One Soldier's Story
Part Nineteen

Victory At Last
By Kernel Banks, Staff Writer

After meeting with the 17th Russian Infantry Corp. at Wittenberg, we received orders to go North to Magdeburg, Germany. As we pushed north, the famine gripped all of Germany hard. The German Forces felt the effect sharply as they halfheartedly continued to hold on. Supply lines had been cut for several weeks. Railways had all but shut down, there were no supplies or food for the enemy. German attacks slowed until it was unusual to face the enemy in combat. When we traveled to or from different camps, German soldiers would often surrender to us. Starvation, along with continued pressure from the Allied forces, beat their resolve down. Morale was at the lowest point, as the world was shown how the German government had treated their own people. We entered Magdeburg during one of the last sieges. After gaining control of Magdeburg, we received long awaited orders to prepare to move into Berlin. Preparations for our march into Berlin were under way when we received the unbelieving news that the War was over. On May 7, 1945; Victory was proclaimed at Wanzleben, Germany. The Third Reich and Hitler had fallen. News about the dictators suicide infiltrated the ranks, confirming our opinion that the leader of Germany was a coward. He had tortured, starved and killed his countrymen for power. For so long, we had yearned for news concerning the end of the War, now that we heard it; it was hard to believe.

We headed back to BadNauheim, South by Frankfurt, Germany. Work for the Corps did not stop, even though the battles were finished. The surgeon's staff of the Corps had to take control of over forty hospitals in the area. Wounded had to be cared for, thousands of prisoners had to be taken care of. G-2 and G-5 had cleaning to do and the search for war criminals began. The reconstruction of the political leadership had to be established. A new beginning for a war torn country. Shortly after May 7th, 1945; many of our fighting, combat men were loaded on ships in route home. Stations were established for command and control. I was called in and asked to stay on for a little while longer. After agreeing, the Commander promoted me to Master Sergeant (E-8); over the mess tent. He stated that before the pay would come through I would probably be discharged and home with my family. And, he was right. I stayed another six months but never received the higher pay rate.

During the six month extension, I commanded the mess tent, feeding our soldiers first. Then prisoners and civilians were fed next. I stretched out supplies as much as I could. The skinny little Polish boy that we had come across earlier, still wore our uniform proudly. His job was to keep the local children out of the garbage cans. He would try to accomplish this along with finding rations to feed as many of them as he could. This was too much for a 16 year old skinny boy. His heartbreaking attempt was made daily but the hungry children outnumbered him. I tried to assist him and gave everything we had extra to the kids.

My orders to go home seemed to arrive quickly. I was happy to leave this Country where many of my friends lost their life. I moved out looking forward to seeing my loved ones again but I lost contact with that young Polish boy and thousands of my combat comrades. When I left Germany, I took with me many memories that I still have. The War was physically over, but it is always present in those memories.

Ed Hicks