A Humbling Experience

I recently attended MPCFest X, the annual convention of military numismatic enthusiasts held in Port Clinton, OH. The special guest for the convention was a gentleman by the name of Hans Walter.

Mr. Walter is a Holocaust survivor who was sent initially to Auschwitz but spent most of WWII in Sachsenhausen as a part of Operation Bernhard. Operation Bernhard was the code name for the German plot to counterfeit English pounds and US dollars. Mr. Walter worked in quality control as an examiner of the finished notes. Of the 140 inmates who participated in OPeration Bernhard, only 3 are still alive.

The story of Operation Bernhard has been told in many books and was recently made into a movie called "the Counterfeiters". It won the Academy Award in 2008 for best foreign film. It is somewhat fictionalized but the basic story is accurate.

I feel extraordinarily honored to have met Mr. Walter. Below is a picture of myself and Mr. Walter. Next to that is one of the Operation Bernhard notes signed by Mr. Walter.

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

wow

 

All I can say is wow, that is awesome! I wish I were there. That must have been a great experience, I saw that movie and loved it. Congrats!

 

Amazing
You have met a true hero. I am also familiar with the counterfeiting sponsored by the Germans, it is a very intricate and telling story.

History does not lie, that man is an inspiration to us all, and you are very gifted to be able to share some time with him. Congradulations are in order.

 

Wow, that it is cool. Thanks for sharing your story.

 

Very cool!!

 

Facinating

 

What a truely amazing experience and to get one of the notes signed by him as well :bow: :bow: :bow:

 

Ditto on all the above comments. Thanks for sharing your experience with us.

 

Nice story! thanks for sharing

 

Both amazing and touching. Thanks.

 

WayBack Machines

WayBack Machines seem to be working again.

ThanX for the reminder of complications that differ from todays.:bow:

 

What are rare and wonderful moment to look history in the eyes and hear it from one who lived through it. Congrats on a very fortunate experience my friend.:bow:

 

Ditto on the Ditto!!! Very Cool experience!

 

Great Jim

 

What an honor to meet him

 

A true hero,what an honor to meet him in person.

 

Very humbling and an honor to meet such a person. Thanks for sharing. Honestly!

Wow! I love to talk to old Veterans. The stories and so forth are truly inspiring.

Thank you.

 

What a rare honour and privelege you've had to meet such a man. I'm completely envious. Did he sign any other notes that day or is that going to be a unique piece you have (never to be sold of course).
Vic

 

He signed a handful of notes that day. They were sold to raise money for a foundation that supports educational programs related to the Holocaust.