Mary, this is an Oh Wow!

I heard your Dad's recording before, but it was a bad recording and replayed it several times but this one is great.

What you posted was fabulous!!! I have not seen the photos or looked at the different things you have there - but did get to briefly hear the Great interview that was done! God Bless Walter and you all for doing this!

I can quickly tell you there was a Cellar at the Abbey. One man I found was placed there but your Dad had left the cellar before then. I have to go back to my notes but of the 4 men that were in the Cellar 2 were French and one was a Lt. with shrapnel in his back. Your Dad as he improved, must have gone from the Cellar to the Barracks. This man spent his whole time in the cellar - a few weeks.

The April 8th date I think makes it almost 100% certain he was liberated from Waldbrol and from there got sent to a Hospital in Paris. Your Dad knew the War was not over and it was not a typical liberation of a Camp - nor did your Dad describe it like the POW's from other Camps have described their liberations.

Just in last couple of weeks have heard from 4 Ex POW's or their families, and yesterday was another one of those 4 that I was referred to, and none were at Siegburg. Love the stories and have such great respect for all of them and lets me compare things and life to Siegburg - from what I recall and have learned.

While my Dad would have said just what your Dad said "Red, ..........." I am not as convinced it was Dad. Dad even told me he said that exact expression - but I do not recall any nicknames. I would have suspected your Dad would have said something like "Moose or the Big Guy or ...." but maybe not. And Dad would not have been there for a check up - but Walter would not have known that but ....The fellow who was in the Cellar when I brought up the Red Cross immediately referred to Moose coming into the Cellar this one time ... I had never mentioned my Dad or his name or nickname or description or anything .... and "Moose" rolled out of him as if he was talking about his Buddy he had been with the day before. He said he did not really know Moose but he knew all about him and how everyone respected him and he ran things and was a big wheel etc. ........

As for the pistol, we know no one came to Siegburg with anything. The Germans even took my Dad's negligee when he was captured. Dad tried to get it back and he got hit pretty badly for that. Someone at the Camp had to have given the pistol to Dad - likely the Commandant. It was to everyone's advantage if Dad could get to the Allieds and tell them to not bomb Siegburg. I will replay your recordings many times to see what I can figure out but I do not recall hearing about a gun.

After capture, Dad was walked to Holding Camps - quite a few stories on that - and then he was walked to Siegburg where he was given the first bed in the room and later was told that the gentleman before him had not worked out.

There were many pilots/Airmen that came through Siegburg. The one I have referred to died early on. It is a very involved and complex story and I first learned of it from the Archives in Washington.

So happy you are back on line Mary!

Jean J

P. S. Mary,

Christoph must be SOOOO happy to see you back on line! I wish I knew how to make those smiley faces to him!

Jean J

I have just had the most incredible thing happen! It was so sweet!

The family of the gentleman who died at Siegburg and who received the letter from my Dad has just called me. The gentleman called because it was Memorial Day and he wanted to Thank me for having brought back life and the memories and stories of his Uncle. He said his Aunt and everyone in the family talk about it all the time.and are so grateful for my research. I sent them some documents as a result of my research in St. Louis and some member of the family is even going to go visit the site in Arkansas and see if the building is still there where the little story took place..

They visited the grave site yesterday and he read to me what was on the stone. Now I know he was a Sgt. and with the 35th Division and 138th Regiment. The stone also had TH on it but I wonder if it should have been PH for Purple Heart.

Jean J

I`ve spent a good part of the weekend going thru this thread figuring out who`s who, & where they were & dates etc. Seems there are a lot of unanswered questions. One question was where was the hospital located. From what i`m finding, there were several hospitals. At one point the were 2 infirmmaries & 4 different hospitals that served VI G.

Keep in mind things i`m finding may not have been available online a year ago.

NARA`s online POW listings show 2 different hospitals for Stalag VI G:

NARA Code 011 Stalag 6G Bonn Rheinland, Prussia 50-07 468 partial records

NARA Code 332 Hospital at Muenstierel Laz (Serves Stalag 6-G) Bonn Rheinland, Prussia 50-07 4 partial records

NARA Code 349 Military Hospital Siegburg Rheinland, Prussia 50-07 13 partial records

NARA Code 332 Hospital at Muenstierel Laz (Serves Stalag 6-G) Bonn Rheinland, Prussia 50-07 4 partial records

37007262 BARLOW ED L

ARMY

European Theatre: Germany

Died as Prisoner of War, Not Above Cases

GERMANY

Hospital at Muenstierel Laz (Serves Stalag 6-G) Bonn Rheinland, Prussia 50-07

31159863 KEENAN PATRICK J

ARMY

Massachusetts

European Theatre: Germany

Died as Prisoner of War, Not Above Cases

GERMANY

Hospital at Muenstierel Laz (Serves Stalag 6-G) Bonn Rheinland, Prussia 50-07

O&713345 BRIGGS JOHN

ARMY

New Jersey

European Theatre: Germany

Returned to Military Control, Liberated or Repatriated

GERMANY

Hospital at Muenstierel Laz (Serves Stalag 6-G) Bonn Rheinland, Prussia 50-07

37518374 MC GINNIS GREGORY L

ARMY

European Theatre: Germany

Returned to Military Control, Liberated or Repatriated

GERMANY

Hospital at Muenstierel Laz (Serves Stalag 6-G) Bonn Rheinland, Prussia 50-07

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

NARA Code 349 Military Hospital Siegburg Rheinland, Prussia 50-07 Lists 13 POWs

SERIAL NUMBER NAME SERVICE CODE STATE OF RESIDENCE AREA STATUS DETAINING POWER CAMP

37277399 BUTLER LELAND I

ARMY North Dakota

European Theatre: France

Died as Prisoner of War, Not Above Cases

GERMANY

Military Hospital Siegburg Rheinland, Prussia 50-07

O1057970 CAMPBELL GEORGE E

ARMY Oklahoma

European Theatre: Germany

Died as Prisoner of War, Not Above Cases

GERMANY

Military Hospital Siegburg Rheinland, Prussia 50-07

36653803 CULIK JOHN J JR

ARMY Illinois

European Theatre: Germany

Died as Prisoner of War, Not Above Cases

GERMANY

Military Hospital Siegburg Rheinland, Prussia 50-07

39472161 WADE GUY W

ARMY Wisconsin

European Theatre: Germany

Died as Prisoner of War, Not Above Cases

GERMANY

Military Hospital Siegburg Rheinland, Prussia 50-07

36676096 WESTGATE ROY L JR

ARMY

Illinois

European Theatre: Germany

Died as Prisoner of War, Not Above Cases

GERMANY

Military Hospital Siegburg Rheinland, Prussia 50-07

34857675 BOYETTE HAROLD E

ARMY North Carolina

European Theatre: Germany

Returned to Military Control, Liberated or Repatriated

GERMANY

Military Hospital Siegburg Rheinland, Prussia 50-07

15374465 COLEMAN TED G

ARMY

European Theatre: Germany

Returned to Military Control, Liberated or Repatriated

GERMANY

Military Hospital Siegburg Rheinland, Prussia 50-07

35475190 EIGELBACH NORMAN P

ARMY

European Theatre: Germany

Returned to Military Control, Liberated or Repatriated

GERMANY

Military Hospital Siegburg Rheinland, Prussia 50-07

33326353 FULTON GEORGE M

ARMY Pennsylvania

Returned to Military Control, Liberated or Repatriated

GERMANY

Military Hospital Siegburg Rheinland, Prussia 50-07

35586565 GAULESKY WILLIAM

ARMY Wisconsin

European Theatre: Germany

Returned to Military Control, Liberated or Repatriated

GERMANY

Military Hospital Siegburg Rheinland, Prussia 50-07

37481465 HIX LESTER E

ARMY South Dakota

European Theatre: Germany

Returned to Military Control, Liberated or Repatriated

GERMANY

Military Hospital Siegburg Rheinland, Prussia 50-07

35112061 LESMER RAYMOND H

ARMY Ohio

European Theatre: Germany

Returned to Military Control, Liberated or Repatriated

GERMANY

Military Hospital Siegburg Rheinland, Prussia 50-07

35895909 MC KOWN WILLIAM J

ARMY

European Theatre: Germany

Returned to Military Control, Liberated or Repatriated

GERMANY

Military Hospital Siegburg Rheinland, Prussia 50-07

Wow! So many new things.

Only the names of two of the towns:

Muenstierel (on the map: Munstereifel) should be “Bad Münstereifel”. I didn’t know that there also was a hospital of Stalag VIG, only Hitler's Fuehrer bunker of the campaign against France of 1940.

Hafnangsthal should be “Rösrath-Hoffnungsthal” – I posted a photo earlier. I see, it was on page one here, already two years ago.

Christoph

Another card that needs a translation. Stalag VI G is the last 2 paragraphs at the bottom, first parragraph seems to be movements, 2nd has something to do on liberation of / by americans.

This is wild! I checked site AM and was not expecting anything tonight and WOW!

Finally the man that so intimidated me with his logo - wrote us!

Give me a few minutes and I will be back...

JJ

:::::::::puttin in earplugs:::::::::::::

Larry, this is such a huge honor to have you join us!

It took five hundred and sixty six other posts (566) before you finally made the crucial 567th here! Thank You so much! And if I call you Larry a lot, maybe I can get over my intimidation.

I was so impressed with your research and commented on it and feel very honored to have you helping us! After realizing the kind of incredible research you do and your knowledge, I actually was thinking of some things that maybe you could help us with.

It appears with your ranking that you are now our Boss but Marion with over 10,000 posts will be able to put us all in line.

So where to begin --- I better go print off what you wrote so I do not lose this and can make some sense out of what I write.

Hooray! Larry is here and guess what? We are not going to let you leave!

Jean

Christoph, this is so exciting! I had some news but will wait.

And now delay again - thanks to a lady with 35th Div Assoc she discovered that 138th Regiment could not have been the Regt. that Robert (mentioned above is from.) She checked the other Regiments today and no luck. She has just sent me something else and I must respond - then I will be back.

And at same time see that Larry sent something.

And still I have news for you guys.

If I have to turn off the machine, I will be so upset, and then will write as soon as I can tomorrow.

Back hopefully in a bit,

Jean

Larry, the document I want to send shows Robert MIA Oct. 29th 1944 in Leisel Holland. As a Replacement he sure got moved around but I do not know the Outfit that was there then..

Everything you sent was Fascinating! Regarding hospitals and the no. of them one Siegburg POW that I spoke to mentioned being taken to a hospital in Siegburg but when they found out he was ? (need my notes I think it had to do with his religion) they took him to the Abbey.

My Dad mentioned coming there - to the Abbey - but never do I recall anything about any other hospitals.

Stalag 6G must have been pretty big - in Bonn. I will look my notes over to see if at the times anyone was there size is mentioned. The 2 men I found oddly enough were there at the same time - both talked about the fire and having to leave. And both were in different places - and yes larry I do think one happened to be in a hospital, but not because he was sick. I will look at notes.

I will look over the list of names you sent and compare them to my lists. Some I recognize immediately and I know some had nothing in their files at St. Louis.

Larry, you are a Great Researcher! and you have so much Knowledge!

Now what I learned was the German Drs. name is Peter Kaser (not Kaiser). From what I could understand on the phone - the article is in German - Seine Eltern warren Peter Kaser. April 1891. Univ. of Bonn 1922. 2 children Peter and Conrad (and we know 1 became a Dr. Something about 1921 St Thomas..and I think he Died July 20, 1963 in Koln.

Tomorrow I hope to organize my notes from conversations yesterday - Vets but not all Siegburg connected. And now I am off to call one before it gets any later ..

THANK YOU Larry!

Another card that needs a translation. Stalag VI G is the last 2 paragraphs at the bottom, first parragraph seems to be movements, 2nd has something to do on liberation of / by americans.

 

STALAG VIG

Formerly at Bonn-Duisdorf, later at Hemer, then returned to its starting Point on 10-19-1944, then built new at Bergneustadt near Gummersbach, (on part evacuated on 08-29-1944, the rest on 02-02-1945).

All commands on the left bank liberated by the Americans, also a big area on the right bank on 2-6-1945. Following to a telegram of 3rd of April 1945 the departments of the central camp and some other units should have had to move to the area of Kassel.

And to Jean: There have been two hospitals at Siegburg, the one at the abbey and the "normal" civil hosptal which got a Military one for German troops at that time, it still exists today.

Christoph

Well it is easy to know where to begin today - it is with a BIG THANK YOU to Larry and Christoph!

Larry that was so generous of you to take the time to seek out those old articles on my Dad from his Siegburg escape and time there!

And Christoph, Thank You for all of that information!

I started combing through notes about the hospital comments I have heard:

WK never heard of Siegburg and never was there but was at Stalag 6g in Bonn. His name is on both lists of Stalag 6G Prisoners and I will refer to these 2 lists later on. He was at Stalag 6G and experienced the fire. He was in an

old converted hospital with the hallways and doors shut at the time of the fire. He went out the window. He had not been wounded.

There is another gentleman, and I can not find it in my notes, but will, probably first got taken to what Christoph referred to as the "normal" civil hospital and then immediately was taken to the Abbey.

I will sign off so I do not lose this while I try to figure out where I heard that story.

Jean J - saying plenty of THANK YOU's

Thank goodness, I found it. It is why I have to get all recent notes from all the Vet's including the non Siegburg ones written up and filed in some organized manner.

So what I wrote was when he went to Siegburg they first put him in a Catholic hospital. Then because either he was not Catholic or was an American he was moved - I have question marks in my notes and maybe that indicates I was not sure if I had written or heard it properly or I wondered if the gentleman ever really could know the answer. But he did know he was moved to the Abbey.

Next response coming as a result of Larry's great and time consuming research!

Larry I am feeling a little less intimidated speaking to you - well maybe a little more than just a little less.

Jean