FYI: my brother in law was a member of the Hohenstauffen 9th Panzer Grenadier Division. He saw action in Normandy, Crimean Peninsula and Hungary. In June 1944 the division was on the Eastern front and was shipped per expedited trains to Normany. Just west of Paris they already encountered guerilla action, blown up tracks etc. In 1945 the division retreated north to Austria and near Linz encountered a Russian unit. They wanted nothing to do with the Germans and directed them to an American Unit down the road. The entire division with all their artillery and tanks surrendered. They were ordered into a large meadow and surrounded by their own tanks and machine guns now manned by US troops. They had to live on food stuffs they had in the trucks. The Americans did not provide any food or water. The next morning the entire division was ordered to assemble for inspection by US military police who proceeded to rob every man of his valuables, especially Iron Crosses decorations, gold rings, wedding bands and money. In August 1945 they were discharged but were not allowed to use public transport on the way home. My brother in law marched across Germany from near Linz to Hannover.
6 жыл бұрын
WOW. We have no idea of the privations suffered by so many on all sides!
@Deutchessoldat41 Жыл бұрын
Seen the 9th society at the ww2 airshow in reading Pennsylvania