April 19, 1945 "Sick in a Ditch" (Post #105)

                    15th Field Artillery Battalion Movements

Crossing the Weser at daylight on April 8th the battalion went into position six times in a 20-kilometer advance and stopped for the night in Stockhausen. Many Tiger Royal tanks were engaged during the day and one serious incident of direct enemy fire occurred on the Autobahn south of Gottingen. Three displacements the following day 
(9th) covered 18 kilometers to Glasehausen.

Mounting infantrymen again for an armored pursuit, the 15th Field Artillery moved at noon, April 10th, in a 25—kilometer advance to Rehungen. Battery “A” as an advance support unit proceeded on to Friedrichergde to provide foremost elements with artillery support. The next day, resisting enemy tanks and infantry provided an engagement at noon during which at least one tank and one SP gun were kayoed. “A” Battery emplaced 800 yards from a heavy wood, flushed out several PW’s from- an area not previously entered by U. S. troops. The 31 kilometer advance brought the 15th Field Artillery to Collingen. A late afternoon march on April 12th rolled until dawn on April 13th covering 50 kilometers to Schnell Roda.

On April 13th resistance stiffened as the 15^th Field Artillery approached, the formidable defense of the Leuna-Merseburg petroleum. refineries. These vital gas and rubber plants were guarded by one of the heaviest concentrations of flak guns on the European continent. With approximately 1000 guns emplaced with good fields of ground fire and clustered up to 40 at one site with well prepared local defenses, the enemy AAA personnel were to make the battle as costly as possible. Taking positions in Mucheln, the battalion began a harassing and counter battery program in support of doughboys attacking the flak positions.

Shortly after displacement of “A” and “C” Batteries on April 14th, the enemy began an intense volume of heavy AA fire on position areas. After losing 2 guns, “C” Battery position was deemed untenable and another displacement was effected. Back in action after making battle field replacements, “C” Battery brought 3 guns to bear on the enemy by noon. Adjusting medium artillery of the 12th Field Artillery Battalion the Battalion Commander, Lt. Col. Cassibiy reduced a large nest of flak guns in a real artillery duel. The entire enemy position had been bypassed by infantry and 15^th Field Artillery elements, and it formed a genuine threat to our rear displacing early on April 15th, the battalion went to Kolzsoken, where it immediately continued fire on enemy artillery and ammo positions and shifted fire due south to support a night attack. This engagement brought 390 PW’s and 86 AA guns under our infantry control by 1300 on April 16th.

As a reinforcing battalion for the 38th Field Artillery the 15th displaced early on April 17^th to Nempitz, returning to direct support of the 9th Infantry on April 18th for a reduction of further AA positions.

 (from the 15th FAB Yearbook)
Other units of the 2nd Infantry Division:

In April 1945, the 2nd Infantry Division overran Leipzig-Schönefeld, a sub-camp of the Buchenwald concentration camp, where the camp staff forced the prisoners to work for the Hugo Schneider AG (Hasag) firm. The SS had permitted the Hasag's Leipzig field office to establish an ammunition factory for the German military in 1944. On March 28, 1945, Schönefeld housed some 4,765 female prisoners; however, at the beginning of April, the SS evacuated many of the inmates to prevent them from falling into Allied hands. When the 2nd Infantry Division arrived on April 14, 1945, only some 250 prisoners remained in the camp. According to the 2nd's report, the SS killed between 400 and 600 prisoners from December 1944 to April 1945. After occupying the camp, the members of the 2nd Infantry Division arranged for proper burial of the dead and collected evidence to be used in the prosecution of the SS personnel.

Around April 15, 1945, the 2nd Infantry Division liberated some one thousand prisoners incarcerated in the “labor education” camp at Spergau/Zöschen. The US soldiers interviewed prisoners and interrogated captured SS guards to ascertain conditions in the camp, identify and locate perpetrators, and gather evidence for war crimes prosecution.

Somewhere in Germany

First U.S. Army           

Sec. Inf. Div.            

April 19, 1945       

Dear Mother,

     It's sure high time I was writing a few lines but as you realize things have been moving so fast I just haven't had the time. 

     Sure hope this finds you all in the best of health. As for me I'm okay now but had a couple bad days and nights a short time pass. I was sure some sick with dysentery or G.I. sh-- and weak as a rag. For two days and nights all I did was lay in a ditch and didn't even eat. We made one night move which I just made it, almost had to give up. I don't know what gave them to me it was some Heinie sausage which were quite greasy. We also found a bunch of fresh eggs and had eggs fried, boiled, scrambled and about any way you could imagine. Oh well, I'm okay now. (This was one of the few stories my uncle shared with us about the war. He shared he was feeling so sick that he told his buddies just leave him in the ditch and go on without him. Of course, they refused to leave him. They placed him on the back of some vehicle with his pants down and his rear hanging over the edge as they traveled.)

     It's still quite cold here, but spring is well on its way and everything is green with many of the trees in full blossom. 

     Gee, did we have a downpour of rain the other night and many of the boys sure got wet as it was so unexpected and I have never seen such a thunderstorm since being over here.

     I received your Easter card and liked it very much. Also the small Portland papers and my sportsman magazine. I am going to exchange the sportsman magazine for another sportsman book. The one the Lieutenants receives.
     Jones sure had a big laugh when I showed him the picture along with the fry pan of eggs, ha ha.
     Yes, that was the same fellow that was at Camp McCoy, but he hasn't been here for a month. (Do not know who he is writing about. It wouldn't be Jones because my grandmother wrote to him and sent him packages because Jones was a close friend to Uncle Charlie.) Guess he'll be back soon. Remember you asked me about the pictures? He's just the same as ever.
     Glad to hear Helen (sister), Joey, and the baby, Joey Jr. made the trip from Florida okay and I have an idea of all the things she has to talk about. Wish I could  see "Husky" (Joey Jr.). He must be quite the boy. 
     I see by the small papers what you mean by Gen. Patton making the head lines. (Appears the front line soldiers had an issue with Gen. Patton. Just my opinion.)
     By the way Eugene writes I guess Dad is doing one swell job on the garage as he sure had plenty in his letter. Guess I know where they're building it - maybe it will be okay later when you become accustom to it. (My grandfather built the "Knight Homestead". I am sure he had some help along the way.)

Knight Homestead House

Grandpa building barn

House and Barn

Garage

    

     One thing never worry about a word you can't spell as I can always make out and most of the time just read right along.

     Sure hope brother is better and is over his yellow streak. ha ha

     All letters are censored and stamped over here, not in New York. The way things are going mail is not regular so you have to take it as it comes.

     One thing about George Fuller, he is so far back that there is little worry. Still like the rest of us he is away from home and loved ones.

     No, Jones didn't say a word to me about Dad but I could read between the lines of one of your letters so that's how I found out before you wrote.

     Sorry to hear that Jimmy Allen has gone but his job is done and many more have paid the price.

 Sgt. James F Allen 4^th Division USMCR

1919-1945

Parents: Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence H Allen

South Windham, Maine, USA

Killed In Action

Roll: ww2c_27

     Yes, those pictures I sent were poor but I was lucky to get them.

     Oh yes, I received the film you sent me but haven't taken any pictures yet. I have an old Kraut camera and may be able to use it.

     That sounds just like Cliff Thomas trying to make out those papers but he is just the the same at all times.

     I just heard some bad news about the ninth army over the radio but everything will be okay. (The Battle of the Seelow Heights started on 16 April 1945 when Marshal Georgy Zhukov's 1st Belorussian Front attacked across the Oder. The 9th Army held the line for about 3 days. After heavy fighting Weidling's LVI Panzer Corps was driven back towards Berlin. Most of the CI Army Corps divisions, now north of the salient created by the 1st Belorussian Front were reassigned along with LVI Panzer Corps to Army Detachment Steiner which was tasked with counter-attacking and pinching off the salient in a poorly conceived, unrealistic plan by OKW. In the end Weidling's corps was driven back into Berlin and he was promoted to commander of the Berlin Defensive Area, reporting directly to Hitler. Theodor Busse and the rest of the 9th Army were driven into a pocket in the Spree Forest south of the Seelow Heights and west of Frankfurt.) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/9th_Army_(Wehrmacht)#1945

     Mother, if you can do this without cutting yourself short will you send me a couple pounds of coffee. Remember, don't take it from yourself or one of your points. Maybe a couple of cans of milk. 

     Must close now as I have to get up early. Hello to all with love.

                                                                Love

                                                                    Son Charles

                                                                   Last of the video series #5