Last Tsingtau veteran
Last Tsingtau veteran
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.
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.
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Siberia?
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.
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.
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.
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Thanks
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.
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Real old
If so they have to be in there 90's or 100+ at least im shure.cj wrote:does anyone know if there are any vetrans of the schutztruppe still alive, or anyone from the African campaigns still living?
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.
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.
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- Fallschirmjäger
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- Posts: 2261
- Joined: 02 Sep 2005, 05:12
- Location: New Zealand