Customer Reviews

Zemke's Stalag

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Mr. Freeman along with Hub Zemke detail Hub's war fromthe period he was shot down to the end of the war. Thereis good information here on the German camp at Barth, which is a camp I find to be overlooked. The story of Hub being shot down alone is worth the price of admission. Its all here. The interogation, the camp, life as a POW, and liberation by the Ruskies. Good stuff!

Zemke's Stalag was a pleasure to read. Zemke was a terrific wartime leader. It is obvious he inspired confidence from his men that was enduring. The only way that can happen is if the leader cared for and respected his men. It is obvious that Zemke had the grudging respect from his captors.

The book follows the disintegration of his P-51 from being overstressed in flight to his adventures in staff work after the war which led to an experience that hurt his chances for promotion to general officer. What separates this account from others in the POW genre is that Zemke was the Senior Allied Officer in Stalag Luft I near Barth Germany.

There were many interesting parts of this account. One being Zemke's reasons for his decisions he made. It is clear that Zemke wasn't willing to be a POW victim but maintain standards in his men so that they could survive with their own integrity intact. Zemke's book is not only a POW account but an example of leadership. The book was easily read and flowed as if Zemke was telling the story over a cup of coffee. Zemke's Stalag is recommended to anyone interested in leadership, the air war in Europe and the European POW experience.

- After my Father read this, he knew this was perhaps the best account
of actual life as an American Airman POW (prisoner of war) in WW2 Germany
(if not, it's certainly the best of the books on Stalag Luft 1) My Father
knows this because he was there with "Hub" (and many others) at Stalag
Luft 1, Barth, Germany (1944-45). Col. Zemke was a great Fighter/Leader
(56th FG)& Friend to my Father (B-24 Navigator - 445thBG/703BS). "Hub"
Zemke also earned the respect of other 2nd Lt's, and those "up the ranks"
(to include the German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Camp guards & Officers. Though never one for "Chicken S--t", the Col. nonetheless led his fellow POW's in surviving a bad situation, often at the expense of their captors (1 German
CO was releved for actually be too "nice" to the POW's !
- If you want a real story of WW2 POW life, skip "Hart's War" & read
this book.

Hub Zemke wasn't shot down. His P-51 was overstressed while flying through a thundercloud, and the aircraft disintegrated.