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Christoph - AWESOME! You and Larry had incredible nights for research!

I quickly reviewed the one page I could see from the book that mentioned Siegburg. Fascinating!

Something just came in, I will be back,

Jean

Yep, It was Larry!

And what a night!

Newton would have been a fascinating contact at an earlier stage in his life. But, ..... never fear ... yep, I bet his family knows more than is just there in published info. Oh gad, I must not use the word BET. Yes, Larry won a BIG bet - not because of the amount of money involved - I was a little tight, better said cautious because I know that no matter how impossible something looks Larry has a close to 100% chance to win because well - he is Awesome Larry the Wizard!

More,

Jean

Newton on the Stalag 6G list and wounded Battle of the Bulge and obit says POW in Dec. So he too must have gone there! And maybe with that April clue he was liberated from Waldbrol. Fascinating!!!

Christoph you and Larry are incredible!!!!! Do you both do this professionally?

What Larry figured out last night is again absolutely amazing!!!

I have so much to go do...

Jean

Jean,I just opened my Mailbox and saw that you are incredible as well. You ask other people whether they don't go sleeping, but do you? No, I'm not a professional researcher, but I learned database queries in the early nineties when online connections were very expensive and connections to commercial databases even more.

For the Moment only another UK National Archives record with a Red Cross Report about the Hospital in Bad Münstereifel:

http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/Details?uri=C168927

Christoph

I just found an Information about the end of the hospital at the "Lexikon der Wehramcht" which also explains why we haven't found more about what happended when the 97th inf. arrived.

"Das Reserve-Lazarett Siegburg wurde am 26. April 1940 errichtet und unterstand der Sanitäts-Abteilung Köln. Das Lazarett wurde wie bereits im 1. Weltkrieg in der Abtei auf dem Michaelsberg eingerichtet. Auf den Dachflächen wurde das Lazarettzeichen angebracht. Bereits im Juni 1940 wurde auf dem Turm der Abteikirche ein Luftbeobachtungsposten eingerichtet. Mitte Juni 1940 trafen die ersten Verwundeten aus dem Westfeldzug ein. In den nächsten Jahren wurden bis zu 800 Soldaten im Lazarett untergebracht. Beim Luftangriff auf Siegburg wurde die Abtei am 28. Dezember 1944 schwer beschädigt. Am 6. März 1945 erhalten die Gebäude bei einem weiteren Luftangriff mehrere Volltreffer und zahlreiche Patienten werden getötet. Am 18. März 1945 wurde das Lazarett geschlossen und die Patienten verlegt, da seit dem 9. März 1945 der Amerikaner mit der Artillerie in die Stadt schoß."

The reserve hospital Siegburg was founded on the 26th of April 1940 ans was part of the Medic department Cologne. The hospital was established in the abbey on the Michaelsberg as already in WWI. The hospital sign was attached on the roof. Already in June 1940 an air observation station was established on the abbey's steeple. The first casualties of the western campaign arrived mid-June 1940. The next years up to 800 soldiers were hosted in the Hospital. The abbey was heavily damaged by an air raid on 28th of December 1944. On the 6th of March 1945 the buildings got further direct hits, many patients were killed. On the 18th of March 1945 the hospital was closed and the patients evacuated, because the American shot on the City with artillery since the 9th on March 1945.

Christoph

Christoph

An excerpt from the description of Sr. Edeltrud Cook also describes the end of the war in the abbey - no word about any American POW, only one from Armenia:

The Americans approached Siegburg... The German soldiers, and also Waffen-SS, fought for their positions ... The Americans beat the Germans. Armed soldiers rushed to the basement and drove us up into the cloister. Here we had to stand for a long Long time with arms [arm like leg, not weapons] raised. Around us they still shot. The Americans believed that there were many German soldiers still hiding, but this was not confirmed. Fear and dread kept us under control. Finally, it was announced: men and women separately in a detention center. The judgment startled us very much; hopeless and helpless we were delivered. But then we got God's help and support. Daniel, an Armenian prisoner of war, as a wounded man who was healed in the hospital tried to negotiate with the Americans. He still had a document that testified how well he was treated as a prisoner and also received the goodwill of the whole house. The "winners" yielded, took Daniel's watch, and went. We were saved from the "camp" and remained on the hill.

Christoph

I just ordered a book about the German POW medic Service in WWII - medical attendance in POW hospitals. I#m impatiently waiting and very curious.

Christoph

Wow, the klues just keep piling up! Great stuff Christoph.

Christoph, do you know if there is / was a Town Cemetery in Siegborg probably at the bottom of the hill below the abby? We may have reason to believe that the american section of the cemetery was down in the town, not at the abby.

PS... if you hear a loud scream and thud..... it`s Jean......... she may get woozy when she gets my email........ i just learned that one of Guidry`s daughters lived down the street from her.

TO YOU BOTH!

YIKES! THUD!

Jean

IN SHOCK - from both of you! Cried, of course. Think I should call the Paramedics!

More,

Jean