G.I. Stories 1941-1945

04/06/2026

Here is a big-picture snapshot of what was going on April 12, 1945 according to SHAEF Communique 389:

"Armored elements cleared Nordhausen, and east of Mühlhausen reached Bilzingsleben, eight miles northeast of Clingen, and are one mile from Kölleda to the southwest after a 22 mile advance. Southwest of Coburg we made limited advances against scattered resistance.

Schweinfurt was entered after being practically surrounded and heavy house-to-house fighting is in progress. Armored units pushed along the Main River to the east and also made gains to the south. To the southeast we advanced four miles along the highway between Ochsenfurt and Ansbach, occupying Uffenheim and Rudolzhofen. Our armor withdrew from a part of the Crailsheim wedge after more than 1500 prisoners and important enemy materiel were taken. Our bridghead over the Kocher River in the vicinity of Niedernhall, was extended to a depth of three miles. Progress was made in Heilbronn and north of the city two bridgeheads over the Neckar River have been joined. We made advances up to three miles southeast of Karlsruhe and have reached the Schwartzwald Forest." (original misspellings not corrected; accessed via https://eucmh.com/2022/01/12/shaef-communiques-eto-april-1945/2/)

ALL CONTENT AND TEXT IN THIS VIDEO IS PRESENTED FOR HISTORICAL AND EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY.

Source: NARA, 111-ADC-3989

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03/06/2026

April 12, 1945 - This footage shows German prisoners from a variety of units and formations in and around Kölleda (Sömmerda), Thüringen / Thuringia, Germany. The US units in the area were primarily from the 9th Armored Division.

ALL CONTENT AND TEXT IN THIS VIDEO IS PRESENTED FOR HISTORICAL AND EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY.

Source: NARA, 111-ADC-3989

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31/05/2026

April 13, 1945 - This footage filmed at Eisborn, Germany shows soldiers - likely from 48th Armored Infantry Battalion - attached to Task Force Chappuis. TF Chappuis was made up of units from the 7th Armored Division and was supplemented by men from the 2nd Infantry Regiment of the 5th Infantry Division.

The burning tank is quite possibly the German Panzer IV mentioned in the after-action report as being knocked out by the P-47, flying close aire support. "𝗢𝗻𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝗜𝗩 𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗼𝘆𝗲𝗱 𝗱𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗯𝘆 𝗣𝟰𝟳 𝗳𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗯𝗼𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀, 𝗱𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗮𝗶𝗿-𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗲𝗿" as per the 48th AIB AAR.

ALL CONTENT AND TEXT IN THIS VIDEO IS PRESENTED FOR HISTORICAL AND EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY.

Source: NARA, 111-ADC-3994

28/05/2026

"𝗢𝗻𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝗜𝗩 𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗼𝘆𝗲𝗱 𝗱𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗯𝘆 𝗣𝟰𝟳 𝗳𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗯𝗼𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀, 𝗱𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗮𝗶𝗿-𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗲𝗿." From the April 1945 After-Action Report of the 48th Armored Infantry Bn. A longer excerpt below:

"13 April 1945. Location: Eisborn, Germany. GC 104098, map ref. Sheet 98, 1,50,000. [...]

From here, after extensive reconnaissance, Eisborn was attacked in cooperation with the 1st Bn, 2nd Inf Regt, V Inf Div on the right. A wide flanking maneuever by C/48 [Company C, 48th Armored Infantry Battalion] on the left netted 87 prisoners from a well dug-in position 500 yards east of Gubeck without casualty. Three tanks of C/31 supporting C/48 and three 90mm guns of the Inf unit were also in the support. From here the task force and associate unit of the V Div pushed rapidly into Eisborn. As soon as our troops were in the town, tanks and TDs were sent up to reinforce them in case of a counter-attack. Eisborn was soon cleared, defensive positions dug in and the wooded high ground to all sides swept clear of the enemy. 𝗢𝗻𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝗜𝗩 𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗼𝘆𝗲𝗱 𝗱𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗯𝘆 𝗣𝟰𝟳 𝗳𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗯𝗼𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀, 𝗱𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗮𝗶𝗿-𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗲𝗿. The rear of the column received spasmodic artillery and mortar fire during the morning, but there were no casualties from it. Many prisoners were again taken." (Source: https://www.7tharmddiv.org/docrep/ #4504)

ALL CONTENT AND TEXT IN THIS VIDEO IS PRESENTED FOR HISTORICAL AND EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY.

Source: NARA, 111-ADC-3994

26/05/2026

VE Day in Austria

May 8, 1945 – This film includes footage shot in Jochberg, Zell am See, and Saalfelden, Austria. The sequence filmed was apparently to establish contact wit...

25/05/2026

Memorial Day 1945. Remember the fallen this Memorial Day.

24/05/2026

April 13, 1945 - Task Force Chappuis of the 7th Armored Division with 1st Battalion, 2nd Infantry Regiment of the 5th Infantry Division attacks and clears Eisborn, Germany during the battle of the Ruhr Pocket.

This footage has been posted as being filmed in "Wisborn" - likely a typo on the original shot card - and "Esborn." Neither are correct; this was filmed at Eisborn during the battle of the Ruhr Pocket. Eisborn is not far from Menden, where the German "LIII Armeekorps" (53rd Army Corps) under Fritz Bayerlein surrendered to 7th AD on April 16.

ALL CONTENT AND TEXT IN THIS VIDEO IS PRESENTED FOR HISTORICAL AND EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY.

Source: NARA, 111-ADC-3994

22/05/2026

No caption needed. Remember the fallen this Memorial Day.

20/05/2026

April 13, 1945 – Men of the 346th Infantry Regiment, 87th “Golden Acorn" Infantry Division are supported by M36 Tank Destroyers and M4 Medium Tanks respectively from 3rd Platoon, Company C, 607th Tank Destroyer Battalion and 735th Tank Battalion (platoon/company not specified) at Remda, Germany. The town of Remda was secured the day before, on April 12. On this drive through Thuringia /Thüringen, the 87th Infantry Division and supporting units were operating as Task Forces in teams of infantry, tanks, tank destroyers, etc. As you can see in the film, the leg infantrymen operated as makeshift armored infantry by mounting tanks and tank destroyers to provide immediate infantry support when needed.

ALL CONTENT AND TEXT IN THIS VIDEO IS PRESENTED FOR HISTORICAL AND EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY.

Source: NARA, 111-ADC-3994

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18/05/2026

April 13, 1945 - Men of the 346th Infantry Regiment, 87th “Golden Acorn” Infantry Division are supported by M36 Tank Destroyers and M4 Medium Tanks respectively from 3rd Platoon, Company C, 607th Tank Destroyer Battalion and 735th Tank Battalion at Remda, Germany.

ALL CONTENT AND TEXT IN THIS VIDEO IS PRESENTED FOR HISTORICAL AND EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY.

Source: NARA, 111-ADC-3994

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