Post Messenger Recorder -

Seventy five years ago this week, November 5th-12th changed the course of WWII. Momentum was beginning to swing toward an Allied victory, bringing to an end a war that had torn Europe apart since 1939. The June 6, 1944, D-Day invasion at Normandy was the beginning of the end for Hitler and the Germans.

Despite the war not going as Hitler had hoped for, he and his gang of killers were beginning to see the war as a losing proposition. But that knowledge didn’t stop the Nazis bound to rain down as much death as possible before the collapse of the Hitler regime. On November 5, the Germans rounded up 200 Dutch citizens in the town of Heusden. The German Army barricaded them inside the town hall and blew up the building.

On November 8th, the German Air Force lost one of their ace Luftwaffe pilots, Major Walter Nowotny, when his plane crashed over Nazi Germany. On November 12, after numerous efforts to destroy the German battleship Spitz, the British finally succeeded with two massive bombs that capsized and sank the ship, with most of its 1,900 man crew lost to the ocean floor.

During this time, the New Glarus Post ran a host of news briefs telling of the New Glarus area soldiers, many of them whom were serving in the European theater.

November 1, 1944. Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert Strickler received a letter on Friday from their son, Gilbert, stating that he had been promoted to Lieutenant Colonel. He was now on active service in France. Gilbert is only twenty-nine years of age and is a graduate of Ripon College, where he took ROTC (Reserved Officers Training Corp). As a reserve officer he was called into active service about five years ago. He is with an armored infantry unit.

Last week, Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Jacobson, Primrose, received a telegram saying their son, Pfc. Ralph Jacobson, was missing in Germany since October 7. He was with a glider unit. Since then, the Jacobsons received an undated cablegram from their son saying, “All is well, breakfast in bed,” so it is believed that he is safe.

Milkweed Pod Centers Named: Milkweed pods will be received and paid for at nine stations throughout Green County. Deliveries should be made to these points as rapidly as possible. Any empty bags left on hand should be returned at the time the pods are delivered. The receiving stations are: Elmer Vamstad, Blanchardville Co-op Co. Blanchardville; B. E. Madrell, Browntown; Otto Schneider, courthouse, Monroe; Russell Carter, Juda; Green County Farm Bureau Co-op Whse. (Allen L. Hess), Brodhead; Quality Fuel and Feed (Jack Sucharski) Albany; W.J. Borst, and Sons, Brooklyn; New Glarus Feed and Fuel Inc.; Farm Bureau (Kermit Kammer) Monticello. It is important that deliveries be made as early as possible. (NOTE: Milkweed pods were split open and the fluff inside was removed and used to fill life preservers for the troops.)

The New Glarus Post, November 8, 1944, issue ran a sample of where these men were serving, and what they were doing, provides a glimpse of the war. “Pfc. Melvin Elmer entered service in September 1942, and has been in the European war since October 1943. He was wounded in the battle for Paris, and is now in an army hospital in England. His wife and small daughter live in New Glarus.

Pfc. Orville Anderson entered service on September, 1942, and has been in the European War since October 1943. He was wounded in the battle for Paris, and is now in an army hospital in England. His wife and small daughter live in New Glarus.

Mrs. Ralph Jacobson, Madison, last week received a telegram from the War Department saying her husband Pfc. Jacobson had been slightly wounded in action in Germany. He had previously been reported missing, and later his parents Mr. and Mrs. Jacobson had a cablegram saying he was alright.

Mrs. Max Faes, Basco, received word from the War Department that their son, Pvt. Ernest Maurer, is in a hospital in England after being wounded, is now making normal improvement. Ernest recently wrote that he had been transferred to another hospital and that he expected to stay there for some time.

November 15, 1944. New Glarus Post. Pvt. Art Zweifel is in New Caledonia as an instructor of judo, military courtesy and pistol and shotgun for a military police detachment. He also has duty as a motorcycle patrolman, before his induction on April 8, 1943, he was attending Ripon College.

Mr. and Mrs. Wilmer Ingwell have had word from their son, Corp. Everett Ingwell, saying that he had landed somewhere in Italy. Another son of the Ingwells, Sgt. Vivian Ingwell, is expected home by Christmas. He has been in the Pacific area for three years.

November 22, 1944, New Glarus Post. When Petty Officer Second Class Fred Theiler and his brother, Herman, Aviation Machinist’s Mate Third Class, met some time ago in the Pacific War area, where both have been serving with the Navy for several years, they had a photograph taken and sent home to their parents, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Theiler Sr. The former is stationed on an airplane carrier and the latter is with a diving outfit that reclaims and repairs sunken ships. Note: Both of the boys attended Vocational School at Madison and were employed at Madison when they enlisted. NOTE: Fred taught at the Madison Vocational School for many years after the war. Their father has been employed as a carpenter and janitor at Truax Field in Madison for some time.

Robert Gmur, German Prisoner of War, writes his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Gherig under the date, August 14, that he has received two food and clothing parcels, also two cigarette packages; also several letters from his parents, from his brother, Joseph and wife, from aunt Mollie Gmur and cards from Ed Fuhrmann and N.K. Zweifel and thanks for everything. One package of three cartons of cigarettes was sent to him by the Legion Auxiliary. This is the first letter they have had from Robert in two months. His address is: P.F.C. Robert F. Gmur, Prisoner of War No. 22273, Stalag 2 B Germany.

Pfc. Alfred Zimmerman has been cited by the 351th infantry regiment of the “88th Blue Devil” division and awarded the combat infantryman’s badge for actual participation against the enemy. He is with Lieut. Gen. Mark W. Clark’s Fifth Army in Italy.”