THE TRACKS OF GOD: The Story of Henry Oehmsen, Waffen SS Soldier of World War II and Prisoner of the Soviets

About the Book

"I first met Henry Oehmsen in the peaceful setting of George, Iowa. He dropped by my office to talk about God and his personal life, and very specifically in relation to what he had been through as a young soldier during World War II, in the war, its aftermath, and to the present. I learned that Henry had enlisted in the Waffen SS, the military branch of the Schutzstaffel. These elite units served heroically on the eastern front, and with enormous losses of life. Henry firmly believed that God had been tracking him all his life. Far from simplistic, his theology went deep as he discovered God´s Presence and guidance even in times of terrible and terrifying adversity. I quickly discovered that this remarkable person had been to hell and back. Captured by the Americans at the end of World War II, the very next day he and his buddies were turned over to the Soviets. One of the agreements at Yalta dictated that all Waffen SS soldiers who had served in the German Sixth Army were to be delivered into the hands of the Russians. Of all the thousands of German soldiers imprisoned in the slave labor camps of the Soviet Union less than half finally returned home. The rest died from the brutalities inflicted on them, or were killed outright by their captors. In speaking of this, Henry pointed out with customary candor and fairness that much of this was also true of the Russians who became prisoners of German forces. For the 32 months of his confinement in the Soviet camps, Henry Oehmsen fought for survival. One of the most crushing blows was a 20 year sentence for stealing a loaf of bread. But he persevered. This is Henry Oehmsen´s fascinating story. I consider it a high privilege to help him tell it." Robert L. Grupp - Le Mars, Iowa.

About the Author

The author of Reality and Relevance is Robert L. Grupp, who was born and raised in Mason City, Iowa.

He is a graduate of the College of Liberal Arts of the University of Dubuque, earned his Master of Divinity degree from the Theological Seminary of the University of Dubuque, and completed further graduate work at Cairo University in Egypt, Indiana University and the University of Minnesota.

A veteran of overseas work, Mr. Grupp served as an educator in the Occupied West Bank Area of Palestine, and as Executive Director of The Christian Center for Audio-Visual Services in Cairo, Egypt — serving with the Middle East Council of Churches.

His writings include training and information books for use in churches: Redeemed to Serve — Ordained to Lead; A Christian Primer; Joining Christ’s Family; A Christian Glossary; Stretches and Starters; The Relevance of Christmas; Illuminators; Children and Communion; Holy Baptism  and Sharing the Passover Meal as the People of the New Covenant. His first book from Xlibris is The Tracks of God, the story of Henry Oehmsen, World War II soldier in the Waffen SS and former prisoner of the Soviets.

He is currently working on a new biography: They Called Her Mama Mary Jeanne, the story of his sister's work among the children of Palestine.

For the past eighteen years Mr. Grupp has written and produced short daily radio broadcasts on Station KLEM, and also continues to write a weekly opinion column for the Le Mars Daily Sentinel.

He is married to Susan Lambert. The Grupps have two children and eight grandchildren.