a word of English. He finished his high school in London (Regent Street Poly), and his report card (which I have) shows comments about his poor English. Amazingly enough, between 1935 and 1939, he was able to not only lose his German accent, but also to cultivate a very plummy "Oxford" one.

    Two of his AGs (both of whom I was very lucky to meet) said Dad was a very quiet man in their company. I'm pretty sure that was deliberate (because he wasn't a "quiet" type when I knew him). The less he said, the fewer English language mistakes he would make, and the less likely he was to give the show away.

    During the whole period of his time in the RAF in England (9/39 to 9/41), the Metropolitan Police were searching for him, and they were slowly closing the noose, thanks to tips from the public. In fact, they finally did figure out his identity deception in October /41, just a month after he was shot down and taken POW. All of this is in his "Secret" Home Office file, and makes for fascinating reading.

    Thanks,

    Marc
     
  8. Harry Ree

    Harry Ree Very Senior Member

    Marc.

    Regarding you father's identity,you will notice that he was "given" by the RAF authorities,no doubt, a C of E stamp as his religion.Would have added more support to his new identity.

    RAFA Oct/Dec Edition Airmail Review of your book together with the reviewing policy.

    Your father is reported as dying in 1996 which from your notes is incorrect.
     

    Attached Files:

  9. Son of POW-Escaper

    Son of POW-Escaper Senior Member

    Marc.

    Regarding you father's identity,you will notice that he was "given" by the RAF authorities,no doubt, a C of E stamp as his religion.Would have added more support to his new identity.

    RAFA Oct/Dec Edition Airmail Review of your book together with the reviewing policy.

    Your father is reported as dying in 1996 which from your notes is incorrect.


    Thanks for posting this.

    Dad died in 1979. It was in 1996 that I finally tracked down his sister (living in London under her real German name), and confirmed that Dad was, indeed, born Jewish.

    Don't know how they could get those dates confused...

    Thanks,

    Marc
     
  10. Son of POW-Escaper

    Son of POW-Escaper Senior Member

    Here's another good souvenir that Dad brought back from Luft 3. It's a very funny caricature of Dad, dressed up like a little boy pulling a toy.

    I've always wondered whether the artist was taking a dig at Dad...especially since he was a roommate. But he did mention Dad kindly in his memoirs ('Happy Is The Day' by Tom Slack).

    Enjoy!
     

    Attached Files:

  11. Son of POW-Escaper

    Son of POW-Escaper Senior Member

    Here's another of Dad's souvenirs. It's the Christmas Menu for 1944, their last year as POW's.

    Marc
     

    Attached Files:

  12. Son of POW-Escaper

    Son of POW-Escaper Senior Member

    Here's another caricature of Dad, done at Luft 3 by his roommate in Block 69 (East Compound), Tom Slack.

    Marc
     

    Attached Files:

  13. Son of POW-Escaper

    Son of POW-Escaper Senior Member

    Tonight marks the 70th anniversary of the night my late Dad, Squadron Leader Peter Stevens MC, was shot down and began his 3 years and 8 months as a POW.

    As a German Jew fighting the Nazis, his entire period of captivity was without protection under the Geneva Convention. He went to become one of the most ardent POW escapers of the war, and is mentioned in at least 10 books (including my book: 'Escape, Evasion and Revenge').

    Sadly, it also marks the 70th anniversary of the death of Dad's rear gunner, Sgt Ivor Roderick Fraser, whose parachute failed to open when he bailed out over Berlin.

    Both gone, but never forgotten.

    Marc
     

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