Post by floydragsdale on Apr 28, 2013 18:24:38 GMT -5
Hello Everyone:
Sixty-eight years ago, about this time in April (4/25/45) the 424th Regiment (& probably the entire 106th Div.) was pulled off the front lines, near the Rhine River in Germany
Immediately the entire Regiment boarded U.S. Army Trucks and started for a destination of somewhere. Only top ranking officers knew of where, when and why.
I recall the truck convoy crossing the Rhine River. German Cities along this journey that I remember were Aachen, Cologne and Koblenz. As the procession of trucks passed through those municipalities there were few, if any, signs of German Citizens.
Part of our excursion was on Germany’s Super Highway; a four lane, divided thoroughfare where our convoy could travel at uninterrupted speeds.
As usual, throughout the journey, there were ten-minute breaks during the day. This allowed the troops to stretch their legs and take care of personal chores.
In the meantime, unknown to the men of the 424th Regiment, thousands of German Soldiers, now P.O.W.’s, were being amassed, on an open field, in the Rhine River Valley. The German Soldiers were surrendering to the American Army in unbelievable numbers.
A clue that our convoy was nearing its’ destination became apparent as the trucks resumed traveling on regular, two lane, roads.
Hours after sundown, on a mild April evening, the Convoy came to a halt. The daylong ride for the 424th Regiment was over with.
With orders to dismount the trucks it immediately became obvious that there was an abundance of activity all around the entire area.
Shouts of “G Company men, fall in formation” was an indication that our day of easy going was over.
As all stood in Company formation we could observe U.S. Army vehicles, Jeeps & Trucks lined up, motors running and headlights on; and all facing in an identical direction.
German Soldiers, with hands over their heads, now P.O.W.’s were ordered to stand in the area of that enclosure of motor vehicles. Out of the darkness of night they came. Some hiking, under guard, some in Two & a Half Ton Trucks and others in Trucks that were eighteen-wheelers.
At that moment, G Company Soldiers were being briefed to the particulars of the situation; then we were soon assigned to guard positions for the balance of that night. The purpose of our presence was to assist in maintaining a sense of order in a state of affairs that was unexpectedly becoming a nightmare for everyone, including the P.O.W.’s.
I believe American Troops were about as bewildered as the German P.O.W.’s were; dazed with the surroundings in that situation. It was an awesome sight to witness.
In due time, miles of coiled barbed-wire were put in place to simplify containing the German P.O.W.’s. Eventually (several days later) a fence, approximately 15ft high, was constructed around the compound that was rectangular in shape. The distance around the Compound was seven miles.
The location of the P.O.W. enclosure was adjacent to and about a half a mile from Heideshime Germany, and several hundred yards from the Rhine River.
The 8th day of May, 1945 WWII in Europe ended.
This was the beginning of an assignment, for the 106th Division Soldiers to guard and process 910,000 German Soldiers, now P.O.W.’s, for discharge.
The peak P.O.W. population at the Heidesheim Compound was 96,000 prisoners.
More than several of those P.O.W.’s informed me that, word within the German ranks, rapidly dispersed, that the Americans were treating surrendering German Soldiers much better than anyone else.
I firmly believe that high ranking American Officers were stunned and overwhelmed at the masses of Germans Soldiers surrendering to American Troops.
At the beginning of the end of the War, American forces were ill prepared for this P.O.W. conundrum. Nevertheless, Yankee ingenuity prevailed and the mission was accomplished; thanks to the Soldiers of the 106th Division.
My minds eye can still vividly visualize the pandemonium of those conditions in the Rhine River Valley, near Heideshiem, Germany on that particular night.
Floyd
Sixty-eight years ago, about this time in April (4/25/45) the 424th Regiment (& probably the entire 106th Div.) was pulled off the front lines, near the Rhine River in Germany
Immediately the entire Regiment boarded U.S. Army Trucks and started for a destination of somewhere. Only top ranking officers knew of where, when and why.
I recall the truck convoy crossing the Rhine River. German Cities along this journey that I remember were Aachen, Cologne and Koblenz. As the procession of trucks passed through those municipalities there were few, if any, signs of German Citizens.
Part of our excursion was on Germany’s Super Highway; a four lane, divided thoroughfare where our convoy could travel at uninterrupted speeds.
As usual, throughout the journey, there were ten-minute breaks during the day. This allowed the troops to stretch their legs and take care of personal chores.
In the meantime, unknown to the men of the 424th Regiment, thousands of German Soldiers, now P.O.W.’s, were being amassed, on an open field, in the Rhine River Valley. The German Soldiers were surrendering to the American Army in unbelievable numbers.
A clue that our convoy was nearing its’ destination became apparent as the trucks resumed traveling on regular, two lane, roads.
Hours after sundown, on a mild April evening, the Convoy came to a halt. The daylong ride for the 424th Regiment was over with.
With orders to dismount the trucks it immediately became obvious that there was an abundance of activity all around the entire area.
Shouts of “G Company men, fall in formation” was an indication that our day of easy going was over.
As all stood in Company formation we could observe U.S. Army vehicles, Jeeps & Trucks lined up, motors running and headlights on; and all facing in an identical direction.
German Soldiers, with hands over their heads, now P.O.W.’s were ordered to stand in the area of that enclosure of motor vehicles. Out of the darkness of night they came. Some hiking, under guard, some in Two & a Half Ton Trucks and others in Trucks that were eighteen-wheelers.
At that moment, G Company Soldiers were being briefed to the particulars of the situation; then we were soon assigned to guard positions for the balance of that night. The purpose of our presence was to assist in maintaining a sense of order in a state of affairs that was unexpectedly becoming a nightmare for everyone, including the P.O.W.’s.
I believe American Troops were about as bewildered as the German P.O.W.’s were; dazed with the surroundings in that situation. It was an awesome sight to witness.
In due time, miles of coiled barbed-wire were put in place to simplify containing the German P.O.W.’s. Eventually (several days later) a fence, approximately 15ft high, was constructed around the compound that was rectangular in shape. The distance around the Compound was seven miles.
The location of the P.O.W. enclosure was adjacent to and about a half a mile from Heideshime Germany, and several hundred yards from the Rhine River.
The 8th day of May, 1945 WWII in Europe ended.
This was the beginning of an assignment, for the 106th Division Soldiers to guard and process 910,000 German Soldiers, now P.O.W.’s, for discharge.
The peak P.O.W. population at the Heidesheim Compound was 96,000 prisoners.
More than several of those P.O.W.’s informed me that, word within the German ranks, rapidly dispersed, that the Americans were treating surrendering German Soldiers much better than anyone else.
I firmly believe that high ranking American Officers were stunned and overwhelmed at the masses of Germans Soldiers surrendering to American Troops.
At the beginning of the end of the War, American forces were ill prepared for this P.O.W. conundrum. Nevertheless, Yankee ingenuity prevailed and the mission was accomplished; thanks to the Soldiers of the 106th Division.
My minds eye can still vividly visualize the pandemonium of those conditions in the Rhine River Valley, near Heideshiem, Germany on that particular night.
Floyd
