Family War Photos

On March 12th, 1938 Germany marched into Austria and annexed it. Life in my families home town of Gmunden would never be the same. The Nazi propaganda machine had a lot of the German population believing in the cause early in the war. They spoke about food and homes for all with a car in every garage. They did not speak about their sinister plans in public and unfortunately much of the public didn't know about them until it was to late.

My grandfather was conscripted into the army with the annexation of Austria. When ever the Nazi's would come through town, every body would have to deck out their houses to show support.

The photo below is my Moms family home all decked out for the troops coming through town. That's my mom in front of the house. The house still stands today and my uncle now lives in it.

This is a photo of my Grandfather, Grandmother and Mother who is dressed in her Nazi youth uniform. All children the age of 10 had to join the Nazi youth.

This photo of Hitler placing a wreath at his mothers grave is in our family album. No one is quite sure who took it.

Here is my Grandfather with his tank crew

These were tank traps dug by the Russians.My Grandfather is on the right.

My Grandfathers Tank Brigade rolling through a Russian town

Another burned out city after the troops rolled through.

My Grandfather in His Tank

After the war, he was told to report to a local prison camp. He did so and 1 month before they were going to be let out, he died of Pneumonia.