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Preferred Citation

Diary (Germany), Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library, College of William and Mary

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Purchased in 2009

Scope and Contents

Diary of an unidentified member of the U.S. Army, who spent 1943-1945 in Germany as an interpreter. He describes the trip from New York City to Europe, training in England, and finally his tour of duty in the Rhineland, passing through France and Belgium on the way.

German cities mentioned are Aachen, Duisburg, Muelheim and Essen. The author was accompanying a battalion of engineers and he describes their work on bridges, checking for sabotage like mines and booby traps. He also talks about meeting and questioning locals, and gives descriptions of the destruction and conditions he encounters.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• Diaries
• Germany--History--Allied occupation, 1945-
• World War, 1939-1945--Germany