This country is at war with Germany. We shall go on to the end.

I remember the sheets of flame which came up and almost blinded us from our guns.

In this episode of the World War II podcast, we're exploring a remarkable personal story from the closing stages of the Second World War.

I'm joined by Bernd Harbour to talk about his grandfather, Brits, a German soldier who became a prisoner of war in American hands at the end of the conflict.

During his 16 months in captivity, Fritz kept a detailed diary, not only reflecting on life in the prison camp, but also recounting his wartime experiences and the personal background that shaped

him. The diary is now

available as a book. Fritz Harbour, The Complete Diary 16 months in an American P.O.W. Camp.

It's an honest account that offers a rare insight into the mindset of a German soldier

grappling with defeat, reflection and the realities of war.

Bernd, thanks for joining me. So let's start with the Harbour family. Who were Fritz's parents?

What was his family background? So he was born in 1910. So let me work you through his life.

His life spanned in tons of German history.

So in 1910, he's born.

So Germany is still an empire, right?

With emperor.

So then 1914 through 1918 is World War I.

So he lives through as a toddler, as a child.

He's not serving, of course, as a soldier at all.

But he experienced that.

And then, of course, World War I ends in 1980.

The Weimar Republic starts in 1920-ish, all the way through 1933.

So he lives through that as a young man.

...