We had known that the Harz Mountains were famous as a vacation spot and a resort center, but no weary traveler on the Grand Tour ever welcomed his arrival there as did C company. What if the company did have patrol duty to perform? What if a thousand S. S. were supposed to be hiding in the woods? Didn't we have a building to sleep in for more than a single night? Wasn't there going to be hot chow? Weren't there promises of occasional movies, of a rest center, electricity, and running water? Things looked fine to us that 22nd day of April.

About K-ration chow time that "dismal" day, we arrived in the church square of Hasselfelde. There was something quite different about this particular place, there were civilians out of the cellars. There were even a few panes of glass in the windows and there were more intact buildings than you could count on your fingers. The Romeos viewed the scenery and looked forward to more things than hot chow. We had

reservations in the "Konig von Schweden" and even though the S. S. had been the previous occupants, we decided to stay. Co. Hdqs., the A. T. platoon, and the third platoon, using Hasselfelde as a base of operations, planned to tour the surrounding woods thoroughly while the first and second platoons were fussy and tried to find better accommodations. The first platoon thought Cattenstedt looked attractive and moved in with D company of the 36th, while the second platoon preferred Stiege and' C company of the 36th. On the 23rd the "High Command" spread the company all over the map. The second platoon was situated in Tresburg with one squad at Allerode. The first platoon was widely scattered, with Bloomberg's squad at Timmenrode, Robb's squad at Cattenstedt, Gargas' squad at Huttenrode, and Blair's and Roggenbach's squads at Weinrode. All of these units had a tank or two with them for a while. The second platoon held a family reunion on the 28th and lived together in Tresburg.

The Army reason for our being in those parts was to patrol the woods and establish road blocks. Naturally, there were a few uneducated souls who believed this but most of us used the time for other things. First and foremost was the execution of personal parks, washing, both clothes and self, and that greatest of all restorers, sleep. Chris's chow speeded recovery and after only a few days we began to take interest in life in general. Those at Hasselfelde were fortunate enough to have a few movies and though the non-fraternization order was then enforced, we could look couldn't we? Needless to say, the rest of the company also found recreation in their various locations.

The prayers of every "T. S. Kid" in the company were answered in the Harz Mountains, Chris acquired steady K. P.'s. Three D. P.'s were hired to do the work. They ought to have a monument but nobody has ever learned their names, so they remain 'the Polskys' for all time. The servant problem hit us however. Two days after the new K. P.'s arrival, the G. I. F. B. I. came and grabbed one of them. The excuse was that he was an S. S. collaborationist, but we have always suspected that SHAEF was just trying to acquire a good K. P.

Regretfully, we reviewed our restful and enjoyable weeks at Hasselfelde as we prepared to move out. It was a beautiful day and as we rode along in the warm sun through the mountains and scenic towns, we eyed the Frauleins, mentally defying the non-fraternization policy. On May 7th, we arrived at the hotel mountain resort of Wernigerode. Although our individual accommodations were not in the best Sun Valley style, everybody imbued with the atmosphere of vacation.

The hotel was on a mountain overlooking the town, and beyond stretched the farmlands of the district dotted with villages. From the observation tower you could see a river in the distance, a beautiful view, but we couldn't help thinking what a good O. P. it would have made.

The vacation atmosphere lasted late into the night; several thousand bottles of Champagne and wine were discovered in the cellar. Champagne flowed like water and by midnight many of the amateurs staggered to a secluded corner to find sleep. The older professionals continued late into the night, and had he been present, the ancient God of Wine, Bacchus, would have been pleased. Daylight found men and bottles strewn in heaps about the hotel. Quietly a few still drank.

There were many indignant citizens of Uslar booted out of their houses the night we moved in. About this time, General Devine received his second star. Much sweat and toil was used to create a provisional platoon to act as the 49th's representation. After a day of practice and a long ride to Nordheim, the platoon was slightly P. O.'d to learn that it was only a dry run. Later on, the real thing came off and we performed excellently.

And where were you on the night of May 9th, 1945? Most of us were celebrating V-E Day with some beer that had been rationed. There wasn't very much of it but when we added our "salvage" from Wernigerode, it turned out to be quite a party. But the greatest tribute to that wonderful day was the relief that we all felt; it meant a temporary end to outdoor life.

On the 11th of May the inevitable happened. After V-E day the thing that we all feared and dreaded, the thing that we had been feeling breathing its hot breath down our necks for the past two weeks, struck. We went into garrison. We moved from our comfortable billets on the outskirts of Uslar and occupied the two cell blocks in the furniture factory. The odor of the last tenants had hardly left the place when we moved in, and what was worse, their beds were still there. Ah, poor us! We had been used to the best Das Reich had to offer in the way of housing, old mansions, the best private homes, all were forsaken for the slats of those double deckers, complete with bugs. The first, second, and part of the third platoons were imprisoned (pardon, we should say quartered) on the second floor, the remainder of the third, and the A. T. and Hdqs. platoons were in the same predicament, only one floor higher. The officers and the top two graders were living in the office building adjoining.

After we hit the factory, "Garrisonitis" set in rapidly. Reveille, retreat, bed-check, guard inspections, a motor pool, and curfew, to mention only a few of the symptoms, quickly came to the fore. The war was really over; the luxury days of combat were over; the 8th had again come into its own.

We had movies, showers, some organized sports and some beer too, but even with all those blessings, garrison was still the fact, and as such, the Army was once more, "Army". The nature lovers got a break, though. Those little "walks" over the surrounding countryside gave some of us a good opportunity to study nature.

After much hard work by the Lobert Chain Gang, the medics OK's the swimming pool and we were all set for a big splash. Scores of swimming enthusiasts rushed to the pool clad in shorts. The first plunge brought agonized shrieks. One could almost feel the ice cakes afloat in the pool. Future pool activities were confined to sun bathing on the edge and wistful glances at the water.

June 12th was not a particularly good day. Let the company diary tell it in its own words: 'June 12th. Today we saw a movie on the demobilization of nonessential men with the approved number of points. It looks very black for most of us. It seems pretty evident that we are CBI bound. Weather: clear. Morale: Very low'.

Italy and Germany may be the "Two Down", but it seems as though we are the ones "To Go".