Man of Confidence by Maureen Buick
Shot down at 21 years old, tortured by the Gestapo, and sent to the notorious Stalag 17-B, Kenneth “Kurt” J. Kurtenbach refused to be just another prisoner of war—he became a “prisoner at war.” He led more than four thousand fellow airmen behind barbed wire, fighting daily for their rights, survival, and dignity under the Geneva Convention. Many credited him with saving their lives; all remembered him as the leader who gave them hope and helped them return home with honor. In December 1942, after evading capture for 13 days in Nazi-occupied France, Kurt was caught by the Gestapo, interrogated under the infamous Klaus Barbie, and transferred through a series of POW camps before reaching Stalag 17-B. There, for 18 months until liberation, he bore the heavy responsibility of being the prisoners’ only official representative to German and Swiss authorities, working tirelessly to improve the lives of his fellow POWs. Awarded the Legion of Merit and recommended for the Congressional Medal of Honor, he has been featured in books and documentaries yet his complete story has never been told. Drawing on extensive archival research and first-hand accounts, this is the powerful story of “Kurt” Kurtenbach, from his childhood in Iowa and Montana to his final days. It demonstrates how courage, determination, and grit can endure even during humanity’s darkest moments.
Maureen Buick is the author of the award-winning book Finding Bomb Boogie: A Daughter’s Search to Rediscover her Father—the World War II Bomber Boy, Prisoner of War, and American Veteran. While researching her father’s story, she learned he was at the same prisoner-of-war camp where Kenneth J. Kurtenbach served as the camp leader—Stalag 17-B. Maureen is also a member of the Eighth Air Force Historical Society and the 91st Bomb Group Memorial Association, where she serves on the board as the editor of the association’s quarterly newsletter. She lives in San Francisco with her husband. They have two adult children and two grandsons, with whom Maureen often shares stories of World War II—lest we forget.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9781636246734 |
| ISBN 10 | 1636246737 |
| Title | Man of Confidence |
| Author | Maureen Buick |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Hardback |
| Publisher | Casemate Publishers |
| Year published | 2026-07-01 |
| Number of pages | 336 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |