Watch returned to family of WWII German soldier - Time to go home, from America with love

This video shows how a watch taken from a German prisonner of war by a US soldier in 1945, was recently returned to the German soldier's family in Germany. The research was made possible by the fact that the German soldier has put a small piece of paper inside the watch bearing his name and Feldpostnummer.
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researchww2.bl...
A Crocodile Tears Production video.
I have the watch of a World War II Canadian soldier with service number B79428 and the date 1941. If you can match this service number to the soldiers name and identity, please contact me.
59th Armored Infantry Battalion - Flakscheinwerfer Abteilung 438 - April 1945 - Mettmann - Porz bei Köln - Cologne - Prisonner of war - POW - Wehrmacht - German Army - US Army - How to research a Feldpostnummer - Bundesarchiv Abteilung PA - Deutsche Dienststelle - WASt - Volksbund - Unteroffizier Quirin Mayer - FPN - L25890 - 52890 - 1944 - 1945 - WWII - german army wristwatch - Titus Genf - Wehrmacht Uhr - field postal number - anti aircraft artillery - Flieger Abwehr Kanon - genealogy - ancestry - How to research a World War II german soldier - serial number - identification - army service number - genealogy - tracking down German soldier - how to obtain german soldier service records - erkennungsmarke - hundmarke - ID tags - dog tags - Universal Geneve - clock - time - watch -

[@russellkeaton5488]

My friend was a ball turret gunner in a B-17. He was shot down over Austria in 1944. He lost his flying boots in the bail out and landed in the snowy mountains. He was forced to march barefooted in the dead of winter for many days, at the start of the march a German soldier gave him a pair of boots, thus saving his life.

[@CrocodileTear]

You brought a tear to my eye. But all the people who lived through the war had similar experiences from their enemy. Because they were humans on all sides.

[@PrinceAlhorian]

This just shows again that war is nothing but bitter geriatrics sacrificing their youth for the sake of their egos. When I was about 7, I met a WW 2 vet at a airshow. South Africa had to serve with England back then so off he went to fly Spitfires. On one sortie over occupied France, he got lost. Coincidentally there was a Messerschmidt who got lost as well. Long story short they both shot each other down and bailed, no injuries, landed in the same field. Emptied their service pistols at each other but due to adrenaline or shock neither of them hit squat so they fisticuffs for a bit until it became dark. So they set off in opposite directions and that night a storm broke out. They must have stumbled bout in a circle but ended up finding this dilapidated bridge, first the vet I spoke with and then the German. The German recognized him and said in English "not you again", our Vet answered him back with "don't follow me home, I don't need a pet". They sat glaring at each other till cold and hunger drove them to get their rations out, they shared, swapped cigarettes. The Vet shared that he's an Afrikaner and didn't want to fight for the English but conscription is conscription. The German remarked that God can damn the war and he'd rather be working with his father on their small farm in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, fighting was the better alternative than telling the "Fuhrer" no. Next morning the Vet woke to find the German's Luger next to him and a hand drawn map with their approx location and the closest crossing point into Vichy France. I didn't believe him until he showed me a box with his memorabilia, the hand drawn map with distances between towns and the Luger.

[@africadreamin]

I was born on a small farm in the North of England in 1944, when I was six years old I took a stick and hit a horse on its rear end and it kicked me in the head, my mother and father were out but we had a German POW called Heinz working for us. Heinz found me and carried me for two miles to the local cottage hospital, I had a cracked skull, fortunately, I survived but never saw Heinz again as he was repatriated back home to Germany. In 1990 my son Edward was living in Germany on secondment, my lady friend and I visited Edward and during the day whilst he was at work we would walk the countryside. One very hot day we came to a very small village that seemed empty, only the door to a small bar was open, we went inside to cool down and get a drink, a gentleman came from the back and asked what we wanted to drink, we said any small beer as neither spoke German, when the owner came back he asked where we were from and we told him England. As we drank our beer he disappeared and came back holding a small buff-colored postcard which he handed to me, it was obviously a British Government issue, he then translated the message on the back, it was from his father who was then a POW in England, this card was of great sentimental importance to the son. Through a great deal of effort, I told the owner my story of Heinz and we both teared up it was so emotional, we hugged as we left with the promise if we ever came back to Germany we would visit him again.

[@CrocodileTear]

There are many "woke" youtubers who comment on my videos about how horrible all the Germans were and how their missing soldiers do not deserve to be found, etc. Your experience, just as that of numerous others who actually lived through that troubled period, says another story. Do you perhaps have any written documents on which Heinz's name may be written?

[@WillyEckaslike]

@@CrocodileTear the winners write the history books...The Gwere the good guys

[@africadreamin]

@@CrocodileTear Unfortunately not, though I did ask on numerous occasions. During Heinz's time at the farm, my father purchased a new machine for cutting the hay made by an English company called Bamfords of Uttoxeter after unpacking they had to remove the gearbox cover to fill it with oil. Mr. Stephenson Heinz called out, "In Germany if I was to cut such gears I would be shot".

[@CrocodileTear]

@@africadreamin It is probable that the presence of a POW left a paper trail somewhere: town hall archives, police archives, etc.

[@LipglossAndLove13]

lovely. being in a bad situation or making some bad choices, can be outweighed by better choices and good deeds.

[@randallsmith7885]

Mr. Freeman did a wonderful act of reconciliation. I was so touched by the words in the letter from the children of the German solider: "Our father was in 1945 just 30 years old, when he came back at home. No father, no mother, no wife and at last no job. He started a new life... illness on his body and soul." He managed to put a life together, raised a family and has descendents. I hope that we can all remember that when our politicians decide for war, they are killing people with the same hopes, dreams, needs and worries as we have.

[@MrAuldphart]

My Dad (Australian) made friends with an American soldier (G A Williams) from Georgia USA, I discovered his dog tag when going through my Dads kit bag that he brought back from the war. I did my very best to try and track down any remaining family members related to this man but sadly, I was told that there were no known members left alive. This was a very sad moment for me as I would have loved to send this item back to them in memory of his service. I shall keep this dog tag in my possession and protect it.

[@CrocodileTear]

Who did the checking for you? I would be interested to look into this if you can mail me a photo of the ID tag, or of its inscriptions.

[@MIKEL843]

From returning a long lost watch to finding the remains of long lost soldiers. You are a incredible man Jean, may God Bless you for the great work you do.

[@unterwegsinwaldundflur9255]

Vielen Dank für diese großartige Tat. Eine tolle und berührende Geschichte. Nach vielen Jahren wurde ein Kreis geschlossen und die Uhr kehrte heim. Schade, das der Besitzer sie nicht mehr selbst in Empfang nehmen konnte. Sehr ehrenhaft!

[@marekeos]

You do incredible work. I salute you for all that you do for people you've never met, who lived in a different era. Thank you on their behalf.

[@taurus2016]

As a German, I can give a hint about the name. Surnames and first names vary greatly from region to region. While in southern Germany, children were often given the names of saints and martyrs, children from northern Germany were given more Nordic and Germanic names. Although the name Meier is very common in the German-speaking world, there are regional differences in the spelling, with the pronunciation being almost the same. While the spellings with "e" are more common in the north (Meier, Meyer), the "a" variants are more common in the south (Maier, Mayer), even in the Alps (Mair, Mayr). The name Quirin may be very unusual today (perfect pronunciation, by the way), but it was more common back then in the foothills of the Alps. However, the name Quirin went out of fashion in the 1920s. Even today, the name still appears occasionally, albeit regionally. I think that our Quirin "inherited" his name from his father or grandfather. For me, our Quirin Mayer is a typical example of how names are linked to the region they come from. But I would have guessed its origin 100km further south.

[@zandramas07]

So touching. My grandpa is still missing in russia. Keep on your great work. I appreciate!

[@Michael-no6jw]

I hope your Grandfather is found one day soon.RIP.👍✌

[@errickflesch5565]

So sorry. I pray one day someone will find out something. Keep the faith. ❤

[@mandelbrot2232]

My grand Uncle also 😔 he is missed in Stalingrad

[@David-wk6md]

🌵❤️🌵 Peace to him Hajo.

[@ehayes5217]

☹️😢🇺🇸

[@dtaylor10chuckufarle]

What a beautiful story! It must warm your heart to be able to help these families, Jean Loup!

[@CrocodileTear]

Indeed it does.

[@evanofelipe]

What this story perfectly demonstrates is that, no matter what evils men embroiled in hateful acts of bloody conflict in foreign parts have endured. There remains elements of human decency and concern for others that are retained beyond those times when hating your enemy was the norm. Whilst we’ll never know just how Mayer’s rather, undistinguished watch came into Freeman’s possession, only later to be taken half way round the world and then be cherished in his family enough to warrant the costs of repair. It took all this effort and happy coincidence to reveal its secrets and emerge to be an actual example of shared concern for others across the nations by the surviving descendants of their relatives who one time bitter enemies. A case of ‘Omnia Vincit Amor’ if ever there was one. Thanks for sharing this uplifting story.

[@slavabtomat]

It's too bad that the people can't force their leaders to fight instead of the other way around. If it were so, war would be a far more infrequent affair than it is today.

[@yyk_y]

Your a hero for doing this. Thank you.

[@bowieknife71]

Prononciation of "Quirin" is quite correct. Yes indeed, that name is very, very rare. Keep up the good work. The stories of our ancestors fighting in WW2 are always touching my heart for my grandfather a Feldwebel (Sergeant) fell in 1942, so I never got to know him. Greetings from a former Sergeant of the Bundeswehr 🤝🏻

[@Armedtempertantrum]

Brother. Keep up the good work. These videos are absolutely the highlight of my day when you upload. Cheers.

[@GlacialErratic]

Great story. The details of how the watch exchanged hands in 1945 are most certainly best left to only those involved.

[@m.r.3912]

It seems that that GI wasn't only be a war hero but also a thief, ripping of a german he captured. This happen't often. There was a saying 'that Germany was fighting for territory, England for the sea, France for patriotism, and Americans for souvenirs'. Edit: a french saying

[@louismart]

My father, aged 17 at the end of WWII, reported that American soldiers sometimes had several watches at their wrist. Guess where they got them.

[@haroldcampbell3337]

And your proof?@@m.r.3912

[@carolblair5514]

​@@m.r.3912the watch could have been sold or traded. Why are you immediately assuming the worst?

[@bmwman5]

Love listening to these videos with all the history behind it. Great work!

[@KaitlynnUK]

Thank you for the work you do, Jean. Mr Freeman's letters were lovely, but the families letter at the end brought me to tears.

[@lizabethrobison4566]

Ah…yes…me too.

[@kevin3434343434]

Indeed, me as well.

[@TeddyBear-ii4yc]

Yes. It is a pity the man himself wasn't alive to see his watch again and to tell how he was parted from it? (probably when he had his hands up as he was taken prisoner-of-war) But it is the creation of the computer & Internet that makes international communication so easy. I think you mightn't have accomplished this is the 1970s-1980s!! 👍

[@paulbradford8240]

Thank you Jean-Loup for this story and thanks to Mr Freeman for wanting to return the watch to the family. It's probably not worth much, but it is the sentiment that counts and is immeasurable.

[@annabellelee4535]

I looked it up, it was a very good brand and now runs in the hundreds to over a thousand. Condition is everything though.

[@Useaname]

The condition is not so important when there is a verified history attached. Collectors prefer this to condition sometimes.

[@tiredlawdog]

Once again you astound me and I'm sure everyone that follows your videos. What a touching letter the German lady sent to the Freemans. I agree with you, this is a healing of very bad time in history.

[@BestOfSound99]

I study at Wuppertal and work in Düsseldorf, it was fascinating to see a part of history so close to my home.

[@longtabsigo]

Crocodiletear , thank you for content like this, it restores my faith in humanity. Your work probably resonates with me as I have seen too much war and far too much suffering; I come to your channel for stories just like this one. I’m very grateful. LTC Downey US Army(Ret)

[@CrocodileTear]

Thank you Sir!

[@ivandegrisogono3334]

Just a note how things in life can be relative! My father was a Royal Yugoslav Navy officer i.e. a POW in Oflag 64. Towards the end of the war, Oflag 64 was moved in long marches across Poland towards eastern Germany. During this march the prisoners hunger was getting worse, my father gave his watch to a guard for a loaf of bread!

[@LadyThunderbird63]

A great grandfather on my inlaws side was 107 SQ and was shot down by Oblt gerhard framm in 1940 during a bombing raid on maaastritch bridges , he was a pow stalag 357 in Poland and part of a long march when they moved stalag 357, somewhere near saxonyHe was raf but 600yrs before his family came to England from saxony and settled in Hampshire and isle of wight a very long line of mariners all who served in navy or merchant navy or were trinity Harbour pilots , hes the only one to have gone into raf , so he ended up near where his ancestors had come from all those centuries ago. He lived till 2006 and Oblt gerhard Framm I know was still alive in 1991, the night he shot down our great grandfather he took down his blenheim plus another blenheim and a hurricane .

[@sheepsfoot2]

Soldiers would also forcibly take watches and other stuff from prisoners , not much you could do about it ! A Croat guard tried to take my old mans watch when they were coming through the gates of his new home Stalag XV-111A . The Germans treated them very well > down to the very last letter of the Geneva convention, they even ate the same food as the guards. klagenfurtpow.blogspot.com/2015/12/photo-gallery.html

[@M1sc3]

@@sheepsfoot2 Very interessant! War is very variable experience.

[@M1sc3]

@@sheepsfoot2 Your website about Stalag XVIIIA is very interesting, I always wanted to find more information about the lives of non-Jewish and Russian prisoners, the good treatment within what was possible is clear.

[@quail6129]

This has quickly become my favorite channel on youtube! Your videos really humanize the soldiers in the war, and it is fascinating to see these crossing stories after decades. Thank you for this research!

[@CrocodileTear]

Soldiers dont need to be humanized as they are all humans .

[@philipp5254]

@@CrocodileTearunfortunately not everyone shares this attitude…. Thank you SO much for your effort and all the little details that bring back humanity to that dark part of our history. Mercy beaucoup, Jean!!

[@David-wk6md]

That's how you spell Beaucoup. Thanks a lot Mercy beaucoup

[@moyrawoodward2291]

How wonderful that the watch found its way back into the care of the family of the original owner family. It must mean a great deal to the family to have something so special to remember their father.

[@timothyoreilly6571]

That’s why you always put your name on stuff.

[@stargazeronesixseven]

🙏 Thank You So Much for taking the time & effort for returning this watch of many memories back to their rightful families ... Hated these selfish ego maniac dictators whom started conflicts & wars that lead to so many men , women & children to suffered , injured & died ... May the innocents be blessed to a better world & realm ... Let's the Gods & Goddesses of Universal Justice & Punishment do Their work to bring those war criminals to justice! 🕯🌎🕊

[@DevilzzFA]

Came here by the YT Recommendation and this was a really lovely story until I heard "Hechingen" (close to where I live). It even got worse as I read "Wessingen" (where I lived couple years ago) and in the end "Bisingen" (where I live currently). You always hear all those storys and, at least me, think "it all seems so far away and completly distant" but in the end this whole planet is just a bigger neighborhood.

[@oceanhome2023]

I stumbled upon this Utube channel recently and I have been enjoying it ever since . People don’t think about fighting in the French Riviera but it was truly a sleepy back water for lucky Germans until it wasn’t !

[@Joyce-Mackey]

Thankyou for this story, great outcome. My late husband came from Breslau, such family fractures.. His father was Air Mechanic.. Those who survived had long term trauma. Respect 🙏 ❤️🇦🇺

[@wxwzl404]

This was once again mightily interesting, it’s so exhilarating and interesting to see these old strands of history traced through the void of time….and what a touching end to this one. That letter was so sincere and deep.

[@SST11B]

Honor and respect

[@jodysanders6445]

Thank you for the work you do. Those people who lived, and often died, to make a better future for all of us deserve to be remembered

[@PUAlum]

Thank you for posting this....and for your good efforts to bring peace to families still nursing open wounds from that terrible war. God bless.

[@mnmfreak502]

This is the absolute best ww2 channel. By far. Time to binge and watch every single video.

[@hillbilly4823]

Great research job. Well done ! History comes back to live. Greetings from Germany.

[@steelhelmetstan7305]

Another great story Jean-Loup, one with a happy ending. A video that shows the goodness in humanity and of course the hard work you put in, all the very best to you 😊😊😊

[@susannaude8514]

Thank you for this very touching story. You really walked the extra mile with this watch. That is admirable.

[@donbow450]

Those research stories always are intersting, Thank You. With the research tool of the Kriegsgräberfürsorge I researched the fate of two of my great uncles. While it did not bring up any new findings, it was mentioned, that one of them was carved into a memorial site in Russia. I found a Video on KZbin of someone walking that side and managed to pause it, to actually read his name on one stone. I showed this to my father and even though my father never got to know them, it triggered a quite delighted response from him, which shows me what a deep impact the loss of his brothers made in the upbringing in my grand fathers family.

[@CrocodileTear]

Was one of your uncles buried at Rossoschka cemetery? Because I made a video walking around that whole monument.

[@donbow450]

​@@CrocodileTear Nope, it was a different one. Also the video was made by a Russian. One often recalled story was that my grandfather and my great uncles had a heated debate about how to act as catholics being conscripted for a bad cause. My Great uncles argued, to become officers for being able to change even a little, while my grandfather argued, that officers also have to follow orders and he'd do the bare minimum demanded from him.

[@thatfenderbloke]

Another touching story , thank you for your efforts , we all grow for the best with your work.

[@supanutliengjindathaworn6640]

You did fantastic work in research. I am impressed by your effort over many years of your work on many cases. This history feels far more relatable than what we learn in school or textbooks. I feel sad that this information for research is primarily available only in Europe and America. I have family members fighting in China during the war, and they told me that most families would never know what had happened to their beloved ones during the chaos.

[@CrocodileTear]

Usually, the more oppressive a government is, the more precise its archives are. But the next question is of course to know if those archives are made public... Before 2019 the German archives were a black hole.

[@slavabtomat]

@@CrocodileTear "Before 2019 the German archives were a black hole". Seriously? Was it due to EU or German privacy laws or some other reason?

[@CrocodileTear]

@@slavabtomat It was German privacy laws.

[@davecurda2350]

Outstanding outcome in a touching story. Well done sir

[@muhammadharoon3594]

Incredible work, the story just touched my heart. I don't know why your channel is underrated you are doing a work. Love and respect ❤️

[@markescartin1915]

Thank you for humanizing the personal sacrifices made by ordinary people during a cataclysmic event such as the war in Europe

[@jbkhan1135]

This was a really cool thing to do. Good for you and him to have brought this piece of their family history back to them!

[@dezertraider]

ALWAYS GREAT STORIES FROM YOU.THANK YOU

[@williambradford352]

I always enjoy watching your channel. Thank you for your dedication and extraordinary research capabilities which you are willing to share with so many people.

[@akfrench1293]

Wonderful conclusion to the efforts of Mr. Freeman and yourself. It amazing how that watch preserved and told a story that had been lost with the passage with time. Thank you for all you do.

[@Krapfelapfen]

I just visited friedns yesterday in Wessingen/Bisingen.... Great, touching story. Thank you for that and thanks to Mr. Freeman.

[@cbroz7492]

Such a wonderful story...God rest the souls of both men...

[@bukt]

Found your channel not too long ago, and enjoyed all of your videos where you identified missing soldiers. I am also very into horology so i really like the mix with both watches and you researching who it belonged to. 😃

[@stevejohnston2715]

Another amazing story snatched from the hands of old man time. Love your channel.

[@Pause83]

Vielen Dank für ihren Einsatz. Grüße aus Deutschland.

[@watchhans]

In 1945 it was common when German soldiers were captured, that a POW had to hand over his personal belongings to the victorious soldiers. Only wedding rings were excempted according to the Geneva Convention. My grandfather, born 1907, was captured by the Soviets in 1945. He also had to hand out his pocket watch to the Russian soldiers. He told me that he overwound his watch, i. e. damaging it, before giving it to a Soviet soldier. He didn't want that this particular Russian soldier could use his watch anymore. He told me that allied soldiers were crazy for German and Swiss watches. This story really touched my heart, that a once, probably taken by force, watch from a German POW to an American soldier was returned to the descendants of the original owner of this watch. May they all live long and in peace 🕊

[@sugarkane4830]

Why do you assume this wounded American took the watch by force?

[@brigadist1585]

Every German knows Storys about raping,looting,murdering allied Soldiers(not only russians) I don't think this watch was a gift from a greatfull german given to his brave american Liberator.

[@marcromain64]

@@brigadist1585 All parties commited crimes. Some more, some less. I mean, everyone knows stories about raping, looting and murdering German soldiers, too. That aside, watches and other items were also traded, lost and found or have other interesting stories.

[@brigadist1585]

@@marcromain64 There's a difference between knowing of war crimes from own Family History or Hollywood Movies.

[@marcromain64]

@@brigadist1585 How does your second-hand knowledge of war crime victims in your family make you an expert on war crimes in general? I won't consider myself an expert, even with a service record of 26 years, with deployments in Kosovo and Afghanistan and a grandmother who had fled from Czech Sudetenland in 1945/1946, but I sure as hell know about secured historical facts.

[@pedrovision6987]

Touched my heart...thank you for this upload...peace to all...

[@fetus2280]

Youre an amazing bloke for doing this.

[@Michael-no6jw]

You should have way more than 71.7K subscribers, you've been around for quite awhile now.I'm disappointed. Its a one of a kind, very interesting channel, that puzzles me.the word about this channel needs to get out there more.Anybody that's into WW2 history would love your channel, I sure do,👍

[@CrocodileTear]

Thanks mate. I have only been making videos seriously for a year.

[@derekturner3272]

Simple stories like this speak to the beauty and heart of humanity. So many these days think humans are without redemption. We can be great to one another. We just have to make the effort and feed the right wolf.

[@tomcooper6108]

A very touching story. My compliments to all of you!

[@Appalling68]

Outstanding. Stellar! I mean, just wow! Thank you for this video.

[@DVincentW]

Having a watch that was worn by a father in war. My dad left some things behind after taking his life in 1982; his belongings arrived in a shipping box by post.. I didnt break down till I put his tarnished gold Timex on my wrist. (way too big then), that he wore in Vietnam 1965-67 flying helicopters in 1st Air Cav.

[@CrocodileTear]

I was born in 1982...

[@projektkobra2247]

I thank you for his service...

[@Useaname]

I'm very sorry about your dear father.

[@SNOUPS4]

Interesting how bekommen became "to become"... of course logical :) Thank you for this video! A good outcome this time...

[@CrocodileTear]

Classical German speaker mistake 😄

[@jefferycsm]

Great story and thank you for sharing it!

[@johnsmith-xr6qy]

Thank you for your assistance at world peace in another generation. We are after all from the same planet and should seek to help one another survive as best we can.

[@Box500spooks]

Great story. A quick technical note: unteroffizier is not a commissioned rank. In the Luftwaffe it was equivalent to corporal. The rank is still in use: a few years ago, as an RAF corporal I took part in an exchange with the Luftwaffe, and was referred to as stabsunteroffizier, which is between corporal and sergeant. Both unteroffizier and stabsunteroffizier are NCO ranks.

[@CrocodileTear]

Did I say "commissioned" in the video? I meant to say "promoted". As the name Unteroffizier (underofficer) indicates, it is an NCO rank indeed.

[@venividiviking]

Absolutely brillant effort & result again 👌 Job bloody well done, mate..

[@QemeH]

The sentiment expressed in this letter, though short and in what little english the writer could probably muster, is a very common one in germany. Understandably, none of our grandfathers ever wanted to talk about the war, what led to it or how it ended for them. And even if they did, they would only talk about the bits they could bear remembering. Because even though this was not understood back then, most of them suffered from PTSD - but worse than that, they had to carry the shame of knowledge that came with the liberating armies. To this day I don't know what _exactly_ my grandfather knew about the camps and the atrocities committed by the SS, but having been witness to his tears whenever he was forced to remember his service (which he weas pressed into as a young man, because he was a land surveyor by trade and was found to be exellent at directing fire for artillery because of that training) I simply can't believe that he knew the full truth before the US soldiers showed him during captivity. Still, most germans know more about the war from history classes in school than from their relatives who are contemporary witnesses. And most of us are unsure weather we ever _want_ to know...

[@oif3vetk9]

While hearing the stories from the people that lived through such experiences are fascinating it can be extremely painful for the person to tell their story. (As you experienced with your grandfather) My grandfather served in the Pacific Theater. My father said my grandfather absolutely had PTSD. (I never knew my grandfather as he passed when I was an infant) In 2004 I went overseas. After I came home my mother would tell my father "He is different. He has changed. What happened to him?". My father has never asked anything about my time overseas. He doesn't need too. He has already lived with someone that has experienced war and how it affected them. All he could tell my mother is "Yes, he has changed and who we have now may get better in the future but he will never be the person he was before he went overseas". My mother passed away in 2017 still never fully understanding why I was not the son she knew before war. I could never tell her either. There are things a mother does not need to hear. My wife and children don't know much either. It is not for them to know.

[@mrpresident7121]

Fascinating story!

[@SamK-vk7kb]

An intriguing story and touching letter - thanks for enabling this exchange.

[@ehayes5217]

That's just absolutely amazing & so glad it's posted, thanks!😃🇺🇸

[@vonpfrentsch]

Your pronounciation of "Quirin" is perfect. This first name was and is nowadays quite common in Bavaria (although I understand he was not of Bavarian origin; Hechingen is the residence of the Hohenzollern). In fact one of the most talented painter, plasterer and sculptor of the late baroque and rococco in Bavaria was named Egid Quirin Asam. His best known church in Munich is St. Johann Nepomuk.

[@CrocodileTear]

Thanks for confirming the pronounciation.

[@vonpfrentsch]

@@CrocodileTear I don´t know, how you manage it, because most french pronounce this quouirin, but "gelernt ist gelernt" as we say. Greetings from Munich to my home town.

[@CrocodileTear]

@@vonpfrentsch You know I am not really French ;)

[@vonpfrentsch]

@@CrocodileTear I really don´t know all your whereabouts, however, I can assure you that you´re highly talented. It looks very easy: "Then I look up the Volksbund Deutsche Kriegsgräberfürsorge" or whatever archive in Berlin or somewhere else, and here and there. It sounds bare simple, but it´s not. I´m always delighted to watch your videos.

[@David-wk6md]

My friends last name was Quiring

[@genesis2936]

About 30 yrs ago as a young man, I bough a “gorges” (think of its shape like a metal sun visor) and worn like a necklace with a symbol of a swas*ika and a building white, red black with a chain has each link is a swas”ika and iron cross. Occasionally they’re found on some German militarization sites with about $2500-$500o price tag. The one I have in which I’ve never seen before is had the owner’s name, black and white picture, birthdate, region where he’s from on a passport size document. It had stamps for certain months /yrs filled out (maybe rations during the war-not sure) with stamps that are never used still inside this document. This man in the picture was born in the 1880’s and was a vet from WWI. As an American, I’m assuming he belonged to some type of an organization like our civil defense maybe or I don’t know. I am not aware of any such gorged with its original small booklet belonging to this WWI vet (like a modern passport) tan in color. When you hear the Germans take care of their things, a house, a car, or whatever, please do believe it, the one I have is in pristine condition with the stamps placed and the loose ones (probably unused as the war was over) as if it was made 3 weeks ago, it’s in unbelievably superb condition. I have no problem returning it to the legitimate descendants of this man even though I can sell for big money. Nothing will satisfy me more in knowing who is the closest kin to be given to, I don’t want a penny only a short vid of its rightful next of kin and enjoy seeing the happiness in their eye(s) is the only payment I’m looking for. Problem, I can not read the scripted (cursive) written name in German, 3-4 letters so I need to show it and/ or post it and willing to gift it, it’s the right thing to do ! Anyone, any suggestions, direction or path to find out more about it is greatly appreciated.

[@CrocodileTear]

Can you send me a few pictures of the gorget, at the email shown at the beggining of the video? To be honnest, most German families today dont want to have anything to do with any objects with swasticas on them.

[@irish3335]

Wonderful story thank you for sharing!

[@cynthiaswearingen1037]

A very heartwarming story.

[@royeastland-drawing5505]

How wonderful is that! And such a beautiful letter at the end!

[@timsullivan826]

Such a great story with a happy ending thank you sir.

[@davidstadtlander1461]

Excellent work! Thank you for all your efforts!

[@fumblerooskie]

This is a beautiful story. Thank you for sharing it.

[@stefanmolnapor910]

God bless, and may we all take a lesson from everyone in this story.

[@prototyp3strik3r]

what an important work you´re doing here, Monsieur Gassend! Best regards and good luck from Germany

[@stevehermann1415]

My compliments - great work!

[@karlaiken6152]

Another wonderful wartime artefact search. Thanks for all the work that you do. You teach us of the horrors of war and that all war is a dreadful waste of lives and the world. Keep up you research efforts. I look forward to your next video. Greetings from the sunny Caribbean.

[@pup1008]

Croc you are the best! There has never been an upload you've done that has not been absolutely fascinating, occasionally funny, sometimes sad &, with this one, 12mins.35 seconds that pull at the heart strings. May our amazing European nations never go to war again & long may America be our great friend & ally! Love to all from his Britannic Majesty's UK.

[@CrocodileTear]

Thanks a lot. It sounds like your dad kept a "cut off" German eagle. It it is rigid, then it is for the army. If it looks like an actualy flying eagle, it is for the air force.

[@pup1008]

@@CrocodileTear Cheers mate! 👍 It is rigid so army which would correlate with him encountering ground forces on the push up through France. He never really talked about the war at all save for a funny story relating to someone not having a mess tin. I think he had a relatively "easy war" if such a thing could be imagined.

[@kilcar]

After viewing in our living room, there is mot a dry eye here. Thank you, and thank you for what you do.

[@CrocodileTear]

Thank you, and please watch my masterpiece video: m.kzbin.info/www/bejne/qKuZeoZ6eq9se6M&pp=ygUYdGltZSB0cmF2ZWwgYmFjayB0byAxOTQ0

[@emilioalcazar4170]

What a beautiful history..thank you for your awesome work,touch heart and soul..great

[@1978JonBullock]

What a very touching letter from the daughter of a German soldier who lived. As we can see from the letter her father did not talk about the war and who could blame him.

[@smithy280663]

Along with Mark Felton, this is the best subscription on YT.

[@Jo-li5pf]

I'm touched. God bless you!

[@JoZf_Gibson]

Merci

[@izamalcadosa2951]

Greetings from Los Angeles, California, USA, My Friends!! Great Story!!

[@pfarwig]

Very well done, sir! Having lost 3/4 of my ancestors during WW2 and doing research for over 25 years, there's always a new missing link to be found. The Volksbund is doing a great job to support these findings...

[@CrocodileTear]

The Volksbund archives are not open to the public, I think that gives a good idea in their interest to support researchers.

[@earlthepearl3922]

As always, a very interesting video. Thank you!

[@thecardoc8234]

Thank you. I really enjoy these stories.

[@Marvel66666]

What a great story. Unbelieveable that you found his daughter ♥

[@nicholasbeck1558]

Thank you and everyone involved in finding and returning the watch to the family of this German soldier. It closes the circle for many on both sides of this terrible but fading conflict.

[@runarandersen878]

Thank you.

[@Affenhirte]

Amazing story, amazing job done! Thank you for sharing.

[@alainplonge3004]

Vidéo toujours aussi intéressante et émouvante. Merci de partager ces histoires.

[@Ccccccccccsssssssssss]

Thank you for another great video, and for all the good work you do!

[@thomasweatherford5125]

Jean-Loup, this is such a wonderful story. You’re my favorite WW2 KZbinr, and I’m always amazed by the work you do. Thank you for this!

[@mandelbrot2232]

my grand grand Dad´s name was Quirin also - it was (and is now again) popular in the Bavarian region. And in Germay there exist different versions of "Mayer"..there are also "Meier" which is the more common version. My grand Uncle´s name - who is missed in Stalingrad - was Quirin too.

[@David-wk6md]

My friends last name was Quiring

[@paulday-lh5mx]

Great story. Thank you for sharing.