It's All Saints` Day - and I visited the little cemetary of Bergerfurth, the hamlet next to DZ "A". This is the grave of Stefania Szpak who was killed on March 24th, 1945. Stefania was 18 years old and had to work a forced labour on farm located on DZ "A", where 3 Para Bde was dropped. I know of two different stories desctibing the circumstances of her death. One is: When the Allied soliders had landed she left the cellar where the civilians had sought shelter to welcome her liberators - and that`s when she was hit by a bullet. The other one is: The German civilians did not admit her to their shelter and she was killed by a shell fragment during the shelling that preceeded the airborne landings.
It was there in 1945. 71 British and Canadian casualties were buried next to this civilian cemetary in 1945.
I’ll message you later in the week about that location as I have photos of the Canadians being buried but hard to see where exactly.
Bergerfurth cemetary in 2020: Just outside the civilian cemetary in March 1945: .. and in late summer 1945:
There are two more photos of Canadians being buried in the book "Tip of the Spear"... but that's a location near a farm on DZ "A"
Great pics. I have different ones. They look more like on the DZ to me. I’ll find them and send them.
Gents, Not sure if this will add much. The attached recon aerial taken March 3rd, 1945 shows Bergerfurth in the foreground. Has someone marked the existing graveyard with a red rectangle? Though not very clear to top centre right the village of Hamminkeln can be seen in far distance. Regards ...
Looks like it, great view of 3 Para Bde HQ building too! Is that pic from the ones I sent you? Can’t remember the red square?! Alex
Alex, I forget where I picked that one up. Most of my Varsity aerials are pretty poor quality including that one ... Regards ...
Alex, The view is towards the east and I think a bit of DZ A can be seen to the middle left. It's hard to make out due to the oblique view which tends to compress things and oddly some features I can't match up. Noticed Battledetective.com has a now and then comparison for Bergerfurth with the original showing German prisoners being marched through the village. Not sure of the copyright restrictions so won't post here. There are a few interesting ones for Hamminkeln as well. Regards ...
Yes that’s the ones I meant. No trees in the background so I assumed on the e hi. I think you replied to a reply I meant for another comment! But, yes it’s slightly south of DZ A. Interesting to see how sparse the ground is in the foreground which reiterates the need for the fire support and cover needed by the advancing ground troops. Alex
My 1947 map is helpful - across the road from the "Schule" (Bde HQ) is the "Kp." = Kapelle (chapel). The building was taken down in the early 70s and replaced by a modern church building, just a little further up the road. In 1945 it was the Forward Dressing Station - this also explains the burial site for Allied casualties between the chapel and the graveyard. ..had my first communion in there...
Hi Alex1975uk, have a look at this: http://data2.archives.ca/e/e39997/e999922806-u.pdf In this album (it takes a while to load) go to September 3rd (page 663). There you'll find the series of photos taken in Bergerfurth and showing the Allied graves. The colour photo of Lt. Richer I sent you looks like genuine colour film to me, not like it's been colourized. What do you think? Richer is kneeling next to Nicklin's grave... Best Alex
These are the colour photos in the Canadian Archives: Collection Search - Library and Archives Canada
Due to the first Covid lockdown in the spring I had bit of time to spare and did this and the the following map. Please note that "Bamford" needs to be changed to "unknown soldier". I believe I found to more single graves since then in the CWGC database which I will have to add... I need to check about that again. Below a slightly different attempt. The photos in "Tip of the Spear" show the burial near Hövelmannshog of 9 British and 2 Canadian casualties.
Is that for certain that’s where Nicklin was found in the trees? Is that Nackals Waldchen (sorry can’t remember exact name!)
