Entering Germany 1944

[LUCKYSTRIKE]

Hi Alex,

I thought I'd up load an older picture of the sherman track so you can see it as it was a few years ago. Notice it was more buried then than it is today, but this picture also shows to its right the remains of the weasel track, which even then was mostly below the surface. At the time I remember it did seem complete because it was quite long. Of course there's a chance it's still there but perhaps now hidden below the surface. So next time you revisit or any other forum member that see's this, have a little scratch just below the surface to see if it still remains.



All the best.
LUCKYSTRIKE

[WeyAx]

Thank you Adrian and Lucky for that photo.

The second track is just nearby, I thought it would be in the gras one meter away.

Next time I will look for it!!!


Ok here we go:

From Vossnack I made it to Simonskall, a very pittoresque little mini-village in
the Kall-Ground, very romantic, something for women.



lovely old houses because in war it was not damaged heavy



bridge over the Kall-River



the church



The Kall-River



but what should I do in Simonskall????

Right, I searched for the famous Sanitätsbunker
And had these pictures in my mind:







or this photo:






But what the hack was that, I walked around the few houses and what did I find??

Nothing!

But than I remembered: The lovely house had been damaged, but not from war,
only later by Caterpillars










A very modern looking house in pink had been build over the Bunker,
what a mess, such a shit in that romantic village.

I cannot understand it, because in Germany such old buildings are protected by the
Denkmalschutz





When you look very intensiv you can recognize the old air ventilation hole and
the old entrance of the bunker



The old well besides the bunker



The remembering plate for the Luftwaffenfestungsbtl.



Plaque of the LwFestBtl. XXIV (in Simonskall)
On Nov. 16, 2002 family members of the Luftwaffenfestungs-Batallion
(Air Force Battalion) XXIV have erected a Memorial Stone in Simonskall
at the boundary wall of the Kall River between the House of Guest and the
Cremermühle (Cremer Mill). Several of these squads have participated in
Hürtgenwald battles. These soldiers were mostly only 17 or 18 years of age.
Althoug they had been trained for military service in the air force, they
nevertheless had been sent to ground battles as infantry men. They as well
as their commanders were overcharged with the requirements expected from
them. They had been appointed as reserve armies for the infantry divisions worn
out in battles of attrition. In some cases their braveness has been honourably
mentioned but actually they have been used as cannon fodder. In October, the
total number of the battalion had been reduced from 640 to 130 within eight
days. After their withdrawal on Nov. 4, they had become once more considerably
reduced.
There is said to have been a unit of "Translators" from these squads, all of whom
deserted.

I left Simonskall and drove up the narrow winding route to the Vossenack-cemetary,
on half distance this cross remembering a man of a fire-brigade who was killed by mines in 1947



Above from the cemetary you have a beautiful sight to Vossenack



I parked my brave Moritz in front of this remembering place




and made my way to the forgotten dead men


Alex

[stuka f]

Great repport, great trip!
I like your van!! ;-)
|<

[WeyAx]

The cemetary Vossenack was build up from 1947 on the famous Höhe 470.
2400 Men are buried, 100 Mine searcher from the years 1946-1955 inclusiv, even the mayor from Vossenack, Mr. Linzenich.



The beginnings



Sight to Vossenack






No flowers, no people to visit the men, thats Germany, only forgetting the bad times



only a few moles as fellows for the comradres







but I searched a man, General Model is buried here after his suicid in the Ruhr-Kessel



here he is









Another famous man has its stone here, but is not buried here,
Julius Erasmus the initial founder of this cemetary.

He came to Hürtgen in 1946 and carried the dead men out of the woods in his bagpack and buried them on Höhe 470, later it was made an officiel cemetary







How he found them, the germans were lying around, because the americans only recovered their men but not all the german fallen men





Ilustrated and inscribed plaque for Julius Erasmus (Memorial Cemetery)
Right at the entrance coming from the parking lot "The Father of the
Memorial Cemetery Vossenack" has been honoured with a plaque with
his picture on it and a written valuation of the services he has rendered
to his comrades in the Hürtgenwald battles by giving them this last home
in honour. His biography is written down on this plaque in English and
German language and also the merits he has earned for establishing the
Memorial Cemetery Vossenack
He himself participated in the actions in the Hürtgen forest as head combat-
engineer. Right after the end of the war in 1945 he has recovered comrades
not yet buried with the help of village people and the minister at that time.
They identified these men if possible and buried them. They buried more
than 1500 killed persons. He noted down sketches and plans and marked the
burial- places with simple wooden crosses. This carefully done work was
the basis for the foundation of the Military Cemetery.



Nearby the cemetary is the remembering place of the famous Windhund-Division, the 116th





At the entrance of the Memorial site one can read that the ‘Windhunddivision’
has fought here in the fall of 1944 and that many of them have died in combat.
The site is meant to call for peace.
The whole site, including the twin statue made of bronze by the sculptor
Frau Dr. Suckow, Bonn, has been financed with donations of former members
of this division in 1966. The lot had been bought on easy terms from the former
district of Vossenack. Their mayor, Baptist Palm, has been a member of the 116.
tank division and has fought himself in his home town. Through his engagement
and personal commitment he contributed a considerable share to render this possible:
the "Memorial for our fallen and missing comrades, a Reminder for the survivors
to keep peace", as published in "Der Windhund" from Sept. 1966.
On the "Volkstrauertag" (National Day of Mourning) Nov. 13, 1966 it has been
consecrated ceremonially.
The Crucifixionsgroup (Community cemetery Vossenack)

The crucifixion group created by Father Laurentius Englisch, OFM is known beyond
the borders of the district. Everybody admires it. Vossenack and the district of Hürtgen-
wald can be proud to have such an impressive piece of art. Father Laurentius himself
calls it a "Resurrection Group". The term resurrection suggests peace - eternal peace –
which expects mankind. He strengthens the hope for this kind of peace. Jesus bends
over and reaches out his hand. He wants to help people across to the peace before God.
Just like Maria Magdalena, people reach out their hands towards Jesus in their search
for help and peace.
When looking at this group it might not be noticed right away that it is also a
memorial against war and violence. A plaque however points this out:
MEMORIAL FOR PEACE
8. 5. 1945 - 8. 5. 1985
Remember the Dead -
They remind us to keep peace







The original Windhund found in the russian Kalmücken-Praerie



the dog became the sign of the Division


After a long, long day of 14 hours my first day in the Hürtgenwald ended with a 5 stars Menue
and my bed in Moritz.





Next week I can go on with my report if you want.



Alex

Ps.: Yes Stuka its an old but good van, and I only drive these old VWs, because I have no money to spent in modern VW-Service-Stations

[bartman6996]

Alex,

A truley brilliant thread , I'm making my plans for next year already. And I see you have a menu of champions - brot , Bier und fleisch salat - my absolut favourite!!!

[WeyAx]

Yes bartmann, a meal for Männer! Anything else would be degenerated Gluttony

And afterwards a good vin rouge for better sleeping, thats the real life in wildernees in the dark forests

By the way: Do you know the real Erwin Bartmann???


Cheers Alex

[António Fragoeiro]

Thank you Adrian and Lucky for that photo.

The second track is just nearby, I thought it would be in the gras one meter away.

Next time I will look for it!!!


Ok here we go:

From Vossnack I made it to Simonskall, a very pittoresque little mini-village in
the Kall-Ground, very romantic, something for women.



lovely old houses because in war it was not damaged heavy



bridge over the Kall-River



the church



The Kall-River



but what should I do in Simonskall????

Right, I searched for the famous Sanitätsbunker
And had these pictures in my mind:







or this photo:






But what the hack was that, I walked around the few houses and what did I find??

Nothing!

But than I remembered: The lovely house had been damaged, but not from war,
only later by Caterpillars










A very modern looking house in pink had been build over the Bunker,
what a mess, such a shit in that romantic village.

I cannot understand it, because in Germany such old buildings are protected by the
Denkmalschutz





When you look very intensiv you can recognize the old air ventilation hole and
the old entrance of the bunker



The old well besides the bunker



The remembering plate for the Luftwaffenfestungsbtl.



Plaque of the LwFestBtl. XXIV (in Simonskall)
On Nov. 16, 2002 family members of the Luftwaffenfestungs-Batallion
(Air Force Battalion) XXIV have erected a Memorial Stone in Simonskall
at the boundary wall of the Kall River between the House of Guest and the
Cremermühle (Cremer Mill). Several of these squads have participated in
Hürtgenwald battles. These soldiers were mostly only 17 or 18 years of age.
Althoug they had been trained for military service in the air force, they
nevertheless had been sent to ground battles as infantry men. They as well
as their commanders were overcharged with the requirements expected from
them. They had been appointed as reserve armies for the infantry divisions worn
out in battles of attrition. In some cases their braveness has been honourably
mentioned but actually they have been used as cannon fodder. In October, the
total number of the battalion had been reduced from 640 to 130 within eight
days. After their withdrawal on Nov. 4, they had become once more considerably
reduced.
There is said to have been a unit of "Translators" from these squads, all of whom
deserted.

I left Simonskall and drove up the narrow winding route to the Vossenack-cemetary,
on half distance this cross remembering a man of a fire-brigade who was killed by mines in 1947



Above from the cemetary you have a beautiful sight to Vossenack



I parked my brave Moritz in front of this remembering place




and made my way to the forgotten dead men


Alex

Thats a shame, i too dont understand why something like this has been allowed.
I think the house built over the bunker, belongs to some rich persons, that wanted to use the bunker underneath as some kind of storage or panic room.
Anyway, fantastic thread.
Cheers.
Nuno

[Paul D]

This is a great thread , history and excellent photos , the history of the Friedhof and Julius Erasmus is very interesting and such a beautiful area as well , looking forward to more !!

If you mean Erwin Bartmann from the LAH , yes i know him !!

[WeyAx]

OHH Nuno d'ont reply with my hole piece of threat for an answer!



Yes it is a rich person, the owner of the bunker. He is the owner of two hotels of the lovely village too.

But he has a faible for the bunker too.

In the bunker nothing changes for this long time, you can visit it too:

















And Paul, yes LAH, he was once the Adjudant of a famous but unlucky man: Waldmüller who died in a cruel way:








Cheers

Alex

[WeyAx]

Day II

Early in the morning I woke up and after a cup of coffee I started with Moritz into
a new day.

My aim was the little village of Hürtgen, badly damaged in those days:



church of Hürtgen



Today its a modern lookung village, all houses new after the fierce battle.

On my way back to Vossenack I passed the second Heldenfriedhof near
Hürtgen, 1952 grounded with 3000 comrades lying there:





Visiting a man of my village


and a plate for another famous man: Leutnant Lengfeld:



who died vis a vis this Ehrenfriedhof on the street by this little wood:



once part of the famous big mine-field called Wilde Sau(wild pig)



He tried to help a wounded american soldier and was torn by mine
just in front of this wood



The wood of Wilde Sau once looking like this, a big mined area full of booby-traps
between Hürtgen and Vossenack



Lt. Lengfeld in Memoriam



Plaque for Lt. Lengfeld (Ehrenfriedhof Hürtgen)
American Veterans of the 4. US.Inf.Div. mounted this plaque on Oct 7, 1994, in memory of Lieutenant Lengfelds selfless deed. Many German and American War Veterans, representatives of Kreis Düren and Gemeinde Hürtgenwald, local people as well as people from Friedrich Lengfelds (born Sep. 29, 1921) birthplace, Grunwald , district Glatz in Oberschlesien took part in this special celebration. The plaque has been consecrated
Followed by a mass which has been held in the "Franziskaner" church in Vossenack.
Lt. Lengfeld had been wounded and had received several decorations while fighting in Russia.

For quite some time Lt. Lengfeld and his comrades of the 2nd Co., Fues. BN, 275th Inf. Div. had heard cries for help from a wounded GI. The cries came from an area known as "Wilde Sau", between the lines of "No Mans Land" which was a minefield. Lead by the lieutenant, some of the men set out to help the GI. The lieutenant was fatally wounded. His comrades were able to rescue and take him to a First Aid post in the "Lukasmühle", but he died on the same day. He is buried in grave No. 36 at the cemetery in Rölsdorf.


Out of Geschichte der Gemeinde Hürgenwald

Translation:
Helga Höppner und Karin Bleckert


A comrade of Lt. Lengfeld told his story:


Hubert Gees aus seiner damaligen Kompanie berichtet:

Am 12. November 1944, nachdem die Soldaten des 12. US-Infanterie Regiments nachts das Forsthaus Hürtgen wieder eingenommen hatten und es am Vormittag wieder verloren, traf unsere Kompanie ein schwerer Schlag:

Am frühen Vormittag rief ein offenbar schwerverwundeter Amerikaner flehend um Hilfe. Er lag mitten im Minenfeld "Wilde Sau" an der Böschungskante der östlichen Straßenseite, im Niemandsland.

Mein Kompaniechef, Leutnant Lengfeld, schickte mich mit der Weisung zum MG, das vor der minenfreien Gasse sicherte, auf keinen Fall zu schießen, wenn amerikanische Sanitäter zur Bergung des Schwerverwundeten kommen würden. Da die herzzerreißenden Hilferufe nach Stunden noch andauerten, befahl Leutnant Lengfeld unseren Sanitätern, einen Bergungstrupp zu bilden.

Es mag gegen 10.30 Uhr gewesen sein. Leutnant Lengfeld ging an der Spitze des Bergungstrupps auf unserer Straßenseite. Die Straße selbst war mit Panzerminen gesichert, deren Lage relativ gut zu erkennen war. Als Leutnant Lengfeld in Höhe des schwerverwundeten Amerikaners gerade im Begriff war, die Straßenseite zu wechseln, riss ihn eine Schützenmine zu Boden.

In Eile wurde er in unseren Kompaniegefechtsstand zurückgetragen zur "Ersten Hilfe". Zwei talergroße Löcher im Rücken ließen auf schwere innere Verletzungen schließen. Leutnant Lengfeld stöhnte unter starken Schmerzen. Unter Führung eines leichtverletzten Unteroffiziers wurde er sofort zum Verbandsplatz Lukasmühle zurückgetragen. Noch am Abend erlag er seinen schweren Verletzungen auf dem Hauptverbandsplatz in Froitzheim.



Lengfeld is not buried on Hürtgen but in Düren-Rölsdorf not far away



After a time of memory for those men, my Adjudant Feldwebel Steiner arrived with
our staff-car:







and we started to our trip to the famous Ochsenkopf and the
Peterberg, where once the iron-crosses grew


Alex