George J. Ziemer
Era: World War II
Military Branch: Army
George J. Ziemer entered the Army on March 25, 1942, at Fort Snelling, Minnesota. Home at entry: Duluth, Minnesota.
He served as a Private First Class and infantryman with Company B, 140th Infantry Regiment in England, France and Germany.
He was taken prisoner on November 29, 1944, and was with the 26th Infantry Regiment of the First Division in Hurighe Forest, Germany. Placed in the first Stalag was in Bonn, Germany, then to Timberg, Germany, then to 4C. He was then attached to 4B, but never was placed there, then was put out on commando (work detail) in a small town of Chemnitz, Germany, about 30 miles southwest of Dresden and spent a winter there.
He left Chemnitz on May 8, 1945, walked to the town of Leichmeritz, crossed the Elde River proceeded seven miles to a small town in Czechoslovakia and that was the last time he was seen alive. His Stalag POW number was 249348 at 4C.
Mr. Ziemer posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, and Prisoner of War Medal.
Editor's note: In a letter dated April 9, 1980, Director of Personnel Services, LTC T. A. Romano, Jr. wrote to his Pvt. Ziemer's mother, "...I fully appreciate the feelings which prompted Mrs. Ziemer's inquiry. At the end of World War II, every effort was made to determine the fate of Private Ziemer and all missing personnel through interrogation of former prisoneer, residents and officials of other nations, search of enemy records, and other Department of the Army sources."
"Any evidence subsequently received indicating that Private Ziemer was still alive would have been carefully investigated and his family informed of any change in his status. It has been ascertained that the Department of the Army is not undertaking any new initiatives regarding the status of those missing in action in World War II.
"Private Ziemer's name is memorialized at the Epinal American Cemetery and Memorial, Epinal, France. The presumptive date of death is officially recorded as 11 May 1946, the date following the expiration of twelve month absence..."
Source: Hometown Heroes: The St. Louis County World War II Project, 368.
The following information was obtained from Find A Grave - Epinal American Cemetery and Memorial website.
He served in the 26th Regiment of the First Infantry Division and was first reported on 29 Nov 44 as being held in Stalag 4c Wistritz Bei Teplitz, Bohemia. This would indicate he was taken prisoner in the Huertgen Forest battles. His last report as a POW was on 11 May 46. This date would have been set one year and one day after his last known report. In other words his status changed from Missing in Action to Presumed Dead. It is known he died as a POW remains not recovered. He was awarded the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart.
His first Stalag was in Bonn, Germany, then to Timberg, Germany. He was put on commando (work detail in the small town of Chemnitz (German Kabnitz), about 30 miles SW of Dresden. He spent the winter there. At one point he attempted to escape as he spoke fluent German. He was severely beaten for this attempt. The wars end found him in a zone not liberated by either the Soviets or Allies. He left the camp on his own on 5/8/45, walked to the town of Leichmeritz, crossed the Elde River, proceeded 7 miles to a small town in Czechoslovakia and that was the last time he was seen. His best friend who was with him the entire time in captivity wrote the family after the war and said George was not in right frame of mind after the beating. He pleaded with George to go with him but he refused as he said he was afraid of the Soviets. His Stalag POW# was 249348 at 4C Chemnitz
