Italian Hospital Train Unloading Slip for German POW Walter Schmitt
subject: Notes on the Handwriting The handwritten entries are faded graphite pencil. This is not a medical record itself, but rather a transport tag used on a military hospital train. "Entladezettel" The word literally means "unloading slip" or "disembarkation slip." It accompanied a patient being removed from a hospital train and served as a logistics document so personnel at the receiving station knew: which railway car the patient occupied, who the patient was, his military rank, his medical case number, whether he could sit or required a stretcher, where he was to be unloaded. "Ital. Lazarettzug" This stands for: Italienischer Lazarettzug Italian Hospital Train During World War II, Germany operated numerous Lazarettzüge (hospital trains). Those designated "Italian" generally operated in the Italian theater after the German occupation of Italy in 1943, transporting wounded soldiers northward into Germany or Austria for treatment. The blank train number suggests either: the number was never entered, it was recorded elsewhere, or this was a preprinted form used quickly during unloading. Car No. 10a This identifies the specific railway carriage containing the patient. Hospital trains commonly had: ward cars, operating cars, pharmacy cars, kitchens, staff accommodations, so identifying the correct carriage was essential during unloading. Illness Number (Krankheitsnummer) The Krankheitsnummer was an administrative case number assigned to the patient for transport and medical documentation. It was not a diagnosis or severity rating. Offenburg Offenburg, in Baden, southwestern Germany, was an important railway junction during the war. It served as: a transfer point for military trains, a reception point for wounded soldiers, and the location of several military hospitals (Lazarette). Many hospital trains traveling north from Italy passed through or terminated at Offenburg because of its strategic rail connections. Overall Assessment This document is a hospital train unloading ta…
description: Translation ENTLADEZETTEL Unloading Slip ITAL. LAZARETTZUG Nr. Italian Hospital Train No. (No number has been entered.) Wagen Nr.: Car No.: 10a Listen Nr.: List No.: (blank) Dienstgrad: Rank: (appears to read "Gefr." = Gefreiter, but the handwriting is extremely faint and not completely certain) Name: Surname: Schmitt Vorname: Given name: Walter KRANKHEITSNUMMER: Illness / Case Number: 12 Sitzend = S Sitting = S Liegend = L Lying (stretcher) = L (Lying appears to be marked) AUSLADEORT: Unloading Location: Offenburg Bemerkungen: Remarks: (blank)

Japanese Imperial Guard Photo Album
description: This is an Enlistment Commemoration Album owned by Noda Asao of the 10th Company of the 3rd Infantry Regiment of the Imperial Guard. The 3rd Guard Regiment was part of the 2nd Guards Brigade. In 1940 it was deployed to Shanghai and then Hainan Island in China. This unit later saw action in the battles of Malaya and Singapore with Tomoyuki Yamashita's 25th army. This unit took part in the Parit Sulong Massacre of Australian and Indian prisoners of war. The unit also participated in the Sook Ching mass killings of Singaporean civilians that especially targeted ethnic Chinese.
source: Purchased from Don Kochi and part of the Tom Long collection. Translation provided by Yuske Tamura.
date: One of the photos is dated November 13th 1937 so the other photos likely date from around that time as well.

Journal of Wolfgang Schewe (Kriegsmarine)
subject: The journal of someone who served on a German U-Boat. The journal describes his time in training and the photos seem to show him during active duty. Most of the entries are during 1941, and the final date written near the logo for U-929 being in 1945 just 5 days before VE Day. The passenger/cargo motor vessel CARIBIA (12,049 GRT / 5480 tdw) was laid down in 1931, and launched on 1 March 1932 by the Blohm & Voss shipyard, Hamburg-Steinwärder, yard number 493. Completed on 5 Febr 1933 for the Hamburg-America Line (HAPAG) for their West Indies-Central America service. As a twin-screw vessel, Caribia was powered by two 8-cyl. MAN diesel engines with a total power of 11,500 HP, giving a service speed of 15 kn, maximum speed 17 kn. She could accommodate 447 passengers in three classes and had a crew of 198. Caribia begun her maiden voyage from Hamburg in March 1933, remaining on the West Indies route until 1939 before the outbreak of World War II. After 1 Sept 1939 the ship was first laid up and in 1940 requisitioned by the German Navy (Kriegsmarine) for the use as an accommodation ship in Flensburg-Mürwik, close to the Naval Academy. Caribia was painted overall gray and was armed with some AA-guns, remained in her role as a floating barrack throughout the whole war without any notable incident. German submarine U-929 was a Type VIIC/41 U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. She was ordered on 2 April 1942, and was laid down on 20 March 1943, at Neptun Werft AG, Rostock, as yard number 516. She was commissioned under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Werner Schulz on 6 September 1944. German Type VIIC/41 submarines were preceded by the heavier Type VIIC submarines. U-929 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged. She had a total length of 67.10 m (220 ft 2 in), a pressure hull length of 50.50 m (165 ft 8 in), an overall beam of 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in), a height of 9.60 m (31 ft 6 i…
description: Watch and Duty Small Watch Groups Watch Officer: Lieutenant Fraszezak Engineer Officer: Lieutenant Thielmann Chief Engineer: Senior Engineer Hegmann Helmsman: Petty Officer Meissner Division Commander: Captain z. See Gumprich The Training Period from 7 January to 31 May 1941 My Introduction to Active Service On January 7, 1941, around 6 p.m., I traveled with the 13th platoon from Berlin to the port of Stralsund. We arrived there at about 6 a.m., after a journey of several hours. Upon our arrival, we were assigned to the accommodation in the barracks and soon went to the naval training company. There was a lot of hustle and bustle! We were met by our commanding officers. “Gentlemen! You are now part of the submarine service!” We were given a short speech. Slowly, I began to feel proud to belong to such a company. Everything here was new and exciting. In the afternoon, we were assigned to our platoons and groups. I came to the 4th company for further training and was placed in the 3rd platoon, 9th group. Basic training began immediately afterward. ________________________________________ 3 Months of Basic Training Introduction Finally, the long-awaited day of basic training had come. For a long time, I had been preparing myself to fulfill the duties of a German sailor to the best of my ability. Although I already had an idea of what awaited me — the hardships and difficulties of a sailor’s life — I was still determined to give my best. We were now to learn everything that belonged to the foundation of military service: discipline, obedience, and physical endurance. The last days were spent with intensified exercises, and we were tested in the use of rifles and hand grenades. The training lasted four weeks. Training – Basic Exercises The Basic Training The first days of service were quite tough. In addition to the regular duties, we began with basic training. That meant: “Introduction to basic exercises!” The instructors were strict. The commands had to be carried out …
source: Purchased from Don Kochi and part of the Tom Long collection. Translation provided by ChatGPT. Information on the Caribia and Cordillera taken from ShipsNostalgia.com. Information on U-929 taken from Wikipedia.
date: January 7, 1941 - May 3, 1945

June 16th 1949 Letter from American Vice Consul for German POW Walter Schmitt
subject: It appears from this document that Walter Schmitt was attempting to immigrate to the United States post war.
description: English Translation Reg. 2 File 211 VS:gw American Consulate Bremen, Germany June 16, 1949 With reference to your registration on the quota waiting list, you are requested to submit to this Consulate a sworn affidavit (affidavit) from a relative or close friend in America. This affidavit must clearly demonstrate that the person concerned is both willing and financially able to guarantee support for you personally and for any family members who will accompany you to the United States. This sworn declaration (affidavit) must be submitted in duplicate and supplemented with documentary evidence demonstrating the sponsor's financial ability to provide such support. Such evidence may include, for example: bank account statements, deeds or other proof of ownership of real estate, stocks or other securities, life insurance policies (showing the amount of insurance coverage), employment contracts, and wage or salary statements. Attention is called to the fact that sworn affidavits (affidavits) lose their validity after one year. Therefore, if you possess an older affidavit that has already expired or will expire soon, it is necessary that you obtain a new one. However, it is expressly pointed out that, at the present time, only affidavits of support are being examined here. Therefore, please do not send any other documents for the time being, and do not appear personally at the Consulate to discuss your case. Should further steps become necessary, you will be informed in due course. If, however, you are unable to obtain a sponsor, you are requested to notify the Consulate immediately. Respectfully, V. Smith (signature) V. Smith American Vice Consul When replying, please refer to the following number: GERMAN 2905 t-18
date: June 16th 1949

League of Lonely War Women (English Language Draft Copy)
subject: This appears to be an English language draft copy of Corporal Barbara Lauwers League of Lonely War Women propaganda leaflet for German soldiers. Barbara Lauwers Podoski (born Božena Hauserová on April 22 , 1914 , in Brno , Austria-Hungary ; died August 16, 2009 , in Washington, D.C. , United States ) was a Czechoslovak - American agent. During World War II, she worked for the U.S. intelligence agency, the Office of Strategic Services (OSS). Her propaganda operations led hundreds of soldiers to defect to the Allied side . Barbara Lauwers was born Božena Hauserová in Brno , which at that time belonged to Austria-Hungary and from 1918 to Czechoslovakia . She studied law at the University of Paris and Masaryk University in her birthplace. She earned her doctorate in law from the latter and subsequently worked as a lawyer. In 1939, when Czechoslovakia was occupied by Nazi Germany , she married the American Charles Lauwers in Zlín and emigrated with him to the Belgian Congo , where she worked for the shoe manufacturer Bata . Two years later, the couple emigrated to New York . When Charles Lauwers volunteered for the U.S. Army in 1941, following the attack on Pearl Harbor and the United States' entry into World War II , Barbara Lauwers, as she now called herself, moved to Washington, D.C. , and began working in the press office of the Czechoslovakian embassy. As a ghostwriter , she wrote a book for each pair of Czechoslovakian colonels stationed there . On June 1, 1943, the day she received U.S. citizenship , she joined the Women's Army Corps . Because of her language skills—she was fluent in English, French, German, Czech, and Slovak—she was selected for the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), which had been established a year earlier. After an initial posting in Washington, she was transferred to Algiers in North Africa in early 1944 and finally, in light of the Italian campaign , to Rome , to the Department of Morale Operations . There, she conducted interrogations of p…
source: Acquired from Stephen Wheeler Medals in London, UK. Information taken from Wikipedia.
date: 1944

Letter Home from German POW Walter Schmitt 2
description: English Translation: Scottsbluff POW Camp September 21, 1944 My dear parents and Berthold, During the course of this week I received Father's letter of June 11 of this year. I hope that things continue to go well for you and that you all remain in good health. Please do not worry about me; everything is going all right. Unfortunately, I do not have the opportunity here to take part in any kind of instruction or classes. As much as possible, I study on my own. My greatest opportunity is to improve my English, and I am making good progress. The weather here is quite pleasant. Although it is cold in the mornings, by midday it has become warm again. I am still working and find at least some variety in that. A few days ago I received a book from Aunt Bepi, but apart from that I have received very little mail. She has a great deal of work with the Tibbett family and therefore has very little time. From you I have also received very little mail, but I do not attach much importance to that. When the war is over and we are back home again, I will be able to tell you more. For today, heartfelt greetings to all of you from your Son and brother, Walter Schmitt
date: September 21st 1944

Mail Envelope from German POW Walter Schmitt

Mandalay Road Japanese Propaganda Photo
subject: A line of Japanese infantry advance across a smoke filled battlefield with fixed bayonets and a drawn katana.
description: Translation of Japanese text on the reverse: "Approaching the enemy covertly After conquering Rangoon the Imperial Japanese army is doing a reverse spear toward northern Burma. Through intense heat attacking the weak points of the British forces creating a “Mandalay Road”, on May 1st we have occupied Mandalay. The Mandalay Operation was comparable to the Malayn Blitz Campaign in size and range. The Chiang Kai-shek Army supplied with US air force with British Mechanized Unit focused together to create the ABC Combined Force. Creating a defense line around natural formations that they called “impregnable”. The allied military analyst have all sung that deep Burma is impossible to conquer. Despite that after the fall of Rangoon 53 days ago we have focused out efforts on Mandalay and under 30 days we have manage to split the American, British, Chinese combined forces. A great feat achievable solely by the Imperial Army. For the Chinese army being danced around by the British-Chinese Alliance protecting the Burma Road at all cost, the fall of Mandalay was ironically digging their own grave. Out of all the Chinese troops how many can return to Yunnan Province through the Burma Road? To our soldiers the “Mandalay Road” was possible because of their hardship and sacrifice, fighting for around 50 days. Unsheathing the bayonets and commanding with Katana’s the white knights charge into the Mandalay defense line. Their sight of charging into the “Mandalay Road” for 800 km was a quite the sight to see."
date: April 29th, 1942
contributor: Translations provided by Yuske Tamura

Motorcycle Commandos in Training
description: ROUGH WORK BUT THEY LIKE IT! CAMP CARSON, COLO. - Commando training has nothing on the work these rough riding cyclists of the reconnaissance troop, Camp Carson, Colo., do to keep their machines ready for the battle front where paved highways are apt to be conspicuous by their absence. Photo No 3 A soldier's army motorcycle makes a good shield in combat.
creator: U.S. Signal Corps from "ACME" Chicago Bureau The Minneapolis Star Journal Rotogravure
date: August 23rd 1943

Newsletter to All Former Prisoners of War in the USA from German POW Walter Schmitt Grouping
subject: Letter from an organization advocating for compensation for those who had been POWs in the United States and used as laborers there. Interesting to see the organization cite the Geneva Convention and fair treatment and compensation for prisoners in light of the German treatment of prisoners and use of prison labor during the war.
description: Full text translated from German below: "Community of Interests Former Prisoner of War in the USA - Headquarters in Cologne Cologne, November 1950. At Kumpchenshof 6 Long distance call 77177 Newsletter to all former prisoners of war in the USA. The response to the open words of our announcement in the daily press is clear evidence of the realization that the association of all former POWs to assert their claim for payment of back wages cannot be postponed any longer. The demands of the former prisoners of war - who worked in the USA - have not yet been disputed by anyone! According to the Geneva Convention, the prisoner of war is to be treated on an equal footing with the soldiers of his own reserve army in terms of accommodation and food, i.e. that the prisoner of war under no circumstances has to pay for his own maintenance. There can therefore be no doubt that the US government was not entitled to withhold the wages the prisoners of war deserved. 6 dollars per day must be taken into account for accommodation and food. - As well as the legal situation! The well-known dpa report from August 7th ds. Js. has drawn a lot of explanations from various places, none of which, however, should be viewed as denials. What is interesting in this context is the statement by the chairman of the Steuben-Schurz-Gesellscrafft, Mr. Mayor Braden/Geisenheim The chairman of the German Relief Committee in the USA, Mister Hauser, wanted to try to get an amount of 300 million dollars released from the American government to support the German housing program, and that this sum corresponded to the amount of wages withheld from the former German prisoners of war ....! The idea of using the back wages of former prisoners of war for housing construction is not bad in itself, but no one is entitled and authorized to dispose of these back wages than those who, through their work - sometimes under the most difficult conditions - have a right for the payment of a fair wage. The question of a sati…
date: November 1950