This is the signature page for Hardy A. Mitchener, Jr.'s diary during his imprisonment in Germany during World War II. He has signed it, "H.A. Mitchener 2nd Lt. A.C." The YMCA insignia can also be seen.
This page in Mitchener's diary from World War II includes a drawing of the food closet. A number of cups are hanging from the wall, and a pitcher is on the floor. Mitchener writes, "As you enter the room - life's sustinence (sic) compartment...The...
This page in Mitchener's diary from World War II includes a drawing of a group of prisoners who are passing time by playing cards. They are sitting next to a heating stove that, according to Mitchener, has a six-foot radius. He writes,"There's at...
This page in Mitchener's diary includes a drawing of the kitchen, in which a large cooking stove is pictured. On top of this image, he has written a number of commonly used phrases, including,"shut the d - ' door!" and "The skillet's dirty again!"...
This page in Mitchener's diary shows three more men being added to his POW camp quarters in room five, even though there is not enough space. Mitchener lists their names, which are John R. Hanzlik [Pennsylvania], John F. Hodges (Tennessee) and...
This page in Mitchener's diary shows three sinks in a bathroom at the POW camp. On the top of the page, he writes, "Pursuit of the daily 'facial'--" Underneath the picture, he has written, "'Thru these pipes pass the coldest water in Germany.'...
This page in Mitchener's diary shows the oncoming Russian advance into Poland and Germany in January 1945. It is captioned,"From Memel to Budapest" and "Uncle Joe Moves Again." The diarist has drawn a calendar with the date January 12 circled as...
This page in Mitchener's diary shows the barracks as they appeared on January 27, 1945, after a rapid evacuation of the POW camp. The picture shows the interior of a room with everything in disarray. He writes,"As result [sic] on a cold Sat. P.M....
This page in Mitchener's diary shows a bedroom in what appears to be a private home. One prisoner can be seen by the bed, resting. Mitchener writes,"About thirteen hours later & 29 km. -- 'Resting a Bit' - In the hamlet of Freiwaldau, the caravan...
Barbed wire; Prisoners; Military personnel; War; Fighting; Firearms
This page in Mitchener's diary shows the prisoners and guards seeking cover in a trench; several German guards are pictured shooting guns. Mitchener writes, "Near Priebus, second nite out ---C'est le guerre [It's war] - Down the road, rattled a...
This page in Mitchener's diary shows the POWs departing the German prison camp. They have not been released, but rather, they are being relocated to another POW camp farther west because of the approaching Russians from the East. Mitchener has...
This page in Mitchener's diary shows a drawing of two train cars with "40 Hommes 8 Cheveaux"(40 men 8 horses) written on one of the cars. Mitchener writes,"As you approach the 'Zug' [train] Yards - Spremburg---'Board!' Fifty-six men per car--Hardly...
These two pages each have a heading - "Kriege Relief" and "In the Dark of Night - Nuenberg," but nothing has been drawn. It appears that what Mitchener calls "Nuenberg" is the city of Nuremberg in south central Germany.
This page has a Christmas program taped to it. The program reads, "Christmas Time Sagan, Germany, 1944." On the top of the page, Mitchener has written, "Our Entertainment - Yuletide --"The remainder of the program is on the following page.
This is another page of the Christmas program that was given to the POWs at Stalag Luft III in 1944. It includes a dedication page that reads, "The Senior American Officer extends very cordial season's greetings to all officers and men under his...
This is another page of the Christmas program that was given to the POWs at Stalag Luft III in 1944. It includes the lyrics to "O Little Town of Bethlehem" and "O Come All Ye Faithful." The program lists carols performed by the "troubador group" on...
This item, a shipping or mailing label, has been taped in Mitchener's diary. It indicates that a package was sent to Mitchener from his mother, Estelle F. Mitchener, of Nashville, Tennessee. The label has a stamp from a U. S. Censor. In his diary...
This page includes a mock certificate or award that Mitchener has given to himself for winning the "So You Want to Lead the Band" quiz program. The certificate reads,"Saturday Nite Jamboree - This is to Certify that Hardy A. Mitchener is Hep to...
This page is blank except for a drawing of a military tank that has been cut out from another sheet of paper and placed in the diary. Underneath the tank, Mitchener has written, "From the West" and "Lt. Hardy A. Mitchener." In addition to the...
