Ruhr Pocket

The war in Europe was nearing its end in the spring of 1945. Thousands of German soldiers were surrounded by Allied forces in what was known as the Ruhr Pocket. The 300th, now well into Germany, traveled through a number of towns from March 24 through April 18. These towns included: Rheinbreitbach, 24 Mar; Linz, 25 Mar; Krummel, 26 Mar; Holzhausen, 27 Mar; Hohensolms, 28 Mar; Leidenhofen, 29 Mar; Frandenan, 30 Mar; Schonstadt, 1 Apr; Somplar, 4 Apr; Hallenberg, 7 Apr; Medebach, 10 Apr; Bremke, 12 Apr; Balve, 14 Apr; and Bemke, 18 Apr.

The Ruhr Pocket was a large area in Germany where retreating German troops from the Bulge regrouped in almost total defeat. The area was in western Germany, north of the Bulge and east of the Rhine River. By early 1945, the Allies had control of the area and essentially had the Ruhr Pocket surrounded. By the end of the battles in the Ruhr Pocket, German prisoners numbered 317,000 and the Americans could only accommodate them with barbed wire enclosures in open fields.

The 300th supported the First and Third Armies in the area of the Ruhr Pocket through March and April 1945 before moving south toward Frankfurt with the goal of reaching Munich. Germans were surrendering in huge numbers. The 300th performed a wide variety of tasks including: capturing prisoners at many locations, operating water points, removing road blocks, maintaining roads, clearing mines, guarding bridges, building a bridge at Menden, Germany over the Honne River and setting up makeshift enclosures for prisoners. Much of their time was considered downtime as 25 of their trucks were being used to transport tens of thousands of German prisoners.

Dear Mom -

A few lines your way tonight while I feel in the mood & have the time, both at the same moment. How are you all back there, I sure hope you are all in good health & getting along O.K.? By the way, how is the financial situation back there? My pay is all taken up now with this Class B allotment (we received notice of it last month) starting up but I have about 10 bucks left & with a few I make in a card game once in a while, I can send it along if you need it. There is absolutely no use for money here, except to buy a few PX Rations once in a while (where they catch up with us) & the ever present dice & card games. For other stuff we need, the Army supplies it or we "requisition" it from the Germans. There is a small box of stuff going your way now, not much, just a few things I have picked up in my frequent travels, a few things mean a lot to me, especially those two flags. Now I am hunting for a German flag to complete the set.

At the moment the guys & I are pumping a bit of water & things are rather slow now, we've got a chance to rest up a bit, now & then, & get cleaned up, in fact, this afternoon I had a nice sponge bath, & clean clothes on & I feel pretty good now, had a good night's sleep last night, Scoop & Kal got up & started things rolling & later on when I got up, the C.O. was out here to pay us off. We've taken over a civilian house to live in (just tell the people to move out), we got electric lights & a radio, its warm & dry, & although it may only be a short spell before we hit the pace of the last couple of weeks, or three, or four - it all seems like a nightmare, & no matter how short our stay is here it is most welcome to all of us.

About news over here, I can't say much, but most of it is in the papers & on the radio - However here's one little thing that I think will pass an O.K. & that is that all the boys won't put money on the fact that this fracas over here will last much longer. We hope to roll out some morning & find everything quiet & peaceful.

Things on the mail situation are kind of messed up again, & it finally caught us this morning, I got 4 letters & a package. This is the first letter I've wrote in a month, I guess, but while I have the time I think I shall write quite a few tonight. I had a letter from Alec quite some time ago but haven't heard from him lately.

When you send any more packages, leave out the clothing (except for a few handkerchiefs) & all smoking materials as I have plenty on hand & plenty available. I think I'll start eating on the latest package. I received Granny's package the other day just as I was leaving camp again.

Well, Mom, keep things moving & maybe we'll manage to make the grade one of these days & see "Miss Liberty" again. The further on we go the quicker it will be. How are the animals, these days - we've got a little dog - Chubby - brown & white & a bit of black - he's a cute little devil, belongs to the guards that go with the unit all the time now.

Signing off now, going to get a bite to eat. Bye & give the family my love. Tell Jimmie E [Egan] to let me know how things are going at the Local [the plumbers union back home of which he was a member before enlisting in the Army].

Love, Don

P.S. Received your pictures today, also, in my pocket now. D.