Chapter 19: Move to Darmstadt.

I made the trip before the unit moved to Darmstadt with all our possessions. We moved to an empty German Kasserne called the Emil Ludwig Kasserne. I don't know who Emil Ludwig was or I forgot. Darmstadt late in the war was attacked by Allied Bombers. I don't know if by American or British. It is in my mind that it was American but I could be wrong. Earlier in the blog I posted a picture I took of Darmstadt but I don't know how to link to it in google blogspot so I will just upload it again. According to some authorities there were at least




25,000 killed in the city during the raid. By looking at the rubble in my picture it seems likely. When we first got to Germany we




still had grenades and other munitions in the Jeep and other vehicles. It was customary to dispose of some of them by throwing out of the Jeep a smoke grenade and watch the nearby citizens jump and flinch. I didn't do it to frighten the Germans but just to throw them out and watch them go off. It wasn't done but a couple times that I can remember. It is sad about Darmstadt because there was no military industry in Darmstadt. Just wanton destruction it seems. Picture 2 is a picture of Darmstadt from the air.

Moving to Darmstadt was the effort to become settled in permanent location. They expected at that time to be occupy Germany for 50 years which I wanted to ask at the time how in the world could we occupy Germany for 50 years. Now I know. When I went back in 1984 we were still in Darmstadt. However an anit-aircraft outfit was there at the time. Now in 2008 I don't know what if any American military is there. When we were mainly taking care of occupying duties we did no training. In fact I didn't operate a radio until we had been in Darmstadt a while. Eventually we got the radio in a trailer and we then began to monitor the radio for communications with 3rd Div. HQ and other major commands. We were keeping at the ready although we did a little communication with someone in North Africa.

In 1984 I think it was we went to Europe where I was in 1945/46 to see how it had changed. Here is a picture of me against one of the barracks where I tried to find and take a picture of me in 1984. Picture #3 is of the Kasserne in 1985

In the areial view of the Kasserne number 1 is the entrance and 2 is where my room was with blake.



This is a picture of me in my room Christmas 1945 I don't remember where I got the christmas tree. I brought the Telefunken radio home later


Take a look at Billswar.