Helmut Guettler

In 1947, new legislation allowed POWs to venture outside of the camps, work on nearby farms and fraternise with locals. One such relationship between a Helmut Guettler (A German Navy Corporal held at Island Farm 1946 - 1948) and Zena Pickering led to a marriage on the 31st January 1948. (Note the card spells his name Helmut but the marriage certificate spells it Helmuth).

I personally, am surprised that society permitted such relationships. The newly weds would have settled down to live in a street where neighbours would have lost fathers, brothers, cousins and loved ones etc and here was a local girl marrying an "enemy". Perhaps people had had enough of the war and were only too keen to forgive and forget....

Photos graciously provided by the Guettler family. On the far left is my grandfather (Helmut Guettler) when he lived in what was Breslau. He (Helmut) told me (granddaughter) that his father died when he was young and his mother managed to get them out of Breslau on the last train before the Nazis took Breslau.

Helmut Guettler - back row far left of photo. Photo taken in 1946 on the camp football pitch. These men were all employed as cooks or mess orderlies to the generals Click image to enlarge

Helmut Guettler standing in for himself 42 years later (1988) Click image to enlarge

"My Sincerest and heartliest congratulations to your engagement yours Hubert Schmitt and Günter Koball"

Below is the hand made wedding card signed by Feldmarschall Gerd von Rundstedt !

The Wedding: 31st January 1948

von Rundstedt General-Feldmarschall Mrs and Mrs Helmut Guettler Ne Pickering 21 Bryncoch Road, Sarn Nr Bridgend Click image to enlarge

LEFT SIDE: On the day of your wedding our very best wishesfor a long life full of happiness and good companionship 31 January 1948 Click image to enlarge

RIGHT: Your fellow prisoners of number 11 Camp Bridgend Günter Koball Hans Reinhardt Konrad Meier Schmitt, Hubert (he wrote: last name, first name) Ernst Webel Names translated by the daughter of Günter Koball in 2016 Click image to enlarge

Those who signed the card (left) Back Row: Hans Reinhard, Erst Webel Front Row: Helmut Guettler, Günter Koball, Konrad Meier, Herbert Schmitt Click image to enlarge

Wedding photo Click image to enlarge

Copy of Marriage Certificate (Helmut Guettler) Click image to enlarge