Mormon Soldier at the Battle of Stalingrad

Next week I leave for Salt Lake City again, this time to interview a German army veteran who fought to relive General Paulus' Sixth Army at the Battle of Stalingrad. According to his correspondence, his mother gave him a miniature New Testament and Book of Mormon to carry close to his heart for protection.

This elderly gentleman is one of several I have discovered through networking the large LDS immigrant commuity that came from Germany after the war. One introduces me to another, and the result is new primary sources untaped by other historians who have researched this subject.

Obviously, time is critical. Some 5,000 World War II veterans die every day, and already this situation means that I'm relegated to interviewing their sons and daughters on many occasions. However, next week will provide an opportunity that the march of time has not obliterated.