Christoph,
So sorry I could not write yesterday - I am so busy with Mom type things. And I am still frustrated that I lost that last entry. Part of it was in response to your 2 KM observation. That is such a big help!
If that is where the 22 men were found, then that is where Dad had to walk. And he did lament the distance. I know the only vehicle, which was wood burning, broke down and the parts could never be replaced or repaired. So they were walking and as you mention, and he did too, the weather was tough.
Again, as you say, If he had to go 2 KM each way, that is a hefty distance especially in that weather. Plus we know the distance from the barracks up to the top of the Abbey, and Dad was cutting the wood for a small wood stove that was up in KF's area, and carrying that up there, and carrying prisoners up to that level, and .......
Now why was that Cemetery so far away?
And was Dad accompanied by someone? I never heard of horses, and to the best my knowledge Dad never learned to really ride a horse even when young.
And where were the wounded Germans buried when they died? We know there were at least 31 of them. And where was Theo buried? Maybe the son knows.
I recall Dad saying that he was allowed at least on one occasion to go outside the Camp with out anyone. How unfortunate (but it was the right thing to do) that I did not dig deeper with more questions. But I would not dare for fear of hurting him and making him have to think too hard about his past. But do you suppose that trip was to the Cemetery?
Norton was stunned when I told him that. He was in disbelief. But now with the way you mentioned the 2 KM and the snow and weather and maybe a cart with at least 115 to 130 pounds of a poor dead soul, that was the time.
And where did they walk? through town? How many homes were there?
If there were 22 men, over an approximate 4 plus months, that is about 1 per week. However during heavy military activity, like the Bulge it would probably have been more. And that was when the weather was certainly very bad.
When we go to the Cemetery, it will be interesting if Steve and I can remember if that is where we drove to with Dad. He tried to find it. I do not think we took a photo of the location. But I recall a small piece of land (it was not parallel to the road, but kind of triangular) with green grass and it was next to a raised road.
What a mistake to have taken Dad to Siegburg first. But we were all so curious. He got very frustrated and angry. Not a single person could help us! He would be stunned and very happy and very grateful that you came into his life!!
Oh, so many unknown answers. And speaking of the town, I heard back from the facility that produces that map files. Apparently the cost of $30 is a set up fee and then the cost of the actual maps is negligible. I sent Dan and email and asked him on the production of them and first I will see about adding some more maps. I need Cologne because of KF, and I need to supply him with the approximate area of Dad's capture, and I do want Remagen. Is there something you would like me to add to the list?
I could write forever, but life (don't ask about the one sick woman yesterday, so pathetic) and especially Mom, who is doing better, thank goodness, beckon me forth right now. On to calls to the Drs for Mom.
Hope you are having a great day!
Jean J
Christoph,
Another thought I had in the lost email and failed to mention above was the earth. Having to carry a shovel and then digging through the snow and frozen ground.
In winters like you had that 1944/1945 does your earth freeze like ours did it Minnesota?
I do not recall Dad ever mentioning the digging. Maybe he did with Steve. My guess is that mentioning the actual earth and soil, because he was so well, earthy, would bring back the memory at a different level. It would for me.
Gad so much more to talk about,
Jean J
Concerning the maps: The Univerity of Greifswald has some of these maps online, the one with Remagen for example:
Here you can find an overview of all these maps with numbers and links:
http://www.unsere-ahnen.de/digi_buecher/Uebersichtskarte_Messtischblaetter_nord.pdf
You should zoom in at at least 400% if you want to read the text!
These maps are older, of about 1895-1905, but to get an overview it might be sufficient. The Ludendorff bridge of course was not built yet.
Christoph
Theo is perhaps buried on the same cemetary, there is a also military cemetary with 634 graves of WWI and II and he's wearing a uniform on the photo. The city of Siegburg has published a brochure, online here:
http://www.blattwelt.de/siegburger_blaetter/nr_27_nordfriedhof.pdf , unfortunately the pictures are very compressed in the pdf file.
The cemetary was built after the old cemetary which is nearer to the Abbey was full, and I think it is normal to choose a place a bit outside of the city. For the friars on the hill there was and is another cemetary, directly beneath the camp.
Christoph
Christoph, That is wonderful what you wrote above. I will study it all.
Going through papers real early AM because days are going to get even busier coming up. Mom is not doing well and I am working on her 90th birthday party. Many other things going on.
In between I must try to pursue the living prisoners and men and women who are alive that might have information.
In the notes I found, "Reached American Lines March 21- 1945 - Rimagen"
and "Went thru chain of hospitals - Frost Bitten Feet"
and "Wounds: Shrapnel Right Shoulder
Bullet thru Left Ear"
and other places he talks about the lice.
I must try to call KF today. I have a VMAIL that to me indicates because of the condition of the boys that KF must have been taken to a different place - as indicated by his thinking he was very high up. I will read him that and later write that to you.
Jean J
Did he have all these wounds already in Siegburg? If yes, how could he do all he has done there?
With this date we'll find perhaps the unit which picked him up? I have found some which were in Remagen on the 21st March, but there were some more:
"On 21 March 1945, the 15th FA Bn crossed the Rhine River into Germany on a pontoon bridge near Remagen, and took up firing positions near the town of Leutesdorf."
"21 Mar 1945 US First Army advanced toward Siegburg, Germany."
"On 21 March 1945, the Battalion [299th Combat Engineers] assumed the guard and maintenance of the Treadway bridge at Remagen. The Battalion also maintained roads, posted signs, and did engineer work as directed. Company A moved into Remagen this date and on 24 March Company B moved to Erpe1 [Erpel]."
Christoph
Christoph, Wow, you have done an amazing amount of research again! I tried to figure out the outfits and never came up with what you did. That is very exciting. I must think of how to contact those outfits.
Dad never let his War injuries keep him in the hospital except for brief treatment. His thumb was injured and he wrote about it from Siegburg. The nail was scared but I never asked him about it. Then I read about it in the letters from Siegburg. I also know he could put pins in his feet and not feel anything - he would tell me that. But he was strong, tough, and determined and very fair, wanting to help others that deserved it.
Tonight I called a 4th Division Medic. He is 92. He joined the 4th in March of 1945. He did not know Dad or any of the names I knew. Was so fun to hear his crazy story of joining up with the 4th. Thank goodness I take a little shorthand, or whatever I remember of it. A few years ago he was not well and so I never had a chance to really get to chat with him. i will share more later about the medicine they used and the dental care.
I had no luck with chatting with KF today. First he was going with his daughter to Drs. and this PM he had his neighbor visiting. I did try however. What I wanted to run by him was my theory that there were 3 levels of places where the Allies were cared for. His description of his area was they were all almost at the end.
But Dad talks about, and this was not where Norton was, "Say hello to the Folks - tell them I am well and will try to write them soon when I receive an extra letter or two. Fortunately I am so busy time flies by and this all is just a little easier to take. Have all the boys writing there letters home - an this gives them something to do. For them laying in bed time goes by so slowly. I have most of my one legged boys up and around now doing odd jobs, making bandages, etc."
This was written on Jan. 3, 1945 because he says "The third day of the New Year and with it nothing new from my little home. We were bombed by our own planes a few days ago and I am not quite over it yet - my nerves are very jumpy."
As always Christoph, Thank You! I hit the jackpot with you and Marion!
Jean J
Hello Christoph!
I took a chance and wrote the Eisenhower Museum today to see if they have the records on the 2 outfits you mentioned above - that is the 15th FA Bn and the 299th Combat Engineers. I have asked the gentleman there so much in the past and he has been terrific, so while I did not want to bother him, it does seem like the easiest approach. If they do not have the records, I can then take another step, which maybe I will just quickly see if there is an Association for these groups.
Yesterday I did write the 78th Division, Flash News contact, to see if I can advertise that I am looking for folks involved with the liberation of Waldbrol or those who were prisoners, and also if there is anyone that knew anything about Siegburg.
In some of my notes Dad and Gidrie were on the run/loose for 4 days before getting lucky with that farmhouse where they stayed for 2 days. So the dates were the 15th, escape, and the 21st, free at last. How far did they get? Maybe soon we will find out.
Thank you again for that last lead!
Jean J
Christoph,
Here is what I found:
The 299th Combat Engineer Battalion has a nice web site. It does say:
On 16 March 1945, Battalion Headquarters, Headquarters and Service Company and Company C moved to Oberwinter on the Rhine, a few miles north of Remagen. Company B moved to Kripp Germany. The following day about 1000 hours 17 March 1945, the world renowned Ludendorf bridge collapsed in the Rhine.
The Bridge was undergoing repairs at the time and no military traffic was using it. At least 2 ponton bridges and one floating Bailey Bridge were in use by this time in the bridgeheard vicinity. Also several pontoon ferries were operating across the Rhine.
On 21 March 1945, the Battalion assumed the guard and maintenance of the Treadway bridge at Remagen. The Battalion also maintained roads, posted signs, and did engineer work as directed. Company A moved into Remagen this date and on 24 March Company B moved to Erpel.
I do not feel confident that their outfit would have a scout on the other side of the Rhine. I feel there are other outfits already there.
And as to the 15th FA Bn, Leutesdorf is South of Remagen. So I doubt this one even more.
The problem with the First Army is that category is soo huge at that time.
Oh, I was so hopeful, but I am sure we will find the answer!
You would not know I needed to have left here a while ago. But your information was too compelling to leave!
As always, Thank You,
Jean J
We'll keep on searching. On the site of theUS Army Corps of Engineers you'll find "The Rhine River Crossings" by Barry W. Fowle
http://140.194.76.129/publications/eng-pamphlets/EP_870-1-42_pfl/c-7-5.pdf
who mentions some other combat engineer and other units in the vicinity of Remagen those days.
And so many other interesting publications - who shall read all that?
Christoph
The article is good as it shows when the first crossings began to take place, (by second week of March) and all other crossings took place after this date. For instance my father's unit crossed the Rhine on March 25, to the south with the 3rd Infantry Division.
Marion J Chard
Proud Daughter of Walter 'Monday' Poniedzialek
540th Combat Engineer - H&S Company
Hello to you Marion and Christoph!
I have copied what you sent and will read it as soon as I can Christoph.
Pretty amazing what your Dad did Marion!
Those guys were truly an unimaginable generation.
I am rushing out of here and should have left sooner but I have been trying to go through my War/life notes on Dad and family. Finding some interesting things and will share later.
But speaking of that generation he says: "So terrible for boys Dad's age to deal with so much death. News of their best friends - killed and how. Back then had more deaths from TB and diseases - "
I am almost ready to give in and see if a researcher can go outfit by outfit that was under Collins and see if any G-2 reports on Dad, but read somewhere in my research notes today that Escapees and their reports might have been handled differently. I will check on that.
Thank you both for being there to help me!
I am off to Mom's,
Jean J
Good Morning!
While trying to get some papers organized I was reviewing Walter Brineger's story. Have you heard anything recently from his daughter, Mary Durst?
I was noting the April 8, 1945, date of Walter's liberation and it matches the date of Waldbrol's liberation. Could it be he was in Waldbrol and he was part of the liberation done by the 78 Division 309th Regiment?
I have too many physical notes and those in my brain, to say definitely that KF or Norton went to Paris after their liberation, but I think at least one of them did.
Maybe Walter left Siegburg at the same time the other men went to Waldbrol. They were all so very ill that they do not recall a lot. Plus they tried to forget it.
I can not imagine a special trip being made to take Walter somewhere else. It is not like he was in any condition to really do much, if any, labor. And if all he was eating is what the rest of them had, he was getting weaker. And I can go through that logic and all of my theories but not enough time to write them up.
And look at how wrong I was on the 2 captured French POW's - however, I had no location details on that or anything. But it really was a good exercise to see why it could have been Dad and Gidrie. And then it was not!
I still have not talked any more to KF but was thinking I will try to go visit him in Oct. when he returns to his home. He has a photo of something - he was not sure how he got it - I am not sure what it was of, but that is back at his home. I would like to photograph the photograph.
I have to leave this and afraid will lose it, so while not complete, I will post.
Jean J
I have found another soldier who was in Siegburg AND Waldböl AND Paris on his way back home:
http://alangrano.wor...z9aqu7rclp6-20/ - unfortunately without photos - written by his son.
On 6 June 1944 Arthur Alexander Grano landed on the shores of Gourock, Scotland, with the 104th Infantry, 414th Regiment. On the same day, allied forces landed in Normandy, France. The invasion of Europe had begun. At 19, the young PFC Grano of Portland, Oregon, had been deployed from the US to cross the Atlantic in six days aboard the Queen Mary. He would spend the next six months in England training for his role in the invasion. He later joined the 6th Armored division at Nancy, France, and spent four months at the front, finally ending up in Belgium at the infamous "Battle of the Bulge ”.
On 4 January 1945 Grano was severely wounded by anti-tank artillery in the Ardennes Forest in Bastogne when a projectile struck a nearby tree and exploded. Upon regaining consciousness, he realized that a horse that was also near the tree was dead. Miraculously, Art survived the episode, though badly wounded by shrapnel. He and a few of his comrades were rescued by a French family and hidden in their potato cellar. Later in the day the sound of German voices and boots were heard over their heads. The cellar door flew open, and they saw the enemies’ rifles pointed down, directly at them. Art thought this was the end of his life; however, the enemy soldiers captured and took him to Germany along with 16 wounded American soldiers. It was his 20th birthday.
He was operated on in Sieburg, Germany, in St. Michelsberg Catholic Monastery where all but one piece of the shell fragments were removed from his body. The single remaining piece would remain with him for the rest of his life. The surgeon was Russian. The guards were Italians who intensely disliked the Germans. They would insult the Germans in Italian, and Art would pretend he didn’t understand; but it was difficult for him not to smile. He survived a dismal existence with little food. One day a week there was broth with meat. The other days there was only broth with black bread. While lying on his filthy bed of straw with a drain shunt through his leg, Art would write the names of foods his Mother used to prepare i.e., Lasagna, Spaghetti, green peppers & eggs etc with a pencil stub on a small pad of paper he had salvaged. He observed one American prisoner coughing up blood day after day until he finally died, and another who had a leg primitively amputated. The future did not look bright. The German captors would constantly tell the American prisoners that the Luftwafe had bombed New York and their side was winning the conflict. While the conditions left much to be desired and circumstances were grim, he later recounted that the Americans seemed to get much better treatment than the other allied prisoners. He remained a POW for three months
Arthur was liberated by American troops on 8 April from a camp in Waldbroel, Germany. Years later he still struggled to contain the emotion while describing the first sight of his fellow allies coming to the rescue. How the low-flying allied airplanes would tip their wings to acknowledge the POWs, and how finally his captors surrendered to the overwhelming allied forces. He was free at last, malnourished and scarred, but free.
His trip home would take three weeks of air travel to various hospitals throughout Belgium and France (including Paris). Upon arrival on American shores he would spend many months in and out of Army hospitals until he was finally discharged honorably in November 1945. Arthur received various decorations for his active duty in WWII including three battle stars (Rhineland, Ardennes and Central Europe) the Bronze Star, Army Good Conduct Medal, and the Combat Infantryman Badge, just to name a few.
Christoph
And an article about Mr Norton - the one you have read?
Christoph
