Kurt Haas

Why America? Kurt Haas

Kurt Haas was born in Mainz, Germany in 1911. In 1939, he was swept into World War II. Kurt thanks God that during the next six years he never fired or received a shot. In 1945 he was captured by the Russians, miraculously escaped, and made it to the American lines. Kurt spent the lean post war years first dreaming about, and then planning to emigrate to America. In 1954, speaking virtually no English, Kurt arrived with his wife and two young children in Philadelphia. Surprises came often as the family worked to survive, learn English, and adapt to American ways. Why America? is Kurt?s story, in Kurt?s own words of his dream, his journey and his family?s adoption of America. Kurt, now a spry 97 years old, lives with his wife, Gertrud in Yountville, California.