A really interesting WW2 aerial photo

[Zenomorph]

I found this photo so compelling that I thought others here may find it interesting. It's an aerial photo of the town of Alsdorf, Germany that apparently was part of the larger battle of Aachen (caution: the photo is pretty large). Aachen is about 10-15 miles SW of Alsdorf. What I found most helpful is that very prominent hill-type feature in the left center of the photo (on google maps the hill's named "Berghalde Maria-Hauptschacht"); the feature allows you to very precisely figure out where you're at if you google map Alsdorf:

http://www.oldhickory30th.com/Alsdorf18111944.jpg

I found it on this boardgamegeek forum page:

http://boardgamegeek.com/thread/929475/original-wwii-tactical-maps-influence-on-game-maps/page/1

And this is the wikipedia page on the battle of Aachen that includes references to Alsdorf:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Aachen

[Zenomorph]

Forgot to mention if you look at the built up are in the center bottom of the photo and go to the fields just to the east of it you'll see that - although much of the area is filled with bomb craters - that area really got pulverized. You can also see lots of vehicle tracks in the fields where there apparently was a lot of activity. Also if you look just a little east of that same built up area there's a massive shell crater just between the bldgs and that little hill. Anyone know what would have caused that? If there were a lot of them I'd assume a high-level bomber but there's only just the one. A sturmpanzer?

[Zenomorph]

I see photos like this and think Lord, what these guys went thru on our behalf. And it's not as if the battle of Aachen is exactly a household name. So much un-sung bravery.

[Thomm]

This photo makes me want to play Close Combat!!

Good old times.

Best regards,

Thomm

[mjkerner]

I see photos like this and think Lord, what these guys went thru on our behalf. And it's not as if the battle of Aachen is exactly a household name. So much un-sung bravery.

About 25 years ago, my sister and her family hosted a young German high school student for a year through an exchange program. He was from Aachen. Real nice kid, very quiet, polite, and well mannered; he and my family are still close.

Anyway, at a Christmas party, where many of the guests were from my parents generation, and included many WWII vets, one ex-tanker from the 2nd Armored asked him where in Germany he was from. "Aachen."

In a rather loud voice (and to get a rise out of him) the tanker said "Aachen, eh. We blew the s h i t out of that place. I don't think there was a building standing when we got done with it!"

There was about 10 seconds of uncomfortable silence in the group around the kid before he answered "Oh, that was you?"

Much hilarity ensued after that comeback.

[Michael Emrys]

That's almost as good as the story about the American jetliner that landed in Frankfurt in the early '60s. The pilot was having trouble finding the correct taxiway to get off the runway, and finally in impatience the tower operator burst out, "Haven't you ever been to Frankfurt before?"

After a moment, "Yes," came the droll reply. "But it was in 1944 and we didn't stop."

Michael

[JonS]

The usual version of that involves a British accent, and a reply of "yes, but it was dark, and we didn't stop."

[Zenomorph]

mj, that's one of the greatest stories EVER. I wish my father and uncle were around to hear it!! They're both passed away. My uncle seriously wounded on Okinawa and it is my opinion that he passed away due to PTSD. Everyone talks about how changed he was upon return home. Life of the party before he left and very dark and sad when he got back. Died, essentially, of alcoholism. But I remember him well enough to know that he would have TRULY LOVED that story!!

I'm guessing that it wouldn't be out of the question that a pair of those vehicle tracks may have belonged to that tanker at your party.

[mjkerner]

Zenomorph, sorry to hear about your uncle's problems, but I salute him for his service! My Dad was in the 27th Division, but was wounded on Saipan; didn't make it to Okinawa.

The tanker was a loud, burly, gregarious, and very funny Irishman named Joe Boyle. He was father of a kid in my class--and he was one of those kind of scary parents, at least when I was in high school. Anyway, yes, he was at, or at least near, Aachen. What we all thought was so funny at the party was that this young kid (with the very Germanic name of "Sam") in a foreign land was able to go toe-to-toe with Joe. And get the best of him. By the way, Joe's reaction was to slap him on the back and say something along the lines of "You're all right, kid."

Sam and his parents visited my sister about 5 years ago (and my sis has been to Germany to see them). The father was born in '44 or '45 in Aachen. When they got back to Germany, he sent me a bunch of local material about the Battle for Aachen and Siegfried Line campaign. Hopefully some day I can get to Germany and get a personal guided tour of the battlegrounds around the area.

[Michael Emrys]

My uncle seriously wounded on Okinawa and it is my opinion that he passed away due to PTSD. Everyone talks about how changed he was upon return home. Life of the party before he left and very dark and sad when he got back. Died, essentially, of alcoholism.

Having read With the Old Breed: At Peleliu and Okinawa by E. B. Sledge, I am prepared to believe that the experience was enough to drive anyone to drink. By his telling, it was fully as awful as anything experienced in the First World War.

Michael

[dieseltaylor]

Looking at the photo it seems to me that it is heaps of spoil, and stored coal which is being piled up and being dug into. A quick check reveals:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alsdorf

[Zenomorph]

Hopefully some day I can get to Germany and get a personal guided tour of the battlegrounds around the area.

Thanks for the sentiments about my uncle. Awful how PTSD was so misunderstood back then - and STILL isn't understood by way too many people today.

And YES, if you go, hire a guide! I've been fortunate to travel to Normandy a few times. Not until my last (3rd) trip was I smart enough to hire a local historical guide. He was a retired British history professor living in Normandy. Made the trip about a million times more interesting. He had it down even to important gullies that you'd drive past without a thought. Kicking myself for not doing so earlier. I'd give you the man's name - a true character and a lot of fun - but he's retired (again) even from tour-guiding.

[DasMorbo]

The huge crater could have been created by an aircraft (fighter or medium bomber) impacting at high speeds and steep angle - 600 km/h + at 80°-90°.

There is a war memorial in the vicinity of my hometown. It preserves the impact crater of a P-51 shot down in May 1945 on escort duty (one of the last aerial victims of the war - very sad thought). Due to the mission it likely has impacted as described above and the crater looks very similar.

Best regards

Olf