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Buchenwald - 65th Anniversary of the Liberation - April 9 - 14, 2010
Survivors of the Buchenwald concentration camp system is dedicating this year's 2010 Anniversary to the rescue effort which subsequently saved more than 900 children from Buchenwald, facilitated by organized resistance of the prisoners as well as by the efforts of soldiers of the U.S. Army.
Several WWII veterans of the 80th Division Veterans Association and family will be attending this honorable event. Barbara Brockman, daughter of PNC Clarence Brockman (Hq Co-317th) and "Brock" are traveling together on this journey. Barbara has so kindly offered to journal their trip, which she's allowed me to post on the web site.
Bob Burrows, Walt Spanger, Clarence Brockman, Paul Mercer, Bob Harmon, Virgil Myers
2010 trip to 65th anniversary of the liberation of Buchenwald (Weimar, German)
by Barbara Brockman
Friday, April 16, 2010
Computer Gliches Make the World Go Round
It’s been over 24 hours since Dad & I returned back to McDonald, PA...before writing about the trip home I just wanted to fill in the blanks about the last 2 full days in Weimar.
On Sunday we arrived back at the hotel, I got under the duvet cover & shivered until suppertime...when I got up from laying down the pillow & cover were as cold as my body. I did make it to the diningroom & I ate something...lol!
The next day was a very quite one for both Dad & Myself, the events at Buchenwald the day before had left us but tired but for Dad that soon changed when he saw the morning paper, there he was being hugged by a former Inmate in a replica suit he had made from what the inmates wore.
The photo was an AP Image & it went to all AP Wire services & there it begins, me Googling my Dad & coming up with ten of 1000's of newspapers featuring that photo and 1 of the man giving my Dad a kiss on the cheek.
I sat on the bed with laptop in hand for hours looking at newspaper websites, it was in every major US paper along with 100's of papers around the world...there he was bigger than life & there goes my commuter...LOL!
Guess it just couldn't handle all the searching I was doing & along with it needing a well deserved nap, so did I but before that happened, I took a long hot bubble bath then a even longer nap. Upon waking, the computer still wasn't working right.
I walked away from it & headed to the diningroom for dinner...it was Professor Bob Harmon's birthday. Julie & I had made arrangements with the local bakery for a chocolate-chocolate cake but our waiter told me it had never arrived.
He told me not to worry, he had a plan & soon he was coming over carrying a crystal plate with chocolate writing "Happy Birthday Bob" with 12 handmade Truffles. He then brought the the table at my request bowls of ice cream & Professor Harmon's had a sparkle all aglow in it.
The night ended with the Dining Staff being thanked by the Committee President, they were given a nice tip & we all applauded them, then they applauded all of us. The wine stewart was in tears, she really enjoyed serving the wine to all of us.
Off to bed then a bus tour on Tuesday then packing for a 5 AM wake up call on Wednesday was my after agenda but not being able to use my computer & write about my day was driving me crazy besides, I wanted to see how many people had emailed me back about what was going on with the AP photos.
Gary, Virgil's son, had come to my room once again to download his & Virgil's photo into my laptop, Dad dropped in to look at them & Once again I tried going online...nothing! I guess I just needed to go to bed.
I tried to go to sleep, I really did but I was on "Pennsylvania" time & I didn't care that the clock said 2 AM...at home it was only 8! Besides my internal clock telling me to stay up...I had a very large black & white sketch on the wall of a very large naked man...& I do mean large. How could any single woman get sleep having that starring down at then...please tell me???
Come Tuesday, still no internet service so I started to get things packed. We had a bus tour on the Belvedere Express at 3 PM so that should keep me off the computer for several hours. It was interesting to see many of the historical sights along the way but what I notice was 1 pretty important one missing & never mentioned...Buchenwald.
After the tour was over, supper would soon be served. Our last dinner together with Bob & Mabel, Gary & Virgil, David & Walt & David & Bob. You really didn't want to think about tomorrow as we all headed away from Weimar & Buchenwald. Bob & Mabel were taking the train from Frankfort to Paris then onto England before heading home on the 24th. Gary & Virgil were heading home to Florida, Bob & David had 1 extra day before flying to Washington State & Walt & David were taking the train to Nuremberg.
At 4:30 AM, Wednesday, April 14, 2010...Dad rang the doorbell on my room & I was up & at'em! We joined everyone in the small diningroom for a beautiful breakfast buffet & then said our goodbyes before boarding the bus for Frankfurt Airport.
Ahead of us was at least a 4 hour drive but something happened 1/2 there, the man that I spoke of Sol, became ill & we had to pull into rest area. He did get to the airport but then collapsed at the airport & was taken in an ambulance to a local hospital. I would hate to think this was so overwhelming that it made him seriously ill. I pray for him & wish his Peace!
Good-byes are always terrible & funning thing happened as we waited for mobile transportation...we never got to say good-bye to anyone. Once the all got off the bus, they scattered to ever corner of the airport & we sat & waited for 70 minutes.
One of the escorts had taken our boarding passes & passport & there were were stranded or at least that was how it felt. Virgil & Gary went speeding by on their golf cart, Gary waving in the breeze & Solomon & Esther who were on our flight had a terrible time getting help to. We boarded the plan just as they were calling for 1st call.
On the 7 1/2 hour flight home, I sat & thought about the last few days since our arrival. I guess if I had to be poetic about the whole trip it would be this...Esther told me that..."Life goes on!'
And she is correct, the lessons I learned by being at "Hell on Earth" were minor compared to listening to the inmates life at Buchenwald & realizing that what Dad, Bob, Virgil & others did not only changed the lives of every liberated inmate but those of each & everyone of us.
The last thing I'd like to add, is just think about this 1 last unanswered question...Where would I'd be today if it weren't for the men of the 80th Infantry Division?
Always...find JOY...in your daily life...Barbara
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Into the Woods ...
As our day was ending it was like it had been each night since we have been in Weimar, the Committee had a private dinner for all the invited guest. But this one raise the bar, it was hosted but the Prime Minister of Thuringer & the International Committee Buchenwald - Dora President.
The Prime Minister welcomed us & the presented 2 Frenchmen with medals. There was video cameras & photographers everywhere!
After the main course was served & before dessert Dad was presented to our host, The President of The International Committee Buchenwald-Dora, Bertrand Herz, Dad has small gifts for each of them & an American Flag that had been flown over the US Capitol on March 5, 2010. Congressman Tim Murphy, PA 18th District made sure Dad got the flag in plenty of time.
Dad went to the podium & read the certificate that came with the flag from the Architect of the Capitol then he gave a brief lesson on carry for the flag. Before he could even get it out of the box, the crowd was clapping & several gave him a standing ovation,
The President then hoisted the flag way above Dad's head & the crowd roared! He then after hugging my Dad walked down the isle to the over flow dining room waving the flag over his head then proceeded into the Entrance of the Hotel Elephant.
From that point on photographers, survivors, guests & committee members surrounded our table seeking photos with this "American" GI! Several brought Autograph Books for the GI's to sign & some brought small pins to hand out.
All in all it was a lovely evening, everyone in our group certainly have enjoyed each meal we have shared along with the people & places we have seen.
With the dawn of a new day, we were to gather in the Great Hall for a group photo then attend a casual discussion with Professor Bob Harmon. The photo shoot had to be brought inside due to the inclement weather but the people that gathered for the photo didn't mind the change at all, they welcomed the idea of being inside.
Soon we went to the Rathskeller for a casual discussion with Professor Harmon little did we know that some young boys from 1945 would come & join us. Their stories were very moving & they reinforced the actions of Virgil & Dad, making them both feel very proud.
Hearing these 2 men & 1 woman speak of what those last few days were like, hearing that the camp had been wired to blown up if over run with Allied Troops. As that plan was foiled, thousands of lives were saved by a few brave men serving in 4 US Divisions.
From this not so casual discussion we all went for a lovely lunch even though Dad wanted "Rolled Oats", before boarding the buses to go into the woods.
As the buses drove through the tiny streets of Weimar, I could see Dad trying to get his bearings, not that much has changed in 65 years according to him & just like 65 years ago when there were no road signs leading the way to Buchenwald, there were very few today to be seen.
As we traveled further away from the city, the cold bitter air added a chill that was beyond compare. When the buses approached the unloading area, I thought about those survivors that embraced my Dad & the other GI's over the last few days, wondering if they had been back there in the past & if not, walking through that gate after being gone 65 years, how did they feel? I also thought about how they arrived there many years ago & my body got colder & colder.
There were at least 5000 people there today, it was Holocaust Remembrance Day, many had banners of protest, not sure for or against but seeing them brought a sense of uneasiness to the coldness I was already feeling.
There was "the" gatehouse right in front of us, cameramen & photographers everywhere. Dad was wearing his National Commanders Cap & like the night before drew hordes of press, at one point there was only 1 reporter & 1 cameraman then I looked around the crowd then back to him & there were 25 more.
Besides his National Commanders Cap he brought a piece of home with him, a piece of NFL History, the 6 time Super Bowl Championship Steelers "Terrible Towel", it was a great hit, one photographer was from Buffalo, NY & he went crazy.
I had to pull him away from the reporters & photographers with the hopes of catching up with our group, they were already seated in the tent & covered with blankets. Dad & I took our seat just minutes before the Service began.
After an hour of singing, wreath laying & speeches...at least 5 speeches, the service was over & so was the feeling in my toes & feet...I was froze to the bone. At that point we were lead to the Inmates Canteen where we had a private receptions with the US Ambassador to Germany, Philip Murphy. He spoke a few words & spent time with each GI & their guest.
He also greeted President Obama's, Great Uncle & the press went wild again! Soon after his photo shoot with all the GI's...something I requested, we were headed back across the field towards the gatehouse to the hopefully warmed up buses.
As I stood there looking over the barren fields where once stood barracks for 1000's of inmates, I became overwhelmed. I tried holding back the tears but they just ran down each cheek, I looked further down the hillside & saw the children's barracks, the place where the 2 men that join us early with Professor Harmon lived & nearly died.
I looked to my left & the to my right...there were woods all around, it was so cold, so bitter cold & my heart was so sad for what was done & for those that were lost. I wanted to offer a prayer but what could I say or ask for, so I sang to myself in a very quite tone "God Bless, America".
When I finished, I walked closer to the gatehouse & shot a few more photos, wondering what I was looking at & then I thought about most of the battles that Dad played a role in & if those areas were similar as far as the woods go...at that point I felt like Gretel & I just wanted to get the hell out of the woods!
Always...find JOY...in your daily life...Barbara
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Well the day is finally here for Dad & I to travel to Weimar, Germany for the 65th Anniversary of the Liberation of Buchenwald Concentration Camp. Many months of emails between Phillip Neuman & Julie Boekhoff resulted in round trip airfares & rooms in the lovely Hotel Elephant, Weimar. We leave for the airport at 2:30 for our flight to Philadelphia then onto Frankfurt overnight.
This was a trip that I never thought Dad would take nor one that we would ever take together. The anticipation is wearing me a little thin but that should end once we are over the Atlantic Ocean. Beni is going crazy, Albert is here to drive us to the Pittsburgh Airport, everything is packed & we are ready for this adventure. I must say, I never thought I'd be going to a memorialized concentration camp on any of my vacations but doing this with Dad is a great honor for me.
We got through the Pittsburgh Airport Security with no problem & the flight to Philly was so rough the beverage cart never got unlocked, the time we spent at the airport in Philly was mostly going from one part to the other & finding the gate, US Airways was super with mobile escorts at all 3 airports.
The flight to Frankfurt was full to the brim, many families going back to Germany after spending their Easter break in the States. Just after supper was served the turbulence began, it lasted for almost 2 & 1/2 hours churning away at what I thought was a pretty good supper in my tummy minute by minute.
The turbulence was so bad even the flight attendances were asked to take their seats. about 1000 miles into the flight things got better & as the sun started to rise on the horizon we knew we'd be getting close to Frankfurt & then onto Weimar.
Getting through Customs was a breeze & meeting up with the escorts was no problem, they recognized Dad right away...he was wearing his "BROCKMAN" sweatshirt. They took us to a waiting area where we were told they had brought a bus for the 20+ people they were picking up & as soon as Virgil & Gary Myers arrived we'd leave for Weimar...they lied! LOL
We were at that airport another 2 hours waiting on their plane to land & then they took us to a tour bus were we sat for another 2 hours before a 4 hour drive to Weimar. Getting into the hotel at 5 PM some 21 hours later!
As we approached Weimar, the escort told us all to look out the left side of the bus & when I did I knew our trip had really begun, there miles away stood the Memorial that Russia built on the hillside, standing very tall, no matter how far we drove into the city, there it was.
What was even more eerie were the woods that once surrounded the camp & all around the woods, farm land...Dad is right, now that I have seen it even that far away, how could the citizens of that area not known that Buchenwald was there. I felt then a small hateful urge for people 65 years ago that had a blind eye for what ever their reason was, they still did nothing. Since there were only 2 GI's on this bus along with 2 family members, I wonder what the others thought as we looked out that window...they were some of the survivors & their guests. I could only imagine how they were feeling.
As we traveled into the city, beautiful old world buildings with their basement & 1st floor walls covered with Graffiti. Not knowing German, it made me wonder what all those worlds & symbols meant?
We worked our way through some very narrow streets to Markt Square & pulled up to the front of our hotel, Dad & I got off the bus & he walked inside to register us, Julie was inside & hugged us both before we went to our rooms.
We were given a tote bag with many items in it, a porcelain elephant to represent the Hotel Elephant, an umbrella, an official program book, a candy bar & several other items. It was a lovely gesture. Soon we were making our way to the 1st of many free meals...everyone at the table got Salmon & I got Sauerbraten, I think a few wished they had opted for the beef! LOL!!!
Since most of us had very long travel days we all opted to head early to our rooms but at 4 AM I was still wide awake...I did sleep until 10:30 when I heard the cleaning crew in the hallways.
There was a luncheon served in the dinging room after some had come back from Buchenwald & then the afternoon was free for exploration of the Markt Square. Dad & I took off for the Information Center were he bought a Weimar Map. He is trying to find the street so he can see the building they stayed in that night when they 1st got into town.
He then bought an ice cream cone...well it was so cold here today, I don't know how anyone could even think about eating ice cream...anyone that is but my Dad. We walked passed the Town Hall then I stopped at a bench while he strolled up this very narrow road looking for a place to buy the local newspaper.
There was an article in it today about Bob Harmon with a photo taken yesterday in the Markt Square...I sat & froze to death. Sitting there watching families some with small children in strollers, young adults walking hand & hand and older couples strolling to a vendors cart & I wondered???
What was Weimar like on April 10,1945 before the Gates of Buchenwald opened, before the German Guards fled before the town surrendered to the 80th. It is so difficult to think about young soldiers, American, British, Canadian, Russian, Italian & German all fighting at any given minute on any given day.
Today as I sat there, it was so peaceful, so serene...just a lovely little German Town...a town just 10 miles away from Hell on Earth. I could never imagine my Dad or other 80th men fighting behind trees, from the roof tops, driving tanks & aiming machine guns. I know it was war but why...why did so many believe the insanity of 1 man, 1 man that not only destroyed the lives of so many Jews but those of his own people.
I looked at each person as I sat there for nearly 45 frozen minutes & I wondered if those I spoke to were wondering way this lady was sitting there looking so perplex...why....why...why did 1 person change the course of 20th century history & not only the lives of so many but the life of my Dad.
Tonight is the official dinner & I need to get ready...will write later tonight or tomorrow after we get back from Buchenwald...if I am feeling so overwhelmed with all of this & I am just the proud daughter of an American WWII Veteran, I cannot imagine what is going through Dad, Virgil, Bob, Bob & Walt's minds even worse those 200+ survivors.
Always...find JOY...in your daily life...Barbara |
