Marion, You are Wonderful to provide this site to all of us!
I was going to treat myself to a compilation moment - by that I mean sitting with the little notes I have acquired on some of the new Siegburg POW's. Some without Internet - I want to send packages of things to them.
So with my new and growing confidence that the Lazarett at Siegburg is quite a large operation I pulled out the story on Walter Brinegar. God Bless him for sharing what he did with his family and then for his family sharing it with you and thus us!
I am so convinced that Walter was moved from Siegburg to Waldbrol. I hope, maybe on next trip to St. Louis, to see if I have enough time to research the Medical Detachment that liberated them. Walter says that 'out of 72 there was only me and another guy who could walk around.' The AAR's for the 309th Inf. Regiment - April 1945 state that 'at 1545 it entered the hospital and found 71 American PW's. Because of wounds and lack of nourishment, only two of the prisoners were able to be evacuated on foot.'
Elsewhere I have seen that only 2 were able to walk.
Seems like at Siegburg he was in the attic first, then the cellar, and then the barracks. And the barracks were exactly where Christoph showed us in his last photograph. His picture so totally captures the area - terrific!
I soon have to leave, so will put everything on hold, but wonder:
Christoph, could you send me a full size jpeg file of that picture. My husband, Steve, says that would be the easiest way for him to print out an 8 x 10 of the photo. He is so busy but I want that in his queue so when time permits I want to send copies of that picture to a couple of the men - most importantly Norton. Maybe it will give him some perspective of where his building was and where the opening was in that wall - for an air raid shelter!
And having now read Zumbro's book on Battle for the Ruhr it reinforces the constant air raid alerts.
And speaking of bombs, it appears it was the British that bombed Stalag 6G in Bonn, and I have spoken to 2 guys that were there. Each in different parts - one at the Camp and the other at a hospital. The place went on fire and one ended up temporarily at the Lazarett and the other went elsewhere.
More to follow..
Thank You Christoph SO MUCH for making miracles happen on this site!
Jean J