A World War II Era German/American Love Story

About the Book

What did it take to over come the United States ban on marriages between American personnel in Germany and German Nationals at the end of WWII?  Could such marriages survive the paperwork, trials, and tribulations involved?

Frances Mary Ponn, a Berchtesgaden native, and Melvin R. Bielawski, a native of Toledo, Ohio, tested the “System” and won.  In 2004, they celebrated fifty-seven years of marriage.

About the Author

Melvin R. Bielawski is a World War II veteran.  After his induction into the Army, Mr. Bielawski received infantry training at Ft. McClellan, Alabama. Subsequent to his basic infantry training, he was ordered to Germany, in November, 1945, and was assigned to the 633rd Medical Clearing Company located in Ludwigsburg, Germany. He was given a medical MOS (military occupation specialty) and placed in charge of the hospital in the Prisoner of War (P.O.W.) Camp 78, in Zuffenhausen, Germany.   

While on leave in Berchtesgaden, Germany, in July, 1946, he met his future wife, Frances, at Koenigsee a mountain lake in Bavaria. They were one of the first American/German couples to be married in Germany after General Eisenhower lifted the non-fraternization and wedding bans on January 1, 1947.

Following his military discharge in 1947, Mr. Bielawski attended the University of  Toledo (UT) under the G.I. Bill of Rights. He majored in Industrial Management (BBA). While employed by the Department of Defense in the Washington area, he attended George Washington University and received his M.S. in Public and Government Administration. He retired from the Department of Defense in 1982. He and his wife reside in Alexandria, Virginia. He is currently active in writing both fiction and nonfiction, fishing, golf, and traveling with his wife, Frances.  

He is the author of “The Corner”, a documentary about his neighborhood in Toledo during the late 1930’s, through WW II, and the early 1950’s. He has donated the publication rights to The Institute on World War II & the Human Experience, Florida State University. A copy of the documentary is also on file in the Lucas County/Toledo Main Library. His book, “Secession”, a thrilling novel that deals with a special group of Americans who plot successfully to select one of the United States for secession from the nation, was  recently published by 1st Books Library.