The 4 May 1945 Liberation of Berchtesgaden and Obersalzberg
by the 3rd Infantry Division
Outpost Europe, Society of the 3rd Infantry Division,
The US Army Center of Military History, and
The United States Army Historical Foundation

Honor veterans on the 65th Anniversary of their liberation of Berchtesgaden

When: 3-5 May 2010

Where: Berchtesgaden and the Obersalzberg, Germany
InterContinental Resort Berchtesgaden

Who: Veterans, soldiers, families. MOH Recipient Colonel Charles Murray (WWII, 30th IN) and MG (ret.) Lloyd B. Ramsey (7th IN Regt XO on 5 May 45) will participate.

What: 3 – 4 May – historical discussions on WWII and the Cold War
Visits to the Obersalzberg Documentation center and Eagles’ Nest (Weather permitting)
Memorial tablet dedication in Berchtesgaden

5 May – Commemorative ceremony at the 3ID Memorial on the Obersalzberg with flag raising ceremony
Banquet

Why: To honor the veterans
To preserve history
To educate the younger generation
Enhance German-American friendship
Conduct oral history interviews

Point of Contact: Monika Stoy, President, Outpost Europe
monikastoy@yahoo.com , PH: 001 703 912 4218
Address: 6531 Milva Lane, Springfield, VA. 22150 USA

In this previously unpublished photo, Lt.Col. Kenneth Wallace, 30th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division (on the right), discusses the surrender of Berchtesgaden with Bürgermeister Karl Sandrock (left, in overcoat) and Landrat Theodor Jacob (center), in the square in front of the war memorial. From there, this group traveled up to the Obersalzberg, to complete the surrender of the area, 4 May 1945 (Click here to see photos of the capture of the Obersalzberg by troops of the 3rd Infantry Division).
(National Archives, RG 111-SC 204346-S)
http://www.thirdreichruins.com/bgaden.htm

Old Glory Flies Over Obersalzberg
Submitted by Monika and Tim Stoy

On 5 May 2008, Old Glory flew again on the Obersalzberg, Germany. A special forty-eight star flag was raised by Society members, commemorating the flag-raising ceremony conducted there by 7th Infantry Regiment Soldiers exactly 63 years earlier on 5 May 1945.  

3ID Vets raising the flag

Berchtesgaden Plaque

Veterans Bob Dutil, John Miller, and Ross Brown, who had all been present at the 1945 ceremony, raised the flag and then unveiled a commemorative brass plaque. The plaque recognizes the 3rd Infantry Division’s entry into Berchtesgaden on 4 May 1945, the first Allied unit to enter the city. Assisting the three veterans were Paul Heintges, grandson of 7th Infantry Regiment Commander, Colonel John Heintges; Kathy Brinson, daughter of veteran Joe Kolacz; Captain Monika Stoy, President of OP Europe and ceremony organizer; Dr. Bernhard Oswald of the International Resorts GmbH (which owns the Intercontinental Resort Berchtesgaden), and State Secretary Georg Fahrenschon of the Bavarian Finance Ministry. Also attending the ceremony were Berchtesgaden, Mayor Franz Rasp and the U.S. Consul General in Munich, the Honorable Mr. Eric Nelson. While the 1945 ceremony had been short and solemn, this one concluded with the singing of the “Dog Face Soldier”—the first time the Division song was sung on the Obersalzberg.

Bob Dutil and John Miller with Plaque

Captain Monika Stoy and 3 Vets unveiling the Plaque

The ceremony preserved history by making history—the plaque is the first to recognize an American unit for its WWII accomplishments in Germany, and in a location of tremendous significance—the Obersalzberg. The 3rd Infantry Division made history 63 years ago when, after 2 years and 9 months of combat, soldiers of the 7th Infantry Regiment, along with attachments, under orders from Division Commander, Major General “Iron Mike” O’ Daniel, won the race to reach the last significant Nazi war symbol and entered Berchtesgaden shortly before 1600 hours on 4 May 1945; the original flag ceremony took place the next day. Last month’s Marne Trail ceremony made history by bringing Americans and Germans together on this special anniversary.

In her keynote speech, Captain Stoy honored the veterans’ accomplishments and the division’s grand achievement, and paid special tribute to the close and important relationship between Germany and the United States, and between Bavaria and the US Army, and between German and American people. She described the relationship as one that developed after WWII, characterized by mutual respect and admiration and critical to victory in the Cold War. “The 3^rd Infantry Division’s entry into Berchtesgaden signaled the end of the greatest evil to befall mankind in the 20^th century, as well as the long national nightmare of the German people,” said Captain Stoy.“It also signaled the beginning of a partnership and a friendship between the United States and Germany,” she said, adding that “this partnership proved to be indispensable in the West’s ability to defend freedom from totalitarianism.”

Captain Stoy concluded her speech by stating that the German-American relationship “…continues to be indispensable as Europe and the United States face the myriad challenges of the 21^st century. It is a partnership that grew from the shared sacrifices of the Cold War, but is based on the true friendship that developed between American soldiers and the German people who were their hosts here.” The speech was translated into German by Lieutenant Colonel Tim Stoy, who also narrated the ceremony.

The memorial plaque visibly testifies to the division’s hard-won battle honor of liberating Berchtesgaden, a fact erroneously called into question in Stephen Ambrose’s book Band of Brothers which inaccurately the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment with that honor. Regrettably, the book’s 2001 HBO mini-series the inaccuracy to the American public. Now, the Obersalzberg Marne Trail ceremony sets the record straight. 

Not only the plaque, but also eyewitnesses testify to this fact. Major General Lloyd Ramsey, then a lieutenant colonel, knows exactly what happened; he had been posted by Iron Mike O’ Daniel at the only operational bridge providing access to Berchtesgaden. Sherman Pratt, then a first lieutenant and commander of L Company, also knows what happened; it was his company that raced to reach Bertchesgaden. Bennett Walker knows; then a sergeant, he had been chosen to raise the flag on 5 May 1945 because of his valor in the fighting in Nuernberg during the previous month and because of his actions as platoon sergeant of the lead platoon in L Company. Bob Dutil of the 3rd Battalion, 7th Infantry’s I&R section, and John Miller of L Company also know; they were there, too. All of these veterans and eyewitnesses know the real history of the liberation of Betchesgaden. They and many others have provided invaluable support for the Marne Trail Project and for the Obersalzberg ceremony. 

Color Guard from Mannheim VFW Post 9534

State Secretary Georg Fahrenschon Speech

Other critical support for the memorial plaque dedication was provided by the Bavarian State Chancery under State Secretary Eberhard Sinner, represented at the ceremony by State Secretary Georg Fahrenschon of the Finance Ministry, and by the International Resorts GmbH, represented by its Director General, Dr. Bernhard Oswald. The Intercontinental Resort Berchtesgaden Director, Mr. Tom Bauer, and his staff, led by Andreas Zybell, provided important assistance and acted as hosts to the veterans and family members who traveled to Germany for the ceremony. The hotel also arranged for a local band to provide musical support. VFW Post 9534 from Mannheim, Germany, under Commander Matt Coulter, provided an outstanding color guard for the ceremony—all six color guard members became Society members. 

Two individuals provided key support. . Colonel Steffen Rohde, German Army, retired, was of immeasurable assistance throughout the preparation process which began last year. And, Florian Beierl, the historian of the Obersalzberg Institute, rendered invaluable assistance in coordinating with local authorities, supplying vital historical background, and providing linguistic support. He has also provided great moral support for the 3rd ID; in his published history of the Obersalzberg, he accurately credits the Division with liberating Berchtesgaden  

At a post-ceremony reception hosted by the hotel, Captain Stoy recognized those who contributed to the success of the event and presented the three veterans and Kathy Brinson, representing her father, Joe Kolasz, with Freedom Team Salute certificates from the Department of the Army. The veterans then presented their state flags to Dr. Oswald – California by Bob Dutil, Michigan by John Miller, Colorado by Kathy Brinson, and Texas by Paul Heintges. 

Monika presents Freedom team salute to Vets

Berchtesgaden Schloss Group

Media coverage was provided by the Armed Forces Network- Bavaria, arranged by the Army Chief of Public Affairs, Major General Anthony Cucolo. Other media coverage included Bavarian television and the Berchtesgaden newspaper.

Click here for TV film of event or here for shorter video 

OP Europe has worked on the Marne Trail project for three years, placing 19 plaques in France; the Obersalzberg plaque, the only Marne Trail plaque in Germany, marks the logistical end of the Marne Trail. Now the Obersalzberg can serve as a meeting point for veterans, their children and grandchildren, and all supporters of the 3rd Infantry Division, can return annually to remember the Division’s tremendous achievements. The special Old Glory will remain, flying over Obersalzberg at the 3ID monument throughout the year and will greet the next group of veterans who plan to visit in May 2009! 

List Price: $27.49 Click here to order from amazon.com

  
BH212HR100.jpg

The 3rd Infantry Division raises the Stars and Stripes at Obersalzberg, above Berchtesgaden. The flag is raised by Pvt. Bennet A. Walker and Pfc. Nick Urich of the 3rd Division's, 7th Infantry after capture of the village.

Read the November 2005 issue of Conde Nast Traveler Magazine starting on Page 214-The story by Clive Irving of a tour of present day Berchtesgaden with the usual errors of the 7th Infantry Regt. of the 3rd Division not being the first unit to capture the town.

A Hotel Too Far?
by Clive Irving-Published November 2005

What do you get when you transform the Nazis' Bavarian playground into a luxury resort? Clive Irving explores the enigma of Hitler's legacy, and discovers that some ghosts can never be laid to rest

Early in May 1945, the American Third Infantry Division—which since 1942 had fought all the way from North Africa to Germany via Sicily, the Italian mainland, and France—was racing to seize an objective in southeastern Bavaria. Its capture would, symbolically if not literally, end the Second World War in Europe. Other American and French units were converging on the same terrain, a vast natural redoubt in the Bavarian Alps at the center of which was the small village of Obersalzberg. If any place could be said to be the spiritual locus of the Nazi creed it was here, where Adolf Hitler had spent a large part of his 12 years as Führer (sometimes up to six months at a time), in an Alpine house called the Berghof. Across the valley from the Berghof was the Untersberg, a mountain said to contain the immortal soul of the emperor Charlemagne, who had conquered most of Christian Europe in the ninth century—a role model of Hitler's and one for whom he felt a mystical attachment.

Unfortunately, the following paragraph perpetuates a persistent mis-conception that  the 3rd Infantry Division was not the first unit to enter Berchtesgaden. Clive Irving said when units of the 3rd Division reached Hitler's mountain top compound above Berchtesgaden, the French were already there and were first. That is not true. The 3rd was first, the French arrived four hours later, and Easy Co, 506 Parachute Regt, 101st Airborne (Band of Brothers) arrived 16 hours after the Third. The 101 has always claimed to be first. They were third. We had years of trying to set the record straight, as Stephen Ambrose in his book, Band of Brothers, had the 101 first.
 Please read the true story of the 3rd Division's entry below by Sherman Pratt and Russ Cloer from the 7th Inf. Regt of the 3rd Infantry Division.

Click here to read the Truth!

On May 4, the Third Infantry Division reached the resort town of Berchtesgaden and from there took a narrow, twisting road a few miles up to Obersalzberg, some 1,200 feet above. It found the French Second Armored, the first of the Free French troops to have entered Paris in 1944, already there. Nobody much cared who was first. A force of 315 British bombers had already pulverized much of the Nazi compound and had left the Berghof a shell. But truckloads of loot were still to be had, especially wine from the cellars of Field Marshal Hermann Göring, creator of Nazi air power, who had built himself a handsome vacation house near the Berghof. In short order, two enlisted men from the Third Infantry, watched by a small group of comrades, raised the Stars and Stripes over Obersalzberg, echoing the way their compatriots in the Pacific had raised the flag over Iwo Jima in February 1945.

In his bunker in Berlin, Hitler was about to commit suicide.

This spring, not long after the sixtieth anniversary of the end of the war in Europe, I drove up the same road taken by the Third Infantry to Obersalzberg.

Until this trip, I had only a hazy idea of the geography of Hitler's Bavarian compound. Three names have always been tangled up to suggest, wrongly, one location: Berchtesgaden, which often served as the generic term, though in fact it was nothing more than the nearest resort town (one that had survived the Allied bombs virtually unscathed); the Berghof, which, although it was the domicile of a megalomaniac, was not of imperial size, more a McChalet than a McMansion; and, a few thousand feet higher, at the summit of the closest mountain, the Kehlsteinhaus, or Eagle's Nest, a work of architectural brutalism, which Hitler never liked because he hated heights.

I wasn't sanguine about making this journey. My destination was a new Inter. Continental Resort, built on the site of Hermann Göring's house. And the inescapable issue was: Can a place that was for so long inhabited by real, manifest evil ever lose the stench of its history? Within minutes of taking the mountain road, the question became more complicated. The setting was innately beautiful, and nothing could alter that. It was a hot, brilliantly clear day—as crystalline as only the Alps can create. There were still streaks of snow in shadowed crags on the summits, but below tree line, the valley meadows were a shimmering emerald and the wilder slopes were colored by gentian, Alpine rose, and columbine...