Owen, I believe you are there, you can plan your trip to find the spot where the tanks where actually photographed. Stefan.
Have been looking at campsites nearby for next summer, didnt plan on going to this part of Austria but I might have to now. I started one after this just to get more help. I logged in here first this morning before checking the answers on there too. Been a bit of fun this.
Here's another pic like the one Cee posted of the chaps enjoying a drink together. http://waralbum.ru/92902/ Встреча советских и американских частей у моста через реку Энс в районе Лицена (Liezen), Австрия. Третий справа — американский фотограф лейтенант Арнольд Самуэльсон (Arnold Samuelson). A meeting of Soviet and U.S. forces at the bridge over the River Enns in Litsena (Liezen), Austria. Third right - American photographer Lieutenant Arnold Samuelson (Arnold Samuelson).
Just Googling around & see there were British PoWs working in the town. Some excellent photos of them waiting to be liberated . http://www.stalag18a.org.uk/wc970975976gw.html
Found this postcard from 1941 of Liezen . Mountain in background is Hochangern. http://www.ansichtskartenhandel.at/ansichtskarten-sterreich/steiermark/16568-liezen-m-hochangern-feldpost-1941/a-316434/?plentyID=h784ms7ov60otb2nad24ns1th6
one of bridge , town & mountain. http://www.ebay.at/itm/7772-Liezen-m-Hochangern-/181230983914?pt=Ansichtskarte_Zubeh%C3%B6r&hash=item2a32355aea
Was intrigued by Judenberg for a fairly clear reason associated with the Third Reich. Apparently the name was going to be changed but they never got round to it! That then led me to research the bridge on the photo and apparently it was where lots of Russian Cossaks (many of whom had fought on the nazi side) were forcefully handed over to the Red Army: most didn't survive for very long, lots ended up in gulags. Nasty situation and they hadn't all been the 'nasty guys', lots were innocent civilians, many of whom hadn't even lived in Russia.
SDP Would argue that they were " forcibly handed over " as you say as we were bound by the decision taken at Yalta - on Stalin's suggestion - that we round up all Russians to them and they in turn would hand over British and American prisoners / deserters etc - which of course was a nonsense - BUT FDR was to ill to argue and Churchill was too weak in the trio by that time to get his way. The 16/5th Lancers of 6th Armoured Div. were ordered from Knittelfeld to surround this camp at Judenberg of ostensibly jewish people making their way to Palestine to illegally set up Israel - with our Sherman 75mm guns pointed inwards and NOT in the usual Hedgehog position....many of us argued but strangely all Officers - Major and above were in a BIG meeting in Italy..so we did our stint watching Russian load up the many Bedford three tonners with these poor people - it was in 1976 - 30 years later we learned the truth when the records were opened and broadcast by the BBC. Many more "Cossacks" were handed over by 46th Div from their centre at Graz and I believe that Ron's 4th Hussars were involved and beneficiaries of many horses which allowed them race meetings for many months - once where Ron gained the autograph of Popski himself at one of their race meeting down by Trieste... Cheers
Hi again, first of all, yes the photos were taken in Liezen by Arnold Samuelsen and the originals are most likely now in the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington. They were all shot from north of the Roethelbridge crossing the river Enns. Originally the location was given as “close to Linz” and attempts were made by people from Liezen to change that, without much success I think. I will add some additional photos also showing this bridge. I did ask my contact in Liezen (the local registrar or archivist) why are there only US and USSR troops present, since Liezen is in Steiermark (Styria) and was part of the British Zone? The answer was quite interesting and if there is a general interest I could translate some of that history for the members of the forum. Stefan.
Stephan It would be of great interest to me as we were of the understanding that the British Sector ended at Judenberg and a line towards the Semmering Pass - as we were stopped at the Semmering by the Russians when we were bound for Vien... Cheers
Hi Owen, some more photos of the Roethel Bridge across the river Enns near Liezen. I am working on the translation. Stefan.
Lovely looking place , thanks for posting those pics. Skipper on ww2f showed me a photo of a memorial nearby. http://www.flickr.com/photos/-eu/7167092720/in/photostream/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/-eu/7167039214/in/photostream/lightbox/
Owen You would do well to have your next camping trip into that area as it is a beautiful part of Austria and usually overlooked by Klagenfurt and Villach Cheers
How about yourself Tom, since you did not get there in 1945? If not camping, they have some pretty B&B places in Liezen too. Stefan.