Allen1959,
My father-in-law Luther had several interesting and humorous stories as a prisoner. Luther was born in 1916 in North Carolina, joined the Army during the depression, rejoined shortly after a two year stint at the start of WWII. Stalag Lufthansa 3 was in present day Poland and in the general area that included the Great Escape prison. He was treated well. The airmen were under the pervue of Herman Goering a former pilot a head of the Luftwaffe. As such he received Red Cross packages that included vitamins and cigarettes. The prisoners routinely traded various items with the guards.
Wife and I are largely of German decent. Her great grandfather on her mother’s came to this country in the 1880s. Gustav Kruell, actually was a somewhat famous illustrator for Harpers magazine. Has a Wikipedia page. My side was less notable coal miners and farmers. My legal middle name is simply O, no period and stands for Obernuefemann, my grandmother maiden name on my father’s side. Second cousin was Father Johannes Obernuefemann, a Catholic priest, that was imprisoned and murdered at the Maunthausen extermination camp towards the end of the war. Buried on the family farm in Nuven, Germany under the headstone “Father Johannes Obernuefemann, murdered by Nazi justice.”
My father did quite a bit of genealogical research prior to his passing, much of this work was expanded by a cousin. Perhaps someday I will may the trek overseas.
Igy