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interview // german // 4:29 Min // 13.06.2008
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I had already been mustered in Aschendorfer Moor. There we got an army exclusion certificate; so we were unworthy for the army. Convicts and political prisoners were all unworthy for the army. In
1941/42 we were mustered again. That was due to the massive losses at the eastern front. They needed human material now. There may have been a decree of the ‘Fuehrer’– or whatever that was so we were called up. Erwin, a collegue also working in my company, built climbing irons. He was a toolmaker and able to do
things like that. I organized a rope, and we made this trip. It was a great experience; many had again and again said: “Erwin, go ahead, do that when the war has ended." I said: "What one has, one has." I wouldn't have had another possibility to make such a mountain trip on the Großglockner mountain. But I don't want
to go on talking of this mountain trip... But the conscription...
We had to report, I think somewhere here in Kreuzberg. And there another man and I were deferred. We got the order to take the train to Heuberg the next day or the day after. We just were two overdue
ones, spare ones – you know – who went there on that day. I got to know Otto Linke’s wife then, as well. Before he had been in the SAP (socialistic labour party), as well, and so we quickly got in contact
with each other. So then we went to Heuberg, that training camp in Wuerttemberg. We had contact. Maybe something else that you can never really forget: The crew mentor was a bible student. He
refused to take a weapon. One evening you sat together with him, during the night he was sentenced to death. The next day, the company had to muster and then watch, as he was murdered at the stake. “That will happen to you, as well,” said the chief of the company or the company leader, “if you don’t do as you are told.”
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