Gustav Hozzel

Gustav Hozzel was a German veteran of World War II. He'd fought the Soviets from 1942 until the end of the war. When it was clear Germany was on the verge of defeat, Gustav fled west and managed to surrender to the Americans. He soon settled in Fulda in the American zone of West Germany with his wife Luisa and found work as a printer. He still suffered nightmares five years after the end of the war.

In January, 1951, Gustav became aware of increased military activity in and around Fulda, which was near the border with the Soviet controlled East Germany.