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Wilson family of Pollockshaws and Alva
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As final item "Gateau Wilson" and on reverse, some signatures including those of some members of SSA2

Wilson family of Pollockshaws and Alva

Correspondence between Wilson and Lunzer Families.

Dorothea Lunzer of Graz, Austria, met Mrs [Isobel] Wilson and her son Peter at Dollar in 1932. Following up Peter's interest in stamp collecting, it was agreed that he should exchange letters with Frau Lunzer's cousin Hans Gerd. The first letters from Hans Gerd were in German, but by December 1934 he was writing in English. [Some letters also contained notes by Frau Lunzer to Mrs Wilson]. Hans Gerd's letters expressed a strong interest in outdoor pursuits such as cycling and skiing. In 1936 he was finishing Intermediate School and planning to go to Medical School. By early 1938, Hans Gerd, now a medical student, was demonstrating in sympathy with Hitler; and he welcomed the Anschlu223 when it came. By the end of the year he was doing welfare work for the party, but in 30 January 1939 he wrote that "often I wish to be an English or American. I think it's more freedom in these countries". He was worried by the threat of war, and was losing valuable medical study time to politics, but he still continued to have faith in Hitler. In 1947, Frau [Von] Lunzer wrote from Vienna mentioning that Hans Gerd was a prisoner-of-war in Yugoslavia.

Wilson family of Pollockshaws and Alva

"Often I wish to be an English or American. I think its more freedom in these countries. I will only peace for studying and that is nearly impossible."

"Reform-attempts" in the University; constraints of military organisation, "the struggle against the church"; threats of war; in Munich meeting girls and boys from all over the world, and knowing that they may have to fight, "friends against friends". Hopes that Hitler "will save us". Prefers to listen to less political radio stations in English. Hopes to visit England, but has learned about differences between Scots and English through his father's having read "Butcher's Broom" by Neil M. Gunn. [2pp].

Wilson family of Pollockshaws and Alva

Letter - Five weeks in October in the military;

thence to a "manufactory for cycles and motorcycles, working for a ill woman so she could get a paid leave. That is duty of a national socialistic student". Has been in the mountains distributing Christmas presents to the poor. ("Gigantic woods, deep-seated valleys and high steep meadows in the mountains ... I am surprised by the charm and the beauty of its loneliness and solitude.")

Wilson family of Pollockshaws and Alva

Life as a medical student

Huge pro-Nazi demonstration, followed by demonstration of students in which Hans Gerd participated.

Wilson family of Pollockshaws and Alva

Letter, 26 December

Possibly from ?"Farnie", Paris, giving news of the nursing situation in France.

Wilson family of Pollockshaws and Alva

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