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The diary of John P. Sandford
| JAN. 31. to Tempelburg [Czaplinek]: | 14 km | 8.4 miles | 92.4 total miles |
March by large lake and up long steep hill ... see many German vehicles being towed - group split in two - sleep in eaves of barn - some cheese for cigar - milesk - thaw.
| FEB. 1. to Heinrichsdorf [Siemczyno]: | 6 km | 3.6 miles | 96 total miles |
Last attempt with sleds - most break down loads - a few hardies pull on - sleep in barn with reaper for ramp .. slippery hill ... long haul for water and wood - rain late afternoon - potato peeling detail finds jars of food - potato and soup issue with many slipping and falling - bread stolen from goon truck.
| FEB, 2. to Zuelshagen [Suliszewo]: | 17 km | 10.2 miles | 106.2 total miles |
A few sick left behind but all urged to make the march if possible since CO of district is Nazi. Billeted in attic of small church - floor covered with school charts ... maps of Germany - two small charts of a MG defensive position. Cart straw for bedding.
| FEB, 3. layover: |
Town full of SS troops who accuse O's of stealing - situation momentarily tense roadblock of logs built during night - Germans live off the land - butcher hogs - soup issue - rain.
| FEB, 4. to Gienow [Ginawa]: | 17 km | 10.2 miles | 116.4 total miles |
March via Dramburg [Drawsko] ... Janikow [Janikowo] - quartering party sent ahead - small village barns in quadrangle - herd of registered cows - sleep in loft - Henkenhagen [?].
| FEB, 5. to Zeitlitz [Siedlice]: | 21 km | 12.6 miles | 129 total miles |
Via Wangerin [Wegorzyno] ... Ruhnow [Runowo] (R.R. & Troop Train). Barn and cluster of buildings. 180 leave by boxcar. 550 O's left in group.
| FEB, 6. to Regenwalde [Resko]: | 22 km | 13.2 miles | 142 total miles |
Marine barracks - 1/6 loaf of bread - soup and oatmeal.
| FEB, 7. to Lebbin [Lubinek]: | 20 km | 12 miles | 154.2 total miles |
Via Plathe [Ploty] - crowded barn - no aisle - issue of spuds - 1/8 loaf bread
| FEB, 8. to Stuchow [Stuchowo]: | 20 km | 12 miles | 166.2 total miles |
Via Greifenberg [Gryfice] - Russian, English, Canadian POWs herded along road at fast pace -guards beating them with rifle butts - forlorn sight. Stay at large estate & farm "Castle House" Russian arbeiters in dirty cramped quarters give cottage cheese with sugar, biled potatoes, bread. Young woman sobs while we eat - show snapshots assure them the war will soon be over - they refuse to accept cigarettes. German issue of soup.
| FEB, 9. to Stresow [Strzezewo] (Outskirts): | 14 km | 8.4 miles | 174.6 total miles |
Via Justin [Gostyn] - French POWs pass on road. Sleep in barn - shifting hay - Bill (Warthen) has G.I's. Issue spuds and gravy.
| FEB, 10. to Dievenow [Dziwnow]: | 17 km | 10.2 miles | 184.8 total miles |
Via Fritzow [Wrzosowo] - scenic "tourist" country - neat, trim cottages named - town chock full of children of the Goering Home for Children - stay in barracks at airport for seaplanes on island - air school with many singing marching youths in attendance.
| FEB, 11. to Neuendorf [Wiselka]: | 15 km | 9 miles | 193.8 total miles |
Via Leimbrink [Granik] (Resort town) - cottages with trim blue shutters - neatly stacked conical wood piles - farm on miniature lake - sleep in loft with no "aisle" space.
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Map by Ulrich Koch, Berlin - Germany
2002 © Copyright Peter Domes - Date of last change: 2005-03-19