Christoph, you must still be glowing over what you have done/discovered/accomplished and on and on!!!
I wonder if you will take over Mr. Niefer's life long mission!
It is interesting to note that Mr. Niefer has to know that there was a head of the camp who had 2 daughters but he does not mention them. Theo died too early, what a pity, and thus was not who Dad referred to. And who knows how the dichotomy of Theo's personality and beliefs would have been resolved as he had a chance to age and gain different levels of wisdom. Maybe they would have stayed the same - we will never know.
Now I wanted you to wait anxiously for results on the 2 French men like I have had to do. It is afternoon over there in Siegburg. Not much sleep for me between your info and this.
I wrote lots of random thoughts to Dan who found this information, and I will tell you more later about him. One of my many thoughts was: Now, if they really were French, there is a book The Long Voyage by Jorge Semprun that is a real representation of the life of a French prisoner. The reason I know that is because of a French woman whose husband had been through this. It is too long a story how I know this, but quickly, Marianne, was a secretary/translator for a gentleman, who was Chief of the liaison section to Eisenhower/ETOUSA. When you read it you will doubt that any Frenchman escaped those prisons and had the stamina to run and hide and cross rivers!
Christoph, the reason I mentioned these people is to show that while this book is a novel, I have notes how Marianne states the accuracy of it.
More responses that I sent included: I wonder what Camp they came from and where they crossed the Rhine? The only bridge that remained at that time was Remagen and that collapsed on the 17th.
Later I will tell you more random logic that makes me feel certain this is Dad!
Oh, and can't you see guys who have lost so much weight and can hardly drag themselves about, escaping. My Dad was big, tough, and strong. Before the War he did gymnastics and he also weight lifted. One photo that if I could attach shows him on the ground balancing 3 men and I have more of those type photos. From DDay Utah Beach to escaping from the Abbey he was still strong enough to consider the escape.
I will write more as soon as I can.
By the way, I think I will always add your name either with a slash or maybe a hypen to all of the storms we get!
And, with the possibility of Hurricane Isaac-Christoph on its way - I have many complications - and safety of Mom is first and that is tough. And Steve leaves for Washington tomorrow.
Au Voir,
Jean J
Won't I be disappointed if it is not Dad!