Introducing myself

Hello,
To introduce myself: I am a 21 yo student from Alsace (France). History lover in general but mostly interested by the local history of my region, particularly the Second World War era and that’s why I am here. My researchs and my knowledge are based on the study of books and by spending most of my free time exploring the battlefields of the Nordwind Operation.
Though even if the books (mostly after action reports/ Germans and American side) and the witnesses of these combats helped me to understand exactly what happened / how the positions were disposed, what were the moves of the troops , what were theirs equipments etc I still miss a point.
I don’t know what these mens felt, theirs personals feelings at an individual scale, theirs personalities, theirs relationships … I am in lack of testimonies. I did talked to civilians who lived this unfortunate period but the same stories through the soldier’s eyes are much different.

Here are my principles subjects on which I can share many informations especially « on the field » and on which I am more than interested to get testimonies or any kind of written sources:
Main interest:
-70th ID US
-45th ID US
Period from December 44 to March 45.
At Wingen sur moder / Reipertswiller / Philippsbourg / Baerenthal / Wimmeneau etc

But also:
-100th ID US
-36th ID US
(And most of the seventh US army in Alsace-Lorraine) —> Rimling / Haguenau
And even the Colmar pocket / 3rd ID … Jebsheim/ Holtzwihr / Labaroche…

I wish I can meet here people sharing the same interest as I do for this quite unknown and forgotten stage of the war which is the Battle of Alsace and Nordwind operation, the true last major German offensive on the western front.

 

Welcome

 

Cheers westernfront!

I suggest you use the search "machine" for more detailed information. We have been talking about different aspects of WW2 for 20 years or more, unfortunately many old members have stopped mailing but their view can be found about the Ardennes and Nordwind.

 

There are many books you can find giving a first hand account…I’ve found that soldiers experiences are similar in most wars and theatres…Alsace is a very interesting place…so much history.

 

Welcome to the forums!

 

thank you! That’s what I did already, and found quite some discussions about the battle of reipertswiller for example and the hills where the 157th was encircled etc
I wonder if anyone would answer me after all these years of am refreshing the discussion

 

As I said I’ve been reading many books already but it mostly show the military aspect, course of operation and combats etc and I try to search further than that.

 

Cheers from Arizona.

 

Tell us, do you also practice metal detection on the battlefields of Nordwind? Are the information you seek to help you track down the sites where soldiers fought, where they were killed, and where some are still missing? Basically, are you an relics hunter ?

 

Hello, you know E. , I surely do have the most detailed map of the battlefields in Alsace that you would ever have seen , so I don’t need informations about that , I’m just looking for testimonies to get a more complete picture of what happened back in time . I know you hate people searching to preserve these relics , it’s your right , but this isn’t a reason to try to discredit them like you always do.
Thanks

 

Welcome to the forum. Rich A. in Pa.

 

Discredit who? Relic hunters who strip soldiers' remains of their personal effects? I am wrong ? You didn't rob a German soldier, missing since January 1945 and didn't hide these belongings in someone's house? This is very respectable, indeed.
I note that you search all the forums to scrape all the information to satisfy your nauseating leisure.

 

Welcome to the site and hope you find lots of what your looking for.