Adolf & Ignatz

When Housepainter Adolf Hitler was a Gefreiter (lance corporal) in the German army during the War, Carpenter Ignatz Westenkirchner was a private in his squad. Many an afternoon Carpenter Ignatz cleaned his mess kit and read and reread his shirt while Housepainter Adolf talked of the things he was going to do later.

Many a time since then Carpenter Ignatz has remembered those days, particularly in recent months when, with his wife and three children, he has lived in Reading, Pa. and tried vainly to find work. Last summer he wrote to his old...