during the last few weeks were a few things about WW2 in the area around Solingen. They had reports of German soldiers in the papers and also a bit of information about the capture of Solingen. There I just noticed that a Regiment of the 97th US Infantry Division atacked Solingen.
Another interesting thing was... a few months ago I had a look at the uniit history of A Company502nd I think. They attacked Hitdorf. Only just lately I came across a report of a German soldier who had been near Hitdorf around the time. He had been in the Army from the begining, obnly left it once for war production, He never fired a shot in his military career. So once when he was ordered to take a prisoner to HQ from Hitdorf a local person told him to go home before the US are there... that was then the kickoff for going home.. 3 of his comrades joined him. On their way the nearyl ran into a US column. They just managed to hide in a field... They nevertheless held up the US column for the rest of the day as the US were trying to get them out of the field. By nightfall they continued their way home.
he made preperations then when he was home. He hid his weapon and his uniform in different places and got his papers out which said that he was working for the "Kriegs-Industrie". Theoratically he was supposed to have given them back when rejoining the army, but he probably thought that they might come in handy to him sometime.
Solingen was then taken by the 17th of April. If I remember correctly the 18th was the day of the surrende of the "Ruhrkessel". To my surprise i only learned lately that Model had his HQ for a day or so in Solingen.
Another more shocking thing was that just 48 hours before the US got here, came the order von Model to take everybody from a prison called Lüttringhausen or so. Were somewhat over 70 people, mainly people who were against the system or deserteurs. They were all brought into a forrest and shot at the spot.
In the papers there was a report that a German soldier came to this US Lt. and told him to come with him. The Yankee was a bit afraid but came along and then the German showed him the place where the bodys were buried.
They've got every year a memorial thing there. Unfortunately I learned to late about all this, otherwise I maybe could have spoken with the Lt, as he was over for the 60's anneversary.
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So now I've got a few questions:
1. Has anybody got an idea how I could finde something about the 97th? You must know, I'm not an very effective google seacher.
2. Have you got any questions concerning this here?
