Anti Nazi

My Grandfather was one of those gentle new age men of the early 20th century. Never demanding of those around him and always concerned for the well being of others, especially his family, and more importantly his eldest daughter, my Mum.

As a production manager in a tool and dye factory in Sudetenland, he was exempt from any form of military service. Not political in any way, he was like many people of his time, he just wanted to live his life in peace. Therefore, when the pro Nazi marches and other political activites started he stayed well away. His close friends and family new his personal view, that is these people were thugs, they were alien to his personal view of the world.

When the Nazis annexed Sudetenland my Grandfarther had to join the Party or loose his job, he really did not have any choice (simmilar to many of the members of the Iraqi Bathist Party).

Unlike some of his colleages, he did not participate in political meetings, or contribute to the overall pro Nazi propaganda in the factory. He began to get a reputation as not really being part of the cause.

It was not long after Germany Invaded Russia that things started to go badly for Grandad. The preasure was applied to reafirm his committment to the Third Reich, to swear allegence to Adolf Hitler. He could not do it. His obviouse reluctance and antipathy to the Nazi cause resulted in his conscription to the infantry and to being sent to the Russian front. Grandad never returned, my Grandmother never forgave the Nazis and has hated everything they stood for. She hated the Australian One Nation Party as she would have hated the BNP of the UK.

I like to think my Grandfather died quickly, but we will never know as, like many of the German infantry of the Russian front during the winter of 1943/44, his body was never recovered and he was only ever declared missing in action. To the day of her death in Perth Western Australia, my Grandmother used to pray that she would be reunited with her loving Husband and father of her children. I only hope that she has was successful.

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