March 25, 1945:
We left Buschbell and drove forty-five miles southeast through
Bonn and crossed the Rhine River (courtesy of the 23rd Engineers
and their pontoon bridge).
The Rhine, no doubt, deserves all the print
it has received. It is quite large at this point of crossing
and I can plainly see the big task in attempting to cross the
Rhine if it had not been for the 9th Armored Division capturing
the Remagen Bridge intact.
We bivouacked about seven miles east of the
Rhine in an open field where we slept in the open for the first
time in quite a while. At the moment there is very little activity.
Have not even heard our artillery shooting any rounds for awhile.
The country east of the Rhine is beautiful. There are many mountains,
resorts, and dales; some very nice and prosperous looking farm
land.
Spring flowers are now blooming and the birds
singing helps take our minds off the war.
Our present location reminds me a lot of the
Pleasantville Mountain towards Bedford. One can look out and
see for about twenty miles.
March 26, 1945:
We left our bivouac area and moved just two miles to a beautiful
summer home on top of a hill. This home was owned by one of the
big executives of the Ford Plant in Cologne. In researching we
learned that he had been to the United States in 1937. I have
never seen so many clothes in a home. They sure did not seem
to be hurting from the war. He had to be connected to the Nazi
party.
A rather interesting letter arrived for me
today. It was from Paul Karoly (he is from Johnstown). Paul and
I went into the Army together and we were both assigned to the
13th Armored Division. While I was pulled out and sent overseas,
Paul stayed with the 13th. Paul's letter was written "somewhere
in France". Here it is near the end of the war and the 13th
was just getting ready to enter the war.
I have made this notation: "Ya know as
I look over things, I can see the hand of the Lord with us. I
thought it unfortunate that they took me out of the 13th and
shipped me over here as a replacement. Now, as I sum it all up,
I'm positive it was a break for me (considering I had at least
five close calls). I've got close to a year in combat and five
campaign stars to my credit and was fortunate to join a seasoned
fighting outfit. The most noted Armored Division over here. So
I consider myself very fortunate."
It was pretty tough being kicked around in
all the repple-depples (replacement companies). Then I got into
this nice big happy family. Guys like Kieffer, Bolt, Lubke, and
the rest. They sure treat me good.
March 27, 1945:
We left this nice home and drove fifteen miles. We bivouacked
in a field overnight and took off the following morning and went
about twenty-five miles. At this location our crew is very fortunate.
An artillery shell landed about fifty yards short of the half-track.
Once again the Lord was with us.
March 29, 1945:
We took off again and traveled seventy miles to Marburg. This
is the longest trip we have made in one single day. It's obvious
we had little opposition. Marburg appears to be quite a large
town.
We are seeing many freed slave laborers. They
are French, Belgian, and Russian. They are happily shouting and
waving at their Yankee Liberators.
We are now encountering stiff opposition as
the Germans are now fighting a rear guard action, similar to
what we encountered in France and Belgium in August of 1944.
We have learned that Marburg was a one time rabid center for
Nazidom.
The prisoners are streaming in by the thousands.
It's almost amusing to see these one time super men timidly wanting
to give themselves up. At times we are too busy to be bothered
and tell them to hand over their guns and just wait for someone
to herd them up.
We are continuing our attack towards Paderborn.
Will write more later.
Well, we are now on the outskirts of Paderborn.
It is the Fort Knox of Germany. We encountered stiff resistance
on the outskirts of town. The Germans tossed all their soldiers
from the armored school at us. They are fanatics.
Today is Easter Sunday. It doesn't seem much
like Easter. Time doesn't mean a thing these days. It's just
one big push with very little sleep. All in all, this past Holy
Week we traveled about 160 miles. The Third Armored Division
set a record in armored history. The ninety mile drive from Marburg
to Paderborn is the longest one day advance that an armored division
has ever made. As we advanced, every town we went through, there
were hundreds of foreign slave laborers who were liberated during
our drive. They were French, Belgian, Dutch, Russian, Polish,
Italians, and Romanians. As we talked with them we heard some
weird and atrocious stories.
When we entered Germany, I never thought we
would get the applause we received in France and Belgium. However,
we have been given quite a tremendous applause from these slave
laborers.
There was one instance when we were driving
through this German town. The church bells were ringing in glorious
praise that the war was over for these people in this town.
On this Easter Sunday, I sit and ponder where
I will be next Easter and reminisce where I was last Easter.
(I was home on furlough).
Praise the Lord! He has Risen, but to us it's
just another day.
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