May 15, 2024
Gudow
Gudow
The spot where six-thousand POWs were liberated.
Boy, the Von Bulows organized a city wide event to honor our visit. We started with a ten o’clock church service at the Lutheran church built in the seventeenth century. The service was created especially for us and done in enough English for us to be able to keep up. It centered around the importance of getting along with one another and featured Amazing Grace played by a ninety-two year old gentleman, the long-time organist of the church. But what came next was almost more than I could handle. The entire congregation, including the Kriegie Kids, moved down to the alter and the organist played our national anthem. I’ve never been as proud to hear the anthem played before in my life. Tears welled up and heartfelt communications were being understood by folks who didn’t understand either language. At the conclusion of the service, he played the German national anthem and the Germans were just as moved as we were.
Now, as I sit in my room and reflect, it will remain a special memory for the rest of my life, I’m not sure how my father would have felt being here, but I think he would be glad to know I was here and was helping to perpetuate the memory of the American investment paid in young men’s lives for a better world.
After the service we were shown a video on the Gudow liberation and then.served a traditional German lunch of potato and pork soup and dark bread. There could be no better menu when considering the meals most POWs ate, if they had anything. I can assure you our soup was better than any the POWs had. It was delicious.
After lunch, two German university historians presented research on WWII events of interest and on several individual research accounts of air battles and outcomes. Enjoyable and interesting presentations we all enjoyed.
Visit with eye witness of liberation of POWs by British forces
Another eye witness of the liberation
Standing at the Gudow liberation point.
The day has provided more information for us than we ever expected and we came away with lifetime memories and many new friends
The day ended with dinner at a town favorite restaurant and a German favorite menu, wiener schnitzel, brown bread and beer. Mr. Von Bulow ordered everyone a shot of Korn as a stomach settling digestive, which he said was a Von Bulow tradition after schnitzel. It put a period on an almost perfect day
For your information, Korn is not the distilled spirits commonly bootlegged in the south, but a smooth after dinner liquor enjoyed in Germany. Good day, tomorrow we travel again. Jim
Community group gathered for our visit 
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Welcome by Gudow by the mayor
Outdoor lunch
Mrs. Von Bulow
Mr Von Bulow
