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Page 10 Photos

Rolduc Minor Catholic Seminary at Kerkrade was a Rest Center for 30th Division men.

Scenes from Rolduc. 

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On Sept. 18th, 1944 CCA of the 2nd Armored Division liberated the Dutch town of Nuth about 4 miles NW of Heerlen.  The 2nd AD was working on the 30th's left flank as both moved toward the German border. More than once the 30th and 2nd worked together.  I received the following email and scans from Richard Claessens of Nuth.  Thanks Richard for sharing these historic photos with us. 

Dear sir,
My home town Nuth, in the South of the Netherlands was liberated on the 18th of September 1944. My father in law took the pictures of the first soldiers entering our village (libnuth).
Since 1945 my father and mother took care of the graves of two American soldiers at the Margraten cemetery. A few years ago they passed away, and my brother and I are doing this now. One of my first memories is sitting on the backseat of my fathers bicycle, going to Margraten bringing flowers to the grave of George E. Tuck, a name I will always remember. A picture of his grave now and one, 60 years ago is enclosed (Margraten).
Yours sincerely,
Richard JJ Claessens.

Pictures are made on the main street, called "Stationsstraat".

After sept 18 stayed American soldiers for a longer period in our village, mostly in tents. Some of them in my own fathers back garden. An officer slept inside our house. Thes boys went to the Ardennes one or two weeks before Christmas, and my mother cooked an early Christmas dinner for them. I don't know their names (I was 2 years then). The pictures here are not from them, but from my father in law.

Would appreciate any help with identification of these men...email this site. 

After the war my parents and the children went sometimes to the American cemeteries in Belgium. As I wrote you, the soldiers in our garden had to go to Malmedy, shortly before Christmas. My mother was afraid to look after the crosses: there could be a name on it from one of the soldiers of the very early Christmas dinner.

 

Later in the winter of 44-45 my father and mother in law were visited by an American soldier (in Holland, looking after is helmet it is a lieutenant, first photo below), probably coming back from Germany. There are on the pictures no leaves on the trees. There are pictures of him (we don't know his name) sitting in the living room, with my parents in law and friends drinking a glass of gin (a rare product at that time). He gave the picture with the bridges he built (or help to).  My father in law, Klaus Nievelstein you'll find on picture second photo below, on the left side of the photo. A very friendly man, who died from lung cancer 50 years ago. He made many pictures, mostly before WW II, you can find on web sites in Holland now.

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Here are the pictures of the 117th Infantry " Breakers" 1942 Ft. Benning, GA
They won the Mobile, Ala. game 18-14   (Any other photos of Co. L appreciated.)

Feb. 23rd...Krauthausen, Germany...members of 2nd Bn, 120th search house for snipers.

Feb. 23rd...Krauthausen...wounded 2nd Bn, 120th soldier is being carried back to an aid station after crossing the Roer River.

Feb. 24th...near Schophoven...great photo of the flooded Roer River and AA guns of the 30th crossing a pontoon bridge.

Feb. 26th....Inden...M/St Otto E. Pribram, right, Washington D.C. interviews a German POW.  The German is the 20,000th prisoner to be taken by the 30th Division. 

Feb. 25th...Kerkrade, Holland....American Army officers witness ceremony, most of them staff of Maj. Gen. Leland S. Hobbs.   At right is Alphonse Habets, Burgomaster of Kerkrade. 

Feb. 25th...Kerkrade...Burgermaster Alphonse Habets presents painting of "Old Hickory Square" to Maj. Gen. Hobbs in appreciation for the liberation of Kerkrade by the 30th.  This ceremony is described on page 233 in "Workhorse".  Mayor Habets told Gen. Hobbs and Col. Purdue of the 120th: " For that freedom you gave us we will ever be grateful.  We will not forget and we do not intend our children shall forget".   I wonder where this painting is now?????

Article from Oct. 4th Stars and Stripes

Date wrong...should be March 24th

Frances Currey taken 1989 in Maastricht, Holland.

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The following scans are provided by Martha Broyles, whose father served with the 30th. When she purchased an original copy of Workhorse of the Western Front the following items were found in the book.  The book was signed in front by:  George E. Thompson, Capt. 117th Reg., Co. I & Co. K.   The above scan is of Capt. Thompson.

Caption on back: Co. I, 117th Inf., Company Officers, Alsdorf, Germany, Oct. 1944....First: Inf. Combat Badge awarded in Co. I

Caption: Germany, 1944, Company I, 117th Inf., Officers standing, Platoon Sgts. in front, Alsdorf, Germany, Oct. 1944

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Below Allied propaganda leaflet dropped behind German lines during Bulge:

Translation: THIS WAS THE PLAN...The map below illustrates the breakthrough plan of the Western High Command.  It points to the German objectives.  What it does not show is where the Allied tank armies are located.  Special thanks to Marc Muller, Marienberg, Germany for translations!!!

THE LAST ATTEMPT....Why the counteroffensive?? 
1. Because German reserves of men and materials were being continually hammered down in the battle between Emmerich and Basel.
2. Because the German petrol stock was nearly exhausted.
3. Because Himmler realized that the German people were resisting more and more against the forced evacuation and don't want to be displaced.

Why must the counteroffensive fail??
1. Because Rundstedt does not have enough tanks, not enough planes, not enough artillery to achieve a first class plan.
2. Because they used elite troops with half-trained infantry for the battle.
3. Because the SS leaders failed.  Manteufel did his job.  He trusted the SS-tanks.  But Sepp Dietrich flopped.
4. Because V1 and V2 missed being an alternative to artillery and air force.
5. Because the Allies have 6000 planes a day to support the troops in battle.

Why must the Landser sacrifice himself??

The rest is hard to translate because of stamps.

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Jan. 24, 1945 letter from Gen. Hobbs to troops

ANY HELP IDENTIFYING SOLDIERS IN ABOVE PHOTOS WOULD BE MUCH APPRECIATED!!

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la Petite Chapelle at Hill 314, Mortain
Plaque in memory of the 120th Infantry Regiment 2nd Battalion who fought on this hill from 7 to 14 August 1944. Over the entrance, a stained glass window represents the Supreme Headquarter Army Expeditionary emblem.

Tremendous article tracking the famous heritage of the 30th division.  Written by 1st Lt. David M. Roberts and shared with his permission.   Click Link for more.

Remains of Siegfried Line pillbox near the Rimburg Castle.  Thanks to Marc Muller, Marienberg, Germany.