Top of page

Werner Kleeman writing a letter from Normandy, France [1944]

Veterans History Project Service Summary:

  • War or Conflict: World War, 1939-1945
  • Branch of Service: Army
  • Unit of Service: 4th Infantry Division
  • Location of Service: France; European Theater
  • Highest Rank: Technician Five
  • Collection Number: AFC/2001/001/73817

View full service history

Werner Kleeman Collection
Interview / Recording

More Resources

[ Special Orders #122 [5/5/1945] ]
[ Special Orders #104 [5/14/1945] ]
[ Travel Orders [6/4/1945] ]
[ Travel Orders [6/24/1945] ]
[ Travel Orders [6/15/1945] ]

Show more resources (68)

[ Travel Orders [7/7/1945] ]
[ Travel Orders [7/1/1945] ]
[ Special Orders #180 [7/9/1945] ]
[ Special Orders #88 [7/10/1945] ]
[ Special Orders #104 [5/14/1945] ]
[ Special Orders #109 [8/15/1945] ]
[ Request for leave [8/16/1945] ]
[ Book: "From Dachau to D-Day: a Memoir by Werner Kleeman" with Elizabeth Uhlig ]
[ Memoir titled "Private remarks" and dated 10/15/2012 ]
[ Memoir of Robert Strauss dated 3 January 1997 ]
[ Letter in German to Louis Kleeman from Karl Israel Stahl [12/5/1940] ]
[ Photocopy of a letter with artwork and Passover greetings, from Werner Kleeman to "Theo and dear Lolo" [3/3/1945] ]
[ Photocopy of a letter in English from Jerome David Salinger to Werner Kleeman [04/25/1945] ]
[ Letter in German from Bertha Hamburger to the Kleeman family [1945] ]
[ Letter in German from the Kleemans to "Herr Briel" (?) [5/08/1948] ]
[ Fax in English from Robert Strauss to Werner Kleeman [2/7/1997] ]
[ Letter in German from Manfred Rommel, son of Field Marshal Erwin Rommel, to Werner Kleeman [7/2/2001] ]
[ Letter in German from Manfred Rommel, son of Field Marshal Erwin Rommel, to Werner Kleeman [11/27/2005] ]
[ Letter in German from Manfred Rommel, son of Field Marshal Erwin Rommel, to Werner Kleeman [07/30/2006] ]
[ Email from Emily B. Kirsch to "Debby" [09/30/2010] ]
[ Letter in German from the Dachau Concentration Camp memorial site ]
[ Letter in German and English to Major Fiset, from Werner Kleeman [undated] ]
[ Letter in English from Hans Bergur (?) to Werner Kleeman [undated] ]
[ Letter in German to (?) Mein liebes fraulein Kleeman (?) [undated] ]
[ Letter in German [undated] ]
[ Letter in German from Dr. Alfred Israel Neumeyer to Herr Louis Israel Kleemann, highly commending him and recommind the Jewish authorities give him the most assistance possible. ]
[ Letter in German from Werner Kleeman written from Heidelberg [5/18/1945] ]
[ Letter in German from Werner Kleeman written from Heidelberg [5/23/1945] ]
[ Letter in German from Werner Kleeman [06/26/1945] ]
[ Letter in English from Werner Kleeman [06/30/1945] ]
[ Letter in German from Werner Kleeman [07/02/1945] ]
[ Letter in German from Werner Kleeman [07/09/1945] ]
[ Letter in German from Werner Kleeman [07/11/1945] ]
[ Letter in German from Werner Kleeman [07/21/1945] ]
[ Letter in German from Werner Kleeman [08/04/1945] ]
[ Letter in German [08/07/1945 ]
[ Letter in German from Werner Kleeman [08/16/1945] ]
[ Letter in German from Werner Kleeman [08/22/1945] ]
[ Letter in English from Werner Kleeman [09/03/1945] ]
[ Letter in German from Werner Kleeman [09/05/1945] ]
[ Letter in German from Werner Kleeman [09/10/1945] ]
[ Letter in German from Werner Kleeman [09/15/1945] ]
[ Letter in German from Werner Kleeman [09/04/1945] ]
[ Letter in German from Werner Kleeman to Paul Lesch [08/05/1995] ]
[ Faxed letter from Werner Kleeman [12/19/1995] ]
[ Faxed letter from Werner Kleeman [02/26/1996] ]
[ Letter in German to Toni Gernert from Werner Kleeman [07/03/1997] ]
[ Transcript copies of the letters written by Werner Kleeman in 1945 and the correspondence from 1995-1998 ]
[ Letter in German from Hannelore Grimm to Werner Kleeman [1/2012] ]
[ Biographical information [in German] ]
[ Unit history, "Some Recollections of the Normandy Invasion." ]
[ Propaganda leaflet in German, "Was ist ein Leben wert?" (What is a life worth?") ]
[ Propaganda leaflet in German, "Soldaten der Marineeinheiten in Cherbourg! Cherbourg ist eingeschlossen," telling German units in Cherbourg that the town is blockaded and their situation hopeless. ]
[ Propaganda leaflet in German advising German soldiers that they can surrender and will receive excellent treatment in a prisoner of war camp, including the same food as the Allied soldier. ]
[ Propaganda leaflet in German promising "no paradise" if they are captured, but also promising they will receive good treatment, food and medical care. ]
[ Propaganda leaflet in German advising German soldiers of the Geneva convention and that POWs of Canada or the U.S. are paid 80 cents per day for their work within or outside the camps. ]
[ Propaganda leaflet in German "Hier fängt der Wiederaufbrau an" (Here the rebirth begins) depicting German POWs taking classes in an American camp. ]
[ "Safe Conduct" pass in English and German ]
[ Propaganda leaflet, "Soldatenpflicht" (Soldier's Duty) encouraging surrender ]
[ Propaganda leafet in German, "Eine kleine clique?" (A small clique?) commenting on the July 1944 attempted assasination of Hitler. ]
[ Propaganda leaglet in German "Hier fängt der Wiederaufbrau an" (Here the rebirth begins) depicting German POWs taking classes in an American camp. ]
[ "Safe Conduct" pass in English and German ]
[ Propaganda leafet in German, "Eine kleine clique?" (A small clique?) commenting on the July 1944 attempted assasination of Hitler. ]
[ Propaganda leaflet in German, "Trotz misslungenem attentat auf Hitler" (Despite the failed attempt on Hitler) commenting on the aftermath of the July 1944 putsch by some of Hitler's top Generals. ]
[ Propaganda leaflet in German, "Soldaten der Marineeinheiten in Cherbourg! Cherbourg ist eingeschlossen," telling German units in Cherbourg that the town is blockaded and their situation hopeless. ]
[ Assorted civilian papers [in German] ]
[ Registration with the German police, 10/1939 ]
[ Transcript of interview with Werner Kleeman at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum ]

About this Item

Title

  • Werner Kleeman Collection

Names

  • Plavin, Adrienne
  • United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
  • Miller, Scott
  • Kleeman, Werner

Home State

  • NY

Headings

  • -  Kleeman, Werner
  • -  World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal Narratives
  • -  United States. Army.

Notes

  • -  The veteran was born in Germany.

Repository

  • Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Gender

  • Male

Status

  • Veteran

Service History

  • World War, 1939-1945

    • Branch of Service: Army
    • Unit of Service: 4th Infantry Division
    • Location of Service: France; European Theater
    • Highest Rank: Technician Five
    • Dates of Service: 1942-1946
    • Entrance into Service: Drafted
    • Military Status: Veteran
    • Service History Note: The German born veteran was arrested and sent to the Dachau concentration camp before immigrating to the United States. He served as an interpreter for the 4th Infantry Division. He is the author of a book entitled, “From Dachau to D-Day.”

Materials

  • Manuscript: Printed matter [1 item] -- Typewritten document (collected 11/1986)
  • Photograph: Photographic print [2 items] -- Photograph (collected 1944 - 1993)
  • Audio: Audio Cassette [1 item] -- Oral history interview (collected 07/22/2010)
  • Audio: CD [1 item] -- Reference copy (collected 07/22/2010)
  • Manuscript: Correspondence [41 items] -- Mixed (handwritten and typewritten documents) (collected 1939 - 2012)
  • Manuscript: Memoirs [1 item] -- Typewritten document (collected 2006)
  • Manuscript: Military papers (orders, personnel/201 files, etc) [15 items] -- Typewritten document (collected 1945)
  • Manuscript: Printed matter [6 items] -- Typewritten document (collected 1945)
  • Manuscript: Transcript [1 item] -- Typewritten document (collected 03/19/2008)
  • Manuscript: Memoirs [3 items] -- Mixed (handwritten and typewritten documents) (collected 1997 - 2012)
  • Manuscript: Biographical information [1 item] -- Mixed (handwritten and typewritten documents) (collected unknown)
  • Manuscript: Civilian papers (certificates, forms, wills, etc) [2 items] -- Mixed (handwritten and typewritten documents) (collected 1939)
  • Manuscript: Clippings [15 items] -- Mixed (handwritten and typewritten documents) (collected 1987 - 2010)

Collection Number

  • AFC/2001/001/73817

Cite as

  • Werner Kleeman Collection (AFC/2001/001/73817), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Online Format

  • audio
  • image

Additional Metadata Formats

IIIF Presentation Manifest

Wars & Conflicts

Service Branch

Location of Service

Battles & Campaigns

Service Unit

Highest Rank

Service Entrance

Discharge Status

Gender

Home State

Interviewee

Interviewer

Organization/Affiliation

Rights & Access

Using VHP Material in Publication or Exhibition

The Veterans History Project (VHP) at the Library of Congress collects, preserves and makes accessible the firsthand recollections of U.S. military veterans who served from World War I through more recent conflicts and peacekeeping missions, so that future generations may hear directly from veterans and better understand what they saw, did and felt during their service. The Veterans History Project Collection includes oral histories along with documentary materials such as original letters, diaries, photographs, and memoirs.

Veterans and interviewers contribute these materials to the Library for scholarly and educational purposes, retaining any copyright they may hold. Therefore, permission must be obtained before using the interview or other materials in exhibition or publication. Researchers or others who would like to make further use of these materials should contact the Veterans History Project for assistance.

As a publicly supported institution, the Library generally does not own rights to material in its collections. Therefore, it does not charge permission fees for use of such material and cannot give or deny permission to publish or otherwise distribute material in its collections. Responsibility for making an independent legal assessment of an item from the Library’s collections and for securing any necessary permissions rests with persons desiring to use the item.

Please contact us with questions.

Obtaining Copies of VHP Materials

In order for VHP materials to be duplicated, we must receive written permission from the interviewee for you to obtain a copy of the recording unless the proposed use is limited to personal use, research, or other uses permissible by copyright law. If the interviewee is deceased, their next-of-kin may grant written permission.

Please contact VHP for assistance if you need to contact a veteran for permission to use their materials in exhibition or publication, or if you have received permission from the veteran and need access to high-resolution copies of VHP collection materials.

Citing VHP Materials

Please use the following formats when citing Veterans History Project materials (substituting the appropriate name and collection ID number).

Materials as a whole:

  • John P. Snodgrass (AFC 2001/001/[VHP collection]), Veterans History Project Collection, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress.

Manuscript material:

  • John P. Snodgrass (AFC 2001/001/[VHP collection]), Memoirs (MS02), Veterans History Project Collection, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress.
  • John P. Snodgrass (AFC 2001/001/[VHP collection]), Transcript (MS04), Veterans History Project Collection, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress.
  • John P. Snodgrass (AFC 2001/001/[VHP collection]), Correspondence (MS01), Veterans History Project Collection, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress.

Recording:

  • John P. Snodgrass (AFC 2001/001/[VHP collection]), Audio recording (SR01), Veterans History Project Collection, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress.
  • John P. Snodgrass (AFC 2001/001/[VHP collection]), Video recording (MV01), Veterans History Project Collection, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress.

Photograph:

  • John P. Snodgrass (AFC 2001/001/[VHP collection]), Photographs (PH01), photographer unknown, Veterans History Project Collection, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress.
  • John P. Snodgrass (AFC 2001/001/[VHP collection]), Photographs (PH03-PH14), Ralph Williams photographer, Veterans History Project Collection, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress.

Computer file:

  • John P. Snodgrass (AFC 2001/001/[VHP collection]), Computer file (CF01), Veterans History Project Collection, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress.

Artifact:

  • John P. Snodgrass (AFC 2001/001/[VHP collection]), Artifact (AR01), Veterans History Project Collection, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress.

Cite This Item

Citations are generated automatically from bibliographic data as a convenience, and may not be complete or accurate.

Chicago citation style:

Plavin, Adrienne, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, Scott Miller, and Werner Kleeman. Werner Kleeman Collection. 1942. Personal Narrative. https://www.loc.gov/item/afc2001001.73817/.

APA citation style:

Plavin, A., United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, Miller, S. & Kleeman, W. (1942) Werner Kleeman Collection. [Personal Narrative] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/afc2001001.73817/.

MLA citation style:

Plavin, Adrienne, et al. Werner Kleeman Collection. 1942. Personal Narrative. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <www.loc.gov/item/afc2001001.73817/>.