21 April 1945

V-MAIL

438^th AAA AW BN

APO 230 % Postmaster, N.Y.

21 April, 1945

Brussels

Hello darling –

Just a shortie today to let you know that I arrived safely last night, after traveling 14 hours – and 444 miles. It was some ride, but we saved a day. The day was beautiful for driving and we really crossed Germany. We went by a new route – through the Ruhr and saw what the RAF had done – and it was plenty.

Alfred Krupp and what's left of the famous munition works
Essen, Germany - April 1945
(Greg was incorrect here... See comment below.)

We passed thru Dortmund, Essen, Duisburg etc and crossed the Rhine South of Wesel. We got here at 2200 and had to scout around for a hotel.

CLICK TO ENLARGE

Greg's approximate route
(A) Halle, (B) Dortmund, (C) Essen, (D) Duisburg, (E) Brussels

Today we’ll take it easy, bathe, rest and look around. Gosh, darling, I do wish you were with me rather than another officer. What a time we could have! But I’d just as soon be home and we’d have just as much fun there – because love knows no boundaries – and boy – do I love you, sweetheart! All for now. Regards and

All my sincerest love,

Greg

* TIDBIT *

about The Russians Approach Berlin


Russians in the outskirts of Berlin, 21 April 1945

From a BBC web site called "On This Day" came this:

Russian troops have captured some outlying suburbs of Berlin at the beginning of what promises to be a bitter battle for control of the city. The Red Army approached the German capital from three directions, north, east and south-east. The northeastern suburb of Weissensee is the closest to the center being only three miles away.

The Nazi minister of propaganda, Josef Goebbels, has issued a statement saying Berlin will be defended to the last. He said anyone who showed cowardice, hoisted the white flag or attempted sabotage would be treated as outlaws.

The Germans are understood to be terrified of what might happen to them if Berlin falls into Soviet hands. Since 1941 Nazi forces have laid waste to large parts of the Soviet Union. The Soviet troops under Marshal Georgi Zhukov are pushing towards Berlin from the north and east and Marshal Ivan Konev and his forces from the south. They are both keen to achieve the honor of capturing Berlin, the heart of the Nazi movement.

American forces are also pushing towards Berlin from the west and are now said to be only hours away from joining up with Russian troops.

Reports from Berlin say shells have begun to fall in the center of the city. Correspondents say they have been fired from southern positions, taking the Germans by surprise. They had been expecting Marshal Konev's forces to press on towards Prague and Dresden. The Russian advance has been supported by its air force. Although the weather has been poor it has not stopped its low-level attack aircraft, the Stormoviks, sweeping the enemy lines and the improved Soviet dive-bombers are also halting counter-attacks.

Russian Stormovik

The final assault on Berlin began on the night of 15/16 April when Soviet forces launched a powerful artillery barrage against the German forces dug in west of the Oder River and to the east of the city in an area known as the Seelow Heights. A German military spokesman said they were attacking under what he called a permanent "air umbrella" with "fresh Soviet troops coming forward as though on a conveyor belt."

After two days of fighting and failing to make any significant breakthrough at Seelow, however, Marshal Konev's forces were ordered south and Marshal Zhukov's to the north thus bypassing the German 9th Army at Seelow and surrounding Berlin.

Hitler is reported to have celebrated his birthday yesterday in his underground bunker in the city, cut off from the reality of the fighting above his head.

Reports say Ivan Konev's forces to the south of Berlin have taken more than 10,000 prisoners in the past four days. They also claim to have captured 96 aircraft and more than 150 tanks and self-propelled guns.

Marshal Ivan Konev

Marshal Zhukov's troops, heading from the north and east, claim to have taken more than 13,000 prisoners. They have captured 60 aircraft and more than 100 tanks and self-propelled guns.

Marshal Georgi Zhukov

But in their haste to capture Berlin many Soviet soldiers have also been killed and tanks lost.

From How Stuff Works comes this:

Soviet Union troops encircled Berlin on 21 April 1945. With 2.5 million men, the Soviets faced one million German troops, including about 45,000 male youth and elderly. The Germans were also greatly outnumbered in artillery, tanks, and planes. "The amount of equipment deployed for the Berlin operation," a Soviet Union soldier remarked, "was so huge I simply cannot describe it and I was there." Enormous firepower was brought to bear, but the Soviets discovered that many forward German positions had been abandoned before the bombardment. The German command pulled troops tightly around Berlin for a final, doomed defense of the city.

Also on this day, Field Marshal Model, victor at Arnhem and now Commander-in-Chief of German Army Group B, having (on 15 April) ordered the youngeset and oldest soldiers to be discharged from the army and make their own way home as civilians, committed suicide rather than surrender and be tried by the Russians as a war criminal.

20 April 1945

No letter today. Just this:

* TIDBIT *

about A Contrast in Birthdays:
1939 vs. 1945

20 April 1939:

Wikipedia relates:

Adolf Hitler's 50th birthday was celebrated as a national holiday in Nazi Germany. On that day, the largest military parade in the history of the Third Reich was held in Berlin. Festivities began in the afternoon of the day before, when Hitler was driven at the head of a motorcade of fifty white limousines along Albert Speer's newly-completed "East-West Axis", the planned central boulevard for "Germania", which was to be the new capital for the Nazi empire. The next event was a torchlight procession of deputations from all over Germany, which Hitler reviewed from a balcony in the Reich Chancellery.

The main feature of the celebrations on the birthday itself was a huge show of the military capabilities of Nazi Germany intended, in part, as a warning to the western powers. In total, 40,000 to 50,000 German troops took part in the parade, which lasted about five hours and included 12 companies of the Luftwaffe, 12 companies of the Army, and 12 companies of sailors, as well as the SS.

Goose-stepping past the Hitler at the reviewing stand,
20 April 1939
Photo from LIFE magazine.

162 warplanes flew over the city of Berlin. The grandstand comprised 20,000 official guests, and the parade was watched by several hundreds of thousands of spectators. Features of the parade were large long range air defense artillery guns, emphasis on motorized artillery and development of air defense units.

Artillery passes the Hitler at the reviewing stand,
20 April 1939
Photo from LIFE magazine.

The ambassadors of the United Kingdom, France and the United States were not present at the parade, having been withdrawn after Hitler's march into Czechoslovakia. President Franklin D. Roosevelt did not congratulate Hitler on his birthday, in accordance with his practice of not sending birthday greetings to any but ruling monarchs. King George VI of the United Kingdom dispatched a message of congratulation to Hitler.

According to historian Ian Kershaw in Hitler: 1936-1945: Nemesis,

Elaborately stage-managed though the entire razzmatazz had been, there was no denying Hitler's genuine popularity – even near-deification by many – among the masses. What had been for 1933 bitterly anti-Nazi Communist and Socialist sub-cultures remained, despite terror and propaganda, still largely impervious to the Hitler adulation. Many Catholics [were also] relatively immune throughout to Nazism's appeal. ... Intellectuals might be disdainful of Hitler, old-fashioned, upper-class conservatives bemoan the vulgarity of the Nazis, and those with remaining shreds of liberal, humanitarian values feel appalled at the brutality of the regime, displayed in full during 'Crystal Night'. ... Even so, Hitler was without doubt the most popular government head in Europe. ... Hitler, a national leader arising from the lower ranks of society, had tapped a certain 'naive faith' embedded in lengthy traditions of 'heroic' leadership. Internal terror and the readiness of the western powers to hand Hitler one success after another in foreign policy had undermined the skepticism of many waverers. The result was that, although there was much fear of war, belief in the Führer was extensive.

These pictures from LIFE magazine show two of the many lavish gifts Hitler received.

Volkswagen Convertible from Ferdinand Porsche

Hand-worked castle with in-laid jewels

20 April 1945

On Hitler’s 56th birthday, all leaders of the Regime met in the New Reich Chancellery for the last time. In the afternoon, a weak and sickly Hitler left his bunker just long enough to decorate several Hitler-Jugend Boys. It was to be his last appearance outside of the bunker.

Under an increasing nervousness most of the government members hastily left Berlin still that evening. After the end of the official event and in absence of Hitler, Eva Braun continued to frolic, celebrating together with the bunker personnel.

From an "Eyewitness to History" web site came this:

Dorothea von Schwanenfluegel was a twenty-nine-year-old wife and mother living in Berlin. She and her young daughter along with friends and neighbors huddled within their apartment building as the end neared. The city was already in ruins from Allied air raids, food was scarce, the situation desperate - the only hope that the Allies would arrive before the Russians. We join Dorothea's account as the Russians begin the final push to victory:

Friday, April 20, was Hitler's fifty-sixth birthday, and the Soviets sent him a birthday present in the form of an artillery barrage right into the heart of the city, while the Western Allies joined in with a massive air raid.

The radio announced that Hitler had come out of his safe bomb-proof bunker to talk with the fourteen to sixteen year old boys who had 'volunteered' for the 'honor' to be accepted into the SS and to die for their Fuhrer in the defense of Berlin. What a cruel lie! These boys did not volunteer, but had no choice, because boys who were found hiding were hanged as traitors by the SS as a warning that, 'he who was not brave enough to fight had to die.' When trees were not available, people were strung up on lamp posts. They were hanging everywhere, military and civilian, men and women, ordinary citizens who had been executed by a small group of fanatics. It appeared that the Nazis did not want the people to survive because a lost war, by their rationale, was obviously the fault of all of us. We had not sacrificed enough and therefore, we had forfeited our right to live, as only the government was without guilt. The Volkssturm was called up again, and this time, all boys age thirteen and up, had to report as our army was reduced now to little more than children filling the ranks as soldiers.

In honor of Hitler's birthday, we received an eight-day ration allowance, plus one tiny can of vegetables, a few ounces of sugar and a half-ounce of real coffee. No one could afford to miss rations of this type and we stood in long lines at the grocery store patiently waiting to receive them. While standing there, we noticed a sad looking young boy across the street standing behind some bushes in a self-dug shallow trench. I went over to him and found a mere child in a uniform many sizes too large for him, with an anti-tank grenade lying beside him. Tears were running down his face, and he was obviously very frightened of everyone. I very softly asked him what he was doing there. He lost his distrust and told me that he had been ordered to lie in wait here, and when a Soviet tank approached he was to run under it and explode the grenade. I asked how that would work, but he didn't know. In fact, this frail child didn't even look capable of carrying such a grenade. It looked to me like a useless suicide assignment because the Soviets would shoot him on sight before he ever reached the tank.

By now, he was sobbing and muttering something, probably calling for his mother in despair, and there was nothing that I could do to help him. He was a picture of distress, created by our inhuman government. If I encouraged him to run away, he would be caught and hung by the SS, and if I gave him refuge in my home, everyone in the house would be shot by the SS. So, all we could do was to give him something to eat and drink from our rations. When I looked for him early next morning he was gone and so was the grenade. Hopefully, his mother found him and would keep him in hiding during these last days of a lost war.

Ten days after his final appearance, Hitler, at the age of 56, was dead.

19 April 1945

438^th AAA AW BN

APO 230 % Postmaster, N.Y.

19 April, 1945      1125

Germany

My dearest fiancée –

I’ll hardly have time to finish this before lunch, but it’s the first chance I’ve had this morning to write. Rumors, trips, sick call, foreigners all help pass the time away. A rumor which continues to persist here is that the war in Europe will be over in a day or two. No reasons are given – but it comes from high sources. Meanwhile quotas come in for 3 day passes – and we have so many officers out on various details, dear, that we have no one to send. Whereupon the Colonel asked me last night if I wanted to go again. I hesitated for a long time and then said ‘No’. The truck and train rides aren’t worth it from this distance. Having resisted temptation – I felt pretty strong. Then this morning – a detail had to go to Brussels on official business. Bruce Silvis was assigned and another officer could go along. Darling – I’m it. Now I know, dear, you must wonder what it’s all about, what kind of war I’m in – or better yet – am I in the war. Sometimes I wonder, too. But there it is – another European capital to see – free. We go by jeep – all the way; no train – and that’s why I accepted. We leave early a.m. – tomorrow – the 20th. It involves crossing the map of Germany and I think we’ll go by way of the Ruhr – just to see it. Darling – I may not have gotten much medicine out of this war – but you’ll have the most traveled Army medico there is. Gosh, dear – you’re bound to get tired of hearing me talk about it. Sometimes I worry about that –

And last night I received mail from you, the latest written 9 April – and it was wonderful. I also got a package from home – including cigars, soap – and yes, sweetheart, more face cloths. I can now wash myself from six different directions – using a separate face cloth for each direction.

I was awfully glad to read about your expected trip to N.Y., darling. I hope it went off as planned and I think it was swell of Phil and Florence to ask you along. Wish I could have made it a foursome.

1235

I’ve just got back from lunch dear – and I’ll try to finish this off in one sitting now. You know, dear, you surprise me sometimes when you tell me of this letter or that and describe the mood I was in when I wrote it. If you tell me enough of the letter so that I can remember it – I find you very often hit the nail on the head – although believe me, darling, I rarely attempt to write a down-in-the-mouth letter – as such. I bet I’ll never be able to hide a thing from you – which is just as well, because I’ll never want to – except to surprise you or something.

Yes – in this theater – there are only a few outfits that have had much more combat and overseas time than this one. It’s different in the Pacific though, I understand, – where – if they see someone with only 3 six-month stripes on his arm, they run over to him and ask him how things are in the States. I don’t dare speculate on where we, or I will go – when this folds over here. First – I’ll sit myself down and give a little prayer of thanks that I was able to see this one through; then – it’s what the cards have in store. I’ve seen the Army act in strange ways from time to time. I honestly believe we all ought to get a crack at home first, anyway, with my own chances of being rotated to a hospital somewhere – not too bad at all. And that point system, sweetheart, as always – does not apply to officers. If it did – I should get credit for the overseas, the combat time, and to-date – 3 battle stars – with at least one more due this battalion. Now you’ve really been given all the answers, dear – and yes, I know, you’re just where you were when you started. But that’s the way it is with everybody – at this particular point. We’ll wait it out a bit more – but whatever it is – I’m coming home to marry you, sweetheart and to have you entirely for my own – just as I’ve dreamed about for all these months. That must become reality, because I love you and want you like nothing else before.

And that’s all for now, darling. I’ve got to run over to the next town and take care of a matter. Be well, dear, sending love to the folks – and remember, I am and will be

Yours forever –

Greg

The following is the letter with orders for Greg to go to Brussels:

R E S T R I C T E D

HEADQUARTERS
109TH ANTIAIRCRAFT ARTILLERY GROUP
APO 307, United States Army

300.4                                                                                           19 April 1945

SUBJECT:      Letter Orders No. 15.

TO:                 Individuals concerned.

            1.   The fol pers will proceed by govt T o/a 20 Apr 45 from present orgn and sta to Exposition Building, Brussels, Belgium for the purpose of conducting official business and will ret to proper sta o/a 27 Apr 45:

                   CAPT GREG                                    Hq 438th AAA AW BN (M)
                   CAPT BRUCE V SILVIS      CAC  Hq 438th AAA AW Bn (M)
                   Tec 5 Gerald A Salter                       Hq Btry 438th AAA AW Bn (M)
                   Pfc Gerald J Hentges                        Hq Btry 438th AAA AW Bn (M)

               2.   No reimbursement will be made for qrs or rat.  Indiv may draw emerg rat from unit kitchen.

               3.    Under auth of Cir No. 113, Hq European T of Opns, US Army, dtd 22 Nov 44 and VOCG VII Corps 19 Apr 45.

                               BY ORDER OF COLONEL WATERS:

                                                                               MAX W. BROWER
                                                                          Major, 109th AAA Group
                                                                                      Adjutant
DISTRIBUTION:   "D"

* TIDBIT *

about The Surrender of Leipzig

Generalmajor der Polizei Wilhelm von Grolman

From "U.S. Army in WWII European Theater of Operations: The Last Offensive" by Charles B. MacDonald for the Department of the Army's Office of the Chief of Military History, published in 1973 in Washington, D.C., page 364, comes this excerpt:

Within Leipzig, as American troops closed in, a contest of will had developed between the head of the city's 3,400-man police force, Generalmajor der Polizei Wilhelm von Grolman, and the "combat commander" of the city, Col. Hans von Poncet. Poncet expected the Hitler Youth, Volkssturm, odds and ends of regular troops, and the police to wage a fight to the death. To General von Grolman, that plan was folly, assuring nothing but destruction of the city. Imploring Colonel von Poncet not to fight, Grolman asked particularly that he avoid demolishing the bridges over the Weisse Elster River in order to save water, gas, and electric lines running under the bridges to western sectors of the city. When Poncet insisted on fighting, Grolman determined to maintain control of the police himself and withhold them from the struggle.

Hoping to keep casualties to a minimum in view of the impending end of the war, both the 2nd and 69th Divisions made measured advances toward Leipzig. Only on the 18th did the two divisions break into the city. In the south and southeast, the 69th Division found resistance at times determined, particularly around the city hall and Napoleon Platz, the site of a monument (Battle of the Nations Memorial – Voelkerschlachtsdenkmal) commemorating Napoleon's defeat in 1813 in the Battle of Leipzig. Approaching from the west, men of the 2nd Division encountered their first real fight at the bridges over the Weisse Elster, which were defended by Volkssturm and a sprinkling of regulars who were behind overturned trolley cars filled with stones. Whether on order of Poncet, Grolman, or otherwise, the bridges stood.

Battle of the Nations Memorial
Germany's largest monument

As men of the 2nd Division settled down for the night on the east bank of the Weisse Elster, a police major approached with word that General von Grolman wanted to surrender the city. A rifle company commander accompanied him to police headquarters, but there discovered that Grolman, still begging Poncet in vain by telephone to surrender, controlled only the police.

Although General von Grolman returned with the U.S. officer to American lines to confer further with higher commanders, the negotiations had no effect on Colonel von Poncet and the Germans at Napoleon Platz. As resistance in the city hall collapsed early on the 19th (inside, the mayor, his deputy, and their families were suicides), Colonel von Poncet and about 150 men holed up in a sturdy stone base of the Battle of the Nations monument. Through much of 19 April 1945, tanks, tank destroyers, and artillery employing direct fire pounded Poncet's position. Because the Germans held seventeen American prisoners, the 69th Division commander, General Reinhardt, declined to use flame throwers.

General Emil Reinhardt

In midafternoon, a German-born American captain went under a white flag to the monument where for nine hours he argued to convince Poncet to surrender. At long last, past midnight, Poncet finally agreed.

By this time a special control force formed from artillery battalions of the V Corps already was arriving to administer Leipzig, and first contingents of the 2d and 69th Divisions were on their way to join the corps armor at the Mulde River. In keeping with General Eisenhower's decision not to go to Berlin, the pending assignment for these troops was to await contact with the Russians.

18 April 1945

438^th AAA AW BN

APO 230 % Postmaster, N.Y.

18 April, 1945      0915

Germany

Wilma, darling –

Another season must really be upon us. I heard by short wave this morning – the results of the ball games yesterday – and our Braves and Red Sox both lost. The world can’t be changing very much after all, if you can turn the radio on and still get the same names, the same results. I think I’ll find Boston just about the way I left it.

And how about you? Well – you’ll be older (worried?), more mature, more delicious, more mine – than when I left, but that kind of change is just what I’m looking for, so watch out, honey, here I come!

Well yesterday I acted more along the lines of Military Government than anything else. It’s interesting, but I think I’d get tired of it very soon. These people have been so militarized in the past that now that they know they’re conquered – they don’t dare make a move without asking permission. But it’s easy to see – that regardless of what we do – they expected much worse, and they can’t seem to understand that we don’t intend to take their food and livestock. They can’t believe we are a self-existing Army.

In the p.m. it became quite warm here and I felt very much like having a shower. We haven’t been able to get G-I showers since we left the Rhineland. Well – I started to ask around and finally found some in a Girl’s school – now a German army hospital – in the next town. So 5 of us walked in, told the Kommandant what we wanted, were escorted to the shower room etc. no questions asked.

I was glad to read that you had joined my folks for the Seder. I know it couldn’t have been interesting, away from home – but I know it meant a lot to the folks having you along. And by the way, how is Grammy Bernstein, anyway? You haven’t mentioned her very recently. My own Passover this year was nil. We were on the move practically all of the time. There were Corps services – but our Bn. just never got near enough at that time.

I know how you must become somewhat fed up with your work at times, dear – because you’ve mentioned it a few times now. But I think it has given you an experience well worth having, and more than that – it has managed to give you a full day. Remember when you were writing me about your job in the department store? Then you were going to work for Stuarts, or somebody. I didn’t like that – but you never did, anyway. I don’t remember how you became interested in R.C. – but I think that turned out to be as good a field as any.

Say – what’s this about Palo Alto, Alameda – and all points West? Do you know, darling, that Alameda is across the bay from San Francisco, and that people live there – despite the distance from Frisco – because there’s less fog there? As a matter of fact, though – it is nice. I’ve got friends there – a fellow I grew up with. He went out there to do engineering – and he’s never come back. He got married, has 2 or 3 kids and is quite happy. I haven’t heard from him in over a year – but he was still out of the Army then.

What’s the difference though, dear? I love you now – and I can love you anywhere in the world – and certainly anywhere in the U.S. What I want to do first of all is to get home and marry you! Understand? All right – dear – just wanted to make sure.

I’m going back to the aid station now, darling. Didn’t get any mail last night, either – but expect some today. Meanwhile, love to the folks – and remember I’m

Always yours alone

Greg

* TIDBIT *

about Ernie Pyle


Ernie Pyle in Italy, March 1944

On this day in 1945, Pulitzer Prize-winning war correspondent Ernie Pyle was killed by Japanese machine-gun fire on the island of Ie Shima off the coast of Okinawa.

Ernie Pyle was born on 3 August 1900 and grew up on a farm just outside of Dana, Indiana. As a teenager, Pyle hated farming and shortly after graduating from high school, he enlisted in the Naval Reserve. He enrolled in Indiana University in 1919 but, just before finishing his degree, the LaPorte Herald hired him as a reporter. He then joined the staff of the Washington, D.C. Daily News, part of the Scripps-Howard newspaper chain. In 1925, Pyle married Minnesota native Geraldine (Jerry) Siebolds. Jerry suffered from intermittent bouts of mental illness and alcoholism. Pyle described her as "desperate within herself since the day she was born". Quitting their jobs, the Pyles traveled 9,000 miles in ten weeks, and by 1927 they had crossed the country 35 times. After years of wandering, they unanimously selected their town of choice – Albuquerque – in which to build a home.

Originally a reporter, copy editor, and aviation editor, in 1932 he began to write a daily column on trips to various sections of the country as a roving reporter for the Scripps-Howard newspaper chain. Eventually syndicated to some 200 U.S. newspapers, Pyle's column, which related the lives and hopes of typical citizens, captured America's affection. In 1942, after the United States entered World War II, Pyle went overseas as a war correspondent, reporting from London during the Blitz. After the U.S. entered the war, Pyle covered the Allied landings in North Africa in 1942, then the conquest of Sicily in 1943, then the long, bloody campaign up the Italian peninsula.

On 7 June 1944, went ashore at Normandy the day after Allied forces landed. Pyle, who always wrote about the experiences of enlisted men rather than the battles they participated in, described the D-Day scene:

It was a lovely day for strolling along the seashore. Men were sleeping on the sand, some of them sleeping forever. Men were floating in the water, but they didn't know they were in the water, for they were dead.

Pyle then covered the aftermath of D-Day in 1944 and the Allied drive across France. He eschewed covering the war from headquarters in favor of reporting it from the front lines with the ordinary dogfaces who came to respect and love him. Today, he would be called “embedded.” He won a Pulitzer Prize for reporting in 1944. Also that year, he wrote a column urging that soldiers in combat get "fight pay" just as airmen were paid "flight pay." Congress passed a law authorizing $10 a month extra pay for combat infantrymen. The legislation was called "The Ernie Pyle bill." Pyle burned out that September and came home, explaining to his devoted readers

'I've had it,' as they say in the Army... My spirit is wobbly and my mind is confused. The hurt has finally become too great. All of a sudden it seemed to me that if I heard one more shot or saw one more dead man, I would go off my nut. And if I had to write one more column, I'd collapse. So I'm on my way.

Yet, after a few months of recuperation at his home in Albuquerque, he went off to war again, this time to the Pacific to cover what was thought would be a long, bloody offensive to invade and conquer Japan.

In 1945, while covering the battle for Okinawa, he decided to accompany the troops during the invasion of the small nearby island of Ie Shima. He was traveling in a jeep with Lieutenant Colonel Joseph B. Coolidge (commanding officer of the 305th Infantry Regiment, 77th Infantry Division) and three other men. The road, which ran parallel to the beach two or three hundred yards inland, had been cleared of mines, and hundreds of vehicles had driven over it. As the vehicle reached a road junction, an enemy machine gun located on a coral ridge about a third of a mile away began firing at them. The men stopped their vehicle and jumped into a ditch. Pyle and Coolidge raised their heads to look around for the others; when they spotted them, Pyle smiled and asked Coolidge "Are you all right?" Those were his last words. The machine gun began shooting again, and Pyle was struck in the left temple. The soldiers of the 77th Infantry Division made a wooden coffin for him and buried him wearing his helmet. After his death, President Harry S. Truman spoke of how Pyle "told the story of the American fighting man as the American fighting men wanted it told."

Pyle was later reburied at the Army cemetery on Okinawa and finally moved to the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Punchbowl Crater located in Honolulu. A wooden cross on Ie Shima was replaced by a permanent stone monument. Its inscription reads: "At this spot the 77th Infantry Division lost a buddy Ernie Pyle 18 April 1945."

Ernie Pyle didn’t measure his self-worth by how much he was paid, nor by the number of opportunities for publicity. He did, however, care about his readership. By the time of his death, Ernie’s columns appeared in 400 daily and 300 weekly newspapers.

Omar Bradley, Dwight Eisenhower and Ernie Pyle
in France, 1944

From an article posted by the "Commercial Appeal, Memphis Tennessee" blog site on 4 December 2011 came this "classic of wartime writing", a story written by Ernie Pyle.

"The Death of Captain Waskow."
By Ernie Pyle

Scripps Howard Newspapers

In this war I have known a lot of officers who were loved and respected by the soldiers under them. But never have I crossed the trail of any man as beloved as Capt. Henry T. Waskow of Belton, Texas.

Capt. Waskow was a company commander in the 36th Division. He had led his company since long before it left the States. He was very young, only in his middle twenties, but he carried in him a sincerity and gentleness that made people want to be guided by him.

"After my own father, he came next," a sergeant told me.

"He always looked after us," a soldier said. "He'd go to bat for us every time."

"I've never knowed him to do anything unfair," another one said.

I was at the foot of the mule trail the night they brought Capt. Waskow's body down. The moon was nearly full at the time, and you could see far up the trail, and even part way across the valley below. Soldiers made shadows in the moonlight as they walked.

Dead men had been coming down the mountain all evening, lashed onto the backs of mules. They came lying belly-down across the wooden pack-saddles, their heads hanging down on the left side of the mule, their stiffened legs sticking out awkwardly from the other side, bobbing up and down as the mule walked.

The Italian mule-skinners were afraid to walk beside dead men, so Americans had to lead the mules down that night. Even the Americans were reluctant to unlash and lift off the bodies at the bottom, so an officer had to do it himself, and ask others to help.

The first one came early in the morning. They slid him down from the mule and stood him on his feet for a moment, while they got a new grip. In the half light he might have been merely a sick man standing there, leaning on the others. Then they laid him on the ground in the shadow of the low stone wall alongside the road.

I don't know who that first one was. You feel small in the presence of dead men, and ashamed at being alive, and you don't ask silly questions.

We left him there beside the road, that first one, and we all went back into the cowshed and sat on water cans or lay on the straw, waiting for the next batch of mules.

Somebody said the dead soldier had been dead for four days, and then nobody said anything more about it. We talked soldier talk for an hour or more. The dead man lay all alone outside in the shadow of the low stone wall.

Then a soldier came into the cowshed and said there were some more bodies outside. We went out into the road. Four mules stood there, in the moonlight, in the road where the trail came down off the mountain. The soldiers who led them stood there waiting. "This one is Captain Waskow," one of them said quietly.

Two men unlashed his body from the mule and lifted it off and laid it in the shadow beside the low stone wall. Other men took the other bodies off. Finally there were five lying end to end in a long row, alongside the road. You don't cover up dead men in the combat zone. They just lie there in the shadows until somebody else comes after them.

The unburdened mules moved off to their olive orchard. The men in the road seemed reluctant to leave. They stood around, and gradually one by one I could sense them moving close to Capt. Waskow's body. Not so much to look, I think, as to say something in finality to him, and to themselves. I stood close by and I could hear.

One soldier came and looked down, and he said out loud, "God damn it." That's all he said, and then he walked away. Another one came. He said, "God damn it to hell anyway." He looked down for a few last moments, and then he turned and left.

Another man came; I think he was an officer. It was hard to tell officers from men in the half light, for all were bearded and grimy dirty. The man looked down into the dead captain's face, and then he spoke directly to him, as though he were alive. He said: "I'm sorry, old man."

Then a soldier came and stood beside the officer, and bent over, and he too spoke to his dead captain, not in a whisper but awfully tenderly, and he said:

"I sure am sorry, sir."

Then the first man squatted down, and he reached down and took the dead hand, and he sat there for a full five minutes, holding the dead hand in his own and looking intently into the dead face, and he never uttered a sound all the time he sat there.

And finally he put the hand down, and then reached up and gently straightened the points of the captain's shirt collar, and then he sort of rearranged the tattered edges of his uniform around the wound. And then he got up and walked away down the road in the moonlight, all alone.

After that the rest of us went back into the cowshed, leaving the five dead men lying in a line, end to end, in the shadow of the low stone wall. We lay down on the straw in the cowshed, and pretty soon we were all asleep.

17 April 1945

438^th AAA AW BN

APO 230 % Postmaster, N.Y.

17 April, 1945      0905

Germany

Dearest sweetheart –

Well this town is part of the outskirts of a city of about 50,000. Our C.P. aid station etc are in a grammar school whose walls are plastered with mottos, sayings – all with Adolph Hitler’s name on the bottom. This is in fact the real core of Nazi Germany and they make no bones about it here – as they did in the Rhineland – where they all said they didn’t want Hitler. However – we just move in – and they have little choice in the matter. Officer quarters are in a small house, this time – but it’s comfortable and has electricity and running water.

Helfta - Germany - Typical Billboard - April 1945


Helfta - Same billboard  - in process of having swastikas
effaced. Done by Germans on our orders. People are
reading Military Government notices - April 1945

And last night, although there was no mail – per se – there were packages and what do you think – there was a package for me – from you. You had told me about it, dear, but it had completely slipped my mind – and I was truly surprised. Now those 3 face cloths really developed in the course of traveling – for I found anchovies, cookies, salmon, tuna fish etc. I don’t know how you found out, sweetheart, but you hit it right on the head. That’s the sort of food we don’t get in the Army and which every now and then we miss. Thanks, darling, for the trouble.

We didn’t get settled until late evening and then we listened to the radio awhile and went to bed. When we have electricity, radios are no problem – for by now – there’s pretty nearly one radio for every man in Headquarters – little ones, large ones, cabinet style – all sorts – and don’t ask me where we got them.

1015

Hello again, dear. I was called away, It seems there are about 300 Russian slave laborers in town and they’re running wild with pistols, shooting up and beating up some Germans, and “stealing” their bread. I was called to speak to the committee of Germans. I told them – we would take the pistols away from the Russians. Other than that we would do nothing. They brought the Russians here and it was their problem. Of course they can’t do a damn thing about it – but as far as I’m concerned – let the Russians get some means of revenge.

Helfta, Germany - Jeep full of Russians rounded up to
stop looting and plundering. We didn't do anything to them.
April 1945

The whole thing is very interesting – and in each town – we run into something else. There are few rules set down and no books written on the subject. More often – we’re making our own rules – and it will be interesting some day to look back at it all and see what we’ve accomplished, good or bad.

Helfta - Near Eisleben - Liberated Poles and Russians
still going out to work in the field
April 1945

I laughed in reference to your question about pretty China. Why, darling, that would be looting! (And don’t laugh!) Seriously – you could send a piece home – here or there, but anything more than that would not go. Secondly, I haven’t seen any really good china around. Most of it must be hidden away.

Your desires about traveling in the future – really interested me. Of course – it will probably be some time before I’ll be in a position to travel, anyway. Europe – after this war – will not be worth seeing, although there’s something about London and Paris that even New York can’t touch. It’s difficult to describe. I guess all you can say is that it’s European. Your list of choices isn’t bad – but Army men who have been there tell you to stay out of Panama and Nicaragua, because there’s nothing to see and the climate is terrible. I do like the sound of Nassau, Mexico, California and even Honolulu – although that’s getting pretty far away for a doctor. I guess we’ll have time enough to talk it over, dear – and it will be fun.

Say, sweetheart, you really surprised me when you wrote of $800 saved. That’s damned good for the comparatively short time – but it’s not fair to tell me it’s for a purpose and let it go at that. You didn’t even let it go at that – you taunted me! How about at least a teensy-weensy hint? And then you matter-of-factly say you hope I get home soon because there are so many things you want to discuss with me. Well – since you put it that way, dear, I’ll go right over to the Colonel and ask him if I can go home – O.K.? And I’m not hard to feed. How could I be after a few years of Army food? My mother was correct about milk, apples and onions – but how in the world did she know about the kisses? Gosh – mothers are smart! And Kosher house? No; cleanliness is Kosher enough for me, dear. Hell – this discussion has made me feel domestic – I feel like going right into the pantry and doing the dishes. In that case – this would be a good place to stop. I can hardly wait for the day when I can actually see you and tell you I love you, darling. And the day when we become married – well – that’s a Utopia beyond description. Life will be a wonderful thing when this war’s over. Perhaps soon, darling.

Have to go now, dear. Send my love to the folks – and how is Mother B doing?

All my sincerest love, sweetheart –

Greg

P.S. And this makes 30 – and that’s all for this group.

L.G.

* TIDBIT *

about Truman to the Troops
and Churchill in Commons

PRESIDENT TRUMAN'S BROADCAST TO THE ARMED FORCES
OF THE UNITED STATES UPON HIS ASSUMPTION OF OFFICE

17 April 1945

TO THE ARMED FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES THROUGHOUT THE WORLD:

After the tragic news of the death of our late Commander in Chief it was my duty to speak promptly to the Congress and the armed forces of the United States. Yesterday, I addressed the Congress. Now I speak to you. I am especially anxious to talk to you, for I know that all of you felt a tremendous shock, as we did at home, when our Commander in Chief fell.

All of us have lost a great leader, a far-sighted statesman and a real friend of democracy. We have lost a hard-hitting chief and an old friend of the services. Our hearts are heavy. However, the cause which claimed Roosevelt, also claims us. He never faltered - nor will we!

I have done, as you do in the field, when the Commander in Chief falls. My duties and responsibilities are clear. I have assumed them. These duties will be carried on in keeping with our American tradition. As a veteran of the first World War, I have seen death on the battlefield. When I fought in France with the Thirty-fifth Division, I saw good officers and men fall, and be replaced. I know that this is also true of the officers and men of the other services, the Navy, the Marine Corps, the Coast Guard and the Merchant Marine. I know the strain, the mud, the misery, the utter weariness of the soldier in the field. And I know too his courage, his stamina, his faith in his comrades, his country and himself.

We are depending upon each and every one of you. Yesterday I said to the Congress and I repeat it now:

Our debt to the heroic men and valiant women in the service of our country can never be repaid. They have earned our undying gratitude. America will never forget their sacrifices. Because of these sacrifices, the dawn of justice and freedom throughout the world slowly casts its gleam across the horizon.

At this decisive hour in history it is very difficult to express my feeling. Words will not convey what is in my heart. Yet, I recall the words of Lincoln, a man who had enough eloquence to speak for all America. To indicate my sentiments, and to describe my hope for the future, may I quote the immortal words of that great Commander in Chief:

With malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up our nation's wounds; to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan-to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves, and with all nations.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

PRIME MINISTER CHURCHILL'S EULOGY IN COMMONS
FOR THE LATE PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT

17 April 1945
Parliamentary Debates

I beg to move:

That an humble Address be presented to His Majesty to convey to His Majesty the deep sorrow with which this House has learned of the death of the President of the United States of America and to pray His Majesty that in communicating his own sentiments of grief to the United States Government, he will also be graciously pleased to express on the part of this House their sense of the loss which the British Commonwealth and Empire and the cause of the Allied Nations have sustained, and their profound sympathy with Mrs. Roosevelt and the late President's family and with the Government and people of the United States of America.

My friendship with the great man to whose work and fame we pay our tribute to-day began and ripened during this war. I had met him, but only for a few minutes, after the close of the last war and as soon as I went to the Admiralty in September, 1939, he telegraphed, inviting me to correspond with him direct on naval or other matters if at any time I felt inclined. Having obtained the permission of the Prime Minister, I did so. Knowing President Roosevelt's keen interest in sea warfare, I furnished him with a stream of information about our naval affairs and about the various actions, including especially the action of the Plate River, which lighted the first gloomy winter of the war.

When I became Prime Minister, and the war broke out in all its hideous fury, when our own life and survival hung in the balance, I was already in a position to telegraph to the President on terms of an association which had become most intimate and, to me, most agreeable. This continued through all the ups and downs of the world struggle until Thursday last, when I received my last messages from him. These messages showed no falling off in his accustomed clear vision and vigour upon perplexing and complicated matters. I may mention that this correspondence which, of course, was greatly increased after the United States entry into the war, comprises, to and fro between us, over 1,700 messages. Many of these were lengthy messages and the majority dealt with those more difficult points which come to be discussed upon the level of heads of Governments only after official solutions had not been reached at other stages. To this correspondence there must be added our nine meetings at Argentia, three in Washington, at Casablanca, at Teheran, two at Quebec and, last of all, at Yalta, comprising in all about 120 days of close personal contact, during a great part of which I stayed with him at the White House or at his home at Hyde Park or in his retreat in the Blue Mountains, which he called Shangri-La.

I conceived an admiration for him as a statesman, a man of affairs, and a war leader. I felt the utmost confidence in his upright, inspiring character and outlook and a personal regard - affection I must say - for him beyond my power to express today. His love of his own country, his respect for its constitution, his power of gauging the tides and currents of its mobile public opinion, were always evident, but, added to these, were the beatings of that generous heart which was always stirred to anger and to action by spectacles of aggression and oppression by the strong against the weak. It is, indeed, a loss, a bitter loss to humanity that those heart-beats are stilled for ever. President Roosevelt's physical affliction lay heavily upon him. It was a marvel that he bore up against it through all the many years of tumult-and storm. Not one man in ten millions, stricken and crippled as he was, would have attempted to plunge into a life of physical and mental exertion and of hard, ceaseless political controversy. Not one in ten millions would have tried, not one in a generation would have succeeded, not only in entering this sphere, not only in acting vehemently in it, but in becoming indisputable master of the scene. In this extraordinary effort of the spirit over the flesh, the will-power over physical infirmity, he was inspired and sustained by that noble woman his devoted wife, whose high ideals marched with his own, and to whom the deep and respectful sympathy of the House of Commons flows out today in all fullness. There is no doubt that the President foresaw the great dangers closing in upon the pre-war world with far more prescience than most well-informed people on either side of the Atlantic, and that he urged forward with all his power such precautionary military preparations as peace-time opinion in the United States could be brought to accept. There never was a moment's doubt, as the quarrel opened, upon which side his sympathies lay.

The fall of France, and what seemed to most people outside this Island, the impending destruction of Great Britain, were to him an agony, although he never lost faith in us. They were an agony to him not only on account of Europe, but because of the serious perils to which the United States herself would have been exposed had we been overwhelmed or the survivors cast down under the German yoke. The bearing of the British nation at that time of stress, when we were all alone, filled him and vast numbers of his countrymen with the warmest sentiments towards our people. He and they felt the blitz of the stern winter of 1940~1, when Hitler set himself to rub out the cities of our country, as much as any of us did, and perhaps more indeed, for imagination is often more torturing than reality. There is no doubt that the bearing of the British and, above all, of the Londoners kindled fires in American bosoms far harder to quench than the conflagrations from which we were suffering. There was also at that time, in spite of General Wavell's victories - all the more, indeed, because of the reinforcements which were sent from this country to him - the apprehension widespread in the United States that we should be invaded by Germany after the fullest preparation in the spring of 1941. It was in February that the President sent to England the late Mr. Wendell Willkie, who, although a political rival and an opposing candidate, felt as he did on many important points. Mr. Willkie brought a letter from Mr. Roosevelt, which the President had written in his own hand, and this letter contained the famous lines of Longfellow:

. . . Sail on, O ship of State!
Sail on O Union, strong and great!
Humanity with all its fears,
With all the hopes of future years,
Is hanging breathless on thy fate!"

At about that same time he devised the extraordinary measure of assistance called Lend-Lease, which will stand forth as the most unselfish and unsordid financial act of any country in all history. The effect of this was greatly to increase British fighting power and for all the purposes of the war effort to make us, as it were, a much more numerous community. In that autumn I met the President for the first time during the war at Argentia in Newfoundland and together we drew up the Declaration which has since been called the Atlantic Charter and which will, I trust, long remain a guide for both our peoples and for other peoples of the world.

All this time, in deep and dark and deadly secrecy, the Japanese were preparing their act of treachery and greed. When next we met in Washington Japan, Germany and Italy had declared war upon the United States and both our countries were in arms, shoulder to shoulder. Since then we have advanced over the land and over the sea through many difficulties and disappointments, but always with a broadening measure of success. I need not dwell upon the series of great operations which have taken place in the Western Hemisphere, to say nothing of that other immense war proceeding at the other side of the world. Nor need I speak of the plans which we made with our great Ally, Russia, at Teheran, for these have now been carried out for all the world to see.

But at Yalta I noticed that the President was ailing. His captivating smile, his gay and charming manner, had not deserted him but his face had a transparency, an air of purification, and often there was a faraway look in his eyes. When I took my leave of him in Alexandria harbour I must confess that I had an indefinable sense of fear that his health and his strength were on the ebb. But nothing altered his inflexible sense of duty. To the end he faced his innumerable tasks unflinching. One of the tasks of the President is to sign maybe a hundred or two hundred State papers with his own hand every day, commissions and so forth. All this he continued to carry out with the utmost strictness. When death came suddenly upon him "he had finished his mail." That portion of his day's work was done. As the saying goes, he died in harness and we may well say in battle harness, like his soldiers, sailors and airmen, who side by side with ours, are carrying on their task to the end all over the world. What an enviable death was his. He had brought his country through the worst of its perils and the heaviest of its toils. Victory had cast its sure and steady beam upon him. He had broadened and stabilized in the days of peace the foundations of American life and union.

In war he had raised the strength, might and glory of the great Republic to a height never attained by any nation in history. With her left hand she was leading the advance of the conquering Allied Armies into the heart of Germany and with her right, on the other side of the globe, she was irresistibly and swiftly breaking up the power of Japan. And all the time ships, munitions, supplies, and food of every kind were aiding on a gigantic scale her Allies, great and small, in the course of the long struggle.

But all this was no more than worldly power and grandeur, had it not been that the causes of human freedom and of social justice to which so much of his life had been given, added a luster to all this power and pomp and warlike might, a luster which will long be discernible among men. He has left behind him a band of resolute and able men handling the numerous interrelated parts of the vast American war machine. He has left a successor who comes forward with firm step and sure conviction to carry on the task to its appointed end. For us it remains only to say that in Franklin Roosevelt there died the greatest American friend we have ever known and the greatest champion of freedom who has ever brought help and comfort from the new world to the old.

Question put, and agreed to, nemine contradicente.

Resolved:

That an humble Address be presented to His Majesty to convey to His Majesty the deep sorrow with which this House has learned of the death of the President of the United States of America and to pray His Majesty that in communicating his own sentiments of grief to the United States Government, he will also be graciously pleased to express on the part of this House their sense of the loss which the British Commonwealth and Empire and the cause of the Allied Nations have sustained, and their profound sympathy with Mrs. Roosevelt and the late President's family and with the Government and people of the United States of America.

To be presented by Privy Councillors or Members of His Majesty's Household.

16 April 1945

V-MAIL

438^th AAA AW BN

APO 230 % Postmaster, N.Y.

16 April, 1945      0925

Germany

Hello Sweetheart –

Here I am again – or should I say – here I go again. You’re probably wondering how I can go so often and I can tell you, dear, that we can’t go much faster without hitting Target – Berlin. We’re really close now – and boy how these Germans hate us. They just never dreamed we’d ever get this far – and the way our trucks roll by in the thousands – makes their eyes pop. And our Army has toughened up, too, since we’ve seen with our own eyes – the atrocities these people were capable of.

Got two swell letters from you, darling, of 31 March and 2 April. Really loved both of them. Also – one from Verna. Honestly – sweetheart – have to stop now. I’m tired and dirty and want to wash up. I love you, sweetheart – and soon maybe I’ll be able to show you how much.

All my deepest love

Greg

Route of the Question Mark


[CLICK TO ENLARGE]

(A) Nordhausen to (B) Helfta, Germany (40 miles)
12 April to 16 April 1945

April 16... Helfta. The large school-house where we lived. The enclosure with 53,000 German prisoners at the other end of town. The baseball games on the fine diamond. The memorial service for the President. Lieutenant Colonel [John J.] LANE was transferred to Group Hq here and Lieutenant Colonel [William A.] McWILLIAMS took over as new CO.

German PWs - Show down inspection
for removal of weapons, knives, etc.
After this - Admitted to cage
Helfta - April 1945


German PWs. This enclosure had 30,000 in it.
Officers in the foreground
Helfta - April 1945

* TIDBIT *

about the Helfta POW Enclosure

The following excerpt comes from Lieutenant Colonel, USA (Retired) John B. Wong's book, "Battle Bridges, Combat River Crossings, WWII", published by Wong "on demand in cooperation with Trafford Publishing" and printed in Victoria, Canada in 2004. Wong served as commanding officer of Company C, 238th Engineer Combat Battalion during WWII and was in Helfta just after Greg was there.

The German POW count in the compound at Helfta varied from 40,000 to 60,000 persons, depending on the day of the headcount. A constant influx and outflow of POWs existed. They came and they went. They stood, forty to a truckload. Daily truck traffic included several dozen vehicles loaded with captured German rations. These rations consisted of a canned concoction that might have been a mixture of oat cereal, very little meat, and other ersatz materials. Included was a dark biscuit-like "iron" bread. Drinking water was brought from U.S. Army engineer sources.

The most prized possession of each individual POW was a container of some kind. A can, a pot, a pan, or a mess kit were items that were fought over vigorously. It was the cause of most disciplinary actions meted out by the POW officers, one of them a Major General of the Luftwaffe. The General was sent to the rear immediately after he was identified.

Fifteen were female POW personnel. Fourteen of them were uniformed nurses; one a Woman Auxiliary. I placed them in four pyramidal tents outside the POW compound near the Company CP. These women were placed on parole and accorded limited privileges. GI guards were posted around this tented area.

The POW compound was about one thousand yards in length and about five hundred yards in width. The rear of the enclosure was an enormous coal mining waste slate heap. Its vertical slope was as high as a twenty story building. These waste slag heaps were so large that they were shown on out 1/10,000 scale maps as prominent physical features equal to mountain terrain features. The two sides and front consisted of a fence constructed of three or more rolls of concertina barbed wire and some salvaged chain link fencing.  .30 caliber machine gun posts were placed at each corner covering the fence.  .50 caliber machine guns placed farther out across the roadway backed the .30s. Only one access was provided for the entire compound.

No US personnel were allowed inside the POW enclosure. This was an inflexible rule strictly adhered to by the guards. POW discipline was enforce by the POW officers.

The nearest row of civilian dwelling was across a narrow road fronting the eastern side of the camp. Our troops were quartered in these houses. The small village of Helfta sprawled to the southeast of the installation. A mental picture of a football stadium filled with people will serve to give an idea of the numbers of POW. These numbers could populated a fair sized town. The space was ample for the POWs. Feeding this population was not difficult with the use of captured food stocks. No shelter was provided. It was fortunate tht the weather was mild but drizzly.

Sanitation, especially the disposal of human wastes, was the most critical problem to be solved. Slit trenching was the only solution. The slit trenches that the POWs dug were probably the longest in the world. The first trench was excavated parallel to the west perimeter fence some eighteen inches wide and three feet deep the entire width of the compound. A new trench was excavated each day parallel to the one currently in use. The earth from the new trench was thrown into the old one as cover. The ditches were excavated with typical German pride and precision. This trenching was the POWs only physical activity. As the days passed a portion of the compound resembled a newly plowed pasture. During the life of the camp, miles and miles of slit trenches were excavated and covered over with soil. In spite of the extraordinary length of the trenches, the POWs had to wait impatiently for their turn on rare occasions. Fortunately no outbreak of disease of any kind occurred.

Nighttime required an increased vigilance from our GI guards. As dusk approached, following their evening meals, the POWs became restless. It was if the psyches of the individual POWs convalesced into one single entity. As with one voice, the POWs sang Wagnerian and other haunting Germanic songs. This music had a definite effect on the GIs on guard duty. Hearing this sad singing would cause our hackles to rise. The hair on our heads bristled, standing on end. It was chilling to hear these thousands of sad voices reverberating off the pitch black slag heap. As darkness fell the singing men would congregate in groups to continue with their separate tunes.

Following the singing, a handful of POWs, overcome with feeling, would attempt to escape by climbing the barbed wire. In most cases they headed in the direction of the POW nurses' tents. Our men had no choice but to open up on the would be escaping prisoners with the .30 caliber machine guns. Only a couple hundred, out of the thousands of men, attempting a pointless breakout would overrun our small guard force. During the first week an attempt to escape would be made each night by two or more POWs. The first night five tried to escape. Four were killed and one was wounded. The dead prisoners were left draped over the barbed wire concertinas, where they had been shot, as an object lesson to those remaining inside. Only later during the day were the bodies removed by Graves Registration for burial. I had conversations with the ranking German Colonel reminding him that the was would soon be over; that it was pointless to attempt to escape as the Russians were so very near. Where could they run?

15 April, 1945

438^th AAA AW BN

APO 230 % Postmaster, N.Y.

15 April, 1945 0925

Germany

Wilma, darling –

It’s another Sunday morning away from you – and I really feel cheated on Sundays because that’s when I could spend most of my time with you. But we’ll catch up by concentration – right?

Now half of this month is gone and the war still goes on. I still maintain it will fold on or about 15 June. Rumors – in the last 24 hours – have been a dime-a-dozen and they include stories about what outfits will be broken up into Military Government units, which will go to the Pacific and by what route, etc. The very hottest one was that this Corps was seeking billets in Paris, preparatory to what – no one knew. Whatever happens to this outfit if it is broken up, I still remain a medical officer and the Army will have to give me some sort of job. By all rights – I’m about ready for transfer to a hospital. I’ve had the necessary time with a front line outfit to warrant it; the only reason holding it back is my age. They’re transferring the doctors who are older than I – which is as it should be. But – from what I gather – the transfers are to General hospitals in Com.Z – where the staffs are pretty well established and where an M.C. returning from a line outfit is told that he’s been out of touch with things and he’d better stay up on the medical or convalescent ward and get oriented. He probably gets nothing else but oriented. Anyway, I’ll still sit tight and see what happens. To date I’ve filled out at least a dozen questionnaires and to date – they all end right there.

I told you about the massacred slave labor people here – yesterday, dear. There’s been one slight note of justice meted out so far. Our Commanding General had 300 of the leading citizens in town brought in – store owners, manufacturers etc. They were organized in teams of 4 and made to improvise stretchers. They were then given the task of lugging the corpses away, one by one, over quite a distance thru the center of town where everyone could see – and from there – to a common burying ground which was being dug by another crew of Germans. No German was allowed to wear gloves when picking the bodies up. M.P.’s were all over the place, supervising; and believe me – those Germans didn’t like that task one bit. I stood around watching for some time, as did hundreds of other troops who kept coming and going. I think the Germans in this city, at least, are being made to feel our contempt for them and their type of civilization better then if we lined them up and shot them. They walk with bowed, ashamed, accused faces – and I failed to see any trace of the Master Race on any of them.

In the evening, dear, we had a party. Why? I’ll tell you. Usually – or always rather – we eat with the men – or rather at a table set aside a bit. This set-up has us living in a nice house – all by ourselves. So we decided we’d have a fish-fry and use the dining room. Everyone caught the spirit, but damn it – we only caught 4 fish – and there were 10 of us. And trout is not a large fish. We managed to get hold of some eggs, though – and we had some sardines, tuna fish etc and made hors d’oeuvres. The table was set with the house’s best linen, silver and glassware. We found all sorts of whiskeys, liqueurs etc – and we sat around and had a good time for ourselves. Later we played Bridge. What an odd war! It has done a lot of things to all of us and one thing in particular it has done for me. I think I have a better appreciation of some of the simple things in life, simple – but nice; plain and homey things. But a person must have an understanding of such little things before he can be fully aware of and appreciative of the bigger things.

Together with you, sweetheart, I believe we’re going to have a fine and rich life. Our love for each other has not only endured, but deepened and that love is the basic start. Beyond that – we both have good ideas – and by gosh – we’ll carry them out.

Have to stop now, dear. My love to the folks – and

All my everlasting love

Greg.

P.S. Enclosed makes 24.

Love,

G

* TIDBIT *

about Eva Braun

Eva Anna Paula Braun was born in Munich, Bavaria, Germany to school teacher Friedrich Braun and Franziska Kronberger. She was born the middle of three sisters into a Catholic family on 6 February 1912 - three lively, pretty girls. She was educated at a lyceum, then for one year at a business school in a convent where she had average grades and a talent for athletics. After completing her studies, she worked as a receptionist at a medical office. At age 17 she took a job working for Heinrich Hoffmann, the official photographer for the Nazi Party. Initially employed as a shop assistant and sales clerk, she soon learned how to use a camera and develop photos. She met Hitler, 23 years her senior, at Hoffmann's studio in Munich in October 1929.

They began seeing each other romantically around 1931. Although the two took a liking to each other, Hitler courted other women at the same time, some of whom were driven to suicide. Braun, too, resorted to such measures twice, with the first attempt on 1 Nov 1932 and the second on 28 May 1935. After the second suicide attempt, Hitler seemed to have become more committed to her, providing her with a mansion in Munich, a Mercedes sedan, a chauffeur, and a maid. On 30 Jan 1933, when Hitler became the Chancellor of Germany, she sat in the VIP section as his secretary.

By 1936, she was living with Hitler at Berghof near Berchtesgaden in southern Germany, and two years later, in 1938, Hitler named her his primary heir. Nevertheless, Hitler and Braun never appeared in public as a couple, and the German people would not learn of their relationship until after the war. Although close to Hitler, she was not allowed to be near any conversations between Hitler and government and military officials.

Photographs of Berghof
[CLICK TO ENLARGE]
 
 

According to Hitler's chauffeur Erich Kempka, Eva Braun was "the unhappiest woman in Germany. She spent most of her time waiting for Hitler." He had always kept her out of sight - as soon as guests arrived, he almost invariably banished her to her room - although she did often act in the capacity of a hostess at dinner parties with Hitler's inner circle. Joachim Fest tells in his biography of Hitler how Eva Braun continued to be kept in semi concealment during the years, stealing in by side entrances and using rear staircases, contenting herself with a photograph of Hitler when he left her alone at mealtimes. But gradually she accepted her frustrating role - content to be sole woman companion of the great man. Her relationship with him was strained by his lack of time and energy for her, particularly after 1943, and over time had picked up drinking and smoking as an outlet, which displeased Hitler.

In mid-1944, Braun began appearing in public with Hitler, but those engagements were limited especially as Hitler became more reclusive after the failed July Plot assassination attempt. On 15 April 1945, as Soviet troops neared Berlin, Germany, Braun traveled to Berlin to be with Hitler. Underground at the Führerbunker below the Reich Chancellery, she refused repeated attempts by various people to take her to a safer location.

Layout of Führerbunker

In the morning of 29 April, at the age of 33, wearing a dark silk dress, Braun married Hitler in a small civil ceremony in the bunker with Joseph Goebbels and Martin Bormann acting as witnesses. At about 1300 hours on 30 Apr, together with her new husband, she bid farewell to the others at the bunker. At about 1530 hours, she committed suicide by ingesting cyanide while Hitler also killed himself. Their bodies were burned in the garden of the Reich Chancellery. Their charred remains were found by the Soviets, who secretly buried them in Magdeburg, East Germany. In Apr 1970, the remains were exhumed, cremated, and dispersed into the Elbe River.

Here is a video called "Eva Braun... a life".