Kriegsgefangene¹

(Source)

Von Lüttwitz stood at the fence - he, Sauer, and Heinrich had been put in the officers' enclosure, his men were on the other side of a double chain link fence, with perhaps two meters between the fences. Both fences had barbed wire on top, he hadn't noticed any dogs, he knew a German camp would use this area between the fences as a dog run, he hadn't seen any here.

He had expected it but he was still in a bit of shock from having his medals stripped from his tunic. The burly military policeman (MP) who had pulled his Knight's Cross from around his neck had done so with all the glee with which a particularly bad child would exhibit. The man had glowered at him, almost daring him to do something. His pistol had been taken away almost at the very moment of them being turned over to the men from the POW camp.

Leutnant Ralf Heinrich had protested loudly when one of the MPs tore the epaulettes from Heinrich's black Panzer tunic, then torn the Army Totenkopf patches off as well. A slap across Heinrich's face from the MP had almost caused Heinrich to strike back. Sauer had barked at him to stand at attention. Heinrich had immediately complied.

That was the first time von Lüttwitz had heard the phrase he and the other officers would become very familiar with, "F**king Nazis."

"Regrets Herr Major?"

"No, Manfred, but, well, yes, many, but not over our actions of the past few days. Look at the men, some don't look very happy, but most of them look relieved. They know that the retreating is over, the dying is over. They are going to survive. Things may be tough over the next few months, but I think the Amis will treat us well."

"Even these Ami Kettenhunde?"

"They're the same in any army, some are good, some are bullies, but in general, the Amis aren't a vicious people. At least not in my limited experience." von Lüttwitz sighed then looked at the sky, "I think it's going to rain."

As the rain started to fall, Sauer wondered how long they would be kept in these open enclosures. Not a single shelter in sight, open pit latrines, life wasn't going to be comfortable, but at least no one was shooting at them.

Situation on the 2nd of April 1945
1st Infantry Division is circled in red.
(Source)

Once again C Company was mounted in halftracks. The Big Red One was covering the left flank of the right pincer of the forces encircling what remained of the Germans' Army Group B. On paper that Army Group consisted of three armies - one Panzer, one Infantry, and one Parachute, between those three armies they controlled fourteen divisions.

On paper.

Most of those once proud divisions were little bigger than regiments. Many of the men in those divisions just wanted the war to be over. While Hitler might scream about fortresses and fighting to the last men, most of the troops had had enough. They were ready to quit.

Cpt. Tony Palminteri climbed out of his jeep and stretched his back, these roads were killing him. He looked over at his driver, Pfc. Clay Newton, and said, "Don't wander off too far Clay. Stretch your legs, take a nap if you want. We've got a few minutes before we push off again."

Then he turned to his radioman, Cpl. Jacob Winters, and said, "Get the platoon leaders up here with their platoon sergeants. We need to set up shop around here someplace, I want to have a look at the terrain and compare it to the maps we've got. I've seen no sign of the Krauts trying to escape out of this bag we've got them in, but you never know."

1st Lt. Stephen Hernandez was talking with his predecessor, 1st Lt. Nate Paddock. The two men had moved away from the column and were quietly enjoying the spring weather. It was a long few moments before Hernandez broke the silence.

"Ya know Nate, I think I'm going to stay in the Army when this is over. I had plans but..."

"It's got to be hard for you. I know Beth cared for you, a lot. I'm still shocked by her death. I'm not sure if Edith will ever get over it. They were close." Paddock sighed and looked down at the ground. He and Hernandez hadn't spoken much about Beth McGee's death. He'd talked to a couple of the guys in his old platoon, they said that Hernandez didn't let on that he was in pain, but as one of the men said, Hernandez was a lot quieter than he used to be, more intense in some ways.

"So you gonna marry Edith?" Hernandez had to ask.

"Well, I think there's an understanding there, you know, if we both survive the war..."

"Yup, Beth and I were serious, but decided to wait until after... Well, shit, there isn't going to be an 'after' for her, is there? Sorry Nate, it still hurts, I think it always will."

"Ya know Stephen, word at battalion is that they're considering you for a Silver Star."

"For what?"

"I don't know, something about arranging the surrender of an entire Kraut battalion. Regiment has had their eye on you for a long time. Division too. If you stay in, you might get to keep that commission too." Paddock looked at Hernandez, then said, "Don't take any stupid chances, okay. Your men need you, Hell the whole outfit needs you. This war is damned near over."

"I won't Nate, the only thing I care about right now is getting my boys home alive and in one piece."

(Source)

Every day saw more men being brought to what some of the men were starting to call 'The Zoo.' Von Lüttwitz and Sauer had been able to stay in touch with their men through the efforts of Hauptfeldwebel Klaus-Peter Keller. The Spieß had managed to organize a very efficient communications network in both the enlisted and the officer enclosures. Word had it that he'd convinced the American commander to let the men start building shelters.

Word also had it that the Spieß had pointed out to the American officer that the job could be very profitable for that officer. Keller had contacts in the region from before the war. The area occupied by the Allies needed rebuilding, why let the prisoners sit around idle all day? After all, the war was nearly over.

Somehow Keller had managed to recover von Lüttwitz's Knight's Cross from the brutal, and as it turned out not very bright, MP who had stolen it from him. As Keller said, "Hide it somewhere Sir. I don't think there will be any repercussions, but you never know."

"I shall find a safe place for it Klaus-Peter. How are the men?"

"Getting fat from the rations the Amis give us. Far better than what we've had for quite some time. Hopefully I can get them working soon, idle hands and all that."

"Indeed. Well..."

Von Lüttwitz was interrupted by an entire squadron of American twin engine bombers passing overhead. No doubt to strike some target in the Ruhr pocket. Von Lüttwitz waited until the noise had passed, then said to Keller, "What were we thinking when we started this war?"

"We weren't thinking Sir, not at all..."

¹ Prisoners of war

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