Former Nazi Recounts Wartime Stories

He's 87 years old, one eye is mostly closed, and he's wearing an American flag lapel pin. His accent is strong, his humor self-deprecating and his message is clear.

Lt. Werner Langer fought for the Germans in World War II. On Monday in a Santa Margarita Catholic history class, Langer fought the stereotype.

He wasn't exactly what the kids expected from a former Hitler Youth and Nazi soldier, a caricature they had seen only in movies.

Yet, for the better part of an hour, Langer regaled the mostly senior class—primarily boys, a handful of girls—in Scott McIntosh's class, which devotes one semester to the Civil War and another to WWII.

As an officer in the Waffen Secret Service—which Langer likened to the Marines—he fought against the Russians, took shrapnel from a rocket and spent time as a prisoner of war.

He received his copy of Mein Kampf directly from der Fuhrer, and he held out his hand to show the manner in which he greeted the dictator as a boy only slightly younger than his audience.

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Minutes later, those students shook the hand that shook the hand of Adolf Hitler.

This is the second time Langer has appeared in the classroom. A year ago, he was part of an hourlong discussion that included American seaman Ernie Schimmer, giving students an opportunity to see the.

With the whole hour to himself, Langer talked more about his personal story, his migration to Canada and then the U.S., his conversion to Christianity, his disdain for the cold that he grew to hate while on the Russian front.

He described nearly getting his arm amputated, and rolled up his sleeve to show his war wound.

"There's always somebody worse off than you are," he said.

He also dispensed advice, focusing on the importance of voting and being well-informed, and the sanctity of honoring your mother.

"Defend your faith and your flag," he said, and he reminded the boys in class to remove their hats for the National Anthem. "That's for the men who died for your freedom.

"Never forget your veterans."

Langer is likely one that won't be forgotten soon.

Editor's Note: Check back later for video highlights of Langer's comments and those of students.