ALPEN ( ALPON) Germany. Op „Blockbuster“ and „Veritable“ Feb.-March 1945

Discussion in 'NW Europe' started by Uwe Sewing, Jul 28, 2011.

  1. Uwe Sewing

    Uwe Sewing Member

    Hey Lee.
    In first , sorry for my late reply.
    Did your father had maybe Photos Maps or AAR,s

    I thing it is better you contact me under:
    Sewinghennefeld@aol.com.

    Regards Uwe
     
  2. Pak75

    Pak75 Member

    Hi Uwe
    WD number is for a Cromwell Mark IV according to Osprey Vanguard book.
    The 40 tactical sign and WD number more than likely indicate an HQ tank from 11th Armoured Division. I have seen a photo of WD 187740 which is 11 AD HQ tank.
    However the Raging Bull insignia is unusually not visible near MG which means there is a possibility it is HQ tank Guards Armoured Division.
    If the photo location is correct in Bonninghardt then it will be a Guards HQ tank as 11 AD only advanced as far as Sonsbeck before withdrawing to Belgium.
    Can't quite see cap badge...
    Cheers
     
    Wapen likes this.
  3. George Miller

    George Miller New Member

    Hi Uwe - Hopefully you are still monitoring this site.

    I can tell you that the US Army 30th Infantry Division HQ was in Alpen (Alpon) from March 18th to March 25th, 1945, and the entire division was in the area preparing for the Rhine River crossing at that time.

    The Division HQ you mention in #4 is for the 30th Infantry Division, and my father was present there then. Eisenhower being present at this time, and watching an air drop of troops is also mentioned in another work: Conquer – The Story of Ninth Army, 1944-1945, by Theodore Parker. You can find it online.

    Do you happen to know the name/location of the hotel in the picture of Eisenhower's jeep?

    Thanks,

    George
     
  4. Baeumchen

    Baeumchen New Member

    even if I'm not Uwe: the hotel name was "Terheggen". In the meantime it has been torn down. The coordinates were: 51.575187, 6.511159. Are you sure it's Eisenhauer in the picture?
     
  5. Peter Halsall

    Peter Halsall Member

    I just wonder, and I'm probably wrong, but the style of that image reminds me of the drawings by Peter White which illustrate the excellent ' With the Jocks. A soldier's struggle for Europe 1944-45 '. White served in the 52nd Lowland Division, 4th KOSB, and will have passed through or close to Alpen / Alpon. Perhaps a local craftsman has used one of his illustrations as inspiration as I doubt White himself would have had time! I am not sure if I am allowed to post images from the text to illustrate the similarity but would be happy to do so if advised that it is ok.

    My interest in Alpon is that my uncle, Joseph Halsall fought there with the 6th Cameronians S.R. It really hurt and worried him after the war that he had survived when so many of his fellows had died and I suspect the losses his battalion suffered at Alpon were partly responsible for that outlook.

    Regards

    Pete
     
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  6. Bayonet Productions

    Bayonet Productions Lead Researcher

    Uwe Sewing,

    Do you have additional German source materials regarding the Wesel pocket fight?
     
  7. alberk

    alberk Well-Known Member

    Hello, maybe this is of interest. It comes from the book "Das letzet Kriegsjahr im Westen" (1997) by Heinz Guenther Guderian who fought in the Wesel pocket with 116th Panzer Division. sketch Wesel pocket.jpg
     
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  8. Bayonet Productions

    Bayonet Productions Lead Researcher

    Thank you! I have found the Heers group H post war accounts. I am attempting to find this document. I am currently studying 52nd LL Divisions actions in the Wesel Pocket.

    MS #B-084 First Parachute Army (20 Nov 44–21 Mar 45) by Alfred Schlemm, General of Fallschirmtruppen
     
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  9. Bayonet Productions

    Bayonet Productions Lead Researcher

  10. alberk

    alberk Well-Known Member

    Attached below is the account in Guderian's book - in German.

    And - pour lagniappe - a rare German photo from the battle fought west of the Rhine in March 1945.
    ABB_016.JPG
     

    Attached Files:

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  11. Bosse

    Bosse Member

    Hello!
    I´m looking for information about the 7th Bn Cameronians and their part of the fighting around Alpen. I´ve read the war diaries and all the usual books and visited the Cameronians museum in Hamilton. Now I´m looking for more in-depth information about the soldiers and who they were. I think a very distant relative was killed in that battle. His name was James Dempsey McAlpine and was killed in action 9 March. Very greatful for any information you can provide.
     
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  12. Bayonet Productions

    Bayonet Productions Lead Researcher


    Are you on Facebook? There is a family association for the Cameronians.
     
    Last edited: Nov 2, 2020
  13. Bayonet Productions

    Bayonet Productions Lead Researcher

    Do you know of other photos showing German troops from the Reichswald to the Rhine in February 45 -March 45? Just about all the units involved in the reichswald ended up in the Wesel pocket.

    I have had trouble confirming any photos minus POWs. However I am looking for rear line, "combat " photos, or propaganda film.
     
  14. alberk

    alberk Well-Known Member

    I have three or four other German "official" photos - more or less "combat". They are all Bundesarchiv copyright. And I have one propaganda film - the penultimate German newsreel briefly deals with the fighting on the Rhine front in the north. Also copyright Bundesarchiv. I suppose I could mail them to you privately - and then you decide how you handle the copyright situation. I feel I should not post them in the forum - I transgressed with the one I posted, I must admit:whistle:
     
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  15. alberk

    alberk Well-Known Member

    I sent you a PDF of my book - the photos I mean are in there, in the first chapter, I believe. But you want the proper files, right? Will send them tomorrow!
     
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  16. Bosse

    Bosse Member

    Hello.
    Thank you for the reply. Yes, I´m on facebook and already a member of the groups.
     
  17. smdarby

    smdarby Well-Known Member

    I saw this medal group on the London Medals website and recalled there was a thread about Alpen. Could easily have posted this on one of the Walcheren/52nd Lowland Div threads also. Nice Military Medal group to 3244200 L.CPL. W. ROBERTSON. CAMERONIANS. Awarded the Military Medal (with bar) for actions crossing the Sloedam at Walcheren and during the attack on Alpen. The accompanying information states he was the only man in the Cameronians to win the Military Medal twice during WWII. The group is out of my price range!

    One of the medals in the group of 6 is the Burma Star. I don't know why he received this and there doesn't appear to be any information about it on the website.

    The exceptional and regimentally unique Second World War North West Europe operations Battle of the Scheldt 3rd November 1944 Military Medal and Battle of Alpon attack on the milk factory recce patrol commander’s Second Award Bar group awarded to Corporal | London Medal Company
     
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  18. Bayonet Productions

    Bayonet Productions Lead Researcher


    I know a lot of replacements are noted from Burma, Ireland, and England within Scottish units. It is mentioned in 'With the Jocks' and 'Lion Rampant'.

    Burma and NA veterans were being put in units. So he could of easily been with the 1st Battalion in Burma or another unit. There was one member with the 1st then transferred to 9th battalion and was KIA during Epsom.
     
    Ramiles likes this.
  19. Ramiles

    Ramiles Researching 9th Lancers, 24th L and SRY

    Quite regularly seen on Twitter, at around this time of year...

    THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORTH-WEST EUROPE 1944-1945

    As per the caption card they generally seem to be referred to as merely "Tanks of the 8th Armoured Brigade" - occasionally as 13/18th Hussars or 4th7thRDG.

    large_B_015535_2.jpg

    Example - 13th / 18th Hussars...

    THE BRITISH ARMY IN THE NORMANDY CAMPAIGN 1944

    Example - 4th / 7th Royal Dragoon Guards

    THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORMANDY 1944

    There is actually this (for the 13th / 18th Hussars) -

    "On the 10th the Regiment were relieved by the 34th Tank Brigade and moved back to ISSUM and then on the 12th to GOCH, via GELDERN and WEEZE. In GOCH they prepared themselves for the RHINE crossing and the ‘swan’ across the North German Plain, to BREMEN."

    So, on balance, perhaps these are 4th / 7th Royal Dragoon Guards, also depending on whether or not the IWM dates are exact, or merely the dates that the photographs were catalogued.

    -- x --

    With the Jocks: A Visit to the Battlefields of Peter White: The Fate of C Coy, 6th Camerionians: Alpon, 9th March 1945
     
    Last edited: Mar 9, 2023

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