Georg Gärtner
Encyclopedia
Georg Gärtner was a World War II
German
soldier
from Schweidnitz, Lower Silesia
.
While serving with the Afrika Korps
, Gärtner was captured by Allied
troops in Tunis
in 1943 and was brought to America
as a prisoner of war
. He escaped from his prison camp in Deming
, New Mexico
, at the war's end because he was afraid of being turned over to the Soviets. He created a new identity as Dennis Whiles, marrying and leading a relatively quiet life. According to his book, an exception was taking part of the first ski rescue team to the City of San Francisco
in January 1952, immediately after which Life magazine took his and the groups' picture. Meanwhile, his FBI wanted posters were in most post offices.
Gärtner was never caught by the authorities, but came forward 40 years later in 1985, "surrendering" to Bryant Gumbel
on the Today Show. He effectively became the last World War II German prisoner of war in America.
Gärtner was not an illegal immigrant, since he had been brought to the United States against his will. He had escaped from prison because he was due to be sent back to his hometown, in Poland
. Because of this, he was not charged with any offenses. But until late 2009 he was not a United States citizen; he only had a residence permit. In November 2009 he was finally naturalized as a citizen of the U.S. in South Denver after it had been delayed several months. The government claims that his paper-work had been lost.
Gärtner now lives in Boulder
, Colorado
.
He published a book about his experiences called Hitler's Last Soldier in America, available in both German and English. For 40 years Gärtner was listed as one of the FBI's most wanted persons.
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
soldier
Soldier
A soldier is a member of the land component of national armed forces; whereas a soldier hired for service in a foreign army would be termed a mercenary...
from Schweidnitz, Lower Silesia
Province of Lower Silesia
The Province of Lower Silesia was a province of the Free State of Prussia from 1919 to 1945. Between 1938 and 1941 it was reunited with Upper Silesia as the Silesia Province. The capital of Lower Silesia was Breslau...
.
Biography
Afrika Korps
The German Africa Corps , or the Afrika Korps as it was popularly called, was the German expeditionary force in Libya and Tunisia during the North African Campaign of World War II...
, Gärtner was captured by Allied
Western Allies
The Western Allies were a political and geographic grouping among the Allied Powers of the Second World War. It generally includes the United Kingdom and British Commonwealth, the United States, France and various other European and Latin American countries, but excludes China, the Soviet Union,...
troops in Tunis
Tunis
Tunis is the capital of both the Tunisian Republic and the Tunis Governorate. It is Tunisia's largest city, with a population of 728,453 as of 2004; the greater metropolitan area holds some 2,412,500 inhabitants....
in 1943 and was brought to America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
as a prisoner of war
Prisoner of war
A prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...
. He escaped from his prison camp in Deming
Deming, New Mexico
Deming is a city in Luna County, New Mexico, United States, located 60 miles west of Las Cruces. The population was 14,116 at the 2000 census. Deming is the county seat and principal town of Luna County.-History:...
, New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
, at the war's end because he was afraid of being turned over to the Soviets. He created a new identity as Dennis Whiles, marrying and leading a relatively quiet life. According to his book, an exception was taking part of the first ski rescue team to the City of San Francisco
City of San Francisco
The City of San Francisco was a streamlined passenger train operated jointly by the Chicago and North Western Railway, the Southern Pacific Railroad, and the Union Pacific Railroad...
in January 1952, immediately after which Life magazine took his and the groups' picture. Meanwhile, his FBI wanted posters were in most post offices.
Gärtner was never caught by the authorities, but came forward 40 years later in 1985, "surrendering" to Bryant Gumbel
Bryant Gumbel
Bryant Charles Gumbel is an American television journalist and sportscaster. He is best known for his 15 years as co-host of NBC's The Today Show. He is the younger brother of sportscaster Greg Gumbel.-Early life:...
on the Today Show. He effectively became the last World War II German prisoner of war in America.
Gärtner was not an illegal immigrant, since he had been brought to the United States against his will. He had escaped from prison because he was due to be sent back to his hometown, in Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
. Because of this, he was not charged with any offenses. But until late 2009 he was not a United States citizen; he only had a residence permit. In November 2009 he was finally naturalized as a citizen of the U.S. in South Denver after it had been delayed several months. The government claims that his paper-work had been lost.
Gärtner now lives in Boulder
Boulder, Colorado
Boulder is the county seat and most populous city of Boulder County and the 11th most populous city in the U.S. state of Colorado. Boulder is located at the base of the foothills of the Rocky Mountains at an elevation of...
, Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
.
He published a book about his experiences called Hitler's Last Soldier in America, available in both German and English. For 40 years Gärtner was listed as one of the FBI's most wanted persons.