Good to be hearing from you!

Last weekend I participated a guided tour on the Michaelsberg about its military history, but unfortunately only the time of the Romans to about 1700. But I took another picture of the rose garden from above.

An article in Siegburg's "65er News", a magazine for older people in Siegburg, mentions a Dr Dechésne as chief physician of the Hospital. I havn't heard that name before, maybe he was responsible only for the German part of the hospital, but perhaps you have seen his name in one of your documents?

Christoph

Christoph, another OH WOW!

Regrettably NO to the Dr's name above - never heard the name.

However, the POW that remembered my Dad, "Moose," appears to have a copy of the obituary of Dr. Kaiser. He has it because he had his son look up Dr. Kaiser after the War and found Dr. Kaiser's son and they spent an evening together. I want to go visit this gentleman, and will bring a little scanner that we have recently purchased. However, I do not know how eager this gentleman will be to revisit these memories. I think it will be okay but I am the hold up for traveling.

Now your timing is superb - the photo above! Norton sent me in the group of photos a copy of him in the area where he writes on the back of the photo "POW Barracks was in this parking lot.' I am eager to print out your perfect picture and send it to him. And Especially because one of the other photos is Norton in front of a wall and he writes on the back of this photo 'this wall, (but not this hole) was entry way to Air Raid Shelter across from Barracks.' !!! Maybe your photo can give him some perspective of where the opening was - it had to be that wall. He used a crutch to get there.

It will take me a bit to get the photos out - and think I should kind of disguise Norton - I don't mean in a costume but you know what I mean.

I will get the other photos done too - one is 'Monk's Cemetery' but can not see much - all overgrown.

How fortunate you are to live where you do! What a great privilege to hear the history of Michaelsburg in person. The buildings are beautiful and so big and the location is fabulous.

For sure the records must exist for Lazarett Siegburg - somewhere. I wonder how many wounded Germans survived because of their care there. If still alive, they must have have gotten care in hospitals after the War. Some day you and I will get this all figured out!

Gad so much more to say, but regrettably must go.

THANK YOU so much for the news and photo! And again Happy Birthday!

Jean J

Hello Christoph and Jean! Just wanted to make an appearance. Yes, I do follow this thread whenever I get a moment. I simply love it!

Sorry haven't been around much, for I am completely absorbed in a couple of projects right now, mainly editing a book for a friend. But that's for another post somewhere, but not here. Don't want to get off track from your great subject matter...

My best to both of you.

Marion, You are Wonderful to provide this site to all of us!

I was going to treat myself to a compilation moment - by that I mean sitting with the little notes I have acquired on some of the new Siegburg POW's. Some without Internet - I want to send packages of things to them.

So with my new and growing confidence that the Lazarett at Siegburg is quite a large operation I pulled out the story on Walter Brinegar. God Bless him for sharing what he did with his family and then for his family sharing it with you and thus us!

I am so convinced that Walter was moved from Siegburg to Waldbrol. I hope, maybe on next trip to St. Louis, to see if I have enough time to research the Medical Detachment that liberated them. Walter says that 'out of 72 there was only me and another guy who could walk around.' The AAR's for the 309th Inf. Regiment - April 1945 state that 'at 1545 it entered the hospital and found 71 American PW's. Because of wounds and lack of nourishment, only two of the prisoners were able to be evacuated on foot.'

Elsewhere I have seen that only 2 were able to walk.

Seems like at Siegburg he was in the attic first, then the cellar, and then the barracks. And the barracks were exactly where Christoph showed us in his last photograph. His picture so totally captures the area - terrific!

I soon have to leave, so will put everything on hold, but wonder:

Christoph, could you send me a full size jpeg file of that picture. My husband, Steve, says that would be the easiest way for him to print out an 8 x 10 of the photo. He is so busy but I want that in his queue so when time permits I want to send copies of that picture to a couple of the men - most importantly Norton. Maybe it will give him some perspective of where his building was and where the opening was in that wall - for an air raid shelter!

And having now read Zumbro's book on Battle for the Ruhr it reinforces the constant air raid alerts.

And speaking of bombs, it appears it was the British that bombed Stalag 6G in Bonn, and I have spoken to 2 guys that were there. Each in different parts - one at the Camp and the other at a hospital. The place went on fire and one ended up temporarily at the Lazarett and the other went elsewhere.

More to follow..

Thank You Christoph SO MUCH for making miracles happen on this site!

Jean J

Just sent it! Im waiting to hear what they say!

Christoph

Christoph!

Another Oh Wow! THANK YOU SO MUCH!

What a perfect photo! I am looking at the results of Steve printing it out on the laser printer on regular printer paper and it is Terrific!

I am sending several copies of the laser printer version to Norton. My hope is that he can draw on one of the copies and then send it back to me.

I want to have Steve print at least one on photo paper for Norton, but will not delay sending the package for it.

I am including an aerial view of the Abbey and the barracks area is visible just perfectly to match your photo. I will send an extra copy ( they are large) and hopefully it will help him and me with some perspective. Fortunately Steve made these maps for me several months ago when things were hectic but not as hectic as now.

Also have a couple of other things to send - more about those later.

It was interesting to hear Norton's reaction to Dad's letter to the Dad of the gentleman that died at the Camp. It was quite touching.. I figured out the sequence of events on the letter and why fortunately for us it was in that gentleman's file. I must send you some photos of him - this man was as beautiful on the inside as the outside. People that see his photo basically gasp, at his 'movie star' looks. And I will explain the sequence at a later time.

I am also including a VMAIL Dad wrote home on Jan. 3rd, 1945, the day this gentleman died (He was buried Jan. 6th, 1945). I am not sure without rereading this enormous thread if I wrote this. Dad writes 'Fortunately I am so busy time flies by and this all is just a little easier to take. Have all the boys writing there (yep he mispelled it) letters home - and this gives them something to do. For them laying in bed time goes by so slowly. I have most of my one legged boys up and around now doing odd jobs, making bandages, etc....'

THANK YOU as always!!!

I will work on package to Norton. Then out, and then maybe tomorrow I can start to put little notes together from each man. I am so eager to do so.

Jean J

Christoph, in going through notes I went back and looked at May 28, 2012 entry by Mary. She referred to 4 names. Only the last one, Gibbs, is on the list of Siegburg prisoners.

I recently sent in a request to the Archives in St. Louis for records on more gentlemen. After this round is over and could be a good few months, I will put in request for Gibbs' records. I checked obvious phone book connections but did not quickly come up with anything. Maybe someone in his family has some info. I wonder if Mary ever had a chance to contact him.

Sending out package to Norton with your great photo. Thank you again!

Jean J

Hi All, Sorry it has been so long since I was on line! Jean, I did try to contact all four of the names I found, including Gibbs, but had no success. It is great the information you and Christoph have added in the last several month! I'm thrilled! Ii want to plan a trip to Germany for April 2015 (the 70th anniversary of my father's liberation) and it sounds like you have found additional details! I can't wait to hear from you!

I'm fascinated by the information you share above regarding the 72 prisoners and only 2 able to walk... and that you found information regarding Waldbrol and that you believe that is from where you believe my father was liberated! I'm so excited, grateful, and some many other emotions! This forum thread is so lengthy I fear I've missed some details and insight. All I can say now is thank you and I can't wait to hear from you!

Oh my gosh it is Mary! The daughter of Walter! Your Dad, you and Christoph have really helped solve so many of the unknowns about the Lazarett at Siegburg. Thank You!

Please note that now with confidence I can refer to it as the Lazarett at Siegburg thanks to all of Christoph's help.

Mary whatever I write you I will copy at the same time to Christoph because he has made this site what it is!

I assumed that you were busy and so I never wrote to you personally over the last many months. But I wanted to tell you time and time again, how much your efforts to learn more about your Dad had helped me learn more about my Dad! If you had never looked for information, I would never of found Christoph!

I will get in touch with you as soon as I can - I am overwhelmed at the moment but it is not on Siegburg things.

I want to call, maybe Memorial day, the few remaining Siegburg alumni that I uncovered. I am just so uncomfortable about bringing up something they try to forget. More about that later..

Off line I would be interested in discussing - if you wanted me to see what I could find in St. Louis Archives on your Dad. I would need his Serial no. But I can not put in any new requests for many months. I am waiting for these last requests to be filled. They have been terrific down there.

The Siegburg operation really was huge based on the number of men that went through there - some lucky enough (in a strange way - because meant to ill to move) to stay there and not get moved to other Camps.

At Waldbrol men were put to work - those that could - and one now deceased Allied prisoner witnessed it. He did a deposition on it and I have it amongst my papers from the Archives. I need to scan it so I can share that with you both. Clearly the men that came at the end from Siegburg were not put to work.

My latest ad in DAV Magazine looking for Siegburg POW's brought forth 3 calls. None of the gentlemen had been at Siegburg but what a privilege for me to get to talk to them and the wives too. And how similar the problems were and are with these men even though a couple were in their 90's. The early years of their marriages were very very difficult.

I hope on Memorial Day to call and say hello to all of these gentlemen. One man had never had anyone ask him about his experiences. And he was shot down over Sicily - the longest held POW I have found!

Have had a chance to visit part of each of the last few days with a gal from the New Orleans WW2 Museum. It is so wonderful what they have been able to achieve!

Hooray Mary is back on line!

Bye for the moment,

Jean J

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I am so thankful for this forum! For Jean and Christoph, for the men that are still with us to tell what they remember! I am so Thankful!

I have taken the last couple hours to scan the chats and saw, Jean, where your father was the one who told my Dad to watch his language! I can't believe we have been able to reach across time and space to get to this point where their children are communicating! It is truly amazing!

Christoph, I am planning on coming to Germany April 2015, I want to be there for the 70th anniversary of my father's liberation. I so hope and pray you will be there and I can meet you and thank you in person for your help!

Jean, I am speechless at what you have been able to find! I can't wait to hear more, hear more details, as putting those pieces together is what I have hoped for years!

I have talked to many people along this path,including the childlren of the man my father was captured with (Sgt Thicke and he were in the same foxhole when they were captured). I have other information if you are interested.

I'm so thankful! Thank you all! Just incredible!