An Interview with John Robert Hogfeldt POW WWII, Stalag VII A
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 21 авг 2024
- My nephew Max Edwards did this interview with my Dad as a school project. It is a great historical encounter of his experience as a POW (Stalag 7 VII A) in Germany in WWII and now posted on RUclips for future generations. As a child I never remember Dad talking about his war experience. I found out later in life that his friends and relatives told their children NOT to ask "Bob" about his war experience. He started opening up about it when one of my boys asked him about it as an 8th grade class assignment. Then one day at a holiday dinner table he started telling all of us about it. He told some stories that my mom had never heard and developed an interest in telling his experience. He definitely had been suffering from Post Traumatic Stress and Survivor's Syndrome. Dad's sense of humor comes through on this video. He suffered pain from his frozen hands throughout his lifetime and was compensated by the VA later in life for it. He was accepted on an Honor Flight in his mid 80's but declined to go because of his health. John (Bob) Hogfeldt passed away on February 25th 2013 at the age of 88.
The greatest generation. Thank you all.
Such a sweet guy! And a great storyteller, with no bitterness at all
thank you Mr Hogfeldt. I think it is very important to get all the stories recorded. My grandfather fought in WWII in the pacific. I use to ask him about the war (I was in my 20's then). He would just shutter. shake his head and become very distant. eventually he would snap out of it. say "human beings dont do that to human beings. its just not right" and walk away. I never really learned anything from him. I realize, and even then, knew he saw horrible things and its not fun. but it would have been good to record some of his stories for future generations. I know, he went from private to First sergeant in like 7 months. I know of his company, only him and about 5 others lived. I know he was sent on a search for food. found coconuts and they thought they had won the lottery. Always wished he had written his stories or told them to us. He passed away 15 years ago. Miss you Grandpa. love ya.
A modest American hero. As a Briton I salute you Sir.
Thanks to the Hogfeldt family for their service & posting this video. Very well done.
My father was in the 42nd division, 232 battalion, G company. He was captured near Ludwigswinkel in March 1945 & marched to Stalag VIIB.
God bless the men that gave us our freedom today.
Outstanding interview. My Dad was a soldier in the New Zealand army in north Africa and Italy thankfully he survived otherwise I wouldn't be here or his great grandchild.
Awe, such a beautiful man! Thank you for your service and I’m so glad you came home! It was hell for all of the POW’s but your will to live and come home to your family, just touches my heart! Thank you for sharing your story. ❤️
To Mr Hogfeldt's family, "I thank them" for his service to our country realizing the majority of our service men were drafted during WWII. But they still fought hard to protect the innocent in Europe, Africa, and end the war against Japan.
"God bless him."
Salute to him and the others for going through what he did. Even though the horror of what he went through, he could joke about it. I think he has great humor. Even though he had the right to hate the Germans, he found something good about them. No wonder he had PTS after what he went through. RIP, sir You are home and safe in heaven.
Thank you Max and Jay for sharing this, What a humble giant of a man. It is clear why we refer to these men, who lived among us as the "Greatest Generation". When they are gone, the world will be a worse place without them.
Yeah, the people who are left are the ones who have allowed America to become the digust-hole that it has become.
I love these veterans who give clear detailed first hand stories. Sometimes you get guys who talk generally about what was happening, but I love these interviews where the veteran sticks to the details of things he experienced, no matter how mundane. This poor guy couldn't catch a break -- they stole his underwear??
I agree 100%. The details make these stories.
Almost every interview I’ve seen from POWs from ww2 to Vietnam I’ve found them to be very sharp in there old age especially about there experience at the time.I think it might have to do with the amount of time to reflect on your position in state like being a prisoner
My dad wasn't captured but in the the same areas described. What great men. 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸
His detail memory is phenomenal. Very informative, thank you for sharing his story and your family's service. You're lucky to be related to such a decent American patriot and war hero
Thank You for your service sir,much respect. 🇺🇸
I’m from Rockford Illinois too. God bless and thank you for your service Bob ❤️
Dad and I were both E-Rabs. He and mom both owned and worked at Commercial Mortgage and finance Company on 7th and Charles. They sold it and he continued to work there for another 10 years and retired at 81years old. The new owner lost it in the recession and was convicted of wire fraud. Many lost thousands of dollars when it collapsed, including my parents.
Thank you sir for your service. Thank you for sharing your story.
My wife makes sauerkraut soup and I love it. I was stationed in Munich from 1960 to March 31 of 62. When I got there there was only one bombed out building left and that was a theater that they made into a memorial. I love your interview. The theft was still going on when I was in the Army. Thank you for your service and the hell that you suffered. My father-in-law and his brother were P.O.W.'s
Whoever was responsible for this thank you
Thanks for posting this. My Dad (Harold "Butch" Zogg) was also in Stalag VIIA as well. I remember him talking about them going into Munich during the day to pick up the bomb rubble. He also went home through La Harve France to NYC. He made it back to Warners, NY on Dec. 24th, 1945.
My Great Uncle Louis Green was in the 30th infantry division, landed on Omaha beach on D-day +3, was captured by German troops on August 5th, 1944, and was held as a POW in Stalag 7A until it was liberated. He also did not talk about it. Thank you for this video!
I am interested to learn more about his experience
Thank you so much for posting this. Max did a superb job of putting this together. My uncle was in Stalag Luft III and was in the Forced March to Moosburg and then liberated from the camp on April 29, 1945. Your father's description of the camp helps me understand that part of the experience better. Your father's gentle voice and descriptions will stay with me.
Theresa Ripley - Thanks for the comment. Dad never REALLY talked about his experiences till my kids were teenagers and were discussing WWII in school. They had questions. Some things my mom had never heard. They know a lot more about PTSD now.
@@jhogy my uncle did not discuss it either until later in life. I put together an ebook of his P.O.W. letters written home to his parents, my grandparents. The ebook is free on kindle or iTunes. Don's Great Escape: Life in a German POW Camp by Donald Phillips. I shall be thinking of you on April 29 this year....75th anniversary of the liberation.
Thank you for recording this video. I enjoyed listening to his recollection. Very well told. Such hardships and sacrifices.
Thank you all veterans and veteran’s families for their sacrifices.
I’ve recently watched a lot of the WWII stories and live in Missouri
I thoroughly enjoyed watching this video, I appreciate the nephew for making it. I am a huge WW2 buff and seeing stories like this really charge me up and wanting to know more about this era. The struggles these men went through were heartbreaking and at the same time fascinating.
How old are you Tim? I am 60 and learned nothing about WWII in high school, my father never spoke of his time over there.just the last 8 yrs from cable,books,A and E channel,military and can't get enough, what a tough time to be alive
Thank You for your war recollections Hope life has been good to you Your service is appreciated
RESPECT Thank You
What a journey ! Thanks for your service.
To Jay Hogfeldt, thank you and God bless you foir sharing this wonderful story of your father with people like myself who learn here about outstanding heros
Wonderful man with great stories. Thanks to all who made this interview possible!
Got to admit: cried a little listening to his story. My grandfather Alex Kulevich was imprisoned there too.
Thanks for preserving these memories, related so eloquently.
Thank you so much for sharing his story, such a wonderful sense of humor!
Thanks a million for posting. The bravest of the brave.
What a humble man and what great service to our country.
Thank you for service mr Hogfeldt. My dad was a WWII vet that fought in the South Pacific, he often would say the same thing. “ why did I live to come home and so many didn’t?” He passed away in 1998. Thanks for your story
Beautiful story. Thank you for sharing it with us.
Whenever I watch these great stories from especially WWII veterans, who are quickly fading from the earth. I find it dis-respectful of those who leave a demeaning comment for Veterans who served their country. My Father was a country boy from Arkansas he had a southern draw was even less Articulate than this man but he went over to Europe and actually captured a German Colonel as they say "Single handedly." It would have been nice to film an interview before he had passed, but since many of the comments on here are by young people who obviously have the benefit of the "Hindsight of the History Lesson" on their side and make comments based on remarks they learned in school sitting at a DESK and listening to Lecture or Reading. I am glad I didn't film him before he passed and then do all that work only to find some disrespectful remark left by someone who had never been Shot at.
I had the Honor to get stories from many Veterans including Uncles and my Father, and they came from a time when ( you didn't talk about it). But I told them I would assess the information they gave me with a "Beginners Mind;" without judgement or prejudice. It was amazing what information you can garner by just listening. Thank you for sharing Mr. Hogfeldt, enjoyed it. And Thank God I didn't publish my Dad's story, I might have accidently "Read" one of Comments by a spoiled, arrogant, entitled, rich, College Student who would have just summed up my Dad's entire life story by calling him an 'Ignorant Farm Boy" because he had a southern draw. No Thanks at least he had to gumption to fight for his country and when he came home he suffered in silence.
My grandfather was at Mooseburg as well. Thank you for telling your story.
On a DVD for years. Finally got his story out there for future generations. 22 great grandchildren and future generations can now view it.
my father was also at stalag VIIA . My father rarely spoke of the war or being captured. I guess it was too painful.
Thank you for this very interesting interview. With warm Greetings from Sweden Chris
One guy told me, once, when he was in Holland during the war they came into a town.
The Germans had fled the town before they got there. The Dutch people were happy to see them.
But the people kept a distance because the US soldiers hadn't showered for a few days and they smelled very badly..
However each and every family invited each of them into their quarters so they could shower.
And if they were going to stay in the town for a day the Dutch would wash their clothes.
And then each soldier would give the family a few packs of cigarettes as well as
whatever food from their C rations, which included powdered coffee of which the Dutch were very thankful for.
great story, storyteller, and video!
Such a great tribute to your father. It is interesting to hear how many ex-POWs talked about the eggnog line after liberation.
Great story. I was gripped watching/listening without blinking.
The 16 thumbs down are complete scumbags
Thank you for sharing this!
I wish people didn't add any sound effects to these videos, the story itself is more than enough.
Thanks for posting. Excellent infantryman's point of view.
its privilege to listen to the fella
Thank you Sir, God bless you ALL 🙏
I love this guy to death for his service and feel bad about his suffering, but oh man, the way he down plays all of these horrible misfortunes has a comic feel to it -- he casually mentions "oh did I mention I had dysentery"... this is one of the best veteran interviews on youtube hands down, and I love watching veteran interviews and have watched many.
This was very moving. My father Kenneth Russell Jones , medic. Was incarcerated at this same camp. It really effected my life.
Thank You!!
thank you for uploading this for all of us.
A common complaint of many veterans is the military's tendency to incoordinate orders among the various chains of command... he fell victim twice (1) they ask him to set up a forward listening post and then they shell the listening post; and then (2) they issue orders to withdraw but don't communicate them to the most important people -- the ones on the very edge of the frontline
The Flees & Ticks NEVER stood a chance.. Lest we Forget... RIP MY FRIEND
VERY GOOD PRODUCTION HAVE SOME MOVIE CLIPS AND PHOTOS TO ADD TO THE STORY, I ENJOYED THIS VERY MUCH AS I WISH IN HAD GOT MY DAD'S STORIES DOCUMENTED,
HE SENT HIS MEMOIRS TO THE A GUY WHO WAS COMPILING STORIES FOR A REGIMENTAL BOOK, SO THOSE ARE LOST NOW..
My grandpa Leonard Duszynski from Chicago 351st Infantry 88th division was in stalag 7a starting in May 1942
Thanks for posting this I really enjoyed
This should be the new corporate training. Not the nonsense we need to listen to these days - and you know what I mean. My respect for this hero and everyone during these years imparts a deep proudness in the USA. What a wonderful document - to outlast all of us for the better. USA!
I came to Canada in December, 1949 in a US Liberty ship rigged up as a troop carrier. It was the Gen CC Ballou.
My grandfather was at stalag 7a as well...
Thanks for your service Sir, Glad it all worked out for you ! Enjoy your time in the USA ! Greatest Generation
PS I like Saurekraut , will try the Soup !
His aspirin story reminds me of something similar that happened to me in France. I was looking for popcorn for my stepdaughter and asked for maise souffle which is what is written on packages in Canada. The clerk didn't know what that was, and when I described it he exclaimed 'Popcorn!'.
My granddad was a marine in the Pacific during WWII. One day he picked me up from school because my mom had to work late. We where in his shop an I was looking in his desk for a calculator and found a picture. It was of about 100 men. I asked him what it was. He said that it was a picture of his unit before they shipped out. I asked him if he ever sees anyone of them anymore. He said no. The Japanese killed them all. He turned white and went to the house. Didn't see him again till he picked me up from school the next day. An I could tell he wasn't himself. Come to find out he was drafted straight outta high school an was involved in four island campaigns as a machine Gunner. All he would tell me was where he went an how long he was there. He passed in 93' an never really talked about it because he just couldn't
A true gentleman
I salute you Sir! Rest In Peace!
My mother’s family is from Baden-Baden. They lived in the city of Pforzheim.
“I moved to the rear faster than i moved to the front.”
wow , what a story !
It’s a testament to his faith, that though toilet paper was at a premium, his bible remained intact. I don’t know why this moves me so much, I’m not a religious person. I guess there’s still time. Thank you for this excellent interview.
True hero.
Both my grandfather's were in WW2 and I think it effected both of them differently one was in the navy and the other was in the army but as I get older I have a great respect for both of them one became an alcoholic I think the war had alot to do with that but like I said I have great respect for both of them and loved there stories about the war wat little they would tell me... I miss them very much
I’ve watched so many of these,and noticed something about how the guys get married. It’s always “I saw this girl and told my buddy, I’m going to marry her “. What a time it must have been. The odds of that happening nowadays? It just doesn’t happen.
I TRULY APPRECIATE WHAT OLD DUDE WENT THROUGH.... BUT DAMN...! HE LET THEM ROB HIM BLIND......! WHAT A POUGH......!
I’m sure you would have done it much better, from your keyboard.
My uncles name that was at the stalag this man was at the same time.His name was Aubry Dellinger.
Nice! Thanks.
Amazing memory. But then he might have been telling this story all thru his life
How long did you have to search to find that picture that almost perfectly corresponds with Bob saying while he was marching he clapped his hands together and they sounded like metal? That was a perfectly matched visual
He doesn't mention it, but if you freeze frame and read the article, his parents thought he was dead until well after he was liberated
That’s the truth! They got a telegram saying he was MIA.
@@jhogy The way he understates the various misfortunes he suffered rather than complaining about them is so endearing... for instance, at the end he kind of slips in the fact that he lost a third of his body weight... and the sauerkraut soup part was great... what a sweet guy
The fruitcake was still good
❤
Says as much about fruitcake as it does war.
Maybe it would be equally accurate to say, "It was still as good as it ever had been."
I had a uncle who was a american pow at this same stalag.When i was a youngman,he would get drunk and told me all of the stories about how bad the germans treated him and the other pows'
In Vietnam it was SOG Macv...studies and observation group.1 10th the battle rattle as a company.
I really hope someone got this gentleman some sauerkraut soup!
Just a really nice story with pics. The Army veteran is an average American whom was drafted into WWII and taken prisoner by the Germans. Nothing gory or tragic was told buy I found myself immersed into his experience.
BRAVO! AMERICAN HERO! These documents are invaluable. Very well done and so important. We will all be dead and gone - and this document will survive, perhaps this comment, and we will realize again that USA is the greatest country on Earth - and that democracy will ring the bell forever.
The Schwarzwald (Black Forest) is actually called that because of the Black Pine.
Over 500,000 us casualties in Europe alone , 110,000 of those are deaths in combat , the Germans to allied kill ratios are 1 for 1 , and Germany sent the majority of there best troops to the Eastern front. It took Germany 45 days to take France alone , it took us 180 days or so , to take it back.
A fellow Beloit grad!
🌹
An American Hero!!
Hero!🇺🇸
Why would you put a bombing soundtrack over his speaking?
Hero
We're gonna be the last generation to talk to these people
wow
Europe is COLD in the winter.
What a beautiful sole🌹🌹
Some have criticized Switzerland for not fighting the germans ; look at maps of the situation in Europe in 41 and the red cross !!!!!!
Imagine what this guy has to say about America today...about that Statue of Liberty...
Hard to say. Growing up we never discussed politics. Later in Dad's life it was hard to communicate because of his hearing and world events were not a real priority. I know that they thought the world was burning during the late 60's with the Vietnam War, Detroit riots, Israel (6 Day War) and the 68 DNC in Chicago.
23:10 bookmark
Col. Klink, Sgt Schultz, col Hogan, the gang was all there.
Hogannnnnnnn
My god I hate snakes.