Search Other Collections

Take me back to the Oral History landing page.


Walter Ade - Immigrant Stories

Walter Ade was a German native who grew up in the Sudetenland during the Second World War. Both his father and older brother served in the German Army (Wehrmacht) during the war, and both were casualties of that war. In 1949 Walter's mother encouraged Walter to emigrate to the United States, but she stayed behind in the hope that her husband might still be alive and held by the Soviets. Walter emigrated to the United States and settled in Springfield. His father was indeed alive and was released by the Soviets in 1955.

Interview Links

Featured Excerpt

"Why my mother stayed in Germany"

Abstract

Interview Session 01 (Audio)

Transcript

Related Materials

See also Walter Ade's entire interview on the 'Veterans Remember - Korea' page.



Photos

Caption
From left to right are young Walter, his father Julius, cousin Rolf, brother Ernst, and his mother Frieda in 1936 while the Ade family lived in Mosbach, Germany.

Where:
Mosbach, Germany

When:
1936

Ownership:
Narrator’s photo

Caption
1942, Graslitz, Sudetenland. Ernst b. 17 April 1929, Frieda Ade b. 1898, Walter b. 30 Oct. 31.

Where:
Graslitz, Sudeten

When:
1942

Ownership:
Narrator’s photo

Caption
1942, in Graslitz, Walter’s mother carried this and the next two pictures in her wallet.

Where:
Graslitz, Sudetenland

When:
1942

Ownership:
Narrator’s photo

Caption
Adolescent picture of Walter in 1944 while he lived in Graslitz.

Where:
Graslitz, Sudetenland

When:
1944

Ownership:
Narrator’s photo

Caption
1942, Graslitz. Walter in a Jungvolk uniform.

Where:
Graslitz, Sudetenland

When:
1942

Ownership:
Narrator’s photo

Caption
19 Aug 1949, Stuttgart. Issued temporary travel document in lieu of passport for German nationals.

Where:
Stuttgart

When:
August 19, 1949

Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.

Caption
This is how Mrs. Ade found out her son was dead. A woman sent her this picture from East Germany.

Where:
Unknown

When:
Unknown

Ownership:
Narrator’s photo

Caption
April 1952, Ft. Leonard Wood. Walter’s wife Eunice came to visit.

Where:
Ft. Leonard Wood

When:
April 1952

Ownership:
Narrator’s photo

Caption
Walter looks at his new daughter’s picture, born on April 3, 1953. Mary was only one day old.

Where:
Unknown

When:
April 3, 1953

Ownership:
Narrator’s photo

Caption
7 Oct. 1955. Julius Ade, b. 1901, arrived in Heidelberg after being held in Siberia. He was captured near Danzig in Feb. 1945. He was a 1st Lieutenant (Admin. Branch).

Where:
Heidelberg

When:
October 7, 1955

Ownership:
Narrator’s photo.

Caption
Walter’s father recovered fairly well after 10 and a half years of “hard labor” in Russia.

Where:
Unknown

When:
Unknown

Ownership:
Narrator’s photo



Social Links