WWII Photos and Documents - Page 8

SSMN · 07-22-2011, 06:36 PM

Zwettl, Austria White flags in windows.

permafrost · 07-23-2011, 06:34 AM

I would give anything if Dad were still here to view these with me..

SSMN · 07-23-2011, 10:48 AM

The only means of transportation available for civilians as the war progressed.

SSMN · 07-23-2011, 12:14 PM

Sundown's war was nearing an end. The last major obstacle was the city of Linz on the Danube. Linz was the adopted home town of Hitler. His plans were for a huge museum which was to contain all of the important art of Europe. His minions had been collecting/stealing everything that they could lay their hands on for years from the Louvre and every other museum to cathedrals and private Jewish collections.. Most of this plunder was stored in salt mines nearby.

Reports had the fighting for Linz to be light, but John's photos show a substantial amount of damage incurred prior to capitulation.

The first shows an ammunition dump exploding in Linz with the Danube in the foreground.
The others show substantial artillery damage in Linz.

SSMN · 07-23-2011, 12:26 PM

After Linz had been occupied, civilians went about their business.
The second, curious civilians looking at Lt. Graf.
The last photo shows a civilian searching for food beside a bomb shelter with Towhead in the foreground.

SSMN · 07-23-2011, 12:31 PM

This photo was only marked "Linz" but if you look closely, it is interesting. Apparently the two GI's are leading the man in the dark suit away and in the background, in front of the hotel entrance a second man has both arms raised high with civilians looking on. He appears to be held at gunpoint.

Likely SS pointed out by civilians.

SSMN · 07-23-2011, 02:58 PM

A view of the Danube and Linz from the Adolph Hitler Bridge which was wired for demolition but had not been destroyed. (Note disheveled civilian)

Second of our wire section Weasel crossing the river

SSMN · 07-23-2011, 03:09 PM

On the May 5th, CCB of the 11th was billeted in Gallneukirchen near Linz. Sundown heard that another work/concentration camp had been found nearby. The name was Mauthausen and so Sundown and several of his team went there just a few miles away.

This camp was situated around a granite quarry and the prisoners were forced to quarry granite for Hitler's grand planned city, museum and mausoleum to be built for him. John's comments on the photos and some of the photos will be posted here. There are many that are just too graphic for inclusion here. I believe that those to be posted are necessary for viewers to get a feeling of what was seen and what had happened at the hands of the SS.

SSMN · 07-23-2011, 03:17 PM

The first thing to be seen of Mauthausen was the intimidating main entrance with the large eagle and swastika.

This was being removed as they approached.

SSMN · 07-23-2011, 03:20 PM

Virgil Haener and his brother also in the 11th, met at Mauthausen.

SSMN · 07-23-2011, 03:26 PM

The first views of the camp appeared to be innocuous enough. Lt. Graf on left.

SSMN · 07-23-2011, 03:37 PM

A first view of the prisoner barracks from the wall.

The SS guards are gone and those able to walk are milling about.

SSMN · 07-23-2011, 03:39 PM

A view of the car park which was used later for delousing.

SSMN · 07-23-2011, 03:42 PM

Women were deloused separately with DDT powder in a building. Here they are exiting delousing.

SSMN · 07-23-2011, 03:47 PM

When the 41st Cav Scouts arrived in their Greyhound armored cars they were mobbed by survivors. Please keep in mind that a small number of prisoners of the total were mobile enough to greet them. These are the fortunate few. Likely new arrivals who had only been here a short time.

SSMN · 07-23-2011, 03:49 PM

Men's DDT delousing in the car park, picture taken from the walls.

SSMN · 07-23-2011, 03:52 PM

Stairs down to the carpark.

SSMN · 07-23-2011, 03:54 PM

Prisoners who are still able moving about. men on the left, women on the right. Please note that you see very few prisoners in these photos. Most are too ill or weak from starvation to leave their barracks. They are laying there and dying.

SSMN · 07-23-2011, 04:41 PM

Lt. Bob Berquist with Mauthausen inmate starved and too weak to walk being taken to medical facility

Fast Forward · 07-23-2011, 05:18 PM

Just Viewed all these posts,,my Uncles were with Patton ,,my dad was in the Navy in the Pacific,,I can only say ,Thanks You are the Great Generation

SSMN · 07-23-2011, 07:37 PM

Fast Forward....Thank you for your comments. They were a different breed.

SSMN · 07-23-2011, 07:38 PM

Woman being helped into hospital.... Mauthausen

SSMN · 07-23-2011, 07:43 PM

Girls interned for only three or four weeks. Had horrible stories to tell. May 5, 1945...Mauthausen

SSMN · 07-23-2011, 07:57 PM

Many piles of dead like this everywhere. Dying faster than they can be buried. Stench terrible. The cart on the right was used to transport bodies. Others like it are visible in many photos.

Fast Forward · 07-23-2011, 09:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SSMN

Fast Forward....Thank you for your comments. They were a different breed.

WW11 vets can,t pay for a meal in my restaurant

07-22-2011, 06:36 PM	#176
SSMN Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Ely, Minnesota Posts: 507	Re: WWII Photos and Documents Zwettl, Austria White flags in windows. Attached Images

07-23-2011, 06:34 AM	#177
permafrost Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Oklahoma, USA Contributor Posts: 1,771	Re: WWII Photos and Documents I would give anything if Dad were still here to view these with me.. __________________ Stand and Fight

07-23-2011, 10:48 AM	#178
SSMN Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Ely, Minnesota Posts: 507	Re: WWII Photos and Documents The only means of transportation available for civilians as the war progressed. Attached Images

07-23-2011, 12:14 PM	#179
SSMN Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Ely, Minnesota Posts: 507	Re: WWII Photos and Documents Sundown's war was nearing an end. The last major obstacle was the city of Linz on the Danube. Linz was the adopted home town of Hitler. His plans were for a huge museum which was to contain all of the important art of Europe. His minions had been collecting/stealing everything that they could lay their hands on for years from the Louvre and every other museum to cathedrals and private Jewish collections.. Most of this plunder was stored in salt mines nearby. Reports had the fighting for Linz to be light, but John's photos show a substantial amount of damage incurred prior to capitulation. The first shows an ammunition dump exploding in Linz with the Danube in the foreground. The others show substantial artillery damage in Linz. Attached Images Last edited by SSMN; 07-23-2011 at 11:27 PM..

07-23-2011, 12:26 PM	#180
SSMN Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Ely, Minnesota Posts: 507	Re: WWII Photos and Documents After Linz had been occupied, civilians went about their business. The second, curious civilians looking at Lt. Graf. The last photo shows a civilian searching for food beside a bomb shelter with Towhead in the foreground. Attached Images Last edited by SSMN; 07-23-2011 at 12:27 PM..

07-23-2011, 12:31 PM	#181
SSMN Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Ely, Minnesota Posts: 507	Re: WWII Photos and Documents This photo was only marked "Linz" but if you look closely, it is interesting. Apparently the two GI's are leading the man in the dark suit away and in the background, in front of the hotel entrance a second man has both arms raised high with civilians looking on. He appears to be held at gunpoint. Likely SS pointed out by civilians. Attached Images Last edited by SSMN; 07-23-2011 at 12:33 PM..

07-23-2011, 02:58 PM	#182
SSMN Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Ely, Minnesota Posts: 507	Re: WWII Photos and Documents A view of the Danube and Linz from the Adolph Hitler Bridge which was wired for demolition but had not been destroyed. (Note disheveled civilian) Second of our wire section Weasel crossing the river Attached Images

07-23-2011, 03:09 PM	#183
SSMN Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Ely, Minnesota Posts: 507	Re: WWII Photos and Documents On the May 5th, CCB of the 11th was billeted in Gallneukirchen near Linz. Sundown heard that another work/concentration camp had been found nearby. The name was Mauthausen and so Sundown and several of his team went there just a few miles away. This camp was situated around a granite quarry and the prisoners were forced to quarry granite for Hitler's grand planned city, museum and mausoleum to be built for him. John's comments on the photos and some of the photos will be posted here. There are many that are just too graphic for inclusion here. I believe that those to be posted are necessary for viewers to get a feeling of what was seen and what had happened at the hands of the SS. Last edited by SSMN; 07-23-2011 at 03:11 PM..

07-23-2011, 03:17 PM	#184
SSMN Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Ely, Minnesota Posts: 507	Re: WWII Photos and Documents The first thing to be seen of Mauthausen was the intimidating main entrance with the large eagle and swastika. This was being removed as they approached. Attached Images

07-23-2011, 03:20 PM	#185
SSMN Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Ely, Minnesota Posts: 507	Re: WWII Photos and Documents Virgil Haener and his brother also in the 11th, met at Mauthausen. Attached Images

07-23-2011, 03:26 PM	#186
SSMN Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Ely, Minnesota Posts: 507	Re: WWII Photos and Documents The first views of the camp appeared to be innocuous enough. Lt. Graf on left. Attached Images Last edited by SSMN; 07-23-2011 at 10:08 PM..

07-23-2011, 03:37 PM	#187
SSMN Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Ely, Minnesota Posts: 507	Re: WWII Photos and Documents A first view of the prisoner barracks from the wall. The SS guards are gone and those able to walk are milling about. Attached Images Last edited by SSMN; 07-23-2011 at 10:20 PM..

07-23-2011, 03:39 PM	#188
SSMN Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Ely, Minnesota Posts: 507	Re: WWII Photos and Documents A view of the car park which was used later for delousing. Attached Images

07-23-2011, 03:42 PM	#189
SSMN Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Ely, Minnesota Posts: 507	Re: WWII Photos and Documents Women were deloused separately with DDT powder in a building. Here they are exiting delousing. Attached Images Last edited by SSMN; 07-23-2011 at 03:55 PM..

07-23-2011, 03:47 PM	#190
SSMN Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Ely, Minnesota Posts: 507	Re: WWII Photos and Documents When the 41st Cav Scouts arrived in their Greyhound armored cars they were mobbed by survivors. Please keep in mind that a small number of prisoners of the total were mobile enough to greet them. These are the fortunate few. Likely new arrivals who had only been here a short time. Attached Images Last edited by SSMN; 07-24-2011 at 07:01 AM..

07-23-2011, 03:49 PM	#191
SSMN Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Ely, Minnesota Posts: 507	Re: WWII Photos and Documents Men's DDT delousing in the car park, picture taken from the walls. Attached Images

07-23-2011, 03:52 PM	#192
SSMN Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Ely, Minnesota Posts: 507	Re: WWII Photos and Documents Stairs down to the carpark. Attached Images

07-23-2011, 03:54 PM	#193
SSMN Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Ely, Minnesota Posts: 507	Re: WWII Photos and Documents Prisoners who are still able moving about. men on the left, women on the right. Please note that you see very few prisoners in these photos. Most are too ill or weak from starvation to leave their barracks. They are laying there and dying. Attached Images Last edited by SSMN; 07-23-2011 at 08:09 PM..

07-23-2011, 04:41 PM	#194
SSMN Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Ely, Minnesota Posts: 507	Re: WWII Photos and Documents Lt. Bob Berquist with Mauthausen inmate starved and too weak to walk being taken to medical facility Attached Images

07-23-2011, 05:18 PM	#195
Fast Forward Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Chaska Minn Posts: 529	Re: WWII Photos and Documents Just Viewed all these posts,,my Uncles were with Patton ,,my dad was in the Navy in the Pacific,,I can only say ,Thanks You are the Great Generation

07-23-2011, 07:37 PM	#196
SSMN Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Ely, Minnesota Posts: 507	Re: WWII Photos and Documents Fast Forward....Thank you for your comments. They were a different breed.

07-23-2011, 07:38 PM	#197
SSMN Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Ely, Minnesota Posts: 507	Re: WWII Photos and Documents Woman being helped into hospital.... Mauthausen Attached Images

07-23-2011, 07:43 PM	#198
SSMN Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Ely, Minnesota Posts: 507	Re: WWII Photos and Documents Girls interned for only three or four weeks. Had horrible stories to tell. May 5, 1945...Mauthausen Attached Images

07-23-2011, 07:57 PM	#199
SSMN Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Ely, Minnesota Posts: 507	Re: WWII Photos and Documents Many piles of dead like this everywhere. Dying faster than they can be buried. Stench terrible. The cart on the right was used to transport bodies. Others like it are visible in many photos. Attached Images Last edited by SSMN; 07-24-2011 at 07:10 AM..