Friday, August 29, 2008
Thursday, August 28, 2008
THE IMPACT OF THE WAR
World War II was a long and hard military strategy that pitted the Allied countries of USSR, Great Britain, and the US against the Axis countries of Imperial Japan, Fascist Italy, and Nazi Germany. The devastation from the war was overwhelming. Estimates claim that over three-fourths of the world population was involved in the war in some way. 110 million people were selected for military service with half of these recruits coming either from Germany, USSR, or the US. Over 70 million people were killed during World War II. Of this number, approximately 20 million were soldiers and about 40 million were civilians. Statistics estimate that approximately 12 million Jews died in concentration camps. The Allied bombings of Germany caused about 600,000 deaths. It was a war that took almost five years of fighting before the end of the war was over.
OUR FAMILY CONNECTIONS TO WW II
For both my husband and me, we have had family members who were enlisted in the war. My father was a Private in the Army Air Corps and served as a mechanic working on vehicles that had to be kept in good working order. He enlisted in 1941. My father’s brother served as a chauffeur in the military service and enlisted in 1942. My uncle served in the Air Corps and flew one mission to Ingolstadt. [I will devote another whole article later on about these veterans, their experiences and contributions.]
The main emphasis for this article is on my husband’s father who served in Europe and was in the middle of the action. He has given me a wealth of information about the war and several new insights into exactly how difficult missions could be. Although he passed away in 1989 we have many memories of him and the life he left behind.
The main emphasis for this article is on my husband’s father who served in Europe and was in the middle of the action. He has given me a wealth of information about the war and several new insights into exactly how difficult missions could be. Although he passed away in 1989 we have many memories of him and the life he left behind.
THE IMPORTANCE OF THE RHINE RIVER
With the main focus of World War II being the elimination of Nazism, one of the most important parts of the coalition was to gain access to the Rhine River. The Rhine is probably one of the most important and if not the most important river in Europe. It stretches 820 miles long and was an important waterway because supplies could be easily brought in to the heavy industrialized area. It has been important as an international waterway since 1815.
The Rhine River that went through Bonn, Dusseldorf, and Cologne was the area where manufacturing was literally booming. Several military buildings dotted the area during the war and many of them were on the German side of the river. For the Allies gaining access to the river was the way to assure a decisive win over Germany. The area was also one that had many medieval castles. Since many of the castles were on the top of a hill it made a good vantage point for observing any troops that invaded the area.
The Rhine River that went through Bonn, Dusseldorf, and Cologne was the area where manufacturing was literally booming. Several military buildings dotted the area during the war and many of them were on the German side of the river. For the Allies gaining access to the river was the way to assure a decisive win over Germany. The area was also one that had many medieval castles. Since many of the castles were on the top of a hill it made a good vantage point for observing any troops that invaded the area.
COUNTRIES IN THE TOUR OF DUTY
NEAR AND AROUND NORMANDY
The main objective for his unit was to work methodically from country to country to slowly gain access to Germany by crossing over the Rhine River. Belgium, Netherlands, and France were important areas where fighting occurred and victories came slowly one at a time. Many of the battles in these areas continued for as long as five months.
The main objective for his unit was to work methodically from country to country to slowly gain access to Germany by crossing over the Rhine River. Belgium, Netherlands, and France were important areas where fighting occurred and victories came slowly one at a time. Many of the battles in these areas continued for as long as five months.
SWITZERLAND
Although Switzerland borders on Germany, the need to maintain autonomy and independence was very important to the Swiss. After WW I the country was in a recession and food was scarce. Because of the proximity to Germany, the country had to decide whether or not to keep up its trade and financial obligations with other countries in the area. The second choice was to completely surrender to the Germans and join with them in their military policies against the Allies. Switzerland chose to keep as much independence as possible.
LIECHTENSTEIN
Liechtenstein is a small country located between Switzerland and Austria. The western part of the country borders on the Rhine River. The country is a constitutional monarchy like Britain and the ruling prince abdicated the throne in 1938 because his wife was a wealthy Jewish woman from Austria. The country kept a neutral position during the war.
GERMANY
Within Germany the soldiers moved in four different states or divisions. In the south the states were Baden, Wurttemburg, and Hessen or areas that are usually given the name “Black Forest”. Witzenhausen, the state, is composed of sixteen different districts. The areas that were targeted were places where manufacturing and industry was producing military supplies. The Rhine River was the focus of many missions because it was the main source for supplies getting into and out of Germany. The Werra River in Witzenhausen empties into the Rhine River so access to this area was equallyimportant..
AACHEN
Although Aachen is not located directly in the Rhine valley the success at Aachen opened the door to moving closer to the Rhine River.
October 1944: Aachen is located in a triangle area on the border of Luxembourg,
Netherlands and France. It took five long months of fighting to get into the area but once in the region, the Allies won the battle. Aachen was the first German city to be fall into Allied hands. With the victory of Aachen, the Allies would next move throughout southern Belgium and Luxembourg towards the land south of the Rhine.
The best way to move into an area was to crawl along the ground in the hours just before daylight. For the Germans, the heaviest fighting was usually one hour after dark. That gave them time to study the landscape and get their bearing. That gave the Germans an advantage over the GI’s. Once the Allies were aware of the German fighting hours the Allies would stop fighting one hour before dark so that they would have time to study the area and have a better opportunity to maintain the attack.
The most difficult obstacle that the Allies had to overcome in the area was the heavily fortified “pill box”. The pill box was normally located on a steep hill in regions that were heavily forested and where there was thick underbrush. The box could possibly be covered with wire so that it was even more inaccessible and had deep trench tunnels where the Germans could lie in wait. The concrete structure that was set in the ground gave an excellent camouflage for machine guns and mortars. When anyone was within a reasonable distance, the Germans would open fire on the unsuspecting GI’s. The goal for the Allies was to completely destroy the pill box either be detonation or by having a tank demolish the box completely. The purpose was to insure that the Germans would not be able to use them later on.
October 1944: Aachen is located in a triangle area on the border of Luxembourg,
Netherlands and France. It took five long months of fighting to get into the area but once in the region, the Allies won the battle. Aachen was the first German city to be fall into Allied hands. With the victory of Aachen, the Allies would next move throughout southern Belgium and Luxembourg towards the land south of the Rhine.
The best way to move into an area was to crawl along the ground in the hours just before daylight. For the Germans, the heaviest fighting was usually one hour after dark. That gave them time to study the landscape and get their bearing. That gave the Germans an advantage over the GI’s. Once the Allies were aware of the German fighting hours the Allies would stop fighting one hour before dark so that they would have time to study the area and have a better opportunity to maintain the attack.
The most difficult obstacle that the Allies had to overcome in the area was the heavily fortified “pill box”. The pill box was normally located on a steep hill in regions that were heavily forested and where there was thick underbrush. The box could possibly be covered with wire so that it was even more inaccessible and had deep trench tunnels where the Germans could lie in wait. The concrete structure that was set in the ground gave an excellent camouflage for machine guns and mortars. When anyone was within a reasonable distance, the Germans would open fire on the unsuspecting GI’s. The goal for the Allies was to completely destroy the pill box either be detonation or by having a tank demolish the box completely. The purpose was to insure that the Germans would not be able to use them later on.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
THE ACTUAL CITIES
Each of the cities or areas below had significance during the war and was a place where our father actually visited. Working to reach the Rhine River was crux of the entire objective and being able to enter Germany was seen as elemental to stopping the reign of Nazi encroachment. The war encompassed much more than just the battles in Europe but this movement took a united approach from Britain, USSR and the US. Relentlessly working forward took much effort and without the support from one another, the Allies may not have been unable to overcome Germany
KOBLENZ
Koblenz is located between Cologne and Bonn. It is 57 miles southeast from Cologne and 37.3 miles downstream from Bonn. Koblenz. Heavy bombing occurred in the area so much that Koblenz was forced to completely rebuild after the war. The US 3rd Army reached the area just near the town on March 6, 1945. Koblenz was overtaken on March 17, 1945. The Allies were one step closer to the Rhine.
DUSSELDORF
Dusseldorf: Prior to World War I and World War II the area near Dusseldorf was experiencing rapid growth due to the Industrial Revolution. As the war became a reality, Dusseldorf received air attacks almost around the clock making it hard to keep any stable economy. The city was literally reduced to a pile of rubbish. On April 18, 1945 the US Army entered the area and the Allies are one step closer to their objective.
REMAGEN
Remagen: In March of 1945, the Allied armies had made remarkable progress on gaining access to the Rhine River. The bridges were down in all spots along the river except at the small city of Remagen. On March 7th units of the US First Army captured the Ludendorff railroad bridge (also called the Remagen bridge). By March 24 The British Secopnd Army under Montgomery sent forces to the area while the US Ninth Army was sent across the river. The U.S. First Army was occupying a sprawling bridgehead between Bonn and Koblenz. On March 22nd the U.S. Third Army seized the bridgehead south of Mainz. The whole barrier of the Rhine river was broken, and Eisenhower ordered the armies to strike east on a broad front.
BONN
Bonn was a heavily populated area that was very important to the war. The city was in the military zone of British occupation. With the focus of the strategy being to reach the Rhine River it was a critical part of the maneuver. To accomplish this the Allies had to break through the west wall in the south and cross the Ruhr (Dutch=Roer) River on the north. The Germans had flooded the Ruhr Valley by opening the dams and it took nearly two weeks for the water to subsid4e. The U.S. Ninth and First armies crossed the Ruhr on February 23.
WITZENHAUSEN
Witzenhausen is a town located in the state of Hesse between Kassel and Gottingen. Located on the Werra River it was a valuable town to occupy. The Werra empties into the Rhine and since the waterway could be used to get supplies into Germany it was a necessary way to prevent the Germans from receiving essential supplies.
KASSEL
Kassel is located between Frankfurt and Hanover and was home to the German tank and airplane production. Kassel was the headquarters for Germany’s Wehrekis IX and a subcamp of Dachau. Prisoners in the area served as slave laborers for the Germans.
In April 3/4, 1945 the Allies removed the Germans from the town. The British bombed the area in 1943 and with the Allied bombing of the area many buildings were destroyed. Several buildings that were destroyed were never rebuilt and it was not into the 1950’s that the town was completely rebuilt.
In April 3/4, 1945 the Allies removed the Germans from the town. The British bombed the area in 1943 and with the Allied bombing of the area many buildings were destroyed. Several buildings that were destroyed were never rebuilt and it was not into the 1950’s that the town was completely rebuilt.
GOTTINGEN
Gottingen is located 67 miles from Hamburg and 45 miles NE of Kassle.. The Leine River runs through the area and the town was almost completely untouched by the Allies until mid-1945. The US overtakes the town on July 4, 1945.
During the time that the Allies bombed the area, the town received no real damage. It was a highly academic area prior to the war and many professors either left the area or were forced to leave the area because they were Jewish. There was a concentration camp in the area for adolescents in Moringen which was closed in 1945. Several Jews were exterminated in camps in this same basic area. The hospital in the town was used to treat German soldiers who needed medical attention.
During the time that the Allies bombed the area, the town received no real damage. It was a highly academic area prior to the war and many professors either left the area or were forced to leave the area because they were Jewish. There was a concentration camp in the area for adolescents in Moringen which was closed in 1945. Several Jews were exterminated in camps in this same basic area. The hospital in the town was used to treat German soldiers who needed medical attention.
ALLLENDORF, EHRBACH-FURSTENAU. AND MICHELSTADT
Allendorf : June 5 to 10, 1945: Somewhere during these dates the troops moved into this town. The town is in the state of Hesse Germany between Frankenberg and Battenberg.
Ehrbach-Fursteanu: October 1945: The Allies enter into Germany by crossing the Rhine River. The gun battalion occupies the Furstenau Castle immediately after the Germans leave the area. The town of Michlestadt is very close to the area.
Michelstadt: I have several pictures of the town and a picture of the home where the soldiers were housed in October 1945.
Ehrbach-Fursteanu: October 1945: The Allies enter into Germany by crossing the Rhine River. The gun battalion occupies the Furstenau Castle immediately after the Germans leave the area. The town of Michlestadt is very close to the area.
Michelstadt: I have several pictures of the town and a picture of the home where the soldiers were housed in October 1945.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
HOMES & TOWNS WHERE SOLDIERS LIVED
From a collection of old pictures I have the following areas as places where the Allied soldiers stayed or visited while in the southern area of Germany. (These are all dated 1945 on the back)
Herborn, Germany: Soldiers arehoused in a bank
Michelstadt: The soldiers were housed in the area in 1945.
Ehrback-Furstenau: The unit stayed in the Furstenau Castle
Bonn, Germany: In April of 1945 several soldiers stayed at a mansion in the town
Witzenhausen area: The soldiers stayed in a home in the area.
Allendorf: A photo taken showing the supply room. Our dad is looking out the
window.
Herborn, Germany: Soldiers arehoused in a bank
Michelstadt: The soldiers were housed in the area in 1945.
Ehrback-Furstenau: The unit stayed in the Furstenau Castle
Bonn, Germany: In April of 1945 several soldiers stayed at a mansion in the town
Witzenhausen area: The soldiers stayed in a home in the area.
Allendorf: A photo taken showing the supply room. Our dad is looking out the
window.
IMPRESSIONABLE MEMORIES OF WW II
Any account of the war just isn't complete without revealing some of the challenges or interesting events of the tour of duty. There is no way to imagine the challenges that the soldiers met as they maneuvered along the roads and forests with the task of meeting the long-term objective of gaining access to the Rhine. Retelling the events and accounts that made a lasting impression was part of the journey, for certainly nothing more than the facts can be rather boring.
THE GLOWING CHIPS: AN INTERESTING ACCOUNT
Rain poured down in steady sheets and the red clay ground became muddy, so muddy that boots sunk into the red ground and stuck to the bottom of each boot making it heavier to walk with each step.
On this particular night, the troop was on alert. There was tension in the air as everyone came close to the enemy camp. Fighting was fully expected since the group was getting closer and closer to the German border. In several sections of the forest, dead and rotting wood lay on the ground emitting a luminescent glow. The harder the rain fell, the more intense the glow became. It was a distraction, a distraction that could possibly give away their location to the enemy.
When the troop stopped along the way, guns were propped along the trees and one soldier was appointed as a look out. Two other soldiers were to stand guard duty. Germans were infiltrating the area and their infamy for using a thin wire looped around the neck of the enemy was a technique that everyone knew about. Soundless and very effective, the Germans could overtake any enemy and stealthily enter into an area. Everyone had to be on alert for the faintest sound. A beam of light in the shadows could indicate the position of the Germans. Caution was the word for this evening.
“Halt! What’s the code word?” One guard moved clockwise around the perimeter of the camp; the other guard moved in a counterclockwise direction. The approach of the guards had to be verified and without knowing the code word, no one was allowed to pass. That was the only way to be absolutely certain that the soldier was American and not a German trying to gain a foothold into the camp. The machine gun soldiers were stationed around the farthest point of the perimeter; the gun artillery crew was stationed further inside. This double circle of protection kept the infiltrating line of men safe and assured a better chance of overtaking the Germans without many casualties.
The guards continued to walk the perimeter while the on-duty sergeant watched for any indication that the camp had been compromised. The Sergeant dropped to his knees and fell flat on his stomach. There were two lights shining in the distance, both from slightly different sections of the woods. Glancing in another direction three or four more lights flickered through the dark night. This was no time to take any chances. Slipping between the artillery crew and the machine gun perimeter, the Sergeant called out to identify himself to the machine gun crew. “My name is Dave Brown.[fictitious name]. I don’t know what is going on, but there are lights in the woods ahead.” The machine gun crew tensed and the chips on the ground glowed brighter as the rain fell harder. A sound off to the right startled everyone and the inexperienced soldier from West Virginia shot off a round of shots.
It took a while before we made the connection. Our conclusion was that the chips were pieces of bark that covered the floor of the forest and glowed when the weather was damp and would reflect light off the small pieces.
EXPLANATION: Research shows that the glowing chips are actually caused by mushrooms and fungi that help to decay wood. The greenish glow is called “foxfire” and can usually be seen in very dark and moist environments. The term “bioluminescent” is the scientific term to describe the phenomenon. The chips can glow for anywhere between one to two weeks making it easy to locate.
On this particular night, the troop was on alert. There was tension in the air as everyone came close to the enemy camp. Fighting was fully expected since the group was getting closer and closer to the German border. In several sections of the forest, dead and rotting wood lay on the ground emitting a luminescent glow. The harder the rain fell, the more intense the glow became. It was a distraction, a distraction that could possibly give away their location to the enemy.
When the troop stopped along the way, guns were propped along the trees and one soldier was appointed as a look out. Two other soldiers were to stand guard duty. Germans were infiltrating the area and their infamy for using a thin wire looped around the neck of the enemy was a technique that everyone knew about. Soundless and very effective, the Germans could overtake any enemy and stealthily enter into an area. Everyone had to be on alert for the faintest sound. A beam of light in the shadows could indicate the position of the Germans. Caution was the word for this evening.
“Halt! What’s the code word?” One guard moved clockwise around the perimeter of the camp; the other guard moved in a counterclockwise direction. The approach of the guards had to be verified and without knowing the code word, no one was allowed to pass. That was the only way to be absolutely certain that the soldier was American and not a German trying to gain a foothold into the camp. The machine gun soldiers were stationed around the farthest point of the perimeter; the gun artillery crew was stationed further inside. This double circle of protection kept the infiltrating line of men safe and assured a better chance of overtaking the Germans without many casualties.
The guards continued to walk the perimeter while the on-duty sergeant watched for any indication that the camp had been compromised. The Sergeant dropped to his knees and fell flat on his stomach. There were two lights shining in the distance, both from slightly different sections of the woods. Glancing in another direction three or four more lights flickered through the dark night. This was no time to take any chances. Slipping between the artillery crew and the machine gun perimeter, the Sergeant called out to identify himself to the machine gun crew. “My name is Dave Brown.[fictitious name]. I don’t know what is going on, but there are lights in the woods ahead.” The machine gun crew tensed and the chips on the ground glowed brighter as the rain fell harder. A sound off to the right startled everyone and the inexperienced soldier from West Virginia shot off a round of shots.
It took a while before we made the connection. Our conclusion was that the chips were pieces of bark that covered the floor of the forest and glowed when the weather was damp and would reflect light off the small pieces.
EXPLANATION: Research shows that the glowing chips are actually caused by mushrooms and fungi that help to decay wood. The greenish glow is called “foxfire” and can usually be seen in very dark and moist environments. The term “bioluminescent” is the scientific term to describe the phenomenon. The chips can glow for anywhere between one to two weeks making it easy to locate.
Monday, August 25, 2008
KNOWING THE GERMAN ADVANTAGE
Maneuvers went rather quietly for the next few missions. Five or six soldiers were sent ahead now to scout out the area. The extra soldiers gave a greater advantage over the original plan of sending in two soldiers. Germans were beginning to confiscate Allied tanks and a Canadian sergeant went along with the group. He could speak German and warn the other soldiers of any possible threat.
On this particular day, the soldiers worked their way around the buildings next to the marketplace. The Germans had been in enough towns that they were able to “borrow” Allied jackets. Replacing the German jackets with the Allied jackets gave the Germans another advantage. The Germans could get very close to the Allies before being discovered. By that time it was too late.
Determined to forge ahead and overcome the Germans lurking in the town, the soldiers made their way back to the town. The unsuspecting Germans were unable to overcome the Allies and at the end of the day 14 tanks had been confiscated and 4400 Germans were killed. The two Allied soldiers who had been scouting out the area realized exactly how fortunate they had been. Imagine, just imagine being in a town where you were one of the two soldiers sent ahead and you were able to escape from over four thousand Germans. Luck had surely been on their side.
On this particular day, the soldiers worked their way around the buildings next to the marketplace. The Germans had been in enough towns that they were able to “borrow” Allied jackets. Replacing the German jackets with the Allied jackets gave the Germans another advantage. The Germans could get very close to the Allies before being discovered. By that time it was too late.
Determined to forge ahead and overcome the Germans lurking in the town, the soldiers made their way back to the town. The unsuspecting Germans were unable to overcome the Allies and at the end of the day 14 tanks had been confiscated and 4400 Germans were killed. The two Allied soldiers who had been scouting out the area realized exactly how fortunate they had been. Imagine, just imagine being in a town where you were one of the two soldiers sent ahead and you were able to escape from over four thousand Germans. Luck had surely been on their side.
ONE MEMORABLE RECONNAISANCE MISSION
One reconnaissance trip made an indelible impression on the Allies and brought back the reality that the Germans were indeed still in the area. Two soldiers had been sent ahead to scope the area. Marching quietly into town, the soldiers were amazed at the amount of German items still scattered on the ground. The buildings in the town circled around the center marketplace. German guns and tanks sat in the center of the town. Building by building the soldiers hid in the shadows and moved slowly along. Nothing. Finding a hedge along one side of the town, the soldiers advanced and then quietly looked through the green wall. Right in the middle of town, not far from the Allies were completing their mission sat a group of German soldiers eating lunch.
The soldiers froze and decided to return to base. Just as they moved back to disappear out of sight from the Germans, they were spotted and shots rang out. By the time they were discovered the two-man reconnaissance team had put enough distance between them and the Germans that the shots missed. Pressing onward in the direction of camp, the men had one goal. Make it safely back to camp without being shot.
The Germans had made it safely to their tanks and were determined to not let the two Americans get away. The huge 88 mm canon was pointed directly towards the departing soldiers. The Allies had one advantage. The German engineering was far behind the construction of the American tanks. German tanks could only shoot in one direction and only after the first shot had been fired could the direction of the tank cannon change. This one small factor gave the Allies the advantage and the soldiers were able to stay out of range and make it safely back to camp.
The soldiers froze and decided to return to base. Just as they moved back to disappear out of sight from the Germans, they were spotted and shots rang out. By the time they were discovered the two-man reconnaissance team had put enough distance between them and the Germans that the shots missed. Pressing onward in the direction of camp, the men had one goal. Make it safely back to camp without being shot.
The Germans had made it safely to their tanks and were determined to not let the two Americans get away. The huge 88 mm canon was pointed directly towards the departing soldiers. The Allies had one advantage. The German engineering was far behind the construction of the American tanks. German tanks could only shoot in one direction and only after the first shot had been fired could the direction of the tank cannon change. This one small factor gave the Allies the advantage and the soldiers were able to stay out of range and make it safely back to camp.
THE AMERICANS ENCOUNTER GERMAN RESISTANCE AT FURSTENAU CASTLE
German soldiers heard the shots and knew that their location was compromised. Gathering whatever they could, they moved further into the woods where they lay in wait for the Americans. The woods rang out with shots, and with only a few casualties, the Americans claimed the victory. For many of them this seemed to mark the end of the war although the actual time of surrender was months ago.
It was only a short distance to the castle that loomed ahead in the distance. It would be a safe place to spend the night and a place where the soldiers could go over the spoils of war and claim something as a reminder of the invasion. A couple of Nazi knives, some German music taken off the piano stand, and a German rifle left behind in haste were just some of the spoils of war. An old picture of the castle hung over the fireplace and words in German indicated that it was the Castle of Baron Von Fursteneau. Other spoils were confiscated that evening but anything that was taken that night paled in comparison to the victory that the Americans achieved.
It was only a short distance to the castle that loomed ahead in the distance. It would be a safe place to spend the night and a place where the soldiers could go over the spoils of war and claim something as a reminder of the invasion. A couple of Nazi knives, some German music taken off the piano stand, and a German rifle left behind in haste were just some of the spoils of war. An old picture of the castle hung over the fireplace and words in German indicated that it was the Castle of Baron Von Fursteneau. Other spoils were confiscated that evening but anything that was taken that night paled in comparison to the victory that the Americans achieved.
A NIGHT IN THE CASTLE
October 1945: Allies enter into Germany by crossing the Rhine River; soldiers occupy Furstenau castle immediately after the Germans leave the area.
From a vantage point in the forested area, German soldiers heard the shots of the GI’s and knew that their location was compromised. Since the war had already been officially declared over, the Germans quickly moved further into Germany hoping to escape any more direct confrontation with the Allied forces.
With only a few casualties, the Americans claimed the victory. It was only a short distance to the castle that loomed ahead in the distance. It would be a safe place to spend the night. It was a simple yet elaborate castle but it provided shelter. Soldiers looked at the ransacked interior and found some interesting items to keep. A couple of Nazi knives, some German music taken off the piano stand, and a German rifle left behind in haste were just some of the spoils of war. An old picture of the castle hung over the fireplace and words in German indicated that it was the castle of Baron Von Fursteneau. Every man found something to claim and keep. But with all the spoils that were confiscated that evening nothing anything that was taken that night paled in comparison to the victory that the Americans achieved.
From a vantage point in the forested area, German soldiers heard the shots of the GI’s and knew that their location was compromised. Since the war had already been officially declared over, the Germans quickly moved further into Germany hoping to escape any more direct confrontation with the Allied forces.
With only a few casualties, the Americans claimed the victory. It was only a short distance to the castle that loomed ahead in the distance. It would be a safe place to spend the night. It was a simple yet elaborate castle but it provided shelter. Soldiers looked at the ransacked interior and found some interesting items to keep. A couple of Nazi knives, some German music taken off the piano stand, and a German rifle left behind in haste were just some of the spoils of war. An old picture of the castle hung over the fireplace and words in German indicated that it was the castle of Baron Von Fursteneau. Every man found something to claim and keep. But with all the spoils that were confiscated that evening nothing anything that was taken that night paled in comparison to the victory that the Americans achieved.
THE SOLDIER'S LEGACY
The past few years have been marred with wars like the Viet Nam offensive, the Korean War, and the present war in Iraq. Each war had a cause and effect. The whole concept of war is not pleasant and defending our liberty costs many soldiers their own life. My own sons chose another career rather than the military but that does not mean that I don't have the highest regard for the young men who put their lives on the front each day. Men who could have chosen to walk away and leave the job to someone else.
For the men and women who fought in World War II life is almost over or sadly many of them are already dead. The veterans of that time period are about 80 years old and more names on the World War II Memorial are added each year. The memories of that time will have to be retold through history books or through the stories that have been handed down from one generation to the next. For us, it is a legacy that we want to pass on to our children.
For the men and women who fought in World War II life is almost over or sadly many of them are already dead. The veterans of that time period are about 80 years old and more names on the World War II Memorial are added each year. The memories of that time will have to be retold through history books or through the stories that have been handed down from one generation to the next. For us, it is a legacy that we want to pass on to our children.
OUR LEGACY
We all have a legacy that we receive from our grandparents and parents. The setting aside of money to help with final expenses of parents and to help ease the financial burden of children is probably the first one that comes to mind. Businesses, homes, and land can be passed along to children. Photo albums, documented genealogies, family Bibles, and items of remembrance all are considered a type of inheritance. The story of World War II and the information gathered from our Dad is an inheritance that he left for us.
Parents may keep a physical home for children to live in--one that has been passed down from generation to generation-- and others may spend literally thousands of dollars trying to build great houses that will tell others that they have been successful in life. Some parents have nothing to leave behind because they squandered their inheritance and gave no consideration for the next generation. Whatever the inheritance that we receive here from our earthly parents leaves an imprint on our life.
To me, the most important inheritance that we can leave for others is our Christian testimony. We should strive to walk closely to the Lord and show by example how the Lord can and will bless us in life. In the story of the prodigal son in Luke 15, Christ tells us the parable of a young man who became impatient with his father and wanted to receive his inheritance immediately. He left home and squandered his inheritance. When he finally realized what he had lost, he found his way back to his father and claimed his place within the family. He may have lost all his money but he still had the love and blessing of his father.
What type of legacy are you leaving behind?
Parents may keep a physical home for children to live in--one that has been passed down from generation to generation-- and others may spend literally thousands of dollars trying to build great houses that will tell others that they have been successful in life. Some parents have nothing to leave behind because they squandered their inheritance and gave no consideration for the next generation. Whatever the inheritance that we receive here from our earthly parents leaves an imprint on our life.
To me, the most important inheritance that we can leave for others is our Christian testimony. We should strive to walk closely to the Lord and show by example how the Lord can and will bless us in life. In the story of the prodigal son in Luke 15, Christ tells us the parable of a young man who became impatient with his father and wanted to receive his inheritance immediately. He left home and squandered his inheritance. When he finally realized what he had lost, he found his way back to his father and claimed his place within the family. He may have lost all his money but he still had the love and blessing of his father.
What type of legacy are you leaving behind?
SOLDIER INFORMATION
Charles E. Leonard
Hometown: Lorain, Ohio
Tour of Duty: August 9, 1943 to March 4, 1946
Rank: Anti Aircraft Gunman while in Europe
Battery B, 142nd Anti Aircraft Artillery Gun Battalion
Also worked as a supply NCO
Discharged: March 4, 1946 at Fort George G, Meade, Maryland
Rank at Discharge: Staff Sergeant
The information on this blog comes from war records and a personal interview of my father-in-law in 1986.
Hometown: Lorain, Ohio
Tour of Duty: August 9, 1943 to March 4, 1946
Rank: Anti Aircraft Gunman while in Europe
Battery B, 142nd Anti Aircraft Artillery Gun Battalion
Also worked as a supply NCO
Discharged: March 4, 1946 at Fort George G, Meade, Maryland
Rank at Discharge: Staff Sergeant
The information on this blog comes from war records and a personal interview of my father-in-law in 1986.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Answers.com, "Rhine River"
http://www.answers.com/topic/rhine
"Dusseldorf", Wikipedia, 2008.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D%C3%BCsseldorf.
"Gottingen," Wikipedia, 2008
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G%C3%B6ttingen.
"Rhine River Castles," from W. Marsden, The Rhineland (1973); K.-W.Kock and G. Rohr, The Rhine (1987)
http://www.castles.org/castles/Europe/Central_Europe/Germany/germany1.htm
"Rhine River," Wikipedia
http://wn.wikipedia.org/wkik/Rhine
The History Place: World War Two in Europe, 1996.
(Timeline of war with detailed information about cities and localities)
http://www.worldwar-2.net/index.htm, 2006.
"World War II," Encarta Encyclopedia
http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761563737_13/world_war_ii.html.
"World War II," Wikipedia
http://genealogy.wikia.com/wiki/World_War_II.
World War II, Encarta Encyclopedia.
encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761563737/world_war_ii.html
http://www.answers.com/topic/rhine
"Dusseldorf", Wikipedia, 2008.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D%C3%BCsseldorf.
"Gottingen," Wikipedia, 2008
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G%C3%B6ttingen.
"Rhine River Castles," from W. Marsden, The Rhineland (1973); K.-W.Kock and G. Rohr, The Rhine (1987)
http://www.castles.org/castles/Europe/Central_Europe/Germany/germany1.htm
"Rhine River," Wikipedia
http://wn.wikipedia.org/wkik/Rhine
The History Place: World War Two in Europe, 1996.
(Timeline of war with detailed information about cities and localities)
http://www.worldwar-2.net/index.htm, 2006.
"World War II," Encarta Encyclopedia
http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761563737_13/world_war_ii.html.
"World War II," Wikipedia
http://genealogy.wikia.com/wiki/World_War_II.
World War II, Encarta Encyclopedia.
encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761563737/world_war_ii.html
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