Three More 'German' POWs Join The Cast of 'Silent Night In Algona'

LANSING, Mich. - Sept. 15, 2021 - PRLog -- In Collective Development Incorporated's upcoming WWII home front drama, 'Silent Night In Algona' there are seven main German POWs who inhabit one of the camp barracks.

All but two of the POW actors are German born and raised.

However, the two American actors – Jim Greulich and Mark E Holmes - are of German heritage and both speak near fluent German, which is what producers required in casting.

Mr. Greulich and Mr. Holmes join LA-based actor Till Wolter, as POWs for the drama which films in November in Kossuth County, Iowa.

A mainstay with CDI, Mr. Greulich ('Man's Best Friend) portrays the highest ranking German officer in the camp and the POW spokesman, Hauptsturmfuhrer Erwin Seip.

Even though he considers himself a captain in the Wehrmacht (regular German Army) and not a hardcore SS 'True Believer,' Seip is often at odds with camp commander Col. Lodell (DJ Perry). Seip advocates for the men he fought with, and believes his only allegiance is to them. But as the war grinds on in late 1944 and it becomes more evident the Allies are going to win, Seip's humanity starts coming to the forefront.

Mr. Holmes, an actor, writer, producer and singer, has a strong resume in theater, TV and film. His mantra in story telling is that "strength and truth to the human connection comes in stillness and listening."

Based in Alabama, Mr. Holmes plays POW 'Dedrick,' a man who rejects 'pretending' any more. He knows Germany is losing the war and he is resigned to serving out his time with dignity because "Our captors seem to be honorable in their treatment of us."

This attitude comes into serious odds with the Nazis, the idealogues still in the camp who consider men like Dedrick to be traitors.

For POWs, personal dynamics vary. They are men who fight anguish and tortured memories of war's horrors within themselves, as well as waging pitched confrontations among themselves.

Till Wolter, born and raised in Lueneburg, a small northern Germany town, has a diverse resume and training background.

A German Navy veteran (submariner), Mr. Wolter trained in Germany at the the Frese Acting Conservatory in Hamburg and then worked professionally at the Stuttgart State Theatre.

His transition to the U.S. saw him train at the Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute in New York City. Based in LA for 10 years, he trained with Groundlings and Playhouse West.

Mr. Wolter has performed in numerous films, TV shows and has appeared in print advertisements.

An artist who speaks four languages (German, English, French, Spanish), Mr. Wolter will portray 'Altman,' a demolition expert who (coincidentally) was dropped off the coast of Maine by a U-boat and worked his way to New York City before being caught.