Mayrock Harald - German WWII Veteran Interview

WWII Veteran Harald Mayrock was interviewed in Lima, Peru on February 10, 2015. Gefreiter Mayrock was a German Paratrooper who served in a heavy mortar platoon with the 7th Paratrooper Division, 1st Company of the Luftwaffe. Harald was born in Lima, Peru to German parents. As fate would have it, Harald was sent to a prestigious school in Germany when WWII broke out and was drafted into the Luftwaffe. Harald ends his story with how he was captured and was able to finally make his way back to Lima to reunite with his family. ‪@MakingHistoryProject‬

[@dennispfeifer7788]

I gotta read this man's book...I sure hope he wrote one! This is better than a Hollywood movie!

[@MakingHistoryProject]

Thanks for watching and your comment!

[@user-it5wt8sj5y]

Thank you so very much for your interview with this very intelligent and interesting man. As a Canadian born of German parents, I see so many parallels....except my parents and ancestors go back many generations from Poland...so, Polish was also spoken in my home...but mostly German. My father was drafted into the Polish Air Force....and this story I remember well...BUT, now they are no longer alive, and I now am older...I have questions. Anyways, he took the (Polish) plane, flew to German occupied Romania (Bucharest)...landed, defected, and switched sides, as his loyalties were German...only to be sent to the Russian Front. NOW!!! I wish I would have asked, but no one is alive anymore to answer two questions: Why would the "Polish" put a "German" in a Polish fighter plane, and why did the Germans not shoot him down? 3/4 into your documentary, Mr. Harald confirmed and answered another piece of the puzzle for me. After the war ended, and both my parents, "refugees," yet my father with "German" papers...I kind of knew the story with regard to curfiew...but... I did not know France was there as well. Now I understand. He decided to walk by night (I was always told to Belgium) to find his friend. Maybe not totally true, or I don't remember correctly. He was captured by the French, not sent to the mines, but, my father was (in German) a "Meister Schlosser" and VERY good at his trade. He was a prisoner of war in a factory. Treated very well, I might add. I now understand how that really may have come to be. I still have his release papers (in French) that not until a couple of years ago had translated by a friend from Quebec Canada. Kind of the same. His rank "Sgt.". I was told the Sgt. in battle was shot, and they put my dad in charge. I thank God he wasn't SS. That I am sure of. I have not missed a Rememberance ceremony here in Canada. I am so grateful for the soldiers who fought for our freedoms ❤ Thank you so much. I understand so much more. You did an amazing job interviewing a most interesting, humble, and intelligent man.

[@MakingHistoryProject]

Thank you for watching and sharing your father's related story as well. @@user-it5wt8sj5y

[@per-eriksjodin8361]

​@@MakingHistoryProjectqqqq

[@randyjenkins8743]

​​@@user-it5wt8sj5ywhy? if he was "ss" you'd know your father was the best of the best

[@wightclaudia]

We desperately need more German veteran interviews.

[@MakingHistoryProject]

Thank you for watching.

[@ritamedina-molina8550]

Please more interviews

[@kentuckybeararms]

No we do not because they are the Enemy and screw them for what they did

[@draganjagodic4056]

​@@kentuckybeararms Grow up kid.

[@RedGalaxyFishbone]

@@kentuckybeararmsBig difference between Wehrmacht and SS.. if you were a healthy german 80 years ago you would had to fight as well ;)

[@Intel-i7-9700k]

It's crucial to make these kind of interviews with WW2 veterans. In a few decades there won't be any left 😢

[@MakingHistoryProject]

Thank you for that comment. This is why we do what we do!

[@toberrdrawforc]

“In a few DECADES there won’t be any left? Mathematics is a challenge for you? A) The youngest WW2 veteran alive in 2015 (when this interview was conducted) was 84 years old. B) “In a few DECADES” will mean these ages are 20 years past death, by a 98.33 percentile. Please attempt to think prior to posting comments. Thank you!

[@toberrdrawforc]

@@MakingHistoryProject And you approve this lower minded post? What a shame!

[@MakingHistoryProject]

Interesting response. I am not sure what your dispute is. The comment was to strike home the idea that Veterans are passing as a prolific rate due to age and their stories should be preserved. I do not think the comment was a mathematical exercise, which is certainly not how I read it. The point is that today any WWII Veterans are quite old. Assuming a soldier got involved late in the war in 1945 at the age of 16, that Veteran would be 95 years old. I would suggest that would be the youngest WWII Veteran you could find alive today. Further, these are the facts from Statista as to the annual projected number of living U.S. WWII Veterans www.statista.com/statistics/1333701/us-military-ww2-veterans-living-estimate/ That study suggests that 226K veterans were alive in 2022, 87K in 2024, and they are rapidly declining from there. @@toberrdrawforc

[@Intel-i7-9700k]

@@MakingHistoryProject Thank you for your response, those numbers are indeed quickly declining 😢 One of my customers is a 100 year old veteran from the Netherlands, and the war he fought in is still so alive and active in his mind. Really goes to show what an offer these young men made to go to the battlefield. As for that critical comment, I don't think much can be said to it in response, this indeed is not about mathematics 🤣

[@steve24550]

Quite rare to hear the other side of the story, first hand. Thank you.

[@MakingHistoryProject]

Thank you for watching and your comment.

[@curtisrandolph1887]

Harald spoke German, Spanish, and English during the interview. Pretty impressive.

[@sup8857]

He had great language teachers. But chemistry? Apparently, not so much.

[@ApriliaRacer14]

@@sup8857He did not appear fond of his chemistry teacher 😂😆🤣

[@realitymatters8720]

Impressive for an american perhabs ! I speak 4 languages fluently, and 3 more where I get by, and im not unusual in Europe, most speak at least 3, and the worst educated userly still speak 2, their native tounge and English ! What is impressive about him is that he seems to have gone through real trauma, and managed to build a life afterwards !

[@brez-ed9dd]

Very evasive, with a selective memory.

[@markcleveland8338]

Every German soldier from WW2 I've ever seen interviewed conveniently never was around any of the brutal sh!t they were famous for...which is really the only part i am interested in. How one is part of such a dark thing ? And they just point fingers at other Germans... You'd think at least one of these guys would just be honest.

[@razorback7158]

Dude still has all his marbles , sharp as a tack

[@MakingHistoryProject]

Thank you for watching!

[@wittelsbacher27cameron16]

German the smartest DNA on the planet the Founders, thinkers, creators! They betrayed Germany ! Masacered Germany ! Lied about Germany! GB and America are the war mongers of the planet not Germany!

[@Steve-gx9ot]

Many old people are much wiser than young

[@derin111]

It’s striking to reflect just how young he was! My Grandfather also fought in the Wehrmacht having joined voluntarily in 1938. After his time in the RAD, he fought as an infantry man in Poland and France before being wounded out by a bullet through both legs in Russia in 1943. BUT…he was much older having been born in 1910 and so was already 28 when he joined and 33 by the time he was wounded.

[@MakingHistoryProject]

Thank you for watching and sharing your story

[@michaelwakeford2336]

Much respect and many thanks for sharing. My own father was in the RAF as junior officer. He could never understand that had he been born in Frankfürt he would have been in the Luftwaffe. I have always been very appreciative of those on all sides of that conflict who can share the truth with my generation. Born in 1951 and now 72 years old I had been part of the Love and Peace generation, probably obsessed with peace after having been born on rations and raised in the ashes of the war. I find it very healing to hear veterans gifting us all with their memories with the propaganda from all sides removed.it really is a tonic and I thank this Chanel and particularly Herr Harald for his wonderful candour.

[@ousmanesow2916]

His discipline as a soldier could be felt all along throughout the interview. Thanks for the work you provided.

[@MakingHistoryProject]

Thank you for watching and your feedback

[@_zoinks2554]

That's upper class behavior. Sadly this is not something you see these days.

[@Dechieftian]

A first hand account of life in Germany during WWII as described by ordinary people gives the listener in 2024 a real sense of what people lived through in this turbulent time. The raw emotion of what was experienced makes for a fascinating insight into the real and fearful world of living with war. It is in addition, a great teacher of the need to avoid war and find ways to make our world a better place for all our peoples in all our contries. Thanks to the Making History Project for this wonderful series of oral accounts from people who actually lived through these geo-political conflicts and sharing their stories from which - with little difficulty - we can feel empathy for those voices who endured so much.

[@MakingHistoryProject]

Thank you for watching and for your thoughtful comment. Much appreciated.

[@cristianpopescu78]

Awesome! My Girlfriend works here in Germany in takecare of old people institution.Some of these heroes still here.They are extraordinary people .

[@mikethomas4598]

"Hero's"? Wow!

[@tiredextremely]

​@@mikethomas4598yeah dude. They fought for their country, theyre somebodys heroes. If you wanna be confrontational, tell me your country and ill tell some fucked up stuff they did in war

[@marthae9338]

We don't generally refer to those who fought for Germany in World War II as "heroes" . We tend to throw that word around quite a bit..I would suspect most soldiers don't see themselves as "heroes". Even Medal of Honor recipients shrug off that notion. This man does not strike me as a "Nazi". Not every German soldier was. @@mikethomas4598

[@wallykloubek4079]

@@mikethomas4598..yes, heroes...the German soldier fought bravely to the very end ...no historian denies that..cheers🍷🇨🇦

[@danielcombs3207]

In the U.S. the institution you’re talking about is referred to as an assisted living facility. It’s just different terminology. I’ve met elderly American veterans who fought in Europe, North Africa and the Pacific campaigns. Very brave men for certain. It was a horrible war for all involved. Hopefully we never have a Third World War.

[@peterandersen1378]

Very interesting interview. This gentleman was at and survived the crossroads of history!🇨🇦👍🏻

[@MakingHistoryProject]

Thank you for watching!

[@TheParadisecove]

A beautiful human with a beautiful story of faithful duty and honor and intelligence...bravo Herr Mayrock..und Gott segne dich..

[@MakingHistoryProject]

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[@user-ih1mo8vv7o]

Very calm , very cool, a super great interview

[@hoosierdaddy2308]

I know this is old, but it's excellent and his English is very good. Where I live in Indiana about 20 minutes drive there was a POW camp for Germans and Italians. Many women dated the German prisoners because our men were in Europe. A few Germans ended up staying and I met one who was in the Luftwaffe and then became an American citizen and joined the US Army and fought in the Korean war. I worked for a woman that owned a diner and her name was Ute and her father died in Russia and they never got him back. They didn't know what happened to him. This was during the war and not afterwards. He went missing and just never came back. Poor woman. I loved her. Great interview. Outstanding. ❤

[@MakingHistoryProject]

Thank you for watching and your comments

[@tonybarnes3858]

So glad the Indiana girls were able to date the German POWs!

[@Ed99924]

Fantastic interview with an extraordinary gentleman. They don't 'make 'em' like this anymore...the 'old school ' values, ethics & courtesies are so evident with this fine man...Very refreshing & inspiring. Thanks for a great interview !

[@MakingHistoryProject]

Thank you for watching and your feedback. Much appreciated.

[@Frank-qs3pe]

You can see how proud he was of his accomplishments post war and he should be. A very interesting,educated and insightful man. As long as people have purpose in life they continue to live.

[@MakingHistoryProject]

Thank you for watching and your kind comments.

[@user-ih1mo8vv7o]

Boo-boo. The best part of the interview was when he went to Peru . What happened to his business ??????

[@michaelallen1396]

That area around Lake Constance and Garmisch are spectacularly beautiful.

[@patrickoconnor1077]

Growing up my neighbor and fishing buddy was a WWII veteran a united states marine. A one time DI at paris Island and a veteran of gudal canal and iwo jima. As i got older he shared some stories with me. He was a good man and a good friend. I didnt know either of my grandfathers and he was probably the closest to it for me. Need more of these interviews with this generation.

[@MakingHistoryProject]

Thank you for watching and your comment. This is why we do what we do.

[@hilding2063]

He must have been about 88 or 89 years in that interview, amazing memory. The school he has been enrolled to is famous to this day. His dad must have had good connections. Todays Germany is a nation without Patriotism ashamed of itself, which isn't helpful with the current challenges in this world. Hard to imagine Germans to volunteer for anything.

[@MakingHistoryProject]

Thank you for watching!

[@richardsimms251]

Germany and other countries were TRULY BAD then, but Germany has resurrected itself and is now doing very good things in the world. RS. Canada

[@wolfiewolfdog9771]

It is a shame isnt it, Germany lost it’s pride and now without spine

[@tavish4699]

@@richardsimms251 truely bad? what the hell does that even mean? was the treatment of the africans and indians , the indochinese and the other asiatic people under french and english rule any better? did you know that to feed the english people during the war millions of indians were forced to starve as all the food was sent to england and its army?

[@realgrilledsushi]

No way, this guy is a Fallschirmjager vet? Awesome! Subscribing to this channel!

[@MakingHistoryProject]

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[@bikenavbm1229]

Thank you very much for your memories Harald and the project allowing it here

[@MakingHistoryProject]

Thank you for watching and your feedback!

[@williambradford352]

What an outstanding interview with a German soldier who served during WWII as a teenager. His comments that included his early experience of being a member of the Hitler Youth, the RAD organization and on to the Luftwaffe in combat is amazing. The man is a legend!

[@MakingHistoryProject]

Thank you for watching and your comments!

[@cookml]

And yet they set on fire barns full of women and children. So much so that he could not recall how to say ‘fire’ in German.

[@MakingHistoryProject]

Interesting comment. Did you watch the interview? @@cookml

[@MakingHistoryProject]

@@cookml They does not equal He.

[@Calidore1]

​@@cookmlnot sure I saw that bit, sounds unlike him.

[@amham48]

Absolutely fascinating interview. Of course, "nobody was a Nazi" but this soldier appeared to be caught up in the war and did the best he could given the circumstances. Very lucid given his age.

[@_zoinks2554]

There was plenty of opposition to the national socialists in old Germany. Especially from the old elite and communist element. Just look at the US currently. Do you think the entire country is supportive of the Biden government?

[@taylorbarrett384]

"nobody was a Nazi"

[@kingcobra7565]

These interviews help us better understand the War. Thank you Mr. Mayrock Harald..

[@MakingHistoryProject]

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[@SvetlanaVladimirova8590]

Thank you very much for this interview. It was truly fascinating.

[@MakingHistoryProject]

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[@podaly]

Fascinating! I found the recollections of just after the war's end...how chaotic... compelling. Glad he found his parents safe.

[@MakingHistoryProject]

Thank you for watching

[@marksmith8928]

Have to say, I appreciate how you gave Mr. Mayrock the leeway to talk about how he built his life after the war. That small part was very important.

[@MakingHistoryProject]

Thank you for watching and your feedback.

[@Llkdd1987]

Thank you for posting this.

[@MakingHistoryProject]

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[@javasrevenge7121]

At first I have to say this upload has a great sound, secondly this is an interesting story by Mayrock, thirdly the interviewer is doing a great job. You have another subscriber.

[@MakingHistoryProject]

Thank you for watching and your feedback. Much appreciated.

[@milonguerobill]

I disagree, Both mic's should be on both channels not one guy talking into one ear and the other into the other.

[@youhavealotofnerve]

A good story and think of all he went through on the "other side" it is nice to hear. Love the conversation in Spanish, not sure if it is personal but for historical perspective it is great to leave in as it personalizes the message.

[@SeattleRex]

This was fascinating. Thank you so much for making it happen. I hope this man is still alive. It will be a sad day when our last connections to this era are gone.

[@MakingHistoryProject]

Thank you for watching

[@ranoldojenkins7446]

The interview is a amazing. The birds in the background is so great for something like this.

[@MakingHistoryProject]

Thank you for watching

[@vblake530530]

This guy’s stoicism is incredible. Talks about reuniting with his family as if ran to some acquaintances at the local gas station , picking up a pack of chewing gum.

[@MakingHistoryProject]

Thank you for watching. It could be individual or cultural. Interesting observation.

[@randyrosy]

Funny how people are unable to comprehend that someone is able to speak a foreign language whether he be a ww2 veteran or someone else. People were educated also at that time

[@ManiSRao-bt3xw]

It's an American thing. America's huge & it's culture is all about assimilation - by forgetting the 'old' language and sticking with English. It's just built this way :(

[@ApriliaRacer14]

I would say better educated then.

[@griftinggamer]

​@@ManiSRao-bt3xw There is no assimilation anymore. America as an empire is just a colony for foreign nations at this time.

[@Budd631]

@@ManiSRao-bt3xwit’s called geography. Germany borders 9 other countries within driving distance.

[@MegaBytesTech]

He probably can speak Spanish too considering he grew up in Peru lol

[@kenhart8771]

Fantastic interview and historical events. So many destinies caught up in world events.

[@MakingHistoryProject]

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[@leesaunders1930]

Great interview you give this gentleman enough time to answer and explain your questions. 👏👏👏

[@MakingHistoryProject]

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[@Chrisamos412]

The interviewer had great questions. Very interesting story, thank you for sharing it 🫡

[@MakingHistoryProject]

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[@peterwhitaker4038]

i like to hear old soldiers telling their stories no matter what side they were on. there is a fascinating you tube called 'Lions Led By Donkeys' in which you hear many World war one soldiers from Great Britain (all dead now) talking about the battle of the Somme 1916. it also has good footage, music and explanations of what happened.

[@MakingHistoryProject]

Thank you for sharing.

[@alicejohnson8751]

It's amazing that his account is so fluent considering he is 96 and giving an interview which is not in his native language.

[@MakingHistoryProject]

Thank you for watching!

[@donnasmyth45]

It was filmed in 2015, I see. Not sure if the man's alive today.

[@unitedstatesdale]

New to your channel.. Its fantastic. Thank you

[@MakingHistoryProject]

Thank you for that feedback!

[@neilldn74]

This was fascinating. Thank you.

[@MakingHistoryProject]

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[@NordicTG]

Very Good to se Interview from German Vets or their perspective & also hear about how they grew up, I assume by now he is no longer with us, but I also think his Story could have been made into a Hollywood Movie, shame though Hollywood dont really make that kind of Movies though.

[@MakingHistoryProject]

Thank you for that comment!

[@charlesmahoney7234]

“Things got out of hand” made me laugh, quite an understatement

[@digitalbase9396]

This interview reminds me of Otto Renger whom I have met and was enlisted at the same age into the fallshirmjager unit

[@zachhoward9099]

Incredible interview! Thank You for this! Interesting to note, the army he spoke of his father liberating Munich in was one of many groups known as Freikorps, a very interesting movement in the immediate post WW1 years, this gentleman’s father was a Freikorps soldier as well as a WW1 Veteran, it was quite common as actually the bulk of the various Freikorps were comprised of demobilized WW1 vets, the fact the he voluntarily enlisted in WW2 is pretty incredible in its own right so he was a World War 1, World War 2 and a Freikorps veteran, incredible. Again, Thank You for interviewing this gentleman

[@MakingHistoryProject]

Thank you for watching!

[@AnotherWS6]

You're really just a S-y person. @@MakingHistoryProject

[@kazkazimierz1742]

Really interesting story. I wish he had said something about his sisters who stayed in Chile when he went to Germany.

[@Americal1970]

Thank you Mr. Harald and the interviewer for recording Mr. Hs experience. This made me think back several years. I apologize to everyone, I don't remember his name. He is English and was writing about the Hitler Youth. He was telling how his research interviews with the now grown up H. Y. members (he was the same age in London ) had completely changed 180°. Much to his suprise. The only example I can remember he gave was "I grew up in a alley with a dirty face hungry most of the time with nothing to do but fight and shoplift" Back to Mr. Hs interview Wow I like when he answers the phone. He speaks cat quick, I have no idea what he said, but it fits this interview perfectly. -I think -. >>>Mr H.

[@MakingHistoryProject]

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[@Birdynmnm]

What a great storyteller he is

[@MakingHistoryProject]

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[@jeffthomas3707]

This is the face of the average German soldier. Not a Nazi, not a war criminal, not a bad person, just a man doing his duty.

[@MakingHistoryProject]

Thank you for watching the interview.

[@georgewilkie3580]

Jeff Thomas, Thank You sincerely for You very knowledgeable comment.

[@jcarby86]

whats his duty ? invading foreign countries and killing jews ?

[@TheAnthoula14]

Agree. I think we tend to forget what a large country Germany is. Out of all those millions and millions of people, not all were criminals.

[@MakingHistoryProject]

Thank you for your comment@@TheAnthoula14

[@atunis5804]

excellent interviewee

[@simonellison9271]

Thanks for story

[@daqt6079]

Outstanding.

[@MaxVonStark]

Fascinating his journey from SA to Germany......and then back....

[@MakingHistoryProject]

Thank you for watching!

[@preservingthestories]

Outstanding interview!

[@MakingHistoryProject]

Thank you for watching and your comment!

[@preservingthestories]

@@MakingHistoryProject of course! I wish more people were doing these interviews! These stories need to be recorded.

[@richardsimms251]

Very, very interesting video. Thank you. Great interview. What a tragedy. RS. Canada

[@MakingHistoryProject]

Thank you for watching

[@joseplaza9442]

Fantastic man

[@frankdillon7958]

Incredible what these men went through A lesson on the futility and horror of war. If only never again 😢

[@MakingHistoryProject]

Thank you for watching.

[@stephenbudd3771]

Fascinating… he must have been retreating through Twente in Holland into Germany towards Lingen. My mother was 26 and lived in Denekamp and vividly recalled the German retreat on the road outside her house very close to the border on the road to Nordhorn, the next town to Lingen. It was the main road back into Germany and Denekamp had been one of the first towns invaded by the Nazis. She recalled being beaten by SS and her brothers having to be hidden in the woods behind the house De Borg, you can look it up, it’s still there. It is a magnificent house and was used as a Gestapo brothel during the war and as a British officers quarters on liberation. I wonder if he walked past that house, quite possible . I have pictures of Scottish Highlanders tanks in the drive way still. … my grandfather was made Mayor by the British (he spoke English) and was given the job of locking up local fascist collaborators. …. history eh !!

[@MakingHistoryProject]

Thank you for watching and providing some additional historical context.

[@greenrosenz]

Just a normal lad, lucky to have been born 1927. Called up at an earlier age than England. My English father, born late 1928, was not coscipted till 1946. Luckily not involved in active duty as he was RAF. Later years of war was a post office telegram lad delivering post D Day messages. Householders hated him cycling into their streets, as can be understood. A very interesting interview.

[@MakingHistoryProject]

Thanks for watching and sharing the memory for your father

[@popcornhead3479]

The man is an absolute treasure, so much real experience his stories are priceless! Love these types of videos but hard to find

[@MakingHistoryProject]

Thank you for watching!

[@mariar4431]

A lovely gentleman. A good and brave soldier and decent man with an incredible story.

[@MakingHistoryProject]

Thank you for watching!

[@wolfiewolfdog9771]

German veterans should be heard more so than any others at this point because most people have a one sided viewing of history from allied perspective and dont understand the truth from those who were there on the German side

[@MakingHistoryProject]

Thank you for watching

[@tonybarnes3858]

Describe the "truth"--do you mean to say that they weren't ideological, just young conscripts forced into conflict? Of course so many of the boys were. But so many of the men were willing and devoted Nazis. That's the problem. The allied perspective is the perspective of freedom, tolerance; a perspective of crushing the facist movement, helping the persecuted minorities. What can we learn from a veteran like this except that the Third Reich was a monstrous abomination, the Soviets were angry and cruel, the Americans late to arrive, more kind, and eager to go home? We have all we need to know.

[@DocM.]

I really find the German soldier interviews so interesting. It's so rare to hear their stories. I feel like due to the atrocities, they were not given the opportunity to freely talk about their experiences

[@MakingHistoryProject]

Thank you for watching.

[@Tronter6000]

It’s amazing he was able to tell his story

[@MakingHistoryProject]

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[@paulrimmer391]

Love his sense of humour. I could fight in the war, but not allowed in the movies. Lol.

[@MakingHistoryProject]

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[@johncourtneidge]

Thank-you.

[@Go_for_it652]

My father was a front line observer with the Canadian Army WW 2 . His views were similar to this gentlemen .

[@MakingHistoryProject]

Thank you for watching and sharing.

[@michaelshortell1482]

I hope the interviewer kept his day job! His interviewing skills, if any, at home this da5.

[@joselinares2084]

Excelente información Histórica. Saludos respetuosos y cordiales desde California Capitán de Fragata Asimilado Doctor Jose Rafael Linares Badillo.

[@MakingHistoryProject]

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[@TheSpritz0]

LATE in the war many ad-hoc Luftwaffe Units were designated "Paratrooper Units" just because the Colonel or General in charge was in charge of one of these units PREVIOUSLY... of course, being Luftwaffe they wore pretty much the same uniform. MANY had never jumped from a plane before, or after... After the Stalingrad defeat, Germany was no longer on the offensive and training was not the same, even fighter pilots training time was dramatically reduced. I read Adolf Galland's book and he said Gasoline, Ammunition, and even replacement Aircraft were at all factors...

[@MakingHistoryProject]

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[@brentthompson9597]

Incredible.

[@asintonic]

I love the fact that he refused to say certain things even after being asked.

[@sarahreese4285]

1:45:10 I absolutely love that the phone call wasn't edited out. 😂😂

[@MakingHistoryProject]

Thank you for watching! It is what makes each interview unique.

[@zaknoten7854]

Its impressive how good his english is for a ww2 german veteran

[@griftinggamer]

English as a businessman.

[@wittelsbacher27cameron16]

Well Germans are the most educated folks , honored manners people with integrity and a tremendous intelligence! That’s why they envy the Germans. They made up Propaganda to have a reason to attack ! USA and GB dud war crimes of the finest!

[@brianthomas3465]

I'd love to hear about his life after the war. Kids wife. Etc. I could set and listen to this treasure forever ❤

[@MakingHistoryProject]

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[@kevinhathaway7240]

Such an amazing story!

[@MakingHistoryProject]

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[@_zoinks2554]

We could have had a western uptopia but instead we chose usury and degeneracy, which ironically started in Germany as well. Very good historical interview. These few remaining people will be gone very soon.

[@Llkdd1987]

Usury is the most interesting one indeed

[@FriedrichSchuessler]

very lucky that his whole family survived. and he was very young to go to war - i nearly can't imagine that, but that was the reality in that time sadly .... but he had good education and made his future with hard work. not asking for work life balance. hard to think when was 17 or 18 i am thinking of drinking beer and girls .... he was although lucky not being on the eastern front.

[@MakingHistoryProject]

Thank you for watching and your comment.

[@tomdonahue4224]

I cant believe his dad, being in his mid-40's and being a Sergeant on the Eastern Front.

[@only5186]

Ever read any books from German soldiers on the Eastern front? Man brutal brutal brutal! Awesome reads though. My favorite is Blood Red Snow! There's another called The Forgotten Soldier that's really good.

[@tomdonahue4224]

@@only5186 I read Guy Sajier's book. Rough stuff

[@richardcopeland3226]

Amazing to hear his recollections, I do feel that the interviewer could have used a little less aggressive interview style.

[@MakingHistoryProject]

Thank you for watching

[@MrPchoi626]

What an interview.

[@MakingHistoryProject]

Thank you for watching and your feedback!

[@HelmetOfHonor]

Hello, I am on the search to interview the last living WW2 veterans how do you find WW2 Veterans, especially German ones?

[@MakingHistoryProject]

I would search for Veteran organizations to which they may belong.

[@HelmetOfHonor]

​@@MakingHistoryProject thank you, how did you find this gentleman? 😊

[@marcwinfield1541]

Amazing... you met this gentleman in Lima, Peru! That's out of the way...

[@garywells3763]

Many lessons here for people at any time to learn. Foremostly, the more power that concentrates into fewer and fewer hands, your government can be trusted less and less to tell you the truth.

[@Ken_Jepsen]

How likable he is!

[@MakingHistoryProject]

Thank you for watching!

[@apimyfriend]

Anyone know what he was speaking in Spanish at the end there?

[@annawhitis4251]

He is a good man & family. Kevin Phoenix

[@MakingHistoryProject]

Thank you for watching and your comment

[@ManiSRao-bt3xw]

His boarding school -Schule Schloss Salem- is famous. Founded by the same German Jewish educator who was forced into exile; who then founded the boarding school where Prince Philip & King Charles studied.

[@ApriliaRacer14]

Can you share your source of information? My Oma was the accountant for the school and I have an alternate understanding of the founding of the school.

[@rickyleeincali5375]

The German-Jewish educator/founder's name was Kurt Hahn, who was briefly imprisoned, then exiled to the UK. His crime: Asking the students and faculty of the school to choose between Hitler and Salem. (source: wikipedia)

[@damnjustassignmeone]

Incredible story

[@MakingHistoryProject]

Thank you for watching and your comment

[@jamesbetker6862]

Mr. Mayrock is right when he speaks of Liebensraum or living space.

[@ekesandras1481]

what you mean is "Lebensraum"; Liebensraum would be loving space. One letter makes a big difference here.

[@marcwinfield1541]

Not entirely accurate this assessment. The decision to attack the USSR was based on the imminent attack the USSR / Stalin was about to launch on the Axis forces beginning on the border of occupied Poland on or about 10 July 1941

[@ApriliaRacer14]

Ha ha…my Oma was the accountant for Salem school. Lived there in 1981 with my Oma for a year. Gruß aus California.

[@britgerus1956Glen]

Sehr gut gemacht Señor….

[@jefesalsero]

Ja, das ist gut - sehr gut!

[@loompadavis951]

Very interesting look into an ordinary serviceman's experiences in the closing days of the war. The only thing that bothered me was that the person asking the questions didn't pronounce the "e" at the end of the word "luftwaffe." Kind of a fingers on the chalkboard thing. But good work, thanks.

[@MakingHistoryProject]

Thank you for watching and your feedback

[@dennisthurman2070]

I know this was in 2015 but is this gentleman still alive by chance?

[@Jonny_Red]

He'll be 96 if he is still alive 👍

[@MakingHistoryProject]

No unfortunately he has passed.

[@klausschreyer7062]

Did he Experience Hell in War Lol Every German Man Woman and Child from all the Bombs and Straiffng from Allies Fighter Planes. And after War many Allies Atrocities Committed against Germans make your Head Spin in Dis Belief

[@josesegura5227]

I laugh at the ignorance of people who are surprised to know how capable human beings can speak different languages. Probably in Europe is more common for people to learn different languages because of proximity and also business deals. Knowing another language gives an opportunity to know more. Knowledge doesn't make poorer but enriches your life and can not be taken away .😊😊😊

[@ethnodagger9296]

Nobody is surprised just slightly impressed, as anyone would be by a man who can speak three languages fluently.

[@Jmp64-ns8zl]

Whoever the person is that did the interview is somewhat shameful. Kept trying to guilt this decent old man into admitting some Nazi guilt complicity. My grandparents were there during the war, it escaped no one. Every member of society was involved to some degree. Some more so, some less. And for the record, Mein Opa was a Grenadier with the 2nd Waffen SS, Das Reich Division. And I couldn't be more proud of him. He was the most gentle, non political person I've ever known. Added update: To be fair, this was an exceptional interview, regardless of my personal feelings as a German.

[@MakingHistoryProject]

I would have to disagree with you. Our interviewers have no agenda other than to gather a Veteran's story. Kindly share where in the interview you feel there was an attempt to guilt the Veteran into admitting Nazi guilt.

[@Jmp64-ns8zl]

@@MakingHistoryProject He wasn't over the top, and it may just be me as a German with direct roots to that era. Just thought that some of the early questioning with regard to his Father, and his volunteering to fight was sort of angling in that direction. Don't get me wrong, it was a great interview. I suppose I'm just too sensitive. Cheers!

[@MakingHistoryProject]

Thank you for that clarification. The goal is to be objective.@@Jmp64-ns8zl

[@marlenemanion9776]

He sure remembers facts better than I could ever do!! What a sad time in history:-(

[@MakingHistoryProject]

Thank you for watching

[@carlyleporter5388]

Interesting interview with the exception of the occasional incoherent question.

[@johnmolloy4694]

Well done, Harald!

[@NeilFH]

I'm a bit confused. he said he was 11 when he started school in Germany, so how did he manage to become a paratrooper at the age of 15 or so?

[@mikeryan3701]

I'm not sure of your problem. He seems to have been 11 in 1939 so by 1944 he would have been 16. By 1944 the Germans were scrapping the bottom of the barrel and were forcing people of that age into the armed forces. As he points out, he wasn't actually a paratrooper. He was in a Parachute Division but he didn't do any paratrooping. He was just in the Infantry. By early 1945 the German armed forces were putting people into any Division, whether or not they were trained. Things in Germany were quite chaotic by that time of the war. What suprised me was the way he seemed to be able to wander around the country in his military uniform. I thought that all German soldiers were placed in POW camps.

[@MakingHistoryProject]

It was a common end-of-war scenario in Germany for many youth.

[@richardyates7280]

He was born in 1927, so he was about 12 when WW2 started and about 18 when it ended. He was drafted at 17.

[@anaxis]

​​@@mikeryan3701​After VE Day, many common soldiers (i.e. young conscripts) were given parole/release passes to return home by whatever Allied unit they surrendered to. Most were still wearing their uniforms. But because many German soldiers didn't directly surrender & simply tried to return home after ditching weapons & uniforms, the Allies set up checkpoints to check for such passes; which is also how many high-level Nazis were caught trying to escape. The process was different for Germans already in Allied POW camps prior to VE Day; and depending on which country the camps were in, many were used for clearing minefields and cleaning up rubble for years after the war ended before being released.

[@edithwright6357]

I was born in Heidelberg 6-1939. It wasn’t a good time for my mother. My Papa was sent to the war. Was a POW taken by Americans. I think it’s a miracle that anyone came through the war alive.

[@britgerus1956Glen]

As a history site you should now how to pronounce Luftwaffe…..

[@sup8857]

As a fluent user of English, you should "now" how to spell know.

[@randyjenkins8743]

Geez was it insufferable or what?

[@jorgegallo3261]

Slight correction: The atrocities against Germans in Poland 1939 were NOT invented. My parents experienced them personally on a death march from Kulm to Warsaw, which only 50% survived.

[@EdfromCanada]

Yea right and the Germans were such kind and benevolent and kind people in 1939 - 1941.

[@marcwinfield1541]

Thank you for this! It is critical for an understanding of the war's origins. The "Hitler wanted to conquer the world" [so he started by attacking Poland ] tale is getting quite stale.

[@marcwinfield1541]

@@EdfromCanada Germans are honest kind and honourable people with a deep sense of culture, unlike the average Canadian sadly. They were the same in 1939-1941 as in 1871 or 1971...