Interview by David Mathias with Heinrich Krappen recounting his experiences of serving in the Great War and the Second World War with the German Army. Recorded in the 1980s. This interview was conducted through an interpreter, with translations provided from German into English. The impact of the V1 and V2 Peenemünde rocket program is discussed as well as its eventual destruction by Allied bombing – Heinreich was station at the base and gives a first-hand account. The treatment of English officers by German soldiers in WWI with his own harsh experience of Russian captivity, marked by forced marches and poor conditions is discussed. Heinrich comments on Mussolini, Italian soldiers, and the effects of the Russian advance, including refugee movements, looting, Polish-Russian relationship, and collapsing German morale.  The interview also touches on broader reflections—Napoleon’s enduring influence on European landscapes, the role of religion in refugee integration, and Heinrich’s thoughts on aging, health, and resilience. [Due to the quality of the original recordings, originally made on portable cassette recorders in the 1980s, the recording has been heavily processed to enhance the voices captured. In some cases, information is unintelligible. Some inaccuracies and translation errors may remain in the information provided. You can reference the full summary of the recording to complement the listening experience.] Side 100:00:30 – 00:02:00: Ferry Journey00:02:00 – 00:03:00: Arrival and Military Presence00:03:00 – 00:04:30: V1 and V2 Rockets00:04:30 – 00:06:00: Russian Soldiers and Supplies00:06:00 – 00:08:00: Bridges and Infrastructure00:08:00 – 00:10:00: Encounters with Police and Russian Prisoners00:10:00 – 00:13:00: WWI Prisoner Experiences00:13:00 – 00:15:00: Russian Captivity and Poor Conditions00:15:00 – 00:17:00: Italian Soldiers and Mussolini00:17:00 – 00:20:00: Peenemünde and Rocket Development00:20:00 – 00:23:00: Russian Advance and Civilian Impact00:23:00 – 00:26:00: River Crossings and Refugee Movements00:26:00 – 00:29:00: Imprisonment and Farm Work00:29:00 – 00:30:00: Russian Sergeant and Interrogation Side 2 00:30:00 – 00:32:00: [continuation] experiences as prisoner of war (POW)00:32:00 – 00:35:00: Forced Marches and Starvation00:35:00 – 00:38:00: Russian Looting and Civilian Encounters00:38:00 – 00:41:00: Polish and Russian Relations00:41:00 – 00:44:00: Retreat from France and Encounters with Royalty00:44:00 – 00:47:00: Demoralization and Final Movements00:47:00 – 00:50:00: Napoleon’s Legacy and Trees00:50:00 – 00:53:00: Religion and Refugees00:53:00 – 00:56:00: Reflections on Aging and Health00:56:00 – 00:59:00: Gratitude and Closing Remarks