Old Town, Westerholt Germany

Posted on by Thor

The 75th Infantry Division went to an assembly area near Westerholt Germany after clearing Die Haard Forest. They might not have been in the city center but I decided I should explore regardless. Westerholt was impacted by World War II  because of its industrial importance, the presence of key military figures, and its experience as part of occupied Germany after the war. Though much of the city experienced significant damage from Allied bombing, somehow the Altes Dorf (Old City) managed to be spared. By sketching here I felt I was seeing what the city looked like before World War II. My German Great HGreat Great grandfather left Arolsen Germany in 1830 which was a city that looks very similar to theWesterholt old city.

Westerholt, Germany, fell during the final months of World War II as Allied forces pushed into Germany, likely around in late March or early April of 1945, with American forces capturing areas near the Rhine River and puching south to the Ruhr River, leading to mass surrenders of German soldiers and the end of fighting in the region by May 1945, coinciding with Germany’s overall surrender on May 8th. 

I was seated on my artist stool in front of an artist gallery. There was a bench in front of the gallery and I had considered sitting there but the bench faced straight a ross the street. I wanted a view down the old city street. The gallery owner noticed me at work and started taking to be in German. I have been studying German on Duolingo which gave me enough vocabulary to order food and check in to hotels but fast conversation always would leave me like a dear staring at headlights.

I always assume people who approach are scolding me for creating art in public. In Winter Park Florida it is illegal to create art in public. Through our broken conversation I figured out that she was offering her bench for me to sit on. I was already adding color to my sketch, so changing location wasn’t an option. After my sketch was done, I looked at the display on the gallery window. The artist’s work was bold and abstract. She offers printing workshops in the downstairs gallery. What a beautiful way to make a living.

The tiny building across the street was new but it was being build using the old beam and stucco techniques. It used to be a storage shed but it was being rebuilt to blend in better with the whole neighborhood. The whole time I was sketching the neighborhood were chatting in German on the street or walking their dogs. I felt at peace. If only I could find such a beautiful historic place to set down roots.

April 2, 1945: Westerholt Germany

Posted on by Thor

When I realized how important coal mining was to the German war effort, I began searching out coal mines. The Colliery Schlagel & Eisen is near Westerholt Germany.

On April 2, 1945 the 75th infantry Division was moved to an assembly area near Westerholt Germany which is a short distance south of Marl Germany which the Division had helped capture the day before.

Colliery Schlagel & Eisen was a significant German coal mine known for its impressive industrial architecture, especially Shaft 7, and its role in the Ruhr region’s mining history, now preserved as a cultural monument with unique buildings, showcasing Bauhaus-influenced designs, and a reminder of industrial heritage in a city which was for a long time the largest mining center in Europe.

The mine was crucial to the German war effort and suffered from allied bombing, with its head frames and infrastructure damaged. Some of the older parts of Westerholt survived unlike many other German towns. The region’s coal supported the war, while notable figures like fighter ace Adolf Galland hailed from Westerholt, and the nearby Westerholt cemetery holds victims of Nazi tyranny, highlighting the broader impact of the war on the area. 

When I sketched the mine the fall colors had started to turn. The maple tree had bright red leaves.The same color could be seen in the rust of the old buildings. The mine is a memorial today. I considered going inside. but there were so many signs that said verboten.

Punta Gorda Florida: Christmas Display

Posted on by Thor

I am interrupting the WWII series to post a few holiday sketches. In Punta Gorda Florida there is this amazing trailer home with tons of lights and every imaginable inflatable. Instead of focusing on the Macy’s Day Parade, I decided to sketch these inflatables. After Thanksgiving diner at the Eagle lodge I asked to be dropped off at this house. I had talked to the person working on the display in the morning, and he said that I should come back after 4pm which is when it started coming back to life.

when I returned the inflatables were still pancakes on the ground. I just focused my attention on the home and waited for them to inflate. There is actually far more to the display on the far side of the house and on back. To the right is an outdoor drive in theater with teddy bears, frogs and other stuffed characters watching the screen. Loony Toons cartoons were soon being shown.

A penguin would climb the ladder and then slowly make its way back down. I was told that a rotisserie motor was used for the movement. The advantage of that motor is that it reverses itself. Washing machine motors run the Carousel and Ferris Wheel. A rabbit and teddy bear were on a see saw which also used a rotisserie motor.

M&M signs showed up throughout. I wondered if it was an infatuation with that brand of candy, but the owner explained that it was the initials for him and his wife. He was making adjustments and adding light the whole time I sketched. It was a never ending job. The inflatable at the peak of the roof refused to sit up, so he had to climb up on the roof and lift it up by hand.

April 1, 1945: Die Haard Forest

Posted on by Thor

After capturing Marl Germany, the 75th Infantry Division pushed east towards the Dortmund-Ems Canal. The Wehrmacht was making its last attempts at resistance before Germany would surrender. 75th Infantry Division combed the forest to engage remnants of German troops. My father 1st Lieutenant Arthur Thorspecken and his C-Company troops would have advanced through the woods. This was a challenge since they wanted to be sure to find all enemy troops. Any tree could hide a German sniper.

With the regiments abreast, the 75th Infantry advanced on a line towards the Dortmund-Ems Canal to the east. Die Haard forest was cleared on April 1, 1945 as part of the push into the Ruhr Pocket which was an egg-shaped pocket 30 by 75 miles in diameter. The pocket had sealed shut on April 1, 1945 when two US armies—the 9th coming over from Wesel and the 1st coming up from Remagen—made contact.

There was fierce German resistance in difficult terrain. This engagement was part of the broader Western Front offensive, where the “Charlie” C_Company of the 75th Infantry Division faced heavy fighting, but ultimately securing the area and pushing east. 

My father would have been aware of the allied losses in the Hürtgen forest one year before. The battle in the Hurtgen forest became known as the “green hell.” Lasting 88 days, it was the longest American battle on German soil during World War II. The Hürtgen Forest cost the U.S. First Army at least 33,000 killed and wounded, including both combat and non-combat losses, with upper estimates at 55,000; German casualties were 28,000.

The Haard Forest was less costly. None of the soldiers of C-Company lost there lives clearing this forested area.

I decided to hike through the forest from west to east and then loop back to where I parked the rental car. Germans love to hike through the woods so I came across many other hikers. Some people were gathering mushrooms for cooking.This hike felt like I was truly following the footsteps of my father. The woods were quiet but once in  a while I might hear people hiking other trails in the distance. The hikers would be speaking in German. If my father heard these  German conversations the hair would bristle on the back of his neck and a deadly squirmiest would certainly ensue.

I was using a hiking app to navigate the trails. After sketching and hiking for several hours, I realized that the app had drained the battery on my phone. I was afraid that the phone would die, and I would become helplessly lost. I turned the phone off and started navigating by the angle of the sun and trusted that I was heading back to the site I had parked. I made it back safely, but now I wish I had brought along a traditional hand held liquid compass for navigating. Digital devices cannot be trusted to last out in the woods.

Brassert Town Square, Marl Germany

Posted on by admin

Marl and the region around Marl, had resources and heavy industries that played a vital role in Germany’s preparations for World War II. Coal was the life blood of Hitler’s war machine. The city was bombed heavily during World War II. About 75 percent of the area was destroyed; more than one-third of the coal mines discontinued operations or suffered heavy damage.

As the allies, including the 75th Infantry Division, approached the city, the Volksrom or German peoples army were called into the Brassert town square. Consisting of old men and young boys, many were unemployed, miners. The German army was planning to blow up the mine as part of Hitler’s Nero Decree. Adolf Hitler’s Nero Decree, an order issued on March 19, 1945, which commanded the systematic destruction of all German infrastructure. The approaching enemy would thus find nothing but “scorched earth.” Hitler justified this step as a military necessity, but his intention was to destroy the German population as punishment for its defeat. There was to be no future for the nation after National Socialism.

The Decree…

Our nation’s struggle for existence forces us to utilize all means, even within Reich territory, to weaken the fighting power of our enemy and to prevent further advances. Any opportunity to inflict lasting damage on the striking power of the enemy must be taken advantage of. It is a mistake to believe that undestroyed or only temporarily paralyzed traffic, communications, industrial, and supply installations will be useful to us again after the recapture of lost territories. During his retreat, the enemy will leave behind only scorched earth and will abandon all concern for the population.

I therefore command –

1. All military traffic, communications, industrial and supply installations as well as objects within Reich territory that might be used by the enemy in the continuation of his fight, either now or later, are to be destroyed.

2. It is the responsibility of the military command posts to execute this order to destroy all military objects, including traffic and communications installations.

The Gauleiters and Commissioners for Reich Defense are responsible for destroying the industrial and supply installations, as well as of other objects of valuable; the troops must give the Gauleiters and Commissioners for Reich Defense the assistance they need to carry out this task.

3. This command is to be transmitted to all troop commanders as promptly as possible; orders to the contrary are null and void.

– Adolf Hitler

Like many large industrial and mining sites in Germany during this period, the Brassert mine likely utilized forced labor, a widespread practice in the Nazi economy. Nazi commission retreated in haste not guaranteeing that the mine was fully demolished. Mines were also used to store looted art the Nazi’s had stolen. Mines were ideal since they had a constant temperature deep under ground.

The Bassert coal mine was founded in 1905, with production beginning in 1910,it  employed 5,000 by the 1950s, and closed in 1972, with its land becoming commercial/recreational space.

As I sketched in the town square, people kept driving into the square to park and then walking over to a bank teller machine. It must have been pay day in town. The leaves were just starting to turn yellow. After I finished the sketch, I tried to find a restaurant to eat but I could only fond pizza shops.

On March 20, 1945 Marl was cleared.

March 29, 1945: Chemische Werke Huls in Marl Germany

Posted on by Thor

 

On March 31, 8th (holy Saturday) the 8th Armored Division occupied Chemische Werke Huls. The 75th Infantry Division which was assigned to the 8th Armored Division helped secure the facility. The chemical plant had suffered from Allied bombing prior to the attack. It was to be blown up and completely destroyed by the retreating Nazi’s because of Hitler’s (Nero Policy) but it was saved because Nazi leadership was convinced it was no longer operational anyway and they were in  a rush to flee.

I.G. Farben (which controlled the mine) was a German chemical and pharmaceutical conglomerate that was integral to the Nazi war machine and the atrocities of the Holocaust. The company conducted drug experiments on live inmates at concentration camps, including Auschwitz, Dachau, and Buchenwald. Bayer, a company within the I.G. Farben conglomerate, was particularly involved, paying an SS physician to test experimental drugs on deliberately infected prisoners.
 
I.G. Farben produced essential materials for the German military, including synthetic oil, rubber, explosives, and aviation fuel, making it critical to the German war effort and the invasion of other countries. The company seized and plundered factories and property in occupied territories during the war. 

As World War II ended, the giant chemical conglomerate I.G. Farben was broken up by the Allies, leading to the colliery being placed under Allied control. The company committed extensive war crimes and crimes against humanity, including the manufacturing of Zyklon B, the poison gas used in the gas chambers for the mass murder of millions of people in concentration camps, primarily Auschwitz-Birkenau.  

The chemical company also endorsed the brutal exploitation of massive amounts of slave labor from concentration camps, including Auschwitz.

After World War II, the Allies seized I.G. Farben’s assets. The subsequent I.G. Farben Trial (officially The United States of America v. Carl Krauch, et al.) took place from August 1947 to July 1948. Twenty-four directors were charged with crimes against peace, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and membership in the SS. 
 
Thirteen of the defendants were found guilty of charges such as plunder and spoliation of property, and imposing slave labor. Sentences ranged from one to eight years in prison, but all convicted individuals were released early by 1951, partly due to Cold War political considerations.
 
In the western zones of Germany, I.G. Farben was broken up into its constituent companies with the goal of preventing a future threat to world peace. These included industry giants like Bayer, BASF, and Hoechst (which later became part of Aventis, now part of Sanofi).

The successor companies eventually contributed to a $5.9 billion fund for compensating former slave laborers and concentration camp inmates. Thr Chemical Plant is still in operation today.

My father, 1st Lieutenant Arthur Thorspecken was leading C-Company in the attack of Marl. These are the C-Company soldiers who were killed in action on that advance…

Private First Class Dean Bergeron. Age 25, died March 29, 1945 on the advance to Marl 

Private First Class Alfred D. Stockwell Age 25, died March 29, 1945 on the advance to Marl.

Private First Class Ernie J. Guigar. Age 23, died April 2, 1945 in Marl Germany.

Marl Germany: Augusta Victoria Colliery

Posted on by Thor

Since Marl Germany was a huge coal mining town in 1945, I set about trying to find the Zeche Augusta Victoria Colliery. I parked along the side of a small farming road and then hiked to where the Colliery used to be. There was a security gate with a chain link fence, and a security camera. I suspect that what remained of the old coal mine was in that secure area. I hiked around the fenced off area and finally decided to sketch this scene which I believe used to be the parking lot for the miners.

The mine was a major employer and producer in the Ruhr area, named after Germany’s last Empress. It became crucial for Germany’s war effort, making it a target for Allied air raids.  Coal could be converted into a cheap diesel fuel that could be used in the tanks.

On March 17, 1945, the Allies bombed the mine causing significant damage to the winding house. The winding house is a steele beam structure that rises above the ground and uses cable to raise and lower the elevator cage that gets miners deep below the earth to work in the coal tunnels.

The mine was to be blown up as part of Nero Decree (German: Nerobefehl), an order issued by Adolf Hitler on March 19, 1945, which commanded the systematic destruction of all German infrastructure to prevent its use by the advancing Allied forces. On the surface, the mine already suffered significant damage from the Allied bombing. To save the mine, a fake explosion was set off, sealing an entry tunnel with ribble. That saved Augusta Victoria from complete destruction. Nazi leadership, was convinced the mine was no longer operational. The Nazi’s were also in a rush to flee, so they did not take the time to check that the destruction was complete. Bridges around Marl were blown as well as overhead tram lines.

In Marl Germany 338 buildings were completely destroyed. 290 were severely destroyed, 1772 were slightly damaged and 57 farms were completely destroyed. Hundreds of thousands of slave laborers were freed. Slave laborers from POW and slave labor camps, were send down into the mine where they were overworked and starved to death. POWs were released and Volsstrom (People’s Army) were sent home. 

On March 29, 1945  Marl was cleared.

 

 

 

 

Punta Gorda: Christmas Display Rush

Posted on by Thor

Mike was hard at work, rushing to complete his  Punta Gorda Village Christmas Display by the time the sun set on Thanksgiving. I had seen the incomplete display the evening before with a brief drive by with my sister and her husband and it was already impressive.

I walked over to the display the following morning but all the inflatables were deflated. Mike was adding more lights and he stopped to talk to me for a while. He suggested I come back about 4pm because as the sun set the display would slowly start coming to life.

After a delicious Thanksgiving dinner at the Eagle Lodge I asked to be dropped off at the display. The sun had not set yet and the inflatables were still pancakes on the ground but I started sketching the trailer home. I can’t imagine where all these inflatables and lights are stored after the holidays are over.

Slowly each inflatable appeared as I was sketching. The inflatable at the roof peek was stubborn and refused to stand upright. I sketched it lying back but then Mike climbed a ladder onto the roof and he managed to coax the inflatable to sit upright. I sketched it in both positions.

There was a magical brief moment where the display glowed a bright orange from the setting sun, and then the grey sky grew dark. The Christmas lights turned on and a whole new scene emerged.

47th Annual Winter Park Christmas Concert

Posted on by Thor

 

After getting back to the United States from Europe, I started sketching events that returned a feeling of normalcy. I have sketched the Winter Park Christmas Concert multiple times before and returned despite the 30 mile drive to get there. It was dark by the time I got to Winter Park and traffic seemed insane. I took back roads to get to the city hall since I had always found a parking spot there in the past. I started loosing hope of finding a parking spot, the closer I got.

When I found the lot, it was jam packed but I drove up and down the aisles anyway. At the end of the last aisle, there was a single parking spot. I shouted for joy. It was devine providence. I quickly packed up my art bag and walked down Park Avenue towards Central Park where I could hear musicians warming up in the bandshell.

The park was also packed with people in lawn chairs chatting with neighbors. There was no way I would get a sketch of the stage. I decided to sit close to the back of the crowd and draw the Tiffany Windows from the Morse Museum, that were on display. There were four Tiffany windows that stood among the crowd like the monolith from 2001 a Space Odyssey. The windows were surrounded by police tape and each had a docent standing guard. The illuminated windows faced the stage. I thought that it would have made more sense for the to face out towards the audience. Maybe the glow would have interfered with the audience seeing the tiny performers on the stage in the distance.

I set up my artist stool which had served me so well in Europe and leaned back against a utility box facing back looking at the stained glass windows. I start each sketch by writing the date in the lower right hand corner of the sketch. I dug into my pockets for my iPhone. I couldn’t find it. Bloody hell. I use the phone for navigation and have just recently started mounting it above the steering wheel. In Europe, I forgot the phone a couple of times. I developed the habit of taking a photo of where ai parked the car which helped as I searched for the car and it guaranteed I had my phone in hand. Here in Winter Park, I didn’t think to shoot a photo of my magnificent parking spot.

I must have left the phone back in the car. I decided I had to hike back. As I approached my car someone was slowly driving behind me. He rolled down his window and asked if zi was leaving. I apologized and said no. The phone case also held all my credit cards. The last thing ai needed was for someone to walk by and see the glow of the phone along with all the credit cards on display. I got back to the car sweaty. The phone was not over the driving wheel. I tore my art bag apart again looking for it. Could it have fallen out of my pocket between the car and the concert? I started throwing items in the back seat.

Where the hell was it? I flipped both indoor light on and searched under the seats. Ultimately I found the phone lying under my art bag in the passenger seat. Why on earth dit I put it there? In the distance I could hear the introductions starting for the concert. I needed to get back.I rushed back to the park. A family h ad set up where I had sat previously. I sat right behind them to get a similar angle to the sketch I had started which had a square in the lower right hand corner for a date. I filled in the date and started sketching.

The couple seated in the foreground of my sketch were waiting for friends to arrive. When their friends arrived everyone stood and talked throughout the rest of the concert. This scene played out throughout the crowded fields. Few people came for the concert. They came for conversation. In France, Belgium, Netherlands and Germany I got used to ignoring the din of conversations in crowded spaces. It was easy since I didn’t understand a word of what was being said. This concert was similar with constant conversation and a hint of Christmas music in the background.

When Silent Night was being performed on stage, I decided that was my cue to consider the sketch complete and head back to the car. With so many people rushing to leave Winter Park, I wanted to be on the road before that back up. I missed the crush of cars and drive 30 miles back to Lake County.

For a sketch like this, I usually arrive early and sketch while there is still light. This time that wasn’t an option. I can only reassure myself that this isn’t the worst drawing I ever did.

Share Your Christmas

Posted on by Thor

Second Harvest Food Bank teams up with WESH 2 News each holiday season to collect food for the food insecure. This was the 40th Anniversary of Share your Christmas. WESH 2 Executive Producer Marcie Golgoski has been instrumental in making this event which collects canned goods and other food for people for the holidays. Food insecurity has been in the news spotlight thanks to the government shutdown and SNAP delays.

The recent government shutdown in late 2025 caused significant delays and uncertainty for SNAP (food stamp) benefits, especially for November 2025 payments, as federal funding for the program was paused, forcing states to scramble. Some states issued benefits early or in partial amounts, while others faced major backlogs, with payments sometimes resuming only after the shutdown ended and funds were released, leaving many families without food assistance for weeks and relying on food banks.

The WESH 2 parking lot became the collection site for people who drove in to share their food items. The collection event ran from 6am to 1pm. It was still dark as I drove to the news station. It was also surprisingly cold for Central Florida.

Cars and SUVs would pull into the parking lot and then volunteers would lift food items out of the trunk or back hatch. From there the items were carted over to a sorting area. Under the tent items were then assembled into holiday boxes which could feed a family for a week. All those holiday boxes were then stacked on a skid and wrapped in cellophane. The skids must go ont eh 81 wheeler struck at the end of the day.

A news anchor was reporting about the event most of the morning. She interviewed volunteers and shared clips to social media. Her camera crew was busy shooting and assembling footage. At one point ai herald her announce that $2,000 had just been donated to Second Harvest. All the volunteers cheered. Then two Disney movie stars appeared. Chip and Dale skipped in and started waving to the volunteers and posing for photos. Chip would always extent his foot forward, raising his toe and spread his arms. Everyone posed for photos with Chip and Dale. Then the work of sorting and organizing the food items resumed.

When Chip and Dale left the site they looked over at me and gave a shy wave. 

 .