Kaczorowski, Harry Francis

Item

Title
Kaczorowski, Harry Francis
Performer
Harry Francis Kaczorowski
Interviewer
William Vollano
Description
When Harry Kaczorowski was interviewed, he was 88 years old, a veteran of World War II and a POW of the same. Although his memory was a little sketchy, his daughter, Toni Oliveri, was able to supplement his memory. Harry was captured shortly after landing in North Africa. He spent 27 months in various prison camps. His memory focused on working on farms, and he said that he had enough food throughout his interment. Toni reminded him that while he was being interrogated, the Germans broke his collarbone and arm. As the war was winding down, the Germans continually moved prisoners, by foot, over a "600-mile death march." It was so cold that prisoners would wake up each other every 10 minutes, or they would freeze to death. Prior to being taken prisoner, Harry was on guard duty at the Allied Headquarters in Algiers. He irritated one General because he would not allow him to pass, since he did not recognize him. That General was George Patton.
Date Span
Dates of Service
Subject
Enlisted; United States Army; Company E, 2nd Battalion, 168th Infantry Regiment, 34th Infantry Division; World War, 1939-1945; Second World War - European Theater; Private First Class; Prisoner of War
Publisher
Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Center for Oral History Research at Eastern Michigan University
Center for Oral History Research at Eastern Michigan University
Collection Location
2/33
https://memory.loc.gov/diglib/vhp/bib/loc.natlib.afc2001001.53046
Spatial Coverage
Second World War - European Theater