Personal photos of German soldiers on the Russian front
Received at this site by descendents of those soldiers
These pictures are old and not of high quality but tell a story better than words could do
The picture above on the right is of the reader's father. He also provided the additional pictures above along with the information below listing his father's wartime service.
Ernie, this is my Dad and here is his life.
English Version of G. Sandmanns Lebenslauf
1. October 1, 1945 - Released from being an American prisoner of war
Gerhard Sandmann, Born - May 25, 1918
2. November 2, 1938 - Entered the Federal Employment Service (RAD)
3. November 1, 1939 - Inducted into the Army (Wehrmacht)
4. April 20, 1940 - Promoted to the rank of non-commissioned officer during
the French campaign
5. June 15, 1940 - Awarded the Iron Cross by the Division Commander,
Lieutenant General Boettcher
6. September 1, 1941 - Promoted to the rank of sergeant
7. January 27, 1942 - Awarded the Iron Cross First Class on the Eastern Front
8. February 20, 1942 - Received the Wounded Medal in black for his first wound
9. April 1, 1944 - Promoted to the rank of master sergeant
10. September 1, 1944 - Captured by the Americans near Chalons on the Marne River
11. To February 14, 1945 - Prisoner of War near Le Mans
12. From February 20, 1945 until departure to the USA in a POW Camp bear Marseille
13. From March 3, 1945 - Shipped to the USA
14. From April 26, 1945 - in Camp McLean, Texas
15. June 6, 1945 - Arrived in Camp McAlester, Oklahoma. Number 31 - G655446
16. After World War II served as a policeman with the German Federal Railway
17. Succeeded Comrade Backer as Secretary of the Association and suddenly
died six months later on March 24, 1994
18. On the day of his burial I asked those comrades present at the ceremony if I could succeed him as association Secretary
19. July 30, 1946 - My date of birth
20. My marital status - married to an Irish woman and have sons born in 1978 and 1979