Both dates are right. The American Kriegies were liberated twice.

According to two books I bought late last year, the American prisoners were first liberated in the Weilhart forest in western Austria on May 2, 1945. [Hubert Speckner, "In der Gewalt des Feindes", page 255; and Armand C. DiSchiavi, "The Eternal Soldier", page 183ff.]

Armand's book is written from the detailed daily diary that he maintained and brought back to the States. He writes: "On May 2, at 6:30 p.m., a U.S. Army captain ..… Continue

With the increase in computer viruses lately - and the newest ones are especially nasty - I've added links to virus alerts and free online virus scanner at the bottom of this page. I have been impressed with Trend Micro's virus protection for many years, and I can vouch for their quality and effectiveness. You can use these tools with confidence.

Bill

I've uploaded images of the Cardboard Playhouse Christmas 1944 program and party hat that my dad saved and brought back. Hard to think that it's been 65 years since that Cardboard Playhouse performance. Sorry I'm a little late to share them, but I've been busy digging myself and neighbors out from a surprise blizzard that came through here Christmas day.

This is an urgent call to all the folks here to take immediate action to preserve your historical items of Stalag XVII B.

If you have letters, diaries, photos or other printed items, I urge you to scan them and make digital copies if you haven't already done so. These things are increasingly rare and irreplaceable, and as each year passes they are getting older and more fragile. Over the years, lots of these items have been lost, destroyed or forgotten. Making digital copies of your old items i… Continue

I've started reading a fantastic book written by Hubert Speckner titled "In der Gewalt des Feindes" ("Under Enemy Control"), published in 2003 in Austria. It is a very detailed gathering of facts, reports and charts about every German WWII POW camp in Austria (Wehrkeise XVII and XVIII).

After only reading a portion of this book so far, I have already gained a whole new perspective of the size and impact of Stalag XVII B (by the way - for those purists among us, that's the proper German designat… Continue