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Soliders Story
No I was not a heroic eastern front soldier, and rather a "Johny come lately"in the war. In Jan 1944, went to a Wehrertüchtigungslager" ( H.J. sports camp) and got "enticed" to sign up for the Westland.
Through maipulations of some relatives (with strings) got "temporarily" assigned to a training Co. in Holland, until my mother either got better or died.
When she did die three weeks into basic training, I requested to be transferred to "my" unit training, if I am not mistaken, at the time stationed in Klagenfurt Austria.
Request denied . Found out that I had ended op in a part of a Wachtbatalion; told my CO That if I had to participate in any guard-, or razzia activities, I would go AWOL, travel to Germany and enlist under another identity in a German SS unit.
He saw I was dead serious, for some reason liked me, an promised on his own honor that I never would have to do such, And . . . kept his word till the last.
Got trained as an assistand medic ("sanitäter helfer"), and dispatch runner. Was pretty good at both. Saw action at Arnhem (one bridge too far) got shot off my motorcycle by a Jabo (fighterplane) , Got a "name" that I always got hrough, and back (purely accidental I say), got a wounded medal and a War merit cross with swords 2nd class. Got transferred into the Landstorm Nederland (34th SS) and ended up at Regimental staff, still same duties. Operated switchboard (vermittlung IDUNA), ran messages, and in March '45 shot my mouth off to a Battle section Commander after a return from a dispatch run, where I had seen over 100 hostages who had been killed as reprisal for the botched assault on Oberguppenführer Hans Rauter. Got the choice: Flying courtmartial, or volunteer for “Himmelfahrt kommando” (going to heaven group). Did I ever volunteer !
Quick education in tank recognition, mine laying, blowing up stuff, and off to action. Given task ? Go behind enemy lines and blow up their tanks.
Got personally engaged in an action, near Arnhem, and was left behind in a withdrawal (was stuck in a foxhole) decided to sell my life dearly, fired a panzerfaust at a armoured carrier, did not want to kill the people, just wanted to stop the darned thing. shot the caterpillar to pieces. They knew they had won the war already, and just sat tight. Except for some crossfiring to see if they could draw me out. One "comrade" came back, to get me, several followed him. We covered each other and got back to the line, where I found out that I had "personally stopped an enemy advance attack and held them off for over three hours" kopkrab.gif So, I got an iron cross 2nd class. No way you can argue with a commander who thinks you are a success.
Participated in some skirmishes (battles) and got to play medic / runner etc. again. Got a field promotion to Unterscharführer (buck sergeant) the 23rd of April 1945. never got to wear the "pip" and silvery banding though. Also only got the ribbon of my E.K.II, the cross was not available at the moment.
Capitulated to the Canadians on 10 may 1945. Spent several years in dutch camps, was released, with a parole officer, who thought my case had been bungled.(there's a whole other story behind that) He asked for and got a review; and several months later I was unconditionally restored to all dutch citizenship rights and duties. (did not get my stuff back though). One month after my "restoration papers" arrived, I got drafted into the Royal Netherlands Army, where within a year I was a non-com (again). As an ex-medic, and also a then current member of the Dutch Red Cross ambulance corps, I asked for the med.troops; of course got placed with the A.A.artillery .
Got tired of being branded as a criminal by association, and applied for visas for Australia and the U.S. The U.S won and I have lived here and built a new life with my wife of 52 years, and the kids, since 1960.
God bless America. !!!
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July 9th, 2006, 01:30 PM
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