ALEXANDER FRITZSCHE

Photo taken whilst in Camp 11

The photos and information hosted on this page were graciously provided by Alexander Fritzsche's Grandson

NAME: Alexander Fritzsche

POW NUMBER: B104214
RANK: Unteroffizier (Luftwaffe)
CAPTURED: Saarland (south west Germany)
DATE OF CAPTURE: 28th November 1944

PERSONAL:
DATE OF BIRTH: 8th September 1918
PLACE OF BIRTH: Dresden, Saxony, Germany
DATE OF DEATH: 16th November 2008
PLACE OF DEATH: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
NATIONALITY: German / Canadian
RELIGION: Lutheran
OCCUPATION: Labourer and general handyman (Post-war)
NEXT OF KIN: Wife Hildegard Fritzsche, two sons, four grandchildren

War Service History:

• Conscripted at the age of 20, he began training with the Luftwaffe in 1939 at Grossenhain air force base.
• Primarily served aboard Ju88 (Junker) bombers and reconnaissance aircraft in the machine gun emplacement, though he served in several other non-pilot roles during the course of the war.
• Was based out of Germany until at least 1943 and then was transferred to Budapest where he served in the Balkan and Black Sea theatres of the war.
• During the Soviet Dnieper-Carpathian offensive he was stationed in Odessa and engaged in battle there as well as evacuating German troops from the Crimea area.
• Transferred to the Western Front in the Saarland in 1944.
• His plane was forced into a crash landing and the pilot was killed.
• He was captured by Canadian forces and transferred to Britain as a POW.
• After a few stops elsewhere he spent the majority of his time in captivity at Island Farm.

POW CAMPS HELD:

Drawing listing dates of Alexander Fritzsche's captivity (Click image to enlarge)

• London: 3rd December 1944 – 17th December 1944
• Scotland: 18th December 1944 – 10th February 1945
• England: 11th February 1945 – 3rd January 1946
• South Wales (Island Farm): 4th January 1946 – 26th March 1948
• Repatriated: 15th April 1948 (assumed by ship due to photo)

Whilst at Island Farm:

Alexander Fritzsche (back row indicated) and also: Helmut Guettler (Click images to enlarge)

Alexander Fritzsche sitting (Click image to enlarge)

Post-war:

• Repatriated to Germany in March of 1948 where he worked as a labourer and general handyman.
• Attempted to reunite with his wife and young daughter (Angelika) but was unsuccessful and the three became permanently estranged. Angelika found and reconnected with her father's family in 2020 thanks to the efforts of her granddaughter in Germany and nephew in Canada.
• Remarried in 1950 and had the first of two sons (Wolfgang in Lingen in West Germany and a second son Claus born in Canada).
• Emigrated to Canada aboard the Arosa Star in 1955 and the family made its way to the Canadian prairies, settling in Winnipeg for the rest of his life.
• He worked for a time helping to build a large nickel mine in northern Manitoba, but spent most of his career at New Flyer Industries (a major bus manufacturer).
• He was active in the German community and also with his church choir.
• Remembered as a very hard worker who had a zest for life.
• He laid down solid roots as his wife, sons, grandchildren, and great grandchildren all still reside in Winnipeg.