Weitermarsch über Twis-Ponts nach Stavelot. Dann überschreiten wir die deutsche Grenze und kommen nach Malmédy. Was für ein erhebendes Gefühl für uns alle, wieder auf deutschen Boden zu sein! Deutsche Männer, deutsche Frauen, deutsche Laute! Die ganze Stadt prangt im Flaggenschmuck. Spruchbänder hat man über die Straßen gespannt, auf denen wir lesen: „Unseren Helden ein herzliches Willkommen!“ und „Dem unverzagten Heere Dank und Gruss!“ von Malmédy aus marschieren wir weit über Engeldorf nach Recht. Hier richten wir bei guten Leuten im behaglichen Stübchen unsere Vermittlung ein. Jetzt können wir uns doch wenigstens wieder mit deutschen Menschen unterhalten. Unsere Quartiersleute sind sehr nett und freigebig.
We march on via Twis-Ponts to Stavelot. There, we cross the german border and come to Malmédy. What an exhilarating feeling for all of us to be back on german soil! German men and women, german voices! The whole city shines with german flags. Banners are stretched across the streets and spread the words "A heartly welcome to our heroes!" and "Our thanks and greetings to the undismayed army!". We march on from Malmédy via Engeldorf to Recht. Here, we set up our switchboard in a cosy little living room. At least, we now can talk again to german speaking people. Qur landlords are very gentle and generous. 
FRA
Siamo in marcia via Twis-Ponts verso Stavelot. Qui attraversiamo il confine tedesco e andiamo verso Malmédy. Che eccitante senzazione per tutti noi essere di nuovo sul suolo tedesco! Uomini e donne tedesche, voci tedesche. Tutta la città brilla di bandiere tedesche. Ci sono striscioni dispiegati sulle strade con parole come "un caloroso benvenuto ai nostri eroi!" oppure " il nostro grazie ed il nostro saluto all'esercito che non si scoraggia" Marciamo poi da malmédy a Recht, fino a Engeldorf. Qui installiamo la centrale telefonica in una piccola ed accogliente stanza. Alla fine, possiamo di nuovo parlare con gente che parla tedesco. I nostri padroni di casa sono molto gentili ed ospitali. 
We march on via Twis-Ponts to Stavelot. There, we cross the german border and come to Malmédy. What an exhilarating feeling for all of us to be back on german soil! German men and women, german voices! The whole city shines with german flags. Banners are stretched across the streets and spread the words "A heartly welcome to our heroes!" and "Our thanks and greetings to the undismayed army!". We march on from Malmédy via Engeldorf to Recht. Here, we set up our switchboard in a cosy little living room. At least, we now can talk again to german speaking people. Qur landlords are very gentle and generous.
AntwortenLöschenNow this post is really interesting in sevaral aspects.
AntwortenLöschenObviously the platoon still operates as if the war would still be ongoing. They still do set up a station, at least something similar, because Dieter changed the wording from "Station" (i.e. telecommunications station) to "Vermittlung" (i.e. switchboard). Maybe this is still be done to organize the movements of the troops, because a lot of men were moved back from the front, which had to be coordinated.
Next, the population seems to "celebrate" the "heroes". Of course no one would celebrate a lost war, but probably the end of the killing and dying. To tell them "undismayed heroes" might come from the deep wish that all the dead fathers and sons should not have died in vain. Maybe this feeling is the root of what later came to be the "Stab-in-back theory" of a field army that was not beaten but got "stabbed" by polititcians who negotiated a bad peace contract. When we read Dieter's posts of the past months, this is obviously not true.
Nevertheless, one can understand the people's feelings.
Glad to hear Dieter's at least had a good reception back in Germany - just glad he made it back okay.
AntwortenLöschen