My village in Germany 1945 and 2005

[Bill Medland]

Bill, I used to live in Kleve. My dad was RAF out of Uedem. You still do these trips? I would love to tag along sometime. I actually look for MIAs and am now stationed near Geilenkirchen. Danny

If you find yourself in the Kleve area (or Düsseldorf where I work) let me know.

Some more pics will be posted in about four weeks

Cheers, Bill.

[RichieC]

Excellent stuff , cheers Raymond

My sentiments exactly and then some...



Cheers,
Richie

[buellmeister]

Well Done! Makes me want to grab my Passport and fly over.

[ace]

wow totally amazing pics, both sets god i would love to do something like that respect to u

[ssg keay]

Well, now that you mention it..I am actually going to Kleve tomorrow (Saturday). Visiting dad at the nursing home And then perhaps checking out a crash site. Danny

[Kieron Hill]

Bill and Danny,

The pictures below were taken in Kleve in February 1945 I am guessing that you will not be able to do a then and now with the second one due to
not much being left of Kleve, but the first you might, it would be great if you could get a simlar photo.

Picture 2 (caption written on photo)

February 1945. Kleve, Germany. What was left of the church after a 1,000 bomber raid on the town before the assault. We found that the heavy bombing of a defended town choked the streets with debris and made it very difficult to move through the town to our operational positions. Too add to the difficulties this area had been flooded by the Germans.

Picture 1
Kleve - church on road to the Riechwald (I am guessing he ment the forest)

Cheers Kieron

[Kieron Hill]

Too add to the difficulties this area had been flooded by the Germans.

And this is Kleve flooded note the collapsable boat used
to make alot of the crossing across the Rhine

[Bill Medland]

@ Danny, shame I missed you, perhaps we will meet up in Kleve next time.

@Kieron, My wife knows where that church is, it seems to have been taken at an odd angle because the church is on a steep hill. I will print out the pics and match them up for you with modern ones.
I will place it on my list of things to do.

Cheers, Bill.

[Stinch]

We found a barrel of a Panther tank being used as a gate post.
We also found a 1945 British assault boat resting in a farm yard

Cheers, Bill.

Did you "liberate" the boat? I'd think it would be worth working out something with the land owner for both the boat and Panther barrel.

Rich

[Kieron Hill]

Thanks Bill much appreciated

Cheers Kieron