Camp near Siegberg Germany?

[Christoph]

The camp where only two could still walk was Waldbröl, Jean found this Information.

The 78th was in Gummersbach on 12 April 1945, but the POW camp there at Rospe seems to be established by the 78th for about 50.000 Nazi POW.

There is a town "Bad Enbach", but there the war over already in March.

 

Christoph

[SonofaMP]

Found this mention in Chapter 16 of the book:

 

United States Army in World War II

European Theater of Operations

The Last Offensive

by Charles B. MacDonald

 

http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USA/USA-E-Last/USA-E-Last-16.html

In the course of the advance almost every division overran a number of military hospitals, and several units liberated prisoner-of-war camps. At Waldbroel, not far north of the Sieg River, the 78th Division freed 71 hospitalized American soldiers, only 2 of whom were able to walk. At Hemer the 7th Armored Division rescued 23,302 prisoners of war, most of them Russians, living under appalling conditions of filth, disease, and hunger. The only Americans, a group of 99, were in fair condition, having been assigned to the camp only a few days. Among the others, deaths were averaging more than a hundred a day.(37)

 

(37). See 7th Armd and 78th Div AAR's, Apr 45.

[SonofaMP]

On image 8 of the old german map posted in the previous post you`ll Siegborg on the left side & going northeast from there is Walbroel , upper right side of map.

 

[Christoph]

Another one who was for a short time in Bonn and Siegburg: Claude Dempsey:

http://www.3ad.com/history/wwll/memoirs.pages/ruth.pages/claude.dempsey.htm

http://www.ww2pow.info/index.php?page=directory&rec=58822

 

Christoph

[Jean Jacobson]

Christoph,

 

The information that you and Larry came up with before your last post is great! Thank You Both Very Much!

 

And this Dempsey information is once again STUNNING!

 

I cant wait to print it out and slowly digest it! He is not on either of the lists I have.

 

You know, Larry is cooking over here in America. I once thought this project would take me until I took my last gasp - or whatever the expression is - but the 2 of you are moving soooo fast that I am actually not keeping up.

 

Christoph THANK YOU!

 

Larry THANK YOU!

 

and Marion THANK YOU!

 

I did go all the way to Sarasota this week to meet 2 Polish people that were prisoners in WW2. They did not turn out to be even near Siegburg, and I knew that, but learned many things and confirmed many things - all helping me with my Siegburg knowledge. Also heard some good German polka music while talking in the gentleman's home.

 

Good Night,

Jean

[Jean Jacobson]

Well it is not morning and I am back again.

 

Christoph, wait until you see what Larry has done on researching some of the deceased POW's.

 

You guys are off the charts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Fascinating news on Butler - he died after Dad left (3/15) if the date is Apr. 24th. Was he liberated from Waldbrol and died in an American Hospital. he was buried in an American Cemetery in Epinal, France.

 

When I get Waldbrol list we will know if he was on it. If there are records on him in St. Louis maybe we can fine more.

 

Larry, you have originated a very exciting story and puzzle! In trying to track the Waldbrol men will we find that some others died after their liberation! Gad, what a thought!

 

Larry, you really must do this for a living???????? This is unbelievable research!!!!!!!!!!

 

More,

Jean

[Jean Jacobson]

It is Saturday morning and I could hardly wait to go back to looking at the information that Larry sent me!

 

I don't know what to say - how many more positive expletives exist to describe Larry and what he has done and is doing! This is beyond a Miracle!

 

I am at the moment pretty emotional as I think of these 5 men that Larry on his own decided to learn more about. They are Leland Butler, George E Campbell, John J Culik Jr., Guy W. Wade, and Roy L. Westgate, Jr.

 

These men have been gone so long and none of us know anything about them and the supreme sacrifice that they had to make.

 

Christoph and I know of 4 of these men - because they were buried at the Cemetery at the Prison Camp/Hospital/Abbey at Siegburg. We know that because of earlier information that Christoph was able to track down. Christoph located a Mr. Stolz who prior to his becoming unreachable because of health issues, and Mr. Stolz telling me that, sent me a list of some men that were buried in the little Cemetery and a map (not my Dad's) and some other things. (In addition he got me in touch with a translator for that brief trip to visit the Nun because Christoph was not going to be in Germany at that time.).

 

Mr. Stolz had this very unusual information because his passion had been locating planes, or remains of them, and tracking down information on downed Airmen. One of which, Philip C. Dryden, was buried there at Siegburg by my Dad.

 

The map and information my Dad supplied to the Allieds after his escape/leaving Siegburg - is still something I have not unearthed.

 

So from Stolz's list I have tried to locate information on the deceased gentlemen. It has been a slow and frustrating journey on so many of them - and I have more to still research. The Archive folks at St. Louis have been wonderful but if there are no records there then they can not do any more. Well Larry did the 'More' on the 5 mentioned men.

 

I am going to sign off, so I do not lose this as I so often do, and start another post.

 

Jean

[Jean Jacobson]

I am still pretty emotional over the 5 men and this incredible research/work that Larry did. I had not yet sent Larry the Stolz documents - and last night I sent him the list and just now sent the map. The map appears to be dated March 9 1946. We can figure that some men were moved before then?

 

My memory was that Dad buried more than the 20 plus on the list - and after the War he got phone calls for over 2 years from the families of the fallen. The phone calls were very difficult on him he said.

 

We moved from NY to Fla. in 1948 - and from then on no one would have known where to find Dad.

 

So back to the information on these 5 men! Larry it is so incredible! You have given life back to each of them and the families they were a part of! Their poor families - parents, siblings, and everyone - never to be the same again! So tragic and so final! At least when the knock at the door and dreaded telegram arrived if it was MIA - there existed hope. But a KIA Telegram had to destroy not only the soldier but the families right along with it.

 

Most of these men according to your research seem to have limited chances for finding close relatives.

 

The information you found on Culik is quite amazing. I think he is part of my latest batch of inquiries for NARA St. Louis. Will be fascinating to see what they have on him and compare that to the huge amount that you discovered. His time near or in Zweifall, Germany is fascinating. I want to compare it to the time that the 4th Division was there because I have some stories from that period from one of the Division level Vets that I am in close contact with. Prior to Zweifall, in Bleialf, Germany, Ernest Hemingway and John Groth attached to the 4th Division.

 

Larry, I am still in Shock with what you did for me and these men and their families!

 

A HUGE Thank You!!!!!!

 

Jean

 

There are not enough ways to say THANK YOU!!!!

 

Jean

[SonofaMP]

No i dont do this for a living, i`z just an old retired truck driver with a spare time hobby.

Concerning Butler, with a death date of 24 April 45 and that he was buried at the temporary cemetery at Solers Cemetery, Melum, France, i`d say he was alive when liberated ( we dont know where from yet ), he most likey died at a army hospital near Paris. After the war, they family had the option as to which of the AMBC permanent cemeteries to be buried at.

[SonofaMP]

Quick info on 1st Lt. Philip C. Dryden

 

Date of Enlistment: 17 June 1942

Place of Enlistment: Newark, New Jersey

ASN 12093249

GRADE: ALPHA DESIGNATION: Pvt., Private

BRANCH: ALPHA DESIGNATION: AC, Air Corps

Residence State: New Jersey

Residence County: Somerset

Source of Army Personnel: Civil Life

Nativity: Dist of Columbia

Race & Citizenship: White, Citizen

Education: 3 years of college

Civilian Occupation: Actors & Actresses

Marital Status: Single, without dependants

Component of the Army: Reserves - exclusive of Regular Army Reserve and Officers of the Officers Reserve Corps on active duty

under the Thomason Act (Officers and Enlisted Men -- O.R.C. and E.R.C., and Nurses-Reserve Status)

 

Philip C. Dryden

ID: O-812956

Entered the Service From: New Jersey

Rank: First Lieutenant

Service: U.S. Army Air Forces, 599th Bomber Squadron, 397th Bomber Group, Medium

Died: Wednesday, January 03, 1945

Buried at: Netherlands American Cemetery

Location: Margraten, Netherlands

Plot: H Row: 8 Grave: 14

Awards: Air Medal with 11 Gold Stars, Purple Heart

 

Dryden`s B-26 Was shot down 23 Dec 1944

 

Plane Data: Serial Number: 43 - 34159

Type: B - 26G - 1

Nickname: Hun

Destination: Eller RR. Bridge, Germany

Mission: Operational

MACR ( Missing Air Crew Report ) Number: 11897

Crew List

Pilot: Dryden, Philip C. 1st Lt. 0 - 812956

Co-Pilot: Stang, Robert F. 2nd Lt. 0 - 823730

Bombardier: Cummings, Benjamin B. F/O T - 5736

Engineer-Gunner: Ahlgren, Elwood R. T/Sgt. 6148071

Radio-Gunner: Kish, Stephen J. T/Sgt. 13060624

Arm-Gunner: Lefever, Paul W. Sgt 13022121

 

 

http://www.b26.com/p...oup_history.htm

DECEMBER INSTALLMENT

 

UNIT HISTORY OF HEADQUARTERS DETACHMENT, 397TH BOMBARDMENT GROUP (M)

 

For The Period 1 December -- 31 December 1944.

 

******** ******** ********

 

1. For the month of December, the 397th Bombardment Group remained at A-72, Mons En Chaussee, France. The usual operational activity for the month was limited considerably by weather, with the Germans taking advantage of this change in climate to launch a strong counter-offensive in the 12th Army Group Sector. The attack began the 16th of December, under the protective cover of low fog and conditions unsuitable for our air forces to oppose the drive. However, on the 23rd of December, medium bombardment aircraft were out in strength, striking important communication zones directly behind the German onslaught. On this day, the mission to the ELLER RR Bridge in Germany, the group suffered its first major losses by enemy aircraft and anti-aircraft. After the turn off from target, on course to home base, approximately 25 single engine fighters attacked our formation. The group’s records show a loss of eight B-26’s to enemy aircraft encounters and two B-26’s to heavy flak. Our gunners hit back for a total tally of four enemy aircraft destroyed, three enemy aircraft probably destroyed, and eight enemy aircraft damaged. This total does not include enemy aircraft presumably destroyed or damaged by the ten missing bombers.

 

An interesting side note, in the historical report of the 397th BG for the month of March 1945, it shows the group bombed Siegborg on March 6 1945.