World War II - The Occupation

An album of photographs taken by Captain Charles H. Foertmeyer MD and his buddies in 1945 occupied Europe.
A01 WELCOME TO MY ALBUM Charlie as a Boy Scout on the steps of his Hyde Park, Ohio boyhood home. High School Graduation Charles as a brand new doctor as he graduates from medical school.
August 7, 1943 - Carlisle Barracks - Carlisle, Pennsylvania Lieutenant Foertmeyer before deployment to Europe (1943) And of course, the lady who waited at home; his wife, Virginia Driskell Foertmeyer. 80th Infantry Division Patch "The Blue Ridge Mountains" The 80th's involvement in the European Theater of WWII.
US 3rd Army Patch At the end of conflict they had seen it all! Here are some of the places (in blue) that you'll visit in this presentation. Major Tuerk, Easterly, and me on a pee stop en route to Paris. Paris
Paris - Captain Marsh from the 702 Tank Battalion and your handsome husband. Sightseeing in Paris - Gluckmman caught me before I was ready. I don't know what I was looking at. Paris - Gluckman snapped this. I guess he hadn't seen an auto for so long he couldn't resist. Portrait photo taken in Paris, France Depot - Paris, France
Railway station Karlsruhe, France CPM Camp Phillip Morris - Le Havre, France Camp Phillip Morris - Le Havre, France Camp Phillip Morris - Le Havre, France - Me and Stitts
Camp Phillip Morris Camp Phillip Mooris Camp Phillip Morris Camp Phillip Morris Captain Thouin MD at Camp Phillip Morris
Le Havre, France - Camp Phillip Morris Gotha Captains Herman Gluckman, Rolf Wagschal, Bromo Seltzer, and Charlie Foertmeyer in Gotha, Germany. Me, in Gotha, Germany. Schwanenstadt
May 8, 1945 - Schwanenstadt, Austria - VE Day Charlie and Bromo on VE Day, May 8, 1945 Schwanenstadt, Austria - In my room. Taken by Bromo with his Zeiss camera. Officers of Company "D" 305th Medical Battalion. There were four companies, A,B,C, & D. Injuries moved from A to D, D being where the most serious injuries ended up. Outside Salzburg, Germany - June 1945
Outside Salzburg, Germany Schwabach Swabach, Germany House where Charles lived. My room in Schwabach
Street in Schwabach Displaced Poles in Ausbach, near Schwabach. Displaced Poles in Ausbach, near Schwabach. Alps Austrian Alps, near Linbach, Austria with (L-R) Charlie Foertmeyer, George Dana, Charles Stewart, Henry Lane, and Bromo Seltzer
"The Gang" (L-R) Charlie Foertmeyer, George Dana, Henry Lane, Bromo Seltzer, and Charles Stewart from respectively, Cincinnati, Cincinnati, New York, Florida, and Michigan. "The Gang" (L-R) Charlie Foertmeyer, George Dana, Henry Lane, Bromo Seltzer, and Charles Stewart from respectively, Cincinnati, Cincinnati, New York, Florida, and Michigan. Charles - May 12, 1945 Austrian Alps Charles Stewart, Henry Lane, Charlie Foertmeyer, and Bromo Seltzer in the Austrian Alps. This was near Linbach, Austria. Captain Foertmeyer and his good buddy, George Dana, in the Austrian Alps. Taken at the lake resort near Limbach, Austria in May of 1945.
Bromo Seltzer, Charlie Foertmeyer, and George Dana in the Austrian Alps. Captain Charlie Foertmeyer - May 1945 - Austrian Alps - "No, it's not a 'boogey' man-it's me. Love Charlie" Henry Meyer, Bromo Seltzer, and Charlie Foertmeyer - May 1945 Quite religious weather station in the Austrian Alps Our convoy enroute from Austria to Germany.
Augsburg Bombed out building in Augsburg, Germany. View from our vehicle in Augsburg. Another severly damaged building in Augsburg. Driving on the Autobahn!
A bridge destroyed by bombing along the Autobahn. Remnants of another bombed bridge along the Autobahn, near Munich. Our bombers sure can make a mess of things. Farmland along the Autobahn This is a Bavarian stove.
Biessenhofen Political prisoners receiving medical releases to go home. The tent in which they are cleared for release. These Heinies are waiting to get into the medical tent. Discharged German soldiers going into the Zahlmeister's tent (Pay-Master) to get a small mustering out pay.
This was a common sight, a "Butt Sniper" with a cigarette butt he found on the ground. This particular guy goes around town all day long collecting butts. 80th Division Demobilization Center - Prisoner of War (Kriegsgefangener) - Release Point (Entlassungsstelle) - Biessenhofen (spelled wrong) 80th Division Demobilization Center - The prisoners did not live in these tents - the tents are where the discharging personnel work. 80th Division Demobilization Center - shot from side window of my room. 80th Division Demobilization Center from my window. (General's Lager)
German Women Army Corp prisoners heading for release tents. German Women Army Corp prisoners heading for release tents. No description, but appears to be a GI and a German soldier walking together. (CF) 80th Division Demobilization Center PW General's quarters.
The General's Lager(camp) outside my quarters window This is a 1945 map of the 80th Division's POW camp and Demobilization Camp. The house with the red circle around it is where Captain Foertmeyer lived while there. As you will see on the next map the Officer's Camp, the Camp for those awaiting transport, and the Sports Grounds are all still open ground as in 1945 as can be seen in the prior photos taken from Captain Foertmeyer's room. However, the Camp for members of the Army, Air Force, and Navy, the camp for the SS and Nazi Party members, and the Camp for Women, are all now under a big subdivision. As can be seen here, Captain Foertmeyer's house still stands and faces out to the grounds of the previously described camps and Sportplatz. All the other camps are now covered with houses. Almost the same view. Heinies shoveling coal for us.
Firewood the Heinie PWs cut for us to keep us warm this winter, if we are here. On the road to camp this bridge crosses the Wertach River. View of the thistle along the side of the bridge. General's Camp - General's Lager General's Camp
The P.W.E. Camp during a storm. General's Camp General's Camp Discharged Heinies hitching a ride on a Heinie truck. Houses near the prisoner camp in Biessenhofen, Germany behind which was the Frauenlager, or Women's Camp.
A religious figure, as seen on many homes here. This building was our "Mess Hall" in Biessenhofen. It is a Gasthaus in Biessenhofen. "Mess Hall" Biessenhofen, Germany. They have shacks and sheds in Germany too.
German girl on her bicycle. Nice house in Biessenhofen. Nice house in Biessenhofen, Germany - Across the street from me. Beautiful farm outside Biessenhofen, Germany. Farmlands
Beautiful Farm View out my back window. My view from my side window. My room in Biessenhofen. My Bed
My Table View of my room. Charlie in Biessenhofen, Germany Just a house in Biessenhofen, Germany Typical homes in Biessenhofen, Germany. [There was no mention of it on the photo, but is that a tornado behind the hill, showing above the left house? Is that why this photo was taken?]
Train Depot at Biessenhofen. My quarters are in the building in the center. My building is dead center in this photo. Area Homes Corporal Stein napping.
My feet are still too big. I caught Captain Carliner sleeping in my room. Relaxing on my veranda at Biessenhofen. On my veranda at Biessenhofen. Looking down from my veranda.
Motor Pool - Biessenhofen. Filiakirche St. Ottilia near Biessenhofen, Germany. Filiakirche St. Ottilia Filiakirche St. Ottilia Filiakirche St. Ottilia
Filiakirche St. Ottilia Filiakirche St. Ottilia Filiakirche St. Ottilia Filiakirche St. Ottilia Today Kaufbeuren
Kaufburen, Germany Kaufburen, Germany Kaufburen, Germany - Main Drag Kaufburen, Germany Kaufburen, Germany - Other end of main drag.
Bromo, Chaplain Comer, George Dana, and the General's Aide at the Sport Platz in Kaufbeuren, Germany. Gmunden Hotel Austria on the Traunsee in Gmunden, Austria, as seen from my room in the Hotel Schwan. Ping Pong Tournament Ping Pong Tournament
View outside my farmhouse home. Baseball Baseball Volley Ball Traunsee
Main drag in Gmunden Gmunden Tree-lined avenue in Gmunden A view of Gmunden. Bromo at ease in Gmunden.
Traunsee Gmunden just over Traun Tor [Traun Gate] Main Drag - Gmunden Guest House Gmunden, Austria - "Off for the morning."
"Bromo" Morris Seltzer & Rolf Wagschal June 1945 - Gmunden, Austria where I lived. Yugoslavians Yugoslavians Charlie swimming in the Traunsee. The Traunsee is a long, narrow lake running north and south with Gmunden at its north end and Ebensee at its south end.
Swimming in the Traunsee - "Charles - Honest!!" Sun bath - (Bromo took this & it's not in focus) Traunsee from Officer's Club My Table by moonlight. Sidwell
Gluckman Gluck Sidwell Main "drag" at Gmunden (Raining) View of Gmunden from my room.
Storm at Gmunden View from our club at Gmunden. In my room in Gmunden, Austria. Self portrait in my room in Gmunden, Austria. Austrian children - These children hung out around the station all day, every day, waiting for handouts of chocolate.
Charlie Foertmeyer and Bromo Seltzer June 1945 - "Hi Pal! I was thinking of you when this was taken." Bromo Taking a ride on the Traunsee. Bromo & Graziana taking a sun bath. Lieutenant Rainsford - 318th Infantry
Sergeant Lou Kasparik Lieutenant Sidwell Sergeant Wahlberg - Medical Technition BadWorishofen Hotel Trautwein where I lived in Bad Wörishofen, in room 12, top row, second window from the left.
View to the left outside my window at the Hotel Trautwein. View to the left outside my window at the Hotel Trautwein. View to the left outside my window at the Hotel Trautwein during "Retreat". [signaling the end of the duty day and paying respect to the flag] (CF) View outside my window to the right. View outside my window to the right using red filter to bring out clouds.
View outside my window to the right with an ambulance and Red Cross donut truck. On my balcony at the Trautwein. (the building in the background is still there in 2015)(CF) Relaxing on balcony at Hotel Trautwein. Steve Beaudry Andy Brown and Steve
George Dana rellaxing on our balcony. Charlie Wolf Harry Meyer Andy Pochette and Henry Meyer Enlisted Men's Club - 319th Infantry Division
Waiting to get into the Paul Roberson Show (L-R) Unknown, Captain Levy, Lieutenant Sidwell, Captain Carliner, and Major Pasternak. Still Waiting Our division's answer to the rise in venereal disease. Lt. Sidwell - Administrative desk at Clearing Station in the Sproll Hotel Charles in his room.
George Dana My bed in the Hotel Trautwein in Bad Wörishofen. George Dana shaving. Entrance to my room. Our stables in Bad Wörishofen.
I like this architecture. Captain Whitaker Corporals Stein and Moyer German Children German Baby
German Girl "Chocolate Beggar" Henry Lane On the sidewalk in front of the Hotel Trautwein. July 1945. "My feets too big!" with George Dana.
Dick Ross - Bad Wörishofen "Mail Call" German soldier and his new bride strolling down Bahnhofstraße across from the Hotel Trautwein Displaced Yugoslavians waiting to be sent home. July 1945 (forced laborers) Displaced Yugoslavians waiting to be sent home.
Three Polish brothers who had been in a concentration camp for five years. They now do tailoring for us. A German Fräulein named Vera. Charlie referred to this photo as "The Blackmail Photo". He said, without saying who, that she was someone's "you know what". Captain Gluckman getting ready to photograph Vera. Captain White and Bromo Seltzer - Dental Officers at work in the dental clinic. Captain White - Dental Officer at work in the dental clinic.
Captain Gluckman, dentist at work. Captain Euster at work on Charlie Wolf. Pfc. Eyer - "I was in the process of draining his sinuses - Notice the probes in his nostrils." Men receiving their typhus shots. (L-R) Turner, Dugdale, ____ , Pearce. Corporal Stein drawing a Wasserman on a patient.
Sidwell giving a lecture in the company day room. Bad Wörishofen, Germany View from my room out to the balcony. Common sight in Bad Wörishofen. Bad Wörishofen, Germany
Bad Wörishofen, Germany Captain Herman Gluckman The building behind him is still standing 70 years later, but those little trees are now very big and obscure it, for the most part. (CF) Looking straight down from my balcony at the Trautwein - Bad Wörishofen, Germany Bad Wörishofen, Germany Bad Wörishofen, Germany
Captain Carliner Corporal Stein Morning Formation Morning Formation Loading my camera.
I looked up just in time for Lieutenant Coyte to snap this photo. Caught unawares again. Posed - Ready - Shoot... Lieutenant Coyte Lieutenant Coyte
"Butt Sniper" Coffee Shop in Bad Wörishofen, Germany. Interesting painting... Interesting Architecture Cows in the streets of Bad Wörishofen.
Interesting Architecture Seventy years later the Trautwein is still there, as well as the theater next door. Apparently, however, the Trautwein is now a restaurant and wine bar. Seventy years later the "Filmtheater" looks (except for color) pretty much the same. : Kino BWH The Hotel Trautwein (right) and the theater in which we attended entertainment. Bad Wörishofen
On my balcony at the Trautwein in Bad Wörishofen. Calisthenics Calisthenics Calisthenics Daily Calisthenics
Track Meet - Tug o' War Track Meet - Start of the 200 meter run. July 16, 1945 the third anniversary of the 80th Division's reactivation. Track Meet - Start of the mile run. July 1945 General Horace L. McBride [fourth from you] General Horace L. McBride [not one of Charlie's photos but included for reference]
Ebensee Main gate to Ebensee Concentration Camp as it stands today, The main gate to Ebensee Concentration Camp during the Third Reich. Plaque at Ebensee - A poem by a German author, the text of which implies that since he loved light and warmth during his life, and shunned the dark and cold, he therefore would prefer being cremated than buried. Starved Men
Medical Tent at Ebensee. [Could Captain Foertmeyer be in there?](CF) Starved bodies in a cell. Starved Men Starved Men Starved Men
A starving man in the camp. This man died in that position. Incinerator Furnace Refuse from the incinerator at Ebensee. Fussen
Füssen, Bavaria, Germany Füssen, Bavaria, Germany Street in Füssen Outlying farm near Füssen. This stone cross just outside Füssen is 900 years old, but that's all I know about it.
If you look closely, nearly center, you'll see Schloß Neuschwanstein. The small whiteish area on the mountainside. Schloß Neuschwanstein - Castle of the Mad King of Bavaria - Ludwig II Schloß Hohenschwangau - As seen from Schloß Neuschwanstein - This is where King Ludwig II grew up. "The Mad King" King Ludwig II Schloß Linderhof - "Palace Linderhof" - Near Garmisch
Schloß Linderhof - Palace of King Ludwig Fountain sprays water 150 feet into the air. The Silver Room - Silver everywhere. Schloß Linderhof - Palace of King Ludwig Schloß Linderhof - Palace of King Ludwig
Schloß Linderhof - Palace of King Ludwig Schloß Linderhof - Palace of King Ludwig Schloß Linderhof - Palace of King Ludwig Schloß Linderhof - Palace of King Ludwig Schloß Linderhof - Palace of King Ludwig
Eibsee railroad station. Eibsee Station - The electric train which carries one to the Zugspitz Peak (2 hour trip) From Eibsee Station Alps from Zugspitz Eibsee from Zugspitz
Cable car to Zugspitz Peak Area where people ski - note skiers in lower right coorner. Weather station on Zugspitz Peak - Highest point in Germany. Looking down on other peaks from Zugspitz Peak From Zugspitz
80th Division's POW camp housing the 71st Infantry Division of the German 6th Army near Lambach, Austria. There were no guards and no barbed wire around this camp, as the prisoners acted with honor. A "toilet" at the POW Camp. Members of the German 6th Army at the POW camp. Garmisch
Our clearing station. Our clearing station. View directly in front of our station. A house in Garmisch. Houses in Garmisch
A house in Garmisch. House across the street from our clearing station. The house across from my hotel, the Hotel-Pension Alpenblick in Garmisch. View (different angle) of the house across from my hotel, the Hotel-Pension Alpenblick in Garmisch. Lieutenant Sidwell at Garmisch, Germany, Hotel-Pension Alpenblick
Hotel-Pension Alpenblick - Garmisch, Germany. Garmisch, Germany (the PFC is not identified)(CF) Garmisch "A" Company - Seargeant Roach View from mountain road outside Garmisch.
Going up At the top looking down! Cable Car building where cable car took us up Wank Mountain in the Ester Mountain Range. Lieutenant Sidwell on cable car. A local rider.
Charlie riding the cable car to the top. Sidwell... at the top. The View of Garmisch-Partenkirchen and surrounding area. The View of Garmisch-Partenkirchen and surrounding area. The View of Garmisch-Partenkirchen and surrounding area.
The Men Pvt. Thompson Corporal Stein Captain Rolf Wagschal Captain Graccianna
Lieutenant Coyte Sergeant Henry Flotz Sergeant Henry Flotz, tech sergeant of the POW camp. Sergeant Henry Flotz Charlie Foertmeyer and Bromo Seltzer
Captain Herman Gluckman in the dental lab in Gmunden. Charlie Foertmeyer and Bromo Seltzer Stepansky and Gluckman Austrian child and George Dana. "Chappie" Ball
Lieutenant Sidwell Sergeant Biancarelli Herman Gluckman loading his camera. Pfc. Stepansky - Technician Pfc. Purvis - One of the guys I work with in the station.
Captain Rolf Wagschal 1st Sergeant Whitney, from Akron, Ohio. 1st Sgt. of 1st Battalion - He could pick up our tents and singlehandedly load them onto a truck. Chaplain Rydz Chaplain Zimmerman Frau Frei the "Egg Lady" - George has just bought some eggs.
Sidwell Relaxed Mauerkirchen Our camp in Mauerkirchen, Austria Captain Graccianna Captain Graccianna
Colonel Gekger and Danny Stewart Mauerkirchen Frau Mauerkirchen German doctors and nurses in Mauerkirchen, Austria German doctors and nurses in Mauerkirchen, Austria. They were of great assistance to me, acquiring medical equipment in post-war Austria.
Marienbad Haberman Hotel, Marienske Lanze, Czechoslovakia. Haberman Hotel, Marienske Lanze, Czechoslovakia. My room. Haberman Hotel, Marienske Lanze, Czechoslovakia. My room. View from Haberman Hotel, Marienske Lanze, Czechoslovakia.
Weimar Headquarters of the 17th F.O.B. for which I was now acting battalion surgeon. Weimar Hotel. This is where I live now that I am part of Division Headquarters. View from my window in the Weimar Hotel. View from the Weimar.
View from the Weimar. Courtyard behind the Weimar Hotel. Near Division Headquarters and the opera. The large building facing the street is the Red Cross Club. Die Russische Kirche - The Russian Church
Just messing around with the camera. Division Headquarters Division Headquarters Another view from my window in the Weimar Hotel. The main drag in Marienbad.
Eastern end of the main drag. The building nearest the center is the Weimar. Hotel Weimar with fountain in front. A Park in the center of town. View of City
View of City Airplane view of city. Anlagen am Ferdinandsbrunnen (Ursprung) Across the street from the Red Cross building. "Trinkstelle Rudolfsquelle und Ferdinandsbrunnen" I don't know what this gadget is. "Waldquelle"
Das Neubad Kreuzbrunnen und Wandelhalle Wandelhalle am Kreuzbrunnen My room in the Weimar - see the radio and sink in closet mirror? Just messing around with the camera.
Bronze Star Citation The Battalion at "Parade Rest" as the band passes by. The band in action. Reviewing the Battalion
Reviewing the Battalion Colors, Color Guard, and men to be decorated marching forward to present arms to the battalion. Having presented arms, we are listening to the orders and citations. Captain Foertmeyer advancing to Major Pate to receive his Bronze Star Medal. Captain Foertmeyer receives his medal from Major Pate.
Captain Herman Gluckman receives his Medal. Sergeant Hoff receives his medal. Sergeant Alexander receives his medal. Medal Recipients (L-R) Lieutenant Alexander, Captain Herman Gluckman, Captain Charles Foertmeyer, Lieutenant Sidwell, and Seargeant Hoff (A Company) [Lieutenant Alexander is a new officer from the 10th Armored Division] Munich
En route to Munich. "The boys have just finished 'Pee' call on way to Munich." Munich, Germany - June 1945 Main street of Munich, Germany - June 1945 Munich, Germany - June 1945 Munich, Germany - June 1945
Munich Munich, Germany A shot of what is left of Munich, taken from the spot where Hitler's beer hall once stood. Some GIs heading home, leaving Munich. Note the big shrapnel hole in the V4 plane.` "Heinie" Junk
"Heinie" Junk "Heinie" Junk Ball game at Munich with 28th Field Hospital - we won. Our pitcher struck out 17 men and allowed no hits - Captain Meyer at bat. 25th Corps track meet at Munich. Captain Meyer warming up.
100 yard dash finish. Charlie Stewart and Spencer at the track meet in Munich. Stadtz Stadium Munich High Jump Our man, Andy Novak winning high hurdles
Pfc. Sleath - Medical Tech Relay finish - Our man second Colored boys warming up for their race. Mess call during convoy outside Munich. (L-R) Junior, Bromo, and ___ . These were hidden in the woods and used the Autobahn for a runway.
Nazi Plane Crash - "Goog ending for a bad flier." Another German plane. Another Heinie plane. Depot - Munich, Germany Charlie
Posing. Most of the posed photos of Charlie were taken by his buddies so he could send them home to Ginny [his wife]. Photo taken in Nancy, France in October 1944. I wonder what he's looking at? (CF) "See how hard I'm working." Charlie Foertmeyer
Charlie Foertmeyer "Hi Stinky" Your old man in Biessenhofen. (See your camera?) Charlie Foertmeyer Charlie Foertmeyer Captain Easterly and Charlie Foertmeyer on the way to Paris.
Charlie and Lieutenant Sidewell Captain Foertmeyer, Lieutenant Sidwell, and Captain Wagschal "Hi Stinky - I love you so very much." Biessenhofen 6 Aug 45 Bromo Seltzer (by the way, he had a dog at home named Alka - for real) and Charlie Foertmeyer. Charlie Foertmeyer
Charlie Foertmeyer Bromo and Charlie - Bad Wörishofen Charlie Foertmeyer Charlie Foertmeyer Charlie Foertmeyer
Charlie Foertmeyer being admired by German girl. Charlie Foertmeyer "The 'good looking' guy is me." Captain Werrell - Dentist Aschaffenburg
This is the building in which our battalion quartered. This was my last "home" with the 8oth Division. Another view of our quarters. Note all the "pock marks" in the building from battle. This building is across the way from our quarters. It was destroyed by shelling. Home "The Aiken Victory Ship" taking us home to the US of A.
"The Aiken Victory Ship" taking us home to the US of A. "The Aiken Victory Ship" taking us home to the US of A. On the deck of the Aiken Victory. Charlie Foertmeyer headed home aboard the Aiken Victory. "The Aiken Victory Ship" taking us home to the US of A.
"The Aiken Victory Ship" taking us home to the US of A. "The Aiken Victory Ship" taking us home to the US of A. "The Aiken Victory Ship" taking us home to the US of A. January 1946 - Camp Kilmer New Jersey. January 1946 - Camp Kilmer New Jersey.
Meyer Abel The only thing written on this photo is, "He's home!" And here's the lady who waited through Charlie's deployment. Charlie Foertmeyer and George Dana, visiting after the war. Photo circa 1948 Dr. Foertmeyer in his first Wyoming, Ohio office on Burns Avenue. Photo circa 1952
Charlie and Virginia Foertmeyer's completed family - 1956 Lieutenant Sidwell and Charles having a reunion at Charles's home, nearly 65 years later. Photo circa 2010 One last look at five members of those we now call "The Greatest Generation"! 305th Rest in Peace Dad
Author of "Five Years, Four Fronts", Georg Grossjohann was an enlisted man in the Wehrmacht who rose to Regimental Command in battle on four fronts of WWII. Docs Certificate of Service Separation Qualification Record 80th Infantry Division Overview
Order for Award of the Bronze Star Letter of Appreciation Promotion to Captain