250409 Private Gerald John "Sandy" Sandberg South African Union Army Signalers from:Durban, South Africa  Gerald John Sandberg was my Grandfather on my mothers side. He was captured in North Africa, and was interned in Stalag VIII A in Gorlitz, Germany from 1943 - 1945. He wrote a diary detailing his daily experiences which has been professionally restored digitally. Of significance is his participation on the famous 462 mile March during a particularly bitter winter. He also mentions his protection of a young lady from Russian forces who were moving towards Berlin and conducting mass rape of young German girls and mothers.
Through lack of nutrition and 10 hours manual labor per day, Gerald returned to South Africa late in 1945 in poor health. Although he married and had 7 children, he sustained a heart attack at age 28. He also had a stroke late in his thirties, and passed away from a massive heart attack at age 42 (August 1967). He worked as a sugar cane farmer near the town of Doornkop in Kwa Zulu Natal province, South Africa when he died.
I have high resolution images of all diary pages which I'd like to offer.     |