29th panzer division

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While interviewing German soldiers about Salerno, Hermann Graf of the same division, showed me this picture of his friend, Franz, that was MIA during their baptism of fire. Graf stated that it was their first battle. Another company had already retaken the village of Alte Ville. They lined up in broad daylight with their Battalion C.O. Meizel. Then they ran down the hill shouting "HURRAH" while firing their weapons. He said the Texans, who had already been pushed out of the village had set up a defensive position down the hill. He stated that none of the Texans retreated. The Germans broke into the American positions where hand-to-hand fighting broke out. None of the Texans surrendered, they fought until the last man. "They were very brave." His friend Franz was never seen nor heard from again. Hence MIA.

I had the honor to visit Hermann in Berlin in December 2006. He was obviously a pious man from the religious icons on the wall. A very soft spoken man that was reserved about telling me his war story. Graf stated that Salerno on September 13, 1943 was their first battle. Another company had already retaken the village of Alte Ville. They lined up in broad daylight with their Battalion C.O. Meizel. Then they ran down the hill shouting "HURRAH" while firing their weapons. He said the Texans, who had already been pushed out of the village had set up a defensive position down the hill. He stated that none of the Texans retreated. The Germans broke into the American positions where hand to hand fighting broke out. None of the Texans surrendered, they fought until the last man. "They were very brave." Needless to say, as a Texan and the son of a 36th Division veteran, that was a tough story to hear. But he shot straight with me and that is what history is about. Hermann was wounded five times in the war. Three of which were in the left arm. From his paper work, I could tell that 2-3 of his wounds were received in battle against the 36th Division. He kept talking about his friend Franz Bertele that went MIA during that first battle against the Texans. He could not forget his friend. He kept showing me his picture which is also posted on this site. Graf was such a nice man, I would have liked to gone to church with him and then to dinner. The brutality of war. 

Rittmeister von Heyking is one of the most interesting men I have ever interviewed. His family had been in the Prussian Cavalry for the past 300 years. His father was KIA in 1914 on the Eastern Front when his mother was 3 months pregnant with him. He stated that in Poland, France, and Russia he would lead a recon element of 10 men on horses behind enemy lines. He survived Stalingrad, having been flown out on one of the last planes as he was deathly ill with malaria. He then took over as the 3rd Battalion Commander (Jaeger Battalion of the 29th Panzer Grenadier Division). He took over in November of 1943 during the defense of Monte Lungo in Italy. The attackers were the Texas 36th Division, my father's outfit. He lost four company commanders during the intense battles against the Texans. When they were finally chased off the mountain, he only had ca. 120 men left in his battalion. He was awarded the Knights Cross for that action. He received the German Cross in Gold for keeping open a bridgehead in Russia, thus allowing the escape of a large unit of Germans. He was captured by the British while leading an attack at Anzio. During an artillery barrage, he and 12-15 men sought cover in a house. When they entered the British were pointing Tommy guns at them. Von Heyking shouted, "Do not fire! We do not want to murder each other." He was eventually handed over to the Americans and was interned in Tennessee. When I asked him about his medals, he stated very matter of fact, "I am not proud of those medals. They were won by the men under my command. They are sticky with the blood of my men and my former opponents." I found him to be a very honorable man. He spoke of his disdain for Hitler. And how German officers were not allowed to be political. He showed only the greatest respect for America and the way he was treated by the Americans. He stated that his time in the POW camp was like a vacation. He wrote an incredibly moving dedication on the back of this picture that he gave me.

A war buddy of Gerhard gave me his number. I called and asked to interview him regarding the Salerno battle. He picked me up at the train station and took me to eat Italian food as the campaign we were discussing was in Italy. He could still speak Italian. He is a very sympathetic man; one that makes you feel very comfortable from the beginning. He was hesitant to discuss combat at Salerno with me. After much prodding, he began to open up and it was obvious that he had many bad memories of the battle. He spoke highly of the American opponents. He stated that when he saw the T-Patch on a wounded American, he knew he was fighting Texans. He later sent me his dog tag that he wore during the Salerno battle. A very kind and gentle man. He insisted on taking me back to the train station. There he told me as a kid he always wanted to ride a bike through Italy. He laughed and said little did I know that I would walk the length of Italy from south to north. As the train departed, he stood at attention and saluted me!

I had the honor to visit Herr Finke and interview him regarding Salerno. It is a very interesting story. He was drafted in 1937 and was to be discharged 2 weeks before the Poland campaign began. He stated when he saw the first artillery casualty, wounded in the face, he had to vomit. He took place in almost every campaign before Russia. He stated when they invaded Russia, he and his men were already very tired of war. They had been fighting for almost 2 years. Once in Russia, one of the men started complaining about Hitler and how they could not beat the Russians. Someone reported him and he was given a summary court marshal before he was stood up against the wall and shot. Herr Finke stated that not many men complained anymore after that. He survived Stalingrad being flown out on one of the last transport planes as he was sick with malaria. He fought at Salerno and was caught in the middle of a shipboard artillery barrage. He was never so scared and lucky to survive as many of his comrades did not. He is a very kind and honorable man.