American prisoners of war show their happiness at being rescued from their German prison camp in April 1945.
Henry Kiesel, POW #2069, is shown in the photograph offset to the right raising his right arm in the air. This photo is on display at the Indiana Military Museum in Vincennes, Indiana, where Henry recently visited in his wheelchair. He became very emotional upon seeing his image some seventy years later which immediately brought it all back. These men never forget their war experience.
Cavalry and Infantry of the Seventh Army thrust into enemy territory to break into a German prison camp at Bad-Orb and raided enemy held territory to release 6,000 Allied soldiers, 3,364 of which were Americans from German prison camp Stalag IX-B, at Bad-Orb, Germany.
All the prisoners were incredibly ill-fed a slice of bread and soup a day with occasionally horse meat. Some pooled their food so any member who was extremely weak received more food that day. The liberated Americans would eat their first meal of “C” rations since being taken prisoner on December 15,1944. Many men died because they didn’t have enough food and medical supplies to keep them alive long enough for liberation.
What they found there were appalling conditions even for these hardened veterans. Over 4,700 American POWs were far more than the camp could handle. The food was terrible and rationed in insufficient quantities. Many of the captives were too weak to greet their liberators. Many corpses remained exposed and unburied. For each 160-person barrack, only one cold water tap, and one hole in the ground for a toilet. The barracks were so overcrowded that the prisoners had to take turns sleeping, in bunks and on the floor in lice-infested straw.
These POWs were more than captives to the desperate Nazi regime. They served as potential human shields from Allied attacks and hopefully as bargaining chips. This is likely why a German order came for 1,500 men of IX-B to march east, anticipating their American liberation. Stalag IX-B POW Eddie Pfannenstiel, a U.S. 28th Division POW captured in the Battle of the Bulge probably saved the lives of many. He protested the march east order to the responsible German medical officer. His rouse, insist the diseased prisoners in transit must not take place because they will infect others. He succeeded to buy time and the delay was sufficient until rescued.
“To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you.”
~ Lewis B. Smeades
Remembering our history and veterans one day at a time…
Jenny Tharp La Sala
COMES A SOLDIER’S WHISPER, A collection of wartime letters leading to love, honor & sacrifice
www.facebook.com/ComesASoldiersWhisper
www.comesasoldierswhisper.com
PHOTO IMAGE SOURCE: www.Indianamilitarymuseum.net
RESOURCE LINKS:
www.lonesentry.com/badorb/
www.efour4ever.com/44thdivision/stalagix.htm
