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German PoW leaves £384,000 to Perthshire village | |
(about 7 hours later) | |
A former German soldier has left £384,000 in his will to the Perthshire village where he was held as a prisoner of war during World War Two. | |
Heinrich Steinmeyer was 19 when he was captured in France and held in the PoW camp at Cultybraggan by Comrie. | Heinrich Steinmeyer was 19 when he was captured in France and held in the PoW camp at Cultybraggan by Comrie. |
Mr Steinmeyer, who died in 2013 aged 90, bequeathed the money in return for the kindness he was shown there. | Mr Steinmeyer, who died in 2013 aged 90, bequeathed the money in return for the kindness he was shown there. |
He said in his will he wanted the money to benefit the village's "elderly people". | He said in his will he wanted the money to benefit the village's "elderly people". |
Part of his will reads: "Herewith, I would like to express my gratitude to the people of Scotland for the kindness and generosity that I have experienced in Scotland during my imprisonment of war and hereafter." | Part of his will reads: "Herewith, I would like to express my gratitude to the people of Scotland for the kindness and generosity that I have experienced in Scotland during my imprisonment of war and hereafter." |
Comrie Development Trust, who Mr Steinmeyer asked to manage his legacy, has launched a consultation on how the money should be used. | Comrie Development Trust, who Mr Steinmeyer asked to manage his legacy, has launched a consultation on how the money should be used. |
Trust secretary Andrew Reid said: "Throughout his captivity, Heinrich Steinmeyer was very struck by the kindness shown to him Scottish people, which he had not expected. | Trust secretary Andrew Reid said: "Throughout his captivity, Heinrich Steinmeyer was very struck by the kindness shown to him Scottish people, which he had not expected. |
"After the war, he visited Comrie and made lasting friendships in the village. | "After the war, he visited Comrie and made lasting friendships in the village. |
"He vowed to leave everything he owned for the benefit of older people in the place he wanted to thank." | "He vowed to leave everything he owned for the benefit of older people in the place he wanted to thank." |
Mr Reid said overseeing the will and the sale of Mr Steinmeyer's property had involved a "complex and very lengthy process" in Germany. | Mr Reid said overseeing the will and the sale of Mr Steinmeyer's property had involved a "complex and very lengthy process" in Germany. |
Mr Steinmeyer was held at Cultybraggan along with about 4,000 other prisoners. | Mr Steinmeyer was held at Cultybraggan along with about 4,000 other prisoners. |
Hitler's deputy Rudolph Hess also spent a night there after parachuting into Scotland in 1941. | Hitler's deputy Rudolph Hess also spent a night there after parachuting into Scotland in 1941. |
After the end of the war, Mr Steinmeyer worked on a farm before returning to Germany. | After the end of the war, Mr Steinmeyer worked on a farm before returning to Germany. |
Mr Steinmeyer died two weeks after Comrie resident George Carson, who became a close friend of the former soldier. | Mr Steinmeyer died two weeks after Comrie resident George Carson, who became a close friend of the former soldier. |
Mr Carson said of Mr Steinmeyer: "He was a dyed in the wool Nazi and once thought that Hitler was the finest thing ever to happen to Germany. | Mr Carson said of Mr Steinmeyer: "He was a dyed in the wool Nazi and once thought that Hitler was the finest thing ever to happen to Germany. |
"He was captured and taken to Comrie and eventually was allowed to work and was treated with great kindness by people." | "He was captured and taken to Comrie and eventually was allowed to work and was treated with great kindness by people." |
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