The March from Poland to western Germany

Spending the next 7 months in Luft 7 (Bankau, Poland) POW camp; he would learn to speak German, thus an interpreter for his fellow POW’s and a group leader in his bunkhouse.

In January 1945 the Russians were closing in from the eastern front invading Poland, on the 17th the Nazi’s evacuated p.o.w.’s from numerous camps forcing them to march west over 200 kms. Arriving in Germany they continued south and west around Berlin, in early February the prisoners arrived at Luckenwalde POW camp. Near the end of April, the Germans deserted the POW’s in the middle of the night, as Russians were within a few Km’s of the camp. Soviet tanks arrived by driving over the fences, thus taking custody of allied prisoners. Victory in Europe was declared in early May and the Soviets released all the POW’s, Mike would cross the River Elbe to waiting allied forces.