History of the 49th Armored Infantry Battalion
May, 1945

May 1 - We have received the news that Hitler was dead. This was about 2000. The Bn is working on a Rest Center, and it will be the two houses at the swimming pool in RUBELAND. It will accommodate about 25 men. These men will stay for three days and then a new group will come in. The rules will be that they can sleep to their heart's content and have no regimentation. Chamber services will be had and a dining room will serve the men. T/Sgt Edmund Pietrzykewski will be in charge.

May 2 - Men are leaving on pass to PARIS, BRUSSELS, and HEERLEN. The rest center opened today and A Co sent 3 men and Medics, one man. Patrols are still being maintained and outposts and road blocks are protecting the entry to every town that we occupy. The civilian problem is still a big headache. Everyone, it seems, wants to go out of town.

May 3 - Nothing unusual occurred today. All is being maintained strictly under occupational direction.

May 4 - Things go on as usual with no change in duties or administration. B Co was shown by Special Services the movie "Here Come the Waves", starring Betty Hutton and Bing Crosby.

May 5 - Rest Center has completed it's first 3 day period and from the reports the men have dropped here and there it seems that they enjoyed and rested themselves splendidly. The seven men returned to their companies at 1300. Tomorrow another group will come in. The Movie B Co saw yesterday Hq and Hq Co saw today.

May 6 - Received word today that we are to move from this area and go west. No one knows how far or to what town. C Co is to revert back to our control. B Co of the 36th Tank to revert back to the 36th Tank Bn. Everyone seems to be concerned because this is an ideal area. At about 1000 we found out we were to move tomorrow at 1300. The 329th Inf Regt of the 83rd Div is to take over our area,

May 7 - The billeting party moved out at 0800 for the town of USLAR. The Bn moved out at 1200. The route taken was RUBELAND, ELBINGERODE, WERNINGERODE, BAD HARSBURG, GOSLAR, LARGENSHEIM, SEESEN, NORDHEIM, MERINGEN, SCHLARPE and USLAR. Order of march was A Co, Hq and Hq Co, Service Co, B Co, and C Co. Today should be a memorable day for the rumor has it that at 0231 the war with GERMANY is over. It was unconditional surrender. Looks like the real thing and no rumor. However, everyone is waiting for a report from SHAEF Headquarters. In our journey from the last area we covered 66 miles. A Co was sent to LAUENFORTE, B Co to BADENFELDE, and Service Co., C Co., and Hq and Hq Co. set up in USLAR.

May 8 - It is true that the war is officially over and a great day it is too. Now we set our eyes on the Far East for it is evident that we will have to help there. In the evening the liquors poured like water. It looked like everyone had a few in celebration of the end of the war. No blackout was observed and lights showed from many windows. Tomorrow there will be no work, just celebrating V-E Day.

May 9-10-11 - With the war in the ETO over, we now settled down to the job of being temporary occupational forces. Road blocks were set up protecting the entrance to each town and security patrols were maintained.

May 12 - Today at 1200 the second Rest Center opened up. The place is a beautiful villa just beyond the village of ESCHERHOUSEN. From USLAR, the Battalion Headquarters, the Rest Center is 3 1/2 kilometers. The place opened with 14 men. Three each from the letter companies two from Headquarters and Service and one from the Medics. Bn Det and Medics will alternate every three days. In a softball game between the Officers and Headquarters Co the Enlisted Men beat the Officers by a score of 11 to 4.

May 13 - USO show was here for the entertainment of the Bn. It began at 1400 and it was really good. The troop consisted of 3 men and 2 girls. It was the first USO show we had for our Battalion and they were so good that everyone there most assuredly got a tremendous laugh.

May 14 - Now that the war is over everyone is a little concerned with the problem of going home. Who will have the prescribed amount of points to see the wonderful U. S. and to be Honorably Discharged. The answer was given in the film 'Two Down and One To Go'. In this film it showed the value of points each man will be credited with so as to get a discharge. Every man of the Bn had to see it and many have decided to prepare to stay for a few more years, til the war with Japan is over. In a softball game with the Officers and EM, the Officers beat the Enlisted Men by a score of 12 to 11 in a see-saw game.

May 15 - The Battalion is working and has been for the last few days on maintenance of vehicles, and turning in all non T/O vehicles. The Battalion will really be hurting now. It seems that everyone had some sort of a vehicle. Medics are busy giving everyone the one two question. In other words 'What is wrong with you as if anyone cared'. The Rest Center completed it's first 3 day group of soldiers sent to rest up. Again it seems that we have a good deal. The place is more beautiful and peaceful than the one they had in RUBELAND. Tomorrow another group will come in. The Rest Centr now has five good riding horses. The Battalion is having a firing range built at SCHONBOGEN. The civilian populace has been called upon to build it for us. All companies are following a training program. Subjects of interest are Scouting and Patrolling, Orientation and organized athletics.