Ridgway arrived at the Ruffians’ command post: 507 PIR, “Varsity Narrative.” The 507th PIR’s S-3 journal states Ridgway arrived at 15:26.
losses at ninety-nine casualties: James P. Lyke, “The Operations of the 17th Airborne Division in the Crossing of the Rhine River, 24 March 1945,” 36.
A patrol sent toward the Rhine had made contact: Ibid., 32. The Ruffians made multiple contacts with the Scottish division between 13:02 and 14:34.
Several of the troopers who’d scampered out: 507 PIR, “The Operations of Company H,” 18.
Raff felt that if the criteria for Ridgway’s award: Edson Raff, unpublished manuscript, 18 and 25.
Equally egregious, Ridgway had elected to cross the Rhine: Ibid., 29.
Miley also had radio contact with his chief of staff: This was Colonel Willard Liebel, who arrived by glider in serial A-18.
One of Branigan’s crew muscled a howitzer: 464 PFAB, “After Action Report,” 2. This crew was led by a Lieutenant Richardson. I have been unable to confirm his first name.
As the enemy armor loitered: 17ABN, “After Action Report Narrative, 24–31 March 1945,” 2.
Raff’s 1st Battalion, standing by: 507 PIR, “The Operations of Company H,” 15. B Company was sent to furnish close-in protection for the 464th, and according to 507 PIR, officer interviews, “17th Airborne Division, Crossing Rhine, Operation Varsity, 24–31 March 1945,” Able Company was sent to clear the woods northwest of the artillery positions.
They now packed up: 507 PIR, officer interviews, 18.
“Everywhere was a grey uniform”: Thad Blanchard, letter to the author, February 12, 2007.
From the way some of the bodies were positioned: Johann J. Nitrowski, Die Luftlandung, 280. As told by Berhardine and Maria Hegmann, who witnessed the bodies as they came out of their cellar.
As the Ruffians flushed the trenches: 507 PIR, officer interviews, 18.
Tragically, only two of the group: Johann J. Nitrowski, Die Luftlandung, 281.
With Ridgway tagging along: James P. Lyke, “The Operations of the 17th Airborne Division in the Crossing of the Rhine River, 24 March 1945,” 48.
Twenty-one-year-old Private Robert Watson: Bart Hagerman, War Stories, 193.
The diehards filed out: Ibid.
Staff Sergeant Bill Consolvo was hailed: Consolvo’s account is based on ibid. Consolvo later recalled: “When I go to the reunions, however, and see that old Nazi flag laying there on the table, I can’t help but think of that day and how excited I was when I hauled it down. And, then I think about how many good men fell that day just so we could accomplish our mission.”
One bumped into a squad: 507 PIR, “Varsity Narrative.”
Downstairs they found his sister: The account of Vicar Heinrich Müller is based on Johann J. Nitrowski, Die Luftlandung, 282.
Americans shooting through the window: Ibid., 316.
The troopers segregated the civilians: John C. Warren, “U.S. Airborne Operations in World War II, European Theater,” 193.
The local English teacher, Frau Bruns: Johann J. Nitrowski, Die Luftlandung, 283.
The murder of Major Gordon Fowler is based on Fowler’s 406th Fighter Group downed aircraft report and Peter Lonke, The Liberators Who Never Returned, 202.
Two tommy gun–toting MPs: James P. Lyke, “The Operations of the 17th Airborne Division in the Crossing of the Rhine River, 24 March 1945,” 51.
Chapter 17 “A very dirty business”
By 11:30 the medics, led by Captain Loran Morgan: 466 PFAB, “466th PFA Battalion Supporting Data,” 6.
Medic Steve Miladinovich moved between rooms: 466 PFAB, “History of the 466th Parachute Field Artillery Battalion,” 12.
To deliver his cargo Lefler had landed: Ibid., 12. Lefler was promoted to corporal for his efforts.
they had nearly fifty dead: Ibid., 11.
In exchange for those losses: James P. Lyke, “The Operations of the 17th Airborne Division in the Crossing of the Rhine River, 24 March 1945,” 42, and 466 PFAB, “466th PFA Battalion Supporting Data,” 7.
“had a highly desirable trait”: John Chester, letter to the author, September 1, 2007.
A Battery, in addition to losing their officers: 466 PFAB, “466th PFA Battalion Supporting Data,” 3.
Their drop had started badly: 466 PFAB, “History of the 466th Parachute Field Artillery Battalion,” 13.
“Before the jump, I’d removed my plate”: Greg Forster, “Biggest Wartime Drop,” 44.
“In the Horsa!”: John Chester, letter to the author, February 1, 2007.
“The inhabitants of a territory”: FM 27-10, Rules of Land Warfare, 4.
“war can be somewhat beyond”: John Chester, letter to the author, February 1, 2007.
B Battery, already in position: 466 PFAB, “466th PFA Battalion Supporting Data,” 4.
The first groups filtered in: John C. Warren, “U.S. Airborne Operations in World War II, European Theater,” 181.
Lieutenant Peter Scotese from Philadelphia: Don R. Pay, Thunder from Heaven, 37. Private First Class John Dobridge of Jersey City and Private First Class Kenneth A. Braun of Brooklyn were the other two privateers.
A proactive lieutenant: 513th PIR, “Narrative of Action. 1st Battalion,” 8, and 513 PIR, officer interviews, 2. The lieutenant was Richard E. Cosner of HQ Co.
The latest intelligence indicated: 513 PIR, officer interviews, 4.
They were responsible for occupying a mile-long gap: Ibid., 26.
A group of fifty troopers led by Lieutenant Eugene Crowley: 513 PIR. I Co., “World War II: Battle of the Bulge and Rhine Jump,” E4, and 513 PIR, “Narrative of Action,” 10.
Next to arrive was a group of 150 troopers: Ibid., E6, and Ibid., 4.
Kent’s group, while en route to the DZ: 513 PIR, officer interviews, 27.
“The Krauts had some stuff”: Bud Hutton, “Airborne Yanks, British Swarmed Into Nazi Ambush in Rhine Jump,” 3.
“Are you friendly”: 513 PIR. I Co., “World War II: Battle of the Bulge and Rhine Jump,” E26 and E54.
“What in God’s name are you lugging”: Letter to Bill Breuer from Colonel J. W. Coutts, dated February 16, 1984, CMH, WBB.
Miley and Ridgway’s jeep convoy: J. W. Coutts, February 8, 1984, questionnaire.
Ridgway jestingly rebuked him: Ibid.
By the time Miley and Ridgway arrived: 513 PIR. I Co., “World War II: Battle of the Bulge and Rhine Jump,” E7.
Having carefully studied maps: Ibid., E7.
But they’d recovered only fourteen 513 PIR, officer interviews, 26.
Attempts to recover equipment bundles: Ibid., 3.
Resourceful troopers forced some of their prisoners: Robert F. Gill, “Things and Events as I Remember Them 50 Years Later,” 21, and James P. Lyke, “The Operations of the 17th Airborne Division in the Crossing of the Rhine River, 24 March 1945,” 56.
Several patrols had been dispatched across: 513 PIR. I Co., “World War II: Battle of the Bulge and Rhine Jump,” E7.
As far as Coutts could tell, his 3rd Battalion: Ibid., E8.
He and his executive had been captured: 513 PIR, “Narrative of Action,” 2. They both returned to their unit around 16:30.
With the 1st Battalion in position: 513th PIR, “Narrative of Action. 1st Battalion,” 8.
No contact had yet been made: 513 PIR, officer interviews, 16.
Perhaps the delay was due to: Ibid., 16.
By late afternoon he’d collected: Ibid.
They radioed back to Miller for artillery support: Ibid.
Miller ordered Bressler: 513 PIR, officer interviews, 16.
Finally at 19:00 . . . Coutts . . . ordered Miller to seize his objective: 513th PIR, “Narrative of Action. 2nd Battalion,” 4.
Miller’s men, moving in a skirmish formation: 513 PIR, officer interviews, 16.
The fire was coming from a cluster of brick buildings: Ibid., 16.
Among the paratroopers: War Department, “Oregon Airborne Infantryman
Awarded Medal of Honor Posthumously.”
Still suffering from the lingering symptoms: This according to trooper Buck McKendrick, found on 17ABN Biographies.
They made it about fifty yards: War Department, “Oregon Airborne Infantryman Awarded Medal of Honor Posthumously.”
About twenty-five yards from the German’s perimeter: Ibid.
For his critical role in spearheading the assault: Ibid.
They dropped several shells: This according to trooper Bob Patterson, found on 17ABN Biographies.
An Unterwachtmeister (artillery sergeant): Johann J. Nitrowski, Die Luftlandung, 316.
Paratrooper Robert Gill: Robert F. Gill, “Things and Events as I Remember Them 50 Years Later,” 21.
Entering the château, they fired up: This according to trooper Buck McKendrick, found on 17ABN Biographies.
Hollis Powell watched: Peter Lonke, The Liberators Who Never Returned, 29.
A gaggle of over 200 enemy prisoners: This according to trooper Buck McKendrick, found on 17ABN Biographies.
A shot rang out: Peter Lonke, The Liberators Who Never Returned, 31.
“I got him!”: Ibid., 29.
16 B-24s had been shot down: James P. Lyke, “The Operations of the 17th Airborne Division in the Crossing of the Rhine River, 24 March 1945,” 56.
It was a tactical mistake: For criticism, see ibid., 65.
Unfortunately, its radio was beyond repair: OSS, “Covering Report 1–15 April 45.”
They found an aid station bustling with activity: Steltermann Collection (letter written to his fiancée, May 5, 1945).
Team Alsace, the other uniformed agents: OSS, Stephen P. Vinciguerra, “Field Report from ETO.”
Vinciguerra and Steltermann dismounted: OSS, “Covering Report 1–15 April 45.”
While Steltermann and Staub interrogated: Ibid.
They’d taken all of their objectives: 194 GIR, “2nd Battalion Activities,” 3.
Elements of Kampfgruppe Karst: 194 GIR, “Misc. Varsity Documents.” Balish took command after the CO, Colonel W. S. Stewart, had been wounded; Major Pleasant Martin had been in command temporarily before Balish took over.
Troopers repelled the attack: 194 GIR, “Regimental Journal,” 2. This attack tool place at 15:40.
At 16:00 Kampfgruppe Karst launched: 194 GIR, “2nd Battalion Activities,” 3.
Forward observer Lieutenant Herman Lemberger: Don R. Pay, Thunder from Heaven, 42.
Again British artillery from the far bank: 194 GIR, “2nd Battalion Activities,” 3.
After the dust settled, both George and Fox Companies: 194 GIR, “Regimental Journal,” 2. These radio calls were received at 16:20.
twenty-five cows were milked: “681st GFAB, 681st Glider Field Artillery Battalion,” 10.
From crashed gliders and supply bundles: Don R. Pay, Thunder from Heaven, 4.
But stout, well-armed German defenders stopped them: 194 GIR, “2nd Battalion Activities,” 4.
As the sun dipped below the horizon: Ibid., 3.
Lieutenant John Robinson eyed the graying sky: Ibid., 3.
With the Commandos’ location uncertain: 194 GIR, officer interviews, 6. Eventually almost 275 POWs were taken out of the area, “after the most generous use of Corps artillery and WP.”
“be careful”: J. W. Coutts, February 8, 1984, questionnaire.
Thus far the division had collected prisoners: 194 GIR, “Regimental Journal,” 4, and Ozzie Gorbitz, Blood on the Talon, 185.
The kitchen had been well stocked: John Chester, “They Called It Varsity,” 54.
Before sending their prisoners to the holding area: Ibid., 54.
Commo wire had been laid: John Chester, letter to the author, September 1, 2007.
Chapter 18 “We had luck with us”
“We didn’t know where”: Matthew B. Ridgway, Soldier, 134.
Sporadic gunfire and the crumping of grenades: Ibid., 134.
The Americans finally arrived at 22:45: Ibid., 134, and 6th Airborne Division, “Report on Operation Varsity and the Advance from the Rhine to the Baltic,” 20.
The command post—established in the single-story brick farmhouse: BAOR, “Report on Operation Varsity,” 56.
A group of civilians huddled together: Johann J. Nitrowski, Die Luftlandung, 234.
In the pig barn was a dead American parachutist: Ibid., 236.
The kitchen had been converted: Ibid., 235.
A British officer, attempting to get a few minutes of sleep: BAOR, “Report on Operation Varsity,” 56.
British General Eric Bols greeted Ridgway: Johann J. Nitrowski, Die Luftlandung, 237.
Since Ridgway was the first emissary: BAOR, “Report on Operation Varsity,” 56.
“fighting like stink for the first day”: Napier Crookenden, Airborne at War, 125.
Within four hours of their landing: George Chatterson, The Wings of Pegasus, 8, and John C. Warren, “U.S. Airborne Operations in World War II, European Theater,” 177.
Bols’ men had repelled multiple: Brian Jewell, Over the Rhine, 40. Later that night, during a German counterattack, the British troopers blew the bridge west of Ringenberg to prevent German tanks from crossing.
The British fighters would be credited with: John C. Warren, “U.S. Airborne Operations in World War II, European Theater,” 191. The Forward Visual Control Party assigned to the 17th Airborne landed in the British sector and were unable to make it to Miley’s HQ until D+1.
Reports were incomplete, but: Napier Crookenden, Airborne at War, 143, and John C. Warren, “U.S. Airborne Operations in World War II, European Theater,” 177. The 6th Airborne suffered 347 KIA and another 731 WIA.
The three generals crowded: Matthew B. Ridgway, Soldier, 134.
Bols would hold his current positions: 6th Airborne Division, “Report on Operation Varsity and the Advance from the Rhine to the Baltic,” 20.
There was still heavy German resistance: Brian Jewell, Over the Rhine, 39.
In turn, German engineers: XVIII Corps (ABN), “War Diary,” March 25, 1945.
Allied engineers strung chains: Charles Whiting, Bounce the Rhine, 129.
His vision had returned: Justin L. C. Eldridge, Defense on the Rhine, and “Special Interrogation Report of General Alfred Schlemm,” 15.
Montgomery’s staggered attacks: “Special Interrogation Report of General Alfred Schlemm,” 16. The attack schedule: 21:00 British XXX Corps attacked, 22:00 Commandos crossed into Wesel, 02:00 British XII Corps attacked, and two hours later, at 04:00, just before dawn on March 24, the US Ninth Army attacked, followed by VARSITY at 10:00. Timing based on Montgomery’s 21AG Diary, 305.
While Schlemm had been unconscious: Justin L. C. Eldridge, Defense on the Rhine.
Allied fighters strafed his staff car: “Special Interrogation Report of General Alfred Schlemm,” 16.
Indeed, the Allies’ patrolling of the road networks: William B. Breuer, Storming Hitler’s Rhine, 216.
He spent the next two days: Justin L. C. Eldridge, Defense on the Rhine. On March 28 command of I Fallschirmjäger-Armee was transitioned to General Gunther Blumenritt. Schlemm spent rest of war in a hospital, until his capture.
The column of jeeps nudged their way: Miley’s and Ridgway’s return journey is based on Matthew B. Ridgway, Soldier, 134, and James P. Lyke, “The Operations of the 17th Airborne Division in the Crossing of the Rhine River, 24 March 1945,” 51.
“Aaah, go sit in your hat”: Matthew B. Ridgway, Soldier, 135. Ridgway quotes the paratrooper as saying “go sit in your hat”—personally I think he opted to edit out the “h.”
The four platoons of the 435th Troop Carrier Group: Johann J. Nitrowski, “Varsity Folder,” letter from William Horn, September 9, 1990.
The 78th was located to the rear: Hans den Brok, Battle of Burp Gun Corner, 49.
The four corners of the intersection: Johann J. Nitrowski, “Varsity Folder,” letter from William Horn to Parks, August 31, 1989.
Several of the “volunteer” pow
er pilots grumbled: 435 TCG, “Interrogation Check Sheets. Glider Pilots,” Floyd Hand.
The pilots quickly realized: Charles O. Gordon, Burp Gun Corner, 18.
“The rank didn’t necessarily denote leaders”: 435 TCG, “Interrogation Check Sheets. Glider Pilots,” Richard Barthelemy.
Civilians were ushered out: Charles O. Gordon, Burp Gun Corner, 9.
In one house a squad of pilots rescued: Ibid., 13. Lieutenant Donald Patterson led this squad.
He ushered the Germans: 435 TCG, “Interrogation Check Sheets. Glider Pilots.” I have opted to leave out this pilot’s name, but the curious can find his full account in the above source.
The Luftwaffe pilot was dazed: Charles O. Gordon, Burp Gun Corner, 9.
In a gesture of unnecessary chivalry: Doug Wilmer, “The Battle of Burp Gun Corner.”
Whoever was coming toward them: Johann J. Nitrowski, “Varsity Folder,” letter from William Horn, April 11, 1988.
It wasn’t until the advancing unit: 435 TCG, “Interrogation Check Sheets. Glider Pilots,” Frederick Mitchell.
The pilots snapped off shots: Doug Wilmer, “The Battle of Burp Gun Corner,” and 435 TCG, “Interrogation Check Sheets. Glider Pilots,” Jacob Zichterman. Accounts vary as to whether the armored vehicle was a self-propelled assault gun (Stug) or an actual tank. Glider pilot Robert Campbell, one of the more experienced pilots, identified it as a Mark IV tank. I have used the generic term “tank” in my account to cover either scenario.
He heaved them: 435 TCG, “Interrogation Check Sheets. Glider Pilots,” Raye Niblo.
From his foxhole, Valton Bray: Ibid., Valton Bray.
The gun was destroyed: Ibid., Emmett Huff.
“We were afraid to open fire”: Ibid., Albert Hurley.
As they advanced behind the tank: Ibid., Frederick Mitchell.
“There must have been about a hundred”: Elbert Jella, documents and notebook.
The explosion was tremendous: 435 TCG, “Interrogation Check Sheets. Glider Pilots,” Garnett Holland.
They squeezed off short bursts: 435 TCG, “Interrogation Check Sheets. Glider Pilots,” Chester DeShurley.
Four Hours of Fury Page 49