Some weeks ago I was in Lanzerath, Belgium and was interviewing a left alone old men who was a German Pioneer in the Warsaw Getho in Poland. Is military job was as a Pioneer to blow doors away to allow the SS Killers to enter houses and kill Men, Women, Children and even Pets. It was just before Germany had decided to erase the city from the planet. After talking over 4 hours, he told me in German : You know Gunter since December 1945 when I was sent back home I wasn’t able (we are in 2009) to sleep a single night. When I asked what the trouble was he just said : the most terrible are those dead that refuses to die. I will try one day to publish this over 4 hours interview but I have to translate it first in English because of the terrible things that he told me.
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Apr
28
2009
Mar
07
2009
Category : Cavalry Troops
The 6/CG-Mecz, under command of Col Edward M. Fickett and consisting of the 6-Sq/6CG and 28-Sq/6CG, landed in France on Jul 10 1944. The group was trained for the mission of establishing the Army Information Service for Gen George S. Patton’s Third Army while in England and in Normandy.
In July 1944, the Third Army became operational and with the 6/CG attached. Until Nov 1 1944 the group operated the Army Information Service, performing an invaluable mission for the Army Commander in keeping him completely informed as to the activities and location of his forward troops.
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Mar
03
2009
The 7th Armored Division was activated on Mar 1 1942 at Camp Polk, Louisiana and moved Sep 15 1942 to the IV Corps Louisiana Maneuvers. It returned to Camp Polk on Nov 9 1942, arrived then Mar 11 1943 at the Desert Training Center for the #2 California Maneuvers, was transferred Aug 12 1943 to Fort Benning, Georgia and arrived at Camp Myles Standish, Massachusetts on Apr 22 1944.
The Division staged et Camp Shanks, New York, from May 2 1944 until departed New York Port of Embarkation on Jun 7 Jun 1944 and arrived in England on Jun 14 1944.
The 7th Armored Division landed in France on Aug 11 1944, crossed into Belgium on Sep 26 and into Holland on Oct 8 1944. It returned to Belgium on Dec 28 1944 and entered Germany Mar 15 1945.
The 7/AD arrived then at Hampton Roads POE on Oct 9 1945 and was inactivated at Camp Patrick Henry, Virginia on Oct 9 1945.
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Feb
13
2009
Category : Cavalry Troops
I have found some interesting informations about Cavalry Troops during World War Two. I know that these informations are not really dig in but at least they give interesting Location and good start points to dig deeper.
Jan
29
2009
Category : Battle of the Bulge, Germany
With the help and the work from my American friend David Gettman, the son of Lt Henry ‘Shorty’ Gettman, Platoon Leader of the 1st Platoon, 99th Reconnaissance Troop, 99th Infantry Division (1-99/99th Inf Div), 1st Army, ETO, WW II, Gerolzhofen, Germany, post VE Day.
In loving memory of Henry ‘Shorty’ Gettman, May 18 1911 – May 24 1983, and dedicated to all those heroes who proudly wore the Golden Caltrop of the 99th Reconnaissance Troop, and the Checkerboard of the 99th Infantry Division, the Battle Babies. Your sacrifice will not be forgotten.
Action This Hour !
On No 1, Fire 1 !
On No 2, Open 3 !
Advance !
Kill or be killed !
Geronimo !
Spinner !
Contact !
Pilot to Bombardier !
Open bombay doors !
Bombs away !
Gung Ho !
1000, 2000, 3000, Yank !
Yep, in the movies it sounds dramatic. But ‘breaking in’ at the front with dough boys on patrols through the snow – that’s another story. That is the true story. The story of Reconnaissance on reserve. The story of the battle of the defense of Höfen, Germany, November 9 to December 12 1944.
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Jan
29
2009
The 99th Infantry Division was a unit of the United States Army in World War II. It played a strategic role in the Battle of the Bulge when its inexperienced troops held fast on the northern shoulder of the German advance, refusing them access to the vital northern road network that led into Belgium.
The 99th Infantry Division, also named Checkerboard Division or the Battle Babies Division, was activated on Nov 15 1942 at Camp Van Dorn, Missouri. On Sep 16 1943, the Division moved for the Third Army #4 Louisiana Maneuvers and two months later, on Nov 19 1943, the 99th Infantry Division moved to Camp Maxey, Texas then staged at Camp Myles Standish Massachusetts from Sep 13 1944 until departed Boston Port of Embarkation for England and arrived there on Oct 10 1944. Finally, the 99th Infantry Division landed in France on November 3 1944. The 99th arrived in Belgium and was involved in the Battle of the Bulge. In February 1945, the 99th started to advance into Germany till the Inn River and Giesenhausen when hostilities were declared ended on May 7 1945.
