In memory of Kurt Grosser, 1916-2010.
Though we had been in letter contact, I first met Kurt in 2001 for the
filming of "The Tower" documentary in London, in which he and
Willi Jacob
were interviewed as former prisoners in the Tower of London; they provided
memorable recollections for the documentary. Kurt had not visited the Tower since his imprisonment in 1939, so
his 2001 "interrogation" held particular significance.
Kurt's holding cell remains standing, unlike Willi's, whose holding cell had
been destroyed by the war.
Upon entering the room that held Kurt prisoner over sixty years ago, I stood
in awe as his demeanor changed. He sat at a specific corner window and
reminisced about his feelings as a prisoner in December 1939, looking
outside that window toward freedom he was not to enjoy for years.
Fortunately for us, that scene was included in the documentary.
Kurt also provided me some of the most interesting recollections for the
history of U-35. For example, Kurt was an orderly in charge of the laundry
at the Bowmanville POW camp for German officers in Canada. He admitted to
having overlooked a red sock in a load of white laundry, and how the General
had to play tennis in a pinkish-white shirt as a result. Another example:
Kurt was proud that he was not prone to sea-sickness; on one pre-war
training exercise on U-35, he enjoyed a feast of freshly prepared
sausages when nobody else could stomach them due to sea sickness.
Kurt Grosser's memory will live on with the history of U-35.
www.U-35.com
Kurt Grosser on U-35 in a pre-war photo. [38]
The crew of U-35, including Kurt Grosser, upon return from the first war patrol. Unfortunately, Mr. Grosser had momentarily turned his head at the time of the photo. [33,cover photo of 32]
Another photograph taken of the U-35 crew, including Kurt Grosser upon return from the first war cruise. [35]
The crew of U-35
arriving at a Scottish port after being captured. Front row: Johannes Weigand,Siegfried Bruse, Martin M�ller, Karl Sommerer, Theodor
Schütt, Albert Schrader, Kurt Grosser, and Paul Fichte
[33,38]
Another photo of the crew of U-35 after being captured. Karl Sommerer, Theodor Schütt,
Albert Schrader, Kurt Grosser, and Paul Fichte.
Kurt Grosser's POW photo, 1940. [33]
U-35 crewmembers
assembled at the Grande-Ligne POW camp in Quebec, Canada, 1944.
Another photo of POWs at Grande-Ligne. Left to right: Paul Fichte,
Fuchs, Kurt Grosser, Siegfried Kienast,
Gilbert.
Another photo of U-35 crewmembers at Grande-Ligne. Left to right: Siegfried Kienast, Peter Schwarz,
Albert Schrader, Gerhard Freier, Paul Fichte, Kurt Grosser.
A photo of POWs at Grande-Ligne. Included in the picture from U-35: Kurt Grosser, Paul Fichte, Peter Schwarz, Siegfried Kienast,
Albert Schrader, and Gerhard Freier.
A photo of POWs in Bowmanville. Kurt Grosser is seated, on the left. Paul Fichte is seated, on the right. Peter Schwarz is standing, on the right. Siegfried Bruse is standing, third from left.
Another photo of POWs in Bowmanville. Kurt Grosser is standing, in the center. Paul Fichte is seated, on the left. Peter Schwarz is seated, on the right. Siegfried Bruse is standing, on the right.
At the home of Gerhard Stamer in 1978.
Clockwise from left: Erika Bruse, Siegfried Bruse, [not yet identified], Irma Stamer, Ingelore Bruse, Gerhard Stamer, Kurt Grosser. [20]
Kurt Grosser at a reunion of the U-35 crew. [54]
Kurt
Grosser
with wife, Adelheid Grosser, in 1997.
Adelheid and Kurt Grosser, in 1999.
(relative of U-35 Chief Engineer Gerhard Stamer)
