Le Mans to Berlin and a bit beyond

[Wapping]

Past the memorial there is a very good set of modern story boards, telling the history of the battle, some of the people involved and the cemetery’s creation creation through the efforts of one priest to bring all the bodies into one dignified resting place. I have included the snaps I took. One though I’ll hold back until the end:



The SS Dirlewanger Brigade mentioned above were, in essence a ‘private army’ responsible for many of the most appalling war crimes on the Eastern Front and later in the putting down of Warsaw Uprising ‘44.

 

[Wapping]

The priest and the creation of the cemetery:



To be continued…..

 

[Wapping]

As the posts above suggest, the cemetery is huge, laid out in 11 blocks:



It is very neatly kept, with no excuses, justification or apologies given. Nor indeed does there need to be.

 

[Wapping]

I have saved one picture for last.

In one of the accounts of the battle that I had read in a book, there was an all but horrendous account from a young girl’s memories. I think I posted them previously in another thread, as it sums up the suffering of the innocents caught up in the maelstrom of death and destruction. It’s a scene that must have been repeated in countless towns, cities and villages across the globe:

It’s maybe worth repeating, only for one reason:





By chance, there is a picture of the Feitsch family on the information boards. As is common, the spelling of the name differs, but the words attached to the board confirmed to me that it’s the same family:

 

[Wapping]

Wednesday…, and a possible change of plan…..

 

[Paul G (BHT)]

Wednesday…, and a possible change of plan…..

You're only a couple of hours from....

 

[Wapping]

You're only a couple of hours from....

I know. But, I’ve replanned it for a second visit…

I really like the area and want to see a bit more.

 

[crumbles]

Thanks Richard for a very interesting thread and your info pictures...

 

[Wapping]

Thank you.

It’s been fun doing it and, I hope, given bods some ideas to try out different places.

 

[Big Geordi]

Cracking write up and pics Mr Wapping

 

[Wapping]

Wednesday…, and a possible change of plan…..

I had planned to return via Zossen and the town where the retreating Germans met the Americans on the Elbe.

I then discovered that Zossen is only open on prebooked trips, which are all fully booked. I therefore decided to mix that into a trip to Berlin, probably flying in and hiring a car.

The change of plan means that I can maybe hightail it to Spa for the 24-hour GT race, not least as I enjoyed it last year.

I am now at a pretty nice campsite (it’s full) in the countryside, near Eisenach.

Campingpark Eisenach - Camping am Altenberger See

www.campingpark-eisenach.de

The hydraulic levellers are worth their weight in gold….



From here it’s five hours (direct) to Spa-Francorchamps, so it’s worth a crack.

 

[Wapping]

The drive over from Halbe this morning, was pretty straightforward.

It’s now clear to me that the Seelow Ridge is a bit like a table. The bottom of the table legs are on the flood plain of the Oder.

Once you get up to Seelow, you are on the tabletop as it were, which is flat all the way to Berlin and beyond. You then start to hit some attractive rolling hills at around Jena, all wooded and would make a good destination for a motorcycle or car trip. The roads are in great condition and there is very little traffic that I saw.

 

[Posh Pete]

Horrendous indeed Richard. You reminded me of the lovely 80 year old we chatted to in Freiburg last year. She got out of Konigsberg in a napsack carried on her mum's back. God knows the sights her mum must have seen in getting away to the west. Apologies for this but I hope you will not mind a bit of music to conclude? Wagner, very ironically but it sums up my mood after reading that last bit ...

 

[crumbles]

Thank you.

It’s been fun doing it and, I hope, given bods some ideas to try out different places.

You have....
as I researched about your visit too the Hurtgen forest area,
And last year on the back off reading your Thread on it.
I had a jolly there for a week or so....

 

[Wapping]

Wednesday…, and a possible change of plan…..

I had planned to return via Zossen and the town where the retreating Germans met the Americans on the Elbe.

I then discovered that Zossen is only open on prebooked trips, which are all fully booked. I therefore decided to mix that into a trip to Berlin, probably flying in and hiring a car.

I am now at a pretty nice campsite (it’s full) in the countryside, near Eisenach.

Campingpark Eisenach - Camping am Altenberger See

www.campingpark-eisenach.de

The hydraulic levellers are worth their weight in gold….



I am so pleased I bought the larger automatic retractable step. It is a bloody long way up, with both the front wheels well off the ground.

 

[Wapping]

The campsite I use at Spa-Francorchamps is showing as full. That doesn’t surprise me.

I’ll still rock-up to see if they can find me a space. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

 

[Wapping]

Lord only knows if this old Jawa moves:

 

[Wapping]

Thursday….

Sun’s up:



If I can’t get into the Spa campsite, I’ll find something else to see and do.

 

[Loiq]

got to love those larch forests, it's such a unique eco system....

 

[Wapping]

I remembered that next door to Camping 35 at Spa, the fellow also lets his field out.

I asked nicely at the gate and all was well:



I’ll be here until Monday morning, roasting and enjoying the 24-hour GT race.

Now to pedal down to the petrol station to buy some beers. Tomorrow morning, I’ll wander (or pedal) up to the very good butcher in Francorchamps, to see what he’s got on display.

====

It was a very slow drive over, with a lot of roadworks and a pretty large crash. Very busy (as expected) crossing the Rhine.