In article , ArtKramr
writes
Remagen is, sadly, all too well
attested, and it's possibly the same errors were perpetrated elsewhe
miscalculation and callousness rather than a deliberate intention to
take lives. Remagen looks worse because there was a Red Cross supply
dump immediately adjacent to the camp that could have alleviated the
nutrition problem. We were lucky that we were able to repatriate the
Argentineans so quickly after the cessation of hostilities in the
Falklands before the situation on Stanley airfield became unmanageable.


What does the bridge at Remagen have to do with with the Malmedy massacre?
Happy Christmas, Art (although it's been Boxing Day for about an hour
here already) and best wishes for the coming year. I too appreciate
your posts, and should have said so earlier.

I'm not referring either to the bridge or the Malmedy massacre, but the
earlier reference to accounts by Austrian POWs of being held in open
pens in adverse conditions. Regrettably, something similar did happen
at Remagen shortly after the town was taken. The incident was the
subject of a TV documentary some years ago, it may have been part of the
BBC "Timewatch" series. It has not so much been covered up as just not
spoken of in polite company - the programme researchers found much of
the information was freely available. IIRC, the problem was that when
Axis forces in the west started surrendering in large numbers, they
became a strain on the Allied supply lines, and for logistical purposes
it was inquired of the US Army medical department what was the minimum
nutrition which could be provided for enemy POWs. The figure calculated
was adequate, but on the basis of men in initially good condition housed
in permanent establishments with barracks; however it became adopted as
flat rate figure for all circumstances. A large "pen" at Remagen was
intended as a temporary establishment and was simply a wired compound
(or compounds) with no permanent shelters and little of any other sort,
and it ended up containing a large number of men essentially in the open
for several weeks in bad conditions - but you will know what the weather
was like at that time. The result was a large number (ISTR the
programme was talking of thousands) of deaths from hypothermia and
malnutrition amongst the prisoners. Small change compared with the
Eastern Front, but something which we as the good guys were a bit
ashamed of and not eager to have discussed - and as the other side were
in no position to point fingers afterward, it sort of became
conveniently forgotten. However, it appears lessons were learned, hence
my reference to the Argentineans from the Falklands being repatriated
before there was even a proper end to hostilities - the tentage and
other equipment intended to house them having been lost on the "Atlantic
Conveyor".

Regards,
Arthur Kramer


--
Moramarth