Lutheran POW Bible and Service Book

[HunterTN]

My wife's grandfather was in Lutheran seminary in Texas during WWII. He actually spent a night in jail for suspicion of being a spy as he spoke in German when visiting door to door. He was sent to German POW camps to conduct Lutheran services, and apparently used the German Bible. He also had this Lutheran Service Hymnal, I'm guessing he visited US bases in his part of Texas to conduct services for them too. I found these when cleaning out their house after his wife died and thought they were pretty interesting. The Bible is dated 1892, the service book isn't dated but one page has an introduction letter dated 2/1/44. Just thought I would share these. Any idea how common this kind of stuff is?


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[Griff Murphey]

My first thought is that its main value would be as a keepsake within your family. However as time passes the new generations may be less interested. It would definitely be a specialist collectible. If you want to get rid of it you might contact your local Lutheran church diocese and ask around, one of the priests might be a reserve Chaplain Corps officer and may want it. E-bay is a shot it the dark.

There was a Catholic chaplain I knew at Pendleton in 1976 who had his BOQ room stacked to the ceiling with mortar round crates set on their sides as book cases. I mean, there was his rack, and there were walkways. It had to be seen to be believed.