Ed & Ray Hersman in WWII - Robert Marks.org

6.1. THE 83RD DIVISION Ed & Ray Hersman in WWIIstriking at Rochefort and reducing the enemy salient in a bitter struggle.The division moved back to Belgium and the Netherlands for rehabilitationand training, 22 January 1945. On 1 March, the 83d advanced toward thein Operation Grenade, 2 and captured Neuss. The west bank of the fromnorth of Oberkassel to the Erft Canal was cleared and defensive positionsestablished by 2 March and the division renewed its training. The 83d crossedthe south of Wesel, 3 29 March, and advanced across the Munster Plain tothe Weser, crossing it at Bodenwerder. 4fell on 6 April.As opposition disintegrated, HalleThe division crossed the Leine, 8 April, and attacked tothe east, pushing over the Harz Mountain regionand advancing to the ElbeRiverat Barby. 5a bridgehead over the river.That city was taken on the 13 April. The 83rd establishedOn 11 April 1945 the 83rd encountered Langenstein, a subcamp of theBuchenwald concentration camp. 6At the camp, the troops found approximately1,100 inmates.The inmates were malnourished and in extremelypoor physical condition. The 83rd reported the death rate at the camp tobe 500 per month. Also, that the prisoners had been forced to work 16 hourdays in nearby mines, and were shot if they became too weak to work. Afterliberation, the death rate continued at approximately 25-50 people per day,due to the severe physical debilitation of the prisoners.To slow the spread of sickness and death, the 83rd ordered the localGerman mayor to supply the camp with food and water.Also, medicalsupplies supplies were requisitioned from the U.S. Army’s 20th Field Hospital.In addition, the 83rd recovered documents for use by war crimes investigators.2 During World War II, Operation Grenade was the plan for the U.S. Ninth Army tocross the Roer river in February 1945.3 Wesel is a city in North -Westphalia, Germany. It is the capital of the Wesel.4 Bodenwerder is a municipality in Holzminden, Lower Saxony, Germany. It lies on theriver Weser, upstream from Hamelin.5 Barby, Germany Barby is a town in the Salzlandkreis, in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany.It is situated on the left bank of the Elbe River.6 The photo of Ray and Ed was taken on 13 April.97