26 September 1944

438^th AAA AW BN

APO 230 % Postmaster, N.Y.

Germany

26 September, 1944      1000

Wilma, darling –

No mail yesterday and the government owes me a whole bag full by now. Although I’ve continued to hear intermittently, there are a lot of gaps to be filled in, dear, but as long as I continue to hear even sporadically, I’m satisfied.

Yesterday was a miserable, wet day and the tent was cold. We have a good gasoline lantern for it now – but that was not enough to make it comfortable. So although we’re entitled to an oil stove on our table of basic allowance, I’ve been in the Army long enough to know that we’ll probably get it in the Spring. Accordingly, dear, I got into our jeep and headed back to Belgium. I had already been on a scavenger hunt here – but these Germans are completely electrified and an electric stove is no good for us. I was going to go to Liege, but stopped short of there in a city of about 100,000 – Verviers. I’m still amazed at Europe and the products it has. If it is emaciated and starved – none of us has seen it so far. And the large cities may have gone without food, but they didn’t go without clothes and accessories. For example – the city I visited yesterday had 3 large, modern department stores and they had plenty of merchandise to sell. We passed some jewelry stores with the windows loaded with watches, clocks etc.

CLICK ON IMAGES TO ENLARGE

Vervier - Place du Martyr postcard...
and today




Verviers - Victory Monument - Frans Jochems, Sculptor postcard...
and Base of Statue today.

Anyway I finally found what I wanted – a heating unit that works with kerosene or gasoline. It cost 400 Belgian francs and about 450 French francs. The exchange actually is 88 Belgian for 100 French. The monetary system for the G-I is really screwed up – and will be worse with the next payday. I understand we will get paid in marks – one mark being worth 10 cents. Say, that reminds me, dear – did you ever get the letter I sent you way back in Normandy with a couple of invasion notes and a pound note from England? I just wonder if that letter went astray.

Well – in the evening – the Colonel came over again and we had another swell game of bridge. That’s about 4 times we’ve played in the past 5 or six days and I’ve enjoyed each session. I pulled a couple of inexcusable boners last nite, but otherwise held my own.

I’m sorry dear you didn’t write me before about Dad B’s birthday. I could have at least sent him a card. As for your buying him a gift and including me in it it, that’s thoughtful – but you were correct, I’d much rather pitch in – and if you did buy anything expensive, I hope you’ll tell me and let me be a partner.

I’d like to have been in Cambridge eating with you when you were visiting Verna and Irv, dear. It seems so far away now. No I don’t recall the Athens Olympia. As for Irv and Verna saying nice things about me – what else do you expect, darling, when you’re a guest? You do get along with Verna, though, don’t you dear? I’m glad because she’s a difficult girl to know, I believe and I’m glad you have that faculty. About Betty – you must think I’ve been reticent about admitting I knew her. The fact is that she impressed me so little that I just forgot I ever did meet her. You recall to my mind the fact that she contacted me at Salem. Actually it was Maynard Kaplan who called me one night and told me the girl from Ohio or Pittsburgh – I forget which – was coming down and would I drop over. I honestly don’t remember whether I did or not – but I do recall that when I found out she was the same girl I had met at Verna’s – I lost interest quickly. I don’t remember her as being attractive – although she may well have been. The fact is that I hadn’t yet met the girl to whom I was attracted the way I was to you, sweetheart – and I’m the luckiest guy around for having waited.

About my APO 230. Your memory is good. We did have it for about 2 days – when we moved from our defense of an airport near Ipswich – to Sherborne. APO 230 is First Army – as is generally known. We were assigned to them and then reassigned to Third Army. After we left Normandy we were again reassigned and this one should be permanent.

No, darling I won’t forget the places I’ve seen and the people I’ve met – and you shall hear it all – if you want to – when I get back. I don’t know why you haven’t followed my progress. When I went to Paris – our outfit was about 20 miles South of it – but that seems like a long long time ago.

Well, dear, enough for now. I’ve been interrupted several times and it is now close to noon. The boys tell me it’s clearing out and I certainly hope so. It’s been a hellish week. Give my love to the folks, dearest and for now

My sincerest love,

Greg

P.S. Happy New Year to all of you

G.

* TIDBIT *

about "A Bridge Too Far"
Operation Market Garden - Part X of X

The story of the tenth day of Operation Market Garden continues, primarily from the web site "Remember September '44"

British 1st Airborne Division

Of Urquhart’s British First Airborne's original 10,000-man force, only 2,163 paratroopers made it to the south bank of the Rhine. More than 1,200 died, and 6,642 were missing, wounded, or held prisoner. Overall Allied casualties were more than 17,000; German casualties were between 13,000 and 15,000. The worst part was that Arnhem was never reached. Despite all the men who gave their lives to hold the bridge and its perimeter, it proved to be "a bridge too far". In October of 1944, the American Air Force destroyed the Arnhem Bridge.

On the 28th of September German frogmen succeeded in placing explosives under the railway bridge at Nijmegen, and on 29 September the charges exploded causing the middle part of the bridge to fall into the river. The fighting in the Nijmegen area became unbearable for the civilians. Tens of thousands of people had to be evacuated. The Dutch government in exile in Great Britain incited a strike of railway personnel, causing the Germans to bring transport in the Netherlands to a standstill. Food produced in the northern and eastern Holland could not reach the west. The 'Hongerwinter' (winter famine) followed in the west, adding another 30,000 victims of the war. It wasn't until May 1945 before all of Holland was liberated.

In light of events, Field Marshal Montgomery made two mistakes. First, he downplayed the failures of Market-Garden; in fact, it is not until October 8 that Eisenhower was told the full extent of the failure. Second, at the same time, Monty overplayed the minimal progress made in clearing the Scheldt Estuary which was preventing cargo from reaching Antwerp. On Eisenhower's order, Montgomery's armies cleared the estuary of mines in late October, allowing cargo to flow through Antwerp to the front beginning 8 November 1944.

Montgomery still called Market Garden 90% successful. Looking at the number of captured bridges, Montgomery's statement was correct. From a military point of view it was anything but true. The 80 kilometer corridor which was held had no, or at best, little strategic value. When Eisenhower had a clear understanding of the situation which had faced the 21st Army Group, the Supreme Commander refused to trust Montgomery again.

From Wildcat222 on YouTube:

25 September, 1944

438^th AAA AW BN

APO 230 % Postmaster, N.Y.

Germany

25 September, 1944       0900

My dearest sweetheart –

As has happened so often in the past, I received a letter from you today discussing a subject which I had written about that same day. I think, however, that had I waited until I received your letter – I might not have attempted to discuss in such simple terms, dear, so complicated a matter. At least your quote from “advice to the lovelorn” made the subject of love even more complicated than I had given it credit for being.

I want to say first, darling, that I do admire your frankness in discussing subjects like this so openly – and yet, on the other hand – how else should it be? If you and I can’t discuss intimate matters at this stage, then we have no business being engaged. My own plain attempt at telling you I love you seems very puny when I read your quotes – and yet I experience ‘love’ and that’s what matters most. As for the interpretation of it – I’ll tell you this, dear, too many marriages have gone on the rocks because one partner tried to follow too literally something he or she had read in some psychiatric or other book on ‘love’. On that subject, I know what I’m talking about – because I have had such patients.

In this case – I don’t agree with the words “mysteriously elusive” although the rest of it does make some sense. The trouble with the whole thing is that it’s a lot of nice words – put together, and when taken apart – it doesn’t say very much e.g. the words ‘eternal feminine’ are pretty but unnecessary. A woman is a woman and always so and a man loves her for being so. If something goes wrong between them – it’s for some other reason – but not because she isn’t still ‘eternal feminine’. I loved and courted you with ‘suspense’, sweetheart even though you write you left nothing to my imagination – and it didn’t take a long time. We will not have to start anew – unless you are not sure about me.

The peculiar part of your bringing the whole matter up is that in effect you do want to fit into a pattern and yet you hated the thought that I might want you simply because I had a pattern and you fitted it. The trouble is – as I see it, dear – that I just didn’t use the right words – although, in one way or another, I must have convinced you that I loved you because you were you – and that’s what matters to me most. The discussion of such a subject by mail is a little difficult – but I do want you to know, darling, that I do love you more than you apparently – you used the word ‘expect’ – and I’ll say ‘suspect’. I know I must sound so matter-of-fact at times, and yet, sweetheart, I don’t feel like that at all. Whatever in the world makes you think that I write of kissing and hugging simply because you do, I don’t know. And you imply things dear, that I don’t. If I ask you if you’ll ever get tired of kissing me and hugging me – I mean just that, and it must have been written to you at a moment when I felt I could kiss and hug you practically forever without getting tired and wondered whether you would. And the moments I feel like that are many. Don’t you every worry about my loving you as much as you love me, dear. It’s been a long time since we last saw each other and I know things must be a little dim. But remember that I’m the same guy who met you, knew immediately that I would love you, introduced you to my close friends, kept seeing you at every opportunity, told you I loved you and meant it, regretted that time was short and I couldn’t become engaged to you, went overseas with plenty of time to think it over and plenty to divert me – had that been possible; the same guy who wrote your folks asking permission to become engaged and who considered himself the luckiest fellow in the world when I actually became so to you. Sweetheart, that was love, however unadorned by psychiatric interpretation. Nothing has been closer to my mind, to my inner being since that time, dear, then the one thought – that I love you, you love me – that we belong to each other and that nothing can come between us. Forget the advice to the lovelorn, darling; you don’t need advice. You love me deeply and sensitively I know. You will find that my love is just as deep, sensitive, thorough – and revealing.

If I ever had any doubts in my mind about your being young – they are certainly dispelled now, darling, because you write and feel maturely and I’m glad for that. And if – in the future – you hear from me again in terms that make you wonder or cause you hurt – then please, darling, tell me about it – and I know I’ll be able to correct it.

Honestly – I must stop right now – but give my best regards to the folks and to you

My everlasting love, dear

Greg

* TIDBIT *

about "A Bridge Too Far"
Operation Market Garden - Part IX

Here is some coverage of the Battle for Arnhem published in the London Daily Express on 25 September 1944:

CLICK ON IMAGES TO ENLARGE

The story of the ninth day of Operation Market Garden continues, primarily from the web site "Remember September '44"

British 1st Airborne Division

The 4th Dorset of the 130th Infantry Brigade, 43rd Wessex Division, attempted to cross the river but failed. The Allies decided to withdraw the whole 1st British Airborne Division starting with the forces on the north site of the 'perimeter' and ending with those on the south side. Around 2200 the retreat began under the code name 'Berlin'. On the river bank, Canadian and British engineers waited for the troops to arrive. The engineers crossed the river many times to help worn-out soldiers get away. The British XXX Corps tried to hide the evacuation with an artillery barrage. The operation brought 2,200 men across the river to safety. On Tuesday morning, the evacuation was stopped by heavy German gunfire. Some men tried to swim to the other side, some succeeded, some drowned. Around 300 men couldn't be saved and surrendered. With the end of this operation came the end of the battle of Arnhem and the end of Operation Market Garden.

U.S. 101st Airborne Division


Nijmegen after the battle, with the bridge still intact.

The corridor still was severed at Koevering. The 506th Regiment and 44th Tank Regiment attacked, but thanks to their artillery, the Germans withstood the attack. The corridor had to be opened again, even though the main target of Operation Market Garden, Arnhem, was now out of reach. The Allies continued their attacks. Paratroops attacked from the south while the British 50th Division also launched an attack. Most of the Germans were defeated. On the 26th of September, after two days, the German forces were overrun and the road cleared of mines. The corridor was open again. From that day on, XXX Corps no longer advanced towards Arnhem. Nijmegen was now the new front line in the Netherlands.

From Wildcat222 on YouTube:

24 September 1944

438^th AAA AW BN

APO 230 % Postmaster, N.Y.

Germany

24 September, 1944

Sunday Morning          0915

Dearest sweetheart – Wilma,

It’s a gray cold Sunday morning, the kind I’d want to hang around the house taking it easy and interfering with your attempts to get things cleaned up. I can imagine you saying – “Now Greg. Mother A or Mother B will be coming down this afternoon and I have to get things ‘tidied’ up”. Of course that will have no effect upon me whatsoever and the net result is that we end up in a wrestling match with the winner always in doubt because the phone interrupts.

Well – things are quite a bit different this Sunday morning, darling, and we’re far apart and lonely. But it won’t always be thus and I guess that is what keeps us going – isn’t it? I awakened in the middle of last night due to some noise – and couldn’t get to sleep right away. So I got to thinking of you and me – as I always do – and it certainly is a tonic or an hypnotic for me. I forget the moment, I forget where I am. I become imbued with a spirit of thankfulness, of love – which just can’t be described, dear. Love has always been something a little bit unclear to me – although I’ve used the word many many times. But the more I dwell upon it – the more I begin to feel ‘love’ – which I think is the only way the word can be interpreted. And when I feel it – as I do now, I feel so close to you that I’m amazed at my reaction. It’s a possessive feeling, a realization that you are mine, mine – and belong to no one else. You made me even more conscious of that emotion in your last letter when you mentioned that subject yourself. And there’s nothing a man likes better than to know that his sweetheart, his fiancée, his wife – is his alone. I hope, Sweetheart, that you have the same feeling about me.

Yesterday I returned to headquarters and that should end my 3 day visits for awhile, although I’ll be going out for the day from time to time. By the way – our new officer is being given a little to do and relieving me of some of my details. I appointed him Venereal Disease and Sanitary Officer for the battalion and that will cut down on a chore I’ve hated ever since I’ve been in the Army – but for which I was always responsible. I still am responsible, for that matter, but as long as I don’t have to do the inspecting, I don’t care.
Last night was another Saturday night – uncelebrated and quiet. Our chaplain – Catholic – and a pretty nice guy – got his Captaincy the other day and brought out a bottle of cognac. That didn’t last very long, however, among 10 officers. I still have a bottle of Scotch unopened but I guess I’ll save that until V-day. After the cognac was gone – the Colonel, Bruce Silva, the Chaplain and I went to the Medical Tent and played some Bridge. If I play often enough in that fast company, I may learn how to play. They are all pretty good at it – and last night the post-mortem conversation went all the way back from Culbertson’s Gold Book – to Simms, by way of Blackwood. At any rate, we had a good game and I really enjoyed it. It broke up at 2300 which is the latest we’ve all been up for a long time. The funny part is getting back to your tent. It is pitch dark out – these nights and black-out is really complete. It usually takes 10-15 minutes to orient ourselves – groping around in the dark.

Well, Sweetheart, it’s time for me to take care of a couple of matters and get back to the present reality – although I’m reluctant to do so. While I’m writing you, I really forget about all this – and it’s so nice. My love to the folks, darling – and

All my sincerest love,

Greg

P.S. I LOVE YOU.

G.

* TIDBIT *

about "A Bridge Too Far"
Operation Market Garden - Part VIII

The story of the eighth day of Operation Market Garden continues, primarily from the web site "Remember September '44"

British 1st Airborne Division

As the situation deteriorates, the Division's pride grows. Acts of courage become commonplace; wounded men stay on the line. Everyone works at keeping morale up in the face of nearly constant combat. On this Sunday morning, an artillery officer and two gunners begin marching around their position singing military songs. Soon the woods resound with the voices of British soldiers. By this time there are 1,300 casualties crammed into cellars inside the perimeter. A temporary cease-fire was arranged to evacuate nearly 500 wounded soldiers. At the appointed hour, the firing gradually died away. A convoy of German vehicles came through the lines and began ferrying British and German wounded back to German medical facilities. Two hours later, the din of battle roared to life again.

Otherwise, the situation hardly changed this day. The British troops were still settled around the 'perimeter' and bravely offered resistance to the stronger Germans. But they knew that all their attempts were useless. Most of the men only had light weapons at their disposal, no match against German armor and artillery. Their hopes for help slowly diminished.

U.S. 101st Airborne Division

Although the Germans abandoned Erp, they still tried to cut the corridor. Von der Heydte’s 6th Fallschirmjägerregiment (paratroops) launched an assault on Veghel from the west. A confrontation between the German and American forces took place in Eerde village, just south of Veghel. The battle was fierce, but eventually American paratroopers prevailed. Further to the south, the corridor was attacked near Koevering, a hamlet between St. Oedenrode and Veghel. Here, around 1700 hours, Kampfgruppe 'Jungwirth' cut the corridor for the second time. Several British trucks were set on fire by German shelling. Contact between the 501st and 502nd Regiment was broken. Reinforcements were sent immediately to Koevering, but the Germans had taken positions along the road and kept it under their control.

From Wildcat222 on YouTube:

23 September 1944

438^th AAA AW BN

APO 230 % Postmaster, N.Y.

Germany

23 September, 1944

My dearest one –

This is Heine, Kraut or just plain dirty Bosche writing paper which we acquired – but dammit – it is good writing material so I’m using some of it. There seems to be some controversy, by the way, over whether or not we’re allowed to state that we’re actually in Germany. Since I have seen nothing in writing saying we can’t – I’m writing that I am. Some of the censorship rules seem awfully silly to me. If we left our address blank – after having written France and the Belgium, it seems to me it would be quite obvious where we were now; however – as the Germans say “es machte nichts aus”.

Yesterday I got two swell much-needed letters from you, sweetheart – postmarked 8 and 9th September. Darling, you certainly seemed to take to heart what the papers had to say about demobilization – and although you said in your letter that you were trying hard to make me laugh but couldn’t, actually, darling – I did. Don’t worry, dear, even though the war isn’t over yet, we are sweating out the subject of demobilization already, but take it from me – what you read in the papers is a lot of hokum. I don’t think the Army has a plan and when it finally works one out, I see no reason at all why my outfit, or I, won’t get out just as soon as the others. With every passing month – our seniority over-seas is mounting – and that’s what will count most of all, I believe. There are thousands upon thousands of troops that hit England and France – after we did, remember. I think Time summed it up best when it concluded that – whatever the plan turns out to be – the chances seem to indicate that the newest soldiers will get out last. And anyway, dear, when I get back to the States – demobilized or not, we’ll get married immediately, wherever I happen to be stationed. Right?

You were very sweet though, and comforting, too – I may add in writing that regardless of the time involved, you would wait for me. Sweetheart – that’s music to my ears, and I’m not kidding. But I will love you so hard, so earnestly and sincerely – and with so much devotion – that I hope you will feel, dear, that it was all worth it. It has turned out to be a long time – and don’t think I’m not always aware of it; so much so – that I sometimes wonder if I were not a little bit unfair. Now – don’t get angry with me for writing that, sweetheart. The Lord knows how glad I am that you were willing to become engaged to me. I just never want you to be even the tiniest bit sorry.

And I’m so thankful that you got a job with some interest attached to it – and with pay. I know that your work with Red Cross must be a great help to you in helping the days and weeks go by. br />
I liked your dreams about furnishing a home, dear, because I think of it myself so often. There’s not a home I see – or an object in a window – that I don’t imagine in our home – and if it were only possible – I’d have half a home furnished already with things I could have picked up or bought – here and there. Incidentally – I wonder if electric push-buttons could keep us in bed all the time and let us run the house, the office and outside work – without having to leave. Well – we’ll see –

One more thing before knocking off for now – what have you found out by ‘Palmistry’? And could you read my palm by mail? If not, darling, don’t worry. Without a knowledge of it all – and from way out here – I can tell you that you and I are to have a long happy successful wedded life together – because we love each other deeply and that’s the best foundation of all!

All for now, darling. Will write tomorrow. Love to all and

My deepest and sincerest love to you

Greg

P.S. Enclosed completes all of available snaps. Total 51 and not 52 as I had thought. Still taking pictures dear, and will hold on to them until opportunity for developing arises.

Love

G.

* TIDBIT *

about "A Bridge Too Far"
Operation Market Garden - Part VII

The story of the seventh day of Operation Market Garden continues, primarily from the web site "Remember September '44"

British 1st Airborne Division

On this day more than 120 Allied aircraft dropped supplies in spite of heavy German anti-aircraft. About 80 aircraft were shot down. Sadly, almost all of the supplies they dropped fell into German hands...again. Shortages of food, medicine and, most of all, ammunition began to create an unbearable situation for the British troops. The Germans tried continuously to cut the Allies off from the riverbank. Londsdale’s Force defending this area endured heavy attacks. The Polish paratroops on the other side of the Rhine were also heavily attacked. They didn't have any artillery because it had landed on September the 19th on the northern side of the river. Luckily, some tanks from the XXX Corps arrived and supported the Poles. During the night the Poles attempted to cross the river again. They used some other boats which arrived before midnight. This time they were more successful than the day before. About 150 soldiers reached the 'perimeter' on the other side, but this still was just a small number.

U.S. 82nd Airborne Division

The 508th Regiment tried to secure the Ooijpolder River (east of Nijmegen). The 8th Armored Brigade’s Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry supported them. They made a good start, but later on German counter-attacks forced them to retreat again. The battle continued for several days with alternating success. Finally, weather conditions improved. The 325th Glider Infantry took off with the rest of several other units. They carried about 3,500 men, jeeps and guns. The sky train ran into heavy anti-aircraft fire near Veghel. A large number of gliders had to land prematurely, but the landings were considered a success. About 350 gliders arrived at Overasselt. The 325th Glider Infantry immediately headed for Groesbeek’s woods to support the troops there. This lift also brought in the 1st Battalion of the 1st Independent Polish Parachute Brigade. According to plan they were to jump at Driel on September the 21st, but because of bad weather the planes carrying them were forced to return to their bases. Now two days later, they still were a part of Operation Market Garden, although the Market-part had ended at Nijmegen.

CLICK ON IMAGES TO ENLARGE

82nd Airborne dropping above field in Overasselt
23 September 1944


82nd Airborne Landing Zone near Grace
23 September 1944

The U.S. 82nd Airborne Division's role in Market Garden was completed. The division remained active in the Nijmegen area until November 1944 and was then relieved by the First Canadian Army.

British XXX Corps

German forces launched several attacks on Veghel. All were stopped but the corridor was still cut. It was vital that the advance towards Nijmegen and Arnhem continued. Horrocks sent the 32nd Guards Brigade from Nijmegen to open the corridor again. Around 1700 they arrived north of Veghel. A combined assault from both sides by American and British troops finally broke the German roadblock and the corridor was opened. However, the XXX Corps was far behind schedule.

U.S. 101st Airborne Division


101st Airborne in Veghel
23 September 1944

The 327th Glider Infantry and the 907th Glider Artillery Battalion arrived by airlift. Due to bad weather, they couldn't be transported earlier to the Eindhoven sector. After their arrival they were sent immediately to Veghel to secure the corridor for further German attacks.

From Wildcat222 on YouTube:

22 September 1944

438^th AAA AW BN

APO 230 % Postmaster, N.Y.

Germany

22 September, 1944     0900

Dearest darling –

I’m trying to get an early start this morning in writing to you but it looks as if I’ll not have a smooth time of it because there are a lot of fellows around and everybody is talking and joking and in general – trying to prevent me from writing. I’m in the C.P. tent of Battery D – at the moment – but I think I’ll have to go outside if I ever expect to get this finished.

No mail came from battalion for me last night, dear, but I shouldn’t complain too much because I have heard from you quite regularly. In that connection, sweetheart, I intended to mention something to you about that before – namely your writing every day – now that you’re working every day. I realize dear that you have a pretty full schedule these days and that occasionally you have something or other to do of an evening. If you try to write every evening – you’ll get all tired out. I’d rather you didn’t write of an evening darling than to see you writing at midnight or past that – as you have done so often before, dear. Mind you – the more I hear from you – the more I love it – but you do have a job now and I’ll understand. It’s different with me, darling. Most days of the week I can get a letter off to you – at some hour of the day or night. Occasionally we make a move at an awkward hour – or something else turns up – and I can’t write, but ordinarily I can, I do – and I love to.

I don’t know what I would have done, darling, over here, if I didn’t have you to think of, love, write to and dream about. The mental comfort it has given me not only in the present – but in the plans for a future – is something I just can’t describe. It’s just something to lean on when things are slow and lonesome over here; when you’re cold and wet, or tired and dirty, or completely fed up with the whole business – you get a flash of a sweetheart at home – waiting for you – and then all the inconveniences you are experiencing seem so trivial and temporary compared to what’s waiting for you back home. This thought hits me at least every day and usually several times a day – and I know, darling, that I don’t tell you often enough just what I do think. I can say only this, though, that by now – my love has grown to such proportions – that even I didn’t suspect was possible. My every thought concerns you, dear, and us – and the truth is – I just can’t consider my post-war life without you as my prime motif.

Well, I sort of rambled out a lot of words, sweetheart, but they all add up to the fact that I love you and that’s that!

Darling – I’ll have to stop now because it’s getting more and more confusing here – and besides – I’ve got something to do at one of the sections – interview a chronic alcoholic with a view to getting rid of him. I’ve got to hand in a report. The enclosed snaps – dear – make 43 in all – so far, I believe.

Hope to hear from you tonite, dearest. For the while – love to the folks and all

My deepest love

Greg.

* TIDBIT *

about "A Bridge Too Far"
Operation Market Garden - Part VI

The story of the sixth day of Operation Market Garden continues, primarily as written on the web site "Remember September '44"

British 1st Airborne Division

The Poles settled on the other side of the river near Driel and made contact with a reconnaissance unit of the 2nd Army’s Household Cavalry which had succeeded in getting around the German positions at the Nijmegen Bridge. Two British soldiers managed to cross the river and inform Sosabowski of a plan to bring the Polish soldiers and supplies across the river at 0300 the next morning using two amphibious vehicles. But at 2100 hours, Sosabowski started ferrying his men across the river in groups of six using rubber rafts. A German parachute flare illuminated the river and machine gun fire ripped through the night. The Poles tried moving further downstream but were again under intense fire. When Sosabowski called the operation off in the early morning hours of Saturday, only 50 men had made it across. Meanwhile, Major General Roy Urquhart in Oosterbeek estimated he had less than 3,000 men left. Convinced that XXX Corps didn’t appreciate the desperate nature of his situation, he began considering a withdrawal across the Lower Rhine.

CLICK ON IMAGES TO ENLARGE

Major-General Stanislaw Sosabowski



U.S. 82nd Airborne Division

With the Nijmegen Bridge taken, the 82nd Airborne Division achieved its assignment, but they still had to defend the landing zone near Overasselt where the 325th Glider Infantry had to land. This landing had been scheduled for September the 19th, but the 325th still hadn't arrived. The Germans were fighting back along the front line, but the Americans held their positions with some support from British tanks. The Germans’ attacks weren't a real threat to the XXX Corps’ corridor.

U.S. 101st Airborne Division


The 506th Regiment 2nd Battalion "Easy Company"
101st Airborne Division in Veghel
22 September 1944

Schijndel village, partially liberated on September the 21st, was now completely liberated by the paratroops supported by British tanks which shelled the German positions during the night. About 400 Germans were taken prisoner. The American paratroops headed north along Hell's Highway. Men of the 506th Regiment marched towards Uden. Just after they left Veghel the Germans launched attacks on the village. From the east the 107th Panzer Brigade again shelled the corridor. They approached Veghel out of Erp and had been ordered to destroy the bridges at Veghel and stop the advance of XXX Corps. The 107th Panzer Brigade had been reinforced and was now called Kampfgruppe (fighting-group) 'Walther'. It consisted of three SS battalions, 35 tanks and artillery. From the west Kampfgruppe ‘Huber’ of the 59th Infantry Division attacked Veghel. Veghel was a constant scene of battle and Horrocks would refer to this day as 'Black Friday'. The soldiers of the 501st Regiment couldn’t stop the German attacks on their own. The 506th Regiment was sent to support their fellow 'Eagles' and the British 44th Royal Tank Regiment also provided support. Although Kampfgruppe Huber's attack from the west was stopped, the other German attack was not. The main assault from Erp was withstood, but the Germans succeeded in blocking the corridor north of Veghel. Even though the bridges remained intact and in Allied hands, the British XXX Corps’ advance came to a halt. The Americans who had left for Uden in the morning were cut off from the rest of their division.

From cgmiki on YouTube:

21 September 1944

V-MAIL

438^th AAA AW BN

APO 230 % Postmaster, N.Y.

Germany

21 September, 1944        1730

Dearest sweetheart –

A busy day today – and I forgot to tell you yesterday that I am again visiting – or inspecting, and this time D battery. I stepped around all day today from early morning on – but I’ll be able to take it easy tomorrow. I got no mail here yesterday, but it’s possible there was some for me at battalion. I asked the mail clerk here to ask for my mail today. It was kind of lonesome here yesterday – not being with battalion and not hearing from you and it getting dark so early – etc. I do miss you awfully these long nights, sweetheart – possibly because we climb into our tents so early and have that much more time to realize what we’re missing. I don’t know what I’d do without this radio I just bought and despite the fact that it’s working fine – I’m waiting anxiously for my Dad to send me one. I’ll then sell this one and start off with a new one.

Incidentally – darling – a little news – about Pete. He has taken over C battery and if he stays with them – he will be battery commander and therefore will be eligible for a captaincy. I hope he does it. All for now, dearest – except I love you more each day, and never forget that! Love to the folks and to you –

My deepest love

Greg

* TIDBIT *

about "A Bridge Too Far"
Operation Market Garden - Part V

The story of the fifth day of Operation Market Garden was written on the web site "Remember September '44"

British 1st Airborne Division

The 2nd Battalion, or what was left of them, no longer could hold their position and surrendered in the morning. Some men tried to escape to Oosterbeek, but only a few made it. All the German forces had concentrated on the 'perimeter' at Oosterbeek. German reinforcements arrived, which only made things worse. But despite heavy German attacks, the British troops’ position hardly changed though they suffered severe losses. Supplies still didn't arrive on the correct side of the bridge. Although the British had changed the drop zone for supplies, poor radio communications meant the RAF was not informed. German anti-aircraft guns also caused some losses. Maj. Gen. Stanislaw Sosabowsk’s 1st Polish Independent Parachute Brigade was dropped two days later than scheduled. They were dropped on the other side of the river near the village Driel. Their intended drop zone was south of the Traffic Bridge, but since the bridge was in German hands another drop zone was chosen. In addition to being late, bad weather forced some C-47s to return to their bases, so that not all of the 1st Para-battalion jumped. And the planes that did make it to Arnhem were attacked heavily by German anti-aircraft guns.

Maybe the worst part was the German's taking the ferry over the river which the Poles intended to use to reach the British. Instead, the Poles were stuck on the far side of the river and could do practically nothing other than wait. On the plus side, the Germans now had to pay attention to both the British and the Poles, giving some relief to the 'perimeter' troops. The British finally made radio contact with the XXX Corps at Nijmegen, although much later than planned. Now the British could count on artillery support from Nijmegen. From this day on, the British at Oosterbeek passed on the positions of the Germans so the artillery could start shelling them. This was a welcome support!

U.S. 82nd Airborne Division

The 504th defended the bridge in Nijgemen and held the area along the riverside. Although the Germans lost the bridges, they kept on attacking. The 508th Regiment was still embroiled in the fight against the Germans in Beek, which started on September the 20th. The first attempt to liberate the town failed, but a second was successful. In the evening, after intense fighting, Beek was in American hands again. The XXX Corps could have continued their advance towards Arnhem now that the bridge was in Allied hands, but instead they stopped. The Americans were baffled…and furious. They had expected the British armor would rush to Arnhem to relieve the British 1st Airborne Division, but, as Colonel Reuben Tucker of the 504th Regiment said, "all they seem to be doing is brewing tea". Actually, Horrocks of the XXX Corps wanted to wait until the infantry arrived to make his tanks less vulnerable. Many of the Allies didn't appreciate his cautious stance. The majority of the supplies dropped were recovered with help from the local people. However, the reinforcements were still grounded.

U.S. 101st Airborne Division

The 1st Battalion of the 501st Regiment crossed the Zuid-Willemsvaart canal near Dinther, the village they had liberated the day before. They headed for Schijndel, a village west of Veghel. Late in the afternoon, Schijndel was reached and an attack was launched. Only a part of the village was liberated. The 3rd Battalion reached the road between Schijndel and St. Oedenrode. The Germans launched an attack on St. Oedenrode, but the men of the 502nd Regiment withstood the assault. The 506th Regiment, with British XXX Corps’ tanks, continued their assault on the Germans near Nederwetten. Finally, the Germans retreated and the corridor was open again.

British XXX Corps

Horrocks, the XXX Corps’ commander, wouldn’t continue his tanks' advance towards Arnhem until supporting British infantry arrived, even though they hadn’t even reached Grave yet. Although given priority, this division made slow progress. The constant shelling of the corridor by the Germans delayed them several times.

From cgmiki on YouTube:

20 September 1944

438^th AAA AW BN

APO 230 % Postmaster, N.Y.

Germany

20 September, 1944     1830

Dearest darling –

Germany, so far, looks just like any other country we’ve been in but – the people don’t. What a change just a boundary line can make! The towns along the border have taken a pasting and no one among the American soldiers seems to be sad over that fact. It has been a long time since Germany has been invaded. Maybe they will think things over next time. It’s a pleasure to go into someone’s field now and chew it all to hell and then leave – I used to feel sorry for the poor French and Belgians, but it’s so different now. As we ride through a small town – it seems strange not to see waving arms and broad smiles and gaily decorated streets. Instead, the people look sullen and only one person today smiled at us – he was in Priest’s clothing. An odd sight – all the white flags hanging out of many of the windows. Some are made of pillow cases, linen pieces with fancy edges, bed sheets – and even Turkish towels.

Today we saw the Seigfried line – or at least a part of it – and I was amazed at its simplicity. Certain it is – that so far – it has not been formidable and if the Allied progress has been slow – it has been due only to the ferocity of the German fighting rather than to the fortifications. Maybe it will be worse – deeper into Germany – but so far it is something that good propaganda was able to build up in the world’s mind – as something terrible and impregnable.

When I majored in German at school – I often wondered, dear, whether I would ever have the chance of visiting Germany. I never dreamed that war would bring me here. I’ve had some conversation – with a Priest today – and find that although my vocabulary is rusty – I can do quite well with my construction of a sentence. Not having spoken German for a long while – I was satisfied that I made myself understood quite easily. The Priest, by the way, told me that he and 180 other Catholics were the only ones left in town – out of 600 Catholics. The others had fled, disappeared etc. He was definitely not pro-Nazi in his speech – and the family he was staying with sounded the same, but darling, you just can’t trust them and I don’t aim to. It’s these bastards that brought me into the war and away from home and it is these same who, passively or actively, condoned the persecution of the helpless Jews and I can’t forget that. I am glad for one thing that I’ve noticed so far. Catholics and Protestants, alike, despise the Germans; all seem to remember the misery and suffering they’ve just seen in France and Belgium. If the Americans and British can only remain ‘hard’ – it will be good – because this time – let the Germans remember us as tough and perhaps they’ll think a long time before starting things.

Well, sweetheart, a lot of talk and wasted time without telling you that I can now say I love you in Germany – as well as in Belgium, France and England – not to mention the good old USA. I also love you darling, in 3 known languages and the Lord knows how many countless others that have never been articulated. The fact is, dear, I do love you and miss you more every day – and I think we’re beginning to see the light of this all. I hope I’m right – because – dammit – it’s been a long long time since I held you in my arms and tried to ‘break’ your back. Remember?

All for now, darling. Love to the folks and

All my deepest love.

Greg

P.S. Enclosed make 36.

Love

G.

Route of the Question Mark


CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE

(A) Welkenraedt, Belgium to (B) Rott, Germany (15 Miles)
16 to 20 September 1944

September 20... Rott, Germany. Our first entrance into Germany, through the futile dragons-teeth of the outer fringes of the Siegfried Line and past the houses with the white flags hanging from their windows. The bivouac area in the woods where it seemed to rain all the time, and during the day we had to build fires to keep warm, and at night we had to have white tape strung all over the area so the guards could find their way to their posts and back to their tents again.

* TIDBIT *

about "A Bridge Too Far"
Operation Market Garden - Part IV

125 Miles to the North of Rott, Germany, the northern-most bridge of Operation Market Garden, at Arnhem, was a bloodbath. The story of the fourth day of Operation Market Garden was written on the web site "Remember September '44"

British 1st Airborne Division

The 2nd battalion was still fighting to hold its position, with no hope of either the 2nd Army or 1st Airborne Division arriving. Because the rest of the British troops had withdrawn towards Oosterbeek, the Germans were given full play in Arnhem. The Germans started to set the houses in which the British soldiers were hiding on fire to force the soldiers out. At 0730 hours, the British paratroopers holding the north end of the Arnhem bridge were now defending smoldering ruins; there were no more than 300 men able to return the German fire. Hundreds of wounded fill the cellars. There was little ammunition; almost no food and water. But they were grimly determined to fight on. Then a mortar round exploded almost next to Col. John Frost; the irrepressible Frost was carried to a nearby cellar with shrapnel in his ankle and shin. A wounded soldier, seeing his commander, called to him: “Sir, can we still hold out?” By 1800 hours, the remnants of the bridge defenders surrendered or tried to escape through the German lines. As the wounded were carried out of the cellars, they were treated by their captors to chocolates, cigarettes, and brandy; it is ironic that the treats were from supplies intended for the 1st Airborne. A final radio message was sent out from the bridge defenders. It never reached any Allied forces, but it was picked up at 9th SS Panzer headquarters: “Out of ammunition. God Save the King.”

The rest of the troops at Oosterbeek, realized that reaching the bridge was impossible and so they concentrated on the region around the Headquarters in Oosterbeek. If they could hold this position, maybe the 2nd Army (XXX Corps) could still cross the river at Oosterbeek. Again, most dropped supplies fell into German hands.

U.S. 82nd Airborne Division

The boats for crossing the Waal arrived, and the 504th Regiment succeeded in clearing the western part of Nijmegen. The 504th Regiment prepared for a hazardous and heroic crossing which began around 1500 when 26 boats pushed off. Tanks and fighter planes gave cover. Unfortunately, an unfavourable wind kept a smoke screen from providing cover for the risky undertaking. The Germans put a deadly fire across the river and casualties were severe, yet the operation was successful. The paratroopers managed to reach the dike on the other side, and crushed the German positions at Lent. The attacks on the bridges in Nijmegen also were successful. The Allied forces reached the ramp of both the railroad and traffic bridge. Around 1900, the first British Sherman tanks crossed the Waal and met the men from 504th Regiment on the other side. Many explosives were found on the bridge, but for some reason the Germans failed to set them off before the British tanks crossed it.

CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE

Nijgenem Bridge after capture

Meanwhile, the forces at Groesbeek were heavily attacked by Germans supported by tanks, artillery and fighter planes. The attack on a suburb of Groesbeek was stopped before the Germans could the reach the city. The suburb, De Horst, was battered. During Market Garden the area was a constant scene of battle as one moment the Americans controlled it and the next moment it was the Germans. In the north and south the situation was critical. In the north German forces managed to reach Berg en Dal and Beek. The fight in the streets of Beek and around the Devil's Hill would last for almost two days. In the south Mook had fallen in German hands again and now the bridge at Heumen was in danger. The bridge at Heumen was of vital importance to the advance of XXX Corps and had to be secured. The paratroopers of the 505th Regiment fought back, supported by their artillery and the Coldstream Guards from XXX Corps. In the evening Mook was recaptured and just as De Horst, heavily damaged. The weather conditions back in England forced the planes to stay on the ground... again. The required men were two days late. They were really needed, especially after today, when the 82nd Airborne Division suffered their heaviest losses.

U.S. 101st Airborne Division

The German paratroopers who forced the Americans of the 501th Regiment to retreat on September 19th were surrounded by the Americans and defeated. More than 400 Germans were captured and the village Dinther was liberated. Panther tanks of the 107th Panzer Brigade again endangered the corridor. They shelled the passing trucks on the road to Son and tried to cut off the advance. American airborne troops with British support launched a counter-attack, but the battle was undecided. The fighting continued throughout the day.

British XXX Corps

The Guards Armoured Division supported the American attack on the bridge. The heroic river crossing of the American paratroopers was successful. In evening the first Sherman tanks crossed the traffic bridge. The bridge was in Allied hands. The Coldstream Guards assisted in clearing Mook from the Germans, who succeeded in recapturing the village and were now threatening the bridge at Heumen. The corridor was in danger too in Son, but the Allies retained control.

From cgmiki on YouTube: