George Arthur Adler

Corporal George Arthur Adler (2 August 1907 Szczecin (Stettin) Poland - 12 March 1969 Port Elizabeth, South Africa) service number 9664 South African Engineers Corps, was the son of Dr Eugen Adler (1866-1945) and Franziska Adler born Samuel (1879-1948) of Stettin Poland. He was educated at Real-Gymnasium, Stettin Technical High School, and at the Technische Hochshule in Stuttgart (1927-1930), where he qualified with a diploma of Engineering in 1930. He came to South Africa in 1936 and settled in Port Elizabeth. He furthered his architectural studies at the University of Cape Town School of Architecture and in 1938 he set up practice in Port Elizabeth.

During World War Two, he served in the South African Engineers Corps in North Africa. He was taken prisoner of war (1942-1944). He was intered in Italy and was listed at PG 54 Passo Corese, Fara Sabina, Italy. Following the Italian Armistice, he was listed at Stalag 344 Germany and his German PoW number was 35571. Through the efforts of the Red Cross, he was released in a prisoner exchange and was invalided out of the army. He returned to Port Elizabeth and was joined by his mother in Port Elizabeth. He was a member of the S.A. Jewish Ex-Service League and served the Jewish Community.

Sources: 1. South African Jewry 1967-68 Edition. A Survey of the Jewish Community; Its Contributions to South Africa; Directory of Communal Institutions; and a Who's Who of Leading Personalities Feldberg Leon (Editor) Adelson Jacob. page 169.

2. Imperial Prisoners of War Held in Italy, Italian-Occupied Territory: British & Commonwealth. The National Archives; Kew, London, England; WO 392 POW Lists 1943-1945; Reference Number: WO 392/21.

3. Imperial Prisoners of War Held in Germany or German-Occupied Territory: South Africa The National Archives; Kew, London, England; WO 392 POW Lists 1943-1945; Reference Number: WO 392/5.

4. https://www.geni.com/people/George-Adler/6000000004934024751

5. https://www.artefacts.co.za/main/Buildings/archlistframes.php?orderby=Surname&initial=A Adler Georg Arthur https://www.artefacts.co.za/main/Buildings/archframes.php?archid=4