I`ve been trying make some sense of the various locations of Stalag VI G listed in multiple websites.

From the opening & closing dates of the camps it appears the original main camps were in Arnoldsweiler - Düren and

Berglisch-Gladbach. The camp at Berglisch-Gladbach closed in Sept 1941 may have relocated at Bonn - Duisdorf.

The main camp at Arnoldsweiler - Düren and the sub-camp / hospital at Arnoldsweiler relocated to Bonn in Nov & Dec 1944 when US forces where advancing from Aachen.

When Bonn closed in Dec 1944 it looks like it relocated partly to Bergneustadt and partly combined with Stalag VI A in Hemer.

1. Stalag VI H ( Main Camp )

Arnoldsweiler - Düren (Arnoldsweiler)

Germany - D (Nordrhein-Westfalen) opened March/40 closed Nov/41

2. Stalag VIG/Z

Arnoldsweiler

Deutsches Reich

Kommandeur der Kriegsgefangenen im Wehrkreis VI opened ? closed Dec/44

3. Kgf-Lager Hoffnungsthal (Stalag VI G Arb-Kdo 281) Rösrath Rösrath D (Nordrhein-Westfalen) opened 1940 closed 1945

4. Stalag VIG

Berglisch-Gladbach

Deutsches Reich opened Feb/41 closed Sept/41

Kommandeur der Kriegsgefangenen im Wehrkreis VI

5. Stalag VIG

Bonn-Duisdorf

Deutsches Reich opend Sept/41 closed Sept - Dec/44

Kommandeur der Kriegsgefangenen im Wehrkreis VI

6. Stalag VIG

Bergneustadt

Deutsches Reich opened Dec/44 closed ?/45

Kommandeur der Kriegsgefangenen im Wehrkreis VI

7. Stalag VIG

Hemer

Deutsches Reich opened Sept-12/44 liberated April 12 45

Kommandeur der Kriegsgefangenen im Wehrkreis VI

Stalag VIA

Hemer

Germany opened Sept/39 closed April /45

That's a start. You have seen that No. 3 is Arb-Kdo (labour command) 281 of STALG VI G, so there were hundreds of smaller camps and labour commands which were part of STALAG VIG.

Here: http://www.tenhumber...4145/index.html we have about 85 camps, not all POW but also forced labour camps, some very small like the one at a dentist, only in Siegburg! I'm afraid it will be nearly impossible today to find out which of them and of so many other camps in the area were POW camps, some like Arb.-Kdo. 281 at Hoffnungsthal were used for both POW and forced labourers. Another Problem with lists like the linked one is that the names of the camps may be companies, stores, plants where the prisoners lived and had to work, others were only halls where they slept but had to work else where, and others were part of a Hospital like the rose garden or of the prison. Only few of this list are named as POW camp like POW camp 333 Ulrather Hof, Zellwolle and Lager Fleißig.

Another link: http://www.peter-zen...Langfassung.pdf

A document by Dr Peter Zenker, we mentioned him before. He has a Lager Kemp in Siegburg with POW in one of his lists.

Christoph

Another mention of liberating POW camps in the area of Rosrath, this one from the After Action Report of the 820th Tank Destroyer Bn. attached to 13th Armored div. There are 2 mentions of assisting in liberating Stalag VIG on 12 April.

1 by 2nd platoon of Reconnaissance Company and 1 by 2nd platoon of "C" company but the 2 camps appear to be in different locations.

The whole AAR is here: http://820tdbn.org/Bn_A_A_Rpt_April_4-18.html

11 April 1945

Battalion and C.P. at Oberpleis closed 1110 and opened Hennef (F681418) at 1145. Closed C.P. at Hennef at 1615 and opened in Siegburg (F630442).

No change for rear echelon.

Reconnaissance Company.

C.P. left Oberpleis with Battalion C.P. moving to Hennef. Moved from Hennef with Battalion C.P. and arrived Siegburg (F628444). Several documents found in a former German C.P. were turned over to C.I.C for disposition.

Pioneer platoon released from “A” Company and joined Company C.P. at Hennef and moved with C.P. to Siegburg.

1st platoon. 1st section crossed Agger river at 1600, moving to (F538522). Knocked out enemy MG at (F539551) with .50 Cal. MG mounted on M8. Spent night vic (F5455). 2nd section crossed Agger river, knocked out MG nest and snipers in Elsdorf (F540528) and took three PW’s. Bivouaced for night vic (F5455).

2nd platoon. 1st section was advance security for 3rd platoon, “C” Company, on move to Lohmar (F628492). Town was under shell and mortar fire. 2nd section performed mission of reconnoitering all towns in route of advance of Task Force Delnore. Captured five PW’s, ten 20MM guns and ammunition, fired on enemy MG positions with 37MM, killing ten enemy soldiers.

3rd platoon at 0630 crossed Sieg river in advance of 1st and 3rd platoons, Company “A’, and contacted Company “F”, 387th Infantry Regiment at Seligenthal.

11 April 1945 (Cont’d)

“A” Company.

C.P. moved to Seligenthal, Germany. 1st and 3rd platoons crossed Sieg river and arrived at Seligenthal at 0900. 1st platoon attached to 2nd Battalion, 387th Infantry; 3rd platoon attached to 3rd Battalion, 387th Infantry; 1st platoon moved to Kaldauen, Germany at 2300.

“B” Company.

C.P. joined elements of train of 13th Armored Division.

1st platoon engaged and destroyed 1 MK V tank near Lohmar at 1400 hours. Again engaged enemy at Elsdorf at 1700 hours where an AA emplacement was destroyed. Captured 60 PW’s.

“C” Company.

C.P. and 1st platoon moved to (F6248) southwest of Lohmar on west side of Agger river.

2nd platoon assaulted the town of Deesem and then captured the town of Krah Winkel. Ninety rounds 76MM HE, thirty rounds 76MM APC, fourteen rounds 37MM and 1000 rounds .50 Cal. ammunition were fired with the following results: three 88 MM guns destroyed, one 105MM gun destroyed, ten 20MM guns destroyed, one radar and searchlight station destroyed, eighteen enemy soldiers killed and forty wounded. Platoon then moved to (F613476) and bivouacked for the night.

3rd platoon went into direct fire position near Lohmar, fired four rounds 76MM into suspected gun positions, then moved to indirect fire positions. The platoon moved into Lohmar at 2030 hours, then to bivouac area southwest of town at (F608489). During this move, fire was received from enemy 20MM guns but no damage resulted and no casualties were suffered.

12 April 1945

Battalion C.P. and rear echelon no change.

Reconnaissance Company.

C.P. and Pioneer platoon no change.

1st platoon. 1st section moved to Dunnwald (F515673) losing two one-quarter ton trucks enroute due to enemy MG fire. 2nd section also moved to Dunnwald. Encountered sniper and MG fire at (F537557). Fire was returned and the action ceased.

2nd platoon. 1st section moved as an advance security for Task Force Satt from (F610489) to (F613514) vic Altenrath. 2nd section assisted in liberation of PW Camp (Stalag 6G) and bivouacked vic Rath (F441581).

3rd platoon. 1st section moved to Siegburg at 0015 and reconnoitered positions for 1st platoon of “A” Company to fire on enemy strong point in factory. 2nd section moved to Braschob at 1100 and to Halberg at 1830.

“A’ Company.

No Change in C.P.

12 April 1945 (Cont’d)

1st platoon attached 303rd Infantry regiment at 0015. arrived in Siegburg at 0630 where 100 rounds of 76MM was fired into a factory which was enemy strong point.

2nd and 3rd platoons returned to company control and moved to Braschob, Germany. Left Braschob for Halberg, Germany, at 1830 hours to remain in regimental reserve.

“B” Company

C.P. moved across Agger river but because of intense enemy shelling moved back and joined battalion C.P. at Sieburg at 1700 hours.

1st platoon discovered two 88MM guns, one of which had been destroyed. Platoon destroyed the other. One section fired 19 rounds HE into Urbach where 400 prisoners were taken. Then moved to Dunnwald where intermittent flak and mortar fire was received all day.

“C” Company.

C.P and 1st platoon moved to (F611492).

2nd platoon aided in the capture of a German PW Camp (Stalag 6G) which resulted in the liberation of 700-800 Allied prisoners of whom approximately 200 were American. Camp located (F588548).

3rd platoon saw no action.

Yes, guys, Speechless!

Jean

Well, I know Son of an MP, Larry, must be laughing his head off - because he knows the shocked state I am in.

Because separate from the above research, between Today and Yesterday, Larry the Wizard, figured out the details on who my Dad escaped with. Yes, it is absolutely crazy - Larry, the Wizard, found out everything he could on Guidry! In the list of priorities of things that had to be resolved/researched/figured out/... Guidry was right near the top of the list. And Larry, the Wizard kept sending emails that kept revealing more and more information. The big news is that Guidry died quite young (born 1918)/early after the War - 1987. My Mom and Dad had moved from Fla. to the Wash. DC area maybe by 1985 or a little before. So if Guidry had tried to contact them, or his family had tried to contact them, they would not have known where to look. And when my parents tried to contact Guidry - they had no luck. I am not certain when their search began - or if Guidry had moved around a lot - or when they gave up looking - but at some point we now know all contact was lost.

Thanks to Larry I will one day try to locate the nieces and nephews and maybe some relative that remembers stories or has documents.

Now what continued to be extra shocking and puzzling as these email gifts from Larry kept coming is that Guidry was with the 377th Anti Aircraft unit that got attached to the 4th Division (Dad was with the 4th) on June 14th, 1944. Guidry may have been captured a couple of days after Dad. But Guidry was supposed to have been wounded - rear end.

Larry the Wizard figured all of this out!!! If only I knew how to do those funny figures - like Marion does. This is truly AWARD winning research! And all of this is separate from his above entries.

Larry this effort you have made and the work you have done - is ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC! I am eternally grateful!

Remember how intimidated I was of you! You turned out to be so kind and generous and Brilliant!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank You!

Jean

Jean

Sleepless in Florida!

What news!

Christoph, what you sent is Amazing!!!!! WOW!

I will work on its precise translation! I have someone here who can help me - in addition to Google translate.

This is all so incredible - AWESOME!!! YOU and LARRY are off the Planet! Actually you 2 could figure out anything and put order to it all!

More,

Jean

All of your work above on the battling and capturing of territory is fantastic Larry!

My research got me to the 97th Division, 303rd Regiment. It was B Company that actually fought its way up to the Abbey but have not yet been able to find records on what they found when they got there. And separate from the group of Allied prisoners that were moved to Waldbrol what about everyone else? Where did they go? or did they?.

More later.. Must go... THANK YOU BOTH Again and Again!!!

Jean

See, Jean is so overwhelmed that she forgot to mention we also figured out Robert`s story with 138th Inf, Missouri National Guard, the ASTP program & finaly with Co A, 23rd Armored Inf Bn, 7th Armored Div, when wounded & captured Oct 29 near Liesel, Holland and died 3 Jan `45 at the abby.

You are right - overwhelmed and so appreciative! I was thinking of how to explain all of this. It was such a complicated situation to ever try to solve - but Larry to the rescue!!! It is possible that in the end finding my Dad's debriefing papers - when I find them - will be easier to achieve than what Larry did here.

It all started 2 weeks ago when Robert's family called me and thanked me for basically bringing Robert back to life. The family read to me what was on Robert's tombstone after their visit to see him the day before. Well as it turns out the information was not correct - yes, his name was and those basic born and died dates were correct - but the Division and Regiment were not.

Well Larry to the rescue! - and what a mammoth effort! And what a Challenge! But apparently nothing stops Larry and he dug in and then dug in some more - ultimately to reveal Robert's complex route and final place of being wounded and captured.

Larry can best explain all the details of the searches - it is truly overwhelming!

I wish I had the authority to issue Stars - Larry and Christoph would already have quite a few!

Now you do need to know that it was touch and go whether Larry would live through all of this - he even had a funeral he had to attend - but he delayed it! And only Larry can tell you more....

Jean

"And only Larry can tell you more...."

I will never tell.....i have been sworn to secrecy under penalty of anddur funeral by the Secret Order of the Joyful Bunny.

Oh my gosh - I am hysterical with laughter.

And I wanted to tell everyone they really should have a line into my computer because Larry has done it again - What fabulous Guidry info just came in. Apparently the wife one of Guidry's brothers, James, passed away fairly recently. Maybe their children will have Guidry clues. I will be following up on this as soon as I can.

I hope you have good news out of the Secret Order of the Joyful Bunny, Larry - We can not let anything dare happen to you!!!

Jean

Why haven't we found this earlier? The Joyful bunny was not with us.

I just found Guidry on this list

http://www.conscript...8-MIS-X-03.html but I am shure I have checked t maybe last year conerning escapes from Siegburg but found nothing about him, only your father on the same list.

And another very interesting site from France:

http://francecrashes...s_presents.html

If you click on "acceuil", then "Recherche par équipage", enter "Guidry" and then click on the "3099" in the result, you'll get a page about Guidry's Crash, and another one here

http://www.b17-franc...g/recherche.htm (enter 368 in the text box to find Guidry's plane).

Now it seems so easy to find...

Christoph

Christoph, you are right - the Joyful bunny had not visited the proper sites. Waiting for important news today.

These are fascinating sites you sent!

In the past, I do not think you could ever of had a chance to find Guidry because I was not sure of his name. And I was not sure of the spelling as I would pronounce how Mom and Dad referred to him - the best I could think was Geedree but even that looks like Gee and it was not a hard G. Guidry spelling would in my initial research, if I found it, have been overlooked by me.

As I tried researching the name Geedree in Louisiana, I got told it was a very common Louisiana name. One reason for that I can now see - Larry sent info that included Guidry's Mom and Dad and all of the brothers and sisters that he had - just that family was huge!

The crash site information is fabulous! So great for research even in the particular case of the POW's that while non Siegburg folks have fascinating stories including Carl R. Carlson whose wife I got referred to. I found him on the list. As always, Thank You very much!

I do not think our Guidry is part of those French sites - he appears to be Infantry based on the entry in your first site. However with the size of his family and probably Uncles etc. could be a family member - even a close one.

That conscript site shows capture in October. Fascinating because of Dad in October too!

As always THANK YOU! It is wonderful that while I have to work on some non War related things in addition to Mom - that Larry just came in like a Bomb! It is incredible!!! Crazy good fortune!!! My Dad would be so happy!!!

More,

Jean

Info on Guidry:

Edwin Joseph Guidry,

b. 23 Jun 1918, (prob), Convent, St. James, Louisiana

d. 21 Jan 1987 - Reserve, St. John The Baptist, Louisiana

father: Edwin J Guidry,; mother: Eva Graugnard

ASN 38308310

rank: S/Sgt

Unit: 377th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion ( 377th AAA AW Bn (Mbl) )

377th trained with 4th Inf Div in england, March -June `44

377th was officially attached to 4th Infantry Div. 14 Jun 44-22 Mar 45 ; 23-27 Mar 45 ; 6 Apr-9 May 45

Enlistment Record:

http://aad.archives....g=1&rid=7295105

GUDIRY, EDWIN J ( Name misspelled in enlistment record, NPRC records might be filed under this name spelling

POW Record:

http://aad.archives....007,71008,71009

Links & Information on MIS-X, Escape & Evasion Reports

http://www.conscript-heroes.com/Art38-MIS-X-03.html

#2851 S/Sgt Edwin J Guidry Jnr 4 Div, 377 AAA AW Bn MIA Oct 44 - escaped hospital at Siegburg Mar 45

#2912 Cpl Jean H Dasburg 4 Div, 22 Infantry Regt, Med Det MIA Oct 44 - escaped hospital at Siegburg Mar 45

http://research.arch...cription/305270

National Archives, College Park, MD.:

Records Hierarchy

Record Group 498:Records of Headquarters, European Theater of Operations, United States Army (World War II), 1942 - 1947

Series: Escape and Evasion Reports, 1942 - 1945

This series consists of Escape and Evasion Report Files. Reports typically include a brief questionnaire concerning the use of escape and evasion (E&E) training and equipment; an interrogation form with unit designation, target information (if applicable), number of missions flown (if applicable), date considered missing in action, date returned to U.S. or allied control, country of escape or evasion, and a listing of crew members (or other service personnel) with official disposition; a verification of the identity and trustworthiness of escapee or evader; a certificate safeguarding prisoner of war and/or escape and evasion information; an outline of topics to be covered in the narrative; and a typed or handwritten narrative that documents the escape and evasion experience of the escapee or evader.

http://theescapeline...-x-reports.html