European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 24, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Is Ken go org former German Soldier Rudolph Betz in 1992, recalling when he was a prisoner of War in 1945 below this German s soft Landing As a pow by Rob Staggenborg staff writer the voices got louder and louder As the enemy approached the Small Encampment just outside Pesaro Italy. It was 1944. World War ii was in full swing. The allies were penetrating the Axis line and Germany a military was reeling. Rudolph Betz a 22-year-old German paratrooper knew his life was about to change. And not necessarily for the better. The enemy had guns. Betz had lice. He was hungry As were the others in his unit. His uniform was soiled and unkempt. He was sick of the War. A take off your helmet a a British officer commanded in his Cockney accent. A the War is  Betz had been wounded just a year earlier by a grenade. Adolf hitlers War machine sent him to Strasbourg France for seven months to recover then sent him Back into Battle. He was in Normandy in 1942, then landed in Russia spent time in Crete jumped into Sicily and fought skirmishes in Italy. Yes Rudolph Betz was tired of War. So when he was commanded to remove his helmet he did no to give it a second thought. The officer handed Betz Over to a British sergeant and the German was transferred to Naples Italy where he was Given to the americans. There he waited As the allies collected 2,000 prisoners of War. They were later shipped to Northern Africa and then embarked on a 23-Day journey across the Atlantic to Norfolk a. A we were in a Convoy of about 120 boats a recalled Betz now 70 and a retired High school principal living in Assenheim Germany near Mainz. A it took us 3l/i weeks to get from Algiers to Norfolk. We had to Zigzag across the Ocean for fear of being hit by a  Betzis father was a social Democrat and would not allow the nazi Swastika in his Home. He was thus held As a political prisoner by hitlers regime. Betz himself was not fond of nazism but he added a you had no choices in the  i was very Happy being captured. No one likes to desert but if you got captured it was the honorable thing. I was hungry sick and morale was very Low. A i remember meeting a British non commissioned officer who asked me a what do you think of the War a that is not a difficult question for a prisoner of War. I said a i Hope its Over  a the boat docked in Norfolk and the prisoners were led to an administrative waiting area. Betz was amazed at what he saw. Rows upon rows of ships were in the Harbor. Thousands upon thousands of tanks. Soldiers in Good uniforms. A was i came Over the Side i saw All these tanks All these troops Quot Betz said. A i said to myself a it is impossible Hitler still cries he can win this War.  Quot the prisoners were powdered Down with Dot to rid them of the lice. Then hey were processed in True american military fashion. A we walked into this big room and there was an officer at the head of the line who gave us a Sheet with our name rank and serial number a Betz recalled. A then there was a Row of medical officers. One checking feet one checking arms and on Down the line. Then we were Given a piece of soap a Towel and Given a  it was his first Shower in some time As evidenced by the body lice. Quot in the German army we were Given just one uniform. There we were Given  Rudolph Betz was starting to like this prisoner stuff. In Captivity he was Given ins three squares which were a welcomed sight before being captured head eaten Only scraps stolen from italian Farmers. Three pairs of shoes were issued. His German uniform was in such bad condition said Betz a the americans had to put it in a plastic bag because they were afraid the lice was not  he was assigned to a German prisoner company and boarded a Pullman train to Camp Beale calif., near Oakland. Betz knew trains All right. In nazi controlled Germany Hitler crammed his soldiers into freight cars for Long journeys. The cars were labelled �?o40 men or 8  no refreshment service Here. The cars were lined with Straw said Betz a and sometimes we  even have Straw. No toilets either. If you had to go you had to lean out of the car. Sometimes we were on these trains for Days at a  in America though he was Given a scat. Betz said he kept asking himself a this is our enemy a Betz who served As mayor of Assenheim from 1969-79, recalled being Given a newspaper with an article on the atrocities of the concentration Camps. A one of the american soldiers asked me a do you believe it a i said a yes. I lived like that As a German  a the train ride to Camp Beale took Days. A i never dreamed it was so far away from Norfolk he recalled. Later Betz would be sent from Camp Beale to a Side Camp in Santa Rosa. America he said was his Shangrila. Paradise for this once dirty once Hun Gry German Grunt. A Kilpatrick. I still remember the name of the bread we were Given. It was soft and delicious a Betz said. He closed his eyes inhaled slowly and flashed a Grin As big As a Norfolk Harbor. Using his a very Basic knowledge of English As a guide he was handed the Job of Camp interpreter. Subsequently he became the mess Hall chief and the prisoners first sergeant. A a the German officers who were imprisoned  tolerate being commanded by a Corporal a he said an impish Grin beginning to show. A i made a vote for the first time. I won by 86 percent Over the officer. Sgt. Woodsmall the american in charge of Page 6 a sunday May 24, 1992