PRESS RELEASE by THE GERMANY-UNITED STATES-CANADA RECONCILIATION COMMITTEE

Press Release and Reports from the Washington Event
Assembled by Ernst Friedel, November 05, 2011

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ On the occasion of the presentation of a formal letter of apology from a former US Army officer to the German people for the mistreatment of German prisoners after World War II AND on the occasion of the publication of a new edition of ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-Other LossesƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ by James Bacque about those prisoners of war, a public meeting was held at 2:00 pm Monday October 31, 2011 in the Congressional and Monument Rooms of The Courtyard US Capitol Marriott Hotel, 1325 2d St. NE, Washington DC 20002.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Merrit P Drucker (US army major, retired) has apologized to the German army for the deaths of German prisoners in US army camps after World War II. Following extensive private investigations in the US and Germany, Drucker has sent an e-mail to Lt. Col. Max Klaar (Bundeswehr retired) head of the Verband deutscher Soldaten (German Veterans’ Association) regretting the lethal conditions in the US camps where according to Col. Ernest F. Fisher of the US army (retired) some 750,000 Germans died because they were denied available food and shelter. By order of the American commander, General Dwight Eisenhower, German civilians were forbidden on pain of being shot to take food to the prisoners. Drucker has also formed a committee of six people, in Germany, the UK, Canada and the US to pursue further investigations and make amends. Drucker has posted on the German veterans’ website a questionnaire asking for details of prisoners’ internment which has already elicited many grateful responses. Many Germans have written to Merrit Drucker to thank him for taking a heavy weight of grief and guilt off their minds. Max Klaar was flying over for the occasion to accept the formal letter of apology from Drucker on October 31st. In addition, Max Klaar presented a proposal for a peace treaty between the USA and Germany. It has 14 points.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Other Losses, an Investigation into the mass deaths of German Prisoners of War in the hands of the French and the Americans after World War II by James Bacque, first published in 1989, became a world-wide best-seller, published in 13 countries, but has been suppressed in the US for 20 years. This edition, which contains much new information from the KGB archives in Moscow, was commissioned by Karl Siegler, the son of a former prisoner in a US army camp. Col. Dr. Ernest F. Fisher, formerly a senior historian of the U S Army Center for Military History, who supplied the eloquent foreword to Other Losses, was also present. In that foreword he wrote, “Starting in April, 1945 the United States army and the French army casually annihilated about 1 million men, most of them in American camps.” The author spoke and two short films about postwar Germany were shown.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ For further information contact Kevin@Talonbooks.com or James Bacque at 705 549 8148 or Merrit P. Drucker at 202 722 6716. Please contact Talonbooks for interviews

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ See also www.jamesbacque.com and www.talonbooks.com and the Verband deutscher Soldaten www.verband-deutscher-soldaten.de

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Report by Merrit Drucker

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Greetings to all,

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Please forgive my long delay in responding. I wanted to respond to your request for an explanation of how our ceremony went. I believe our event was one of great dignity, solemnity and historic importance. I introduced the event and stated our purpose.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ We received a very moving support letter from the Canadian-German Congress (Tony Bergmeier) which I read as part of the introduction. The author’s father has been a POW. I will scan and send to all. Mr. Bacque provided a good summary overview of Other Losses.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ I then presented the Apology Letter to LTC Klaar and we exchanged salutes. I must say that it was quite a difficult feeling that I was bearing a great responsibility for my nation and also rendering what I am sure must be the most significant salute I will ever make.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ LTC Klaar gave a speech about the harm the cover ups have done and presented his peace plan. It was a very moving speech and a good description of the situation between our nations.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ We two people there whose fathers had been POWs. One woman came up me and asked where my uniform was. I told her that this was a private event. She thought that it was sponsored by the US government. The man read testimony about his father’s imprisonment.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Mr. Bacque showed the film about Crimes and Mercies. Ann Morrison showed her film about the Potsdam expulsion. We had about 50 people. All were very deeply appreciative. I believe this was a key event and I came away feeling a great motivation.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ I remain very thankful to all as we would not have been able to get to this point without our collective efforts.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ A great event that was a credit to all and the opening up of new hope for truth about this time.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ I will send all a copy of the video of the event so you can see it.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Best regards,

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Merrit Drucker

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Report by James Bacque

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Tony, your speech was excellent and was read out in full by Major Drucker. It was heard by about 40 people in the room, which included John Frim of the Canadian Embassy.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Drucker spoke very well and so did Klaar. I was moved to tears and so were many others to see them standing there, two soldiers, speaking as friends, shaking hands, saluting, then embracing. I felt all the spirits of the dead of the war move in me. We are having video made (ie a DVD copy) and will send you a copy very soon.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Thanks for all your help–without you this probably could not have happened. And more is to come. We will do all we can to animate our friends in Germany to talk about the need for a peace treaty.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Reply-To: paul@paulfromm.com