His father, Fritz, a lumberjack, was drafted into the German Army shortly after Ernst's birth and, following his capture and incarceration as a Prisoner of War, did not return home until 1947 by which time he had become an alcoholic.
His father was drafted into the German Army shortly after Ernst's birth. His father did not return home until 1947 by which time he had become an alcoholic. A lumberjack was his father. This was fritz.