letters from Italy

[GeorgeBates]

Some sober thoughts courtesy of soldiers in the 10th Mountain Division.

 

[Michael Dorosh]

That's really well written. It's difficult as a writer to avoid cliches at the best of time, but especially in military writing. The author in this piece points out even a simple word like "heavy" becomes meaningless through repetition - heavy shelling, heavy casualties. I'm sure "light shelling" was as nerve-wracking as a heavy one. Thanks for sharing this.

 

[Yuri0352]

Some sober thoughts courtesy of soldiers in the 10th Mountain Division.

Thank you so much for sharing this article from a fine historian.

"The incommunicable experience of war".... indeed.

 

[Michael Dorosh]

One of the German formations opposite the 10th Mountain Division late in the war was Infanterie Division 65. I recently had occasion to translate their divisional history as well as some periodical articles, and some of their experiences were as poignant:

“Near the trains,” that reads so easily. But those who spent days or weeks in the
front line and under almost constant artillery fire could appreciate the good feeling
of being able to stay “near the trains.” After cleaning their uniforms, other
clothing and equipment, the Landser was primarily concerned with his physical
well-being. The selection (of comforts) was not substantial. Lost stray chickens
usually wandered into a cauldron above the open fire common in farmhouses.
There were specialists in the preparation of the inevitable fried potatoes. Because
of the shortage of salt, it quickly became common to replace this with garlic and
paprika. Dried fruit was hung in farmhouses together with clumps of small
tomatoes, suspended from strings or reeds from the ceilings. Despite the appetizing
aromas one could not hide the fact that one was still in the combat area. The
smoke rising from the chimneys inevitably attracted fighter-bombers. So it was not
uncommon for a soldier, with cooking pan still in hand, to take cover from a house
threatened by Allied fighter-bombers in order to save the carefully prepared food.
You can see the food was the priority. There were no holiday roasts in this stretch
of land that had been plagued by the autumn days. As always when at war, a full
stomach filled the soldier with satisfaction. Pessimists feared new missions in a
battle group in mud and cold. Optimists expected - preferably far from the shooting
- a quiet, warm quarters. Who should be right?

- - - Velten, Wilhelm ''vom Kugelbaum vor Handgranate'', regarding the Orsogna front in December 1943

Since February 7th we’ve been stuck in filth again. We attacked the British and
even pushed them back a few kilometres. Indescribable ordeal and sacrifice. It’s
very cold and has been raining for a few days, so we’re sitting in holes in the
ground, freezing like dogs. Many of our holes are half-filled with water. We can’t
collect our many dead because the enemy ceaselessly sprays the entire area with
heavy machine gun fire. Our one comfort is a British aid station that we
captured. It’s got everything you need. We’re living off British preserves. Before
long, not even our clothes will be able to distinguish us from the Brits. I threw
away my wet and filthy trousers and am now sporting a pair of British ones…

- - - soldier of the 5th Company, Grenadier Regiment 147, Anzio, 11 February 1944

It is a bright day. The alluvial landscape is similar to the North German Plain:
lush meadows, some fields, individual trees, individual farms, no land contours.
In the air, half a dozen Jabos are constantly barking and shooting at every
movement on earth. You can not even walk from the house to the barn as an
individual unless you are sure that the Jabos are currently paying attention to
another destination. I've tried to describe the situation at the Po, but the reality
exceeded everything (I could write)

- - - Oberleutnant Weber, divisional Ic (Intelligence Officer), Po Valley, 23 April 1945

 

[Ric of The LBC]

In Italy, the guy on the top bunk has gotta make the guy's on the bottom. It's regulation.

 

[Eagle4ty]

In Italy, the guy on the top bunk has gotta make the guy's on the bottom. It's regulation.

But only on Thursdays in Belgium.

 

[Ric of The LBC]

But only on Thursdays in Belgium.

if you're in Germany it's the other way. It's regulations

 

[Justiciar]

I lived in the Vail Valley (late 80s, then late 90s) for a time, and became interested in the 10th Mtn. Div, I also have connection to NH where some former soldiers were from. After the war its former soldiers built the Vail Valley ski industry (among other areas)...b/c they had trained in that area during the war...at Camp Hale. Vail did not exist then (they made it)...it would have been Minturn (a small* village) or Leadville (once capital? of CO.) where they had liberty. I hiked up and around their old training ground a couple of times in the fall...sometimes while elk hunting...found old bivouac points with WW2 era C-rations cans and the like...this association eventually lead me to my first ASL piece...

"The 10th Mountain Division: Reference Notes for Advanced Squad Leader," The General, May 1992, pp. 20-23.

 

[tripvm]

I lived in the Vail Valley for a time, and became interested in the 10th Mtn. Div, I also have connection to NH where some former soldiers were from. After the war its former soldiers built the Vail Valley ski industry (among other areas)...b/c they had trained in that area during the war...at Camp Hale. Vail did not exist then (they made it)...it would have been Minturn (a small* village) or Leadville (once capital? of CO.) where they had liberty. I hiked up and around their old training ground a couple of times in the fall...sometimes while elk hunting...found old bivouac points with WW2 era C-rations cans and the like...this association eventually lead me to my first ASL piece...

"The 10th Mountain Division: Reference Notes for Advanced Squad Leader," The General, May 1992, pp. 20-23.

I have also spent quite a bit of time in the Vail Valley and have visited the Camp Hale site near Minturn and done hiking in the area. It is very pretty up there!

 

[sebosebi]

One of the German formations opposite the 10th Mountain Division late in the war was Infanterie Division 65. I recently had occasion to translate their divisional history as well as some periodical articles, and some of their experiences were as poignant:

“Near the trains,” that reads so easily. But those who spent days or weeks in the
front line and under almost constant artillery fire could appreciate the good feeling
of being able to stay “near the trains.” After cleaning their uniforms, other
clothing and equipment, the Landser was primarily concerned with his physical
well-being. The selection (of comforts) was not substantial. Lost stray chickens
usually wandered into a cauldron above the open fire common in farmhouses.
There were specialists in the preparation of the inevitable fried potatoes. Because
of the shortage of salt, it quickly became common to replace this with garlic and
paprika. Dried fruit was hung in farmhouses together with clumps of small
tomatoes, suspended from strings or reeds from the ceilings. Despite the appetizing
aromas one could not hide the fact that one was still in the combat area. The
smoke rising from the chimneys inevitably attracted fighter-bombers. So it was not
uncommon for a soldier, with cooking pan still in hand, to take cover from a house
threatened by Allied fighter-bombers in order to save the carefully prepared food.
You can see the food was the priority. There were no holiday roasts in this stretch
of land that had been plagued by the autumn days. As always when at war, a full
stomach filled the soldier with satisfaction. Pessimists feared new missions in a
battle group in mud and cold. Optimists expected - preferably far from the shooting
- a quiet, warm quarters. Who should be right?

- - - Velten, Wilhelm ''vom Kugelbaum vor Handgranate'', regarding the Orsogna front in December 1943

When it will be available the book?

 

[Michael Dorosh]

When it will be available the book?

I'm hoping to put it into print before this year's reenactment season, but I'm still getting some help with the editing. It's been functionally complete for about a year, but every time I pick it up I find more annoying typos so I'm getting some professional help.

 

[sebosebi]

I'm hoping to put it into print before this year's reenactment season, but I'm still getting some help with the editing. It's been functionally complete for about a year, but every time I pick it up I find more annoying typos so I'm getting some professional help.

I would read it before i will release the Orsogna pack

 

[Michael Dorosh]

I would read it before i will release the Orsogna pack

Send me an email at madorosh@shaw.ca and I'll send you the chapters pertinent to Orsogna for your research purposes. I went into lots of detail about Anzio, because there are sources available, but the German side of Orsogna was not as easy to research.

 

[sebosebi]

Send me an email at madorosh@shaw.ca and I'll send you the chapters pertinent to Orsogna for your research purposes. I went into lots of detail about Anzio, because there are sources available, but the German side of Orsogna was not as easy to research.

Sent! Thank you very much, yes German side is a total mess. Just some war diaries, but they didn't them so accurately.