This feature is a photo gallery and interview with a former member of the Afrika Korps.
  The interview has been made possible by the kind assistance and enthusiasm of his son, Uwe Wiedemann, who relayed my questions to his father and conducted the actual interview.
  The subject, Hans Wiedemann, served in the Luftwaffe, primarily with 4./ Ln.Rgt. Afrika, III./Stuka Geschw. 3 and Stab StG3. He also served for a time with Stuka Geschwader 2.
  Hans attained the the rank of Obergefreiter in North Africa, later Corporal, and saw active service with the RAD and Luftwaffe for the full duration of the war (1939-45). He served in North Africa between March 1941 and May 1943 as a radio (wireless) operator.
  Hans was stationed at various airfields within Libya, Egypt and Tunisia such as Tmimi, Martuba, Derna, Barce, En Nofilia, Agedabia, El Daba, Bir el Abd, El Quasaba, Gabes and Tunis.
  In May 1943 he was one of the few lucky ones to be evacuated by air from Tunisia to Sicily. From here he participated in the gradual retreat movements northward through Italy until he finally surrendered to US Infantry in the Dolomites, Northern Italy in May 1945.
  Hans still has memoirs of his military service. His trousers, tunic, 2 caps, belt and buckle still reside in his loft along with a souvenir of the enemy - a British-Indian tropical helmet. His Soldbuch and Wehrpasz were both consficated during his internment, however he still has his old memo calenders. The selection of photographs presented here are all that are left after most were lost in a flood that flowed through a wadi at Tmimi in October 1941.

1.    Hans, can you summarize your military service prior to arrival in North Africa?

  Well, on 1st April 1939 I was sent to serve with the labour service [RAD] close to the "Westwall" and later on with a Army Pioneer unit until September 1939. I then volunteered for the Luftwaffe and wanted to get into paratrooper units, but failed - from the sight of a 19 year old - due to my left eye, which is not at 100%.   Due to my former civilian profession as a radio technician I ended up starting basic training at the Ln.Fu.Ers.Kp.(mot) Augsburg (Luftnachrichten-Funk-Ersatz-Kompanie, motorisiert, Augsburg).
  On 20th April 1940 I was sent to Stuttgart to be checked for the "Fliegertauglichkeitsprufung" (Check of ability for use with air crews) and passed this test. I now was able to do the job of a aircraft radio operator.
  I then was stationed at Boblingen airfield, near Stuttgart, to get trained on radio connections with Me 109 (air-ground-connections). I was to be sent to an aircraft radio operator school, but then we had to leave for the Western Front on 21st June 1940 to be stationed at the Channel due to preparations regarding Operation "Seelowe" [the planned invasion of England]. Our route: Stra§bourg-Nancy-Reims-Chateaufort-Versailles.
  On 4th July 1940 I was posted with the Stab of ZG 2 and we went on to Caen. After a while through the Battle of Britain the ZG 2 was disbanded as too many of the Me 110 got lost, and I was sent to the ZG 26 at Gif and St. Aubin at the coast.
  In December 1940 we all went back to Germany, with a short stay at Munich-Neubiberg, and then went on to Trapani/Sicily.
  I now was posted with the StG 3 and on 17th March 1941 I went over the Mediterranean Sea to Libya with the Ship "Kiepfels", about 11,000 BRT. A total of 4 ships and 5 Italian destroyers. Besides one mine it was a good trip.
  On 19th March 1941 I stepped on to African soil. We were sent to Lager Fatma close to Tripolis and painted our radio trucks in desert camouflage patterns. My diary entries for this time read as follows:

15.3.41:  Today loading of the "Kiepfels " started. 11,000 BRT. 17.3.41:  This morning at 03.28h we leave for North Africa! Just a litle convoy of 2 trawlers and 3 Italian destroyers. Passing Trapani/Sicily another 2 trawlers and 2 destroyers joined us. Now we were complete and could head for the Libyan coast. And then it really started: Close to the isle of Pantelleria enemy submarines in sight. Detroyers threw water bombs. At 23.25h again "Alarm!", because of some mines. One passed only about 10m away of our ship. The Italian ships took further care of them. But then we were through - luckily!

18.3.41:  At 10.30h land in sight!  It really was North Africa and we came into the harbour of Tripolis at 13.55h. Our barracks for the night were at "Lager km 5", south of Tripolis; also "Lager Fatma".

  Two Months later my brother-in-law Felix Weihrauch would also be shipped to Libya with his Artillery tank unit, but this time the "Kiepfels" was sunk by submarines, along with other ships of this convoy. He survived with 32 others from a total of about 2000 men drowned in the Mediterranean Sea.

2.    Did you volunteer for service in North Africa?

  No, but I was keen to see Africa for 2 of my uncles had served with the colonial troops in Africa through 1914-18.

3.    Which units did you serve with in North Africa?

  Well, with the III./StG 3,  II./StG 2,  I./ StG 3 Ju 88 Aufklarer (Reconnaisance). With the Ju 88 we had first tries of some night-fighter training, leading the aircraft from ground by radio. My Stamm- Einheit (basic-unit) still was the 4./ Ln.Abt. Afrika until the end of 1942, when I was with the Ln.Rgt. Tunis ( 9./ Horch (reconnaisance)). On the 2nd May 1943 I was put under the command of Generalfeldmarschall Kesselring and could escape to Marsala/Sicily with a "Siebel-Fahre" (a special armoured type of pontoon ferry).

4.    How were you transported to North Africa?

  From Normandy by our own radio trucks to Munich, then by train to Sicily and by the ship "Kiepfels" to Tripolis.

5.    Were you involved in the offensive at El Alamein and can you describe the retreat back to Tunisia after the ensuing defeat?

  Yes. At that time I was stationed at El Daba if I recall it properly. We could see, and of course hear!, the horrifying artillery gunfire and thought how lucky we were to be with the Luftwaffe. We had to move back once again, but trusted in Rommel and thought that we'd be back again. The defeat was finally perfect when we reached Tunisia and by then all of us knew what was up. As far as I can speak for my small unit the retreat movement was kept in order and just from my personal view we were rather calm than nervous. It took us a long time to climb up to Halfaya pass with our vehicles! Of course, we didn't have the overview of what really was going on.

6.    Did you have any encounters with Field Marshal Rommel?

  Yes, on the retreat half below Halfaya pass where my radio truck got stuck due to some bullet holes in the cooler. We had quite a lot of low level attacks from the RAF in those days! Well,it got stuck and Rommel came by, saw my car blocking the whole gang behind, shouted "Get out of the way, soldier!" and wanted the truck to be put out of the way by a tank of ours. I told him it's something with the shot cooler and that I'll try to repair it. While he was very unpatient and said, that he'll be back in a few minutes and doesn't want to see me again blockading all of the following troops. I said I'm under the command of Kesselring (whom he didn't like very much!) and that it is impossible to lose this - my radio car. It's necessary for the whole StG 3. Well, he said, he'll be back and by then I should have thought of something to get the thing running again, otherwise the tank will do its job!   He came back and we had already repaired the cooler with chewed Army bread (we didn't have chewing gums yet!) and the "thing" rolled on. Me, sitting upon the bonnet, filling water into the cooler, while the water went out below, where a mess tin was hanging, which I, as it was filled up, filled into the cooler again. The engine almost over-heated, for we were using aircraft petrol by then.   Rommel passed by my car and said: "Well, you see, it works if it must work!"

7.    Did you ever have any encounters with Hermann Goering?

  No, never! I once saw him at the Channel and his face was like a milk face, very fine skin.

8.    Was Hermann Goering respected amongst the troops?

  We didn't even talk about him.

9.    Were you aware of and/or did you purchase any souvenir Afrika Korps rings from the local arabs?

  No. I wasn't aware of the possibility of buying one or that these items were available.

10.    Were you ever personally involved in any ground combat?

  No. Besides many low-level attacks of the RAF on our airfields I was lucky to never be involved in any ground combat. Well, some reconnaissance cars, British, once went through our tent camp, but by the time we got out the whole gang had disappeared into the night.

11.    What was your opinion of the Italian Air Force?

  Very well! Our Italian comrades in arms were always very ready to help and, as far as I can see concerning the usual soldier, very brave.

12.    How frequently did your unit receive replacement aircraft? Did replacement aircraft arrive directly from Italy?

  I don't know how frequently our aircraft at StG 3 were replaced. As an Obergefreiter you don't have an eye for those things, but our aircraft came directly from Germany.
  If there was a huge lack of aircraft some units of Crete and the Balkan helped out.

13.    Was the supply of fuel and spare parts a major problem?

  Supply of spare parts and fuel really was a major problem! I don't know - concerning this major problem - how they did make it by order from above to do some test bomb raids with concrete bombs even there in the desert! I myself was on one of those test raids.

14.    Did you take part in any combat flights in North Africa?

  No, just on 2 exercise dive attacks where we dropped concrete(!) bombs. The group had no fuel spare but we had to fly these exercises! This was like a test for my commander that I was willing to take part in some raids, although the beginning of the French campaign had once stopped me from further training on radio operator, flying personnel. So I missed to get my "Radio operator and gunner badge". After the exercises I was to go on a raid but then a Luftwaffe Propaganda reporter joined us and was assigned to the flight I first was assigned to. His name was Fischer, if I recall it properly. The crew didn't return from that raid and I rather felt like better staying on the ground from that on." "I was chased over the airfield by Beaufighters and Hurricanes more times that I ever wanted. I overslept one low attack, the others got out of the tent and the bullets missed me - the slowly awakening one - by just centimeters. They went right through my blankets between the legs.

15.    Overall, what was morale like during the North African campaign?

  The morale was very good! Besides all the cruel things war brings with it we considered us to be the lucky ones to be able to serve in North Africa, where not too many civilians were killed by our actions; where we didn't have to fight with partisans and where no useless cruelties on people took place!

16.    Were you aware of New Zealand soldiers and did they have a particular reputation?

  "We were always a little bit afraid of the Kiwis (New Zealanders), because we were first told that the New Zealanders came at night, very silently and have long knives with them because they don't like to use guns.
  I once got in touch with some captured LRDG crewmembers, some of them obviously being New Zealanders. That happened when a scout car hit the lines of my tent at night, close to the airfield. Could have been at Tmimi. We woke up, ran outside but only saw a scout car disappear in the desert. Some crew members of those were caught by airfield guards in the neighbourhood."

17.    How did you come across your British-Indian tropical helmet souvenir?

  I guess I found it on my way eastward close to Tobruk in a former British camp, but I really can't recall that occasion properly. I didn't take it from a fallen one. It was just laying there besides some more stuff.

18.    What type of your rations were you given and and do you remember the tins of AM (Mussolini's Ass!)

  "AM" and such. Oh, yes, the AMs ! We called them "alter Mann" (Old Man) [He laughed about my expression of Mussolini's Ass]. I guess it was donkey beef. Well, that was the rumour! We received them a lot but stored them away in the tent at once, just for emergency cases. Well, don't forget we were lucky to be Luftwaffe members and didn't have to eat everything we got like the poor infantrymen. We preferred, whenever possible, British corned beef and our sardine tins. We also had a field-kitchen at the airfield that mostly served hot-pot! We really were lucky ones! Sometimes we went hunting, but I never got any of those gazelles."

19.    Please summarize your military service after the North African campaign?

  Well, after the African campaign I guess I mentioned that I escaped on a Siebel-ferry from Tunis.
  I was posted in Marsala/Sicily from 5th May 1943 under the command of "Flieger Fuhrer Kesselring" (Commander of the flying units of Kesselring's HQ). By then I served with the [he has to look it up in his papers...] 9. Horch Ln.Abt. Afrika. The word "Afrika" was still aquainted with this unit until in September 1943. It was called 9. Horch Ln.Rgt. 2. In November 1944 it's name was changed once again to 1./ Ln.Rgt. 352.
  I was with this this unit for 4 days, then went to 3./ Ln.Rgt 352 until the end of war.
  Well, retreat movements lead us from Sicily to Frascati, where we were close to Kesselring's HQ and where I, on the 8th September 1943, came under very heavy bombardment by US bombers. 75% of my unit had fallen that day. I survived due to an old garden wall and the swampy ground Frascati is situated on. Some bombs didn't explode because of that.
  I was sent to Anzio for Corporal's training course, but we had to break because the Allies landed at Anzio-Nettuno. Later stations were Padua and Conselve in the North, where we held connections from Kesselring to Germany and at the same time had also to listen and to disturb the bomber radio connections of the Allies as far as possible, whenever they came into reach.

20.    What type of training was undertaken on the Corporals Course?

  Sort of training in commands etc., lot of exercising in guns, learning how to lead an infantry(!) group, a lot of marching from the small village of Riva up to Lago di Ledro, lots of sports and some kind of final manouevre where all of us had to prove their ability to lead groups.
  There was no technical training in radio operating or so. We already knew most about that. Nevertheless it was a nice "quiet" time there above Lake Garda." [Whilst on the course Hans met his old Captain from Africa again]

21.    What was involved in disturbing Allied bomber radio connections

  I don't know if this was of any success, but we just searched for - later we knew about - the frequencies the bomb crews used to use for talking within the flying squadron. We just talked between or sent a certain tune on this frequency by morse-keys. Very simple, but probably effective until they switched the channels.
  I finally passed my Corporal's course at Riva/Lake Garda in Northern Italy and from late September 1944 I was sent to the Dolomites, where I and my 2 other radio operators built up our radio station at 2245m NN. This was close to the little village Canazei and in a region where already in the 1914-18 war was going on. Some noisy partisans once tried to show up, but we threw hand grenades and shot with our MG 42. They were never seen again. Up there war ended for me in May 1945 and we were captured by some US Infantry men of the 251st Inf.Batl., "Blue Division".

22.    Were you and your 2 comrades the only German soldiers at this radio station?

  Three men at Pordoi: Yes, we were the only 3 German soldiers there, but also had an Italian guard (so-called "Blackshirts"), about 10 men, living in a hut next door. They were always very kind and we did some exercises together, just in case partisans would show up. They once did, about 500 metres from our radio station and we shot with MG and threw some hand grenades. That made them disappear and they never came back. Lucky again.
  If there was a important message from time to time, which was to be handed over to the officer down in the valley in Canazei (small village), where our "HQ" was situated, I often had to leave Pordoi at night on skies and go down to Canazei. I then was always aware of any partisans, but no incidents happened at all. The native owners of our new home at Pordoi were almost pleased that we showed up here and they complained about their own fellow-countrymen committing robberies on their own people by taking everything they needed. Later on we really became friends, the natives and us — the Germans there. I always spent holidays with my family there at Passo Pordoi later on from the 60s till the 80s."

23.    Did you have any encounters with Waffen SS troops?

  No. We had no contact with these units. I once had a dispute with Waffen-SS chief "Wolff" concerning some Italian men that had worked for our unit and had almost been deported to the North. I could get them back assigned to my unit.

24.    What general opinion did you and your comrades hold of the Waffen SS?

  Well, we never had any connection with these troops and so we hadn't any opinion on who they were or what some of them were really doing.

25.    Please describe how you surrendered?

  The 2nd May 1945 was armistice in Italy and on 4th May the first US troops came to us. Just a few days before some of our Fallschirmjager (Paratroopers) passed through heading home — well, trying to get home somehow. On 9th May the first real POW guards came and we had to hand over all of our arms. On 10th May we dismantled our radio station, had a small celebration together because of my 25th birthday and next day were carried from Passo Pordoi. On 21st May we arrived at the US POW camp Gedhi at Milano. This was the former airfield. I've heard over 500,000 POWs were there at that time. We were treated right but only had one bottom of a mess tin filled with gruel and a piece of bread every day. Sun was burning and we had no tents. To my surprise on 31st May we were sent by truck to Rimini to the Tommy POW camp #12. We had more to eat and more sports every day. Life was better there. They also showed movies and some movies about the things that had happened in Germany in KZs. I was lucky to get dismissed on 29th October 1945 to Germany. I guess I was lucky at all for the whole 6 years odyssey.

  End of interview.

Hans 50 years later, back on the African coast strip again, at Sidi Barani, Egypt - 1994.

Uwe Weidemann sums up the interview as follows:

  There are a lot more things to tell and sometimes I felt that Dad was not comfortable to speak about some certain things. I can imagine that one is afraid of the next assigned raid when the one before went all wrong and the crew didn't come back. I know that Dad is a little bit superstitious and I guess that's why he stopped joining in further raids and went back to his normal service on the ground. I guess the other pilots were too...
  Well, my father didn't earn a lot of medals and orders, but survived. That's the most important thing to me. And he didn't get involved in any killings or so done by the SS. That's important for his honor too.

Footnote:   While history books outline the strategy and tactics of World War 2 it is the personal accounts of former soldiers that provide a true insight into life during this conflict.
  Many thanks again to Hans and Uwe Weidemann for their willingness to share these vivid descriptions of life as a Wehrmacht soldier in World War 2.
  If anyone reading this would like to provide their own reminiscences or know of a veteran who would be willing to do so then please contact me at  phil@bphprint.co.nz

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