Camp near Siegberg Germany?

[Jean Jacobson]

Christoph, In a message that came in while writing you, with the subject: Message from Christoph

 

Hi:

 

That was my first thought. G-2 reports are very detailed and usually would correct a misreport of listing a PsW as French when they are American. I did not find such correction in the reports.

 

Sorry,

Dan

[Jean Jacobson]

Hello Christoph,

 

While these reports don't have an answer about Dad, they do confirm your ideas on the River Sieg.

 

Report stated: "The river Sieg is not very deep and could be crossed at certain points without bridges especially close to the mouth where it is not more than three feet deep."

 

Maybe with the maps from Dan Raymond Dad's escape route will become clearer You know it is an interesting thought, Dad had been out of the Abbey/Camp a few times plus an additional 22 times to take the deceased men to the Cemetery where he buried them. He emphasized the distance to the Cemetery was quite a distance. He had to go down the long hill he said and we drove around with him to try to figure it out. And as I have mentioned, we failed to find the Cemetery or any marker. If the Cemetery was near the Autobahn, and he knew that path, maybe that was the direction he fled. Ah hah, from the Abbey, so high up, they could tell where there were large amounts of buildings and where there were not. Maybe see paths and lights, if ever on.

 

 

Oh well, I must get going, gosh I have so many things I could work on with the research. I think I will call KF from the road today just to say hello and stay in touch!

 

How I would love to talk to some of those men that had knowledge of the Abbey. I will bring, whenever that is, large maps for you of the new ones, and of the Abbey so we can maybe with the Sister's help figure out where Theo would have lived, and the others, where she lived, and oh so many

things.

 

I wonder if I could get the gal I met that is associated with the Abbey to let us all go down into what was the basement and other places in the building. I want to feel what it was like for Dad to run from the barracks below tending the men and then upstairs to where KF was located and I think there was another Allied hospital section too. And where was the Morgue, etc.

 

Now back to the current world, but with you Christoph the past is coming more alive!

 

Bye for the moment,

Jean J

[Christoph]

Jean

From the Abbey to the cemetery he had to walk 2 kilometers, that may be a long way with a cart or however he transported the deceased particularly in that winter with so much snow.

 

Now back to the current world, but with you Christoph the past is coming more alive!

Hey, I'm not so old!

 

Christoph

[Jean Jacobson]

Good Morning Christoph,

 

Now that you mention it, I do think of you as young, you seem so filled with life and eagerness for living and for new discoveries, and yet your responses seem to come from a much more, well, mature type individual.

 

Good Night

Jean J

[Jean Jacobson]

Christoph,

 

I just was about done writing a fairly long entry but I did something wrong and lost it - I must have been too tired. And now I am really too tired. Maybe it will show up somewhere tomorrow.

 

Jean J

[Jean Jacobson]

Christoph,

 

So sorry I could not write yesterday - I am so busy with Mom type things. And I am still frustrated that I lost that last entry. Part of it was in response to your 2 KM observation. That is such a big help!

 

If that is where the 22 men were found, then that is where Dad had to walk. And he did lament the distance. I know the only vehicle, which was wood burning, broke down and the parts could never be replaced or repaired. So they were walking and as you mention, and he did too, the weather was tough.

 

Again, as you say, If he had to go 2 KM each way, that is a hefty distance especially in that weather. Plus we know the distance from the barracks up to the top of the Abbey, and Dad was cutting the wood for a small wood stove that was up in KF's area, and carrying that up there, and carrying prisoners up to that level, and .......

 

Now why was that Cemetery so far away?

 

And was Dad accompanied by someone? I never heard of horses, and to the best my knowledge Dad never learned to really ride a horse even when young.

 

And where were the wounded Germans buried when they died? We know there were at least 31 of them. And where was Theo buried? Maybe the son knows.

 

I recall Dad saying that he was allowed at least on one occasion to go outside the Camp with out anyone. How unfortunate (but it was the right thing to do) that I did not dig deeper with more questions. But I would not dare for fear of hurting him and making him have to think too hard about his past. But do you suppose that trip was to the Cemetery?

 

Norton was stunned when I told him that. He was in disbelief. But now with the way you mentioned the 2 KM and the snow and weather and maybe a cart with at least 115 to 130 pounds of a poor dead soul, that was the time.

 

And where did they walk? through town? How many homes were there?

 

If there were 22 men, over an approximate 4 plus months, that is about 1 per week. However during heavy military activity, like the Bulge it would probably have been more. And that was when the weather was certainly very bad.

 

When we go to the Cemetery, it will be interesting if Steve and I can remember if that is where we drove to with Dad. He tried to find it. I do not think we took a photo of the location. But I recall a small piece of land (it was not parallel to the road, but kind of triangular) with green grass and it was next to a raised road.

 

What a mistake to have taken Dad to Siegburg first. But we were all so curious. He got very frustrated and angry. Not a single person could help us! He would be stunned and very happy and very grateful that you came into his life!!

 

Oh, so many unknown answers. And speaking of the town, I heard back from the facility that produces that map files. Apparently the cost of $30 is a set up fee and then the cost of the actual maps is negligible. I sent Dan and email and asked him on the production of them and first I will see about adding some more maps. I need Cologne because of KF, and I need to supply him with the approximate area of Dad's capture, and I do want Remagen. Is there something you would like me to add to the list?

 

I could write forever, but life (don't ask about the one sick woman yesterday, so pathetic) and especially Mom, who is doing better, thank goodness, beckon me forth right now. On to calls to the Drs for Mom.

 

Hope you are having a great day!

 

Jean J

[Jean Jacobson]

Christoph,

 

Another thought I had in the lost email and failed to mention above was the earth. Having to carry a shovel and then digging through the snow and frozen ground.

 

In winters like you had that 1944/1945 does your earth freeze like ours did it Minnesota?

 

I do not recall Dad ever mentioning the digging. Maybe he did with Steve. My guess is that mentioning the actual earth and soil, because he was so well, earthy, would bring back the memory at a different level. It would for me.

 

Gad so much more to talk about,

Jean J

[Christoph]

Concerning the maps: The Univerity of Greifswald has some of these maps online, the one with Remagen for example:

http://greif.uni-greifswald.de/geogreif/geogreif-content/upload/mtbl/5409Linz1893Kopie.jpg

 

Here you can find an overview of all these maps with numbers and links:

http://www.unsere-ahnen.de/digi_buecher/Uebersichtskarte_Messtischblaetter_nord.pdf

You should zoom in at at least 400% if you want to read the text!

 

These maps are older, of about 1895-1905, but to get an overview it might be sufficient. The Ludendorff bridge of course was not built yet.

 

Christoph

[Christoph]

Theo is perhaps buried on the same cemetary, there is a also military cemetary with 634 graves of WWI and II and he's wearing a uniform on the photo. The city of Siegburg has published a brochure, online here:

http://www.blattwelt.de/siegburger_blaetter/nr_27_nordfriedhof.pdf, unfortunately the pictures are very compressed in the pdf file.

The cemetary was built after the old cemetary which is nearer to the Abbey was full, and I think it is normal to choose a place a bit outside of the city. For the friars on the hill there was and is another cemetary, directly beneath the camp.

 

Christoph

[Jean Jacobson]

Christoph, That is wonderful what you wrote above. I will study it all.

 

Going through papers real early AM because days are going to get even busier coming up. Mom is not doing well and I am working on her 90th birthday party. Many other things going on.

 

In between I must try to pursue the living prisoners and men and women who are alive that might have information.

 

In the notes I found, "Reached American Lines March 21- 1945 - Rimagen"

 

and "Went thru chain of hospitals - Frost Bitten Feet"

 

and "Wounds: Shrapnel Right Shoulder

Bullet thru Left Ear"

 

and other places he talks about the lice.

 

I must try to call KF today. I have a VMAIL that to me indicates because of the condition of the boys that KF must have been taken to a different place - as indicated by his thinking he was very high up. I will read him that and later write that to you.

 

Jean J