[SES1066]

This hero, now at rest, was probably attached to the 42nd (Rainbow) Infantry Division (ID). The final push into Germany became chaotic as resistance collapsed and battlefronts got tangled. The apparent but disputed 1st outfit to Dachau were units of the 45th ID (Thunderbirds), specifically the 157th Infantry Regiment under the command of Lt.Col. Felix Sparks. As such, he was in command when 'surrendered troops' (SS Guards) were shot by American GIs of the 157th as mentioned in article. The 42nd came in with its Assistant Division Commander Brigadier General Henning Linden, having met with a Swiss Red Cross representative and several Germans claiming to be relief commanders of Dachau and wanting to surrender the camp.

Recommended book on Felix Sparks, retired as Brigadier General and later Colorado State Supreme Court Judge, is Alex Kershaw's "The Liberator". NB: My Dad was 45th HQ Staff and went through Dachau at that time but was only transiting on way to Munich to setup a 157th Command Post. He chose the German Beer Hall that was Hitler's HQ for the November 1923 failed revolt, a fitting reversal.

[dfwgator]

This scene just wrecks me everytime I watch it.

Band of Brothers - Liberation of Camp

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8DReSzEtB0

[VeniVidiVici]

That’s some history, my FRiend.

[elcid1970]

My Dad was in the 395th Infantry Regt, 5th Inf. Division. A major at war’s end, he was in charge of bringing in surrendering Wehrmacht officers. Said that even in defeat they were insufferably arrogant and he had to punch some sense into one or two.

Dad only heard about the death camps but it made him hate Germans for the rest of his life. My regret is he didn’t pick up some Lugers, Walthers, & P-38’s for his future son.

;^)