Is it coincidence? Or is it fate?
When I acquired this Soldbuch of Günther Adler, who served in the 10./FJR15, I was amazed when I noticed a while later that he was photographed on a well known US press photo which was made at the mill of Dausfeld on 28 February 1945 the day he was captured. I knew that the III./FJR15 was positioned along the hills of Dausfelder Hardt (537) and Hünert (551), which lay just north of the town of Prüm, there this battle has my interest for the last decade.
Today marks the 75th anniversary of the Prüm River crossing. As I have spent a decade researching this particular battle, it has finally resulted in an educative website about these events. I hope it is not a problem if I advertise it here:
www.imwesten.com
As the Soldbuch concerns, Günther Adler was sent to the FJR15 as a recruit in February 1945, after the 5th Fallschirmjäger Division sustained immense losses during the battle of the Bulge. As the 5th Fallschirmjäger Division was taken from the front line by the end of January 1945, it was rushed back again as the US 4th Infantry Division had broken through near the town of Prüm. Arriving in the villages of Gondenbrett, Hermespand and Willwerath the Fallschirmjägers fought alongside the 2nd Panzer Division in the early days of February to prevent the Americans in reaching Prüm, in which they failed. By the end of the month the Americans and Germans found themselves dug in along the Prüm river, where the Germans awaited the allied push towards the Rhine any day now.
That day was February 28, the day operation Lumberjack started in the 4th US Infantry and 11th Armored Division sector. As mentioned before the village of Dausfeld was held by the III/FJR15, with a meagre 300 men. Ordered to seize this village and the surrounding heights was the US 22nd Infantry Regiment, to be more precise I and L Company of this regiment. Under the cover of darkness the men of I and L company descended the Wolfsschlucht area north of Prüm, and took the mill of Dausfeld in the early hours of the day. Immediately the attacking companies were sent to their objectives; L Company was to take the hill of Dausfelder Hardt, and I Company would take the village itself.
A few years back I briefly came in contact with a son whose father fought at Dausfeld as well. Second coincidence had it his father was a good friend of Günther Adler, he could confirm he and Günther were captured near the village on the 28th. I also came in contact with family members from the US whose relatives fought and died in this village. And the coincidences above were not the only ones, as I worked out the battle for Dausfeld in detail, more information came to light (almost literally). However I fear the context of the story together with the photo’s would be lost if I post the whole thing on this forum, so perhaps it is best to read it on my website:
http://imwesten.com/missing-in-action-at-dausfeld/
I hope you will find it as interesting as I. Lest we forget.
Kind regards, Nick
When I acquired this Soldbuch of Günther Adler, who served in the 10./FJR15, I was amazed when I noticed a while later that he was photographed on a well known US press photo which was made at the mill of Dausfeld on 28 February 1945 the day he was captured. I knew that the III./FJR15 was positioned along the hills of Dausfelder Hardt (537) and Hünert (551), which lay just north of the town of Prüm, there this battle has my interest for the last decade.
Today marks the 75th anniversary of the Prüm River crossing. As I have spent a decade researching this particular battle, it has finally resulted in an educative website about these events. I hope it is not a problem if I advertise it here:
www.imwesten.com
As the Soldbuch concerns, Günther Adler was sent to the FJR15 as a recruit in February 1945, after the 5th Fallschirmjäger Division sustained immense losses during the battle of the Bulge. As the 5th Fallschirmjäger Division was taken from the front line by the end of January 1945, it was rushed back again as the US 4th Infantry Division had broken through near the town of Prüm. Arriving in the villages of Gondenbrett, Hermespand and Willwerath the Fallschirmjägers fought alongside the 2nd Panzer Division in the early days of February to prevent the Americans in reaching Prüm, in which they failed. By the end of the month the Americans and Germans found themselves dug in along the Prüm river, where the Germans awaited the allied push towards the Rhine any day now.
That day was February 28, the day operation Lumberjack started in the 4th US Infantry and 11th Armored Division sector. As mentioned before the village of Dausfeld was held by the III/FJR15, with a meagre 300 men. Ordered to seize this village and the surrounding heights was the US 22nd Infantry Regiment, to be more precise I and L Company of this regiment. Under the cover of darkness the men of I and L company descended the Wolfsschlucht area north of Prüm, and took the mill of Dausfeld in the early hours of the day. Immediately the attacking companies were sent to their objectives; L Company was to take the hill of Dausfelder Hardt, and I Company would take the village itself.
A few years back I briefly came in contact with a son whose father fought at Dausfeld as well. Second coincidence had it his father was a good friend of Günther Adler, he could confirm he and Günther were captured near the village on the 28th. I also came in contact with family members from the US whose relatives fought and died in this village. And the coincidences above were not the only ones, as I worked out the battle for Dausfeld in detail, more information came to light (almost literally). However I fear the context of the story together with the photo’s would be lost if I post the whole thing on this forum, so perhaps it is best to read it on my website:
http://imwesten.com/missing-in-action-at-dausfeld/
I hope you will find it as interesting as I. Lest we forget.
Kind regards, Nick
Comment