Kurt Demling

An audio description of the Kurt Demling project

Kurt Demling was a primary school teacher. He was born on February 7th 1897 in Patzetz in Germany and worked in Berlin until August 1944 when he was seconded to a school in Breslau (Wroclaw in western Poland today). In November 1944 this posting was revoked when, aged 47, he was conscripted into the Wehrmacht. He went missing in action in February 1945. Kurt Demling’s papers were obtained from a fleamarket in Berlin in 2024. His last letter to his wife Frieda reads as follows:

Dear !

I got out of Kassel safely and made my way to Frankfurt: I was incredibly lucky to be alive. A woman took a little package with her, I hope you get it; there’s a fur vest for you in it, a wool jacket, and some bacon. Have a good time and love me. I’m off to the front again.

Warmest kisses

Your boy