Erwin Walter Bartmann, was born on 12 December 1923 in Schlochau, a town close to the then Polish border. Today the town, now called Czluchów, lies within Poland. Erwin was the youngest of four brothers two of whom died in infancy. In the hope of finding a better life, his family moved to Berlin in 1927. In 1941, Erwin enlisted voluntarily in the 1st Waffen SS Division Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler, fought on the Eastern Front, served as a machine-gun instructor, and eventually spent time as a POW in England and Scotland.Unable to return in safety to his home in the Soviet controlled sector of Berlin, Erwin decided to remain in Edinburgh and took up a position as a baker. He became a British citizen on 5 November 1955 and later married his Scottish sweetheart with whom he raised a son. Erwin died on 14 September 2012.
“This is a valuable memoir, providing both a good account of the
nature of the fighting in the East, and the changing attitudes of
the author, both towards the Nazi regime and the chances of final
victory.”
*History of War*
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