"I'm glad to contribute something about that experience
at Moosburg. Since I have a little diary I kept along the
way from Sagan I can cover, in brief, from there to
Spremberg where we boarded box cars and went by rail the
rest of the way to Moosburg.
I didn't delve into some things about the unsanitary
conditions on the train due to the few relief stops , the
difficulties preparing any food at Moosburg, or the fact
that nearly everyone was experiencing dysentery from the
unsanitary conditions. But that was being experienced all
over in the prisoner population, I'm sure.
Being young, early twenties, helped endure all of it.
That with the confidence and assurance, at that point in
time knowing the status of the war, of a release coming
abut fairly soon. The only question was how it would
terminate.
I don't remember all that much detail while at Moosburg
except the hunger, sleeping in a large tent and diarrhea.
The word came out from our ranking officers, after we were
liberated, to remain in the camp until we were evacuated.
Yet, some just left going on exploratory walks and a few
just decided to leave the camp and head to Paris."
We departed on foot,
Sat. Jan 27 [1945] at 11 PM in 8 in. of snow and very
cold. After covering 30 km, we stopped and rested in
barns along the way.
The next day, Sun.
the 28th, we departed at 5 PM. The coldest yet with snow.
We covered 20 km, arriving at Muskau at 1 AM, Monday the
29th. Shelter was found in a tile factory for much needed
rest and warmth from the ovens that were
burning.
On Tues, the 30th at
10 am we departed and covered 18 km and spent the night
in barns at Graustein.
We left Graustein on
Wed, the 31st, at 9 AM for Spremburg, 7 km away. We got
soup here, then walked 3 more km to a rail head with box
cars waiting. We boarded the box cars at dark, 50 men to
a car. These cars were the small, '40 and 8's. Forty men
or eight horses. Had a lot of trouble getting everyone a
space on the floor. I took my blanket, made a hammock
from it and fastened it across the corner of the
car.
Friday, Feb 1st,
still in our "Pullman", passed through Regensburg and
reached our destination, Moosburg, at night as usual.
Stayed on board til morning.
Saturday the 2nd,
temporarily settled for a few days before going into
camp.
The 4th and 5th,
still not moved in.
Tues, the 6th - At
last we're in after delousing and much needed
shower.
Wednesday, the 7th -
Gotten Red Cross parcels and believe me the stomach feels
much better. We're starting out like new kriegies,
banging on tin cans to make utensils and
scrounging.
March 3rd - Last day
of parcels and strictly German rations until the "white
caravan" comes through. No more fuel. Starting on our
bedboards. Gotta heat those spuds somehow!
March 10th - Three
cheers for the Red Cross. Parcels are in. Honors go to
the Swiss Protective Power too.
March 26 - We're on
full parcels now - the first since September of '44.
We're eating like kings, it seems.
April 10 - Moved
into tents yesterday, also half parcels are the thing
again.
April 16 - All of
Stalag Luft III are here now. Some were detoured to
Nuernberg on the way. We had a memorial service Saturday
honoring the president's death. We didn't go on half
parcels after all, thanks to the colonel. He said we
would remain on full parcels until the last crumb
left.
April 24 - We've
been sweatging out another forceddd march for a week, but
the tension is relaxed now after receiving word that war
prisoners will not be moved in face of advancing armies.
Our boy "Pat" is in Regensburg now which is about 45
miles north of us. Expecting to see those Shermans any
time.
Light gunfire just
west of the camp started at 10 AM. US fighters buzzed the
camp but no enemy planes in sight. I just got out of the
trench where I am writing now and saw gunfire from the
church steeple in Moosburg, but it has ceased now. I can
heara tanks moving around the camp and town. 7th Army, I
suppose.
12:40 - Old Glory is
flying from the top of the flag pole in Moosburg.
Kriegy's dream materializes! The most thrilling scene
I've seen in 21 months. Artillery action approaching from
the North - probably the 3rd Army.
14:00 - Sherman
tanks rolled into camp and we're officially taken over by
the 7th Army. We're all ready to pull out of this place.
Needless to say, the flap is terriffic.
April 30 - General
Patton inspected the camp today. He walked through our
tent - asked one of the boys how long our parcel was to
last. When told "a week" he said it wasn't enough. Now if
he gets us moved out as fast as he moved in, he'll make
some happy kriegies happier.
May 9 - Trucked to
Straubing where C-47's brought us to Le Havre to be
processed and shipped home.
