Germany is just to the south of Datteln Germany. In Meckinhoven Germany I sketched the boat lift. This historic structure would lift barges to a higher level so they could adjust to the changing water levels in the canal. Here the Zweg Canal which runs North West meet up with the Dortmund-Ems Canal which runs east to west.
The historic Henrichenburg Boat Lift on the Dortmund-Ems Canal, is a marvel of engineering that lifted boats up a significant height, it is now a preserved museum piece. The original Henrichenburg lift, opened in 1899, and it used counterweighted troughs to move ships. The lift was operational during World War II, suffering from only minor damage form Allied Bombings. It allowed large cargo barges to navigate the significant height difference (46 feet) on the canal. The lift is now a static monument, while nearby lifts handle current traffic.
The 75th Infantry Division was heading south west through Meckinghoven towards the large industrial city of Dortmund Germany. Dortmund was considered the Pittsburgh of Germany. If the 75th could push beyond to the Ruhr River, the city would be isolated. In many of the smaller villages in the Ruhr, Allied units made quick headway with little German resistance. Dortmund was different. Besides being a strategically important city because of it’s industry, the citizens were early supporters of Hitler and the Nazi party. As early as 1933, Hitler’s storm troopers marched through the streets of Dortmund, cheered on by crowds of local citizens. Later Hitler announced the end of many of the post WWI agreements at a rally in Dortmund. The population embraced many of his ideals.
In the late 19e0s, the Aplerbeck Hospital in Dortmund transferred mentally and or physically disabled patents, including children from the area to Hadar Mental Hospital. Patients were first killed by backing up a truch and having the carb0n monoxide fumes pumped into the air ducts of the patent rooms. These patients were murdered as part of the Nazi eugenics program implemented by Hitler before the Final Solution, the extermination of Europe’s Jews.