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individual, and how wonderful and how hoped-for is the time when this damn war comes to its
inevitable ended. …"
The second passage tells how the news of VE-Day was received in the same hospital:
"No one seemed very much surprised, but there was a happy feeling inside, and a relief that you couldn't describe. It had been
stored up over those days of basic training and maneuvers in those tense days in England while the whole world waited for D-Day, and the
long hard-font campaigns. …Yes, the big job in Europe was done. There would be no more battle casualties, no more darkened ambulances
grinding to a stop at Admission with their silent broken men on litters. Hostilities had ceased."
* The exact location of these restraining lines may be of interest to somebody's grandchildren. Says Third Army After Action Report for 6
May 45: "XII Corps (5th, 26th and 90th Infantry Divisions, 4th and 11th Armored Divisions and supporting troops) was to advance
northeast to the general line of Pilsen -- Ceske Budejovice (Budweis), clear all enemy in its zone and be prepared to continue the advance
to the east. The Corps was to continue the advance east in the Danube Valley to the railroad running from (W038827) to Ceske Budejovice
(Budweis), sending only reconnaissance east of this line."
** "At the hour designated for execution of the cease-fire order," according to the Corps After Action Report for 9 May 45, "XII Corps
units were disposed from left to right on the Corps front as follows: The 2nd Cavalry Squadron was screening to the east of Klatozy from
Stibrin through Ujezd to Planice. The 359th Infantry, 90th Infantry Division occupied positions along the road running southeast from
Klatovy, the 1st Battalion between Mochtin to Bystre; the 2nd Battalion from Cihan to Planicka; the 3rd Battalion to the rear was in
position between Kneziceto and Besny. In the 357th Infantry, the 1st Battalion Zapiekov to Stribrne Hory; the 2nd Battalion from
Hradesice Southeast to Rabi. The 358th Infantry, 2nd Battalion from Otava River, east to wiska. In the 4th Armored Division CCB was
assembled between Kasejovice-Lnare and Kodov. CCA was between Katovice and Strakonice. The 25th Cavalry Squadron screened
between Drakonice to Dub. In 5th Infantry Division, 10th Infantry, the 2nd and 3rd Battalions were in Vimperk, the 1st Battalion between
Sklare and Stadtagger. The 2nd Infantry, 2nd Battalion was in Milesice, 3rd Battalion and 1st Battalion in Volary. In the 11th Infantry, the
3rd Battalion was in Ferchanhaid; the 1st Battalion, Knizeci Plane; the 2nd Battalion, Horsvette Hory. The 42nd Cavalry Squadron
extended from Haslach to Finsterneu to Vierhauser. In the 26th Infantry Division: the 101st Infantry, 2nd Battalion was in Grafenau as
Corps security guard; the 1st Battalion was between Cerna Hurka and Radslav; the 3rd Battalion was from Senava to Nom Manava. In the
104th Infantry, the 2nd Battalion was in Kramolin; the 3rd Battalion in Bohdalovice; the 1st Battalion from Ostrov to Kozinec. The 328th
Infantry was disposed with the 3rd Battalion from Nahoran to Velence; the 2nd Battalion from Suttanc to Seify; the 1st Battalion at Hor
Dvorist. The 11th Armored Division was located with CCA in the vicinity of Ottenshlag, CCR at Zwettl, and CCB at Gallneukirchen."
This is the last entry for the European War in the daily narrative of the report.
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