For family recognition, I have highlighted all areas referring to my grandfather, Cpl. Frederick J. Abel, in red.
I have added green colored hyperlinks to names and various parts of this book which will direct you to photos and other interesting information that I possess.
Please note that the grammatical and punctuation errors seen in the following content are printed this way in the original version.
I have added green colored hyperlinks to names and various parts of this book which will direct you to photos and other interesting information that I possess.
Please note that the grammatical and punctuation errors seen in the following content are printed this way in the original version.
Dedication:
To those who fell in battle.
May their children and our children never again see the world plunged into the hor- rors and sufferings of war. May we work for Peace. |
Written by 2nd Lt Frank Mucci
Assisted by: 2nd Lt David Kibler T/5 Glenn Ritchie PFC Mervin Lewis Cpl Ross Theakston Sgt Kenneth Osborn Cpl Maurice Jenkins Cpl Frederick Abel PFC LeRoy Bradford PFC Milton Key Sgt Wilson Foss Sgt Nick Knezevich Cpl Joseph Knaebel S/Sgt Nick Lambert |
HISTORY OF BATTERY "A"
382 FIELD ARTILLERY BATTALION DECEMBER 1942 . 103rd INFANTRY DIVISION . JUNE 1945 CAMP CLAIBORNE, LOUISIANA It was a cold day in December, 1942. The train came to a sudden stop. Camp Claiborne, Louisiana, read the sign. This was it for us rookies who had come from all parts of the country and who were to become a part of the 103rd Division. Little did we realize then that our Division was destined to play a leading role in bringing about the defeat of Hitler Germany.
WE GET INTO THE ARTILLERY
"Carl Cloud, Artillery . . . . Alois Kowalczyk, Artillery." Name after name was called out by an officer assigning us to the various units that go to make up an infantry Division. "Boy, I'm sure glad I got into the artillery, instead of the infantry," says Darace Eaton of Missouri. That was the beginning of "A" Battery.
"Read the bulletin board twice a day and be ready to fall out for reveille at six in the morning," growled 1st Sgt Young. Off to the bulletin board we went. The first thing we noticed was: "Chain of Commands: Major General Charles C Haffner, Division Commander: Brigadier General John T Pierce, Ass't Division Commander: Brigadier General Roger M. Wicks, Division artillery Commander: Colonel Shea, Executive Division Artillery: Lt Colonel Drummond, Battalion Commander: Major Roberts, Battalion Executive: Captain James S Iun, S-3: 1st Lt Levine, Battery Commander: 1st Lt Wisdom, Executive: 2nd Lt Hall, R.O.: 2nd Lt Buchanan, Motor Officer: 2nd Lt Bledsoe, Mess Officer. TRAINING BEGINS
From then on it was drill and more drill, classes and more classes. "In making a column movement," shouts Sgt K. G. Adams, "You take one full step off the pivot, then take up the half step." "How many times do I have to tell you that Pvt Homb?" "What does phosgene smell like: Pvt Szymanski?" "Like garlic, sir." "No, says the instructor, "phosgene, smells like new mown hay."
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Every morning we had to "police up," sometimes twice a day. Column of files from the right, Right Face." "OK," says Sgt Helton, "Pick up everything that doesn't grow." "Salute and police up, that's all this outfit knows," grumbled Pvt Crawford. So it went day after day. We got so we could do a column movement and take a full step off the pivot every time. We learned about gases and their smell. We even learned that if our gas mask wasn't in working order, the next best thing was to use a wet handkerchief. The catch is that water may not always be available.
Then came Christmas. For most of us it was our first Xmas away from home. Our morale was low. Just before dinner the 1st Sgt asked for volunteers for some work. Old timers in the army follow a rule to never volunteer for anything. Not being army wise yet, Pvt's Theakston, Varallo, Ritchie, Sanchez, Cloud, Salters and a couple of others volunteered. They spent Xmas afternoon on K.P. And to think they volunteered for it! We had a swell dinner that Xmas. We had:
Roast Turkey, Baked ham, mashed potatoes, creamed peas,
Creamed corn, sage dressing, giblet gravy, cranberry sauce, cake, pie, oranges, apples, assorted nuts, coco, coffee, cigars and cigarettes. As good a dinner as we'd ever had. During our training we had four different battery commanders, first, Lt Levine, then Lt Wisdom, Lt Bledsole and Lt McLean (Later Capt) At different times we had as officers in the battery, Lt Bullis, Lt Stubbs, Lt Pack,
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Lt Koenfelder, Lt Kahanek, Capt Miller and Lt Hamilton, 1st Sgt Young went to the Aircorp, and Sgt Stewart made 1st Sgt. Sgt C. E. Adams also went to the Aircorp and was later sent to the 411th Infantry. Sgt K. G. Adams was promoted to S/Sgt and Chief of the firing battery. Sgt Mucci was made staff and Chief of Detail. Pvt Solt was promoted to T/4. The following privates were promoted to Cpl or to T/5: Abel, Clouse, Knaebel, Knezevich, Carpenter, McCord, Schenck, Crawford. While at Camp Claiborne, Capt Jun was promoted to Major, later to Lt Col and Battalion commander. Major Richardson was Battalion Executive. Lt Beimdek and Lt Stillwell were promoted to Captains and became part of the Battalion Staff. Lt Tirey joined the battery just before we went on maneuvers.
LOUISIANA MANEUVERS, SEPT. 1943
Maneuvers in Louisiana, those were the good old days. Everyone cussed the State of Louisiana. "No wonder the French sold it to us," we said. But after we'd been gone from the U.S. forawhile even Louisiana wasn't so bad, yes, even Leesville looked good from France!
First we went on a short "D" series. There was a lot of movement on "D" series and it was the first time we worked as part of the 409th combat team. On regular maneuvers, we were one of four divisions participating, the other three being, the 84th, 99th and the 102nd. Everything was Simulated, with problems lasting 3 or 4 days and then a break for 3 or 4 days. Those breaks were the best part of maneuvers. Big fires and poker games for the gamblers, sleep and rest for those that were tired. PFC Shadic, who was known as King of the Gamblers, usually saw to it that a game got started. For good reason too, he rarely lost. During every break some of us went on pass to Alexandria, Leesville and once we went to Lake Charles. We had a lot of long night motor marches and went into position mostly at night. "Artillery moves at night," we were told. "Dig," that's about all we heard on maneuvers. We probably dug more on maneuvers then we did in combat, but it was good training especially for those guys from Chicago and Detroit who weren't used to handling a shovel. Camouflage was a big thing too as was the covering up of vehicle tracks. Chiggers and snakes were our biggest "enemies". We had a lot of scares from snakes, but never heard of anyone getting bit. Sgt. Tobin woke up one night with one in his lap. The next morning someone asked him what kind it was, he said he didn't stop long enough to find out. Tobin from then on 11
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slept in a truck. Our other "enemy," the chigger was all over Louisiana. Those little red bugs, some called them by other names, caused many a man a sleepless night.
There was a lot of mud and rain in Louisiana that fall, and with us sleeping in pup tents, it wasn't exactly like home. Ploughing thru the mud and rain however was good training, as we had a lot of the same thing going thru France. WE CROSS THE SABINE
The big event in our maneuvers was the crossing of the Sabine river. Everyone was worked up about it. Some of those who couldn't swim had visions of drowning, but none did. In fact no one in the battery even got wet!
The F. O's and their men went across in boats and the rest of the battery rode across on a pontoon bridge built by the 328th Engineer battalion. It was a big success and we established a bridgehead across the river. "Now you are ready to establish a beachhead on some foreign shore," they said. Instead we invaded Texas and established a "beachhead" at Camp Howze, wich we held for nine months. CAMP HOWZE
Soon after we arrived at Camp Howze, furloughs and three day passes were given out. Those on the bottom of the list were worried, thinking they wouldn't get a furlough, but they did. In fact, nearly everyone got two furloughs, as rotation furloughs were later put into effect.
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Simply because we had maneuvers, didn't mean we were finished soldiers. Training and classes continued. Field problems were numerous. We fired hundreds of rounds in service practice. The three A. G. F. tests were retaken a number of times. Orientation periods were held twice a week. They were interesting and we had some very good discussions on Government and world problems.
INSPECTIONS
Those were the days of inspections. One day when the battery area wasn't in very good order, General Haffner paid us a visit. The first thing he noticed, was that the brooms were on the left and the mops on the right, instead of vice versa. The battery was restricted. For days weeds were pulled, rocks were placed in straight lines, the battery street was swept and reswept, huts were scrubbed, walls and rafters washed and even the day room was painted. When we finally finished the place looked like a front parlor, which was probably the way the General wanted it to look.
Life seemed cruel and rugged those days, but as we traveled the world we learned it wasn't too bad. The camp had two nice Service Clubs, dances were held there several times a week, with girls coming down from Denton or Dallas. There were a number of theatres in camp and several PXs with plenty of beer and ice cream. The high spot for those that wanted to kick the gong around, were the weekend passes to Denton, Dallas and Fort Worth. Many a short beer was 13
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drank in Dallas and some beautiful friendships were made, not all of them platonic. If you didn't feel like going to Dallas, you could go and listen to Sgt Foss and Ray Zarza play the guitars. The hit tune then was, "Hot N . . .," usually led by Isaacs and Sylvester.
Early in the year a number of new men joined the battery. Some had been released earlier because of physical condition. Timmons, Strong and Holland were sent to the 88th Division, which shortly after went to Italy. Five other men were sent out on Cadre. The new men were. Felle, Fisher, Funk, Freihaut, Gillette, Godek, Harvison, Huntington, Key, Cole (Cole later went to OCS), Mervin Lewis, Guy Morrell, twin brother to Earl, Neill, Nowak, Osborn, Reichow, Renda, Riffe, Bradford, Roos, Shelby, Sims, Stainkamp, Leslie Stewart, Sonnier, Sylvester, and Zarza. Some of these men came from ASTP, some from Fort Bragg and others were transferred from other units. During this same period we had a number of officers who came to the battery: They were Lt Fleming, who later went overseas, Lt Cross, Lt Peeples, Lt Walker, Lt Reinsch, Lt Scott, Lt Barber and Lt Bowen, who later became a liaison officer and a captain. During the summer the athletic program was intensified. There was something in the wind besides a breeze. Regular instructors, Officers and Non-Coms were placed in charge. The exercises included, so many minutes of "Bull necking," then "In place trot," so many minutes of "hand wrestling," some more "In place trot," then "Bicycling" and more "In place
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trot," in other words while you were "resting" you trotted to no place in particular. Along with this we had regular 10 and 25 mile hikes. The program must have been alright, because we all became strong and healthy and everyone except Schroeder and Mangus went overseas. During the Spring and Summer we had some good softball games even tho we did not win the pennant.
One bright morning when everyone thought they had the war made, Sgt Stewart called the battery in the day room and told them that there was to be an important announcement. Everyone was silent, as Capt McLean informed us that the 103rd Division had been alerted. "Everyone will have a A and B bag," said the Captain. "None will carry more than 5 pounds of extra equipment," he said. Stainkamp was broken hearted, for he had at least 100 pounds! It wouldn't be long now before the Division was on it's way. The only ones that didn't seem to worry were, Carpenter, the Morrells, Roos, Funk and Kubiak. They surely wouldn't be sent overseas. So they thought. CAMP SHANKS, P. O. E.
September 25th, 1944 dawned bright and clear, but it was a dark day for Hitler, the Cactus Division was on it's way to war. On the evening of the 25th, the 382nd Field Artillery Battalion left Camp Howze.
The train passed through 7 states, making stops at, Texarkana, Little Rock, Memphis, Bowling Green (Shelby's home town, but like a good soldier he stayed on the train), Cleveland, Cincinnatti, Dayton, Columbus, Youngstown, Buffalo (Nowak's home town), Trenton, Utica, Albany and the last stop Camp Shanks, P. O. E. During stops in some of the towns we took short walks and ran through some light exercises. 15
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We stayed in Camp Shanks 8 days. Shanks was everything it was cracked up to be. Everything was organized down to the minute. For example, our battery had to be at the chow stadium at exactly 0645. At 0646 the first man entered, at 0647 he got his eggs, at 0648 his cereal, at 0649 his coffee et 0650 he was sitting down eating his breakfast. Not one minute was lost!
We were issued some shoe packs ad four pair of heavy wool socks, a sure sign, so went the rumor, that we were headed for Iceland or an invasion of Norway. A. P. O. R. requirment was climbing down a rope ladder that hung from the side of a boat. This was training in case we had to abandon ship. Even tho the boat rocked a little, everyone made it OK. Physical examinations were next. "Here is where I get sent back home," thought some. "These P. O. E. physicals are really tough," they said to themselves. But all you had to do to pass the exam was to show proof that you were a man and that you were able to walk across a room without getting exhausted. NEW YORK CITY
Passes to New York City were given and nearly everyone went. Some came back enthused, others disappointed. One day a big argument started over New York and turned into, which was the best the North or the South. For a while it looked like the civil war was going to be refought. It would
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have but men from the Border States intervened. The argument was never settled, but we think that all, will now agree, that North or South is better then anything we've seen since leaving the states.
Strict censorship was put into force. We couldn't write where we were, where we were going or where we had been. Folks back home received some very shallow letters from us those days. At exactly 1710 on October 5th we boarded a train and left Camp Shanks. At 1825 we arrived at a New York ferry. At 1830 we boarded the ferry and at 2015 we arived at the Third Naval District Pier. A band at the pier did it's best to pep us up, but no dice, we were worn out carrying our duffle bags and equipment. Red Cross women were also on hand with coffee, donuts and some hershey bars. At 2030 we started up the gangplank of a large looking ship, which we later learned was the U. S. S. Monticello. The morning report says the, Monticello was awaiting movement." So it was.
U. S. S. MONTICELLO
The U. S. S. Monticello was formely the Conte Grande, an Italian luxury liner, which some said had been captured and converted into a troop transport by our navy. At that time the Monticello was our second largest naval troop transport. Some sailors informed us that the Monticello is in the 24,000 ton class and is 652 feet long and 78 feet wide. Not that it means anything, but they told us anyhow.
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It looked and was big. Everyone expected to have comfortable quarters aboard. Disappointment was in store for us. We were guided through the strange and dimly lit ship to our quarters, "F-3," three decks below. Bunks were three high and just enough space for a man to walk through. It was very stuffy, and reminded us of the slave ship quarters we had seen in the movies. It was so crowded a person could hardly move without finding someone's posterior in his face! Everyone was grumbling. "What a hole" someone else said. There's no getting around it, the place was bad. Even tho we bitched, we knew the reason we had to travel so crowded, there simply wasn't enough shipping. We knew too, that it was more important to get munitions and supplies to those fighting in France and to the soldiers in the far off Pacific. But we griped anyhow. On the morning of October 6th, 1944 at 0915, the U. S. S. Monticello departed from New York. DESTINATION UNKNOWN.
As it steamed slowly out of the harbor, everyone strained to get a last look at the gradually fading skyscrapers of New York. Slowly the big ship passed the Statue of Liberty, the very symbol of the freedom, for which we were on our way to fight. It would be many a day before we saw the Statue of Liberty again. Some saw it on that bleak October morning for the last time. AT SEA
We had seen a movie at Camp Shanks on rules aboard ship, so we were more or less acquainted on what we could and couldn't do. When the ship was "darkened," no one was supposed to smoke. Another rule was, that only those with "work tags," which served as passes, could move through the ship, and this only during certain hours.
Those on these details had a better deal as they didn't have to stay in the "hole" during the day. Our details were to keep a number of stairways clean, clean a few quarters and handle trash. In some ways they were gold-brick jobs, as most of those on detail could usually be found on deck playing poker or shooting craps. Everyone had to go on deck during the "abandon ship" drills, which were held twice daily. The purpose of the drills was to avert panic and disorder in case we were torpedoed and had to leave the ship. Each compartment was guided through certain routes and to a certain deck, here everyone had to stand against the "bulkhead" in order to make room for the navy personnel to handle the life boats and rafts, in case of disaster. Just in case we had to hit the water, we had a lifebelt, which we 18
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wore at all times. It looked like an inner tube and was worn around the waist. Most of them were old, an indication that many before us had used them.
Serving chow to the thousands of men on board was one of the big problems. Each compartment had a certain time to go and eat, in single file we went thru one of the kitchens, cafeteria style. Meals were eaten on high tables and standing up. Those on detail had meal tickets and ate three meals a day. The others not so fortunate had two meals a day. When the sea became rough, some men didn't eat at all, in fact they threw their food away! THE ATLANTIC OCEAN
"That's a hell of a lot of water," said PFC Buster, as he gazed out over the Atlantic ocean. And so it was. The Atlantic ocean covers an area of over 41,000,000 miles, and is a long ways down, being 13 miles deep.
Our ship was the flag ship, having aboard, our Division commander, General Haffner. It was one of 14 ships in the convoy, which included several Destroyer Escorts. Their role was to protect the convoy from submarine attack. The ship behind us, someone said, was the U. S. S. Washington, on which Woodrow Wilson sailed to France after the last war. Nothing really exciting happened while we were on the Atlantic. The ship's log probably said that the voyage was "Uneventful". On our 5th or 6th day out we did see two ships burning, they looked like freighters. We never learned what happened, as we kept right on going. We had one light storm during the entire voyage. The weather as our morning report says was mostly, "Fair and cool." While aboard ship the following men were promoted: T/5 Foss to Sgt: T/5 Dietzschold to T/4: T/5 Stolte to Cpl: Pvt Breton to T/5: (Breton in civilian life was a race track driver, some thought he still drove as if he were on a track) PFC Gustafson to T/5 and Pvt Isaacs to T/5. LAND
On our 10th day out we sighted land. Over the loud speaker came the announcement that the land which we saw in the distance, was Africa. The city which, we without field glasses could barely make out, was Tangier, an International Settlement. It is a seaport of 60,000 inhabitants and occupies the extreme northwest corner of Africa. Rumors now began to fly. Some said we were going to land in Africa, others said we were headed for Italy,
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some said France, and still others maintained that we were going trough the Suez Canal and on to the Pacific.
We sighted two other African cities, Oran and Algiers, both seaports in Algeria. It was at these two ports (and Casablanca on the Atlantic side of Africa) that U. S. troops landed in Africa on November 8th, 1942. GIBRALTAR
To our left we could see the rocky coast of Spain. Then we sighted the Rock of Gibraltar in the distance. Some were able to get a better view of the rock than others. It was beginning to get dusk as we approached it, and all troops were ordered below deck, probably for security reasons. The Rock of Gibraltar itself is 2 and 3/4 miles long, 3/4 of a mile wide and 1,396 feet high. The mighty rock overlooks the narrow strip of water (14 miles) which divides Europe from Africa.
THE MEDITERRANEAN
We were now leaving the Atlantic ocean, and entering the smoother and greener waters of the Mediterranean Sea. If it means anything to you, the Mediterranean is the world's largest sea. "Must be good fishing", remarked Sgt Clouse, our motor mechanic, as he leaned over the rail and watched the big black porpoise fish flopping in the water. "Sure is," said a guy with a world Almanac in his hand, "this is where the famous tuna fish are caught." "Well whata ya know," muttered Clouse.
One sunny morning as we were poking along at about 6 knots an hour, some dopester observed that the sun was on his right, meaning we were sailing North. Which in turn meant, that we were not going toward the Suez Canal! Well, no one wanted to go that way anyhow. It was about this time that we were given booklets on France. It was rather definite that we were headed for a French port. On the 13th day we were informed that on the morrow we would reach land. And so we did. On October 20th, 1944, around noon we docked at Marseille, France. It had taken us 14 days to travel 4,506 miles, which is the distance from New York to Marseille. Figuring it out on paper, we traveled at the speed of 11 or 12 miles and hour. Fast ships in peace time have crossed the Atlantic (N. Y. to Liverpool), a distance of 3,650, in four days. Time came for us to leave the ship. We stacked all the duffle bags on the bunks, they were going to be hauled to our destination by truck. We were told to carry our field packs and that we had a short hike of 4 or 5 miles 20
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to make. As we later found out, it was the longest short hike we had ever made. We filed out and down the gangplank, at exactly 1600.
FRANCE
So this was France! The port of Marseille showed the effects of recent warfare. Ships lay lopsided in the harbor, shell holes and wreckage was everywhere. Toward the city we could see wrecked walls, that once were buildings. This was our first sight of devastation caused by the war, we were to see much more and much worse. Two months earlier, on August 15th, American and French forces shifted from Italy had made an invasion landing along a 125 mile strip of coastline between Marseille and Nice. On August 23rd troops of the 7th Army had entered Marseille, France.
In double file, on either side of the road, we walked through the edge of the city toward "camp," which we were told was just a short distance on the other side of Marseille. As we went along trying not to miss any of the sights, children would run along side and ask for "chockolot," here and there someone would give a kid a stick of gum. The main means of transportation for the French and for that matter for the Germans and Austrians, was the bicycle: Everybody riges them, from Grandma to junior. Before we reached camp some of us wished we had a bicycle. "Where the hells that camp" said Cpl Schenk, who was beginning to get tired. He wasn't the only one. "Oh it's not very far," said someone up front, "it's right out of town." We finally got out of town, but damn if we could see anything that looked like a camp. It was dark by now. "It's right over that next hill", said Cpl Hausser. He was right. It was over that next hill, but a hell of a long ways over! Time for another break. All get off the road and lay down. Ten minutes rest and we start forward again. Everyone is plenty tired by now. Our packs seem to weigh twice asmuch as they did when we first started, and those damn straps felt sharp enough to shave with. But onward we went. We passed a number of soldiers on their backs off the road, they had fallen out. "The strong march on, the weak fall by the wayside," said some strong guy, who felt sure of himself. He must have been a marathon walker in civilian life. It was dark as hell by now. In the distance we saw several lights. "That's camp," said Capt McLean. It was the most discouraging thing he ever said. Those lights were a long way off. It was about then that we left the road and starfed across country. The walking became rougher, as there were holes and brush which we couldn't see in the dark. Some of our men began to fall out. Lt Tirey, who we learned later traveled part of the way in a jeep, stayed behind with 21
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those that couldn't make it. In the dark the battery got split up into three different groups, each group traveling toward those lights on their. own.
There wasn't much chance to get lost with those lights, which some began to think were stars, as a guide. It was proven that night, that if you walk long enough toward a fixed object you are bound to reach it. It was late into the night, but we finally reached our "camp". It wasn't really a camp, all there were were those few lights and a couple of wooden buildings. As soon as we hit our "area" some of the men started fires, heated and ate some "K" rations, others immediately pitched their tents and went to bed. It was one of the best night's sleep we ever had, even tho our bed was made of rock. The next morning when the role was called, 7 men were missing. They fell out during the hike and couldn't get up again, anyway they spent the night right where they lay. "That's the damnest hike I ever made" said Sgt Knezevich, the next morning. The opinion was unanimous. We were told it was a 15 mile hike. The speedometer with which it was measured, must have stopped registering half way along the line. MARSEILLE
The next morning after chow a "battery" street was formed, pup tents were set up in straight lines facing each other. What had been a bare field in the morning was beginning to look like an Indian Reservation. By nightfall there were tents in neat rows as far as the eyes could see.
We were located in Staging Area 2. We stayed there 17 days. Our main job was to uncrate and clean our equipment, which we had boxed and crated back in Camp Howze. It was sent to France by a separate route. The Howitzers and other heavy equipment began to arrive on the 4th or 5th day. One of the first things we had to do was to dig slit trenches. This was for protection in case enemy planes decided to pay us a visit. However none did. The digging was somewdat different then that we had done on maneuvers. This was rock. Every day we dug a little, until finally everyone had a hole to go to jest in case. The weather most of the time was cold and rainy. From one cause or another the following men went on sick call, while we were at Marseille: 1st Sgt Stewart, Pvt Cholewinski, Cpl Theakston and S/Sgt Lambert. Church Services were held regularly: Our Protestant Chaplain, was Chaplain Pugh, don't remember our Catholic Chaplain's name, but later we had as Catholic Chaplain, Chaplain Fox. Both of them were Artillery Division Chaplains and from time to time they visited our battery. Jewish and 22
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Episcopal services were usually held in the Division area. Protestant and Catholic services in battalion area. After we got to the front, services were held in the battery areas, sometimes in the open, sometimes in a house or building and whenever possible in a church.
Passes were given to Marseille. They were just about long enough to go in and see the place, that's about as long as one cared to stay. Marseille is the second largest city in France, having a pre-war population of over 900,000. It still showed the effects of war. No food was available to soldiers. The Red Cross had a place where French women served coffee and rolls for 5 Francs (10 cents). There was always a long line of GI's, and if you wanted another cup of coffee, you had to get back on the end of the line. This was nothing new of course, because you never get anything or go anywhere in the army without getting in a line of some kind. There was an American movie or two running, but that's about all. The army hadn't had time to have places of recreation for men on pass. Marseille is different now, it's the big port from which men and equipment from Europe are shipped direct to the Pacific. No one wants to go to Marseille these days. As we made preparations to move to the front, our battery consisted of the following officers and enlisted men, their job in the battery, their home address and their civilian job. Capt Donald A McLean........................................Battery Commander
Binghamton, New York. College student. 1st Lt Grover C Tirey...........................................Battery Executive Oklaunion, Texas. Employee, Ford Motor Co. 2nd Lt Robert J Reinch........................................R. O. Scickley, Nebraska. Livestock Raiser. 2nd Lt Roderick L Peeples...................................Ass't Executive Jasper, Florida. College student. 2nd Lt Richard R Cross........................................Forward Observer Rockford, Illinois. College student. 1st Sgt Thomas W Stewart...................................First Sergeant
Route 2, Dublin, Texas. Farmer. S/Sgt Raymond F Doyle......................................Supply Sergeant 1527 N 25th St, E. St Louis, Ill. Tavern Owner. 23
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T/4 Darace E Eaton............................................Howitzer Mechanic
Warsaw, Missouri. Stock business. T/5 Glenn H Ritchie...........................................Mail Orderly 13144 Sorrento Ave, Detroit, Mich. B-17 Plant. Cpl Harold H Stolte............................................Battery Clerk Edwardsville, Illinois. Student. PFC Robert A Carlino.........................................Bugler 103 Lyon St, Patterson, N. I. Barber. Cpl Phillip Monestarie........................................Medic New York. S/Sgt Kenneth G Adams....................................Chief Firing Battery
Bx 340, New Roads, La. Store Clerk. Cpl Martin Obhof..............................................Gunner Corporal Austinburg, Ohio. Farmer. PFC Maurice G Homb.......................................Cannoneer Route 4, Darlington, Wis. Farmer. PFC Alois Kowalczyk........................................Cannoneer Sobrike, Wis. Caster in factory. PFC Kenneth M Osborn....................................Cannoneer Bloomfield, Ind. Machinist. Pvt Eulalio M Sanchez......................................Cannoneer 2101 Conterbury St, Austin, Tex. Trucker. Pvt Paul J Saunders..........................................Cannoneer 211 Pierce Ave, Hamburg, N. Y. Student. Pvt John Cataldo..............................................Cannoneer Massachusetts. Sgt. Nick Knezevich.........................................Chief of Section
1721 E. 3rd St, Boone, Iowa. R. R. Fireman. Cpl James H Wisdom.......................................Gunner Corporal Collinwood, Tenn. Farm and Contract work. PFC John P Buster...........................................Cannoneer 2270 Logan Blvd, Chicago, Ill. Printer. PFC Frank A Renda.........................................Cannoneer 916 Clearview St, Scranton, Pa. Student. 24
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PFC Daniel J Nowak...........................................Cannoneer
507 Goodyear Ave, Buffalo, N. Y. Student. PFC Oscar R Moore............................................Cannoneer 9 Tibbets Ave, Bradford, Pa. Tool Shop Worker. Pvt Harold L Houser..........................................Cannoneer 320 Montelito St, Santa Barbara, Calif. Student. Pvt Joseph E Sonnier.........................................Cannoneer Route 3, Church Point, La. Farmer Pvt Kermit L Coots.............................................Cannoneer Route 4, Lexington, Ky. Plane Factory. Sgt Robert F Blackman................................Chief of Section
Makanda, Illinois. Grocery Clerk. Cpl Joseph E Anderson......................................Gunner Corporal 627 S. Olive St, Mexico, Mo. Brick Setter. PFC Mitchel T Ziemba.......................................Cannoneer 3117 W. Pershing Rd, Chicago, Ill. Yeast Maker. Pvt Olin Lewis....................................................Cannoneer Potasi, Missouri. School student. Pvt Mervin F Lewis............................................Cannoneer 19 Wade St. Chillicothe, Ohio. Student. Pvt Albert L Shelby............................................Cannoneer 211 Woodford St, Bowling Green, Ky. Student. Pvt Jesse L Neill.................................................Cannoneer 1637 Kendale Ave, Memphis, Tenn. Machinist. Pvt Leslie M Stewart..........................................Cannoneer 505 Monroe Ave, Montgomery, Ala. Student. PFC LeRoy Bradford..........................................Cannoneer 224 W. Harry, Wichita, Kan. Student. Sgt Wilson C Foss...............................................Chief of Section
1033 N. 25th St, Camden, N. J. Paper Worker. Cpl Vincent H Augustine....................................Gunner Corporal Route 1, Schofield, Wis. Buttonhole maker. PFC Jack Krolic.................................................Cannoneer 2074 Bronx Park East, Bronx, N. Y. Ship Fitter. T/5 Raymond J Hausser....................................Cannoneer 603 Oakview Ave, Joliet, Ill. Paper Worker. 25
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PFC James W. Stratton...................................Cannoneer
3224 Barth St, Flint, Mich. Machine Shop. Pvt Pete H Riffe..............................................Cannoneer Route 1, Carnigie, Okla. Farmer. Pvt Robert J Freihaut......................................Cannoneer 1015 Cherry St, Evansville, Ind. Student. Pvt Harold L Erickson.....................................Cannoneer 1711 Carney Ave, Rockford, Ill. Student Pvt Stanley Godek, Jr......................................Cannoneer 136 N. 8th St, Brooklyn, N. Y. Machine Shop. PFC William M Johnson..................................Cannoneer 3207 Washington Ave, Racine, Wis. Student. S/Sgt Frank Mucci...........................................Chief of Detail
3538 W. 5th Ave. Chicago, Ill. Miner and Salesman. Cpl Albert Tenbrink.........................................Instrument Cpl 249 Fairbanks St, NE, Grand Rapids, Mich. Dispatcher. Cpl Lester L Linn.............................................Scout Cpl 1 Atalissa, Iowa. Farmer. Cpl Joseph I Knaebel.......................................Scout Cpl 2 State Route 2, Jefferson City, Mo. Farmer. Sgt Raymond D Reichow.................................F. O. Sergeant 1382 Como Ave, St Paul, Minn. Construction work. Cpl Eddie Schenk.............................................Battery Agent Saint Paul, Nebraska. Truck Driver. Pvt Maurice P Jenkins.....................................Instrument Operator Champnign Illinois. Machine Shop. Cpl Ross J Theakston......................................Chief of Section
5409 Heclo Ave, Detroit, Mich. Construction work. T/5 Nick J Varallo...........................................SWBD Operator 972 W. 18th Place, Chicago, Ill. Driver and Salesman. T/5 Joseph E Weaver......................................Line Corporal 932 Branch St, Ionia, Mich. Furniture Factory. T/5 Robert D Crawford...................................Line Corporal 842 E. Aurora St. Des Moines, Iowa. Truck Driver. Pvt Eugene Sylvester.......................................Wireman 197 Winthrop St, Brockton, Mass. Pro Baseball. 26
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Pvt Lloyd L Huntington.....................................Wireman
321 Pine Ridge, Fort Mill, S. C. Student. Pvt Stanley J Cholewinski..................................Wireman 518 - 7th Ave, Carnegie, Pa. RR Electrician. Pvt Ray E Zarza.................................................Wireman 4446 Olcott Ave, East Chicago, Ill. Student. Pvt Carl B Braren...............................................Wireman 1461 Amsterdam Ave, New York City. Student. Pvt Stetson Yerg................................................Wireman 1204 Pine St S, Pasadena, Calif. Student. T/4 Vern A Yeggy.............................................Chief of Section
Route 2, Riverside, Iowa. Farmer. T/4 Herman L Dietzschold................................Radio Operator Route 1, Cameron, Mo. Farmer. T/5 Edwin Gustafson.........................................Radio Operator Harlow, North Dakota. Farmer. T/5 Jerome Isaacs.............................................Radio Operator Milwaukee, Wis. Student. Pvt Jack H Gillette.............................................Radio Operator 4236 - 4th Ave, Sacramento, Calif. Student. Sgt Stanford Helton...........................................Chief of Section
7125 Avenue N, Houston, Tex. Service Station. Cpl Frederick J Abel..........................................Machine Gun Cpl 617 E Fourth St, Sandwich, Ill. Electric Arc Welder. Cpl Nolan W Carpenter.....................................Ammunition Corporal Promise City, Iowa. Storekeeper. PFC Rarl R Morrell...........................................Ammunition Handler Route 2, Johnson City, Tenn. Rayon Mill. Pvt Guy E Morrell.............................................Ammunition Handler Route 1, Elizabethon, Tenn. Rayon Mill. Pvt Glenn E Ross...............................................Ammunition Handler 1258 John St, Seattle, Wash. Dairy Farmer. Pvt Milton E Key...............................................Machine Gunner Route 1, Wayne, Okla. Student. 27
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Pvt Walter L Funk............................................Machine Gunner
1020 Droth St, Houston, Tex. Bank Clerk. Pvt Jewett S Pattee..........................................Machine Gunner 660 N. Lafayette Park Place, Los Angles, Calif. Student. PFC Elmer B Cole............................................Machine Gunner 1734 E. Hillcrest Courts, Norman, Okla. Student. S/Sgt Nick W Lambert.............................Mess Sergeant
2217 W. 2nd St Penasicola, Fla. Oiler. T/4 Lloyd U Solt............................................First Cook Waterville, Kan. Produce and Theatre Business. T/5 James J Janousek....................................Second Cook Schingler, Nebraska. Farmer. PFC Alexander A Kubiak................................Cook 3037 Monroe St, Saginaw, Mich. Tool Maker. Pvt Woodie E Shadic......................................Cook Truxno, La. Painter. PFC Cecil E Sims.............................................Cook Lexington, Texas. Oil Field Worker. Sgt Michael J Tobin.......................................Motor Sergeant
Route 1, Dansville, N. Y. Lathe Operator. T/4 Harry B Clouse..................................Motor Mechanic 216 N. Erwin, Tenn. Freight Line work. PFC Henry Szymanski...................................Mechanic 17440 Fleming St, Detroit, Mich. Automotive Grinder. T/5 Worth G McCord....................................Driver 224 W. 18th St, Fort Scott, Kan. Student. T/5 Michael Wendling...................................Driver Mt Pleasant, Mich. Machine Shop. T/5 Charles G Breton.....................................Driver 6455 Justine St, Chicago, Ill. Office Work. Pvt Aljoe Harvison.........................................Driver Mississippi. Student. PFC Carl F Cloud............................................Driver Tiptonville, Tenn. Farmer. PFC Clarence E Sager.....................................Driver 618 E. Oran St, Freeport, Ill. Worked in Cheese Factory. 28
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PFC Harold F Stainkamp...................................Driver
3 Gover Near Place, Bronx, N. Y. Student. Pvt James L Fisher............................................Driver Alamo Gordo, New Mexico. Cowboy Pvt Charles Felle...............................................Driver 225 W. Stone St, Gabsonerry, Ohio. Truck Driver. The following officers and enlisted men joined the battery during the period between Marseille, France and V-E-Day. 2nd Lt Henry R Crenshaw.................................Forward Observer Fort Deposit, Ala. College student. 2nd Lt David B Kibler III..................................Forward Observer 743 E. Beacon Rd, Lakeland, Fla. College student. T/4 Richard J Struck.......................................Radio Operator Route 3, Reedsburg, Wis. Truck Driver. Pvt George A Harper........................................Cannoneer 363 N. Jefferson Ave, Cannonburg, Pa. Pvt Chester A Lapinski.....................................Cannoneer 1440 Cass Ave, St Louis, Mo. Clerk. Pvt Darwin D Lafferty......................................Cannoneer 620 E Lake Ave, Ladysmith, Wis. Shoe worker. Pvt Anthony Mannetta.....................................Cannoneer 1390 Herkemer St, Brooklyn, N. Y. Contract work. Pvt Joseph E LaFont.........................................Cannoneer Grand Isle, La. Shrimp Fisherman. PFC Walter G Martin........................................Cannoneer Route 1, Black Oak, Ark. Farmer. PFC Joseph D Martino......................................Cannoneer 1313 Scott St, Milwaukee, Wis. Machinist. PFC Edward H Carney......................................Cook Graccey, Ky. Route 2. Garage Worker. HIGHER COMMANDERS
A few days after we landed at Marseille, we were informed that our Division was in the 7th Army, commanded by Lt General Alexander M. Patch. Lt General Patch had come from the Pacific and had been in command of troops on Guadacanal. The 7th Army was part of the VI Army Group, which included besides the 7th Army, the 1st French Army, com-
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manded by General De Tassigny. The French army occupied the sector to. the right of the 7th Army. Lt General (later full General) Jacob L Devers was in command of the VI Army group. Further broken down the 103rd Division was part of the 6th Corps, whose commander was Major General Edward H Brooks. Our Division Commander was, Major General Ckarles C Haffner. Brigadier General Roger M Wicks was Division Artillery commander. Colonel Brown, Division Artillery Executive: Major (later Lt Col) George Biemdeck, Division Artillery S-3.
BATTALION OFFICERS
Lt Colonel James S Jun, Battalion Commander: Major Thomas H Stillwell, Battalion Executive: Captain (Later Major) Robert Feather, S-3: Captain Robert Spangler, S-2, Captain Ivan Koenfelder, S-4 (Later Captain Curry was S-4) Captain Ernest McIllvain, Ass't S-3: 1st Lt James O'Brien, Ass't S-2: Captain Earle Thomas, Liaison Officer: Captain Henri Beauchemin, Liaison Officer: Captain William Bowen, Liaison Officer: and Captain John Bernard, Battalion Surgeon.
WE MOVE TOWARD THE FRONT
On the morning of November 5th at 0707, we left the staging area at Marseille, France. In Battalion convoy we moved toward the front lines. We traveled generally North, going through the towns of Aix, Avignon, Valance and numerous smaler towns and villages. The Tri-Color of the French, Red White and Blue was displayed everywhere. People waved as we rode by. Some threw apples to us, others had bottles ready to give us a drink, if we would only stop. The FFI (French Forces of the Interior), had been playing an active role in this part of France. On Sept. 9th, says the 1945 World Almanac, "Units of the FFI advanced to a point three and a half miles from the Belfort Gap."
We arrived at the bivouac area at 1630. We had traveled 150 miles. The weather during the trip had been cool and clear. Pup tents were pitched in an open field. Supper and breakfast "C" rations were passed out to the Chief of Sections, who then distributed then among their men. Nothing unusual occured during the night.
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THE VOSGES MOUNTAINS
COMBAT
They had been in the lines continuously since invading Southern France. They had gone a long way.
Even tho all of us had read a lot about warfare and had seen many movies on war, we wondered what it was really like. Everyone, no doubt, had their own thoughts. No two men react alike. Some worried more then others, some just didn't seem to give a damn. Think tho, everyone was a little scared. Jack Dempsey, who went ashore when Okinawa was invaded, was asked if hewas scared. "Everybody was. It's not the actual fighting, it's the suspense before hand and the waiting," Dempsey said. Thoughts continued to run throgh our minds. "How bad will it be?" "How long will we be in the lines?" "Will I be one of the lucky ones?" 31
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"Will I be able to take it?," every man asked himself. Some thought of home and the ones they loved so much. "Will I ever see them again?" "War!" "Why must there be war?" "Why must loved ones be torn apart?" "Why must human beings kill and slaughter each other?" We pondered the answers as we moved on. Along side of the road were signs, "Mines cleared to shoulders." The Germans being on the defensive, were laying many mines. We had been warned about the mines and that they were causing many casualties. The Reconnaissance party had been up earlier in the day to look over the position we were to occupy.
The lead truck came to a stop. This was it. We could hear the "Boom" of artillery going out. It was to our left and sounded some ways off. Our Battalion was to be in General support. We were going into position near the little town of Les Rouges Eaux, 3 and 1/2 miles northeast of Brouvelieures, France. We were in combat, To kill or be killed. It was muddy and the trucks couldn't get off the road, withour getting stuck, so the howitzers had to be manhandled into position. IT's quite a job pushing and heaving a howitzer into position, especially in the mud, but there was no other way. Lt Tirey, the Executive and Cpl Knaebel, the recorder were at the aiming circle by now. "Number One, aiming point this instrument," yelled Lt Tirey. He was laying the guns for direction. As soon as the guns were laid and ready to fire, the men began to dig slit trenches, for protection against counterbattery fire and strafing from planes. Parapets were then built. It began to rain. "Such lousy weather," said Frank 32
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Renda, "bet the sun is shining back home." Splattering and waddling in the sticky mud the men worked far into the night.
The wire section in the meantime was busy putting in communications. Cpl Crawford was rapidly pulling off wire from a reel, as the wire truck, with Fisher driving and Cpl Theakston, came slowly down the side of the road. Following behind, half running, came Sylvester and Cholewinski, they were throwing the wire off the road. Cpl Weaver and Zarza were busy putting in the gun lines. Cpl Varallo and Huntington, were carrying the switchboard into a tall small concrete building, which had a transformer in it or something. The other two men from the wire section, Braren and Yerg were taking care of communications in the C. P. Every man had a job to do. 1st Sgt Stewart and Sgt Tobin were taking care of the Vehicles, trying to get them parked in the Motor park before dark. The motor park was in a woods, slightly off to the right of the guns. The kitchen crew, S/Sgt Lambert, Sgt Solt, Cpl Janousek, Kubiak and Sims and all their KP's were as busy as cranberry merchants, trying to get unloaded, so they could get started on chow. Chow would be late that night. The kitchen was in a barn, which like most barns in France, was part of the house. We might mention that with every barn, and nearby was the inevitable manure pile. The instrument section, S/Sgt Mucci, Sgt Reichow, Cpl Linn, Cpl Tenbrink and Maurice Jenkins saw to it that the CP was set up and ready to handle fire missions. Cpl Abel, Dzingle and Key were digging in a machine gun on the left flank of the guns, while Cpl Carpenter, Cole and Earl Morrell were putting 33
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one in on the right. Sgt Helton, Guy Morrell, Pattee and Funk were working on a place for the ammunition and a place for the 5th section to sleep. While most of the men were going to sleep in the hayloft, there wasn't enough room for everyone, so the 5th section, drivers, radio and part of the instrument section had to take over holes and man made caves that the artillery before us had been using. This wasn't as comfortable as the barn but much safer in case we were fired on.
We had plenty of guards out that night, on the guns, in the motor park, and down the road and one at the CP which was upstairs in the house. It rained all night. "FIRE MISSION"
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MORE MISSIONS WERE FIRED DURING THE DAY
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ST DIE
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ALSACE
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ENEMY ARTILLERY
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100 GERMANS ON THE HILL
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DIVISION CAPTURES MORE PRISONERS
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SELESTAT TAKEN
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BATTERY CROSSES THE GERMAN BORDER
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3rd ARMY AREA . . . . METZING
Dec. 24 to Jan. 13. . .
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WE LEAVE METZING
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BUESHWILLER
Jan. 31 to Mar. 15. . .
100 DAYS IN COMBAT
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OFFENSIVE . . . OBJECTIVE THE RHINE!
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103rd REENTERS GERMANY . . . THIS TIME TO STAY!
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WE CROSS THE RHINE
until April 26th. We had 15 towns to patrol and police. All these towns except the one we stayed in were 80 miles away. An officer and a detail of men was sent to our other towns every day. Through the Bourgermaster of each town we collected all fire arms, had German war equipment and ammunition stacked, so it could be
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BACK IN THE LINE
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BAVARIA
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AUSTRIA
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UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER
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WHAT NEXT?
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THE CALENDAR OF THE WAR IN EUROPE
1939
Sept. 1 . . . Germany invades Poland.
Sept. 3 . . . France and Great Britain declare war on Germany. Sept. 28 . . Poland surrenders to Germany. Nov. 30 . . Russia declares war on Finland. 1940
March 12 . Russia and Finland sign peace.
April 9 . . . Germany occupies Denmark and invades Norway. May 10 . . .Germany invades Low Countries: Winston Churchill becomes Prime Minister June 2 . . . Four-fifths of BEF saved from Flanders. June 10 . . .Italy enters the war against the Allies. June 22 . . .French sign German Armistice. Aug. 15 . . . German planes bomb London, beginning "blitz". Oct. 28 . . . Italy invades Greece. 1941
April 6 . . . .Germany invades Yugoslavia and Greece.
June 22 . . .Germany invades Russia. July 14 . . . Churchill and Roosevelt announce Atlantic Charter. Dec. 7 . . . . Japan attacks Pearl Harbor Dec. 8 . . . . United States declares war on Japan. Dec. 11 . . . United States declares war on Germany and Italy. 1942
Aug. 19 . . . Commandoes raid Dieppe.
Nov. 3 . . . .Rommel beaten near Alamein. Nov. 8 . . . .Allies land in North Africa. 1943
Jan. 24 . . . Roosevelt and Churchill at Casablanca demand
"Unconditional Surrender". Feb. 2 . . . . Germans defeated at Stalingrad. May 12 . . . North African campaign ends. July 10 . . . Allies invade Sicily. July 25 . . . Mussolini ousted. 69
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Sept. 3 . . . Italy surrenders unconditionally. Allies land on Italian
toe. Nov. 28 . . Churchill, Roosevelt and Stalin meet at Teheran. 1944
Jan. 27 . . .Leningrad completely freed.
June 4 . . . Rome falls. June 6 . . . Allies land on Normandy, France. June 15 . . Germans begin robot bomb attack on England. June 23 . . Russians open great summer offensive. July 20 . . .Hitler escapes bomb attempt on his life, purges high army officers Aug. 15 . . .Allies invade Southern France. Aug. 23 . . .Rumania quits Axis. Aug. 25 . . .Paris liberated. Aug. 26 . . .Bulgaria capitulates. Sept. 19 . . Finland signs armistice. Nov. 3 . . . .Canadians clear Antwerp, easing supply problem. Dec. 16 . . . Germans break out in Ardennes, delaying Allied offensive. 1945
Jan. 12 . . . Russians open winter offensive.
Mar. 7-31 .Anglo-American armies cross Rhine. April 12 . . President Roosevelt dies. April 13 . . Vienna falls to Russians. April 25 . . American 1st Army meets Russians at Torgau on Elbe River April 28 . . Mussolini killed by Italian Partisans. May 1 . . . . Hitler's death announced. May 2 . . . . Germany Army surrenders in Italy and part of Austria. May 5 . . . . German Army surrenders in Holland, Denmark, Northwestern Germany, part of Austria and in Bavaria. May 8 . . . . German land, sea and air forces surrender unconditionally to the United States, Britain and Russia. TERRIBLE COST
"The European phase of the war alone will go down as history's costliest conflict in--------lives, in money and in property destruction. Germany has been largely destroyed and it is impossible to estimate the fantastic damage
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suffered by other European countries. Even losses inflicted on the United States, Britain and Russia are difficult to reckon. However enough information is available to show the global nature of the cost. Here is how it breaks down for the three great Allies.
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