Last Tsingtau veteran

Discussions on all aspects of the German Colonies and Overseas Expeditions. Hosted by Chris Dale.
Post Reply
User avatar
Peter H
Member
Posts: 28628
Joined: 30 Dec 2002, 14:18
Location: Australia

Last Tsingtau veteran

#1

Post by Peter H » 27 Jul 2006, 07:54

Seesoldat Paul Kley(1894-1992) was the last surviving German Tsingtau veteran passing away in 1992.

Kley arrived in the colony in 1913 and was captured in 1914.He suffered a wound to his right arm during the campaign.Released in 1919 Kley became a policeman in Germany.He was imprisoned by the Soviets in Siberia after 1945,one source stating for 5 years.Kley visited Japan in the 1980s and toured his old POW camp at Bando.

User avatar
Fallschirmjäger
Member
Posts: 2261
Joined: 02 Sep 2005, 05:12
Location: New Zealand

Siberia?

#2

Post by Fallschirmjäger » 27 Jul 2006, 10:34

Why siberia for being a policeman?,he was not in the army?,how old would have he been then,and 1992,so close to 100 nearly aswell.


User avatar
Peter H
Member
Posts: 28628
Joined: 30 Dec 2002, 14:18
Location: Australia

#3

Post by Peter H » 27 Jul 2006, 12:33

Actually this Japanese link states he served 9 years in Siberia,released in 1956.To be among the last Germans released in 1956 suggests the Soviets viewed him as a "war criminal":

http://furyokenkyu.hp.infoseek.co.jp/matsuo2.htm

It also states Kley visited Osaka in 1970.

His WW2 service seems hazy but it appears he had a police role in Poland and fought at the front in 1945.Many German civilians also ended up in the USSR as forced labor after the war so his position isn't unique.

Freiwilliger Helmut Schulze(1894-?) the second last Tsingtau veteran originally resided in the German Concession at Tientsin and lived in Japan the rest of his life after his release.

User avatar
Fallschirmjäger
Member
Posts: 2261
Joined: 02 Sep 2005, 05:12
Location: New Zealand

Thanks

#4

Post by Fallschirmjäger » 29 Jul 2006, 02:11

thanks for the info Peter H,thats a long time yes many where kept there to 1955 i think it was there chancellor who got them back,but 56 thats late,they even said some where still there longer ive herd,thanks.

User avatar
cj
Member
Posts: 446
Joined: 28 Jun 2006, 22:27
Location: Sacramento California

#5

Post by cj » 30 Jul 2006, 01:36

does anyone know if there are any vetrans of the schutztruppe still alive, or anyone from the African campaigns still living?

User avatar
Fallschirmjäger
Member
Posts: 2261
Joined: 02 Sep 2005, 05:12
Location: New Zealand

Real old

#6

Post by Fallschirmjäger » 01 Aug 2006, 04:32

cj wrote:does anyone know if there are any vetrans of the schutztruppe still alive, or anyone from the African campaigns still living?
If so they have to be in there 90's or 100+ at least im shure.

User avatar
Auseklis
Member
Posts: 710
Joined: 20 May 2005, 11:26
Location: Heart of the Ruhr-Valley

#7

Post by Auseklis » 19 Sep 2006, 16:51

The last surviving German soldier from the african campaigns was Ibrahim Sol Khalil, who died age 105 in 2000.

User avatar
cj
Member
Posts: 446
Joined: 28 Jun 2006, 22:27
Location: Sacramento California

#8

Post by cj » 20 Sep 2006, 01:39

do you know where I can find some info on him? I googled it but only got gobblty-gook. Which side did he fight for? What battles was he in? where was he originally from? where did he live after the war?

User avatar
Auseklis
Member
Posts: 710
Joined: 20 May 2005, 11:26
Location: Heart of the Ruhr-Valley

#9

Post by Auseklis » 20 Sep 2006, 02:02

I just googled him too.

But I have to admit that I remembered to have seen him on TV a few years before he died.
As I sayed GERMAN SOLDIER, that pretty clearly defines which side he fought for. He belonged to Lettow-Vorbeck's force.
He was an Askari and origniated from Tanganika, where he also stayed after the war.

User avatar
Fallschirmjäger
Member
Posts: 2261
Joined: 02 Sep 2005, 05:12
Location: New Zealand

#10

Post by Fallschirmjäger » 20 Sep 2006, 04:26

I fought it may have been a german person who survived last,as did not think people in africa lived that long with all the disease,wars etc..like he mus thave past the average living age for men in that country maybe?.

User avatar
Auseklis
Member
Posts: 710
Joined: 20 May 2005, 11:26
Location: Heart of the Ruhr-Valley

#11

Post by Auseklis » 20 Sep 2006, 09:08

Are you kidding? With all the junk-food we are consuming in the western-world?

East-Africa is not so bad, there are as much people reaching age 100 than elsewhere.

User avatar
Fallschirmjäger
Member
Posts: 2261
Joined: 02 Sep 2005, 05:12
Location: New Zealand

#12

Post by Fallschirmjäger » 21 Sep 2006, 07:48

There are?,i fought that was japan and europe realy for longevity.

Post Reply

Return to “German Colonies and Overseas Expeditions”