Interview with Guenter Kurt Walter Wulff

German private served with Anti-Aircraft Coy, 3rd SS Panzergrenadier Regt 'Deutschland', 2nd SS Panzer Div 'Das Reich' in Soviet Union, 7/1943-11/1943; served on guard duties with Waffen-SS in Germany, 1944-1945; served with 3rd SS Panzergrenadier Regt 'Deutschland' in Hungary and Austria, 1945; prisoner of war in Austria, Germany and GB, 1945-1947

REEL 1 Background in Pomerania, Germany, 1925-1943: family; education. Aspects of period as civilian in Pomerania, Germany, 1939-1943: reaction to outbreak of Second World War, 1/9/1939; employment on farm; attitude towards Nazi regime; work with Reich Labour Service in Königsberg, 1943. Aspects of enlistment and training as private with German Air Force in Prague, Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia and Kharkov, Soviet Union, 1943: volunteering for anti-aircraft service, 1943; threat of attack on streets in Prague, Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia; discipline in military training; train journey from Prague, Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia to Kharkov, Soviet Union, 5/1943; field training near Kharkov, Soviet Union. Recollections of operations as private with Anti-Aircraft Coy, 3rd SS Panzergrenadier Regt 'Deutschland', 2nd SS Panzer Div 'Das Reich' in Soviet Union, 7/1943-11/1943: joining company in time for Battle of Kursk, 7/1943. REEL 2 Continues: supporting infantry troops at Kursk, 7/1943; role protecting divisional headquarters; speed of Soviet Army armoured attacks at Kursk; static nature of warfare; Soviet Army's use of Katyusha 'Stalin Organ' rockets; loss of company anti-aircraft gun; opinion of German tanks; lack of quarter given during Battle of Kursk; opinion of scorched earth policy; retreat from Kursk; move to Stalino area on Caucasus front; massed Soviet Army infantry attacks; wounding in shoulder near Kiev, 11/1943; medical treatment received in field hospital; effects of drinking tainted water. REEL 3 Continues: relations with Soviet civilians; lice problem; Soviet Air Force air superiority and retreat towards Poland. Aspects of period as private on guard duties with Waffen-SS in Germany, 1944-1945: treatment for stomach problems at Erfurt, summer 1944; treatment and recovery of shoulder wound; duties guarding inmates from Dachau Concentration Camp in Munich area; duties guarding German Army prisoners; Allied bombing of Munich; his refusal to become guard at Mittelbau-Dora Concentration Camp. REEL 4 Continues: Aspects of operations as private with 3rd SS Panzergrenadier Regt 'Deutschland' in Hungary and Austria, 1945: provisions received prior to return to 3rd SS Panzergrenadier Regt 'Deutschland' in Hungary; retreat to Vienna, Austria; attitude towards orders to fight to the death; encounter with Soviet Army tank in Vienna; execution of German deserters in Vienna, Austria; retreat towards Linz, Austria; encounter with United States Army troops near Linz, Austria; surrendering to United States Army at Linz, Austria, 4/1945. Aspects of period as prisoner of war in Austria and Germany, 1945-1946: treatment by American captors; volunteering for bomb disposal work; move to release camp in Darmstadt, Germany; move to British Zone of Occupation, Germany. Aspects of period as prisoner of war in GB, 1946-1947: volunteering for work in GB; journey to GB. REEL 5 Continues: farm work at Billinghurst, Mundham and Bosham; making contact with family in Germany; reasons for settling in GB; treatment he received in GB; reasons for retaining German citizenship; father's experiences at end of Second World War. Aspects of service with Waffen-SS during Second World War: attitude towards service; use of Volksdeutsch troops for reconnaissance; opinion of Spanish allies; relations with Austrian troops; attitude towards living in GB; attack by Soviet Army Cossack cavalry in Caucasus, Soviet Army; fate of Soviet prisoners of war returned to Soviet Union.