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To: Fiji Hill
These scenes appear to take place in the spring. US forces would have reached Passau and Linz in May of 1945.

Per Wiki, Passau is at latitude 48;34 N. Spokane, Washington is a little south at latitude 47,39N.

Note the blooming tree behind the staff car at 2:23. I don't know what kind of tree that is but The Washington State Apple Blossom Festival is a festival held annually in Wenatchee, Washington from the last weekend in April to the first weekend in May.

So, this video could be springtime in Passau.

38 posted on 01/03/2014 7:49:44 PM PST by fso301
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To: fso301

I should have paid attention to the first post. The footage was shot in Sudetenland, Czechoslovakia. The civilians are probably Sudeten Germans who will shortly be kicked out when the Czechs ethnically cleanse the region. After the Communist coup of 1948, some native Czechs will pretend to be Sudeten Germans so as to get expelled beyond the Iron Curtain.

I noticed some of the Germans are holding a flag that appears to be that of the Weimar Republic.


40 posted on 01/03/2014 8:26:38 PM PST by Fiji Hill
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To: fso301

The key to this film is the 16th Armored Division. Their first day of combat was 6 May 1945 when they seized Pilsen. They then attacked in the direction of Prague, but we ordered to halt and Prague was liberated by the Russians. on 7 and 8 May, the 16th Armored Division was busy accepting the surrender of German units fleeing the Russians. After the cease fire of 0001 hours, 9 May, any German units not behind American lines belonged to the Soviets. Although some men and units were able to infiltrate American lines, many were turned back and were captured by the Red Army.

This film was probably made on 8 May east of Pilsen.


41 posted on 01/03/2014 8:39:22 PM PST by centurion316
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