Archive for the 'WW II Occupation 1945-1946' Category

Czech Interlude

December 17th, 2007

From:
SECOND UNITED STATES CAVALRY – A HISTORY
Compiled, edited and published by Historical Section, Second Cavalry Association
Maj. A. L. Lambert and Cpt. G. B. Layton, 2d Cavalry

old-computer-ii-165Peace in Europe on 9 May 1945 found the Second Cavalry drawn up on the restraining line Pilsen – Nepomuk, and saw our mechanized patrols probing forward across the 10 kilometer “Buffer” zone, established by agreement at highest allied levels, in an attempt to gain contact with the Russians when they should reach their restraining line.

Here, on the line of deepest penetration reached by the Third Army when the freeze order on forward movement came down on 7 May, the 42d Squadron had relieved B Troop of the 2d Sq at Nepomuk. Continue Reading »

Occupation

December 16th, 2007

From:
SECOND UNITED STATES CAVALRY – A HISTORY
Compiled, edited and published by Historical Section, Second Cavalry Association
Maj. A. L. Lambert and Cpt. G. B. Layton, 2d Cavalry

WWIIOccThe mighty American armies that conquered Germany crowded the Second Cavalry Group into the tiny area of Landkreis Kotzting when the allocation of initial occupation areas was handed down by XII Corps. In the ensuing six months we saw those powerful forces dwindle as the combat veterans returned to their well-earned opportunities in civilian life.

As the men were siphoned out of the theater the Second Cavalry was given more ground to cover and extended its control over Landkreis Regan and Grafenau in September. However, that was not all that occurred since the Second Cavalry cleared Czech territory on 18 May 1945. Continue Reading »

Half-Ass

December 15th, 2007

From:
SECOND UNITED STATES CAVALRY – A HISTORY
Compiled, edited and published by Historical Section, Second Cavalry Association
Maj. A. L. Lambert and Cpt. G. B. Layton, 2d Cavalry

WWIIOccSquadron Rear found a happy home just east of Zwiesel, and upon moving in came across the smallest donkey you ever saw. “Well, what have we here!?”, bellowed Gilmartin on seeing the wee beastie.

Frisby ventured that it might be a jackass. “Hell no”, snorted Gil, “it looks more like a half-ass to me!”

And so he became known. After that no party in the big mansion was complete unless Half-Ass came swirling across the polished ballroom floor, straddle legged on a carpet, with the 3oo pound “Tiny” Miclow astride him. Continue Reading »

Manhunt

December 14th, 2007

From:
SECOND UNITED STATES CAVALRY – A HISTORY
Compiled, edited and published by Historical Section, Second Cavalry Association
Maj. A. L. Lambert and Cpt. G. B. Layton, 2d Cavalry

WWIIOccLt. Col. George England and one of the 42nd Squadron Staff Officers met the Third Army Chief of Intelligence, Lt. Col. May, at Army Hqs at Bad Tolz in December 1945, where the plan was disclosed for the employment of the Second Cavalry forces.

It was learned that Arthur Axmann, one of Hitler’s key men, and the founder of the Hitler Jugend organization, was pretty far advanced in his plans for a national underground movement in Germany.

He had already made trips through the British, French, Russian and American zones undetected by allied authorities, organizing strong terrorist groups in each zone.

American intelligence agents had discovered that he was in the Sonthofen (map SM) area and planned to trap him. Since there were thousands of members of Axmann’s organization which allied authorities were not yet ready to close in on, it was of utmost importance that no one should learn of their leaders capture, if it was effected. Hence the top secret designation.

The plan for the trap was simple. Troop A of the 42nd Sq. was to move to the Kempten (map SM) area the day before Axmann was to leave and set up a double ring of road blocks as in a routine “swoop” operation. Now Axmann, carrying carefully forged papers, had passed through similar checks and was not expected to be suspicious. Only this time every man of the blocking force was to be carefully oriented as to Axmann’s appearance. (Most distinguishing feature, an artificial hand, memento of action against the Russians.) Alert American agents even provided the make and license number of the car that was expected to come after the former Hitler Jugend leader. One precaution was aired at the conference at Bad Tolz. Axmann’s right hand man, Meininger, was known to be with him, and he always contacted the visitors that were to see Axmann. Even Meininger did not know where his chief would be until after he had set the time for the contact. At a place maybe five miles away Axmann would call and designate the meeting place in code to Meininger. Continue Reading »

Patton’s Funeral

December 13th, 2007

From:
SECOND UNITED STATES CAVALRY – A HISTORY
Compiled, edited and published by Historical Section, Second Cavalry Association
Maj. A. L. Lambert and Cpt. G. B. Layton, 2d Cavalry

WWIIOccOn December 21, 1945, following an accident on the Autobahn near Heidelberg, General George S. Patton Jr., Combat Commander of the Third U.S. Army, died as a result of the injuries he sustained.

With all the allied world in mourning, General Patton’s funeral was held following the decision by Mrs. Patton that her husband should be laid to rest in the cemetery at Hamm, Luxembourg, alongside the men who fought and died in his great Third Army.

The news of the General’s death came as quite a shock to us as newspaper reports had only recently reported his condition as not serious.

Col. Reed, a close personal friend of the late General, as well as one of his subordinate Combat Commanders, was directed to arrange the burial services to be held in Luxembourg on Dec. 24. Continue Reading »