Jo or Jodl?
Jo-Michael Scheibe is a rather odd name, and one has to wonder about its significance. He was born in a hospital in San Bernardino to immigrant parents who spoke little English. The worm’s father may have wanted his new son to have a distinctly American name like Joe, although this seems unlikely given that he was a Nazi (Waffen SS) and had won the Iron Cross. He was captured during the second Winterschlacht on Stalingrad, and was in the Russian Gulag until February 8, 1949 where he was subjected to de-nazification. He was bitter about his treatment by the Russians, but emigrated to America only because his job prospects as a former Nazi in Germany were non-existent. It is unlikely that he had any great love for his former enemy, and thus naming his son Joe makes no sense. However, Hans Scheibe admired General Alfred Jodl, one of the key architects of many of Hitler’s early successes. It seems most reasonable Hans Scheibe wanted to honor his former general (hanged October 16, 1946) and gave him the first name Jodl. Here however, his Germanic pronunciation likely confused the person filling out the birth certificate, and the worm’s name became recorded as Jo. Note that the name is not hyphenated on the worm’s birth certificate. The hyphen has been added by the worm only in recent years.
It is also possible the Worm’s mother, an avid reader, was enthralled by Joseph Goebbels' book: Michael. The book was certainly available during the war, and in light of Goebbels' position as propaganda minister under Hitler, it seems likely that rising stars in the Hitler Youth would have ingratiated themselves with the upper brass and read his novel. So, Joseph Goebbel’s book ‘Michael’ may have been the inspiration for ‘Jo Michael.’ Interestingly, the Worm sold a copy of Geobbels' Michael at the estate sale of his mother's belongings shortly after her death.
It is also possible the Worm’s mother, an avid reader, was enthralled by Joseph Goebbels' book: Michael. The book was certainly available during the war, and in light of Goebbels' position as propaganda minister under Hitler, it seems likely that rising stars in the Hitler Youth would have ingratiated themselves with the upper brass and read his novel. So, Joseph Goebbel’s book ‘Michael’ may have been the inspiration for ‘Jo Michael.’ Interestingly, the Worm sold a copy of Geobbels' Michael at the estate sale of his mother's belongings shortly after her death.