The 64th Anniversary of the Kassel Mission
England - Germany
KMMA President William R Dewey explains why the memorial was dedicated to
Germans and Americans alike who fought in the Kassel Mission. 1 August 1990,
Kassel Mission Memorial Dedication unveiling, Ludwigsau Germany; Armed
Forces Network interview
100 Visitors at the Memorial - Ludwigsau, Germany
Remembrance of the Air Battle over Hesse and Thuringia in September of 1944
FRIEDLOS. On 27 September 1944, one of the most dramatic air battles between Germans and Americans raged over eastern Hesse and Thuringia, claiming the lives of 136 soldiers of both sides. On the occasion of the 64th recurrence of this incident, a ceremony was held at the memorial in the Seulingswald Forest to honor the dead. Walter Hassenpflug, who as a historian has documented the aerial warfare events in our area and who is a co-initiator of this airmen's memorial, organized this event. Among the approximately 100 visitors who attended the ceremony, he welcomed relatives of victims as well as former fliers and interested citizens of the area between Bad Hersfeld and Eisenach. He mentioned the fact that, in the meantime, numerous visitors from all over Germany and mostly from the United States are visiting the memorial. Young folks may learn about the terrible event of that fateful day. Speeches were given by the Vice-President of the Community of Fliers of the German Armed Forces, Inc., Lt. Col. (ret.) Gunter Fichte of Dresden and Mayor Thomas Baumann of Ludwigsau. They emphasized that, despite contrary opinions, commemorations like this one fit into our times. Because every time we commemorate the victims we recognize the absurdity of wars. And this promotes mutual understanding and reconciliation and thus ensures peaceful and democratic togetherness. After the ceremony at the memorial, Hassenpflug, at Friedlos Civic Center, gave an account of the dramatic air battle in 1944 by means of a multi-media show.
.jpg) Walter Hassenpflug, 10-5-08 |
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 Walter Hassenpflug, 10-5-08 |
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Scanned article which has been translated above. |
Some of the crowd attending the ceremony. |
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Lt. Col. (ret.) Gunter Fichte of Dresden making his speech, along with Mayor Thomas Baumann, German Veteran Willi Vollmer of Friedlos, and Walter Hassenpflug.. |
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Tibenham, England - at the former 445th base near Norwich |
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