Wehrmacht major (Zigeuner)

A young Wehrmacht major and his regiment were on their way to eastern Hungary to fight the Soviets when their train was held up in Zalaegerszeg while the SS loaded another train of Zigeuner for Poland. The local SS commander Haupsturmführer, Joseph Stieglitz, had not known the Wehrmacht regiment was coming, and the SS train would not clear the track to let the Wehrmacht through.

The major was livid, directing his fury at Stieglitz. When the major argued that Germany was fighting the Russians, Stieglitz calmly reminded the major that Germany was also fighting the Zigeuner, and that they were all part of the same struggle, the major remarked that they were all losing it. Realizing he wasn't going to change Stieglitz's mind, the major sarcastically asked Stieglitz to let him know when his train could head east and stomp off. Stieglitz concluded that the younger major must have been a talented soldier or very if he could rise to the rank of major while being so impolitic.

Stieglitz had Zigeuner quickly loaded onto the train to Poland. The major, with some help of chaplains, got his regiment on their train, and were off towards the est.