Hi everyone, new member!, Enquiry to family history

[Urban Chief]

Hi all.
My name is John and I have just signed up.
I have just recently been given a photgraph of my Grandad and two with his friends (I think) from the war.
All I know is that he was Romanian, and lived in a small village near Transylvania (I don't know how far).
His sisters were raped and he was told if he didn't fight against the Russians, his family would be killed.
All he ever said was that he fought against the partisans in Yugoslavia and that once he attended a parade were Hitler was there, but because he had doubles he didn't want to do anything. He was born in 1921 and aparently shot above their heads becuase they could of had a wife and children.
I and my remianing family would like to know what really went on, seeing as though I have a keen interest in Axis history and I never really knew him because he died when I was six.
In the photographs he has a pea pattern german camoflage jacket with pleated pockets. But before I put them on the internet I would like to see if anyone would help me. I know that this is Romanian history site, but he has German Wermacht uniform.
If anyone could tell me more then please could you email me at urbanchiefkilla@hotmail.com
Many thanks.

[New Connaught Ranger]

Hallo John,

Welcome to the forum

errrrr. . . . whats a doubles??

"All he ever said was that he fought against the partisans in Yugoslavia and that once he attended a parade were Hitler was there, but because he had doubles he didn't want to do anything. He was born in 1921 and aparently shot above their heads becuase they could of had a wife and children."

Kevin in Deva.

This post has been edited by New Connaught Ranger on February 21, 2007 01:15 pm

[Urban Chief]

aparently, he attended a parade were Hitler was there, but because Hitler had three or four doubles, he didn't want to get the wrong one.

[Urban Chief]

I've just found something out, which might make a lot of help. Obveiously anybody interested? would need the pics in order to get anywere.

But after a while at the front he got a job as an army cobbler, because before the war that was his trade. He said something like...
"I got the job there because I was sick of bullits flying passed my head"

If anybodys still keen to help then much apreicated this is a history discussion site, and in my/everybodys family there is a bit of history.
In the photographs there are two other soldiers and a child, I would like to no who these two are.
My Grandad did have a lot of friends who were in the same boat as he. But I only remember there first names.
Anybody familiar with the Ukrainian clubs/congregations around Manchester North in England. Could be of a lot of help.
Cheers

[Cantemir]

John

I have just seen your post, having signed up to the forum today.

I am thinking about setting up an organisation to help people research into their Romanian heritage. Do you know if your grandfather was Romanian-speaking or perhaps German-speaking? Marshal Antonescu, the Romanian leader during World War Two agreed to the German Wehrmacht conscripting the German-speaking community in Transylvania and Timisoara. Although I am waiting for clarification on this point, I believe that the Romanian government insisted that all men born in Romania should fight the Russians rather than the western allies or their allies (bar the Russians) in eastern Europe and it was close to the Serbs.

If you could find your grandfather's birth certificate that would be of great help in tracking down your Romanian roots.

Andrew