The water supply for Herdecke Germany would be influenced by the Ruhr River and managed by the Ruhrverband corporation. In 1935, during the Nazi era, the organization was brought into line with Nazi ideology and placed under the authority of the Reich Office for Spatial Planning. Key infrastructure, such as the Hengsteysee reservoir, played a role in regional water management, with strict quality standards adhering to German drinking water regulation. The heavy Allied bombing of the city likely damaged the water supply.
Once the 75th Infantry Division captured any German city, they would have to establish water points to purify the water for the troops. The job of purifying water was critical. it was necessary test water being used by the troops and also testing was done on the city civilian water supply.
With the troops living so close to one another, the dangers involved in contracting a germ carried by water could result in catastrophe. Therefore to the men of the water points which were set up for the US Troops during the time spent overseas.
Water point signs were set up in each city leading to the purest water. The signs for the 75th Infantry Division were marked diamond, with an arrow pointing towards the freshwater supply.
On a small scale, American soldiers purified water using portable Halazone chlorine tablets for individual canteens. In this way, each soldier was responsible for purifying his own water supply. Halazone tablets were commonly used during World War II by U.S. soldiers for portable water purification, even being included in accessory packs for C-rations.
Engineer water supply platoons set up purification points near streams or ponds. For these larger scale water supplies, ERDLator Units were used. Technically named the “Water Purification Unit, Van-Type, Body Mounted, Electric Motor Driven unit, these were truck-mounted, van-type devices developed by the Engineer Research and Development Laboratory that performed flocking, filtration, and chlorination on water pumped out of local streams.
A passage from a field engineers manual points out the importance of the purification units: “One of the most important units was the water supply platoon. This platoon operated water purification plants called ERDLalators that could remove silt and suspended matter, filter, and purify even contaminated stream water. Producing from 1-3,000 gallons per day — the larger number was achieved using separate large rubberized settling tanks, one unit could adequately supply an infantry battalion under adverse conditions” Drinking impure water could be deadlier than a machine gun bullet.
What seems to have saved many World War II soldiers from disease was the popularity of coffee. As soon as the line of march stopped for more than a moment, the men would fall out and boil up some coffee.
Purified water is stored in large canvas tanks until forward military units need it. Unit tank trailers and 5 gallon metal storage cans are used to transport the water from the engineers water point to the troops. Every unit of 100 men or less is issued a water sterilizing bag, known as a lister bag. It is usually used to store and distribute water that has already been made fit for drinking. The bag can also be used to purify water when the water truck can not get to the front lines. The bag is made of heady duty canvas and can hold 36 gallons of water. It is hung from a tripod of poles or branches. Calcium hypochlorite was used to chlorinate and purify the water. Orthotolidine was used to test the water to see if it has been adequately chlorinated. A deep yellow color indicated that the water was safe to drink. It too3 0 minutes for the chemicals to kill any germs that were in the water.
These efforts, directed by the Corps of Engineers and Medical Corps, ensured safe drinking water in diverse theaters of operation. It was also used to supply fresh drinking water for the thousands of displaced persons who were released from forced labor camps.
At the little town of Herdecke Germany, the burgomeister formally declared: “I surrender the town of Herdecke to the Allied Military forces at 1000 April 14, 1945. It is understood that from this time forward, control of Herdecke will be by the Allied forces.”
Albert Vögler, a prominent industrialist and Nazi supporter, committed suicide while being led away by American soldiers from his luxurious Hause Ende Ville in north Herdecke. He bit down on a hidden cyanide pill, dying instantly. Despite his death, he was still identified as one of the defendants in the Nuremberg trials of prominent industrialists, which prosecuted the group of businessmen who helped Hitler. The industrialists were tried at Nuremberg, for using slave labor, plundering occupied territories, and aiding the Nazi war machine. Most received prison sentences ranging from 2 to 12 years, though many were released early in the 1950s.
The Ruhr River-Viaduct was opened in 1879 as part of the Düsseldorf-Derendorf–Dortmund South Railway, In May 1943, it was damaged by a flood wave following Operation Chastise (
The devastating floodwaters traveled down the Ruhr river, impacting several towns and villages downstream in the Ruhr Valley, including the area surrounding Herdecke Germany, which is situated on the Ruhr between the Sorpe dam and the Rhine. The flood wave swept away a pillar of the viaduct, narrowly missing an approaching train. The destruction caused massive, though temporary, damage to water, power, and industrial infrastructure in the region. Over 1,600 people died in the flooding, a significant portion being allied prisoners of war and forced laborers.