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Post by beancent on Feb 10, 2008 7:26:03 GMT -5
A Japanese in wermacht uniform captured in Normandy.   |
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Post by VeeVee on Feb 10, 2008 9:44:09 GMT -5
In his book "Currahee", Don Burgett mentioned these asian German soldiers that they fought against which he assumed were Japanese. However I read somewhere else that they may not necessarily be Japanese, that they could be asian Russians who were captured or conscripted into the wermacht. The one in this picture does look very Japanese, he could pass for Korean but my first guess is Japanese.
Very interesting. Thanks for the picture.
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Post by markswastate on Feb 27, 2008 16:01:06 GMT -5
I remember reading somewhere that he is a Korean.
Fighting for the japanese, Captured by the Russians, forced to fight for them, then captured by the Germans, forced to fight for them, finally being captured by the Americans.
I think Rick the Librarian will have some more information. Maybe he will weigh in.
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Post by nemesis on Mar 15, 2008 20:03:51 GMT -5
GUYS HELLO FROM.....GREECE!!! YEAH! YEAH! I'M A NEW MEMBER IN YOUR WONDERFUL FORUM BY THE CODE NAME "NEMESIS" (ANCIENT GREEK GODESS OF RAGE AND REVENGE). MY TRUE NAME IS THEODORE AND I'M A 37 YEARS OLD GREEK REENACTOR. REGARDING YOUR TOPIC HERE I'M FORCED TO AGREE WITH OUR FRIEND No 2. THESE ASIANS WERE INDEED EITHER KOREANS OR EVEN RUSSO-TATARIANS (MONGOLS). THE JAPANESE NEVER HAD TO SEND VOLUNTEERS IN THE NAZI ARMY WITH A VERY FEW EXCEPTIONS SUCH AS FEW OF THOSE WHO END UP TO THE HUNGARIANS FOR INSTANCE, AND EVEN THERE, THESE WERE MOSTLY CO'S. IN GREECE THE GERMANS BROUGHT SUCH "ASIAN" TROOPS MOSTLY FOR GUARDING-POLICE DUTIES. I STILL REMEMBER MY GRAND FATHER TELLING ME THAT THE GREEKS OF THOSE TIMES CALLING THESE MEN AS......."CHINESE" TAKING THESE TROOPS OF SUCH ORIGIN. THE TRUTH AT THE END OFCOURSE WAS THAT THESE WERE RUSSO-TATARIANS, AND EXTREMELY SAVAGE TO THE LOCAL POPULATION, AS QUITE FEW OF THEM WERE TURKOMANS (TURKO-MONGOLIAN TRIBES OF AREAS SUCH AS TODAY'S TURKMENISTAN, ETC) AND THEREFORE HOSTILE TO THEIR LONG EXISTED ENEMIES THROUGH THE CENTURIES, THE GREEKS. HOPE I'VE ENLIGHTED YOU A BIT HERE. MARAMING SELAMAT!!! (I DID TRAVELED IN THE PHILIPPINES IN THE PAST YOU SEE!!!)
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Post by 79thfoot on Mar 16, 2008 2:04:24 GMT -5
Hello chaps, According to Stephen Ambrose in his book on Normandy they were Korean - most of the histories I've read on it (I'm writing a script on it but info on it is hard to come by) say they were Korean. My Korean students also know the story so it's part of their WW2 history. Actually there's a Singapore based re enactment group that portrays the Asians in the Ostbattalions. www.geocities.com/alvinlee_81/index.htmlBy the way, welcome to Nemesis! Actually it's Salamat but interestingly there is a Malaysian word Selamat which means apparently welcome or safety/be safe. I wonder if there's a connection to the Arabic Salaam and the Hebrew Shalom? Salutes all, Tom |
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Post by VeeVee on Mar 16, 2008 7:23:27 GMT -5
Welcome Nemesis.
Thanks for the that link Tom. What rare wartime photos they have.
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Post by nemesis on Mar 16, 2008 13:50:12 GMT -5
GUYS THANKS FOR THE WARM WELCOMING. YES. I THINK OUR FRIEND IS RIGHT. MOST PROBABLY THESE MIGHT HAVE BEEN KOREANS. INDEED THIS PARTICULAR SOLDIER'S FIGURE SEEMS MORE LIKE FAR EAST ASIAN RATHER THAN CENTRAL ASIAN SUCH AS THE TATARIANS WERE. AS A MATTER OF FACT THE KOREANS HAD A HARD TIME TO MAKE A LIVING BACK THEN AND THEREFORE THEY HAD TO JOIN FORCES IF NOT FOR ANY IDEALISM AT LEAST FOR TO BE BE ABLE TO PUT SOME RICE TO THEIR CUP. OF HOW THEY MANAGED TO REACH THE GERMANS (SINCE MOST USUALY THEY JOINED THE IMP. JAPANESE FORCES, FOR OBVIOUS REASONS OFCOURSE) THAT'S ANOTHER STORY , AND IT'S SOMETHING WHICH I'M STILL SEARCHING FOR. OUR FRIEND'S EDITION OF WORKING PRIMERALY FOR THE JAPS, THEN BEEN COUGHT BY THE RUSSIANS AND THEN BEEN "LIBERATED" BY THE GERMANS TO WHOM THEY FINALLY END UP WORKING FOR DOES MAKE A LOT OF SENCE. THESE WERE WEIRD TIMES THOUGH. MANY "ODD PEOPLE" MADE THEIR WAY TO
ARMYS THAT NORMALY THEY SHOULD NEVER END UP WITH. DOES ANY OF YOU KNOWS FOR EXAMPLE THAT BY EARLY 1950'S THERE WAS A...........GREEK(!!!) GUY FIGHTING WITH THE VIETMINHS AGAINST THE FRENCH?!!!! INDEED THERE WAS ONE!!! HE USED TO BE A PRISONER OF THE GERMANS AND BY THE END OF W.W.II IN 1945, AND WHILE TRYING TO RETURN FROM BERLIN BACK IN GREECE HE END UP -AGAINST HIS WILL - IN A FRENCH BOAT EN ROUTE TO.....INDOCHINA!!! OVER THERE - AND AGAIN AGAINST HIS WILL - WAS FORCED TO JOIN THE FRENCH FOREIGN LEGION!!! AFTER FIGHTING THE VIETMINH FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS AND WATCHING THE TERRIBLE AUTROCITIES COMMITED AGAINST THE INDOCHINESE ON BEHALF OF THE FRENCH, HE DECIDED TO SWITCH SIDES!!! HE ESCAPED THE FRENCH LINES AND JOINED FORCES WITH THE VIETMINH!!! HE FOUGHT THE ENTIRE WAR AND AT THE END HE WAS DECORATED BY GENERAL GIAP PERSONALY!!! THEY EVEN END UP BECOMING GOOD FRIENDS !!! HE LIVES NOWADAYS TOGETHER WITH HIS VIETNAMISE WIFE AND CHILDREN IN ATHENS / GREECE. THAT'S WHY I'M TELLING YOU, HISTORY IS CRAZY SOME TIMES. ANOTHER STRANGE EXAMPLE WAS THAT OF A MIXED GERMAN / THAI GUY WHO NOT ONLY JOINED THE GERMAN ARMY IN W.W.II BUT HE WAS ALSO ACCEPTED IN THE........SS(!!!) AND ALSO FOUGHT IN NORMANDY!!!
OH! BY THE WAY, REGARDING OUR FRIEND'S NOTE ON THE "SELAMAT" WORD, YES YOU'RE RIGHT MY FRIEND. I'M SORRY. IN TAGALOK IT'S "SALAMAT", BUT I'VE BEEN CARRIED AWAY BY BAHASA INDONESIA. YOU SEE.......I'M MARRIED TO AN INDONESIAN WIFE FROM SOLO / JAVA!!! AS
FOR MY FIRST GIRLFRIEND, WELL........SHE WAS A PHILIPPINA LADY FROM QUEZON CITY / MANILA!!! YOU SEE GUYS? YOUR COUNTRY IS NOT ENTIRELY UNKNOWN TO ME!!! BY THE WAY,
WHICH ONE OF YOU GUYS KNOW THE FAMUS "ADAMSON UNIVERSITY" OF MANILA? "ADAMSON" WAS THE AMERICANIZATION THAT THE REAL FOUNDER'S NAME HAD TO "SUFFER". THE GUY'S REAL NAME WAS "ADAMOPOULOS", HE WAS A GREEK CHEMIST WHO IMMIGRATED IN THE PHILIPPINES IN THE EARLY '30s AND EVENTUALLY MADE THE UNIVERSITY IN QUESTION!!! GUESS WHAT.........ADAMOPOULOS WAS A COLLEAGUE AND CLOSE FRIEND TO MY UNCLE!!!
STICK WITH ME GUYS. YOU'LL LEARN LOT'S OF FASCINATING THINGS!!!
THOSE OF YOU WHO MIGT LIKE TO EXCHANGE INFOS, IMPRESSIONS, ETC, MAY REACH ME IN THE FOLLOWING ADDRESS:
lycwien2@yahoo.com
I'LL BE GLADD TO HEAR FROM YOU.
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Post by legionnaire on Mar 16, 2008 22:16:52 GMT -5
Welcome to our little forum Theo! Thank you for enjoying my Legionnaire impression. Legio Patria Nostra.
I know certain indonesian food is very similar to Philippine dishes, like beef steak? I have a cousin who graduated from Adamson UNiversity and were he met his wife too. Interesting background history on Adamson. Thanks.
Wasn't the film "Guns of Navarone " set in Greece?
Hope you post your impression too. Welcome aboard.
Philip
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Post by 79thfoot on Mar 17, 2008 22:21:45 GMT -5
I've been doing a bit of research on the subject and a possibility is that these were Koreans recruited or impressed into the Japanese army as auxilliaries. Most Koreans weren't made frontline troops but rather second class troops - lower than the Japanese private soldiers (w/c explains why the Allied POWs hated them as the POWs were the only ones lower than them on the 'chain' - beatings go down the chain not up) - and were probably involved in the Khalkin Gol/Nomonhan battles with the Russian army. They were probably captured there and then in 1941/42 sent to defend Moscow along with the other Siberian reinforcements and captured by the Germans. From there they were drafted into an Ost battalion and so ended up on the wrong side of the 101st Airborne's carbines on June 6, 1944.
By the way, another possible German uniform option for Hispanic/Filipino reenactors might be the Spanish Blue Division particularly for Cross of Iron fans ;-)
Salutes,
Tom
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Post by nemesis on Mar 24, 2008 19:45:24 GMT -5
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Post by VeeVee on Mar 24, 2008 20:58:10 GMT -5
Hi Nemesis, Yes he is well known to some of us. His name is Pedro Javier (Perry). He also dabbles in 1/1 scale modeling (grin). This is him with his wife:   |
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Post by legionnaire on Mar 24, 2008 21:02:39 GMT -5
Thos are their life size action figures! ;D
Perry is based in Manila, so if you plan on visiting the Philippines get in touch with him and his BNK group.
From 1/6 we graduated to 1/1. It's more fun and get a lot of praises from the appreciative public. ;D
Philip
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Post by nemesis on Apr 6, 2008 18:20:31 GMT -5
GUYS HELLO FROM GREECE AGAIN !!! THANK YOU FOR PEDRO'S PHOTO. THIS IS
GREAT!!! IT'S THE FIRST TIME THAT I SEE A 1899 PHLIPPINE REENACTMENT PHOTO
AND ESPECIALY OF SUCH DETAIL. EVEN THOUGH THIS IS A FORUM REGARDING
ASIATIC POW'S OF NORMANDY, I CAN'T HOWEVER BUT TO EXPRESS MY ADMIRATION
FOR SUCH A SCENE. 17 YEARS AGO I WAS TALKING WITH A SINGAPOREAN FRIEND OF
MINE REGARDING ASIAN REENACTMENT. BACK THEN THIS PROSPECT WAS A VERY DARK
ONE WITH ALMOST VERY FEW AND VERY CRAZY DEALING WITH SUCH AN ADMIRABLE
HOBBY. NOWADAYS I'M HAPPY TO SEE THAT ASIANS TOO TAKE THEIR RIGHTFUL PLACE
TO WORLD HISTORY SINCE THEY DISERVE IT SO MUCH. THANK YOU FOR SHARING THIS
DOCUMENT WITH ME. IF ANYBODY KNOWS THE GUY PERSONALY PLASE TRANSFER HIM
MY HONEST ADMIRATION FOR HIS CREATIONS.
SEE YOU LATER GUYS. TAKE CARE.
THEO
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Post by VeeVee on Apr 7, 2008 16:14:40 GMT -5
Hi Nemesis... passed on your regards to Perry via email.
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Post by nemesis on Apr 8, 2008 15:51:18 GMT -5
MARAMING SALAMAT. REALLY APRECIATE IT !!!
THEO
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Jogador96
New Member
Better and better, everyday.
Posts: 9
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Post by Jogador96 on Oct 29, 2008 5:12:48 GMT -5
I read an anecdote in Cornelius Ryan's book "THE LAST BATTLE" in which 2 German army POWs were captured. They had Asian features (singkit) and spoke an unknown language. Maybe that photo showed one of those 2 unfortunate dudes.
It turned out that the 2 men were Tibetan sheperds, press-ganged into the Japanese Army (maybe during the invasion of China), captured by the Red (Russian) Army and press-ganged into action on the Russian western front, captured by the Germans, and forced to fight the Allies.
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Post by oklahoma on Oct 29, 2008 11:22:25 GMT -5
i have read somewhere about two unfortunate korean teenagers who were mustered into the japanese army in 1939, captured by the russians during the "skirmishes" along the russo-manchurian border in that same year, served in the russian forces, after being removed from manchuria to the eastern front, again captured (this time by the germans), placed in a labor battalion, moved to the atlantic wall for forced labor and finally captured by either american or british forces after the invasion of normandy in 1944. now you talk about seeing the world at government expense. there evidently are numerous and similar tales of these poor souls from the far east who suddenly appeared in nazi uniforms so far from home out there, but this is the one that i came upon.
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Post by alfonsocastro on Dec 8, 2008 7:58:38 GMT -5
This reminds me of that son of Chiang Kai Shiek who served in the Werhmacht before the start of the war, though he did serve in the Condor Legion.   |
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Post by 79thfoot on Dec 26, 2008 8:02:35 GMT -5
I read somewhere linked to the Koreans in the Wehrmacht on D-Day that there were even Filipinos in the Wehrmacht. Was wondering if that was just scuttlebutt or if there was some truth to it.
Tom
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