The Final Days
Written
by: Thomas L. Watson
Son of 1st Lt. William
of Company B, 369th Medical
Battalion
1st Lt. William A. Watson
I found my Dad’s war time diary while going through some of his old papers. This small green and tattered book only covered the last months of the war but it helped me recreate his story.
This is a recreated war story of my father, 1st Lt. William A.
Watson, during the end of World War II and Company “B” of the 369th
Medical Battalion, under the command of Capt. James W. Williams, part of the 69th
Infantry Division of the United States Army.
Its’ duty was to tend to the wounded and to evacuate casualties from
forward aid stations, saving untold lives. My Dad’s company arrived on
European shores in January 1945 and over the next 4 months marched to the Elbe
River in Germany to meet up with the Russians. This union would mark the end of
the war with Germany on May 8, 1945. Near the end of the war my Dad’s
company arrived outside of Leipzig,
Germany and on April 21 entered the Castle Püchau compound formerly occupied by
the von Hohenthal family.
My Dad’s diary completed the story
when he wrote about the final two weeks of the war with the following
inscriptions:
April
21, 1945: “Moved to Püchau, quartered in medieval castle of Von Hohenthal.
What a lay out! First hot bath in a hell of a long time - Mail coming in - no
action. What a welcomed rest. Supposed to contact Russians today - still
sweating them out.”
April
22, 1945: “Same place. No activity. Went up on ramparts tonight and watched
our artillery pound the hell out of Eilenburg, GR. White flags were hung out
twice.”
April
25, 1945: “Quiet - still at Hohenthal. Russians are really slow getting here.
Letter from my girl. John Frick visited scene where 70 Poles & Russians were
herded into a barn and barn set on fire, those that ran out were shot - May go
myself tomorrow - S.S. Troopers - typical.”
April
26, 1945: “Went to the slave labor camp today- never will I forget the sight.
The camp was near Taucha and was called the Tekla Compound. At last Ivan has
made contact, not in force though.”
April
28, 1945: “69th got hell for taking Leipzig and meeting Russians
ahead of schedule- Time-Life and brass had meeting planned. Radio tells of
Germany’s offer of unconditional surrender to U.S. and Britain. Celebrated
anyway, got nice buzz on. Three letters from my girl, Jackie.”
May
2, 1945: “Moved to Grosbothen - news of Hitler’s death last night.”
May
7, 1945: “It’s over!! V-E day at last. Corks are popping, 00:41 - 7 May
1945.”
(V-E
Day, Victory in Europe, is officially observed on May 8.)