German Officer gave his life trying to save a wounded American Soldier during WWII. Was his act of heroism particularly noteworthy?

SGT Jose Perdelia-Torres — Fri, 30 Oct 2015 16:24:01 -0400

How do you feel about the article?

http://www.ww2incolor.com/german/Friedrich_Lengfeld.html

On November 12, 1944, Lt. Friedrich Lengfeld was commanding a beleaguered German rifle company. Like most units on both sides, he had suffered heavy casualties.Early that morning, a wounded American could be heard calling from the middle of a German minefield in a no man's land separating the combatants.

Response by 1stSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 30 at 2015 4:28 PM

1stSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 30 Oct 2015 16:28:38 -0400

Good history lesson. Thanks

Response by SGT Jose Perdelia-Torres made Oct 30 at 2015 4:29 PM

SGT Jose Perdelia-Torres — Fri, 30 Oct 2015 16:29:32 -0400

I personally was touched with the actions of the German Officer. I am not sure I could have done the same versus a member of Al Qaeda or another insurgent cell member.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 30 at 2015 4:47 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 30 Oct 2015 16:47:32 -0400

For some of those German Officers back then, they tried their best to serve with honor and distinction......regardless of who their big chief was.

Response by SPC David S. made Oct 30 at 2015 5:14 PM

SPC David S. — Fri, 30 Oct 2015 17:14:45 -0400

There are many stories from WWII that highlight the chivalry displayed. The Charlie Brown and Franz Stigler incident occurred on 20 December 1943, when, after a successful bomb run on Bremen, Charles 'Charlie' Brown's B-17 Flying Fortress was severely damaged by German fighters. Luftwaffe ace Franz Stigler had the opportunity to shoot down the crippled bomber, but instead, for humane reasons, decided to allow the crew to fly back to their airfield in England. The two pilots met each other 40 years later after an extensive search by Charlie Brown and the friendship that the two developed lasted until Stigler's death in March 2008. This occurred as well during WWI during the Christmas Day Truce in 1915 - Brits and Germans played soccer. Personally I lack this kind of understanding - more than likely I would have shot him to put him out of his misery and as to avoid injury or death of others.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 31 at 2015 3:57 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 31 Oct 2015 03:57:27 -0400

There are good men in every war. Many are lost in the statistics, remembered only by bereaved family members and their brothers who survive the war and toast them quietly at reunions. War has a way to rob us of our humanity, as we struggle to survive and advance against a dehumanized enemy.
LT Lengfeld's men remembered him for being a soldier's soldier and doing the dirty work he expected his men to perform. But I would bet when his men saw their commander sacrifice himself to help a fellow soldier, an enemy, rather than hear him suffer, they took stock of their own conduct and many probably found it lacking. The Lieutenant teaches us all a lesson with the way he died, and the way he lived.

Response by SSG Katherine Likely made Oct 31 at 2015 11:01 AM

SSG Katherine Likely — Sat, 31 Oct 2015 11:01:25 -0400

yes, since we were the enemy to them. Something like this is very noteworthy.

Response by SP5 Mark Kuzinski made Oct 31 at 2015 2:44 PM

SP5 Mark Kuzinski — Sat, 31 Oct 2015 14:44:15 -0400

Great story. Act of heroism noteworthy - Very much so.

Response by SPC Margaret Higgins made Oct 31 at 2015 6:33 PM

SPC Margaret Higgins — Sat, 31 Oct 2015 18:33:53 -0400

My immediate instinct would have been to try to save the wounded American.
That is a lot easier said than done; on my part. I have never seen combat.

Response by LTC John Mohor made Aug 1 at 2017 12:06 AM

LTC John Mohor — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 00:06:13 -0400

A worthy story indeed!

Response by SFC Jim Ruether made Aug 21 at 2017 5:25 PM

SFC Jim Ruether — Mon, 21 Aug 2017 17:25:25 -0400

A fantastic human interest story in the heart of war. One that goes beyond tragedy when the hero becomes the victim and nothing is learned about the wounded American whether he ever was rescued or expired in the blast himself?

Response by SFC Jim Ruether made Aug 22 at 2017 8:32 PM

SFC Jim Ruether — Tue, 22 Aug 2017 20:32:40 -0400

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8LVlYJ5eJU&feature=share
Some German officers served with distinction and others were monsters. In this film clip of Richard "Bud" Peterson he describes the true brutality of WWII when he not only sees a German pilot shoot a B-17 out of the sky and forces it's crew to bail out but then he swings around to shoot the crew members after
they bail out of the stricken aircraft and are drifting helplessly in their parachutes. What happens next is not necessarily right but Bud Peterson has no regrets.

WWII Brutality Richard 'Bud' Peterson P-51 Ace Interview

Richard 'Bud' Peterson