MENDEL SCHNEIDER - WW2 JEWISH P.O.W. - DEVOTED MEDIC

PTE. MENDEL SCHNEIDER

SOUTH AFRICAN MEDICAL CORPS

Young Schneider enlisted at age 17.

At the time of his enlistment he changed his name

from Mendel to Manuel.

After the war he reverted back to his Jewish name Mendel.

 (See scans of his 1964 passport further down on the page)

Medal entitlement confirmed on his Medal Index Card.

1939/45 Star, Africa Star, KGVI War Medal &

silver Africa Service Medal.

All four medals are correctly named as below.

(Africa Service Medal)

He served with the 11th Field Ambulance.

South African Medical Corps.

Captured at Tobruk, 18 December 1941.

Held Prisoner-of-War until his official release in July, 1945.

Between May-July '45 Schneider was to assist the

U.S. Forces with the Liberation of other P.O.W.'s.

Mendel Schneider's original P.O.W. sheet-metal STALAG ID tag.

STALAG IV B 275013

The following scans are three certificates signed by various

Officers Commanding of the United States Army Liberation Forces.

MEDICAL DETACHMENT.

ARTILLERIE KASERNE

A.P.O. 339

24, MAY, 1945

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN

THIS IS TO CERTIFY THAT PTE. MANUEL SCHNEIDER,

176436 OF THE S.A. MEDICAL CORPS. S.A.F. - U.D.F. WORKED AS A

MEDICAL ORDERLY. AT THIS INSTALLATION FROM 26. APRIL TO 24. MAY 1945.

HE CARED FOR BRITISH AND AMERICAN EX-PRISONERS.

His character is above reproach and he

performed his duties in a highly proficient

manner.    

Signed: Fank D. Bernard

CAPT. MED. CORPS

COMMANDING

Another of these certificates (see transcript below the scan)

RESTRICTED

HEADQUARTERS

23RD CHEMICAL SMOKE GENERATOR BATTALION

APO 230, U.S. ARMY

1 June 1945

CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that Private MANUEL SCHNEIDER, 176436, 11th

South African Field Ambulance Unit, S.A.MC., S.A.F. Union Defense

Force, a prisoner of war for approximately 3½  years, served voluntarily

with this organization aiding it in its mission of collecting and evac-

uating Recovered Allied Military Personnel at the RAMP Center, Artillery

Kaserne, Erfurt, Germany during the period 2 May, 1945 to 26 may, 1945.

He worked as an interpreter and medical orderly carrying out his duties

in an excellent and willing manner.

Signed: BRUCE C. PHENIX

Major, C.W.S.

Executive Officer

All three certificates are typed on thick cardboard paper.

The following scan is the last certificate dated 4 july 1945.

HQ DP 55

APO 339

ERFURT

4 July 1945

CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that Pvt. Manuel Schneider 176436, SAMC

UDF worked with this organization from 26 May 1945 to 4 July 1945, as

Medical Orderly and Interpreter. His ability in these two fields, led

me to request his services while he was attached to the 23rd hemical

Smoke Generator Battalion, U S Army. Due to the deplorable conditions

of many of the Casernes under my command, I was in dire need of such

valuable personnel to assist me in cleaning these conditions. Also

because these conditions could very easily have affected the health of

American troops stationed in the area, I immediately asked for this man.

During his service with my organisation his work was aggressive, untiring,

and diligent. His absence can be justified by the immediate situation 

that existed at that time.

Signed: JOHN B. COLLINGS

Major CAV

Commanding DP 55

PS. Needless to say the situation has now

been cleaned up due in large part to his work. 

Arriving back home in Durban

"Standing in the lifeboats and clinging from every vanatage point on the starboard side,

nearly 3,000 returning troops cheered lustily as the Carnarvon Castle neared the wharfside

in Durban on Monday. This was one of the most cheerful contingents of men ever to come into Durban."

After the War, in 1946, Schneider was awarded

the certificate for Good Service. 

"Your name has been brought

to my notice in connection with

your Service in the Armed Forces

of the Union of South Africa.

I am privleged to express

in this manner my appreciation of

your good war service and devotion

to duty whilst a Prisoner of War.

Signed: General P. Van Ryneveldt

Chief of the General Staff."

Schneider's South African Passport issued to him in 1964

indicates that he changed his name back to the Jewish form, MENDEL.