German sauercraut

[Lancer44]

This story is another one told me by my father which was in Polish Carpathian Lancers Regiment on Italian front from end of 1943 to the end of the war.

I remember this story very well, because I heard it many times. For proper understanding I have to explain something: it is Polish tradition similar to say American turkey that Christmas time in every Polish home people cook "bigos". Bigos can be cooked anytime, but Xmas time call for very rich and special "bigos". Bigos is essentially sauerkraut cooked with several kinds of roasted meats, plum spread, dried porcini mushrooms, smoked meats, prunees and herbs. Every family have their "secret" recipe which, of course is the best" because is from great grand mother

Every army on every front tried to break the monotony of food supplied as rations in combat conditions. Poles liked German sauerkraut and black "pumpernickel" bread.
No American or British quartermaster which supplied II Polish Corps had even faintest idea what those delicacies were and that they exist.

My father told me that in his regiment certain soldiers had "noses" to sniff even hidden German food stores and Italian wine - the good one, cheap plonks were available by the barrels.

Carpatian Lancers were recon regiment of the Corps and they usually were first to claim any trophy. One day near Senigalia, when regiment was following retreating German forces, lancers from my father platoon were lucky.
They found abandoned German truck in which they discovered several 2.5 kg cans of delicious sauerkraut.
"Accidentally" they also caught "nobodys" piglet which was walking nearby.

Decision was that this time they will cook real "bigos". Evening time they "borrowed' from Italian farm large pot. It probably was used for boiling linen by Italian women, but after proper cleaning, was quite suitable and had cover.

Piglet was roasted overnight, meat added to suerkraut and cooking begin.

Proper "bigos" must be cooked minimum 3 days. Each day cooled and next day cooking resumed.
First night smell of roasted piglet, and aroma of "bigos" was driving soldiers mad. My father personally took charge, mixing "bigos" with large wooden spoon.
He did not agreed on any tasting. Bigos had to be consumed on fourth night.

During next three nights, when aroma become really good and soldiers were still on dog biscuits and SPAM, he used this large wooden spoon as a weapon, threatening that "fingers will be broken", if anyone dare to steal some "bigos".

Bigos survived intact these three days, tied with strong rope to the back of Staghound armoured car turret.

The fourth day on which big dinner was planned, and fresh Italian bread, wine and many bottles of grappa spared, started somewhat bad lucky.
Right after breakfast when platoon resumed advance, Germans started to shoot with 88mm guns. They missed the first car and hit the second in the large wheel, fortunately crew escaped quickly abandoning their Staghound.

The rest of platoon disengaged, hid in the village and called American planes and British artillery, which started to "soften" Germans positions.
Their job was done. Now they were waiting for British Shermans and Polish infantry brigade to do the proper job.

The day practically was off. Germans started very normal shooting with small caliber mortars, which could not do much to lancers in their Staghounds.
German fire as usually was sporadic. Normal front routine.

But this was the day of Germans luck. One of 60mm mortar bombs hit big pot with "bigos"... the whole content was splashed onto the barn wall behind which Staghound was hiding...
Nothing survived... not even a table spoon...

I recall that once in 70's one of fathers collegues which married Italian girl and lived in Italy, visited. They had a couple of glasses, talked and I listened.
Paul or rather Paolo, remembered "bigos". He said that he took mess tin and tried to scrap some from the barn wall, but it smelled explosives and was inedible...

I hope that this story explain, at least a little bit, some informations circulating around, that Poles were shooting German POW's or rather that they were reluctant to take prisoners.
They had a valid reason...

Cheers,

Lancer44

[Klaus]

Thats entertainment how I like it. Interesting and you get a free recipe with it. I also like stories with happy endings. I'm glad "nobodys" piglet was wasted for nothing. Would have been a shame.


"I hope that this story explain, at least a little bit, some informations circulating around, that Poles were shooting German POW's or rather that they were reluctant to take prisoners.
They had a valid reason..."


That's a vicious circle. They stole the Germans sauerkraut in the first place. That direct hit at the Bigos was no accident. That was revenge...

[Jim O]

I agree with Klaus...too ironic.

[Lancer44]

Originally Posted by Klaus

Thats entertainment how I like it. Interesting and you get a free recipe with it. I also like stories with happy endings. I'm glad "nobodys" piglet was wasted for nothing. Would have been a shame.


"I hope that this story explain, at least a little bit, some informations circulating around, that Poles were shooting German POW's or rather that they were reluctant to take prisoners.
They had a valid reason..."


That's a vicious circle. They stole the Germans sauerkraut in the first place. That direct hit at the Bigos was no accident. That was revenge...

Hi Klaus,

Yes, it was ironic, but I had a reason...to finish this story like that... They were really shooting German POW's...
Around 35% of soldiers of II Polish Corps in Italy were ex Wehrmacht soldiers, they very often sorted out their personal grudges with some well known to them Unterofizziers by simply shooting them....

It was the time in summer 1944, when Warsaw was burning, Von dem Bach troops were destroying Polish capital. Every evening Polish soldiers were listening to London radio and learned what is happening in their country.

After this they committed atrocities.
And I believe that this should be disclosed. Poles were not saints!
No one was saint in this war, but as a Pole I want to set things straight.
We were killing Germans and Germans were killing us... or opposite...

We should say all this and finish this mess... And be Europeans.


Lancer44

P.S.

Sauerkraut was not stolen, Germans left it behind, because their truck run out of petrol.

At the end of the day who is responsible for this ???
British.
Yes! They were forced to work in German main synthetic petrol plant in ... Auschwitz branch Monowitz and they had, "not much enthusiasm for their work"...

WWII is a maze of topics. It will keep our laptops hot for many, many years!

[Jim O]

Originally Posted by Lancer44

WWII is a maze of topics. It will keep our laptops hot for many, many years!

I'm counting on that my friend.

[Klaus]

You can say that again!

[temujin77]

This is a great story, despite the bigos was not enjoyed properly at the end of the story. Thanks for sharing this!