Former POW Recalls Schmeling’s Visit

Re “Max Schmeling, 99; Boxer Became, for a Time, Symbol of Nazi Germany After Defeating Louis,” obituary, Feb. 5: I saw Schmeling in Germany during the winter of 1944-1945 when I was a prisoner of war. He was being sent around by the Luftwaffe, no doubt as a hedge against their forthcoming defeat, as a public relations gesture. The camp I was in, Stalag Luft 1, was an officer’s camp filled with 8th and 15th Air Force as well as some Royal Air Force officers who had been shot down in the air war that was still raging.

The news that he was in the camp swept over us like wildfire; because we had nothing to do but to follow rumors, we congregated around the quarters of our commander, Col. Zemke. There Max was inside and of course he stood up and waved to us and we went back to our barracks. After he left we all received a harsh note from Zemke saying that he was disgusted with us for acting like “schoolkids.” Schmeling really was a celebrity, though, even in that harsh environment.

William A. Pace

Rolling Hills Estates