Part XIII

With the rapid breakthrough of the Seventh Army another quick move was expected--this time to the large German airdrome outside Stuttgart, Germany. Once again Fox and Hayes took off, via jeep this time, for a final check before what looked like the final move, and once again we had jumped the gun. Actually, we never quite got to the airfield proper--things were still a bit warm.

We arrived in Stuttgart later that evening and although the French First Army and their French Moroccan "friends" had taken the city, considerable isolated sniper fire was heard and seen from time to time throughout the downtown area. Needless to say, we hurriedly retired to a more protected residential area on the hillside overlooking the city floor to spend a very restless night--under cover, yes, but mighty nervous. What had happened?--just this--We were witness to one of the "military political powerplays" of the war--and there would be more to come as things wound down. While the famed Rainbow Division of the American Seventh Army stood fast in reserve outside Stuttgart, the French First Army and their Moroccan associates were priviledged to take Stuttgart under their own power. As it turned out the Rainbow Division joined the next morning in a mopping-up exercise to clean the entire area and was soon eastward-bound again--but by that time the Moroccans had had their fun.

Also with the dawn John and I were headed back to Haguenau but not without a lingering memory or two of what we had experienced and heard on our hillside retreat during a very sleepless night--the agonizing screams and frantic shrieks intermingled with isolated "fire" were the worst. It all echoed from the valley floor of Stuttgart throughout the night. Those shrill utterings came from frauleins under extreme duress and suffering at the hands of the Moroccan "Goon conquerors" who were "frolicking" throughout the city with little or no holds barred. It was eerie to say the least-Allies, yes, but certainly not our type of soldier.

During the next couple of weeks the situation had blown wide open in all sectors; there really were no fronts--it was a rout everywhere. The Seventh Army had drawn a bead on Nurembourg and was there. It had soon put the "mad Mayor" out of business and taken it all.

From here on out it was all over but the shouting. The First and the Ninth, the Third and the Seventh, and the English, French and the Russians, too, had all done their jobs. The political powerplays had gotten underway for real but thank heavens no one seemed to require photo reconnaissance in that round.

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