Hello Guys!
I had difficulty getting on system and therefore I did not have a chance to say THANK YOU to Christopher for all of that info. It is fascinating to hear how the locals survived that very difficult period!
One day I will plot on a map the coordinates that you gave me. I feel confident that it is not where the POW's were buried.
The shelter that the POW's used could not have been far away. Norton had one crutch to use to get to the place they used as a shelter.
I am curious about what the locals ate. Where did the cabbage come from and the potatoes. The locals had to be starving too.
I asked whether the POW's had to use a slit trench or ? and was surprised to hear that there was an outhouse.
Regarding typhus, apparently the Americans had shots to prevent it. It was the others at the Camp who were dying from typhus.
Christopher, what a riot with those photos. I was sooo impressed that my first reaction was that I would never want you to see what we took. And I could not imagine the perspective you were taking the shots from, the lighting, etc. Again, Thank You so much for sharing them.
My Dad, during his captivity, did write home from there that it must be a beautiful place in peace time.
Mary, I know what you mean, I need to go back and study all of these entries. Thank you for the date he entered Normandy. How lucky you were that he was willing to talk about his war time experiences with you and others. And how lucky for me!! Amazing.
I am so curious why your Dad got moved out of Siegburg. Was he so ambulatory or so strong? Was he a big guy? Even if the beds and all of the space was full and it meant diluting the limited and weak cabbage soup, I would think it would be real hard to let someone more on to another Camp.
Or when we narrow down the dates of his captivity in each place, maybe because the War was coming to an end, and food was soooo scarce and he could walk, they felt it was the best decision.
They had news of what was going on and that the Allies were going to eventually win.
Oh so much more to write, and especially to say "Thank You Marion" for your dedication to helping preserve the memories of all of those that served in WW2.
And Christopher, I am going to get out those Stalag 6 G postmarks real soon.
JJ