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.

 

 

 

 

Marl Germany: Saint George’s Church

Posted on by Thor

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

Posted on by Thor

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.