***I have made every attempt to be accurate on the dates. Please let me know if there are errors.
July 20, 1944: Assassination attempt on Hitler Fails
It took a while for the news to reach us but it finally got through. Someone tried to kill Hitler. He sure needs to be stopped and whoever did this sure had a lot of guts. Der Fueher who thinks Germany will take over the world has got to be stopped. He can’t be allowed to be the supreme commander of the whole world. He’s already devastated the Jews and murdered them by the thousands. Who knows which group of people he will target next?
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
OPERATION COBRA
July 24, 1944: Operation COBRA begins; waves of GI’s land at Normandy and move throughout the countries of France, England, Luxembourg, Belgium, and Holland.
Several landing barges with determined GI’s had already landed on June 6, 1944 and successfully entered the northern coast of France. Other GI’s would land later on and move into other areas. As we reached the coast we knew that the hard part, the action and fighting, would begin. Everyone had to be cautious and each man was to keep an eye open for signs of danger. Timing was everything and all the details had been worked out by the “brass” with President Eisenhower signing into order the “go-ahead” and the assigned areas where the troops were to land.
THE STORY
Darkness covered the land along the beach and shore. We had talked of nothing for the past few days but there was no more time left. We were told to prepare for the landing and all the bravery of the past few days seemed to slip away. Would this be the time that sniper bullets would pellet the ground and stop our advance?
No one chanced to talk of the risk until one soldier quietly said to the soldier immediately next to him, “I’m scared”. Little by little the soldiers began to admit that they were afraid and that they had no idea what to expect. They were young, eighteen to twenty years old.
The war was a reality.
All the preparation and instruction were ready to be tested. One by one the soldiers moved onto the landing barges that would take them to shore. Silent prayers went up from those who believed that God was with them. It was quiet, almost too quiet. Without any warning the barges became stuck in the muddy waters. There was no way to go ahead without wading through the water and cautiously approaching the shore. Hearts pounding in their chest, the soldiers waited for the start of gunfire that would bring each of them to their knees and challenge their military training. For some miraculous reason the gunfire never came. The soldiers relaxed a little and gave a quiet sigh of relief.. The men no longer seemed quite as terrified and afraid. So far, so good.
In other areas paratroopers were dotting the black skies laden with food and supplies. Heavy artillery was getting into position for the troops Military planes were scanning the air to get coordinates for the assault teams. Coordinating everything was crucial to the success of the mission. Now was the time to put into practice all that the men had studied and drilled over the past few months. Okay, men, come on, let’s get this party on the roll.
Several landing barges with determined GI’s had already landed on June 6, 1944 and successfully entered the northern coast of France. Other GI’s would land later on and move into other areas. As we reached the coast we knew that the hard part, the action and fighting, would begin. Everyone had to be cautious and each man was to keep an eye open for signs of danger. Timing was everything and all the details had been worked out by the “brass” with President Eisenhower signing into order the “go-ahead” and the assigned areas where the troops were to land.
THE STORY
Darkness covered the land along the beach and shore. We had talked of nothing for the past few days but there was no more time left. We were told to prepare for the landing and all the bravery of the past few days seemed to slip away. Would this be the time that sniper bullets would pellet the ground and stop our advance?
No one chanced to talk of the risk until one soldier quietly said to the soldier immediately next to him, “I’m scared”. Little by little the soldiers began to admit that they were afraid and that they had no idea what to expect. They were young, eighteen to twenty years old.
The war was a reality.
All the preparation and instruction were ready to be tested. One by one the soldiers moved onto the landing barges that would take them to shore. Silent prayers went up from those who believed that God was with them. It was quiet, almost too quiet. Without any warning the barges became stuck in the muddy waters. There was no way to go ahead without wading through the water and cautiously approaching the shore. Hearts pounding in their chest, the soldiers waited for the start of gunfire that would bring each of them to their knees and challenge their military training. For some miraculous reason the gunfire never came. The soldiers relaxed a little and gave a quiet sigh of relief.. The men no longer seemed quite as terrified and afraid. So far, so good.
In other areas paratroopers were dotting the black skies laden with food and supplies. Heavy artillery was getting into position for the troops Military planes were scanning the air to get coordinates for the assault teams. Coordinating everything was crucial to the success of the mission. Now was the time to put into practice all that the men had studied and drilled over the past few months. Okay, men, come on, let’s get this party on the roll.
ANNE FRANK
August 4, 1944: Anne Frank & family arrested in Amsterdam
The capture of Anne Frank and her family was a real blow to everyone. People suspected that they may be hiding Jews somewhere in the home but no one could ever locate the exact place. To know that Anne and her family will be taken to a concentration camp seems horrifying. Another way that Hitler and his cronies are trying to control everything. So much anguish and so much fighting! I’m gonna be so glad to get a chance to stop these Germans once and for all.
The capture of Anne Frank and her family was a real blow to everyone. People suspected that they may be hiding Jews somewhere in the home but no one could ever locate the exact place. To know that Anne and her family will be taken to a concentration camp seems horrifying. Another way that Hitler and his cronies are trying to control everything. So much anguish and so much fighting! I’m gonna be so glad to get a chance to stop these Germans once and for all.
BELGUIM, FRANCE & LUXEMBOURG
September 3, 1944: Troops move out of France into Belgium and Luxembourg
September 13, 1944: Siegfried Line; five months of heavy fighting begins
September 17, 1944: Assault on Holland called Operations Market Garden Air Assault
AACHEN: SIGNIFICANCE
October 24, 1944: Aachen located in the triangular area on the border of Luxembourg, Netherlands, and Germany was the area where the main part of the fighting occurred. Five long months of fighting ensued and the Allied forces worked hard to achieve the goal of moving through southern Belgium and Luxembourg. Once that goal was accomplished the next part of the mission was to move into German land near the Rhine. Aachen fell into the Allied hands and the Germans had to retreat,
September 13, 1944: Siegfried Line; five months of heavy fighting begins
September 17, 1944: Assault on Holland called Operations Market Garden Air Assault
AACHEN: SIGNIFICANCE
October 24, 1944: Aachen located in the triangular area on the border of Luxembourg, Netherlands, and Germany was the area where the main part of the fighting occurred. Five long months of fighting ensued and the Allied forces worked hard to achieve the goal of moving through southern Belgium and Luxembourg. Once that goal was accomplished the next part of the mission was to move into German land near the Rhine. Aachen fell into the Allied hands and the Germans had to retreat,
SEARCHING FOR GERMANS
The Germans had overtaken much of Europe by 1944 that the most methodical way to overcome them was to slowly move over the terrain and search for remnants of Germans who may still be inside the country of France. The soldiers had landed on the border of France just a few days before November 24th and their task was important. They were to move further and further into the depths of the country and verify that each town and countryside area was no longer occupied by Germans.
France was almost completely deserted since the civilians had left quickly to avoid German advancement. Those who were not able to move or any towns where unsuspecting people went about their own business were quickly captured and taken to prison or to work camps. Their time would be spent at the mercy of the Germans where they would repair railroads and bridges or work on farms. General Patton and his troops had gone ahead of the platoon that was just coming into town. The strategy was for General Patton to go in one direction and the infantry to go in a separate direction making the path safe for the tanks that were rolling slowly through each town. The soldiers were at the front of the march while the tanks rumbled forward with clouds of dust following in their aftermath. It was critical to ascertain that the Germans had completely left the area and to assist any French who may have been left behind.
The littered debris on the ground indicated that the French had been hastily captured and taken by the Germans. As the Allies entered each town they noticed the items scattered over the soil. A soldier could easily find a good a variety of items to pick up and keep. Jackets, cameras, and pieces of jewelry were in plain sight. Bottles of cognac and fine wine had been carefully confiscated from the homes. Basically if it had been left behind it was there for taking.
Caution was the key word while scouting out the area. Germans were well known for placing thin wires on the cupboard doors with a detonation device so that when the door was opened the bomb would go off. More than one innocent soldier met his fate that way.
France was almost completely deserted since the civilians had left quickly to avoid German advancement. Those who were not able to move or any towns where unsuspecting people went about their own business were quickly captured and taken to prison or to work camps. Their time would be spent at the mercy of the Germans where they would repair railroads and bridges or work on farms. General Patton and his troops had gone ahead of the platoon that was just coming into town. The strategy was for General Patton to go in one direction and the infantry to go in a separate direction making the path safe for the tanks that were rolling slowly through each town. The soldiers were at the front of the march while the tanks rumbled forward with clouds of dust following in their aftermath. It was critical to ascertain that the Germans had completely left the area and to assist any French who may have been left behind.
The littered debris on the ground indicated that the French had been hastily captured and taken by the Germans. As the Allies entered each town they noticed the items scattered over the soil. A soldier could easily find a good a variety of items to pick up and keep. Jackets, cameras, and pieces of jewelry were in plain sight. Bottles of cognac and fine wine had been carefully confiscated from the homes. Basically if it had been left behind it was there for taking.
Caution was the key word while scouting out the area. Germans were well known for placing thin wires on the cupboard doors with a detonation device so that when the door was opened the bomb would go off. More than one innocent soldier met his fate that way.
EVENING HOURS
In the evening the soldiers celebrated their success by talking about the events of the day and trying to relax. Some men tried to write letters in the evening to their wives and girlfriends but it wasn’t as easy as it sounded. Any vital piece of information that could compromise the location of the troop had to be avoided and no one was to give away their identity. [My dad signed his letters “Guck” which I never understood until recently when I started working on this article.] The evening was often spent by discussing the events of the day, having “chow” and consuming an occasional drink, compliments of the French. Town by town the soldiers scoured the countryside. It appeared that the Germans had left the area but it was crucial to verify that the Germans were no longer in France. Once France was completely cleared of the Germans the action could move forward to fighting along the German border.
A GERMAN ADVANTAGE
Maneuvers went rather quietly for the next few missions. Five or six soldiers were sent ahead now to scout out the area. The extra soldiers gave a greater advantage over the original plan of sending in two soldiers. Germans were beginning to confiscate Allied tanks and a Canadian sergeant went along with the group. He could speak German and warn the other soldiers of any possible threat. On this particular day, the soldiers worked their way around the buildings next to the marketplace. The Germans had been in enough towns that they were able to “borrow” Allied jackets. Replacing the German jackets with the Allied jackets gave the Germans another advantage. The Germans could get very close to the Allies before being discovered. By that time it was too late.
ONE MEMORABLE RECONNAISANCE TRIIP
One military reconnaissance trip made an indelible impression on the Allies and brought back the reality that the Germans were indeed still in the area. Two soldiers had been sent ahead to scope the area. Marching quietly into town, the soldiers were amazed at the amount of German items still scattered on the ground. The buildings in the town circled around the center marketplace. German guns and tanks sat in the center of the town. Building by building the soldiers hid in the shadows and moved slowly along. Nothing. Finding a hedge along one side of the town, the soldiers advanced and then quietly looked through the green wall. Right in the middle of town, not far from the Allies were completing their mission sat a group of German soldiers eating lunch.
The soldiers froze and decided to return to base. Just as they moved back to disappear out of sight from the Germans, they were spotted and shots rang out. By the time they were discovered the two-man reconnaissance team had put enough distance between them and the Germans that the shots missed. Pressing onward in the direction of camp, the men had one goal. Make it safely back to camp without being shot.
The Germans had made it safely to their tanks and were determined to not let the two Americans get away. The huge 88 mm canon was pointed directly towards the departing soldiers. The Allies had one advantage. The German engineering was far behind the construction of the American tanks. German tanks could only shoot in one direction and only after the first shot had been fired could the direction of the tank cannon change. This one small factor gave the Allies the advantage and the soldiers were able to stay out of range and make it safely back to camp.
The soldiers froze and decided to return to base. Just as they moved back to disappear out of sight from the Germans, they were spotted and shots rang out. By the time they were discovered the two-man reconnaissance team had put enough distance between them and the Germans that the shots missed. Pressing onward in the direction of camp, the men had one goal. Make it safely back to camp without being shot.
The Germans had made it safely to their tanks and were determined to not let the two Americans get away. The huge 88 mm canon was pointed directly towards the departing soldiers. The Allies had one advantage. The German engineering was far behind the construction of the American tanks. German tanks could only shoot in one direction and only after the first shot had been fired could the direction of the tank cannon change. This one small factor gave the Allies the advantage and the soldiers were able to stay out of range and make it safely back to camp.
SCOUTING OUT ONE TOWN
Moving around the perimeter of another town, the Allies came upon another group of Germans, eating lunch. Slowly moving back towards camp the soldiers wanted nothing more than to get back unnoticed. Without any hint of what had happened, the Allies began shouting and welcoming the soldiers back to camp. The noise apparently didn’t reach the German ears because the troop was able to go back into town and confront the enemy. The Allies gained another victory and the Germans were slowly losing ground in the war.
AACHEN: OCTOBER 24, 1944
Aachen located in a triangular area on the border of Luxembourg, Netherlands and France is the area where heavy fighting begins. Army focus was to be through southern Belgium and Luxembourg towards German land south of Rhine.
The first German city to fall into Allied hands was Aachen It took five months of heavy fighting to get into the area. Once the Allies moved into Aachen they began to infiltrate into Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands. Five months of heavy fighting ensued.
The main obstacle that had to be overcome was the heavily fortified pill box. Germans could easily hide behind the concrete structures set in the ground. The pill box was normally located on a steep hill in regions that were heavily forested and where there was thick underbrush. The box could possibly be covered with wire so that it was even more inaccessible and had deep trench tunnels where the Germans could lie in wait. The pill box was an excellent camouflage for machine guns and mortars. When anyone was within a reasonable distance, the Germans would open fire on the unsuspecting GI’s. The goal for the Allies was to completely destroy the pill box either be detonation or by having a tank demolish the box completely. The purpose was to insure that the Germans would not be able to use them later on.
The best way to move into an area was to crawl along the ground in the hours just before daylight. For the Germans, the heaviest fighting was usually one hour after dark. That gave them time to study the landscape and get their bearing. That gave the Germans over the GI’s and the Germans had the advantage. Once the Allies were aware of the German fighting hours the Allies would stop fighting one hour before dark so that they would have time to study the area and have a better opportunity to maintain the attack.
The first German city to fall into Allied hands was Aachen It took five months of heavy fighting to get into the area. Once the Allies moved into Aachen they began to infiltrate into Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands. Five months of heavy fighting ensued.
The main obstacle that had to be overcome was the heavily fortified pill box. Germans could easily hide behind the concrete structures set in the ground. The pill box was normally located on a steep hill in regions that were heavily forested and where there was thick underbrush. The box could possibly be covered with wire so that it was even more inaccessible and had deep trench tunnels where the Germans could lie in wait. The pill box was an excellent camouflage for machine guns and mortars. When anyone was within a reasonable distance, the Germans would open fire on the unsuspecting GI’s. The goal for the Allies was to completely destroy the pill box either be detonation or by having a tank demolish the box completely. The purpose was to insure that the Germans would not be able to use them later on.
The best way to move into an area was to crawl along the ground in the hours just before daylight. For the Germans, the heaviest fighting was usually one hour after dark. That gave them time to study the landscape and get their bearing. That gave the Germans over the GI’s and the Germans had the advantage. Once the Allies were aware of the German fighting hours the Allies would stop fighting one hour before dark so that they would have time to study the area and have a better opportunity to maintain the attack.
Monday, August 18, 2008
THE END OF 1944
November 24, 1944: Cherbourg, France
December 16-27, 1944: Battle of the Bulge. This battle was where most of the heavy fighting of the war occurred. American forces lost 80,000 men in this conflict alone.
December 26, 1944: Bastogne; First German plane shot down at 10:00 p.m. The offensive begins
Once on the ground, the troop headed towards Bastogne just inside the Belgium border where the other Allies were waiting. Bastogne was a key point in the war and the troops panned out all sides of the town, hoping to stop the Germans from entering into France. Bitter cold, extremely windy conditions, and snowy weather with temperatures near or just below freezing, delayed progress. As supplies diminished, the Allies felt their resolve fall. The Germans attacked whenever they could but the weather limited their vision too.
German military tactics that could have been easily used to overcome the Allies were ignored. Rather than group together and hit all the areas of the perimeter, the Germans opened gunfire on only one section of the perimeter. That steady stream of gunfire to only one area gave the Americans the advantage. The Germans were stopped and just two days before Christmas. The weather cleared so that supplies could be dropped for the Allies. Gaining new strength the Allies continued to fight the resistance and shortly after Christmas, Bastogne was officially an Allied victory.
December 16-27, 1944: Battle of the Bulge. This battle was where most of the heavy fighting of the war occurred. American forces lost 80,000 men in this conflict alone.
December 26, 1944: Bastogne; First German plane shot down at 10:00 p.m. The offensive begins
Once on the ground, the troop headed towards Bastogne just inside the Belgium border where the other Allies were waiting. Bastogne was a key point in the war and the troops panned out all sides of the town, hoping to stop the Germans from entering into France. Bitter cold, extremely windy conditions, and snowy weather with temperatures near or just below freezing, delayed progress. As supplies diminished, the Allies felt their resolve fall. The Germans attacked whenever they could but the weather limited their vision too.
German military tactics that could have been easily used to overcome the Allies were ignored. Rather than group together and hit all the areas of the perimeter, the Germans opened gunfire on only one section of the perimeter. That steady stream of gunfire to only one area gave the Americans the advantage. The Germans were stopped and just two days before Christmas. The weather cleared so that supplies could be dropped for the Allies. Gaining new strength the Allies continued to fight the resistance and shortly after Christmas, Bastogne was officially an Allied victory.
BELGIUM
The next maneuver was to move into Belgium and look for any GI’s that may have been left in the area. Rumors indicated that German combat soldiers had killed and slaughtered several Allies on December 17th. Near the crossroads of Baugnez the German infantry saw the advancing American troops and opened fire on the squad. Any surviving Allies became prisoners and had no choice but to follow the Germans. After what seemed like miles, the Germans gave the Allies a break and a chance to rest. They were allowed to gather in a field far enough away from the Germans that they could be still seen. While the prisoners were trying to relax and appraise the current situation they were in, rounds of machine gun bullets whizzed through the area killing all 120 men. Some men remained on the ground feigning death but when the Germans discovered that they were still breathing, they were executed right on the spot. Buildings were burned and when everything was quiet and still, the Germans left.
A few stunned soldiers later emerged from their hiding places to assess the damage. They looked in awe at the devastation around them. Forty-three soldiers remained unscathed and took shelter among the American troops. The stories were all the same. Germans shot Americans without any warning and it was literally “every man for himself”. Bodies were littered all over the ground.
When the Gun Battalion approached the field, the scene was one so grotesque that it would never be forgotten. American soldiers were scattered all over the frozen snowy ground. Many of the bodies had been shot in half and body parts were everywhere. Torn pictures of wives and girlfriends were littered on the surface, GI identification papers were strewn everywhere and combat boots had been removed. Fingers had been cut off to remove any jewelry and any other object that might help to identify the soldier.
It took almost a month to cover the distance into the town of Huy. (January 1945) The terrain was rough and steep and mostly inhabited. Investigating the area with the vivid descriptions of carnage fresh in their mind, there was a new determination to make the responsible party help accountable. Troops of eight men, four on foot and four assigned to gun duty, pushed through the brush and wooded area of Huy.
A few stunned soldiers later emerged from their hiding places to assess the damage. They looked in awe at the devastation around them. Forty-three soldiers remained unscathed and took shelter among the American troops. The stories were all the same. Germans shot Americans without any warning and it was literally “every man for himself”. Bodies were littered all over the ground.
When the Gun Battalion approached the field, the scene was one so grotesque that it would never be forgotten. American soldiers were scattered all over the frozen snowy ground. Many of the bodies had been shot in half and body parts were everywhere. Torn pictures of wives and girlfriends were littered on the surface, GI identification papers were strewn everywhere and combat boots had been removed. Fingers had been cut off to remove any jewelry and any other object that might help to identify the soldier.
It took almost a month to cover the distance into the town of Huy. (January 1945) The terrain was rough and steep and mostly inhabited. Investigating the area with the vivid descriptions of carnage fresh in their mind, there was a new determination to make the responsible party help accountable. Troops of eight men, four on foot and four assigned to gun duty, pushed through the brush and wooded area of Huy.
THE ALLIED MISSION: EARLY 1945
The major goal for the early part of 1945 is to move into Germany via the Rhine River. Since the Rhine River Valley was one of the busiest waterways, it was one of the best ways to gain control of Germany.
January 1945: By the end of the month the Germans had been pushed to their original starting point.
March 7, 1945: Allied take Cologne
March 17, 1945: Remagen Bridge collapsed; Rhine River crossed. (Some sources call this the Leidendorff Bridge).
March 18, 1945 to October 25, 1945:
The troops were stationed in Germany and directly in the middle of the heavy fighting. The focus was along the Rhine River and was located between the cities of Cologne and Koblens. [The Rhine River starts in Switzerland and goes through Dusseldorf, Cologne and Bonn. It also goes to Austria, Germany, France, and Luxembourg.] It is a crucial part of the war since the Rhine flows into so many countries. Stopping the Germans from accessing the Rhine would force them within the boundaries of Gremany.
APRIL 20, 1945: Deep within the forest of Germany the Allies work to move into Germany.
January 1945: By the end of the month the Germans had been pushed to their original starting point.
March 7, 1945: Allied take Cologne
March 17, 1945: Remagen Bridge collapsed; Rhine River crossed. (Some sources call this the Leidendorff Bridge).
March 18, 1945 to October 25, 1945:
The troops were stationed in Germany and directly in the middle of the heavy fighting. The focus was along the Rhine River and was located between the cities of Cologne and Koblens. [The Rhine River starts in Switzerland and goes through Dusseldorf, Cologne and Bonn. It also goes to Austria, Germany, France, and Luxembourg.] It is a crucial part of the war since the Rhine flows into so many countries. Stopping the Germans from accessing the Rhine would force them within the boundaries of Gremany.
APRIL 20, 1945: Deep within the forest of Germany the Allies work to move into Germany.
MARCH AND APRIL 1945
March 22, 1945: Oppenheim Bridge is 2nd point of entry into Germany
April 5, 1945: War moves to Bonn, Germany
April 20, 1945: Troops move into the area where German tanks and military production
occurred.
***Witzenhausen, Germany is located between Kassel and Gottingen in the state of Hesse with the main access river being the Werra.
***Kassel is located between Frankfurt and Hannover and was home to the German tank and airplane production.
***Gottingen is 67 miles from Hamburg. The Leine River runs through the area and the town was almost completely untouched by the Allies.
April 24th 1945; Troops moved into the area near where German tanks and military production occurred.
THE STORY:
Determined to forge ahead and overcome the Germans lurking in the town, the soldiers made their way back to the town. The unsuspecting Germans were unable to overcome the Allies and at the end of the day 14 tanks had been confiscated and 4400 Germans were killed. The two Allied soldiers who had been scouting out the area realized exactly how fortunate they had been. Imagine, just imagine being in a town where you were one of the two soldiers sent ahead and you were able to escape from over four thousand Germans. Luck had surely been on their side.
April 5, 1945: War moves to Bonn, Germany
April 20, 1945: Troops move into the area where German tanks and military production
occurred.
***Witzenhausen, Germany is located between Kassel and Gottingen in the state of Hesse with the main access river being the Werra.
***Kassel is located between Frankfurt and Hannover and was home to the German tank and airplane production.
***Gottingen is 67 miles from Hamburg. The Leine River runs through the area and the town was almost completely untouched by the Allies.
April 24th 1945; Troops moved into the area near where German tanks and military production occurred.
THE STORY:
Determined to forge ahead and overcome the Germans lurking in the town, the soldiers made their way back to the town. The unsuspecting Germans were unable to overcome the Allies and at the end of the day 14 tanks had been confiscated and 4400 Germans were killed. The two Allied soldiers who had been scouting out the area realized exactly how fortunate they had been. Imagine, just imagine being in a town where you were one of the two soldiers sent ahead and you were able to escape from over four thousand Germans. Luck had surely been on their side.
CROSSING THE RHINE: LATE 1945
June 5 to 10, 1945: Somewhere during these dates the troops move to Allendorf,
Germany which is located in the state of Hesse Germany between Frankenberg and Battenberg.
June 1945: Entry into Cologne; built the pontoon bridge across the Rhine. Soldiers received a bronze star for their efforts.
June 10, 1945: Invasion into southern Holland (Valkenburg) bordered by Germany and Belgium. Allies overcome enemy and Remagen Bridge is destroyed.
October 1945: Allies enter into Germany by crossing the Rhine River; soldiers occupy Furstenau castle immediately after the Germans leave the area and move further into Germany.
THE STORY:
From a vantage point in the forested area, German soldiers heard the shots of the GI’s and knew that their location was compromised. Since the war had already been officially declared over, the Germans quickly moved further into Germany hoping to escape any more direct confrontation with the Allied forces.
With only a few casualties, the Americans claimed the victory. It was only a short distance to the castle that loomed ahead in the distance. It would be a safe place to spend the night. It was a simple yet elaborate castle but it provided shelter. Soldiers looked at the ransacked interior and found some interesting items to keep. A couple of Nazi knives, some German music taken off the piano stand, and a German rifle left behind in haste were just some of the spoils of war. An old picture of the castle hung over the fireplace and words in German indicated that it was the castle of Baron Von Fursteneau. Every man found something to claim and keep. But with all the spoils that were confiscated that evening nothing anything that was taken that night paled in comparison to the victory that the Americans achieved.
Germany which is located in the state of Hesse Germany between Frankenberg and Battenberg.
June 1945: Entry into Cologne; built the pontoon bridge across the Rhine. Soldiers received a bronze star for their efforts.
June 10, 1945: Invasion into southern Holland (Valkenburg) bordered by Germany and Belgium. Allies overcome enemy and Remagen Bridge is destroyed.
October 1945: Allies enter into Germany by crossing the Rhine River; soldiers occupy Furstenau castle immediately after the Germans leave the area and move further into Germany.
THE STORY:
From a vantage point in the forested area, German soldiers heard the shots of the GI’s and knew that their location was compromised. Since the war had already been officially declared over, the Germans quickly moved further into Germany hoping to escape any more direct confrontation with the Allied forces.
With only a few casualties, the Americans claimed the victory. It was only a short distance to the castle that loomed ahead in the distance. It would be a safe place to spend the night. It was a simple yet elaborate castle but it provided shelter. Soldiers looked at the ransacked interior and found some interesting items to keep. A couple of Nazi knives, some German music taken off the piano stand, and a German rifle left behind in haste were just some of the spoils of war. An old picture of the castle hung over the fireplace and words in German indicated that it was the castle of Baron Von Fursteneau. Every man found something to claim and keep. But with all the spoils that were confiscated that evening nothing anything that was taken that night paled in comparison to the victory that the Americans achieved.
THE GLOWING CHIPS: AN INTERESTING ACCOUNT
Rain poured down in steady sheets and the red clay ground became muddy, so muddy that boots sunk into the red ground and stuck to the bottom of each boot making it heavier to walk with each step.
On this particular night, the troop was on alert. There was tension in the air as everyone came close to the enemy camp. Fighting was fully expected since the group was getting closer and closer to the German border. In several sections of the forest, dead and rotting wood lay on the ground emitting a luminescent glow. The harder the rain fell, the more intense the glow became. It was a distraction, a distraction that could possibly give away their location to the enemy.
When the troop stopped along the way, guns were propped along the trees and one soldier was appointed as a look out. Two other soldiers were to stand guard duty. Germans were infiltrating the area and their infamy for using a thin wire looped around the neck of the enemy was a technique that everyone knew about. Soundless and very effective, the Germans could overtake any enemy and stealthily enter into an area. Everyone had to be on alert for the faintest sound. A beam of light in the shadows could indicate the position of the Germans. Caution was the word for this evening.
“Halt! What’s the code word?” One guard moved clockwise around the perimeter of the camp; the other guard moved in a counterclockwise direction. The approach of the guards had to be verified and without knowing the code word, no one was allowed to pass. That was the only way to be absolutely certain that the soldier was American and not a German trying to gain a foothold into the camp. The machine gun soldiers were stationed around the farthest point of the perimeter; the gun artillery crew was stationed further inside. This double circle of protection kept the infiltrating line of men safe and assured a better chance of overtaking the Germans without many casualties.
The guards continued to walk the perimeter while the on-duty sergeant watched for any indication that the camp had been compromised. The Sergeant dropped to his knees and fell flat on his stomach. There were two lights shining in the distance, both from slightly different sections of the woods. Glancing in another direction three or four more lights flickered through the dark night. This was no time to take any chances. Slipping between the artillery crew and the machine gun perimeter, the Sergeant called out to identify himself to the machine gun crew. “My name is Dave Brown.[fictitious name]. I don’t know what is going on, but there are lights in the woods ahead.” The machine gun crew tensed and the chips on the ground glowed brighter as the rain fell harder. A sound off to the right startled everyone and the inexperienced soldier from West Virginia shot off a round of shots.
It took a while before we made the connection. The chips were pieces of bark that covered the floor of the forest and glowed when the weather was damp and would reflect light off the small pieces.
On this particular night, the troop was on alert. There was tension in the air as everyone came close to the enemy camp. Fighting was fully expected since the group was getting closer and closer to the German border. In several sections of the forest, dead and rotting wood lay on the ground emitting a luminescent glow. The harder the rain fell, the more intense the glow became. It was a distraction, a distraction that could possibly give away their location to the enemy.
When the troop stopped along the way, guns were propped along the trees and one soldier was appointed as a look out. Two other soldiers were to stand guard duty. Germans were infiltrating the area and their infamy for using a thin wire looped around the neck of the enemy was a technique that everyone knew about. Soundless and very effective, the Germans could overtake any enemy and stealthily enter into an area. Everyone had to be on alert for the faintest sound. A beam of light in the shadows could indicate the position of the Germans. Caution was the word for this evening.
“Halt! What’s the code word?” One guard moved clockwise around the perimeter of the camp; the other guard moved in a counterclockwise direction. The approach of the guards had to be verified and without knowing the code word, no one was allowed to pass. That was the only way to be absolutely certain that the soldier was American and not a German trying to gain a foothold into the camp. The machine gun soldiers were stationed around the farthest point of the perimeter; the gun artillery crew was stationed further inside. This double circle of protection kept the infiltrating line of men safe and assured a better chance of overtaking the Germans without many casualties.
The guards continued to walk the perimeter while the on-duty sergeant watched for any indication that the camp had been compromised. The Sergeant dropped to his knees and fell flat on his stomach. There were two lights shining in the distance, both from slightly different sections of the woods. Glancing in another direction three or four more lights flickered through the dark night. This was no time to take any chances. Slipping between the artillery crew and the machine gun perimeter, the Sergeant called out to identify himself to the machine gun crew. “My name is Dave Brown.[fictitious name]. I don’t know what is going on, but there are lights in the woods ahead.” The machine gun crew tensed and the chips on the ground glowed brighter as the rain fell harder. A sound off to the right startled everyone and the inexperienced soldier from West Virginia shot off a round of shots.
It took a while before we made the connection. The chips were pieces of bark that covered the floor of the forest and glowed when the weather was damp and would reflect light off the small pieces.
THE GERMANS DEFEND THEIR COUNTRY
German soldiers heard the shots and knew that their location was compromised. Gathering whatever they could, they moved further into the woods where they lay in wait for the Americans. The woods rang out with shots, and with only a few casualties, the Americans claimed the victory.
It was only a short distance to the castle that loomed ahead in the distance. It would be a safe place to spend the night and a place where the soldiers could go over the spoils of war and claim something as a reminder of the invasion. A couple of Nazi knives, some German music taken off the piano stand, and a German rifle left behind in haste were just some of the spoils of war. An old picture of the castle hung over the fireplace and words in German indicated that it was the Castle of Baron Von Fursteneau. Other spoils were confiscated that evening but anything that was taken that night paled in comparison to the victory that the Americans achieved.
It was only a short distance to the castle that loomed ahead in the distance. It would be a safe place to spend the night and a place where the soldiers could go over the spoils of war and claim something as a reminder of the invasion. A couple of Nazi knives, some German music taken off the piano stand, and a German rifle left behind in haste were just some of the spoils of war. An old picture of the castle hung over the fireplace and words in German indicated that it was the Castle of Baron Von Fursteneau. Other spoils were confiscated that evening but anything that was taken that night paled in comparison to the victory that the Americans achieved.
THE END OF THE WAR
Although the end of the war had been declared in May 1946 many German commanders refused to follow Hitler’s edit to surrender to the Allies. For this reason, fighting still occurred deep within the forested area of Germany. It was during this time that the Gun Battalion crossed the Rhine and spent the night at the fortified castle.
From October 1945-February 1946: This time frame has never been filled in for me. For this reason, it is important to write down all the facts and interview all the war heroes before their story remains silent.
February 23, 1946: Returned to US for discharge with rank of Staff Sergeant
From October 1945-February 1946: This time frame has never been filled in for me. For this reason, it is important to write down all the facts and interview all the war heroes before their story remains silent.
February 23, 1946: Returned to US for discharge with rank of Staff Sergeant
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Leonard, Charles E. World War II war veteran. Personal interview, 1986.
[Pictures of the War are part of our personal collection]
The End of World War II in Europe
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/End_of_World_War_II_in_Europe
The History Place: World War Two in Europe, 1966. Timeline 1939-1945.http://www.historyplace.com/worldwar2/timeline/ww2time.htm
Wars and Battles of World II:
http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h1661.html
[Pictures of the War are part of our personal collection]
The End of World War II in Europe
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/End_of_World_War_II_in_Europe
The History Place: World War Two in Europe, 1966. Timeline 1939-1945.http://www.historyplace.com/worldwar2/timeline/ww2time.htm
Wars and Battles of World II:
http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h1661.html
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