Wednesday, February 6, 2008

Dead Page-- Last German WWI Veteran?-- Eric Kaestner

Eric Kaestner, believed to be Germany's last WWI veteran died at age 107 on January 1st. His death almost went without anyone knowing it as Germany doesn't keep track of its remaining WWI and WWII veterans.

When France's last WWI vet, Louis de Cazenave, died Jan. 20th, it made inetrnational headlines.

He was born in 1900 and upon graduation from high school in 1918, entered the army and was sent to the Western Front, although he was never on the frontlines. His whole service amounted to between a quarter to a half a year. During the war, over 2 million German soldiers were killed.

In 1939, he became a 1st Lt. in ground support for the Luftwaffe and was based primarily in France. After the war, he became a judge in Hanover.

Germany is still coping with the Nazi genocide of WWII and there is no official organization that keeps track. His son, Peter Kaestner told AP, "That is the way history has developed."

It is too bad Germany didn't keep track of its veterans.

The US has three remaining WWI veterans and Canada one, although he lives in the us. This is the passing of a generation.

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