The Man Who Calculated Death Episode: Lost Souls: 8 Release Date: April 29, 2025 Host/Author: PodcastOne
1. Unearthing a Turbulent Past
The episode delves deep into the haunting history of Suzanne Rico and her sister Stephanie as they confront their mother's final wishes. In 2013, Suzanne receives a life-altering call: her mother, Gabriele (Gabi) Lesser, is on her deathbed. With time running out, Gabi entrusts her daughters with the task of completing her unfinished memoir, which unveils the family's dark and complex ancestry tied to World War II.
Notable Quote:
Suzanne Rico (00:30): "It was the first time I had ever heard my mother's voice."
2. Life in the Kinderheim
Gabi Lesser recounts her harrowing childhood in a Kinderheim (children's home) in post-war Bavaria. The memoir paints a bleak picture of malnutrition, overcrowding, and emotional turmoil. The children, many orphaned by the war, find solace in fairy tales amidst the chaos of air raids and the loss of loved ones.
Notable Quote:
Gabi Lesser (01:08): "The end of World War II, celebrated by most of the world. God Save the King was no rescue for my mom."
3. The Legacy of Robert Lusser
The roots of the family's struggles trace back to their grandfather, Robert Lusser, a decorated aeronautical engineer who worked for the Third Reich. After becoming homeless, Robert approaches Mamu Floria Wilfert with an offer: he would manage the Kinderheim Niederschrift (memorandum) in exchange for the care of his motherless children. This arrangement sets the stage for the family's entanglement in wartime mysteries.
Notable Quote:
Gabi Lesser (02:53): "And across the top of the neatly typed document my grandfather had written was Roberts."
4. The Mysterious Farmhouse Bombing
Central to the episode is the unresolved bombing of the Lesser family farmhouse during World War II. Gabi’s memoir hints at deliberate targeting, but questions linger about the true intent behind the attack. The sisters embark on a quest to uncover the truth, hoping to bring peace to their family's haunted past.
Notable Quote:
Gabi Lesser (06:03): "A ghostly, mournful presence haunting the Kinderheim."
5. Initiating the Investigation
In the winter of 2019, amid the global COVID-19 pandemic, Suzanne and Stephanie decide to revive their mother's memoir project. Suzanne takes the lead, seeking out potential witnesses and delving into previously classified military records to piece together the events surrounding the farmhouse bombing.
Notable Quote:
Gabi Lesser (08:54): "If I put together a help wanted ad for solving the farmhouse bombing, it would read something like this."
6. Collaboration with Colonel Matt Dietz
Recognizing the complexity of their investigation, Suzanne enlists the help of Colonel Matt Dietz, a seasoned historian with extensive knowledge of World War II aviation history. Their collaboration aims to sift through thousands of military documents to identify the specific bomber plane involved in the tragedy.
Notable Quote:
Matt Dietz (19:05): "In my former life, I flew F15ES and spent the last year in GU as the Director of Operations for US Air Force Central Command."
7. Decoding Military Records
The search leads Suzanne and Matt through a labyrinth of declassified documents. They meticulously examine mission reports, flight logs, and aircrew records from March 13, 1945. Their persistence pays off when they identify a B17 Flying Fortress that experienced engine trouble and was last seen near the farm.
Notable Quote:
Matt Dietz (22:54): "So I think I found a plane that may be our bomber in question, but there's a problem."
8. Unraveling Conflicting Accounts
A critical discovery emerges: conflicting reports of the bomber’s crash location. While some documents place the crash near the Bavarian farmhouse, others suggest it occurred in Northern Italy. This discrepancy raises new questions about the bomber crew's fate and the possibility of their capture or death at the hands of German forces.
Notable Quote:
Matt Dietz (24:41): "The Alps, right? Yes, those are pretty significantly tall."
9. Emotional Revelations
As the investigation progresses, the sisters grapple with the emotional weight of their findings. They confront the reality that their grandmother, Hilda Lesser, was one of several airmen who went missing during the mission. This revelation humanizes the tragedy, highlighting the personal losses sustained by both sides of the conflict.
Notable Quote:
Gabi Lesser (32:37): "But solving the mystery surrounding my grandmother's death has spawned another. What happened to that crew? Nine of them."
10. The Journey Continues
The episode concludes with Suzanne and Gabi facing the complex emotions tied to their ancestors' wartime experiences. While they have uncovered significant details about the farmhouse bombing, new mysteries about the bomber crew's fate remain unresolved, setting the stage for future investigations.
Notable Quote:
Suzanne Rico (35:08): "You're not gonna believe this. What? I figured out the mystery of the Stuttnalhof bombing."
Concluding Thoughts
"Lost Souls: 8" masterfully intertwines personal family history with broader historical events, offering listeners a gripping narrative of discovery, loss, and the relentless pursuit of truth. Through meticulous research and emotional storytelling, Suzanne Rico and Gabi Lesser navigate the shadows of their past, shedding light on the forgotten souls of war.
Next Episode Teaser:
The investigation deepens as Suzanne uncovers more about the bomber crew's fate, intertwining her family's story with the untold histories of their American counterparts.