Christoph, So how many of these Christmas Markets are you lucky enough to get to go to? The one at Siegburg sounds fabulous.
I called Norton last night just to give him a progress report. I will write more later but he said something that after I share here and with your approval I will write Jan Bitterburg with that piece of data.
Bye for the moment,
Jean J
Christoph, I have a few minutes before heading out to tell you what Norton said. I read him the Jan Bitterburg email that I sent you above. I had referred to that email earlier on this website when you and I first started communicating. Then I never went back to reread it - or put it on this site because you kept sending so much incredible new information that we both kept working on.
Well when I reread about the artillery fire and the period that Jan B.. thought it was going on - that did not make sense with all of our now known knowledge. Jan referred to March 9th until April 9th that Siegburg lay under constant fire by artillery. I never heard Dad mention artillery fire in that March 9th to March 15th period. And why would he run out of the Abbey if the Americans were so close. And why risk being killed by the Americans. And why would it take 6 days to meet up with any Americans. And why why why...
Well Norton confirmed that he Norton knows what artillery fire is - and there was None! He was adamant - that they were never under artillery fire! They were bombed and under fighter planes but no artillery fire.
I was thinking I could send Jan B. an email and tell Jan B. that. Also then I could see if Jan could ever locate that document from Mrs. Korte-Boger on the closing of the field hospital.
I have a few minutes before heading to Mom's and I will draft something up for Jan. My guess is your logic and mine will concur that it is proper for me to write. I was thinking that because this is your hometown you might have a different thought on how I approach this.
Jean J
Christoph, I changed my approach, and just sent Jan a fairly brief email. I specifically asked Jan about that document that I never got. I do not even know if Jan's email address is valid.
Boy am I running late.
Bye for now,
Jean J
Jean, have you read Ray Repasky's memoirs on the main site http://www.6thcorpscombatengineers.com/RayRepasky.htm? He has answered some of my questions by e-mail before I got a member of the forum 
.
He was with the 922nd Field Art Btn near Siegburg, but not until the first week of April 45. The area south of Siegburg at the Sieg river (Menden, Hennef, Buisdorf, Meindorf...) has been taken at the 21st/22nd of March, this should be the earliest date of constant artilery fire on Siegburg
Christoph
Christoph, Thank You for sending me to Ray Repasky's fantastic memoir site. Some time ago I found it by Googling but at that time, regrettably, I never actually examined it. This time I saw how much information was there and regretted not having delved into it sooner. it will take me a long time to digest everything he has there. Thank God there are men like him!! Not only because of his war efforts but because he is preserving the information forever. He does not know us and yet he helps us and others and will for centuries to come.
I wonder if Ray knows Harold. I need to call Harold and will ask him that and about the map.
One day I am sure I will locate the exact date when Norton and the others left Siegburg to go to Waldbrol. Norton knows there was no artillery fire while he was there. And the other night in our telephone conversation he said that as he was leaving he saw German tanks leaving / pulling out.
I have so many open threads and I want to work on all of them!
Thank You and Good Night!
Jean J
What a surprise - just a few minutes ago heard from Jan Bitterburg. That was so incredibly kind of Jan! She sent an attachment and I must wait for my husband to help me send it to you. Christoph, you have probably already seen it but it is titled :Erlebt und erlitten. Die letzten Kriegsmonate 1944-45 in Siegburg.
Bye for the moment,
Jean J
Sorry it took so long. Here is what Jan sent. And I see I said she in last email. Jan sent a follow up email. There Jan said "I hope you are not disappointed with the content of the text I just sent you when you get it translated." Jan may have said that because the Dec. 28th bombing was stated to be Oct.18, 1944 in this attachment.
Abbey and Lazaret.pdf
Hi Guys!
Glad the holidays are over. Happy New Year!
I plan to work on trying to track down some of the families on that long list of names that you sent me Christoph.
I owe everyone phone calls and maybe in a week or so I can finally get started.
Bye for now,
Jean J
Called Norton a couple of evenings ago. He, like me, is so eager for me to learn more on Siegburg and Waldbrol.
Maybe it is Berlin where records are kept. There have to be records on the wounded Germans that were at Siegburg. One day I will write Nina, the lady that first made me aware of Sister E. K. Nina has moved back to Berlin, or that is what I last heard when I contacted her. Maybe Nina can ferret out where records could be located. Simultaneous to that I have lots of things to start again pursuing from here.
Bye for the moment,
Jean J
Heard from the Archives in St. Louis today. They have pulled some of the records i requested. Now will try to figure out when I can go to take a look at them. Also need to refresh my mind as to which records I requested Christoph. I do not think it was part of those near 450 or 500 names you sent me.
Gad, I need more hours in the day.
Jean J