Willi Schwoebel served in the Luftwaffe as a musician before being captured while serving with the Afrika Korps. While in Camp Algona, Schwoebel continued his musical pursuits, participating in the camp orchestra. At one point, he was sent into Algona to purchase pianos for the camp. At first he was unsure how the Americans would treat him, but these fears were put to rest when the music store owner sent chocolate to the PWs with the pianos.

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Following the war, Schwoebel returned to Germany and continued to work as a musician.