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The Colmar Pocket

There are many iconic World War II battles etched in our minds. We are reminded of the men and women who either survived or sacrificed themselves during these horrific events. Battles such as the Invasion of Normandy (i.e., D-Day), Battle of the Bulge, or Operation Market Garden have been memorialized in many films and documentaries and are celebrated each year with services commemorating the Allied participants.

Major-General Maxwell Taylor, Commander of the 101st (US) Airborne Division receiving a medal from Gen. Sir Bernard Montgomery for gallantry at the Battle of Carentan on 12 June 1944. Photo by Sgt. Morris (c. 1944). Imperial War Museum. PD-Released by author. Wikimedia Commons.
Major-General Maxwell Taylor, Commander of the 101st (US) Airborne Division receiving a medal from Gen. Sir Bernard Montgomery for gallantry at the Battle of Carentan on 12 June 1944. Photo by Sgt. Morris (c. 1944). Imperial War Museum. PD-Released by author. Wikimedia Commons.

However, for each of these battles, there are thousands of other battles, skirmishes, aerial confrontations, or encounters with the enemy that have not been well-documented or even remembered. In other words, they have been relegated to the back pages of history and in many cases, lost to history as the participants leave us. I suspect many of you (including myself) and your friends have relatives who fought in the war and participated in deadly battles, but they are never mentioned in the history books.

Today’s topic is about one of those battles that was extremely important to the Allied efforts in their push toward Germany after the successful invasion of the Normandy beaches six months earlier. Unfortunately, most people are unaware of the Colmar Pocket and the ensuing battle between 20 January and 9 February 1945. The primary focus of historical attention during this time has always been on the Battle of the Bulge (ending on 25 January 1945) resulting in a relative neglect of the Colmar Pocket battle, its significance, and sacrifices.

The Colmar Pocket was an area of significant German resistance and represented one of the “gateways” over the Rhine River into Germany. During those twenty days, Allied casualties and losses totaled more than 21,000 while German losses exceeded 38,000. There were many heroic efforts including four recipients of the Medal of Honor (e.g., Audie Murphy). The Colmar Pocket survivors became part of the combined Allied forces that fought their way into Germany ending with the German surrender three months later.


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Did You Know?

Did you know that the last surviving fighter pilot of the Battle of Britain recently passed away? Group Captain (Gp Capt) John “Paddy” Hemingway was 105 when he died in Dublin on 17 March 2025. Gp Capt Hemingway joined the RAF in 1938 and in addition to the Battle of Britain, he flew missions during the Battle of France, Battle of Dunkirk, the Allied invasion of Italy, and the invasion of Normandy (i.e., D-Day).

Group Captain John Allman “Paddy” Hemingway on his 105th birthday. Photo by anonymous (17 July 2024). PD-United Kingdom Open Government Licence v.3.0. Wikimedia Commons.
Group Captain John Allman “Paddy” Hemingway on his 105th birthday. Photo by anonymous (17 July 2024). PD-United Kingdom Open Government Licence v.3.0. Wikimedia Commons.

Between 10 July and 31 October 1940, nearly 3,000 pilots and 1,963 aircraft successfully defended England from a vastly superior German Luftwaffe. About 1,542 pilots were killed, 422 wounded, and 1,744 aircraft were lost during the three and a half months commonly known as the Battle of Britain.

Paddy was shot down four times during the war. One time, he had to escape out of an aircraft while on his way to receive his Distinguished Flying Cross from King George VI. Twice he parachuted into the sea after dogfights crippled his single-seat Hurricane aircraft. Assigned to No. 85 Squadron RAF in June 1940, Paddy and his fellow pilots fought the Luftwaffe until early September when the squadron was reassigned to Yorkshire. For the remainder of the war, the mission of 85 Squadron was to patrol the skies at night searching for incoming enemy aircraft.

Gp Capt Hemingway retired from the RAF in September 1969. Paddy was the last surviving member of the exclusive club called “The Few.” On 20 August 1940, Winston Churchill gave a speech about the ongoing air battle to the House of Commons wherein he stated, “Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.” The speech became known as “The Few” to describe the RAF pilots. Paddy and his fellow pilots were automatically enrolled in the club.

Paddy’s biggest regret in life was losing his friends during the war, and particularly the Battle of Britain. Shortly after Paddy’s death, the RAF issued a statement stating, “Mr. Hemingway’s passing marked the end of an era and a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made by those who fought for freedom during World War II.”

Statue of seated pilot at the Battle of Britain Memorial Capel-le-Ferne, Kent, UK. Photo by Detraymond (8 June 2008). PD-CCA-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license. Wikimedia Commons.
Statue of seated pilot at the Battle of Britain Memorial Capel-le-Ferne, Kent, UK. Photo by Detraymond (8 June 2008). PD-CCA-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license. Wikimedia Commons.

As we remember men like John Hemingway and Stanley Booker, we must also never forget about the millions of men and women who served their countries to fight for freedom.


“No nation has friends, only interests”

⏤ Charles de Gaulle

 We tend to focus on Winston Churchill’s quotations but not so much on Gen. de Gaulle’s famous words. This is one of my favorite quotes from the general. I thought it might be rather timely considering contemporary world events.


Alsace-Lorraine 

Alsace-Lorraine was once a territory of the German Empire. It has gone back and forth between France and Germany since its establishment in 1871. The Alsatian part lies on the west bank of the Rhine River (Germany is on the other side) and east of the Vosges Mountains. Lorraine is in the upper Moselle valley and north of the Vosges. Today, France claims the territory with Strasbourg as the territory’s most famous city.

1789 map of Lorraine and Alsace territories. Allemagne (Germany) borders Alsace with Strasbourg marked above the “c” in Alsace. Map by anonymous (c. 1789). Author: Ty’s Commons. PD-CCA-Share Alike 4.0 International license. Wikimedia Commons.
1789 map of Lorraine and Alsace territories. Allemagne (Germany) borders Alsace with Strasbourg marked above the “c” in Alsace. Map by anonymous (c. 1789). Author: Ty’s Commons. PD-CCA-Share Alike 4.0 International license. Wikimedia Commons.

At the start of World War I in 1914, one of France’s top goals was to recover the two lost provinces from Germany. (Germany took possession in May 1871 after the Franco-Prussian War.) This was accomplished with the defeat of Germany and Alsace-Lorraine was annexed to the French Third Republic. When Germany defeated France in June 1940 and took control of the country, citizens of the Alsatian and Lorraine territories became eligible to be drafted into the German military. By 1942, the Nazi government required people living in these territories to become German citizens and speaking French was prohibited.

Map of France with Lorraine and Alsace outlined in red. Map by anonymous (date unknown). Alsace-Lorraine Picture Postcard Collection – The Lafayette College.
Map of France with Lorraine and Alsace outlined in red. Map by anonymous (date unknown). Alsace-Lorraine Picture Postcard Collection – The Lafayette College.

During the four years of German occupation, the Alsace-Lorraine area, including the city of Colmar, was very strategic for the Germans. It was essentially the last line of defense along the Rhine and German border. As the German bulge collapsed by late January 1945, this secondary “bulge” or Colmar Pocket was to be defended to the last German soldier.

The Colmar Pocket

The Colmar Pocket was an area in central Alsace. The pocket was created in November and December 1944 when the U.S. 6th Army Group (US6AG) liberated north and south Alsace and eastern Lorraine. The German 19th Army subsequently held their ground in central Alsace preventing the Allies from advancing to the German border. Part of the reason for the delay in clearing central Alsace was a lack of strategic Allied reserves. Gen. Eisenhower was throwing as many resources as he could into fighting the Germans in the Ardennes (i.e., the Battle of the Bulge).

Map of east France and border of Germany. The town of Colmar is marked and the white area represents the Colmar Pocket. Map by Army Map Service (c. 1945). PD-U.S. Government. Wikimedia Commons.
Map of east France and border of Germany. The town of Colmar is marked and the white area represents the Colmar Pocket. Map by Army Map Service (c. 1945). PD-U.S. Government. Wikimedia Commons.

Battle Participants 

The primary Allied forces included French infantry and armored divisions (several of which were Moroccan) while the Americans contributed three infantry divisions and an armored division.

The fighting was led by the US6AG and its commander, Gen. Jacob Devers (1887−1979). Devers reported directly to Gen. Eisenhower at SHAEF headquarters. Directly reporting to Devers was Lt. Gen. Alexander Patch (1889−1945) and his Seventh Army as well as the French First Army led by Marshal Jean de Lattre de Tassigny (1889−1952).

Gen. Jacob L. Devers, Army Ground Forces commanding general. Photo by anonymous (c. 1945). PD-U.S. Government. Wikimedia Commons.
Gen. Jacob L. Devers, Army Ground Forces commanding general. Photo by anonymous (c. 1945). PD-U.S. Government. Wikimedia Commons.
Marshal Jean de Lattre de Tassigny. Photo by anonymous (c. 1946). PD-Creative Commons CCo 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication. Wikimedia Commons.
Marshal Jean de Lattre de Tassigny. Photo by anonymous (c. 1946). PD-Creative Commons CCo 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication. Wikimedia Commons.

The Seventh Army included Maj. Gen. Wade Haislip’s (1889−1971) XV Corps and its famous 3rd Infantry Division along with the XXI Corps led by Maj. Gen. Frank Milburn (1892−1962). The XXI Corps consisted of three divisions including the French 2nd Armored Division commanded by Gen. Philippe Leclerc (1902−1947) and Maj. Gen Maxwell Taylor’s (1901−1987) 101st Airborne Division (“The Screaming Eagles”).

Major General Frank W. Milburn, commanding general of the U.S. XXI Corps. Photo by anonymous (date unknown). PD-U.S. Government. Wikimedia Commons.
Major General Frank W. Milburn, commanding general of the U.S. XXI Corps. Photo by anonymous (date unknown). PD-U.S. Government. Wikimedia Commons.
Gen. George S. Patton delivering a speech during World War II. Patton is center while Maj. Gen. Wade Haislip is front row and far right. Photo by anonymous (c. April 1944). PD-U.S. Government. Wikimedia Commons.
Gen. George S. Patton delivering a speech during World War II. Patton is center while Maj. Gen. Wade Haislip is front row and far right. Photo by anonymous (c. April 1944). PD-U.S. Government. Wikimedia Commons.
Army Pfc. Jose F. Valdez (1925−1945). Pvt. Valdez was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. The 3rd Infantry Division has earned sixty-one MoH with forty medals awarded during World War II. Photo by anonymous (date unknown). PD-U.S. Government. Wikimedia Commons.
Army Pfc. Jose F. Valdez (1925−1945). Pvt. Valdez was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. The 3rd Infantry Division has earned sixty-one MoH with forty medals awarded during World War II. Photo by anonymous (date unknown). PD-U.S. Government. Wikimedia Commons.
3rd Infantry Division soldiers about to receive Medals of Honor. The 3rd Infantry Division had the most Medal of Honor recipients in World War II. Photo by anonymous (23 April 1945). PD-U.S. Government. Wikimedia Commons.
3rd Infantry Division soldiers about to receive Medals of Honor. The 3rd Infantry Division had the most Medal of Honor recipients in World War II. Photo by anonymous (23 April 1945). PD-U.S. Government. Wikimedia Commons.

The US6AG was created in July 1944 and its initial mission was to supervise and coordinate the combined French and American forces in the invasion of Southern France known as “Operation Dragoon.” Originally planned to coincide with the invasion of Normandy on 6 June 1944, a lack of resources forced a delay until 15 August. A successful invasion of Southern France would mean vital ports, including Marseille, would become available to assist in supplying the Allied armies from the Normandy beach heads, the eventual breakout, and then the march to Germany. It would also open a second front requiring the Germans to divert resources away from other areas. Dragoon was extremely successful, and German forces were quickly defeated.

Generals George Marshall (left), Jeande Lattre de Tassigny (center), and Jacob Devers (right). Photo by anonymous (c. October 1944). PD-U.S. Government. Wikimedia Commons.
Generals George Marshall (left), Jeande Lattre de Tassigny (center), and Jacob Devers (right). Photo by anonymous (c. October 1944). PD-U.S. Government. Wikimedia Commons.

Clearing the German Army

After Dragoon, Devers and his army were operating under Gen. Eisenhower’s orders to clear the Germans from the west bank of the Rhine. The mission was going fine through November 1944 as Leclerc captured Strasbourg on 23 November and Devers defeated the German Nineteenth Army leaving only two of its divisions intact. These two German divisions formed the defense of the Colmar Pocket.

Alsace region of France in red. Map by anonymous with modifications by Wikialine (1 September 2009). PD-GNU Free Documentation License. Wikimedia Commons.
Alsace region of France in red. Map by anonymous with modifications by Wikialine (1 September 2009). PD-GNU Free Documentation License. Wikimedia Commons.
Map of Alsace Lorraine (light green). Map by Speltdecca (22 April 2019). PD-CCA 3.0 Unported license. Wikimedia Commons.
Map of Alsace Lorraine (light green). Map by Speltdecca (22 April 2019). PD-CCA 3.0 Unported license. Wikimedia Commons.

Devers and his generals were planning to cross the Rhine into Germany when Gen. Eisenhower showed up on 24 November. Eisenhower refused to allow Devers to cross the Rhine; instead ordering him to clear the remaining German troops on the western side of the Rhine (i.e., Alsace-Lorraine). However, Eisenhower delayed those orders when on 15 December, Hitler ordered the Ardennes Offensive, commonly known as the Battle of the Bulge.

Operation Nordwind 

By late December, the German offensive in the Ardennes was running out of steam and Hitler ordered a final push to support the Ardennes offensive. It was called Operation Nordwind, or “Operation Northwind” and it called for breaking through Dever’s army in the Vosges, the Alsatian Plain, and recapturing Strasbourg.

On 31 December, two German armies (one commanded by Reichsführer-SS Heinrich Himmler) attacked the Seventh Army while the Luftwaffe sent a thousand aircraft to cripple Allied air forces. The Germans threw Panzer divisions, Wehrmacht divisions (including those defending the Colmar area), and Waffen-SS troops up against the Seventh Army and by mid-January 1945, the U.S. VI Corps was fighting the enemy on three sides. The fighting was so fierce that Gen. Eisenhower feared the Seventh Army would be destroyed and he ordered battle-weary troops from the Ardennes to reinforce the Seventh Army, but their arrival was delayed. Two weeks of heavy fighting ensued but on 25 January, the U.S. 222nd Infantry Regiment stopped the German advance. (On the same day, the reinforcements showed up.)

Senior German SS officers at KZ-Mauthausen ascending the “Steps of Hell” during a “Himmler Visit.” SS-Obergruppenführer Paul Hausser is the officer in the foreground, first row to the right. Himmler is partially visible next to Hausser. Paul Hausser survived the war and became a prominent defender of Hitler, Himmler, and the SS after the war. Photo by anonymous (c. June 1941). Bundesarchiv, Bild 192-305/CC-BY-SA 3.0. PD-CCA-Share Alike 3.0 Germany license. Wikimedia Commons.
Senior German SS officers at KZ-Mauthausen ascending the “Steps of Hell” during a “Himmler Visit.” SS-Obergruppenführer Paul Hausser is the officer in the foreground, first row to the right. Himmler is partially visible next to Hausser. Paul Hausser survived the war and became a prominent defender of Hitler, Himmler, and the SS after the war. Photo by anonymous (c. June 1941). Bundesarchiv, Bild 192-305/CC-BY-SA 3.0. PD-CCA-Share Alike 3.0 Germany license. Wikimedia Commons.

At this point, Strasbourg was liberated and Dever’s army held two key territories west of the Rhine. However, the remaining divisions of the German Nineteenth Army commanded by General der Infanterie Siegfried Rasp (1898−1968) held The Colmar Pocket in the center of Alsace-Lorraine.

Wehrmacht general, Siegfried Rasp. Photo by anonymous (date unknown). https://www.xwhos.com/person/siegfried_rasp-whois.html
Wehrmacht general, Siegfried Rasp. Photo by anonymous (date unknown). https://www.xwhos.com/person/siegfried_rasp-whois.html

The Battle of the Colmar Pocket 

After the failure of the German Operation Northwind, Devers was ordered to collapse the Colmar Pocket. As we know from the Battle of the Bulge, the 1944/45 winter was very severe. The Colmar Pocket was situated in the Alsatian Plain, a very flat terrain with virtually no cover except for the occasional small, wooded areas. The plain is also a drainage basin with many streams and drainage canals making it difficult for vehicles to cross. The only real cover for German defenders were the small villages dotting the landscape.

French and Moroccan divisions first attacked the south flank of the pocket on 20 January 1945 during a snowstorm. As the weather worsened and the Germans began their counterattacks, the French attack slowed down. On the northern side of the pocket, the attacking units were the U.S. 3rd Division and the French 1st Infantry Marching Division.

Map of Colmar Pocket reflecting relative positions of armies in January/February 1945. Map by anonymous (date unknown). Warfare History Network. https://warfarehistorynetwork.com/article/destruction-of-the-colman-pocket/
Map of Colmar Pocket reflecting relative positions of armies in January/February 1945. Map by anonymous (date unknown). Warfare History Network. https://warfarehistorynetwork.com/article/destruction-of-the-colman-pocket/

 

Map of the Colmar Pocket reflecting battle positions and movements. Map by W.B. Wilson (15 March 2007). PD-U.S. Government. Wikimedia Commons.
Map of the Colmar Pocket reflecting battle positions and movements. Map by W.B. Wilson (15 March 2007). PD-U.S. Government. Wikimedia Commons.

Over the next ten days, the fighting was fierce. Allied troops sought cover wherever they could. Many times, this was a retreat into nearby woods (e.g., Audie Murphy ordering his men into the Riedwihr Woods). Three key objectives were subsequently achieved: reaching the Colmar Canal, capturing the town of Jebsheim, and reaching the Rhine. By 1 February, all three objectives had been fulfilled.

Monument marking the spot in a small, wooded area where on 26 January 1945, Audie Murphy stood on a disabled U.S. tank and using its .50-caliber machine gun fought off advancing German troops including six tanks. Despite his wounds, Murphy wiped out an entire German squad of fifty men about ten yards from his position. He made it back to his men, refused medical help, and organized a counterattack. Photo by Sandy Ross (16 September 2024).
Monument marking the spot in a small, wooded area where on 26 January 1945, Audie Murphy stood on a disabled U.S. tank and using its .50-caliber machine gun fought off advancing German troops including six tanks. Despite his wounds, Murphy wiped out an entire German squad of fifty men about ten yards from his position. He made it back to his men, refused medical help, and organized a counterattack. Photo by Sandy Ross (16 September 2024).
Portrait of Audie Murphy. This photo was taken shortly after Murphy had been to Paris to receive the Chevalier légion d’honneur and the Croix de guerre with palm. Photo by anonymous (c. 1948). PD-U.S. Government. Wikimedia Commons.
Portrait of Audie Murphy. This photo was taken shortly after Murphy had been to Paris to receive the Chevalier légion d’honneur and the Croix de guerre with palm. Photo by anonymous (c. 1948). PD-U.S. Government. Wikimedia Commons.
Medal of Honor recipient, Michael J. Daly. Photo by Abbie Rowe (23 August 1945). National Archives and Records Administration. PD-U.S. Government. Wikimedia Commons.
Medal of Honor recipient, Michael J. Daly. Photo by Abbie Rowe (23 August 1945). National Archives and Records Administration. PD-U.S. Government. Wikimedia Commons.

By now, the German defenses were collapsing. Hitler authorized partial retreats but under no circumstances was anyone allowed to retreat over the Rhine. Due to confusion associated with the withdrawals, German forces were in disarray. Hitler was forced to abandon the headquarters (Heeresgruppe Oberrhein) and place his troops under the Waffen-SS led by SS-Obergruppenführer Paul Hausser (1880−1972). During the first week in February, Allied forces liberated key villages and towns (including Colmar on 3 February), split the Colmar Pocket, and reached the Rhône-Rhine Canal.

Waffen-SS General Paul Hausser. Photo by anonymous (c. 1945). US Government USMIL Archive. PD-U.S. Government. Wikimedia Commons.
Waffen-SS General Paul Hausser. Photo by anonymous (c. 1945). US Government USMIL Archive. PD-U.S. Government. Wikimedia Commons.

The Collapse of the Colmar Pocket 

By 4 February, German resistance was limited. Allied forces throughout the pocket were linking up, heavy artillery and air strikes were being used against diminishing pockets of German troops, and unobstructed paths to the Rhine were being opened.

On 9 February, the last German defenders surrendered on the west bank of the Rhine. Devers had accomplished his mission to eliminate the Colmar Pocket, and he could now focus the US6AG efforts on entering Germany and writing the last chapter of the war in the European Theater.

For the fourth time since 1871, Strasbourg and Alsace-Lorraine changed hands between France and Germany.

Contemporary photo of the Alsatian Plain (background). Photo by Sandy Ross (16 September 2024).
Contemporary photo of the Alsatian Plain (background). Photo by Sandy Ross (16 September 2024).

Memorial Museum of the Liberation of the Colmar Pocket  

The Musée Mémorial des Combats de la Poche de Colmar is located in the small village of Turckheim (25 rue du Conseil). The museum is full of authentic artefacts and tells the story of the bitter cold fighting for the Colmar Pocket. Click here to visit the web-site.

Exterior entrance to the Colmar WWII Museum & Memorial. Photo by Dan Lundberg (24 October 2024). PD-CCA-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license. Wikimedia Commons.
Exterior entrance to the Colmar WWII Museum & Memorial. Photo by Dan Lundberg (24 October 2024). PD-CCA-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license. Wikimedia Commons.

Next Blog:       “The Pianist & Wehrmacht Captain”


Correspondence and Commentary Policy 

We welcome everyone to contact us either directly or through the individual blogs. Sandy and I review every piece of correspondence before it is approved to be published on the blog site. Our policy is to accept and publish comments that do not project hate, political, religious stances, or an attempt to solicit business (yeah, believe it or not, we do get that kind of stuff). Like many bloggers, we receive quite a bit of what is considered “Spam.” Those e-mails are immediately rejected without discussion.

Our blogs are written to inform our readers about history. We want to ensure discussions are kept within the boundary of historical facts and context without personal bias or prejudice.

We average about one e-mail every two days from our readers. We appreciate all communication because in many cases, it has led to friendships around the world.


★ Read and Learn More About Today’s Topic ★

Clarke, Jeffrey J. and Robert Ross Smith. Riviera to the Rhine (United States Army in World War II: The European Theater of Operatons). Florence, AL: Whitman Pub, LLC, 2012. Originally published by the Center of Military History, United States Army, 1993.

Collier, Peter. Medal of Honor: Portraits of Valor Beyond the Call of Duty. New York: Artisan, 2011.

De Lattre de Tassigny, Jean. Translated by Malcom Barnes. The History of the French First Army. London: Routledge Library Editions (2021). Originally published by George Allen and Unwin, 1952.

Memorial Museum of the Liberation of the Colmar Pocket.   Click here to visit the museum web-site.

Murphy, Audie. To Hell and Back. New York: Holt Paperbacks, 2002. Originally published by Henry Holt Co., 1949.

Prefer, Nathan N. Eisenhower’s Thorn on the Rhine: The Battles for the Colmar Pocket. Philadelphia: Casemate, 2015.

Rosenberg, Aaron (producer). To Hell and Back. Universal Pictures, 17 August 1955.

Saltzman, Harry and Benjamin Fisz (producers). Battle of Britain. Spitfire Productions, 15 September 1969.

Smith, David A. The Price of Valor: The Life of Audie Murphy, America’s Most Decorated Hero of World War II. Washington D.C.: Regnery History, 2015.

Thalmann, Hugues-Emmanuel. The Savage Battle of the Colmar Pocket, Winter 1944-1945. Saint-Cyr-sur-Loire: Editions Sutton, 2013.

Disclaimer: 

There may be a chance that after we publish this particular blog, the video links associated with the blog are no longer accessible. We have no control over this. Many times, whoever posts the video has done so without the consent of the video’s owner. In some cases, it is likely that the content is deemed unsuitable by YouTube. We apologize if you have tried to access the link and you don’t get the expected results. Same goes for internet links.

What’s New With Sandy and Stew?

Welcome back to our blogs. We took a hiatus due to a crushing load of issues facing us over the past six months. Now that we are kind of digging out, I thought we would publish our blog that was supposed to go out last year. It is a topic that came about as a result of our September 2024 river cruise through France and Germany. We took an excursion that focused on the battle for the Colmar Pocket.

Sandy and I have decided to move back to Nashville. We moved to SW Florida about nine years ago for the primary purpose of being close to my 94-year-old father who lived in Venice by himself. Well, he passed away a year ago and now there really is no reason to stay. We enjoyed Nashville very much for the ten years we lived there and so it was a no-brainer decision to return. We’re building a house in Franklin and hope to move in sometime this fall. In the meantime, lots of traveling on our schedule. Hopefully, we can turn some of our experiences into blogs, just like we did with this current blog.

Thank you to all of you who subscribe to our bi-weekly blogs. It seems there isn’t a day that goes by where we don’t increase our readership. Please let your history buff friends and family members know about our blog site and blogs.

Someone Is Commenting On Our Blogs

We have had some very interesting correspondence since our last blog. One stands out.

We would like to thank Capt. Hugh S. for reaching out to us on 12 March regarding our comments about Stanley Booker’s passing. Capt. Hugh is the assistant equerry to King Charles III. As a result, His Majesty sent a wonderful letter of condolences to Stan’s daughter, Pat V. It was one of the most thoughtful and beautifully written letter I’ve ever read. Needless-to-say, it was quite an emotional moment for Pat. All of us are very appreciative of Capt. Hugh’s interest and effort to honor one of the millions of heroes of World War II. Like Gp Capt. Hemingway (refer to above “Did You Know?”), we are losing so many of the men and women who fought to keep our world free.

If there is a topic you’d like to see a blog written about, please don’t hesitate to contact me. I love hearing from you so keep those comments coming.

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Avenue Boche

At about 6:00 a.m. on 14 June 1940, the German army marched into Paris. Two hours later, Wehrmacht headquarters were established in the Hôtel de Crillon on the Place de la Concorde. At 9:45 a.m., the Nazi swastika flag was hanging over the tomb of the unknown soldier from the center of the Arc de Triomphe. Eight hours later, officers and soldiers had taken over the buildings where they would live, work, and relax for the next four years. It was clear that before they arrived, senior officers knew exactly which buildings were going to be appropriated for the German occupation forces.

Wehrmacht troops marching on the Champs Elysée. Photo by anonymous (c. 1940). Bundesarchiv, Bild 146-1994-036-09A/CC-BY-SA. PD-CCA-Share Alike 3.0 Germany. Wikimedia Commons.
Wehrmacht troops marching on the Champs Elysée. Photo by anonymous (c. 1940). Bundesarchiv, Bild 146-1994-036-09A/CC-BY-SA. PD-CCA-Share Alike 3.0 Germany. Wikimedia Commons.

One of the most opulent and upscale Paris neighborhoods was centered along avenue Foch in the 16th arrondissiment. (During the Belle Epoque period, the street was named avenue Bois.) Mansions owned by French millionaires, industrialists, celebrities, and bankers lined the grand avenue. That is, until 14 June when the Gestapo began to take over the mansions. Over time, the French came to refer the street as “Avenue Boche.” (Boche was a derogatory term used to describe the German occupiers.)


Did You Know?

Did you know that the last surviving member of an elite French commando unit passed away on 3 July 2023?

Léon Gautier (1922−2023) was a soldier in the 1er bataillon de fusiliers marins commandos, or commonly known as the “Kieffer Commandos” aptly named for its commander, Philipp Kieffer (1899−1962). There were 177 Kieffer commandos who landed on Sword Beach early on the morning of 6 June 1944. Their initial target was a heavily fortified bunker but standing between them and the bunker was a wide-open beach. After hitting the sand, it took the men four hours of heavy fighting, cutting through barbed wire, and withstanding a hailstorm of bullets, to take their objective. The men spent seventy-eight straight days in combat and half of them were killed. Only two dozen men escaped death or injury ⏤ Léon Gautier was among the lucky ones.

Léon Gautier during World War II.
Léon Gautier during World War II. Photo by anonymous (c. 1942). AFP/Getty Images.

The fighting unit exists today as part of the Naval Commandos of the French navy. The green beret and bronze shield badge are worn proudly seventy-nine years after the unit received its official designation in March 1944.

Léon Gautier proudly wearing the green beret with bronze shield of the Kieffer Commandos.
Léon Gautier proudly wearing the green beret with bronze shield of the Kieffer Commandos. Photo by François Gondrée (31 May 2014).

M.Gautier’s great-great-grandson was born on 6 June 2017, the 73rd anniversary of D-Day.

Accompanied by Emmanuel Macron , Léon Gautier attends the D-Day ceremony at Colleville-Montgomery.
Accompanied by Emmanuel Macron (standing behind Gautier), Léon Gautier attends the D-Day ceremony at Colleville-Montgomery. Photo by Stephane Lemouton (6 June 2023). Lemouton Stephane/Abaca/Shutterstock.

The American Hospital of Paris  

As it became apparent the Germans would enter Paris unopposed, Dr. Thierry de Martel (1876−1940), chief surgeon at the American Hospital told his friend and U.S. ambassador to France, William Bullitt (click here to read the blog, The American Mayor of Paris) that he would never leave the city. Dr. de Martel was antisemitic and anti-German. His son died in the first world war and the father had an intense hatred for Germans. He could not bear to think about swastika flags flying from buildings in his beloved city. He saw only one option available to him. On the morning of 14 June, Dr. de Martel sat down on his living room couch and injected himself with a lethal dose of strychnine.

Dr. Thierry de Martel.
Dr. Thierry de Martel. Photo by anonymous (c. 1920). PD-Expired copyright. Wikimedia Commons.
William C. Bullitt, U.S. envoy to France, leaving the White House after a meeting with President Roosevelt.
William C. Bullitt, U.S. envoy to France, leaving the White House after a meeting with President Roosevelt. Photo by Harris & Ewing (c. 1939). Library of Congress. PD-No known restrictions. Wikimedia Commons.

The American Hospital was founded in 1906 in the Paris suburb of Neuilly-sur-Seine and it is the only civilian hospital in Europe that does not receive government subsidies from France or the United States. It is a nonprofit organization and relies solely on donations. The hospital was inaugurated with 24-beds and today its capacity is 187 beds. Within five years, the hospital became one of the primary care centers for the wounded men in World War I reaching a capacity of 2,000 beds at its peak. In 1914, the American Hospital’s famous motor-ambulance corps was established (click here to read the blog, The Rochambelles). Notable patients of the hospital over the decades include Gertrude Stein (died), Rock Hudson (treated for AIDs), Ernest Hemingway (head wound and removal of his appendix), Aristotle Onassis (died), Sara Delano Roosevelt (treated for pneumonia), and the actor, Bette Davis (died).

The American Hospital of Paris. Photo by anonymous (c. 1908). Library of Congress. National Photo Company Collection. PD-No known restrictions. Wikimedia Commons.
The American Hospital of Paris. Photo by anonymous (c. 1908). Library of Congress. National Photo Company Collection. PD-No known restrictions. Wikimedia Commons.
Entrance to the American Hospital of Paris. Photo by anonymous (c. 1930).
Entrance to the American Hospital of Paris. Photo by anonymous (c. 1930). https://erenow.net/ww/americans-in-paris-life-and-death-under-nazi-occupation-1940-1944/18.php

After Dr. de Martel committed suicide, Dr. Sumner W. Jackson replaced him as the hospital’s chief surgeon (and leader). The Germans allowed the hospital to treat wounded Allied POWs as it saved them an immense cost. Dr. Edmond Gros suffered an emotional and physical breakdown and resigned his position on the hospital’s board of governors. He was replaced by Aldebert de Chambrun (1872−1962), who became a collaborationist with the Germans during their four years of occupation.

Dr. Edmund Gros. Lt. Col. Gros suggested the name “Lafayette Escadrille” for the American aviation unit fighting in France.
Dr. Edmund Gros. Lt. Col. Gros suggested the name “Lafayette Escadrille” for the American aviation unit fighting in France. Photo by anonymous (c. 1918). PD-U.S. Government. Wikimedia Commons.
Dr. Sumner Jackson, Dr. Thierry de Martel, Dr. Edmund Gros, and Toquette Jackson.
Dr. Sumner Jackson (center), Dr. Thierry de Martel (in profile just in front of Dr. Jackson), Dr. Edmund Gros (fourth from left), and Toquette Jackson (third nurse from right). Photo by anonymous (c. 1940). Courtesy of Loraine Riemer.

After the German occupation of Paris and France, Dr. Jackson used his position to begin undercover resistance activities to shelter, provide false documents, and move Allied soldiers across the border to Spain. It worked well until four years later when the Gestapo caught up with Dr. Jackson, his wife, and their teenage son.

Let’s Meet the Jackson Family 

Sumner Jackson (1884−1945) was a Jefferson Medical College graduate in 1914 and became a battlefield surgeon in France during World War I. He met a Swiss-born nurse, Charlotte (“Toquette”) Sylvie Barrelet de Ricout (1888−1968), during this time and they were married in 1917. Returning to the United States, the couple did not seem to fit in, and by 1921, they had returned to Paris. Sumner began as a staff surgeon with the American Hospital and during the interwar years, he gained a steadfast professional and personal reputation eventually becoming Dr. de Martel’s assistant. During that time, Dr. Jackson treated American expats such as Gertrude Stein, Zelda Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, and e.e. cummings. A contemporary report to the hospital’s governors stated, “Too much praise cannot be given to Dr. Sumner Jackson.”

Sumner and Charlotte Jackson.
Sumner and Charlotte Jackson. Photo by anonymous (date unknown). Courtesy of Loraine Riemer.

In January 1928, Toquette gave birth to the couple’s only child, a son named Phillip (1928−2016) and he went by “Pete” for the remainder of his life. Pete adored his parents and the three of them lived comfortably on the ground floor of their residence at 11, av. Foch.

Dr. Jackson standing in the garden with his son, Pete.
Dr. Jackson standing in the garden with his son, Pete. Photo by anonymous (c. October 1928). Courtesy of Loraine Riemer.
Toquette and Pete in the garden of their apartment at 11, avenue Foch. Photo by anonymous (c. August 1930). Courtesy of Loraine Riemer.
Toquette and Pete in the garden of their apartment at 11, avenue Foch. Photo by anonymous (c. August 1930). Courtesy of Loraine Riemer.
Dr. Sumner Jackson and his son, Pete, in the garden of their avenue Foch apartment.
Dr. Sumner Jackson and his son, Pete, in the garden of their avenue Foch apartment. Photo by anonymous (c. 1930). Courtesy of Loraine Riemer.

Avenue Boche

Following on the heels of the Wehrmacht entering Paris was a small Sonderkommando unit of Gestapo men. Handpicked by SS-Obergruppenführer Reinhard Heydrich, the unit’s commander was thirty-year-old SS-Standartenführer Helmut Knochen (1910−2003). Knochen, the head of the Paris Gestapo, settled into his offices located at 72, av. Foch. His superiors, SS-Sturmbannführer Karl Bömelburg (1885−1946) and SS-Brigadeführer Karl Oberg (1897−1965) had offices at 84, av. Foch and nearby at 57, bd Lannes (Waffen-SS headquarters), respectively. The head of Sicherheitsdienst-SD counterintelligence, SS-Sturmbannführer Hans Josef Kieffer (1900−1947), worked out of 84, av. Foch. Reporting to Adolf Eichmann, SS-Hauptsturmführer Theodor Dannecker (1913−1945), head of the Bureau of Jewish Affairs, had his offices at 31 bis, av. Foch. The buildings at 80-84, av. Foch contained Gestapo offices used for imprisonment and torture. The KriPo, or Nazi police responsible for criminal investigations were housed at 74, av. Foch. The Paris Gestapo Amt III (intelligence operations) was headquartered at 58-60, av. Foch. Around the corner and within a short walking distance were the rue Pergolèse residences of Hugo Bleicher (1899−1982), the Nazis’ premier spy catcher and his next-door neighbor, the French traitor, Henri Déricourt (1909−1962).

SS-Standartenführer Helmut Knochen.
SS-Standartenführer Helmut Knochen. Photo by Kurt Alber (c. 1942). Bundesarchiv, Bild 101III-Alber-096-10/CCA-BY-SA. PD-CCA-Share Alike 3.0 Germany. Wikimedia Commons.
SS-Sturmbannführer Hans Josef Kieffer.
SS-Sturmbannführer Hans Josef Kieffer. Photo by anonymous (date unknown). https://www.memoiresdeguerre.com
Exterior of 84, avenue Foch. The top floors contained rooms for Gestapo interrogation and torture as well as prisoner holding cells.
Exterior of 84, avenue Foch. The top floors contained rooms for Gestapo interrogation and torture as well as prisoner holding cells. Photo by Sandy Ross (c. September 2017).

Dr. Jackson and his family were surrounded by the most dangerous Nazis in Paris. It was a web of killers, double agents, collaborationists, and informers. Due to his position, protection from de Chambrun, and luck, the Jacksons almost managed to pull off their resistance activities for the entire four years of occupation without any interference from the Gestapo. However, in May 1944, their luck ran out.

Exterior of former residence of the Jackson family at 11, avenue Foch. The fence is original and behind it is the garden where photos were taken of Pete with his parents.
Exterior of former residence of the Jackson family at 11, avenue Foch. The fence is original and behind it is the garden where photos were taken of Pete with his parents. Photo by Sandy Ross (c. September 2017).

Resistance Activities

Pete hated the German occupiers and like many other teenagers, he carried chalk with him to scribble “V” on walls in recognition of the Allied victory sign. (That is until his parents found out.)

Dr. Jackson giving his son, Pete, boxing lessons in the garden of their apartment at 11, avenue Foch.
Dr. Jackson giving his son, Pete, boxing lessons in the garden of their apartment at 11, avenue Foch. Photo by anonymous (c. May 1938). Courtesy of Loraine Riemer.

Dr. Jackson had been aiding Allied agents and downed airmen since the occupation. However, by the spring of 1943, Toquette was approached by representatives of the Goélette-Frégate resistance network and asked the Jacksons to provide their home as a drop-off site for important intelligence material. It would put the Jackson family at great risk, but they finally agreed to the arrangement. They allowed Goélette agents to meet at the apartment but refused to allow radio transmissions as that would be an unnecessary risk. Despite their efforts to shield Pete, he eventually became involved in the family’s resistance activities including foolishly taking photos of the U-boat pens at Saint-Nazaire and the Atlantic Wall coastal defenses. (German soldiers were under orders to immediately execute any non-German caught taking photographs.)

By the fall of 1943, the Jackson’s “letter box” became an integral part of Goélette’s operations. Besides the normal maps and photographs, extremely important information passed through the avenue Foch residence including the first designs of Germany’s new V-1 rocket.

The Jacksons were no different than any other Parisian family in early 1944. They suffered from a lack of food and clothing. However, there was another gruesome fact. By mid-1943 and into 1944, Knochen and Keiffer had built up a sizeable network of spies, collaborationists, and informers. French résistants were being denounced, French and British resistance networks and circuits (e.g., British-led Special Operations Executive) were infiltrated, and scores of resistance agents were arrested, tortured, and deported/murdered under Hitler’s directive, Nacht und Nebel (click here to read the blog, Night and Fog).

Goélette knew the Germans were tightening the noose around the organization and Toquette was warned. On 24 May 1944, Goélette and its agents, including Toquette (nom de guerre: Colombiers), were betrayed to the Germans.

Arrest, Deportation, and Concentration Camps 

The Gestapo sent three members of the Milice (a Vichy collaborationist paramilitary organization) to the Jackson residence where Toquette and Pete were arrested. Almost simultaneously, the Gestapo arrested Dr. Jackson at the hospital.

The Milice interrogated each family member but never tortured them. On 7 June, they were turned over to the Gestapo for further questioning. As the Allies broke out of the Normandy beaches, Dr. Jackson and Pete were loaded into a bus destined for the Compiègne detention camp and from there, in mid-July, they were deported to KZ Neuengamme in northern Germany. Toquette was sent to the Romainville detention center and a month later, put on the last train out of Paris (click here to read the blog, The Last Train Out of Paris) with KZ Ravensbrück as her final destination.

The front entrance to KZ Neuengamme.
The front entrance to KZ Neuengamme. Photo by City of Hamburg (1 August 2020). PD-CCA-Share Alike 4.0 International. Wikimedia Commons.

The Jacksons survived the winter of 1944/45 in the camps through sheer strength of willpower, courage, and determination. They all worked at hard labor. Dr. Jackson toiled as a machinist in a munitions factory (where he lost a finger) while Pete was assigned to clear bomb damage. Fortunately, Dr. Jackson found a replacement for his son and Pete was able instead to get a job in the camp kitchen, likely saving his life. Toquette’s life at KZ Ravensbrück was brutal. Starvation, lack of medical care, illness, and horrible working conditions contributed to Toquette’s physical deterioration. Worse than all of that, Toquette never knew what happened to her husband and son.

Women prisoners laboring at KZ Ravensbrück.
Women prisoners laboring at KZ Ravensbrück. Photo by anonymous (date unknown). Bundesarchiv, Bild 183-1985-0417-15/CC-BY-SA 3.0. PD-CCA-Share Alike 3.0 Germany. Wikimedia Commons.

SS Thielbek and the White Buses 

As the war neared its end, Heinrich Himmler gave the orders that all evidence of Nazi crimes was to be eliminated. This meant concentration camp prisoners were to be murdered so they couldn’t testify against their captors. However, Himmler was looking for ways to save his skin and he agreed to release some of the women prisoners (click here to read , The White Buses and here to read Ten Gifts of the White Bus Rescue). Under the White Bus project, Toquette was released and on 28 April 1945, she landed at Malmö, Sweden. Toquette’s physical condition was such that she was barely alive and had she not been released, it likely Toquette would have perished in the camp before its liberation. Of the 550 women deported with her from Paris on 15 August 1944, Toquette was one of only seventeen survivors.

Partial passenger list of former KZ Ravensbrück prisoners arriving by ferry at Malmö, Sweden. Toquette is listed third under “Amerikaner (U.S.A.).”
Partial passenger list of former KZ Ravensbrück prisoners arriving by ferry at Malmö, Sweden. Toquette is listed third under “Amerikaner (U.S.A.).” Photo by anonymous (c. April 1945).
Charlotte (“Toquette”) Jackson (right) arriving in Malmö, Sweden after her release from KZ Ravensbrück.
Charlotte (“Toquette”) Jackson (right) arriving in Malmö, Sweden after her release from KZ Ravensbrück. Photo by anonymous (28 April 1945). Courtesy of Loraine Riemer.
Toquette recuperating in Malmö, Sweden.
Toquette recuperating in Malmö, Sweden. Photo by anonymous (c. April 1945). Courtesy of Loraine Riemer.

There were nine thousand inmates at KZ Neuengamme. By April 1945, the British were advancing toward the camp and six thousand men (including Dr. Jackson and Pete) were shipped to Lübeck where on 3 May, they boarded the cargo carrier, SS Thielbek. (Two passenger ships, Cap Arcona and the Deutschland, were also used.) The remaining three thousand prisoners at KZ Neuengamme were murdered by the camp guards.

SS Thielbek.
SS Thielbek. Photo by anonymous (date unknown). https://www.shipsnostalgia.com

Under Himmler’s orders, the Nazis planned to scuttle the three ships with all inmates on board. However, the British did not know the ships carried the prisoners and on the afternoon of 3 May, RAF fighters attacked. Pete was on deck when the Thielbek took a direct hit. He looked for his father and not seeing him, Pete jumped into the water. Reaching a lifeboat, Pete climbed in but was thrown back into the sea once the German sailors realized he was a prisoner. He swam to shore with two hundred other men. The first 150 ashore were mowed down by SS machine guns. Pete and the other fifty men swam away and came ashore further down the beach where they were taken by the SS to Neustadt along with 200 other survivors from the sinking ships. Lined up to be shot, Pete and the others heard the sound of British tanks and their would-be executioners fled. The arrival of British troops saved the lives of fifty survivors of the sinking of the Thielbek. Pete was one of them.

The wreck of the SS Thielbeck. Photo by anonymous (c. May 1945). Traces of War. Getuigen.
The wreck of the SS Thielbeck. Photo by anonymous (c. May 1945). Traces of War. Getuigen.

An eyewitness told Pete that his father was seen in the water clinging to a plank but was clearly having “difficulties.” Dr. Jackson’s body was never recovered.

Pete in Neustadt one month after escaping death at the hands of the Nazis. Photo by anonymous (c. June 1945). Courtesy of Loraine Riemer.
Pete in Neustadt one month after escaping death at the hands of the Nazis. Photo by anonymous (c. June 1945). Courtesy of Loraine Riemer.

Post War 

Pete enlisted in the British army and ultimately returned to Paris where he was reunited with his mother in September 1945. The apartment on avenue Foch was just as they left it more than a year and a half earlier.

At the age of seventeen, Pete returned to Germany in 1946 to testify against fourteen men who had run the Neuengamme concentration camp. Every defendant Pete testified against was found guilty and hanged.

Pete Jackson remained in Paris, awarded the French Legion of Honor as well as the Croix de Guerre, and after a serious accident in the late 1990s, lived out his life at L’Hôpital des Invalides. Pete strove his entire life to encourage improvement of Franco-German relations.

Toquette passed away in 1968 at the American Hospital of Paris.

The Jackson Award         

In 2013, the board of governors of the American Hospital of Paris created the Jackson Award to commemorate the services of Dr. and Mrs. Jackson to the hospital before and during World War II. The first recipients of the Jackson medal were Sumner and Toquette and Pete accepted the award on their behalf.

I’m grateful to have developed a dialogue with Pete’s daughter, Loraine and I thank her for providing some of the images used in this blog. The Jackson’s avenue Foch apartment will be one of the featured stops in volume two of Where Did They Put the Gestapo Headquarters?

 

Next Blog:  “The British Kardashian Sisters”


Correspondence and Commentary Policy 

We welcome everyone to contact us either directly or through the individual blogs. Sandy and I review every piece of correspondence before it is approved to be published on the blog site. Our policy is to accept and publish comments that do not project hate, political, religious stances, or an attempt to solicit business (yeah, believe it or not, we do get that kind of stuff). Like many bloggers, we receive quite a bit of what is considered “Spam.” Those e-mails are immediately rejected without discussion.

Our blogs are written to inform our readers about history. We want to ensure discussions are kept within the boundary of historical facts and context without personal bias or prejudice.

We average about one e-mail every two days from our readers. We appreciate all communication because in many cases, it has led to friendships around the world.


★ Read and Learn More About Today’s Topic ★

Bleicher, Hugo. Colonel Henri’s Story. London: William Kimber and Co. Limited, 1954.

Brouwer, Marilyn. The Fascinating Story of the American Hospital of Paris. Bonjour Paris, 3 May 2021. Click here to read the article.

Brownell, Will and Richard N. Billings. So Close to Greatness: A Biography of William C. Bullitt. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company, 1987.

Delarue, Jacques. The Gestapo: A History of Horror. Barnsley: Frontline Books, 2008. (Originally published by Libraire Arthème Fayard, 1962.)

Etkind, Alexander. Roads Not Taken: An Intellectual Biography of William C. Bullitt. Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh Press, 2017.

Glass, Charles. Americans in Paris: Life & Death Under Nazi Occupation. New York: Penguin Books, 2010.

Glass, Charles. American Hospital of Paris: Brave Volunteers & Heroes of the Resistance. Click here to read the article.

Helm, Sarah. A Life in Secrets: Vera Atkins and the Missing Agents of WWII. New York: Anchor Books, 2007.

Kershaw, Alex. Avenue of Spies: A True Story of Terror, Espionage, and One American Family’s Heroic Resistance in Nazi-Occupied Paris. New York: Broadway Books, 2015.

Lagard, Dorothée. Américan Hospital of Paris 1906−2006: L’aventured’un siècle. Paris: Cherche Midi, 2006. (French edition)

Vaughan, Hal. Doctor to the Resistance: The Heroic True Story of an American Surgeon and His Family in Occupied Paris. Dulles, VA: Potomac Books, Inc., 2004.

Vega, Ricardo and Richard Lerchbaum (producers). Doctor Jackson’s File (Le dossier du Docteur Jackson). Lunaticas Productions, 2015.

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What’s New With Sandy and Stew?

Sandy and I attended my 50th high school reunion in late July. We traveled to Akron, Ohio for what was a three-hour gathering of people I didn’t recognize but my memory was somewhat refreshed by their name tags. In many cases, I didn’t remember the person even with the help of a name badge. Unfortunately, the high school senior yearbook photos were not included on the badges and that little detail might have helped. Kudos to the committee of five people organizing the reunion. Other than the missing nametag pictures and the loud music (didn’t they know we’re old and can’t hear?), they did a wonderful job of planning, communicating, and executing the affair. I can’t wait for the 100th reunion.

By the way, did you know that a new movie starring Anthony Hopkins will have a screening at this year’s BFI London Film Festival? “One Life” is the story of Sir Nicholas Winton and his efforts to save children from the Nazis (click here to read the blog, Kindertransport and Mr. Winton).

Thank you to all of you who subscribe to our bi-weekly blogs. It seems there isn’t a day that goes by where we don’t increase our readership. Please let your history buff friends and family members know about our blog site and blogs.

Someone Is Commenting On Our Blogs 

It is always a pleasure to hear from Nicole C. She always has so many personal stories and memories regarding our blog topics. This time she commented on our blog, Mulberry Harbor & The Delta Works (click here to read).

Nicole remembers as a ten-year-old in a French school hearing about the 1953 Great Flood. The students were asked to knit a square of wool to make blankets. Nicole says that is how she learned to knit. They also sent toys to the Dutch children affected by the disaster.

Nicole, I’ll keep the blogs coming if you promise to keep sending us your stories and memories.

If there is a topic you’d like to see a blog written about, please don’t hesitate to contact me. I love hearing from you so keep those comments coming.


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