Quote:
Originally Posted by Paul Reed  Burkhard Hogspiel.
We met him outside the German War Cemetery at Caira. He served with Geb. Pioneer Btl 818, according to what he put in the cemetery visitors book. Anyone know any more about this? |
No one get tempted to whistle "Eidelweiss" to him?
Gebirgs-Pionier Bataillon 818 was formed on 20th December 1943 and basically spent the war in Italy. As you probably know, they fought around the monastry in Cassino before withdrawing with Rome, Assisi, Perugia and Arezzo all getting a mention. They were also the unit that closed the Calla Pass. In November 1944, they established a boat transport over the Po and , slightly later, built a bridge in it's stead before withdrawing via Padua and Bassano to Etsch where they surrendered to the Americans.
Dave.