Aufzeichnung eines amerikanischen Soldaten 1945

Auszug dem Bericht über den Feldzug der 11th armed devision, die unsere Region befreite.

3rd Platoon, A Company, 56th Engineer Battalion
The information set down in this book is a record of the activities of the 3rd platoon, Co. A, 56th Armored Engineer Battalion, since its departure from Camp Cooke, California up to V-E Day, which found the unit in the vicinity of Linz, Austria.
We wish to pay tribute in this journal to the men of this organization who gave their lives in the performance of their duties against the enemy and to the men of the platoon as a whole. It was a job well done.
The information contained herein was compiled and written by: Cpl. Hewitt J. Fontaine T/5 Hugo Balma Cpl. Donald L. Ouant.

23 April 1945
We moved out of Ptreid at 0700 and made another advance ot 35 miles to the city of Cham. We freed our first G. I. P. W's in Cham and also found Tuggy, Jovich, and Leone. What a sight it was to see these Americans, dirty, tired, hungry and overcome with joy at seeing us. Most of the boys felt as though there was an apple caught in their throat, when they saw some of their own boys as P. W's and the way the 6ermans had treated them.
24 April 1945
Moved out of Cham at 1100, moved on to the town of Wiechtach and billeted for the night, an advance of 15 miles.
8rand: "Lets go Sellers, git them men out on time".
Zeke: "Rave on Brand, I'm gonna be a civilian when you're still falling 'em out".
25 April 1945
Scheduled to leave at 0600 but again there was a delay and it was 1300 before the drive got under way. CCA followed CCB to the town ot Regan and then drove on to the town of Grafenau. Enemy air activities were increasing with each day. The drive for the day was good for 40 miles.
26 April 1945
Moved out ot Grafenau at 0730 and headed for Freyung. The platoon put in a wooden approach to a creek ford and later a tread-way was put in. Bn. commander Lt. Colonel Inge was wounded when enemy planes came over, strafing. The site that the platoon was working on was also strafed. The platoon moved on into the town of Grainet about 9 miles from the Austrian border. The whole platoon was billeted in an old house. No one griped too much, just as long as we had a roof to sleep under.
27 April 1945
Having a break in Grainet. You know why we're here? Orders just came through that we're supposed to hold here until the Russians come in. Well, the Russians didn't meet us so we had a little celebration all of our own. There was a little to drink and Salsman saw to it that we all had plenty to eat. We stayed here two days. The boys cleaned up, some went to church and the others just sat around and ate eggs. I'm told that one individual broke the two dozen record that had been set in the platoon. A few Heinie planes came over but as usual kept out of range.

 

Quellen:
www.11tharmoreddivision.com

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