Welcome to Russian History retool Episode 257 The Iron Curtain Part 2

Last time, we covered the early years of life behind the Iron Curtain.

Today, we continue our journey moving forward.

The Iron Curtain had trapped millions of people who would suffer from abuse by the Soviets,

but none more than those in East Germany, now known as the German Democratic Republic

or GDR.

Before committing suicide in April 1945, Adolf Hitler had begged Germany's citizenry

to fight against the Allied forces.

He ordered the Vermacht to create youth battalions known as the Werewolves to fight back,

especially against the Soviet Red Army.

These were, for the most part, children, teenagers, and young adults, many of who knew nothing

but an orthocratic government.

In her book, Iron Curtain, Ann Applebaum writes about a young man, Eric Loast, who was recruited

into the werewolf movement.

Loast was supposed to head the partisan fight against the Red Army, but when they entered

his hometown of Mittvedia, he found a way west to surrender to the Americans, instead of

fighting.

Unfortunately, some of his fellow teenage citizens forced to attend the lecture of the werewolves

were not so lucky.

The list of those at the meeting was turned over to the Soviet authorities.

All those who attended were arrested based on 00315 of the Soviet military administration.

This allowed the rest of anyone without trial or evidence.

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