Shadows of Slaughterhouse five : reflections and recollections of the American Ex-POWs of Schlachthof fünf, Dresden, Germany / Ervin E. Szpek, Jr., Frank J. Idzikowski ; edited by Heidi M. Szpek ; foreword by Lloyd Gabriel.

"Oral histories, previously unpublished memoirs, and letters from home and from the front"--P. [4] of cover.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 647-648) and webography (p. 649).

Introduction / by Frank J. Idzikowski -- Hometowns -- From "basic" to Belgium -- The Bulge. Excursus I. Excerpts from Charles C. Cavender, The memoirs of an old soldier & Colonel Descheneux's letter to the men of the 422nd Infantry Regiment 20 August 1945 ; Excursus II. Extracts from the after action report against enemy, Headquarters 106th Infantry Division, 27 January 1945 -- Boxcars -- Stalag IV-B. Excursus III. Chris Christiansen : fervent POW advocate -- Dresden -- Life in the slaughterhouse. Excursus IV. Soldiers of the United States of America! : letter of recruitment into German army to American POWs -- Slaughterhouse guards -- The firebombing of Dresden. Excursus V. Excerpts of letter from Götz Bergander, to the author, Frank J. Idzikowski, 7 Nov. 1996 -- In the aftermath of the bombing. Excursus VI. Letters from the South African POW camp at Gorbitz -- The execution of Palaia : plundering. Excursus VII. Documents from Michael D. Palaia's "deceased personnel file" -- The death of Edward Crone : giving up on life. Excursus VIII. Entry from Hobart alumni news, Rochester, NY, August 1945 -- To Hellendorf. Excursus IX. The death of Dresden from "Das Reich" February 1945 ; Excursus X. Nine poems by an anonymous POW -- Fleeing Hellendorf for "home" -- Shadows of Slaughterhouse Five. Excursus XI. Other American POWs in Dresden vicinity -- Afterword: The story behind the memoirs / by Ervin E. Szpek, Jr. -- Appendix I. Roster of the men of Slaughterhouse Five -- Appendix II. Travel Shadows of Slaughterhouse five with Google Earth.