263. 5/2/45-Germany. Hitler was supposed to have died yesterday. School Dad went to in Paris was for an education program during and after the war. Soldiers can pay $2 and take a course in any subject and get their textbook and work sheets. He'll probably teach business law in the "after the war classes". He's sending her his mimeo'd hints for discussion leaders. The whole program is called the "Information and Education Program" (I&E). In the Battery discussion groups, they discuss world affairs or national affairs. No longer in envelope: German currency-"50 millions bucks". "It's one of those inflated bills following the last war." 264. 5/3/45-Germany. Beautiful tribute to Roosevelt, who just died. There are a lot of wooden road blocks made from trees that the Germans now are ordered to take down. No longer in envelope: five hundred million mark note. Also enclosed a pamphlet dropped by bomber announcing Hitler's death. Also no longer in envelope are postcards of German flags. 265. 5/4/45-Germany. He recounts being in Nuremburg for a short while. Very descriptive account of the stadium where Hitler gave his speeches and how Patton ordered the swastika and eagle blown off. He picked up some pieces of the metal from the swastika and is sending them home. He planned to make a paperweight out of part of the swastika with an inscription as to what it was. No longer in envelope: patches to be cut and sewn on German uniforms. Date on envelope 5/16/45-Germany. Two cables sent home for Mother's Day to Natalie and her mother. Mentioned in letter #265. 266. 5/6/45-Germany. Discussion of treatment of American soldiers liberated from PW camps. No longer in envelope: A few pictures from Yank Magazine of what he saw at Ohrdruf. 267. 5/7/45-Germany. Latest news reports say that Germany has surrendered unconditionally. As yet no official announcement from General Eisenhower or any other military official. Went to hospital for x-rays of his mouth and the infection portion. Found a large cyst in his jawbone that needs to be removed. It is eating his jawbone and will require surgery and a few weeks hospitalization. No longer in envelope: interesting headlines published in Germany. Not specific. 268. 5/8/45-Germany. Just heard Churchill's speech regarding Germany's unconditional surrender. VE Day!! No longer in envelope: Stars and Stripes announcing the end of the war. 269. 5/13/45-Germany. After the war ended, all the Batteries moved to a central place. He has three battle stars: French and German campaigns and the Dover mission. Received points for all of those. No longer in envelope: article on the point system. 270. 5/14/45-Germany. Moved. Now in a wheat field in squad tents "lined up just so." Took former German delousing unit and made it into a shower. No longer in envelope: cartoon about houses with signs saying "friends of Americans"-but truth is the Germans booby trap something in the house. 271. 5/15/45-Germany. No longer in envelope: article on the Queen Mary and the Queen Elizabeth ships. He came across on the Queen Mary and discussed it. 272. 5/16/45-Germany. Been through the central part of Germany. They were on the Danube awaiting movement orders when the war ended. No longer in envelope: poem from Stars and Stripes-"How I Miss You." 273. 5/17/45-Germany. No longer in envelope: armband from a trainsman. "Other emblem is for a uniform". 274. 5/20/45-Germany. He's gathering information to that he can write a short history of the Battery and Battalion since they left Camp Haan. Presently, they are at Pfaffenberg , which is about 30 miles southeast of Regensburg, which is on the Danube. Were here at end of war. It's about 50 miles from the Czech border. Went to Jewish services at an airfield in Straubing, which is east of his location. Interesting story about some Luftwaffe Major landed a large transport plane at the airport with his family, furniture, sheep and no other people. The Major wanted some gas to leave. That didn't happen. 275. 5/21/45-Germany. Checking all the records he can to help with the Battery history he is writing. No longer in envelope: Xmas greetings from the Colonel to the Battalion. Colonel gave to him to put with the history he is writing. 276. 5/22/45-Germany. Still working on Battery history. No longer in envelope: clipping about 1st draftee only has 48 points. 277. 5/23/45-Germany. Got a piece of German plasti-glass and is trying to make her silhouette. No longer in envelope: each bit of currency they use over there. All American invasion money, but not regular US currency. Sending: ½, 1, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 mark notes. 278. 5/24/45-Germany. Rumor that they are to lose the Battle Star for the Battle for Western Germany and in its place will be three battle stars: Battle of Metz, Battle of the Bulge, and Battle of Central Germany. No longer in envelope: cartoons. 279. 5/26/45-Germany. Went to Saturday services with other Jewish servicemen (there are now 8 of them in the Battery) to an airfield in Staubing for a service conducted by a Jewish chaplain. 11am service, then they eat at the airport. They received a Battle Star for Dover. Men want copies of his Battery history when it is completed. He needs to re-write it because they couldn't read it with his handwriting. No longer in envelope: Stars and Stripes clipping on battle participation stars. 280. 5/27/45-Germany. He's finished writing the Battery history and it's being typed for him. He's now thinking of making an ashtray out of a 90 mm shell. No longer in envelope: Stars and Stripes article on Japanese balloon bombs. 281. 5/28/45-Germany. No longer in envelope: picture of stadium at Nuremburg before the swastika was blown off. He hasn't yet sent his package with the pieces he has of the swastika. No longer in envelope: photo of bombed out Nuremberg. Also no longer in envelope: rough sketch of the travels they've had in Germany that he made on top of a picture from the NY Times. Censorship rules have relaxed so he's sketched the route from Thionville in France to Differdange in Luxembourg and into Germany through Trier. Crossed Rhine at St. Goar, headed east to the Autobahn just west of Erfurt. Got to Gera and almost to Chemnitz. Then west again then headed south through Baumberg and Nuremberg. They then crossed the Danube around Regensburg and then came to their present position at Pfaffenberg, just below Regensburg. 282. 5/29/45-Germany. Actually not in Pfaffenberg, but a mile or two south, closer to a small place called Lindhardt (?). Natalie had sent him an article about a "Nazi sex plot peril to US troops." Dad said it was true-one of his investigations was on that subject. German women have relations willingly with US servicemen and then yell "rape." Punishment for a guilty verdict is the death penalty. 283. 5/31/45-Germany. Stationery has a photo of "Nurnberg, Burg." Marlene Dietrich's USO show came that night. She sang three songs and then played the musical saw. She then pulled up her skirt and "exhibited her million dollar legs." No longer in envelope: another 500 million marks; a photo of the swastika and wreath at the stadium before it was destroyed; postcards of the city of Gera; a picture of the autobahn. 284. 5/31/45-Germany. (same date as letter #283) He sent her a German helmet that he found in a warehouse at St. Goarshausen on the Rhine. Said German soldier probably took it off during the assault that was fought there. No longer in envelope: picture postcard of Nuremberg-"a mess." Also no longer in envelope: a cute cartoon and a clipping about furloughs at home.