Ed & Ray Hersman in WWII - Robert Marks.org

4.22. END OF THE EUROPEAN WAREd & Ray Hersman in WWII4.21.1 German Soldiers SurrenderA column of Germans came in and surrendered one day. I sorted throughtheir guns looking for some to mail home. I found three good rifles, but onlymanaged to send two home.We sent a convoy to within 30 miles of Berlin to pick up some British andFrench who had been prisoners of war. The Germans offered no resistanceand really wanted us to go on in and take Berlin.We finally met the Russians at Ziripiz and thought they were a dumbbunch of people.4.22 End of the European WarSome of us were to be allowed to go on furlough at this time. We were given achoice of two weeks in London or Riviera. I chose London. I went to Londonvia Paris. In Paris I sold several cartons of cigarettes on the black market tofinance the trip.I arrived in London and stayed at the American Red Cross near HydePark. My stay in London was enjoyable. I went to movies, met four girls(two Irish, one English and one WAC), visited such things as WestminsterAbbey, the tower, Saint Paul’s Cathedral, etc. I was in London when thewar ended in Europe.I went back to the outfit at Ziripiz, but they were on the verge of movingout. We boarded trucks and went to Platling in Bavaria. Platling is nearPassau, Austria. The Danube River is only two or three miles away. Mostof my time at Platling was spent fishing and shooting some of the Germanguns I had.4.22.1 Dachau concentration campWe started training again to go fight Japan but the war ended while we wereout in the field one day. We were all waiting now to come home. We visited85