On March 2, 1945, the entire 75th Infantry Division was moved 33 miles by motor troop carrier trucks from Helden Netherlands to new assembly areas at Buchten Born and Holtum Netherlands. These small villages are near Venlo Netherlands which had just been liberated on March 1, 1945. After a few hours on Buchten Born and Holtum the troops were again moved to an area near Venlo. They were being moved into position to help clear out any last German resistance in Venlo and Roermund Netherlands.
At a camp of the American troops the Museum44 director found holes, craters that were full of glass. Much of the glass was from broken Coke a Cole bottles. Most were broken, a few were complete and some were still full of Coke. The Americans always had more than enough supplies.
After the Netherlands was liberated, the American government printed Dutch currency. The bills were printed using American plates so in some ways they resemble American currency. Other money was printed because there was a fear that Germans would counterfeit the money, which was indeed a problem. Germans printed British pound notes in an effort to disrupt the economy. Each time America liberated a country they printed this liberation currency.
Officially there were three divisions on this area of the Netherlands. Soldiers used poisoned wood alcohol to clean their boots. The alcohol wasn’t actually poisoned it was just given that name so the soldiers would not drink it. While exploring the top floor of Museum44, there were wasps buzzing at the insides of the windows. The director became very quiet. 8There was a display that resembled an American encampment. I figured if I didn’t disturb the wasps, they would ignore me. It is hard not to swat at a wasp when he buzzes by your ear. I finally shouted “retreat!” and made my way quickly down the ladder to the floor below.
The Saint Martin’s Church which I sketched in Holtum, dates back to about 1200 when an aisle less church was built next to a feudal lord’s home. The tower was added in 1460. The ancient medieval structure is largely intact to this day.
