Posted on 05/09/2015 4:14:18 AM PDT by Homer_J_Simpson
Stephen E. Ambrose, Band of Brothers
Winston S. Churchill, Triumph and Tragedy
http://www.etherit.co.uk/month/4/09.htm
May 9th, 1945 (WEDNESDAY)
UNITED KINGDOM: Channel Islands: Hundreds of illicit wireless sets were brought into the open today for the people of Jersey, Guernsey and Sark to learn from Winston Churchill that nearly five years of occupation were almost over. A German soldier climbed to the top of a crane in Jersey harbour to fly the Union Jack. In Guernsey, a British colonel’s bald head was coated in ersatz lipstick; and on the destroyer HMS BULLDOG the bailiff of Jersey, Alexander Coutanche, smoked real tobacco for the first time in years and washed his hands in real soap after signing the surrender document.
The islanders - and the 10,000 occupying troops - were close to starvation. Many had been forced to eat food like rabbit skins and stewed cabbage for months. Nevertheless, even at the very end, the German commander, Vice-Admiral Huffmeier, remained fervently loyal to Hitler and threatened to fight on despite his country’s collapse. A few weeks ago he drew up a list of potential hostages. Yesterday he ordered his men to give only the Nazi salute to British officers. Most were too drunk and relieved to obey him.
The German submarine U-249 surfaces near the Scilly Isles off Lands End, and flying the required black flag indicating capitulation, surrenders to a US Navy Consolidated PB4Y-1 Liberator of Patrol Bombing Squadron One Hundred Twelve (VPB-112) based at Upottery, Devon, England. The submarine then sails to Portland, England. This is the first U-boat to surrender to Allied forces after the cessation of hostilities in Europe.
Minesweeper HMS Prompt is mined in the English Channel, 12 miles NW of Ostend at 1705 (18 hours after peace had been declared. Clearly the mine had not heard the news.) Prompt is towed to Southend but was not repaired. (Alex Gordon)(108)
FRANCE: Paris: Six-inch headlines announced the surrender in the Paris Soir. The war-weary citizens stood cheering on their balconies to watch the Allied planes fly over. On VE Day they will have fireworks and an extra bottle of wine on ration for every adult.
GERMANY: The German surrender is ratified in Berlin. Signing are Keitel, Friedeburg and Stumpf for the Germans; Spaatz, Tedder, Zhukov and de Lattre for the Allies. The Soviets celebrate VE Day.
German forces in East Prussia and Pomerania surrender
Göring and Kesselring surrender to the US 7th Army.
CZECHOSLOVAKIA: Prague: The last of Europe’s capitals to be freed from the Nazi yoke, Prague, was liberated today after four days of bloody fighting between Czech patriots, the Russian anti-soviet troops of General Vlassov and the SS. Although the Czechs and POA troops forced the Germans out of Prague, it was the Red Army that put an end to the fighting. Advancing in their customary overwhelming strength, the men of three fronts surrounded the remnants of Schorner’s Army Group Centre and raced into the city.
General Lelyushenko, who arrived with his Fourth Guards’ Tank Army in the early hours of the morning, radioed to Konev: “Remaining fascist resistance destroyed. Many prisoners.” One of the reasons for the speed of the Russians’ advance was their fear that the Americans would get to Prague first, but Eisenhower has kept his agreement to stop at Pilsen and Lelyushenko is able to report: “There are no American forces.”
The fierceness of the fighting between the Czechs and the Waffen-SS is evident from the debris of war which litters the streets. The bodies of 50 executed patriots still lie in the Masaryk railway station.
Sixty unarmed workers at Radio Prague died during a room-by-room struggle for the building which lasted for most of the first day and ended with ten SS men captured and 40 dead. From then on the patriots radioed their orders to the men on the barricades. Last night, when the war ended in the rest of Europe, the guns continued to fire in Prague, and even after General Toussaint, the Wehrmacht C-in-C in Bohemia, surrendered at Prague’s police headquarters, the SS men fought on. The Red Army dealt with them, and today T-34 tanks line Prague’s battered avenues while the Germans are heading for the safety of the American lines. Also heading for the American lines are General Vlasov and his army of Russian prisoners-of-war who elected to fight against their former comrades.
They were caught in an impossible situation in Prague where the Czechs appealed to them as fellow Slavs to help them in their uprising. Some did, despite Vlasov’s orders to stay loyal to the Wehrmacht, but when the Germans moved in they fought alongside the SS. There is no doubt of their fate if they should ever fall into Stalin’s hands.
DENMARK: Copenhagen: The cruiser Prinz Eugen, the only major German warship to survive the war is surrendered.
U.S.S.R.: Moscow: The people spilled onto the streets in an enormous impromptu celebration; the cheering crowds hoisted Russian soldiers high above their heads. However, the officially organized military parade to mark the victory over fascism and the end of the Great Patriotic War will have to wait until 24 June.
JAPAN: Off Okinawa, kamikazes damage the aircraft carriers HMS Formidable and HMS Victorious, and the destroyer escorts USS Oberrender (DE-344) and USS England (DE-635). The Royal Navy carriers are part of Task Force 57.2 and their aircraft are attacking airfields in the Sakishima Islands which are twenty small islands in the southern Ryukyu Islands. HMS Formidable has two squadrons of Goodyear Corsair Mk. IVs (FG-1s) and a Grumman Avenger Mk I (TBF-1) squadron; HMS Victorious has two squadrons with Vought Corsair Mk IIs (F4U-1As) and Goodyear Corsair Mk IVs and a squadron of Eastern Aircraft Avenger Mk IIs (TBM-1s). The kamikazes attack the task force between 1654 and 1705 hours and because of poorly deployed antiaircraft defenses, the Japanese aircraft crash into the flight decks of the two ships but cause only slight damage because the flight decks are armoured. Both ships are forced to retire to refuel and because of aircraft loses, HMS Formidable must also replenish. On 14 May, the Royal Navy will adopt the USN-style AA defence which has aircraft controllers in escorts deployed ahead of the carriers.
US Admiral Ernest J. King’s statement on hearing of the damage to the USS England: “There’ll alsways be and England in the US Navy.” This DE had sunk 6 IJN submarines between May 19 and May 31, 1944 on one patrol. (John Nicholas)
CANADA: Frigate HMCS Cape Breton departed St John’s with Convoy HX-354.
U.S.A.: New York exploded into a huge party when the German unconditional surrender was announced as official on May 7th. On Wall Street enough makeshift confetti was thrown for a hundred weddings. Office workers left their desks by the thousand to celebrate in the streets and watch ticker-tape, torn up telephone directories and multicoloured paper being hurled from skyscrapers. All this in a city that had been exhorted to “keep calm”. A young female left attendant was found - still “going up” and “going down” - ecstatically shredding paper as she went.
The air was filled with songs and cries of joy, the din of aircraft circling overhead and the shrill whistles of ships in the harbour. Traffic on many main roads came to a standstill. St. Patrick’s Cathedral where Mass was held, was filled to overflowing with servicemen and working women who had covered their heads with handkerchiefs.
"Like millions across Europe and North America, Americans celebrate V-E (Victory in Europe) Day on May 8, 1945, in Times Square in New York City.
Behind them is a banner advertising the screening of the U.S. Army Signal Corps films about German atrocities."
"Jews all over the world naturally greeted the defeat of Nazi Germany with joy.
These Palestinian Jews took to the streets of Jerusalem to celebrate the end of the war in Europe.
The banner reads: 'The people of Israel remember their huge losses.
They will not be silent and will not rest until independence is established in their homeland.'
The Holocaust provided an important impetus for the founding of the state of Israel in 1948."
"This American Army truck parked at Nordhausen, Germany, is adorned with the date of V-E Day, May 8, 1945.
Germany had surrendered on May 7--a significant day for these GIs, and no less significant for the rail-thin survivor of slave labor who stands with them.
May 8 also brought the end of German resistance in Latvia and, in a real coup for the Allies, the capture in Austria of top Nazi Hermann Göring."
"The end of World War II--announced here by a variety of Palestinian newspapers--was received with joy by the victors; with confusion and a sort of relief by the vanquished. Perhaps no nation, though, felt the uncertainty and difficulty of what was to follow more than Palestine, where the British strictly controlled immigration, and where Jews lobbied fervently for a Jewish homeland."
"The Nazis originally created Theresienstadt in Czechoslovakia as a model ghetto/camp complex to dupe the outside world into believing that the regime was not treating Jews badly.
But the camp soon became one of the most horrible in Europe.
These two skeletal men survived Theresienstadt."
"Those camp inmates who did not have poorly fitting footwear had none at all, and prisoners constantly confronted maladies of their feet and legs.
This man, a survivor of Theresienstadt, is taking care of the abscesses on his legs and feet.
Such debilitating foot problems often led to a prisoner's demise, since inability to work meant death. "
"In the days of confusion after the war, many Nazis--from senior SS officials to concentration-camp guards--escaped justice by fleeing Europe.
How war criminals such as Adolf Eichmann, Josef Mengele, and Franz Stangl reached safety in South America remains shrouded in mystery.
The name 'Odessa' has been used to refer to a secret network of organizations that facilitated the escape of Nazis and furnished them with new identities.
"Speculation abounds about the leadership and finances of these secret organizations, but no doubt exists that Nazis received help of various kinds, from forged passports to tickets and money, sometimes from those who knew their identities, sometimes from those who were duped.
In South America, sympathetic dictators refused requests for extradition, sometimes leaving kidnaping as the only means to bring a Nazi criminal to justice.
This was the case with Eichmann, who was seized in Argentina by Israeli secret-service agents and transported to Israel to stand trial."
"Eventually, of course, survivors left the camps, either to return home or to emigrate.
The Holocaust had displaced millions, especially in Eastern Europe.
These women were photographed as they left the labor camp in Theresienstadt."
"These outdoor ovens were located at the concentration camp at Stutthof, Poland.
Usually they would have been housed in a crematorium building, but in this case Nazi engineers improvised, probably to maintain the pace of cremations.
Killing several million people was a very expensive undertaking, a cruelly practical consideration of which the Nazis were keenly aware."
"Two Soviet soldiers and three civilians stand near a mountain of victims' shoes at the Gross-Rosen camp in Germany.
At its height, the Gross-Rosen complex included 77 satellite camps and at least 80,000 prisoners, most of whom performed slave labor.
The Nazis evacuated the camp in February 1945, shipping out prisoners on wagons or death marches."
"By June 1944, Zyklon B was the preferred method for gassing concentration-camp prisoners at Stutthof.
It was an easy, relatively economical way to kill many people quickly.
These cans of the deadly pesticide were captured by Soviet troops at Stutthof before they could be put to use"
"We moved to Le Havre for one week before coming to Germany, and about the only important thing we did at this station was to haul the American soldiers who had been prisoners of the Germans away from the planes that brought them in. Those men had been starved so long they were weak and so thin. We had steps so they could get up in the trucks and even then most of them were helped up. The Red Cross girls were there giving them hot coffee and donuts, and that was certainly a very nice thing for them too, as there was not one of them that did not make some exclamation about (the girls), and of course they liked to hear an American girl talk."
Both uncles remained overseas into 1946, and they enjoyed their post-VE Day experience immensely (though in very different ways). The one in a transport outfit came back and essentially picked up where he left off, but now had the benefit of having been commissioned (and thus admitted to that particular club of "gentlemen"). The infantryman came back too much changed by his experiences to settle back into any old routines, and being adept at killing German soldiers wasn't much of a resume enhancer in the brave, new, post-war world.
Mr. niteowl77
The end of WW2 is celebrated in Moscow’s Red Square, May 9, 1945
Celebration of Victory in Moscow’s Red Square, in the Soviet Union. May 9, 1945.
At 1:10 a.m. on May 9, 1945, night owls in the USSR heard a radio report that Nazi Germany had officially surrendered to the Soviet Union. Up to 30 million soldiers and civilians were dead, the Soviet Union had lost a third of its national wealth, cities such as Stalingrad had been reduced to lunar landscapes, and an entire generation of men had been decimated.
Searchlights illuminated a city that a few years earlier had almost fallen to the Germans, cannon-fire and fireworks exploded over the Kremlin and relieved citizens crowded into Red Square to share their enormous collective relief. The large crowd on Red Square danced, kissed, sung and chatted excitedly. But Josef Stalin was not in celebratory mood and reportedly became annoyed when his then underling, Nikita Khrushchev, telephoned him to congratulate him on his victory. “Why are you bothering me?” he is reported to have snapped. “I am working.” It would not be until 24 June 1945, that the USSR held a proper victory parade, in torrential rain. On that day, one by one, soldiers lined up to toss the defeated German army’s banners and standards, including Hitler’s own personal standard, into a sodden mess at Stalin’s feet beneath Lenin’s tomb.
This photo depicts part of those celebrations and is Photograph 368 at the Russian State Archives. Victory Day over Nazi Germany is celebrated every year on May 9th in former USSR countries to preserve the memory of unbearable suffering and great courage of the Soviet people.
Victory Day May 9 1945 - with English lyrics - Russian song WWII
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eas9ZRyrsxc
This is not specifically relevant to today, but this AP article probably appeared in many newspapers this week. Saw this article in my morning newspaper. I grabbed the US News & World Report version of the AP article. In reading some of the stuff about the Soviets raping their way across Germany had got me thinking that there was no discussion of the repercussions.
Associated Press Via US News & World Report
70 years after WWII, German children of Allied soldiers search for fathers to find closure
May 8, 2015
By KIRSTEN GRIESHABER, Associated Press
BERLIN (AP) — When Paul Schmitz was a little boy, he never understood why kids in his tiny German village taunted him as a “Yank” and beat him up. He was a teenager by the time he found out: His father was an American soldier his mother had a romance with in the final days of World War II.
Schmitz was born about five months after Victory in Europe Day, when the Allied forces defeated Nazi Germany 70 years ago Friday. It would be the start of a life as an outsider, burdened by fear, discrimination and loneliness. He is one of at least 250,000 children of German mothers who got pregnant by Allied soldiers from the United States, Great Britain, France or the Soviet Union as the Third Reich crumbled.
Now many of those children have embarked on quests to find their fathers.
. . .
This article portrays a guy whose mother had a consensual affair as does most of the stuff I have seen on kids of allied GIs. One article puts the occupation era (1945 to 1955) number of GI babies at 66,000. I could not find any similar number for Soviets.
I only found one article on Soviet fathering of children in the German magazine Spiegel.
This wiki page outlines the issue and shows 300,000 children fathered by Soviet fathers.
University historians, in a German-language book title, “Bastards, the children of occupation in Germany after 1945” found that at least 400,000 children were fathered by occupying soldiers, with at least 300,000 of those children fathered by Soviet fathers. The researchers concluded that at least two million rapes were committed by Soviet Red Army soldiers. [24]
The Allied forces occupied Germany for several years after World War II. The book GIs and Fräuleins, by Maria Hohn, documents 66,000 children as born with fathers who were soldiers of Allied forces in the period 1945–55.
Thanks for the letter and the Red Cross.
https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/ww2/germfinalcomm.html
Final Communique of the German High Command
(May 9, 1945)
FROM THE GRAND ADMIRAL’S HEADQUARTERS, May 9-The High Command of the Armed Forces announces:
In East Prussia - German divisions even yesterday gallantly defended to the very last the Vistula mouth and the western part of the Frisches Nehrung. The Seventh Division distinguished itself particularly in this fighting. To their Commander in Chief, General of Tank Troops von Saucken, were awarded diamonds to the Oak Leaves with swords to the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross in recognition of the exemplary gallantry of his soldiers.
As an advanced bulwark, our armies in Courland [Latvia], under the well-proved command of Colonel General Guenther, tied down superior Soviet rifle and armored formations through many months and acquired eternal glory in six great battles. They refused any premature surrender. Only the wounded, and later numerous children, were transported in full order by aircraft that still left for the west. Staffs and officers remained with their troops.
At midnight all fighting and all movements were suspended on the German side, under the conditions that had been signed.
The defenders of Breslau, who resisted Soviet attacks for more than two months, succumbed to enemy superiority in the last hour after a heroic struggle.
On the Southeast and East Fronts, from Fiume to Brno [Bruenn] to the Elbe near Dresden, all the higher military authorities have received the order to cease fire.
A Czech rising is taking place in the whole of Bohemia and Moravia and may threaten the execution of the capitulation conditions as well as communications in that area.
The High Command of the Armed-Forces so far has not received any reports regarding the situation of the army groups Loehr, Rendulic and Schoerner.
Far from home, the defenders of the Atlantic bases, our forces in Norway and garrisons of the Aegean Islands have maintained the military honor of the German soldier in obedience and discipline.
Since midnight all weapons have been silent on all fronts on orders of the Grand Admiral, and the armed forces have ceased the fighting, which has now become hopeless, thus ending a heroic struggle that lasted almost six years. This struggle brought us great victories. But also heavy defeats. In the end the German Wehrmacht succumbed with honor to enormous superiority.
Loyal to his oath, the German soldier’s performance in a supreme effort for his people can never be forgotten. Up to the last moment the homeland had supported him with all its strength in an effort entailing the heaviest sacrifices. The unique performance of the front and homeland will find a final appraisal in the later, just judgment of history.
The enemy, too, will not deny his tribute of respect to the performance and sacrifices of German soldiers on land, at sea and in the air. Every soldier, therefore, may lay aside his weapon proud and erect and set to work in these gravest hours of our history with courage and confidence to safeguard the undying life of our people.
In this grave hour the Wehrmacht remembers its comrades who have died in battle. The dead impose upon us an obligation of unconditional loyalty, obedience and discipline toward the Fatherland, which is bleeding from countless wounds.
[After the reading of the communiqué there was three minutes silence. Then the announcer said:
[”The German radio has transmitted the last High Command communiqué of this war. We close our news bulletin with an official announcement as follows:
[” ‘It is officially announced that effective May 9, 1945, blackout regulations are lifted. Effective also from today the ban on listening to foreign stations has been lifted.’ “]
Telegram, Paul Burney to Harry S. Truman, May 9, 1945. Official File, Truman Papers.
http://www.go2war2.nl/artikel/4400/Report-of-the-funeral-of-private-AHW-Harrison-May-9th-1945.htm
Report of the funeral of private A.H.W. Harrison, May 9th 1945
The Dutch Foundation Memorial 2015 for Dam victims 7 May 1945 researches the victims of the Dam shooting in Amsterdam. During their research in the Archives for information about victims, the document below was found at the Amsterdam Archive, the Council Office for Funeral Services. It isn’t in relation to May 7th 1945 and the shootings at the Dam Square, but is about the death of an English soldier on May 8th 1945 during a motorcycle accident in the Dutch capital.
Amsterdam May 9 1945.
The funeral of the English soldier A.H.W. Harrison
Born January 12 1926 – Died May 8 1945
May 8 1945. Amsterdam is celebrating. Holland is liberated. The first Canadian troops entered Amsterdam yesterday. They were greeted with acclaim by the Amsterdam citizens. Passing rows of people with flags they entered in their small and large army trucks. They were all very happy. Sadly, many of their fellow combatants had died in their fight for our freedom, but they had survived and could be part of the big parade.
Among them was the English soldier, AHW Harrison, who was attached to the Canadian troops, who camped in the Amsterdam Stadium at the Amstelveenseweg. Harrison was excited too. After all, his task of liberation was accomplished. Very soon he would cross the sea, home to his beloved England.
Unfortunately it was not to be. A fatal accident ended a brave young life. On May 8 1945 he drove his motorcycle against a stone barricade of our common German enemy and died almost immediately.
On Wednesday May 9 1945, at about 1030 hours, a Padre (a Canadian Reverend), an officer and the Dutch journalist Reens came to our office and asked for assistance with the funeral of Harrison.
Mr Reens said that they wanted to bury Harrison temporarily in the Amsterdam Stadium, but he thought it better if it could be done at a cemetery – otherwise people would be walking over the grave and that was not respectful.
The Padre claimed that this was the way it was done in war and that in most cases it could not be done in any other way. However, if it was possible for Harrison to be buried at a cemetery it would be most appreciated by the Reverend. While Mr Feltkamp [head of the Council Office for Funeral Services] was at the Registry Office I took charge of what was needed.
The Canadian Commander wanted to bury Harrison at the nearest cemetery as soon as possible. This was Buitenveldert, so I phoned the person in charge of the cemetery; we got permission to come at once. I informed the Padre and asked if I should organise a coffin. This was not the tradition – Harrison should be buried in the English Flag without a coffin.
The Padre admired the roses at Mr Feltkamp’s desk and asked for one from Miss Hooijmeijer; because he liked them so much, he was given the whole bunch and promised to put them in water as soon as he arrived home. In order to give them my full cooperation I mentioned that I was available to come with them to the funeral, and this was accepted gratefully.
We left at 1100 hours for the Stadium. At the stairs of the Registry Office we met two men with a very large soup pot full of erwtensoep [pea soup]. The Reverend insisted that he wanted to look at it, and this was permitted. He then wanted to taste some of it. The lady from the kitchen arrived with a plate and spoon. “No, no, no, only a spoon” but she gave him the plate. I said that he meant the spoon. He tasted a spoonful of pea soup and his comment: “Not good” was followed by a big cheer from the officials present.
After saying goodbye to the people, we drove to the Stadium in the car which stood ready in front of the office. I wanted to stand on the back of the truck, but the Padre wanted me in the cabin. Afterwards he told me that he had appreciated this, as he had the opportunity to see the Amsterdam people and the decorations. He was very pleased that I had gone along with his request.
In the stadium Harrison, in his uniform, was put on a catafalque covered with a blanket. I acknowledged him respectfully. The catafalque was put on the truck and the Reverend and 10 Canadians took up position on both sides. The chauffeur, the journalist and I took our places in the cabin and the sad procession drove slowly to the cemetery “Buitenveldert”.
The public noticed immediately what was happening and respectfully removed their hats and caps.
At the cemetery we were greeted by board member Mr van der Sluis. I told him that it would be highly appreciated if the Duty Chaplain could be present. He was immediately invited and mentioned that he very much wanted to be present. Under the supervision of Mr van der Sluis, assisted by four Canadians, a grave was dug. Mr van der Sluis preferred the burial to take place in a coffin, because the deceased would be buried temporarily and later removed to be reburied in an English grave in the Netherlands or brought over to England.
The Commander gave permission and this gesture was greatly appreciated. The deceased was laid in the coffin and carried to the grave by the Buitenveldert-staff.
Four Canadians lowered their brave mate down and the Chaplain Sul [of the cemetery Buitenveldert] lay a bunch of white lilacs on the grave, followed by the words: “Dear Friend, I thank you for all you have done for Holland. I will pray for you”.
Then Mr M Witmond spoke the eulogy:
“To my unknown English friend, as a humble representative of the City of Amsterdam, I thank you for offering to liberate us. Dear friend, rest in peace”.
Then journalist Reens spoke the following words in English: “Dear Harrison, you were the beloved son of your parents, you were the dearest of your wife, you were a dear friend of us. I thank you for all you’ve done for our country”.
After that the Padre gave the deceased the final tribute: “Dear Harrison, We came together to Holland to this city of Amsterdam, which was suffering from hostilities and hunger, to deliver to its people the freedom they had for so long been waiting for. We consider the Dutch our friends, as we consider all inhabitants of this world our friends. On our road from Barneveld to Amsterdam we were welcomed by the Dutch people and treated like royalty. You also shared in this tribute.
You were a good son to your parents and a good husband to your wife. You were a brave soldier. You were attached to us Canadians and you’ve shown yourself to be a true friend. Unfortunately, just when you almost could return to your homeland, this fatal accident brought your young life to an end, a life that in the future could have been so useful in peacetime.
We hope and trust that you now have found true peace in the Kingdom of Heaven and we will always remember you as our friend. Amen”.
Deeply moved, all the Canadian soldiers listened; we were also deeply moved. It was not necessary for me to say more. We departed leaving behind, in the middle of the white and purple lilac bushes, our deceased friend.
We had performed our sad duty.
Back to the car, the Padre asked me to offer a cigarette to the staff of the cemetery, which I did. We drove back to the stadium. The Padre invited me to have lunch with him, an invitation I gratefully accepted.
After lunch I said goodbye to the Padre. He thanked me again for my assistance and promised to make a courtesy visit at my home, if I would allow him to do so. He was full of praise for the smooth handling and said that I had shown that the Dutch weren’t bureaucrats. He would not forget. He gave me a box of cigarettes to show his gratitude. This was not necessary, but I hesitantly accepted.
After a friendly goodbye I was brought back in a Canadian car. I arrived at the Registry Office at 2pm.
This was the text as it was written on 9 May 1945 and signed by Henricus Wilhelmus Joannes van der Aat, born 8-2-1897, acting-head of the Council Office for Funeral Services
Postscript by Ludmilla van Santen, committee member of the Foundation Memorial 2015 for Dam victims 7 May 1945:
Reading this document, some questions came up. Who was he? Is he reburied? Is his family aware of this document?
Albert was driver of the 693e Road Construction Company of the Royal Engineers under number 14784363. He was reburied in Nijmegen at the Jonkerbos War Cemetery, grave 22.D.9. There is a general War Memorial in his hometown Newcastle.
The name of this 18-year-old man was Albert Henry William Harrison. He was born in Newcastle upon Tyne, often shortened to Newcastle, a town in the county Tyne and Wear, Northumberland in North-East England. To enlist in the army he acted older than he was: his real birthday is 12 June 1926 and not the date of 12 January 1926 he declared. His parents were Albert Harrison and Catherine Jamieson. Albert married on his 18th birthday, on 12 June 1944, with Marion Ambler. In July 1945 their daughter was born.
We thank Maryke for the pictures.
With the help of our Australian researcher Sylvia, we found Albert’s daughter Maryke. She wrote us:
I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your texts about my father, who I never had the chance to meet. I am his only blood relative.
I knew he was buried in a private grave by friends of his. Albert was based in & around the Amsterdam area. I can only guess that his friends lived in the area, which could not be far from the private grave area. One called Hans, the other Gerald Jackenberg or so. After his death, they sent letters and the photo of his private grave, before he was re-interned. Unfortunately there are no letters remaining, and at the time they were written on very fine writing paper. His friends in Holland new Marion was pregnant and asked if she had a boy, if she would name him Gerald & a girl Maryke.
Also I have been to Jonkerbos War Cemetery, to see his grave. Marion never mentioned my dad Albert at all to me. Marion was not devastated to the point that; she gave me away at 9 month old, & remarried.
I was brought up by my grandmother, (Marion’s Mother)
THANK YOU, Maryke
Sources
This document from the Amsterdam City Archives was made available by Foundation Memorial 2015 for Dam victims.
KAMIKAZE ATTACK: MAY 9
HMS Formidable
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
