Acomb ex-German PoW dies (From York Press)

Acomb ex-German PoW dies

2:50pm Tuesday 6th January 2009 in News By Nicola Fifield, Senior reporter

A FORMER German Luftwaffe gunner who married an English bride after being taken prisoner during the Second World War has died.

Paul Hofschröer, who had lived in Acomb since moving to York in 1985, was called up at the age of 19 to serve in the German anti-aircraft artillery.

He went on to be awarded a silver Flak Badge for his prowess at shooting down Allied planes and the Iron Cross Second Class for bravery in combat.

Mr Hofschröer, 87, was involved in the campaign in France in 1940, before fighting in Russia from 1941-43.

He was severely wounded in Russia and sent to Prague to convalesce, before being transferred to France in 1944.

There, he was captured by the British at the surrender of Calais in 1944 and shipped to England, where he was sent to work on a farm in Essex as a prisoner-of-war.

It was there that he met his future wife, Barbara, who visited the farm to pick fruit. The couple were married on October 18, 1948 – shortly before Mr Hofschröer’s release. He later worked in London, where he carried out bomb disposal until 1950.

Peter, his youngest son, said: “I don’t know the story behind why dad was awarded the Iron Cross – he came back from the war badly traumatised and never really got over it. He didn’t like to talk about the war and he had a fear of people in uniforms.

“One thing he did say, though, was that getting wounded in Russia saved his life, became if he had stayed there, he wouldn’t have come out alive.”

Mr Hofschröer, who was a keen gardener, was born in the German town of Lingen on March 15, 1921.

At the age of 14, he became an apprentice salesman and worked in the local department store until he was called up for the war in 1940.

Peter said: “Every time we went back to his family’s town and visited the department store, they still recognised him and gave him a staff discount – even 50 years after he left.

“It was a lovely touch and I think it was because he was such a popular person. He was charming, humorous and used to get on with everyone. Although he was reticent with strangers, he was very outgoing within his close circle of friends and everybody loved him.

“I’ll miss everything about him.”

Paul, who celebrated his diamond wedding anniversary with Barbara in October, worked as a continental caterer after 1950, before later finding work at the German Embassy, in London, where one of his duties was raising the national flag on special days.

He leaves his widow Barbara, their two sons, Robert and Peter, grandchildren, Diane and Martin, and great grandson Mattias.