Feldgrau.net

Hi,

I was researching for the article on foreign volunteers during the Battle of Berlin and I came across the assertion that there was an Irishman during the Battle of Berlin.

It was Uscha James Brady of Skorzeny's Jagdverbande Mitte who was initially involved the during the battle of Schwedt and wound up in Berlin where he lived in hiding until he managed to escape and surrendered to the British in 1948. Meanwhile, another irishman, Sturmann Frank Stinger which reportedly MIA during Schwedt battles.

Anyone can confirm this?

Thanks,

Panzermahn

Famous film and TV actor Sam Kydd wrote his autobiography about his volunteering for the British Army and his capture in 1940, He stated that when he was a POW those Irishment who wanted to could be repatriated as neutrals,, but none did. Also that an American in German uniform came round and tried to persuade any POWs to join the German side..again none did. I have always thought it possible that rather than facing an uncertain future just after the Fall of France any POW mighjt decide to throw his hand in. However Mr Kydd maintained none did that he knew of.

The stuff you wrote about Brady is true, his post-war statement was printed in Siegrunen #65 and alot of his and Stringer's history is given in the book "Renegades" by Adrian Weale.

Records are kept on both men at the PRO in England. Brady was arrested in Germany in September 1946 and sentenced to 12 years.

Rand wrote:The stuff you wrote about Brady is true, his post-war statement was printed in Siegrunen #65 and alot of his and Stringer's history is given in the book "Renegades" by Adrian Weale.

Records are kept on both men at the PRO in England. Brady was arrested in Germany in September 1946 and sentenced to 12 years.

Hi Rand,

Thanks for the info.

Now it's known that the only Irishman in Berlin was JAmes Brady and the only Englishman who was in Berlin (although he didn't fight against the Soviets like Brady) was Eric Pleasance.

I have been working on an article about Axis foreigner volunteers (including those who are not volunteers but happen to be there by fate or destiny) during the Battle of Berlin since last year. In the course of my research, I found out that amazingly, there were even a company of Hungarians, some Indian SS legionnaires (from the Indische Freiwilligen Legion der SS Stabskompanie), some individual Italians.

Still working (albeit part-time coz I am full time professional white collar worker ) on it and hopefully I can produce and finalize this article by this year

Regards
Panzermahn

Try and get hold of: The Meaning of Treason by Dame Rebecca West (Macmillan, london, 1949). It mentions a few more Brits. etc.

- Hans

Try approaching the problem from the other side......

There was a VERY large fascist movement in Ireland before the war, the Blueshirts, and street violence between them and socialists/communists was not unknown! Certainly a unit of recruited blueshiorts went off to Spain, as volunteers for the Nationalists.

During the war, a sort of second-rank homeguard was created to accomodate them, and the pro-IRA sympathisers that werent rounded up and jailed. Can't remember the name of it at this time of night. They were issued really bad quality uniforms made out of brown denim and cut like British battledress, and had very few weapons of any type, but it DID mean that they were allowed to drill and be "mobilised" for the defence of the State rather than potentially against it lol lol Smat or what?

Enough Irishmen went to England to work or join the armed services; id say it was not at all imporbable that some at least went the other way...

phylo

phylo

I believe on of the French SS volunteers mentioned something about seeing an Irish or English doctor during the fighting in Berlin; I'll see if I can find it.

All, what was Eric Pleasence doing in Berlin when the rest of the British FreiKorps was in Hildesheim?? Anyone know?

phylo

Hello, Eric Pleasants had transferred into the 'Kurt Eggers' unit.

The rest of the BFC was by the river Oder serving with 'Nordland' by this point.

Rand wrote:Hello, Eric Pleasants had transferred into the 'Kurt Eggers' unit.

The rest of the BFC was by the river Oder serving with 'Nordland' by this point.

Hi Rand,

According to Landwehr, Pleasants was in the Jagdverbande Mitte that participate in the attack against the Soviet Bridgehead at Schwedt. He was injured and were recuperating in a hospital in Berlin when the Soviet encircled the city.

I don't know whether there is any mention of Plesants transferred to Kurt Eggers unit.

regards
Panzermahn