Camp near Siegberg Germany?

[Jean Jacobson]

Marion, I did not get to mention that there is a great similarity between you and Sue! The gentleman in the letter I referred to above calls Sue a jewel for trying to make sense out of so many of their old reflections! That sure sounds like you! And Thank You so much for helping all of us!

 

Jean J

[Christoph]

Dad knew how to swim (he had been a life guard for several summers in NY) if that was required getting over the Sieg River.

 

So he was a collegue Today I spent some hours on the Rhine between Remagen and Bonn with a big combined rescue exercise of DLRG (German Life Saving Society), Wasserwacht (the water rescue department of the Red Cross) and THW (a german federal agency, doing the same as combat engineers but without combat), and that's why I have not found so much time for research and posting the last days.

 

The Sieg River is normally about 75 cm deep at the bridge shown one page back, but at some places noticeably deeper, and some times particularly in winter or spring she (it?) has high water.

 

Christoph

[Jean Jacobson]

Christoph,

 

I could not believe it when I read your entry and then saw the photo! Do you really go on a boat in the Rhine? Do you row? Are you afraid of the big boats and if not them, their swells causing you all to capsize?

 

When you do rescue is it like Life Savers' kind of techniques to get people to the surface and to get water out of them? What a great hobby/occupation/passion. And to get to be between Bonn and Remagen in the Rhine seems like a fairy tale. I would not want to ever get out.

 

I guess I should be careful how I think about it/say that since I never thought of it from a WW2 guy's perspective. That is an interesting question. If you were an Engineer and building bridges during WW2 or any War what would your attitude after the War be. Would you ever want to go swimming or boating again? (Like my Dad's attitude on camping.) And what did those men think when they or their family went over any kind of a bridge?

 

Christoph, I am so impressed with all of your many talents!

 

I wrote several WW2 related emails today and just finishing up. Off to Mom's to plan her 90th birthday celebration with her. She was not good yesterday but not bad/ill. She perked up a little by late afternoon.

 

Finally had to put up all the WW2 stuff I had out. Got some of it better organized. And there was a note where Dad wrote the Sieg River down. But I must find the note again - to interpret what he might have meant. Did he mean that he knew he had to get across it. I wonder if there was any land mass he could go over without getting in the actual River. Would you, Christoph, have had any doubts about your ability to get from one side of the River to the other, if you had to without a boat? And it was March 15 to 19th weather of 1945?

 

I did not go see the Sieg River this last trip.

 

Wonder where you are boating today?

 

Jean J

[Walt's Daughter]

Marion, I did not get to mention that there is a great similarity between you and Sue! The gentleman in the letter I referred to above calls Sue a jewel for trying to make sense out of so many of their old reflections! That sure sounds like you! And Thank You so much for helping all of us!

 

Jean J

 

Gee Jean, thanks for the very lovely comment. That means a lot to me.

 

I so enjoy doing what I'm doing. Nothing makes me smile more than to put info together for people, or to unite or reunite vets and their families and friends. Simply happy to do so.

[Christoph]

Jean, it seems as if those days were dry and the water level not so high, and your dad was a swimmer and a young man, so crossing the Sieg would not have been the problem but perhaps the temperature of only 0 - 7 °C in the nights (but a maximum of 18 °C on the 15th!) You can find the weather data here: http://www.wetterzentrale.de/topkarten/fskldwd.html just enter the date and click on "zeigen" (show).

 

And Marion, it's good to hear you're still happy as we are sometimes a bit off topic in this thread, particulalrly as it startet with another camp. Do not hesitate to show us the instruments if necessary

 

Christoph

[Walt's Daughter]

Christoph and Jean: Oh my gosh, I don't think I will have to take INSTRUMENTS to you. :pdt12: You two have been the life of this forum and I for one am SO very happy to read all these great posts. That's what this forum is supposed to be all about; the great exchange of information for all to see. I'm delighted the two of you are here and even more thrilled to see all which is transpiring. BRAVO!!!!!! :bluejumper:

[Christoph]

Marion, I'm relieved!

 

Jean, I'm sorry. Your mail of the 2nd was locked and in my spam folder, I just found it. And what a mail! In the file brother Hubertus and Father Reginhard are mentioned, and both are also mentioned in sister Edeltrud's article in the book we talked about! Reginhard Spilker (2 mistakes on the form) was Prior-Administrator of the abbey from 1968-70, and both men were in the hospital in the war. With his name I found another text of Karl-Heinz Neifer from Siegburg who served as acolyte with Reginald Spilker in the hospital! Mr Neifer has finished his text series last year because he feels to old to continue his research, he has also interviewed Sr. Edeltrud, but he writes that he will help anyone who wants to continue his work

I'm nearly sure that had no contact to the prisoners, but perhaps re remembers other interesting things? I will try to contact him the next days and then, if he allows, try to translate the main parts of his text.

 

Christoph

[Christoph]

In Sr. Edeltrud's text I found another name: Mauel. Theo Mauel was paymaster and later head of the administration of the hospital, he died at the bomb raid in Dec. 1944. His son has published a look into his father's diary in a newspaper in 2010, and also a photo of the hospital's doctors and managers:

http://www.ksta.de/region/abtei-geschichte-boese-erinnerungen-in-suetterlin,15189102,12613578.html

In the article we find some further names:

Dr. Schlickum, head physician (I think we already had his name)

Paymaster Weber (real nazi and enemy of all friars)

Dr. Rathmer, assistant medical director

 

Christoph

[Jean Jacobson]

WOW!

 

Marion and Christoph you are a riot!

 

And what do you think of all of this news!! Man this is something.

 

Christoph, you really are unbelievable! I try to picture what your profession is and it will be fascinating to one day see if I have figured it out.

 

I had Sister. Edeltrud tell me from the paper who she recognized. And I must go back to the tapes and try to translate them.

 

Mr. Norton remembered from Siegburg one name on the list from Stolz.

 

Now that you have overwhelmed me with incredible news - off the charts - what can I tell you?

 

Well my big news was, until I really talked to him, is ....

maybe another Siegburg to Waldbrol prisoner is alive. Norton did not recognize the name.and it sounds like he was up in the hospital section of the Abbey. But he must be away for the summer. Phone will take no messages and other referral phone number takes no messages. So I sent a letter, you know, hoping he will be overjoyed to discuss this topic. My hope is someone is forwarding him the mail. This is so dicey because of the ages of these guys. Of course, if he lets me, I will fly to meet him and we will call Mr. Norton who is anxious to talk to him too. But the wait goes on....

 

The amount of information you sent is so shocking that I still can not believe it! I can hardly wait to hear what Mr.Neifer tells you!

 

Christoph you are truly incredible!!!

 

JJ

[Walt's Daughter]

This topic is such a breathe of fresh air. What I think it will symbolize is the fact that you never know, when, where or how information will come your way. I know many who write to me often feel defeated when they initial research often leaves them in the lurch. But as I have proved, and of course, what the two of you have proved, is that it ain't over till the fat lady sings! While we can't promise results like yours every time, we do show it CAN BE DONE, but everyone must have that undying drive to keep them overturning every little stone.