Thank you
Jack,
my german grandfather Hans Westerholt joined the NSDAP on 1. May 1937, the typical date for a "late" party member.
"
1st of May
German Reich 1937 – The NSDAP had lifted their membership ban for the German Reich..."
Timetable: "1st of May - German Reich 1937 – The NSDAP had lifted their membership ban for the German Reich.
Link:
Was war Wann? Wichtige Ereignisse der Geschichte
At the time, the man was already an officer in the labor services.
It was his desire to rise to the higher ranks, the rank of captain was not enough for the man.
In 1943 the grandfather was finally promoted to the rank of major, with the rank of a "
Arbeitsführer", his way was open, up to a rank of a general...
A German "career", a follower. ("
Mitläufer")
What should I say decades later, I can't think of anything, nothing at all. I would probably have acted similarly, my grandfather was born in
1906, I was born exactly 50 years later, in
1956.
"
Opa Hans" sold his unbelieving soul to the devil, for a career, that's how it was.
Micha