07 May 1945

438^th AAA AW BN

APO 230 % Postmaster, N.Y.

7 May, 1945      0830

Germany

Dearest darling Wilma –

Monday morning and the start of another week. This one, though, should be an uneventful one – and thank God for that! It rained all day yesterday and generally, it was a sort of moody day. But I’ve had those before and I got over it all right. Sometimes it seems as if the war will be tougher for us now than before when there was an element of danger, moving front lines – etc – we were always tense, keyed up – and the days really went by swiftly – individually and collectively.

0915

Sorry, dear – but I was called away in a hurry. Some one found a Frenchman who had hanged himself – in the cellar of one of the barracks buildings. I had to pronounce him dead. I have done that already, but a couple of Frenchmen are still giving him artificial respiration. No one knows who the fellow is; there are only a handful of French left here – mostly officers. This fellow apparently got into camp last nite – unseen. C’est la vie.

The few French officers – by the way – are a swell bunch. One of them is an M.D. Shabby as their clothes may be after 4 years of being kicked around, they nevertheless carry themselves with dignity and always seem to have an air of smartness lacking in the American officer. And they certainly surprised us yesterday when they asked us – 3 American officers to dinner. Their rations are not as good as ours and they don’t have the facilities, but damn it – they have the imagination! Where they dug up a cook, I don’t know – but we sat down to a neatly arranged table and first of all had hors d’oeuvres – yes hors d’oeuvres! It consisted chiefly of sardines, onions, radishes and salad – but hell – we never have that. I don’t know where they got it – but the radishes were fresh and the salad was green fresh lettuce – and it had salad oil and vinegar. We then had horse-radish – cut-up and flavored as I’ve never had it before. The main course was roast veal. We then went to their quarters and had two types of cake – mocha and chocolate – with frosting, filling and all, plus coffee and finally a liqueur. Mind you, dear, these officers are ex P.W.’s and have taken a tremendous physical and mental beating – until released very recently. It was a revelation – and certainly puts our cooks to shame.

I’m writing this at the Infirmary. I brought this along when I was called away. And you may think you sometimes have a lot of confusion at your place, darling. You should be here to hear Mullins – my Kentucky prodigy – trying to find out from a Russian – what’s the matter with him. Even an American has trouble understanding him; besides – we have a Dutchman who works as an aidman, and a Ukranian. The patients – fortunately – are all Russian so we’re consistent in the reactions we get.

I was going to look thru a few of your old letters and answer some of the things you’ve mentioned but I’m going to have to close now instead. If I wait until later – I’ll not get this mailed today. So will you excuse me, sweetheart? Heck – I haven’t even told you how much I love you – when actually that thought is first in my mind – morning, noon and night. It will be nice – when life returns to normalcy and I can concentrate on things that are most important to me – ‘things’ being you, darling. All for now – love to the folks – and remember – I’m

Yours for always,

Greg

* TIDBIT *

about The AP'S Article about the European War's End
and
The Story Behind the Story

CLICK TO ENLARGE

From The New York Times Learning Network's "On This Day" came this article re-print:

By Edward Kennedy
Associated Press Correspondent

Reims, France, May 7 --- Germany surrendered unconditionally to the Western Allies and the Soviet Union at 2:41 A. M. French time today. [This was at 8:41 P.M., Eastern Wartime Sunday.] The surrender took place at a little red school house that is the headquarters of Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower. The surrender, which brought the war in Europe to a formal end after five years, eight months and six days of bloodshed and destruction, was signed for Germany by General Gustav Jodl. General Jodl is the new Chief of Staff of the German Army.

The surrender was signed for the Supreme Allied Command by Lieutenant General Walter Bedell Smith, Chief of Staff for General Eisenhower. It was also signed by General Ivan Susloparoff for the Soviet Union and by General Francois Sevez for France. [The official Allied announcement will be made at 9 o'clock Tuesday morning when President Truman will broadcast a statement and Prime Minster Churchill will issue a V-E Day proclamation, General Charles de Gaulle also will address the French at the same time.] General Eisenhower was not present at the signing, but immediately afterward General Jodl and his fellow delegate, General Admiral Hans Georg Friedeburg, were received by the Supreme Commander.

Germans Say They Understand Terms

They were asked sternly if they understand the surrender terms imposed upon Germany and if they would be carried out by Germany. They answered, "Yes." Germany, which began the war with a ruthless attack upon Poland, followed by successive aggressions and brutality in internment camps, surrendered with an appeal to the victors for mercy toward the German people and armed forces. After having signed the full surrender, General Jodl said he wanted to speak and received leave to do so.

"With this signature," he said in soft-spoken German, "the German people and armed forces are for better or worse delivered into the victors' hands. In this war, which has lasted more than five years, both have achieved and suffered more than five years, both have achieved and suffered more than perhaps any other people in the world."

Now here is "The Story Behind the story," taken largely from an article published by the UK's Daily News online on 4 May 2012.

Sixty seven years later, The Associated Press is apologizing for the way it condemned and then fired Edward Kennedy for reporting perhaps the biggest scoop in its history.

Journalist Edward Kennedy on Anzio Beach
1 March 1944

Edward Kennedy and 16 other journalists were taken by Allied military officials to witness the 7 May 1945, surrender by German forces at a schoolhouse in Reims, France. On the flight to Reims, Military censors swore the journalists to secrecy (as a condition of being allowed to witness it firsthand), saying they couldn't report the surrender until given the OK by Allied commanders .

But later that day German officials went ahead and announced the news.

That meant, Kennedy knew, that the transmission had been authorized by the same military censors gagging the press. Furious, Kennedy went to see the chief American censor and told him there was no way he could continue to hold the story. Word was out. The military had broken its side of the pact by allowing the Germans to announce the surrender. And there were no military secrets at stake.

The censor waved him off. Kennedy thought about it for 15 minutes, and then acted.

"He used a military phone, not subject to monitoring by censors, to dispatch his account to the AP's London bureau" the wire service says. "Notably, he didn't brief his own editors about the embargo or his decision to dodge the censors. The AP put the story on the wire within minutes." In fact, Edward Kennedy gave his news agency perhaps the biggest scoop in its history.

Retribution was swift. The military briefly suspended the AP's ability to dispatch any news from the European theater. When that ban was lifted, more than 50 of Kennedy's fellow war correspondents signed a protest letter asking that it be reinstated. The military expelled Kennedy from France. Condemnation also came from the AP's president at the time, Robert McLean. Kennedy was fired.

"The Associated Press profoundly regrets the distribution on Monday of the report of the total surrender in Europe which investigation now clearly discloses was distributed in advance of authorization by Supreme Allied Headquarters," he said in a public statement on 10 May 1944.

Now, in May of 2012, current AP CEO Tom Curley says that was "a terrible day for the AP. It was handled in the worst possible way." Curley rejected the notion that the AP had a duty to obey the order to hold the story once it was clear the embargo was for political reasons, rather than to protect the troops. Of the news that Kennedy broke, Curley says, "once the war is over, you can't hold back information like that. The world needed to know."

He called Kennedy's dismissal "a great, great tragedy" and hailed him and the desk editors who put the surrender story on the wire for upholding the highest principles of journalism. "They did the right thing," Curley said. "They stood up to power."

Kennedy, who died in a traffic accident in 1963, had long sought such public vindication from his old employer. His daughter, Julia Kennedy Cochran, of Bend, Oregon, said she was "overjoyed" by the apology. "I think it would have meant a lot to him," she said.

06 May 1945

438^th AAA AW BN

APO 230 % Postmaster, N.Y.

6 May, 1945     0845

Germany

My dearest sweetheart –

It’s Sunday morning again – but it’s a gloomy one. It’s cold, grey, and drizzling outside – a good day to stay indoors. We’ve had rotten weather for about two weeks now, and we should be due soon for some nice balmy Spring. I had planned to go up to Battalion today but it’s not good weather for jeep driving and I’ll just stick around here. I don’t’ think I’ll be here much longer, though; things are pretty well organized and besides – in the last arrival of Russian, there were two Russian doctors. The plan is – as much as possible – to have the ex-prisoners run their own camps. So I’ll be going back one of these days, although there isn’t a damn thing to do there.

The news, of course, continues to be excellent, and each news broadcast, it seems – has some important development announced. There’s not much left now – but we’re all waiting for the actual statement from Shaef that all hostilities have ceased. Then – darling – anticlimax or not – battalion headquarters is going to get pie-eyed, and no doubt, the rest of the Army too. We’ve planned this from back in Normandy and not long ago we came across a cache of liquor that we’ve put away. There’s enough for every officer and man in the battery and it will be passed out at the appropriate time.

Talking about Normandy reminds me, dear, that not a heck of a lot of troops around here have been on the continent longer or as long as we. The fact is that most of the outfits fighting around here didn’t get going until sometime after the breakthrough at St. Lo.

Well yesterday, sweetheart, I really got some good distribution in my mail. They sent it down to me. There was a letter from you, 25 April, one from Eleanor – same date, one from Dad A in Ohio – same date, and one from Lawrence – 20 April. Now that’s the kind of mail a fellow can’t complain about, – so I didn’t complain. I was sorry to read that you were still apparently run down after your trip to New York. And what in the world did you eat that put your stomach on the bum for so long?

You philosophized a bit in that letter – about time, separation and change. Yes, darling – it will be two years soon, but unlike you, I don’t feel we’ve changed – or I should say “I”. I really mean that, too, although when I get home – I suppose I’ll be told differently. I feel about the same, weigh about the same – and have pretty nearly the same outlook on life. How much energy I have in comparison to what I had when I first joined the Army, I can’t exactly say, because it has been some time since I had to expend any; by that I mean that Army life kills one’s incentive, but I‘m pretty sure I’ll have all I used to have when I’m a civilian once again. I don’t know in what other respects I may have changed. Mature? I think I was mature before; Affected by the horrors of war? I haven’t been affected – I’ve just had my eyes opened, but it hasn’t made the ruffian out of me that almost everyone expects you to become. I honestly think I’m about the same. The one thing I’ll never get over though is the fact that this damned war has cheated me of some very valuable time – cheated us, darling – but when you consider that so many others have been cheated of life itself – well – I have to stop complaining. I pray only, darling, that I get home safely as soon as possible so we can see each other, talk, discuss, plan – and if possible – get married without delay. Like you, dear – that is foremost in my mind these days – but I’m doing the best I can to be patient.

And now – over to the Infirmary for a couple of Russian lessons. I can now say in Russian “2 tablets every 3 hours” – and everybody, dear, is getting the same instructions, regardless of the tablet or the disease.

Love to the folks – and

All my everlasting love –

Greg

* TIDBIT *

about The East Coast Battle of the Atlantic


Ship attacked by a U-Boat off North Carolina

The last actions of the Battle of the Atlantic in American waters took place on 5-6 May 1945. There were two such actions, against U-853 off the Rhode Island coast, and U 881, south of Cape Race, Newfoundland, both sunk during the same period.

Following Nazi Germany’s declaration of war on the US on 11 December 1941, the U-boat Arm of the Kriegsmarine attacked American shipping in earnest, beginning in January 1942 with "Operation Drumbeat". While the nation was still stunned by the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, German U-boats began prowling the waters off the Atlantic East Coast.The U-boat Arm continued to make offensive patrols against US coastal shipping, while German wolf-packs searched for and attacked convoys in mid-ocean.

For seven months, from mid-January to early August 1942, German U-boats would take control of America’s East Coast waters, sinking freighters and oil and gasoline tankers—anything and everything steaming off the coast. Ship by sinking ship, the Nazis achieved a victory over the United States comparable to and even more devastating than the one the Japanese had enjoyed at Pearl Harbor a few weeks earlier. For months, the US Navy failed to come up with a plan to end the slaughter.

Meanwhile, the American people were not being told how close they were to disaster. Concealed by censorship, it was a crisis that embarrassed Washington, panicked Britain, frightened coastal communities and nearly changed the course of history. Three hundred ninety-seven ships -- tankers, freighters and transports --- were sunk or damaged in just half a year. Nearly 5,000 people burned to death, were crushed, drowned, or simply vanished into the vast, endless sea. Few people realized how close to home the war had come, but Outer Banks residents became used to hearing explosions and seeing ships on fire off the coast. Hundreds of ships were blown from the water off Virginia and North Carolina. Coast Guardsmen, Navy crews and civilians saw the evidence firsthand, as beaches became coated with oil from stricken tankers and bodies washed ashore. Survivors would tell horrifying stories of shipwreck and flames. The unlucky ones would drift for days and weeks, dying one by one of starvation and exposure. Bloated corpses would wash ashore or simply disappear beneath the gray Atlantic.

Here is a video about Germany's Operation Drumbeat", as posted on YouTube by Dark Docs, with the caveat, "As images and footage of actual events are not always available, Dark Docs sometimes utilizes similar historical images and footage for dramatic effect and soundtracks for emotional impact. We do our best to keep it as visually accurate as possible."

Here is a video of interviews with some who saw the results of some U-boats:

Several ships were torpedoed within sight of East Coast cities such as New York and Boston; indeed, some civilians sat on beaches and watched battles between U.S. and German ships. At the end of April of 1942, Commander in Chief of the US Navy Ernest King and Admiral Adolphus “Dolly” Andrews, commander of the Eastern Sea Frontier of the United States, agreed that Andrews would take direct control over tanker sailings. All tanker traffic on the coast was ordered into port to await further orders. While Andrews worked on what to do next, the seaborne hauling of oil was halted, which hampered the Allied war effort from the oil-hungry factories of New England all the way to the empty petrol tanks of old England. A solution was needed fast.

By mid-May planning was coming together for a true convoy system for the Eastern Sea Frontier. As convoys were implemented, U-boat skippers began to notice that sightings of individual ships occurred much less frequently. When ships were sighted, they were found in clusters with trawlers, cutters, and destroyers scurrying about in escort. Overhead, Army and Navy patrol planes kept an eye out for subs. The risks of attacking grew as the waters and skies filled with sub-hunters. The rejuvenated American effort began to take a toll on the Germans. The coast guard’s Icarus sank U-352, and army pilot Lieutenant Harry Kane dropped two depth-bombs on the U-701 in a perfect attack.

[CLICK TO ENLARGE]

In May and June 1942, as the convoy system was still being phased in (with increasing enthusiasm from King, a former foe of convoys), there were 87 attacks on Allied shipping. In July and August, with well-escorted convoys moving under air cover and with the coast finally blacked out at nighttime, there were only 26. But in the first half of 1942, the U-boats had scored the most one-sided and damaging victory against the United States of any foreign naval power. Every month of Operation Drumbeat German subs had destroyed 3.5 percent of the tanker fleet for a total of 22 percent. The operation caused major disruptions in war-material production and in the shipping of supplies to the war fronts.

By 1945 U-Boat actions had been reduced to pin pricks, but their potential forced the Allies to maintain large naval and air forces, and expend considerable resources, to counter the threat. During the first five months of 1945, the U-boat Arm dispatched 19 U-boat patrols to American waters, including seven sailings constituting group Seewolf, the last wolf pack of the Battle of the Atlantic.

On 4 May 1945, U-boat Headquarters sent a signal to all U-boats ordering the end of attacks on Allied shipping effective 8 AM May 5th. That day there were just nine still at large; six off the US coast, and three Seewolf boats in mid-ocean. Of these, two were involved in action with the United States Navy, the last actions in American waters during the Atlantic campaign. At 5:40 PM. On 5 May, U-853, lying in wait off Point Judith, Rhode Island, sighted and fired on SS Black Point, a collier underway for Boston, Massachusetts. Her torpedoes struck, and within 15 minutes, Black Point had capsized in 95 feet (29 m) of water, the last US-flagged merchant ship sunk in World War II. Twelve men died and 34 were rescued.

SS Black Point

According to former President of C.H. Sprague & Son Co., which operated the SS Black Point:

Her Captain at the time she was sunk was Charles Prior, now deceased, from South Portland, Maine. It was a little after 1800, and he had just come onto the Bridge. The ship was coming out of Long Island sound, about 3 miles from Point Judith, Rhode Island headed for Boston Edison with 8,000 tons of coal. He had just reached in his pocket for a cigarette when the explosion occurred. He told us later, "I can't remember whether I lit that cigarette, or swallowed it!"

One of the rescuing ships — SS Kamen — sent a report of the torpedoing that was picked up the destroyer USS Ericsson, destroyer escorts USS Amick and Atherton, and frigate USS Moberly; they discovered U-853 bottomed in 108 feet (33 m), and dropped more than 100 depth charges through the night.

U-853 and crew

   
USS Moberly dropped hedgehog depth charges and an explosion ensued.

The next morning, on 6 May 1945, two blimps from Lakehurst, New Jersey — K-16 and K-58 — joined the attack, locating oil slicks and marking suspected locations with smoke and dye markers. K-16 also attacked with 7.2 inch (180 mm) rocket bombs. Finally, planking, life rafts, a chart tabletop, clothing, and an officer's cap floated to the surface, indicating destruction with all 55 men. U-853 was destroyed at sometime between midnight, when success was first claimed, and 1225, when it was confirmed.

On 6 and 7 May 1945, Navy divers attempted to enter the wreck to recover the captain's safe and the papers within, but failed. Recreational divers first visited the site in 1953. In 1960 a recreational diver brought up a body from the wreck. This provoked former Navy admirals and clergy to petition the US government for restrictions on disturbing the dead. The German crewman was buried with full military honors in Newport, Rhode Island. At least two recreational divers have died from exploring the wreckage. Renowned deep sea diver Stephen Hardick perished in 2005 while filming the U-boat.

"Remains" remain in wreckage of U-853

Also on 6 May, shortly after day-break, the destroyer escort USS Farquhar — assigned to the Mission Bay hunter-killer group — detected U-881, a Seewolf boat running submerged 300 miles (260 nautical miles; 480 km) south-east of Cape Race, Newfoundland. Making a sudden attack, Farquhar closed and dropped 13 depth charges in a single attack, which destroyed U-881 with the loss of all hands.

These were the last U-boats destroyed in action in American waters.

05 May 1945

438^th AAA AW BN

APO 230 % Postmaster, N.Y.

5 May, 1945      0840

Germany

Wilma darling,

Well there’s not a heck of a lot of Germany left and I can imagine the effect at home is a good one. By that I mean that the piecemeal surrender of the Germans is assimilated better by everyone and when the fighting in Europe is entirely over – the reaction should be moderate. We here – are very behind what’s left of the war – and I can truthfully say – I don’t miss it one bit, because whether you were actually on a front line – and darling – there were times our outfit was – or whether you were a few miles back, anywhere from 2-5, – the tension was the same, as far as I was concerned; it was either the mortar shells up front, or the artillery – farther back. As far as the infantry was concerned – those I spoke with when I worked at that hospital back at Carentan – in Normandy – all said they preferred the front line – where most of the time they had to put up with land mines and rifles. They hated the artillery. No matter how you look at it though, it was a deadly choice.

But to show you how funny a war can become – last night, after not hearing any big guns for quite awhile – we were rather startled to hear some – only a couple of miles away. We contacted a T.D. outfit (tank destroyer) which is also in town – and they had already sent out a recon party. They called us back a short while later and said that they had found an outfit out on a night problem – a practice affair – and apparently a new outfit with not too much – if any – combat time. So that cleared that one up – although it seemed to us – the C.O. might have told the other outfits in town – what was going on.

Meanwhile, sweetheart, I’m still here at the ex-POW Camp and taking care of mobs of Russians. I can now ask a couple of questions in Russian – but I’ll be damned if I know the answers I get. But they all end up with some sort of pill or other and they seem quite happy about it.

There was no mail sent down for me yesterday, dear, but I hope you’re getting mine fairly regularly. I manage to have my letter to you and the folks sent up to battalion every day – and from there it gets out.

And I’m sorry I didn’t mention it before, sweetheart, but I got the biggest kick ever out of that curl of yours you sent me. I don’t know why I never thought of asking for one. You can’t imagine my reaction. It was in fact – a part of you brought so close to me. I looked and looked at it and was surprised to notice how golden it was. Before I knew it – I was building all the rest of you around it and the effect was swell. I’ve now got it in my wallet – where I hope it lasts. Gee, darling, wish I could do the same for you – but I looked over the situation very carefully, and from every point of view – and I just couldn’t see how I could do it. You understand – of course.

But honestly – it was swell – the curl – and the reaction – and as inanimate as a lock of hair can be – it nevertheless made me realize how much I want you, how much I miss you – sweetheart, how much I love you. It’s a good thing this European affair is coming to an end. Something good is bound to happen and I just hope my own particular piece of luck continues to hold out. I don’t dare think what might happen if it doesn’t –

Well, darling, again it’s time for me to go. You haven’t mentioned Mother B’s health for a long time. As a matter of fact – you haven’t mentioned the folks very much at all – of late. How are they, what are they doing etc. Send my love to them, dear – and say ‘hello’ to Mary, too.

All my deepest, sincerest affection,

Greg

* TIDBIT *

about Six Dead in Oregon

On 5 May 1945 a Japanese balloon bomb killed six people in rural eastern Oregon in a town called Bly. These six were the only World War II U.S. combat casualties in the 48 states.

Months before an atomic bomb decimated Hiroshima, the United States and Japan were locked in the final stages of World War II. The United States had turned the tables and invaded Japan’s outlying islands three years after Japan’s invasion of the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor.

That probably seemed a world away to a Sunday school teacher, her missionary minister husband and five students near Klamath Falls. Reverend Archie Mitchell was driving the group along a mountainous road on the way to a Saturday afternoon picnic, according to the Mail Tribune, a southern Oregon newspaper.

Teacher Elyse Mitchell (26), who was pregnant, became sick. Her husband pulled the sedan over. He began speaking to a construction crew about fishing conditions, and his wife and the students momentarily walked away. They were about a hundred yards from the car when she shouted back: “Look what I found, dear,” the Mail Tribune reported.

One of the road-crew workers, Richard Barnhouse, said “There was a terrible explosion. Twigs flew through the air, pine needles began to fall, dead branches and dust, and dead logs went up.”

The minister and the road crew ran to the scene. Jay Gifford (13), Edward Engen (13), Sherman Shoemaker (11), Dick Patzke (14) and their teacher were all dead, strewn like spokes in a wheel around a one-foot hole. The teacher’s dress was ablaze. Dick Patzke’s sister, Joan Patzke (13) was severely injured and died minutes later, the Mail Tribune wrote.

The six were victims of Japan’s so-called Fu-Go or fire-balloon campaign. Carried aloft by 19,000 cubic feet of hydrogen and borne eastward by the jet stream, the balloons were designed to travel across the Pacific to North America, where they would drop 26 pound (12 kg) incendiary devices or a 33 pound (15 kg) anti-personnel bomb with four 11 pound (5 kg) incendiary devices attached.

Made of rubberized silk or paper, each balloon was about 33 feet (10 m) in diameter. Altitude was controlled via an electric altimeter that jettisoned sandbags when the balloon dipped below 9,000 meters and vented hydrogen when it climbed above 11,000. After three days the balloon finished its 5,000 mile trip across the Pacific, a timer tripped, and the deadly payload would be released onto...whatever might lie below. Their launch sites were located on the east coast of the main Japanese island of Honshū. They landed and were found in Alaska, Washington, Oregon, California, Arizona, Idaho, Montana, Utah, Wyoming, Colorado, Texas, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, Michigan and Iowa, as well as Mexico and Canada.

Some caused minor damage when they landed, but no injuries. One hit a power line and temporarily blacked out the nuclear-weapons plant at Hanford, Washington. Two landed back in Japan but caused no damage. American news media kept these attacks a secret during the war in cooperation with the US government to prevent fear, panic, and confusion which would fulfill the Japanese propaganda goals. The news blackout also caused the Japanese doubt about the effectiveness of their program.

Between November of 1944 and April of 1945, the Japanese released more than 9,300 balloon bombs. At least 342 reached the United States. Some were shot down. But the only known casualties from the 9,300 balloons — and the only combat deaths from any cause on the U.S. mainland — were the five kids and their Sunday school teacher going to a picnic.

Monument to the Balloon Bomb Victims
in Bly, Oregon

Postscript: Missionary Archie Mitchell disappeared while being held captive by the North Vietnamese in 1962.

04 May 1945

438^th AAA AW BN

APO 230 % Postmaster, N.Y.

4 May, 1945      0840

Germany

My dearest darling Wilma –

It seems as if almost any hour or certainly any day – this thing ought to fold up. Actually – for most of us – I don’t believe the actual announcement will affect us very much. It will be sort of anticlimactic. We got our thrill – our realization that the Germans were whipped as we raced thru central Germany. The rest is a formality. I suppose we’ll be allowed to discard our helmets temporarily and wear our light helmet liners. Other than that I don’t see much change. The men will certainly go on carrying their weapons – for this is after all – Germany. I think this battalion will go on caring for allied ex-prisoners of war – but for how long, dear – your guess right now is as good as mine. Still that’s not as bad as some other outfits who have already been broken up into M.P. units and have the job of policing various cities; a good many others are doing Military Government work, and I may have told you we lost 3 officers to M.G. already. That’s why I say, darling, that news of V.E. day will be anticlimactic. To all intents and purposes – the Army is already acting as if it were over.

And then what? If I only knew. No one does though, dear, so I, we – have a lot of company. So far it seems as if I’m destined to remain with the 438th – come hell or high water. It’s too late to change now – and I doubt the Army Surgeon is doing any changing anyway. The big trouble, dear, is that so many doctors are and have been in the same boat as I. Well – as usual, I’ll wait. If nothing else – the Army makes good waiters out of men – although sometimes I feel as if I were going to explode – from waiting.

Here – the work continues and I’m learning a little Russian. They’re a tough people and damned hard to handle – from an administrative point of view. They just won’t be disciplined and they run wild all over this place – and this camp is going to be all-Russian. They get hold of liquor somewhere or other – and the first thing they do after drinking it – is to start a brawl. Someone always gets beat up badly.

I got mail yesterday, sweetheart, one from you of the 21st, one from Barbara Tucker and one from Dad A. The latter’s letter referred to his visit to Sgt. Freeman. You had mentioned it in your letter of the day before. I kind of wished he hadn’t gone – but apparently the reaction was all right. He was bandaged and that helped a lot. Also – he must have told a pretty good story – because my father said that he was much relieved after hearing of our experiences from Freeman. I owe him a debt of thanks for that.

Your letter, darling, referred to your receiving those books on the Olympics. I liked them also because I recognized so many names and faces; also – I don’t think any outfit in the U.S. has done so good a job in recording the events. There are still lots of packages – it seems to me – you’ve never mentioned receiving – although you may have mentioned it in some of your letters which I haven’t as yet received. But I can’t think of anything especially valuable – so I’m not worried particularly – although now that I think of it – there are a couple of things I would like to reach you.

Today I’ve got to do a little running around seeing that shots are given to our own personnel. We’re spread out so now that it’s quite a job. These days – when the day is over, I really feel tired out – which is a change. But the activity does help the day go by more swiftly – and that’s all I ask until once again I’m with you – sweetheart. Then I’ll want each day to be interminable – so I can tell you over and over how much I love you – and in addition to telling you – show you. Sit tight, sweetheart – it can’t be too long.

All for now, dear, except love to the folks – and remember – I’m

Yours always –

Greg

* TIDBIT *

about Germany Surrenders Holland and Denmark

From Charles Anesi's blog comes this:

BEFORE the might of Allied arms, vaunted Festung Europa, Fortress Europe, crumbled into final ruin in the spring of 1945 and its Nazi masters died ignominiously or slunk into hiding like the criminals they are, leaving substitute fuehrers to yield in unconditional surrender. Thus the Nazi revolution against the morals of modern civilization came to an end. It came so close to succeeding, however, that the testimony of its failure, the surrender documents signed at Liineburg, Reims, and Berlin, will remain forever among the most significant records of our times.

Squirming under the heels of the victorious Allied Expeditionary Force and the conquering Red Army, the Germans, in the vain hope of obtaining a softer peace, sought to surrender only to the AEF. At Liineburg, Field Marshal Sir Bernard Law Montgomery sternly rejected the bid for a surrender of the German armies in Holland, northwest Germany, and Denmark to the AEF alone. Trapped, General Admiral Hans Georg von Friedeburg, who had become head of the German Navy when Grand Admiral Karl Donitz succeeded Hitler as Reichspresident, consequently yielded those armies to all the Allies when he surrendered to Montgomery on Liineburg Heath on May 4, 1945, three days before the general surrender at Reims. Kinzel, G. Wagner, Poleck, and Friedel also signed this document.

Friedeburg Signs the Surrender, Montgomery Watches


The surrender document (typed below for easier reading)

Instrument of Surrender
of
All German armed forces in HOLLAND, in
northwest Germany including all islands,
and in Denmark.

1. The German Command agrees to the surrender of all German armed forces in HOLLAND, in northweast GERMANY including the FRISLAN ISLANDS and HELIGOLAND and all other islands, in SCHLESWIGHOLSTEIN, and in DENMARK, to the C.-in-C. 21 Army Group. This is to include all naval ships in these areas. These forces to lay down their arms and to surrender unconditionally.


2. All hostilities on land, on sea, or in the air by German forces in the above areas to cease at 0800 hrs. British Double Summer Time on Saturday 5 May 1945.


3. The German command to carry out at once, and without argument or comment, all further orders that will be issued by the Allied Powers on any subject.


4. Disobedience of orders, or failure to comply with them, will be regarded as a breach of these surrender terms and will be dealt with by the Allied Powers in accordance with the accepted laws and usages of war.


5. This instrument of surrender is independent of, without prejudice to, and will be superseded by any general instrument of surrender imposed by or on behalf of the Allied Powers applicable to Germany and the German armed forces as a whole.


6. This instrument of surrender is written in English and in German.  The English version is the authentic text.


7. The decision of the Allied Powers will be final if any doubt or dispute arises as to the meaning or interpretation of the surrender terms.

03 May 1945

V-MAIL

438^th AAA AW BN

APO 230 % Postmaster, N.Y.

3 May, 1945      0830

Germany

Dearest darling Wilma –

A busy day coming up and I’ve got to resort to this this a.m. But I can tell you I love you and miss you even more these days that seem to bring the end of the war nearer. It’s going to be damn tough waiting from here in – but I guess I can stick it out if the others can. How the Med. Corps will be treated – if at all differently – I don’t’ know, darling – and there’s no one over here either – that knows any more about it. The news of the end of the Italian campaign was excellent. There are a lot of veterans there – and the sooner they get home the quicker we will.

Got three letters form you yesterday, Sweetheart, latest as of 22 April. Was sorry to read you were having trouble with your stomach. You sounded all tired out after your trip – but that’s the usual way. Hope you’re feeling much better now, dear, and taking care of yourself. Will write more tomorrow, I hope. For now, so long, love to the folks – and

All my deepest love,

Greg

* TIDBIT *

about the Sinking of the Cap Arcona

Contrary to general belief the world's greatest ship disaster did not occur in the Atlantic Ocean and the ship was not the Titanic. The greatest ship disaster occurred on 3 May 1945 in Lübeck Bay in the Baltic Sea and the ship was the Cap Arcona. Three ships were involved: the Cap Arcona, the Thielbek and the Athen.

The 27,571 register ton Cap Arcona was the most beautiful of the Hamburg-Süd fleet of liners. It was a slender, twin propeller, three funneled luxury liner. On 25 August 1939 she was commandeered for war service. Following the invasion of Poland she was docked at the Gdynia, Poland quay from 1939 to early 1945 as floating accommodation. In the face of advancing Russian troops she was used to transport civilians, Nazi personnel and soldiers from Gdynia to Copenhagen until her turbines became worn out. Her engines were overhauled in Copenhagen enabling her to return to Germany. When she dropped anchor in Lübeck Bay on 14 April 1945 she was no longer maneuverable. No longer useful to the German navy, she was returned to the Hamburg-Süd line.

The Cap Arcona

Two other ships, the freighter Theibek and the Athen were also moved to the industrial harbor in Lübeck, being damaged but able to sail.

The Thielbek

The Germans had concentrated ships in the Baltic Sea as transport for the defeated German army fleeing westward from the advancing Russians army. The Cap Arcona and Thielbek were anchored in Lübeck Bay offshore west of Neustadt. They had been commandeered to take concentration camp prisoners on board with the intention of sinking the ships and murdering the prisoners. The Athen was fortunately in Neustadt Harbour. The prisoners were from Neuengamme concentration camp, Stutthof concentration camp and Mittelbau-Dora concentration camp. There were 4,500 prisoners on board the Cap Arcona, 2,800 prisoners on board the Thielbek, and 1,998 prisoners on board the Athen when they were attacked and sunk by the British RAF on 3 May 1945. This is that story.

Reichsführer SS Heinrich Himmler had issued the secret order to all concentration camp commanders that surrender was unacceptable, that concentration camps were to be immediately evacuated and no prisoner was to fall into the hands of the enemy alive. Himmler intended that all prisoners were to be killed. In the Neuengammer concentration camp the order was received by SS-Obersturmführer Karl Totzauer, adjutant to the commander Max Pauly. This order started the death marches from Neuengamme, the largest concentration camp in Germany, with its 96 satellite camps, of which more than 20 were women's camps. As the death marches advanced northwards Hamburg, regional commander Karl Kaufmann sought ships in which to put the concentration camp prisoners to sea. Being informed about the Cap Arcona he ordered the prisoner transports from Neuengamme concentration camp and its satellite camps to be directed to Lübeck. 11,000 prisoners arrived at Lübeck quayside. They arrived by train in cattle-wagons at Lübeck harbor between 19 and 26 April. Roughly 50 percent of all prisoners did not survive the journey.

On the 18th April, SS men had boarded the Thielbek. Captain John Jacobsen of the Thielbek and Captain Bertram of the Cap Arcona had been called to a conference and were ordered to take concentration camp prisoners on board. Both captains had refused. The following day Jacobsen lost command of his ship. Provisional toilets were installed on the deck of the Thielbek and embarkation started on 20 April. The Swedish Red Cross was present and all concentration camp prisoners except the Russian prisoners received a food parcel which, with the combination of malnutrition and thirst, caused terrible suffering. The water supplied from the ship's tank was totally insufficient. Twenty to thirty prisoners died daily and were removed by lorry. All prisoners, except the political prisoners, remained one or two days on board before being transferred to the Cap Arcona by the Athen.

Captain Nobmann of the Athen had been ordered to take 2,300 prisoners and 280 SS guards on board and to ferry them to the Cap Arcona. He initially refused but obeyed when threatened with being shot following a drumhead court martial. The SS and Kapos drove the prisoners on board the Athen with yells and blows. They had to climb down rope ladders into the deep holds of the ship. In the haste many prisoners fell and were seriously injured. There was hardly room to move in the dark, cold and damp holds. There were no toilets or water. After some hours the fully laden ship left the harbor for the Cap Arcona anchored off Neustadt. Captain Bertram refused to take the prisoners on board the Cap Arcona even after the SS came aboard. The Athen remained off Neustadt overnight and returned to Lübeck next morning, 21 April, the prisoners having been given nothing to eat or drink.

It was clear to all that the Cap Arcona was to be scuttled with the prisoners on board. On the evening of 21 April Captain Bertram was given the ultimation: either immediately give permission for the Athen to moor alongside and transfer its prisoners to the Cap Arcona or be shot without a court martial. Bertram capitulated. Before the Athen moored alongside a second time, a launch brought SS men who removed all life belts and jackets and all benches which could be used as rafts and locked them in the storage room. On 27 April the Athen arrived in Neustadt with 2,500 prisoners from Mittelbau-Dora concentration camp who were transferred to the Cap Arcona. For three days the Athen journeyed to and fro between Lübeck harbour and the Cap Arcona. There were finally 6,500 prisoners on board and 600 SS guards. There was hardly anything to eat or drink and prisoners continued to die. A launch brought drinking water and took the dead back to Neustadt daily. The Russians received the worst treatment being locked in the lowest hold without fresh air, light or food. The number of dead grew ever larger. The Athen made its last journey to the Cap Arcona on 30 April but this time to take prisoners off as the Cap Arcona was so over crowded that even the SS could no longer endure the starvation, stench and dead.

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The prisoners learned that Hitler had committed suicide on 1 May 1945, that most of Berlin was occupied by Russian troops and that the war was practically over. On the morning of the 3 May a squadron of British planes flew over Lübeck Bay and observed the Cap Arcona. The prisoners waved believing they were saved. The planes flew at 10,000 feet to avoid the flak and there was low cloud so that the prisoners were not seen. At 2:30 p.m. Captain Rumbold returned with his squadron. Visibility had improved. They attacked. The British who were seen as potential rescuers by the concentration camp prisoners turned out to be their unwitting executioners.

The Cap Arcona was ablaze. The safety equipment for flooding and fire was of the highest standard but controlled from the bridge. Captain Bertram had left the bridge, hacking his way through the mass of prisoners with a machete, to abandon his ship. The SS men kept the prisoners below deck with their weapons. Nearly all prisoners below deck were killed. Many of the life boats were holed and the prisoners did not know how to lower them anyway. Only one life boat was lowered. Some prisoners were rescued in a boat despite the order from the garrison commander of Neustadt Heinrich Schmidt not to rescue prisoners. Prisoners were shot in the water. On reaching Neustadt the survivors begged the British troops to urgently send rescue boats. Of the 600 guards, SS personnel, marines, 24 SS women and 70 crew, roughly 490 were rescued, among them captain Bertram and his second officer.

The Cap Arcona after being bombed

The attack on the Thielbek occurred roughly an hour after the attack on the Cap Arcona. She was flying a white flag. Only a few prisoners were able to escape the holds. The safety-boats were holed. The crew gave help to the prisoners. The ship had a 50 percent list and was near to sinking when Captain Jacobsen told the crew to abandon ship. The British planes shot at the rescue boats and people in the water. Practically all the SS guards and marines were killed. Captain Jacobsen, his first officer his and first engineer were killed. The Second officer, third officer and three merchant seamen are rescued.

There were 4,500 prisoners on board the Cap Arcona, 2,800 prisoners on board the Thielbek, and 1,998 prisoners on board the Athen. 350 were rescued from the Cap Arcona, 50 were rescued from the Thielbek and all the 1,998 prisoners from the Athen survived. A total of 7,500 people were killed in the air-raid.

No British government has ever made reference to the deaths of the 7,500 people in Lübeck Bay. There has never been a wreath laid nor a speech given in their memory. It has been said that Red Cross radio operators attempted to warn the English against attacking the ships and to have notified them of the true situation on board. Mass graves were dug along the beach between Neustadt and Pelzerhaken. Some survivors built a cenotaph from stones and wrote upon it in large black letters:

In eternal memory of the prisoners of Neuengamme concentration camp. They perished with the sinking of the Cap Arcona on the 3rd of May 1945.

Within the memoir of Benjamin Jacobs titled "The Dentist of Auschwitz" there is a powerful chapter in which he tells of surviving the sinking of the Cap Arcona. Below are links to that chapter and to the entire book. Chapter 17 is worth the read.

To link to "Chapter 17: Disaster on the Baltic Sea", page 180 click here.
To link to the Table of Contents and a preview of the book, click here.

02 May 1945

438^th AAA AW BN

APO 230 % Postmaster, N.Y.

2 May, 1945       0835

Germany

My dearest sweetheart –

The radio is playing that song about “over and over again” – which is fairly new for us by the way. It’s a catchy song and at the moment reminds me that although I do tell you I love you, darling, perhaps I’m not telling you over and over again. If not, dear – let me make myself clear: I love you – and only you and that’s the way it will always be. Now – if I’m overdoing it – will you please let me know?

Well May hasn’t warmed this place up one bit. The last week or two it has really been cold and we have had a stove going continuously. But it’s raining today and perhaps the weather will break. I must start getting a tan. A couple of the officers have come back from leave and they make us all look pale by comparison. I don’t recall whether I told you about the leaves. The occasional leaves – not 3 day passes – available to London or the Riviera. I won a drawing to go to England some time ago and turned it down. But two of the officers have already won the Riviera deal – and it’s really something. The E.M.’s go to Nice, officers to Cannes. They took a truck back only about 100 miles and then boarded a C47 and were flown to their destination. The reports dwelt on the luxuriousness of everything, the hot sun, the swimming – the cocktails etc. It really sounded nice. If I drew one of those, I’d be interested. Otherwise – I’ve had enough traveling for awhile – i.e. – except for that nice trip home to you, dear.

I did get up to Battalion yesterday morning. Their new set-up is in a tremendous factory – with elaborate offices etc. It’s quite comfortable – but I like where I am just a bit better and I’ll stay here a while longer if I can. (My pen just ran dry and the only thing here is Parker 51 – which I’m dipping into. There’s some kind of warning about not filling your pen unless it’s a Parker – which mine isn’t. I’m getting only about 4 words per dip, dear – so please be patient.) The city – by the way – isn’t as badly beat up as a good many others we’ve seen or been in – but it’s plenty kaput just the same. It must have been a beautiful place at one time. I suppose you know what city I’m talking about, dear? It starts with the same letter as does my brother’s first name. Battalion ought to be there for awhile I think.

Meanwhile – I came back here to find the French moving out and a mob of Russians moving in. Boy – are they a wild bunch and completely uncivilized! They really ran us wild. They have no discipline and have never really soldiered. With most of them it was a question of being given a uniform, a rifle and being told to go out and kill Germans – which they did. I have a heck of a time with them on sick-call – but if I stay here long enough I’ll learn a little Russian. It’s a sure bet they won’t learn a little English. I’ve had a few suture jobs – cuts about the face – usually the story is the same – someone’s friend bashed him with a bottle. But they don’t seem to mind. They’re tough and I use the so-called Bulgarian anesthesia – which is no anesthesia at all. To date, sweetheart, I’ve had no complaints.

In the evening – we heard the news of Hitler’s alleged death. If he’s dead – he’s been dead a long time. I just don’t believe those bums – and I hate them all even more – for prolonging this fruitless war. A lot of guys would forgive them a lot had they called it quits even a month ago. But their stupid continuation to fight thereby delaying our plans – is making us hate them even more – if that is possible.

Well – dearest – I’m getting tired of dipping and besides – I’ve got to get going on sick call. No mail for me yesterday – but I’ll send up this p.m. For now, darling, so long, love to the folks – and

All my everlasting love –

Greg

The following Commendation addressed to
Lieutenant Colonel John J. Lane was dated 2 May 1945.
A typed version is posted as a separate page and
can be seen by clicking on the tab above called "438th Commendation".

[CLICK TO ENLARGE]


* TIDBIT *

about the Surrender of Berlin

From an Army History Journal article comes this excerpt from a piece called "How the Berlin Garrison Surrendered, 2 May 1945," written by Colonel Igor N. Venkov, archivist of the Soviet General Staff and a member of the editorial staff of the National Book of Memory.

At 00:40 on 2 May the radio unit of the 79 Guards Rifle Division intercepted a message in Russian from a portable radio set of the 56 Panzer Corps: "Hello, Hello! This is the 56 Panzer Corps. Please cease fire. We are sending truce envoys to the Potsdam Bridge.... They will be identified by a white flag on a red background. We await your reply." The message was reported to the army commander, who ordered a ceasefire in the sector and that the envoys be received.

At the appointed time the German truce envoys, headed by Colonel von Dueffing were met. Von Dueffing stated that they had been authorized by General Weidling, commander of the 56 Panzer Corps, to announce the cessation of resistance and the surrender of the corps. The commander of the 47th Guards Rifle Division, after determining the time the 56 Panzer Corps would require for complete disarmament and the organized transfer of personnel, sent von Dueffing to General Weidling with the Soviet command's reply, i.e., that the surrender was accepted; the units of the corps were to be completely disarmed and transferred to the Soviet command by 07:00 on 2 May General Weidling and his staff were to give them selves up by 06:00. This Soviet demand was met.

At 06:00 General Weidling and two other general officers crossed the front line and surrendered. They were taken to the command post of Colonel-General Chuykov, who checked their documents and asked them a few questions. Then the army commander suggested that Weidling sign an order of surrender for the entire Berlin garrison and deliver the order to the defenders using officers of the 56 Panzer Corps with Soviet representatives.

General Weidling composed the following order: "Every hour of fighting increased the terrible suffering of the civilian population of Berlin and our wounded; anyone who falls for Berlin dies in vain. On agreement with the high command of the Soviet forces, I demand that the fighting cease immediately." This order was announced by radio through an amplifier for the enemy garrison, which had continued its resistance.

Representatives from the First Deputy Minister for Propaganda, Dr. Fritzsche, arrived at the commander's command post. They stated that Goebbels had committed suicide during the night of 2 May and that Fritzsche was the only representative of the Nazi regime left in Berlin. Dr. Fritzsche sent word of his agreement to give the order of surrender for the Berlin garrison and the entire German Army. A lieutenant colonel, representing the Soviet command, was sent to Fritzsche with a response and a demand that Fritzsche issue an order for unconditional surrender of the entire German Army, and that he come to Eighth Guards Army command post for further negotiations.

Dr. Fritzsche accepted the demand, issued the order for surrender, and presented himself with his aides at the command post. All resistance by the Berlin garrison had ceased by the evening of 2 May. Archival documents of both the Eighth Guards Army and the Fifth Shock Army, therefore, confirm that the command of the Eighth Guards Army received the German truce envoys. No battle was waged by forces of the Soviet Army for direct capture of the Reich Chancellery building. The German garrison defending the chancellery had surrendered along with the forces of the 56 Panzer Corps defending the government block in Berlin before the moment of general surrender on 2 May 1945.

01 May 1945

438^th AAA AW BN

APO 230 % Postmaster, N.Y.

1 May, 1945       0800

Germany

Dearest darling Wilma –

It just doesn’t seem possible that another May is here and I’m still not with you. ‘Tomorrow and tomorrow’ is really creeping at a ‘petty pace’. I guess our only solace can come from relativity; we’re a heck of a lot better off than we were a year ago. We were really sweating it out in England and there were some mighty big things ahead of us. Thank God that is now behind us. We’ve come a long way since then and all in all we’ve got a great deal for which to be thankful.

And you and I, sweetheart, have been engaged for 13 months. It is a long time at that, but your good spirit and refreshing ability to be patient have made the months so much shorter, darling. You’ll never really know how much you’ve helped and are still helping. Love at long range is so much less tangible than love at best can be – and yet it has been stimulating and satisfying – considering the necessary conditions. That is what makes me certain that close-up love will truly be what we want and expect it to be. I haven’t got the slightest doubt about it.

Yesterday, dear, was a mighty busy day. I had wanted to get up to battalion – but I just didn’t get the chance. Before the day was over, we had seen 339 patients – and that’s a lot – even if you’re just saying ‘hello’.

Two Russian Officers at Ex-P.W. Camp
Halle, Germany - May 1945

But sometime today I’ve just got to get up – if nothing more than to pick up the men’s pay. I should have done that yesterday. Battalion is now ahead of us; just what kind of set-up we have this time, I don’t know yet. We’re in a very large city, though – that I know – one of Germany’s large ones – and the site of many a world expedition and I believe at one time – the World’s Fair, also. I think enough of the city is standing to have allowed us a fairly decent C.P. but I’ll find out later. Anyway – as far as I know – I’m still remaining here – and it’s all right with me because it’s very comfortable.

They sent my mail down – and it included a letter from you, still from New York. You had spent your second full day there and had been shopping all day. It sounded as if you had had a lot of fun – and I’m happy, dear.

There was also a letter from Charlie Wright. He’s still at Daytona Beach – working in a convalescent hospital. The tone of his letter was a bit sad. He certainly would like to be over here – which just goes to show how strange the world is; I’d like to be over there. But I understand his feeling – and I’m sorry for him.

By the way, darling, you once wrote you didn’t want a husband that cusses. I don’t recall what made you bring that up – but did you think I cussed very much when I was in the States and went out with you? If you didn’t mind that amount, I guess you’ll be able to stand me, dear. The Army hasn’t taught me any cuss words I didn’t already know, although I did learn to use some of them with more feeling and intensity, I think. I’ll probably un-learn quickly, though – so don’t worry dear.

I was so pleased at the news of Irv’s 5-year appointment to the Harvard Faculty. Verna had also written me about it. That means of course that they’ll be around and I know we’ll see a lot of them. Your statement about Verna not wanting children was interesting. I just can’t understand people not feeling the lack of children. And how about Irv? Doesn’t he have anything to say about it? That’s one of the things a couple should have discussed before marriage, anyway, it seems to me. I’m glad, darling, that we both feel the way we do.

This is a good place to stop, I think. I want to let my mind wander a bit on the last subject. Mind, dear? Really – I’ve got to get started – because I want to leave the infirmary early. For now, sweetheart, so long – and love to the folks.

All my love is yours, darling

Greg

P.S. These are some old one I’ve had hanging around. Might as well add them to others. This makes 44 in series –

Love, G

* TIDBIT *

about First Army's New Assignment

The snapshots that follow were taken from Normandy to Victory: The War Diary of General Courtney H. Hodges & the First U.S. Army, maintained by his aides Major William C. Sylvan and Captain Francis G. Smith Jr.; edited by John T. Greenwood, copyright 2008 by the Association of the United States Army, pp.388-389.

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