An addition to the end of the War

[floydragsdale]

For those interested in the final days of the War.

The 106th was taken out of the front lines in early May 1945 and boarded trucks; destination to us “unknown." The convoy crossed the Rhine River at Colonge, or Koblents Germany, (I think). For some distance We traveled Germanys’ Auto Bon (Super Highway).

In the evening, after dark, the convoy stopped in the area of Heidescheim, Germany. This vicinity was a collecting area for the masses of German Soldiers who were surrendering to the Americans. This area was in the Rhine River valley. It was to be a P.O.W. compound for the incoming German Soldiers.

This was an out of the ordinary looking site, to say the least. U.S. Army vehicles of all sorts (mostly 2 ½ ton trucks) were in line, like soldiers, motors running and with headlights on the hoards of incoming German Soldiers who were surrendering to American forces.

Immediately our Battalion disembarked trucks and were at once in the business of Guarding German P.O.W.

Army Engineers would be constructing a barbwire fence to confine the newly surrendering German Soldiers within an area that, when completed, the enclosure would be seven miles around. It was an unforgettable sight, one that is as vivid to this date as it was so many years ago.

When a sense of order was accomplished, our Company was quartered in an old Castle on the outskirts of the village of Heideschiem, Germany. The date was several days before VE Day (Victory in Europe)

Viewing the newly completed Compound several days later one could see that it was in a fruit tree Orchard.

The weather, up to that time, had been mild with sunny skies. Overnight it changed abruptly, to cold, misty, rainy days. To say that was the cause of much misery for the prisoners in the Compound, is putting it mildly. At the time of surrender, they did so with what they had on their backs.

The American Army was not equipped, at that time, to supply the prisoners with the all the comforts of home. - - - - An Army Truck entered the compound every morning to pick up the bodies of those P.O.W.’s who had died during the night.

Slowly, but surely, conditions for the German P.O.W.’s improved to more civilized standards.

The U.S. Army, I believe, never expected to be overwhelmed with almost a million P.O.W’ in such a short period of time.

A superb job was done in discharging those P.O.W.’s and letting them go home, so soon after the War; that time period, in 1945, was from early May to near the end of August.

That episode remains very vivid in my memories to this very day.

Floyd,
424th Regiment

[connie]

Floyd,

Thanks once again for helping your vivid memories come alive for those of us who are privileged to read your words.

Connie

[roger]

Floyd's comments reminded me once again of the story my father told about escorting a sizable group of German POWs from A-2 to some other location. It was cold and miserable as Floyd noted....and the POWs had little to keep them warm. My father was able to find them decent boots/shoes and some warm clothing to make the trip (on foot). He said it was a sorry lot of prisoners.....40 of them.....himself and a rifle......they were so weary....even though they could probably have figured out a way to overpower him, he said there was no fight left and he felt no fear about the situation. He recounted with amazement and tears in his own eyes how grateful the POWs were for his kindness.

[floydragsdale]

To all who have been reading about my recollection of the wars end

What I've been writing about happened 67 years ago at this very time. I'll never forget those masses of German Soldiers. Some hiked into the area and others were trucked in; some were also brought in by U.S. Army eighteen/wheelers.
.
The unfortunate Soldiers were the ones who surrendered with just the clothes on their backs, They possessed nothing to shield themselves from the weather. Some of them, however, had "pup-tents" to protect themselves from the elements.

The good part was that the war would not last many more days.

In place of our noon meal, the Army gave us a canteen cup of soup and the P.O.W.'s got our chow. Without that they would have starved to death.

A final thought. One day we were shooting at our enemies and several days later an all out effort was made to sustain their lives with our own food. What a difference one week to another can make.

Floyd

[floydragsdale]

Here’s some other thoughts about German P.OW.’s in American Compounds near the end of the War and beyond.

We (the Guards) were not supposed to fraternize with the Prisoners. Yet, some of them wanted to converse with us. Quite a few could speak very good English; some spoke in broken English.

Almost to a man, they thought that soon we would be at war with Russia. They would say, “Du, Ruskie, Krieg! These Germans knew the Government of Russia (Stalin) and that we (America) had nothing in common with the Russian Government.

Some prisoners had relatives in the U.S.A. and wanted to tell us about them. Others wanted to tell us where, in Germany, they were from and talk about their families.

Occasionally, I (some of us anyway) would toss some cigarettes over the compound fence. Wow; that made us real popular with them.

Some P.O.W.’s were used for detail work in our Company areas; even K.P. duty.

Other Prisoners, who possessed musical talent, would be used to play instruments (mostly piano) at our recreation areas.

Incidentally, up to the end of the war, cigarettes for American, front line, Soldiers were FREE. When the war ended, they were five cents a pack. Thus, a carton of them was .50 cents for a Soldier.

Army regulations were, U.S. Army soldiers will not fraternize with German P.O.W.’s, or German civilians.

There was a severe shortage of food in Germany after, and probably during, the war. German children didn’t know the rules. At chow time for U,S. soldiers they begged for our garbage; food that a G.I. was going to pitch in the garbage cans. The children would collect it in their lunch pails, take it home to share with their famiy. The majority of them were living in celers of their bombed out homes. Many G.I.’s had compassion for them and gave them candy, soap and of other necessities of everyday life.

Leave it to the German Children. In spite of some absurd U.S. Government regulations, the kids broke the barrier between us and them. Soon all of us became friends.

Floyd

[connie]

Floyd,

Thanks for the additional insights and the beautiful thoughts about the children. I read something Eisenhower said about the war. He noted that we can really believe our efforts have been successful when there have been 60 years (? I forget the exact time frame he set but it was long) of peace in this region. Once the fighting is over the efforts to secure the peace begin. The soldiers and the kids you spoke of were doing the work of peace making in beautiful ways.

I so appreciate this window into the past!

Connie

[floydragsdale]

This Tuesday (VE Day) I mentioned all morning, to various people whom I came into contact with the following words, "This is Ve Day."

Guess what? The reaction was, "VE Day? What's that? My reply was "Sixty seven years ago today WWII in Europe ended. The response I received was a so what attitude followed by the words, "What is so special about that?"

I darn well know why we (the U.S.) went to war. I. along with tens of thousands of Soldiers, put our life on the line more than once for our country.

What in the world have kids studied about in History Class these past years?

Floyd

[connie]

Floyd,

I know you don't expect an answer to your last question, but it did start me thinking. It has been in the back of my mind for a long time that, while I had some excellent history teachers covering other periods of time, I, as a post war baby boomer, never received any information in school about this segment of US History. When, in later life, I paused to wonder about that fact I didn't pause long. I just thought maybe it was too soon... In elementary school I can still remember our having air raid drills. And I remember parades, Memorial Day ceremonies, etc. VE day and D Day were words I think I learned by osmosis. They must have been spoken of at home. But if anything was taught in school I don't remember it. While yours was a rhetorical question, it might be interesting to see what's in the curriculum.

I know that a phrase we heard over and over again in Europe was: "Least we forget..." I don't know their curriculum either but things like the "Grave Adoption Program" certainly help keep real memories alive. Remnants of the war everywhere probably also help. There was one fellow I met there who has his elementary school class adopt a grave in a nearby American cemetery every year.

I know that your visits and talks with school children in your area have made a difference for some. You took it from dates and places in a history book and breathed life into the history.

I hope that the rest of us can figure out ways to make a difference, too, in our collective memory. The sacrifices of so many should never be forgotten.

Meanwhile, you do a service on this board, too... and probably to those you reminded of the day. They may think about what you said even though their immediate response was less than stellar. Many of us come late to learning and inquiring. But the things we learn when we're ready to ask questions stick. I plead guilty to not getting it for a long long time. There is hope!!

Connie

[floydragsdale]

Hello Connie:

Thank you for your response.

Remember Armistice Day; the day that we honored WWI Veterans?

During my school days, on the 11 day of the 11th month of the year, at the 11th hour, everyone arose from their seats, faced the East with hands on their hearts and stood in silence for one minuet.

Many times, on that day, there were programs regarding the 11th month, 11th day and the 11th hour to remind everyone of that special time in history. Quite often the theme for the program was "Lest we forget".

By now (2012), our nation has been in so many conflicts, it's probably too difficult for our politicians to single out one for us commoners to honor anyone for any war.

Maybe it's because too many of us are too soon dumb and too late smart.

Floyd

[connie]

Hi, Floyd,

Your memory of school ceremonies on Armistice Day is interesting. I do recall the day name from childhood. I don't remember much else about it. I need to look to see when the day name changed and whether the old name was just the one my parents slipped into using or whether the joint name for the day happened later. I don't think that a lot of people are aware that the date of Veteran's Day is the date of the armistice at the end of WWI. It does seem fitting that day now be shared by all the veterans of our wars.

I also remember the term "Decoration Day." I believe that this applied to the decorating of graves with flags. And I think it happened on Memorial Day, but the former name was the one my mom used. Parades were also associated with that day in my memory.

Back to the Veteran's Day memories. I know that the little school where I live holds an assembly on Veterans Day and has some kind of ceremony. Local Veterans are given personal invitations to attend.

Connie

[floydragsdale]

In the early days & years after WWII there were Civil War Vets, Spanish American War Vets, WWI Vets and then WWII Vets, many of the earlier Vets were still living then.

That's probably why Veterans Day was made THE DAY for all Veterans.

Also, just think of how many conflicts our nation has been in since WWII!

Wouldn't we make a great pair of history teachers?

Floyd.

[connie]

Wouldn't we!!

Actually, I think as far as this era goes, you'd do the teaching & I'd do some of the brain picking. But young kids are pretty good at getting into the questions. So I'd be unnecessary. Still, I'd enjoy being there...

Connie