I'm able to speak with a little authority on the subject as the privilege was mine to document and write the e-book of Harry Henkel's WWII experiences as a boy parachutist with the Wehrmacht.
The title of the book was "Boy Parachutist 1943-45". Harry's mother was English, married to a German officer, and they spoke English at home whenever dad was away, which was often.
Harry Henkel saw military service in North Africa, Catania (Sicily), where he was wounded and convalesced back in Germany. He spent time in recovery training new recruits. Eventually he was reassigned and ended up in Italy fighting both at the invasion at Anzio and Monte Cassino. Here was wounded again and repatriated to hospital back in Germany.
He was part of the contingent of paratroopers led by Otto Skorzeny that rescued Mussolini (12 September 1943) and eventually ended up on the Russian Front as Germany collapsed. He escaped an SS hunt and then again escaped to the Americans over the Elbe River as the war ended. As he was fluent in English he was soon in the employ of the Americans as a translator engaged in various tasks in office duties and driving American and English dignitaries.
This is the role he played during the Nuremberg Trials and was present when the condemned Nazi leadership were hung. He experienced the Berlin airlift of 1948 and eventually decided migration was a good option, finding his way to Australia in 1952.
Born in 1926 and leaving Germany in 1952, the greater part of Harry Henkel's life has been as an Australian citizen. He retired, remarkably after 30 years in the Australian Navy rising to the rank of Commodore and commanded the submarine that can be publicly viewed at Darling Harbour.
There's a first! A Wehrmacht boy parachutist to an Australian Navy Commander.
Harry Henkel became a Christian, a follower of Jesus Christ in 1985, when he was 59 years of age. Harry Henkel has bought his strength of character and good humour to his Christian walk and is a friend of wisdom to everyone he meets. Myrner his wife of 26 years was the effervescent MC at his 85th.
The e-book, "Boy Parachutist 1943-45" can be purchased on line for $9.95