Relatives

GameKinG · 11-03-2003, 03:00 AM

WWII yes. My grandpa was actually in pearl harbor on the day it was attacked, and it was his b-day. Before that? I dunno. I do know my family has been in the country since before it was a country. Maybe they were in other american wars?

Dyne · 11-03-2003, 03:06 AM

Why yes, actually.. I'm one of the few who have alive relatives who were on for the German Nazi side in WW2. I've only got to meet one of them, though; my Great Uncle Bill, who's my mother's mother's brother. My mom's father was living in the german-inhabited Poland area, and he was too young to fight, and had no choice but to flee to Canada, where he lived in Vernon, BC, and met my Grandma, who was a second generation canadian, originally from Germany-invaded Poland.

My grandpa still speaks a little Polish, and he's taught me some.

My dad's side was different, though. My dad's mother was a farmer girl (full blown WASP), and she was a "soldier of the soil" for WW2, providing wheat in Saskatchewan for the war, and my dad's dad was too young to fight in the war... but his brother fought in the Canadian Air Force. He chose Air Force, because the British Empire was training all of their Air Forces in Saskatchewan, and he was helping out anyways.

There, now don't ask anymore. :P Just kidding.

Canyarion · 11-03-2003, 07:39 AM

My grandpa hided from the Germans, if he didn't he would have had to work in a factory to make weapons for the Germans. Now that's a form of heroism isn't it?

Crono · 11-03-2003, 01:04 PM

My grandfather was a pilot for the RCAF in WWII. That's all I know of.

Kitana85 · 11-03-2003, 04:51 PM

My paternal great-grandfather, great-grandmother, great-uncle, and others were killed in concentration camps(mainly Treblinka) during WWII, so I don't know any family history before then.
My maternal grandfather was in the army-airforce in WWII, he was a navagator and a pilot, but ended up doing the radiobroadcasts on the base (in china).

DarkMaster · 11-03-2003, 04:54 PM

My grandfather fought on foot and on sea. My great-uncle fought in Dieppe. Both are still alive and well to this day.

DimHalo · 11-03-2003, 05:03 PM

My grandfather fought in France in WWII for the Americans. He actually got lost during a battle and from what I hear (fam doesn't talk about it much) ended up in a red light district. Eventually found his troop and got home fine. He was alive and well up until 1 1/2 years ago.

My dad is currently fighting in Iraq... to read an article go to http://www.riley.army.mil/newspaper/news/news1.htm

Dyne · 11-04-2003, 02:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Canyarion

My grandpa hided from the Germans, if he didn't he would have had to work in a factory to make weapons for the Germans. Now that's a form of heroism isn't it?

Well, my friend's grandfather helped free The Netherlands with Canada from Nazi grasp... heh.

Dyne · 11-08-2003, 03:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dyne

Why yes, actually.. I'm one of the few who have alive relatives who were on for the German Nazi side in WW2. I've only got to meet one of them, though; my Great Uncle Bill, who's my mother's mother's brother. My mom's father was living in the german-inhabited Poland area, and he was too young to fight, and had no choice but to flee to Canada, where he lived in Vernon, BC, and met my Grandma, who was a second generation canadian, originally from Germany-invaded Poland.

My grandpa still speaks a little Polish, and he's taught me some.

I just talked with my grandpa today. He told me a lot.

Apparently, MANY of my relatives fought for the Germans in WWII, and he was actually held hostage in a concentration camp in Poland by the British for being German! The Germans eventually found and freed him and everyone else in his camp, and he had to flee quickly. Also, there's Great Uncle Fredrik I've never met, who was on the German side as well, and he's alive and well. All the others were either killed in the war (and it's a lot) and the ones who remained died off eventually.

It's kind of neat to reflect on Remembrance Day about how my roots are different from everyone elses'.

Crono · 11-08-2003, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dyne

I just talked with my grandpa today. He told me a lot.

Apparently, MANY of my relatives fought for the Germans in WWII, and he was actually held hostage in a concentration camp in Poland by the British for being German! The Germans eventually found and freed him and everyone else in his camp, and he had to flee quickly. Also, there's Great Uncle Fredrik I've never met, who was on the German side as well, and he's alive and well. All the others were either killed in the war (and it's a lot) and the ones who remained died off eventually.

It's kind of neat to reflect on Remembrance Day about how my roots are different from everyone elses'.

He was held in Poland by the British? That seems kind of odd... because Poland was "liberated" by the USSR in 1945. I don't think the Western Allies went to Poland (because everything east of East Germany [including East Germany] turned communist under the influence of the USSR). I may be wrong, though, but I know that the USSR kind of took some control over Poland when the Warsaw Pact was signed shortly after WWII.

One Winged Angel · 11-08-2003, 08:27 PM

My dad fought at Vietnam. My mom refuses me to ask any questions about it...

Professor S · 11-08-2003, 09:00 PM

The history of my family is a bit iffy when it comes to war. My great uncle (or great great, I'm not sure) was Irwin Von Rommel, the Desert Fox and Field Marshall of the Nazi war machine.

While he was responsible for much of the military death on behalf of Hitler, he also tried to organize the assasination attempt of Hitler also. He beliveed Hitler to be imbalanced and a threat to Germany.

I won't say that he was sympathetic to the plight of the Jew during those days, but he viewed Hitlers obsession with their destruction as counterproductive to the war effort.

On the other side of my family I am a member of the Stuart Clan of Scotland, and share lineage with James I, Mary Queen of Scotts, Charles I, Charles 2, and James 2.

Crono · 11-08-2003, 09:27 PM

Your great great Uncle was Rommel? The same General who served in the Afrikakorps (sp) (I think, and I believe he also command troops in France, and was about to be moved to Eastern front), and later killed by Hitler's request?

That's interesting.

Dyne · 11-09-2003, 02:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crono

He was held in Poland by the British? That seems kind of odd... because Poland was "liberated" by the USSR in 1945. I don't think the Western Allies went to Poland (because everything east of East Germany [including East Germany] turned communist under the influence of the USSR). I may be wrong, though, but I know that the USSR kind of took some control over Poland when the Warsaw Pact was signed shortly after WWII.

That's what you were taught. :P You can get more out of real life experience than out of textbooks. They'll disagree to it, but it happened.