Memoir of a German Army Officer

Vincenz Panny grew up in pre-WWII Germany with its intense frustrations and fervent desire for a return to national honor and respectability. Even as a teenager, he and his friends thought Hitler and his cronies were ridiculous, but adults saw benefits for the hopes of the country. As a young adult Vince had reason to think that when he was drafted into the German Army he could receive training for a future in radio and maybe the theater. His illusions quickly faded, Germany was soon at war.

The story describes Panny's war time experiences, noteworthy among them, working under Colonel Reinhard Gehlen at Foreign Armies East military intelligence service, and his connection with those involved in the July 1944 plot to assassinate Hitler. In war time he traveled throughout Europe and Eastern Europe on duties both official and unofficial. The post war period covers four years as a POW in Egypt and his disillusionment upon returning to Germany. His is a unique adventure told with sincerity, and touched with humor and satire. For detail it could be a historical document. More than a war story, however, Panny's words are like a cautionary tale told by an everyman caught up in a sweep of politics and leadership gone wrong. Mere circumstances put Vince as a citizen/soldier, along with his friends, into the middle of a devastating war involving German atrocities he could not forgive.

Vince Panny was born in Kuling China in 1918, the second of four children. He was less than a year old when German settlers in China were banished from the country. The family returned to Hamburg Germany where the Panny children were to pursue their education in the best, most conservative schools. Vince rebelled against this structure and later attended the liberal Lichtwark School where he developed his love of literature and theater.
Vince was drafted into the German army at the age of 18, and attained the rank of captain by age 25. In Spring 1945 he was taken prisoner by New Zealand forces in Italy and sent to a British POW camp in Egypt. In the camp Vince honed his language skills by translating English plays into German for prisoners to perform, and served as English speaking master of ceremonies for the touring prisoner orchestra. Vince was released in late 1948, and returned to Germany. He worked odd jobs for several years, never gaining a solid start or new direction. Eventually, as he heard leaders contemplating the remilitarization of Germany, Vince made a complete change, emigrating to Australia. He worked initially for the Australian railroad, and later as an elementary school teacher, pursuing amateur theater in his spare time.
In the mid-1950s Vince moved to Eugene, Oregon and enrolled in the University of Oregon earning his Bachelors and Masters' degrees in Foreign Languages, and was active in theater during his time as a student.
In 1963 he joined the faculty of Reed College in Portland, Oregon as an Associate Professor of German, and also became the Director of the Language Laboratory and coach of the soccer team. At Reed Vince found a home, a profession, and continued opportunities to pursue his love of theater. He remained there until his retirement in 1984.
In the late 1980's Vince moved back to Germany to conduct research supporting the writing of his memoir. He joined the Hamburg Players, a theater group performing plays in English for German audiences. After several years abroad he returned to Portland, Oregon where he began taking and teaching classes and participating in a memoir writing group. The memoir group gave him the opportunity to share war memories in a safe space with veterans of WWII and other conflicts. At this time he began writing his memoir with his longtime friend Cynthia Gerdes. As the memoir was being written Vince developed macular degeneration first in one eye, and later in both, impeding the writing process. Sadly, Vince did not live to see his memoir published, but it was his goal. He passed away in September 2003. His younger brother Rolf's memoir detailing his own experiences before, during and after WWII was published in 2011, Between Hitler and a Hard Place. Cynthia Stillman Gerdes has worked as a music teacher, earning a BA from the University of Oregon in 1960 and an MS in Music from Portland State University in 1981 where she taught for twenty years. During the early part of her life she performed and directed in amateur theater and worked as a professional accompanist in the Seattle and San Francisco area. More currently, she is past vice-president and board member for the ninety plus members of the Portland, Oregon chapter of Cascadia Composers, part of the National Association of Composers USA. In 2012 she published a CD of her compositions "Solo and Chamber Music" for various instruments using a variety of music styles. At present she lives in Portland, Oregon in semi-retirement with her partner, enjoying friends, family and their food/flower garden. She continues to take delight in teaching a few adult piano students, the cultural life of the city, northwest hiking and occasional travels. Alice Cords, Vince Panny's daughter, is an environmental professional who calls Bellingham, Washington home. Growing up in a bilingual household, she developed a love for the German language and all things German. Beginning with a German Montessori school experience, then summertime language instruction on the Reed College campus and two extended stays in Germany during middle and high school, she chose to major in German at the University of Washington. After two years of study, she felt a calling toward environmental science and subsequently switched majors. She moved to Bellingham WA to attend Huxley College at Western Washington University and received her Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science in 1988. Initially she worked as an environmental consultant, later spending 20 years in household hazardous waste management. She currently works in environmental compliance managing industrial and municipal stormwater permits. She and her husband enjoy mountain and road biking, hiking, snow and water skiing and boating.
The desire to see this project through to publishing came first from her own interest in learning her father's story and later from the importance to the family that her father's goal of publishing be achieved.