Marl Germany: Saint George’s Church

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In Marl Germany, I focused my attention on Saint George Church. The church is a catholic parish which, is a significant Catholic parish church known for its impressive Gothic architecture, featuring stone facades, stained glass, and ornate interior details like sculptures, and stained glass windows, serving as a historical and spiritual center in the town.

I find myself sketching catholic churches because my father 1st Lieutenant Arthur Thorspecken was raised catholic. He married Elvira Corr who was Methodist. while he was in North Carolina still in boot camp. I was told he was excommunicated for marrying Elvira. Elvira had her first child while Arthur was still in training. Because he was sent off to Europe, he did’t get to see his first child’s formative years. Perhaps he go an occasional photo to watch his daughter grow.

While doing this sketch, a young woman approached me to see how the sketch was going. Our conversation was stilted since I know little German, but I learned that she is also and artist, kunstlerin in German, and she pointed out her studio which can be seen from the church. She had a cute little puppy who was equally curious about me. He sniffed my pallet probably thinking it might be food.

The advance into Marl in late March and early April 1945 encountered stubborn German resistance from the German 80th Infantry and 116th Panzer divisions. The 75th Infantry Division would have encountered Anti Aircraft fire from versatile 88mm Flak cannons and the lighter 20mm Flak cannons which were frequently  used against infantry and ground targets in WWII due to their high explosive shells, rapid fire, and adaptability. A soldier hit with one of these shells would not just be injured, he would explode. The fighting involved fierce house to house combat.

The company town of Marl, had coal mining and the Chemische Werke Hüls (CWK) chemical plant, with both feeding the German war effort. Under Nazi rule, Marl saw persecution of its Jewish residents. Across Germany as a whole, it is estimated that between 160,000 and 180,000 German Jews were murdered during the Holocaust. 

The intense fighting in and around the German town of Marl during the Ruhr Pocket campaign, led to significant Allied casualties, with thousands dying in the Ruhr, which highlights the high cost of breaking into Germany. The 75th Infantry captured Marl in mid-April 1945.

The encircled German forces fought desperately in urban areas and forests. Large numbers of German soldiers were surrendering. In the Ruhr Pocket there were to be over 300,000 POWs. About 100 Germans soldiers were killed in the battle for Marl as well as 500 civilian deaths. Large numbers of German soldiers disguised themselves as civilians, but most were caught after capture and interrogation.

 

Marl Germany: Memorial at Saint Georges Church

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Marl, Germany, was a key industrial town centered around the Chemiche Werk Huls, a massive chemical plant built by IG Farben to produce a synthetic ribber and fuel for the Nazi war machine. Mark therefor became a major target for Allied bombing raids, especially in 1943, leading to heavy damage. The chemical plant used forced labor. The Allies captured Marl on March 31, 1945.

In Marl Germany, I went to the Saint George Church to sketch. On the back side of the church, I found this memorial for World War I, and World War II. A knight is seen stabbing the throat of a dragon.

After the 2nd Battalion of the 75th Infantry Division took Dorsten Germany on March 31, 1945, the 75th Infantry pushed east towards Marl Germany. Private Dean Bergeron of C-Company of the 75th Infantry Division was killed in action on that advance to Marl. Dean Bergeron died on March 29, 1945. Dean was the third soldier my father, 1st Lieutenant Arthur Thorspecken lost from his command of C-Company.

On April 1, 1945, the 290th Infantry Division was ordered to relieve the 8th Armored Division and attack through their lines toward the 75th Infantry objectives to the East. With the enemy in sight, two division objectives were taken in a few hours. Marl is about 7 miles East of Dorsten.

Throughout the entire action the German 116th Panzer Division employed its tanks piecemeal in support of infantry elements. By so doing, the 116 Panzer Division lost the ability to launch a formidable counter-attack, while the small groups of platoon size that were committed could hope to slow down the Allied advance only temporarily.

On April 1, 1945, the 290th Infantry Division was ordered to relieve the 8th Armored Division and attack through their lines toward the 75th Infantry objectives to the East. With the enemy in sight, two division objectives were taken in a few hours. Marl is about 7 miles East of Dorsten Germany.

A Christmas Carol at the Shakes

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I went to the Orlando Shakespeare Theater to get a sketch of A Christmas Carol written by Charles Dickens and adapted by Jim Helsinger. I asked to be seated on a back row since my sketzching might be distracting to anyone seated around me. The woman at the Will Call window recognized my name and she said, “Oh you are our artist!” I was meeting someone from Second Harvest Food Bank at the theater to drop off a painting I had done for the organization. She was right there when I turned around, which surprised me since I usually expect to wait around when meeting someone. Checking in for the show, the volunteer scanned my ticket and then said, “You know I sat behind you once in the theater and loved watching you work.” Maybe I am over concerned about being clandestine when I create on location.

Walking through the lobby of the Shakes is rewarding since all my posters created for the season hang on the walls and are projected o n wide screen TVs. Jim Helsinger created a children’s book from A Christmas Carol. He had called me while I was exploring the route of the 75th Infantry in Europe. My mind was full of battle plans and getting sketches done in any kind of weather. Unfortunately I missed the chance to illustrate the book, since Jim wanted to finish the book by Christmas. I knew he planned to keep copies of the book in the Shakespeare gift shop, so I stopped in to flip through the pages. The book had been delayed at the printer so it want available yet. If you get to go to a future show check it out for yourself.

When I started drawing the set, I felt like it resembled the poster I had created. Thr windows and door were arranged in the same way, and the faint hint of London chimneys  became larger and bolder on stage. This might be coincidence but I felt delighted. That section of the stage also could rotates on a turntable revealing other settings like Scrooges office and the interior of his bedroom.

The show has several musical numbers besides Christmas songs and the cast has some really talented singers. The narration moved the show along at a fast clip. The scene with the door knocker turning into zmarley’s face was done with a digital screen, perhaps from an iPad. It was impressive and could be seen from the very back row where I was seated.

When doing a sketch it is always hard to decide which scene to sketch. Since I know the story of A Christmas Carol, I decided to sketch the three ghosts who visit Scrooge, Christmas Past, Present and Future. No actually I skipped the ghost of Christmas future which was huge and would have dominated the scene. I sketched Marley instead. Marley is pivotal in relating the theme of the show which is that greed imprisons the soul while kindness and empathy bring joy in this hard life especially at the Christmas season. This show helped me feel the glow of the Christmas season for the first time.

At the end of the show, the cast had the entire audience were singing along with a christmas carol. Getting to harmonize with such talent is a delight. I left the theater glowing. If you get a chance to see this show, it will ignite the christmas spirit in even the darkest soul.

A Christmas Carol is on stage at the Shakes through December 24, 2025. Tickets can be found on the Shakes website.

 

 

Im Loh Germany

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On  March 28, 1945 the 75th Infantry experienced heavy small arms fire from the Germans, bit they captured Im Loh that day.  By March 30, 1945 , Im Loh became the 75th Infantry’s Command Post. About April 3, 1945 this area became an assembly area for the next move of the 75th Infantry troops into the Im Loh isn’t really a town. It just seemed to be a small collection of farm fields. I -ark3d my rental far son a golf course parking lot and walked to the site which Google maps identified as Im Loh. I am guessing the troop simply gathered in these fields and set up tents.

I was seated on a lawn of a farm house as I sketched. The frau of the home came out and I asked her in German if this was Im Loh. She confirmed that I was indeed looking at Im Loh, and then she drove off 9n her car, presumably to the market.

Leaving Dorsten Germany, the 75th Infantry Division used careful reconnaissance by the division to plan their move into the Ruhr Pocket.The rest of the troops moved into an assembly area near Im Loh Germany. The 30th and 79th Infantry Divisions  were tiring and the attack into the Ruhr had begun to stall. It was time for the 75th to go into action again.

With the regiments abreast the division advanced east, just south of the Lippe Canal in a line towards the Dortmund-Ems Canal some 19 miles to the east. Hundreds of thousands of slave laborers were liberated as well as prisoners of war, while the old and young of the German peoples army were sent home. Factories, refineries, and one of the worlds largest synthetic rubber plants, which were all vital to the German war effort, were seized. The 75th was in charge of so much booty. This was a clear sign that the war was almost over. Although the end was near, the danger of being shot at any time remained.

Dorsten Attacked

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I did a second sketch in Dorsten Germany of Saint John’s Church. This Church, miraculously survived World War II with minimal damage; its primary wartime harm came in April 1945 when bombings or artillery shattered two choir windows, a testament to its relative good fortune compared to the heavily damaged city. Its survival of the intense fighting and bombing in the final days of the war (March and April 1945) made it a notable landmark and symbol of continuity amidst destruction.

To do this sketch. I sat just outside the inner city which is primarily for pedestrians. I set up my artist stool just outside of a jewelry shop. The shop owner came out to admire the sketch as I worked and he insisted in German that I take a bottle of sparkling water. I also met a woman who is an international traveler and she shared photos of place she had recently seen in Greece. we exchanged Instagram handles and now I can see her photos from around the world any time.

The battle for Dorsten on March 29, 1945 had B-Company, the 18th Tank Battalion, A-Company 7th Armored Infantry Battalion and the 3rd platoon of A-Company 53d Engineers Battalion, put pressure on Dorsten from the east. My gather 1st Lieutenant Arthur Thorspecken with his C-Company infantry troops would have moved ip towards Dorsten from the south. There were German snipers at the railroad tracks which would have made the advance difficult.

Dorsten was captured by 7:30am on March 29, 1945. At 2:30pm two tank Battalions gathered at a railroad on the west end of the city and stated moving east out of the city. Due to congested roads, lack of roads and enemy weapons fire, the attack bogged down.

The following morning, March 30, the attack was resumed by the two tank companies at 9:30am. There was fighting on the high ground east and south of Dorsten where the Germans had a clear view of the approach and were throwing direct fire. The tank Battalion move towards Marl Germany to the east was held up because of the fact that all the bridges across the front were blown.

The XVICorps Commander decided that it wasn’t an armored job because there were few infantrymen with each armored outfit. He ordered the 75th Infantry Division to take over. At 6am next morning, the 75th Division took over with two Regimental Combat Teams abreast and three rifle companies. As the 75th Infantry Division passed thru, the 2d Battalion of the 290 Infantry Regiment was pulled back off the front line.

March 29, 1945: Dorsten Germany

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I spent several days in Dorsten Germany since this city was so critical for my father’s C-Company of the 75th Infantry Division as they pushed east into the Ruhr pocket after they crossed the Rhine River. The most obvious landmark in each German city  I sketched would be the church steeple. I would locate a church steeple and that would be what I used to orient myself as I explored the city streets.

The medieval core of the city of Dorsten was significantly damaged by allied bombing. This sketch shows the oldest building in the Dorsten Market Square built in 1567, known as the City Weigh House. In 1935 the Local Dorsten Historical Society opened a museum in the former town hall rooms. In 1945 the building was miraculously only partially destroyed from allied air raids. After the war, the building served for a short time as a tavern.

The Saint Agatha’s Church was first built on the 13th century. The first church on the site was expanded into an opulent gothic hall church. A fire on 1719 severely damaged that church. The bells for the church were first cast this year. In 1945, that church was completely destroyed by allied bombs. The pews and the parish archives went up in flames. The rubble of the old church is now incorporated into the new concrete building which has a smaller and less opulent steeple.

As I was doing this sketch, a gentleman spoke to me for some time about cities in the area, he wondered why I was in Dorsten Germany, because there were far more popular cities for tourists to visit. One thing he said stuck with me. He said, “In America you don’t have much history. 200 years is nothing compared to the history you find in European cities.” Of course America hasn’t invaded neighboring countries sparking off a World War or sent citizens to concentration camps to be exterminated…..yet.

In March of 1945, the XVICorps which included the 75th and 30th Infantry Divisions along with a battalion of the 8th Armored Division had crossed the Rhine River on landing craft the day before. On route to Dorsten Germany the American combat group unexpectedly encountered resistance from the remnants of the German 116th Panzer-Division and the 15th Panzer Grenadier-Division.

The 9th Army Group General Willaim Simson originally planned to bypass Dorsten on his drive towards Berlin Germany. But then orders were received on the night of March 28, 1945 that Dorsten would be taken by 0800 hours the next morning. A new task force was created, under command of Lieutenant Colonel Harris, the 2nd Battalion Commander, 290th Infantry Division and consisting of the 2nd Battalion minus G Company. Another division moved into position 3 kilometers east of Dorsten. Task Force Pointer was told to hold in place at the forward advancing position because the main effort against the town would come from the east instead of the west.

The 75th Infantry Division had already by passed Dorsten to the south but were ordered to backtrack and help take the city which was needed to get allied supplies from the north to the south across the Lippe Canal. The division backtracked at night until they reached the railroad tracks that run south out of Dorsten. The tracks were an obvious place to stop and approach the city from the south. The infantry jumped off at 0600 hours on the morning of March  29, 1945 following a 15 minute artillery preparation by 15 battalions of artillery.

The Approach to Dorsten Germany

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The 9th army XVICorps which included the 75th Infantry Division were my father 1st Lieutenant Arthur Thorspecken was leading C-Company swept around Dorsten Germany on their drive towards Berlin Germany. The 9th Army Group General William H. Simpson wanted to avoid Dorsten in the rush to reach Berlin. After passing Dorsten he got a direct order to take the city of Dorsten. Supreme Commander Dwight D. Eisenhower had decided at about this time to abandon the rush towards Berlin. He decided t let the Soviets take Berlin and instead the American troops would get the task of crippling the industrial Ruhr Pocket of Germany.

On the evening March 29, 1945 the 75th Infantry Division was south west of Dorsten Germany. The order came to backtrack and take the city of Dorsten. It is hard to advance through enemy territory in day light, it is even harder to advance at night.  The unit headed straight west until they found the railroad lines that would lead straight up towards the city. At daylight the 75th Infantry moved north towards Dorsten with heavy resistance.

Miscellaneous German artillery battalions, engineer battalions, and Anti Artilery units, in short, every available German soldier who was not manning an Anti Tank gun, or who was not already a part of the 180 Infantry Division or 116 Panzer Division was thrown into the battle line to bolster the weakening enemy forces. During the night of March 28-29 1945, Dorsten was attacked. The Germans used railroad flat cars to transport thru large weapons.

This city offered good bridging sites over the Lippe Canal which were desired by Ninth US Army. By noon ofMarch 29, 1945, Dorsten had been cleared but only after the enemy had defended it in severe house to house fighting, employing, 88mm Flak guns, and “Vengeance Weapons” (V-Waffen), primarily the V-1 flying bomb, a feared, versatile anti-aircraft cannon used as a tank killer, mortar and heavy caliber artillery fire.

After Dorsten was secured, the XVICorps established bridgeheads over the Lippe Canal to protect engineers building a crossing, facing sniper fire and enemy artillery, with some units clearing blocks house-to-house before the division moved on.

 

 

Between the Lippe River and Lippe Canal Germany

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I stayed in this camper in Froliche Nachtigal in Shermbeck Germany. This little camper park is between the Lippe Canal and the Lippe River to the north west of Dorsten Germany. I am not yet able go conform the exact location where the 75th Infantry Division crossed the Lippe Canal heading south east towards Dorsten.

The Lippe Canal ran right next to the camping site. Since the distance between the river and the canal is just about 500 feet, there would he a very good chance that my father and the C-Company men he was leading would have passed right through here 0n their way to  The gap between the Lippe Fiver and the Lippe Canal at this site is just 50 yards. If the 75th Infantry was still clearing the gap between the waterways to this pint then They most certainly walked right through this site that is now set up with campers. I was camping right where they passed or perhaps set ip camp themselves. The Lippe Rover was to the right of thr camper I was staying in just a gew yeards away and there was a sign that let campers know that swimming was encouraged.

American engineer battalions we hard at work creating temporary bridges to make the canal crossing easier. 1st Lieutenant Arhtur Thorspecken was actually an engineer himself in civilian life. Arthur had attended NYU Engineering School but he dropped out af6er 2 years so he could join the army which needed boots on the ground.

Crossing the Lippe Canal left the troops exposed to enemy fire.

March 26, 1945: Gahlen Germany

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After crossing the Rhine River, and expanding the bridgehead on the opposite side of the river, American forces  including the 75th Infantry Division, crossed the Lippe Canal around March 30th, leading to rapid advances eastwards as German defenses crumbled.

Gahlen Germany is between Hünxe and Dorsten Germany on the Lippe Canal. My father 1st Lieutenant Arthur Thorspecken advanced with his C-Company, in the 75th Infantry Division through this small hamlet. German troops were offering stiff resistance to slow the advance into Dorsten.

On the push to Dorsten, , the Americans encountered resistance from the remnants of German 116th Panzer-Division and 15th Panzer Grenadier-Division. The US troops of XVICorps, including the 75th Infantry Division, the 30th Infantry Division and 8th Armored Division forced the units of German 116th Panzer-Division to withdraw to Gahlen, east of Hünxe, on March 26, 1945.

On March 27, 1945 the bridgehead on the opposite side of the Rhine River had been expanded and the crossing site sectors had been united. This site became a safe zone where command posts could plan the advance into Germany and supplies could be moved east for the advancing army.

Gahlen was heavily bombed and suffered greatly from the heavy fighting at the end of March 1945. An air raid siren sounded and all the residents of Gahlen rushed to bomb shelters. School children ran from their school to join their parents in the shelters.

While I was sketching, school children were wandering the street in groups. I think they were searching for items in a scavenger hunt. There was plenty of laughter as they searched. One boy shouted for joy when he found me sketching. I don’t know everything he said. But I said “Danke” and gave him a thumbs up. He shouted to his teacher to take a look. At another moment, a little girl and her mom wanted to see what I was doing. The little girl said something in German and I said “Danke.” As she was leaning forward, she dropped a small glass bead into my art bag by mistake. She was afraid to take it out. I reached in and found it and gave it back. Her mom smiled, and they walked away, happy to have seen an artist at work.

In 1945 the residents of a Gahlen huddled in the dark listening to the explosions above. Then it grew quiet. The air raid siren cut off and people slowly emerged from their shelter. Many of the children wandered back to school. They found an UXB (unexploded American artillery shell) stuck in the ground in front of the school. Curious, the children slowly got closer to see the dud. It glinted in the sun. One student backed away and then ran. At that moment, the shell blew up killing several of the children.

Opera Orlando: All is Calm the Christmas Truce of 1914

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Opera Orlando is presenting two free performances of All is Calm, the Christmas Truce of 1914, written by Peter Rothstein, with Vocal Arrangements by Erick Lichte, and Timothy C. Takach. It is a moving story of the 1914 Christmas Truce during World War I.

I have focused all my attention on the movements of the 75th Infantry Division in World War II so when I saw their production of All is Calm I felt I needed to sketch a rehearsal. This was the first one the cast were in costume. It was also the first time I got to see the Orlando Opera rehearsal space near Metro West.

Living out of a backpack for three months and dealing with rain and increasingly cold days as I sketched, I felt an affinity for the soldiers who had to wear two pairs of pants to keep warm. Time spent in the elements hardens a man. My understanding of the Herman language slowly developed.

The songs in the show started off with folk songs celebrating the enlistments of the men into war. Getting a steady soldiers pay check would help for many experiencing hard times. That initial excitement turned dark as the herd realities of war became all too real. A soldier sand about the loss of his dear friend and never wanting to be close to anyone ever again.

Out of the violence, a silence as the artillery stopped, and then a song from the German trenches. A German soldier stepped into No Man’s Land singing “Stille Nacht.” The British troops didn’t shoot because the soldier was unarmed and he sang beautifully. This started a spontaneous cease fire. Ultimately a British and German soldier stood in no man’s land and shook hands. Soon all the soldiers put down their weapons and stood while joking and laughing with one another. Thus began an extraordinary night of camaraderie, and music, while sharing a message of peace and humanity while setting aside the conflict. When the generals heard of the truce they were furious and soon the gins once again spit forth their chaos.

There are two free performances…

Key Details for Free Shows:
  • What: All Is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914 (a cappella musical about WWI).
  • Where (Free): Orlando Family Stage (1001 E. Princeton St.).
  • When (Free): Dec. 12 (7:30 PM), Dec. 13 (2 & 7:30 PM), Dec. 14 (2 PM).
  • Cost: Free, but reservations are required and spaces are limited.
  • How to Get Tickets: Visit operaorlando.org/trenches2025-26. 
Paid Shows:
  • Rosen JCC: Arts at the J is presenting the show on Dec. 18 (7:30 PM). Tickets are $29 for standard seating and $5 for students and seniors.
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  • Garden Theatre (Winter Garden): Dec. 20 (7:30 PM), Dec. 21 (2 PM). The show is being presented at the historic Garden Theatre on Plant Street, by the Winter Garden Heritage Foundation and Opera Orlando. The performances are on Saturday, December 20th and Sunday, December 21st only. Reservations are required.

Tickets… VIP Premium Plus ($99 per ticket) includes exclusive seating, pre-show reception in Heller Hall (Saturday’s reception starts at 6 PM, Sunday’s reception starts at 12:30 PM), post-show meet and greet with the cast, and photo-op.

VIP Premium ($79 per ticket) includes exclusive seating, post-show meet and greet with the cast, and photo-op.

Standard seats are $69 per ticket.