|
|
Forced march from February 6,
1945 to May 2, 1945
Total distance: 250 miles
(estimate) "On the day we left camp for the march across
Germany, on Feb. 6, 1945, we were each given a full parcel, and this was the last, until April 28, 1945 just a few days before we were liberated.
I made a carrying pouch, by taking a G.I. towel and folding it in the middle and stitching it up the sides, with some sort of a strap around my shoulder and carried this box in it. After the food was gone I still used it to put my meager belongings in for the entire trip until we were liberated on May 2, 1945 so just kept it for a souvenir." - Richard F. Hanson
He kept logs of his forced march on scraps of paper from
cigarette packs.
| Day |
Date |
Activity |
Distance (km) |
Notes |
| Tuesday |
6-Feb-45 |
Walk |
|
| Wednesday |
7-Feb-45 |
Walk |
|
| Thursday |
8-Feb-45 |
Walk |
28 |
| Friday |
9-Feb-45 |
Rest |
|
| Saturday |
10-Feb-45 |
Walk |
|
| Sunday |
11-Feb-45 |
Walk |
|
| Monday |
12-Feb-45 |
Walk |
|
| Tuesday |
13-Feb-45 |
Walk |
32 |
| Wednesday |
14-Feb-45 |
Walk |
|
| Thursday |
15-Feb-45 |
Walk |
|
| Friday |
16-Feb-45 |
Rest |
|
| Saturday |
17-Feb-45 |
Rest |
|
| Sunday |
18-Feb-45 |
Rest |
|
| Monday |
19-Feb-45 |
Walk |
|
| Tuesday |
20-Feb-45 |
Rest |
|
| Wednesday |
21-Feb-45 |
Walk |
|
| Thursday |
22-Feb-45 |
Walk |
|
| Friday |
23-Feb-45 |
Rest |
|
| Saturday |
24-Feb-45 |
Walk |
|
| Sunday |
25-Feb-45 |
Rest |
|
| Monday |
26-Feb-45 |
Rest |
|
| Tuesday |
27-Feb-45 |
Rest |
|
| Wednesday |
28-Feb-45 |
Rest |
|
| Thursday |
1-Mar-45 |
Rest |
|
| Friday |
2-Mar-45 |
Rest |
|
| Saturday |
3-Mar-45 |
Walk |
|
| Sunday |
4-Mar-45 |
Walk |
|
| Monday |
5-Mar-45 |
Walk |
|
| Tuesday |
6-Mar-45 |
Walk |
|
| Wednesday |
7-Mar-45 |
Rest |
|
| Thursday |
8-Mar-45 |
Walk |
|
| Friday |
9-Mar-45 |
Rest |
|
| Saturday |
10-Mar-45 |
Rest |
|
| Sunday |
11-Mar-45 |
Rest |
|
| Monday |
12-Mar-45 |
Rest |
|
| Tuesday |
13-Mar-45 |
Walk |
|
| Wednesday |
14-Mar-45 |
Walk |
|
| Thursday |
15-Mar-45 |
Rest |
|
| Friday |
16-Mar-45 |
Rest |
|
| Saturday |
17-Mar-45 |
Rest |
|
| Sunday |
18-Mar-45 |
Rest |
|
| Monday |
19-Mar-45 |
Walk |
23 |
| Tuesday |
20-Mar-45 |
Walk |
18 |
| Wednesday |
21-Mar-45 |
Walk |
20 |
| Thursday |
22-Mar-45 |
Walk |
|
| Friday |
23-Mar-45 |
Rest |
|
| Saturday |
24-Mar-45 |
Walk |
|
| Sunday |
25-Mar-45 |
Walk |
|
| Monday |
26-Mar-45 |
Rest |
|
| Tuesday |
27-Mar-45 |
Rest |
|
| Wednesday |
28-Mar-45 |
On train at 3pm in Ebsdorf |
|
| Thursday |
29-Mar-45 |
Arrive Stalag 357, about 40
mile train ride. After 26 days of walking & 24 days of
laying over to rest at farms. Stayed at Stalag 357 from March
29 to April 6. Then I began walking north-easterly towards
Lubeck. |
|
| Saturday |
7-Apr-45 |
Left Stalag 357 |
|
| Sunday |
8-Apr-45 |
Walk |
20 |
| Monday |
9-Apr-45 |
Walk |
8 |
| Tuesday |
10-Apr-45 |
Walk |
8 |
| Wednesday |
11-Apr-45 |
Walk |
|
| Thursday |
12-Apr-45 |
Walk |
|
| Friday |
13-Apr-45 |
Walk |
|
| Saturday |
14-Apr-45 |
Rest |
|
| Sunday |
15-Apr-45 |
Walk |
|
| Monday |
16-Apr-45 |
Walk |
|
| Tuesday |
17-Apr-45 |
Walk |
|
| Wednesday |
18-Apr-45 |
Walk |
|
Crossed Elbe river at Holmstorf, near Luneberg. Got Red
Cross parcels |
| Thursday |
19-Apr-45 |
Walk |
|
| Friday |
20-Apr-45 |
Rest |
|
| Saturday |
21-Apr-45 |
Walk |
|
| Sunday |
22-Apr-45 |
Rest |
|
| Monday |
23-Apr-45 |
Walk |
|
| Tuesday |
24-Apr-45 |
Rest |
|
| Wednesday |
25-Apr-45 |
Walk |
|
| Thursday |
26-Apr-45 |
Rest |
|
| Friday |
27-Apr-45 |
Rest |
|
| Saturday |
28-Apr-45 |
Rest |
|
Got Red Cross parcels |
| Sunday |
29-Apr-45 |
Walk |
11 |
| Monday |
30-Apr-45 |
Walk |
|
| Tuesday |
1-May-45 |
Rest |
|
| Wednesday |
2-May-45 |
Rest |
|
Liberated by the British |
| Thursday |
3-May-45 |
Walk |
6 |
Rode horse & wagon to Luneburg |
| Friday |
4-May-45 |
Rode G.I. Truck |
|
| Saturday |
5-May-45 |
Layed over |
|
| Sunday |
6-May-45 |
G.I. truck to Emsdorf |
|
| Monday |
7-May-45 |
Layed over |
|
| Tuesday |
8-May-45 |
Layed over |
|
| Wednesday |
9-May-45 |
Layed over |
|
| Thursday |
10-May-45 |
British bomber took us to
Brussells |
|
| Friday |
11-May-45 |
Train to Namur, Belgium |
|
| Saturday |
12-May-45 |
Layed over |
|
| Sunday |
13-May-45 |
Took train to France |
|
| Monday |
14-May-45 |
Arrived in St. Valery, France |
|
| Tuesday |
15-May-45 |
Layed over at Camp Lucky
Strike |
|
| Wednesday |
16-May-45 |
Layed over at Camp Lucky
Strike |
|
| Thursday |
17-May-45 |
Layed over at Camp Lucky
Strike |
|
| Friday |
18-May-45 |
Layed over at Camp Lucky
Strike |
|
|
|
