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Tributes paid to ring road hermit Ring road hermit 'was in the SS'
(about 3 hours later)
A hermit who became a local celebrity in his home city has died. A hermit who became a local celebrity was a member of the Nazi SS, a friend of his claims.
Josef Stawinoga, a Polish war veteran, had lived in a tent in the middle of a ring road in Wolverhampton, in the West Midlands, for more than 35 years. Josef Stawinoga lived in a tent in the middle of a ring road in Wolverhampton, West Midlands, for more than 35 years.
West Midlands Police confirmed the body of an 87-year-old man, named locally as Mr Stawinoga, was found in a tent on Sunday afternoon. Now his friend Julius Leonowizc said he always knew Mr Stawinoga, known as Fred, had a secret but did not want to reveal it until he died.
The city council paid tribute to him saying he was part and parcel of life in the city for decades. He said he heard the tale from a friend of the prisoner of war and that Mr Stawinoga had confirmed it to him.
"He was a true character and Wolverhampton won't be quite the same without him," the spokesman said. German Eighth Army
Prisoner of war Talking to BBC News Mr Leonowicz said: "He did serve in the German army, he was in the SS and he was not one of the nicest chaps in the SS.
He added that if no next of kin or friends come forward to organise the funeral, the council will make the necessary arrangements. "I know he was in the SS because I spoke to a friend of his and apparently he was very proud he was in the SS."
Tributes were also being paid on an internet site dedicated to Mr Stawinoga. Mr Leonowicz, 15 when the war ended, could not say whether Mr Stawinoga had been involved in atrocities or where he served although he thought it was likely to be Italy as that was where he gave himself up.
The site, on the networking site Facebook, has attracted thousands of members. He said Mr Stawinoga had been serving in a Polish unit attached to the German Eighth Army in Italy when he gave himself up to British troops. Because he was a Pole, he was sent to a British camp, in Wolverhampton, with other Polish people.
One member wrote: "What sad news, but great to see how many people cared about him. Wolverhampton won't be the same without him. God bless." He added the reason he came to be known as Fred was because he did not want to be reminded of his former life.
It was feared the old tent posed a health risk
As news of his death came out the city council paid tribute to him.
"He was a true character and Wolverhampton won't be quite the same without him," a spokesman said.
He added that if no next of kin or friends came forward to organise the funeral, the council would make the necessary arrangements.
Tributes were also being paid on a social networking internet site dedicated to Mr Stawinoga.
One Facebook site member wrote: "What sad news, but great to see how many people cared about him. Wolverhampton won't be the same without him. God bless."
A few years ago, the council and police moved in to replace Mr Stawinoga's tent over fears it, and the rubbish he had collected, were becoming a health hazard.A few years ago, the council and police moved in to replace Mr Stawinoga's tent over fears it, and the rubbish he had collected, were becoming a health hazard.
The council tolerated Mr Stawinoga as he had a phobia of confined spaces, thought to have been caused by his ordeal as a prisoner of war during WWII.The council tolerated Mr Stawinoga as he had a phobia of confined spaces, thought to have been caused by his ordeal as a prisoner of war during WWII.