Werner Wisian manuscript

Collection — Container: Single Folder Collections - 1998 Box 11 (98.0224-98.0246), Folder: 98.0241 - Folder 1

Identifier: 98.0241

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The Werner Wisian manuscript includes detailed descriptions of Private Wisian's time as a member of the 5th Army, Company G, 2nd Battalion, 141st Infantry. He served in the Mediterranean Theater in Italy, and spent over a year as a prisoner of war in various prisoner of war camps such as Stalag IIIB. His 24 page manuscript includes correspondence with a Russian prisoner of war and information on the Texas National Guard. His 1995 manuscript covers topics such as life during basic training, specific actions in combat, life as a prisoner of war, and personal reflections on the war. Also included are facts taken from the Official 36th Infantry Combat Diary 1943-1945.

Dates

Created: 1940-1995
Other: Date acquired: 11/08/1999

Creator

Wisian, Werner (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open to all researchers.

Conditions Governing Use

All requests for permission to quote, publish, broadcast or otherwise reproduce from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Associate Dean for Special Collections & Archives. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Florida State University Libraries as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the researcher.

Biographical or Historical Information

Werner Wisian was born on July 30, 1918 and grew up on a farm in Robstown, Texas. After high school he had issues finding work and decided to join the Texas National Guard in September 1940, which was mobilized two months later as part of the 5th Army, Company G, 2nd Battalion, 141st Infantry. He completed basic training at Camp Bowie, Camp Blanding, and Camp Edwards before being sent overseas to Algeria and finally to Italy. He was involved in the Invasion of Sicily and injuried during the Battle of San Pietro. After his unit experienced many casualties in the Battle of Rapido River of 1944 he was captured by the Germans with the remains of his unit. Wisian was sent to Stalag IVB, Stalag IIB, Stalag IIIA, and Stalag IIIB where he stayed for 11 months. During his stay at various prisoner of war camps he gives specific details of food rations, treatment of incarcerated Russians, and dental care he recieved by a Russian Incarceree who he later got in touch with in the late 1980s. While en route to his last prison camp Stalag IIIA, he describes seeing Jews on a death march near the camp of Buchenwald. On April 22, 1945 he was liberated by the Russians and sent to France to recover from his imprisonment. In June of 1945 he was sent back to the United States and discharged from the Army five months later. In May of 1946 he married his girlfriend Jean who he met before he was sent overseas. Werner Wisian passed away on January 20, 2000 at the age of 81 years old.

Extent

1.00 folders

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Arrangement Note

Chronological

Custodial History

Transferred from the Institute on World War II and the Human Experience to FSU Libraries Special Collections & Archives in July 2022.

Source of Acquisition

Richard Payne

Method of Acquisition

Donated

Processing Information

Entered 6/13/2017

Subjects

Camp Blanding (Fla.)
Camp Bowie (Brown County, Tex.) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Camp Edwards (Mass.) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Oran (Algeria) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Stalag II B Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Stalag III A Subject Source: Local sources
Stalag III B Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Stalag IV B. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Texas. National Guard Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
United States. Army. Infantry Division, 36th
United States. Army. Infantry Division, 5th
World War, 1939-1945--Campaigns--Italy Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
World War, 1939-1945--Campaigns--Mediterranean Sea Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
World War, 1939-1945--Prisoners and prisons Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings