(Christian Wolpers photo.)
This account is taken from 1st Lt. Frank Towers’ recollection:
“First of importance was getting food, water and medical assistance to these victims.Our 105th Medical Battalion was called upon to survey this group and give immediate attention to those most in need.The 823rd Tank Destroyer Battalion Commander, Lt. Col. Dettmer immediately contacted the Burgomaster of Farsleben, and without any hesitation, ordered the Burgomaster to order his citizens to gather up all of the food, clothing, soap and sanitary supplies, to help the situation that these victims found themselves in. Secondly, they were ordered to offer them any housing facilities that were available, particularly for the elderly and those families with children
The German people caused these victims to be in the situation in which they were found, so therefore it was felt that it was their responsibility to rectify what they had done to them over the past five years.
At first they rebelled at these orders, but upon the threat of execution of the Burgomaster, and with a pistol held to his head, the citizens of Farsleben complied and went about the task which they had been ordered to do.
At this time the Burgomaster began to cooperate, and told his citizens to take some of these Jews into their homes and give them some comfort, which they did, very grudgingly. This was the first taste of “Home” for many of them after some months or years of inhuman incarceration.
Sincemy duties as a Liaison Officer were at a minimum at this point, I was placed in charge of procuring sufficient vehicles on which these 2,500 Jewish victims could be loaded, and to relocate them to Hillersleben, about 10 km distant.
It must be noted here that in most cases, it was not possible to drive directly from “point A to point B” which may in fact be only 5 – 10 km.With bridges on all main roads either bombed or deliberately blown up by the retreating German army, it required navigating over many secondary and unimproved farm roads to find a suitable route to get from “point A to point B”, which in some cases was 25 – 30 km.
Having driven over these roads for the previous few days, I was relatively familiar with these deviations, and was thus chosen for this job.
After loading up these Jewish victims on our trucks and navigating the convoy over a devious route, we arrived at the designated site in Hillersleben, where their custody was turned over to the American Military Government for further processing.
Initially, they were deloused!Their bodies and clothing were totally infested with lice, so they were heavily dusted with DDT, stripped of their clothing, which was burned, given a shower, then re-supplied with adequate clothing, which had been furnished by the people of Farsleben.
Settled in to their new surroundings, here they were given appropriate medical care according to their needs, and fed with adequate but rationed food, and they were eventually processed for repatriation to their homelands.”
Teaching History Matters 
Matt, I was glad to find this photograph, since my mother and I were in this hospital after being liberated from the Magdeburg train.
Dear sir, I was on that train at the age of 7. I remember that leaving Farsleben we stay the night in old cinema-barn. There was straw on the floor. In the middle of the night the cinema was on fire. Does somebody remember the fire, and how it happened?
Thank you.
I remeber that nite! We where very lucky to survive.
The next morning thy put us in trains on road to Holand and Begium. We spent a few months in Bruseles.
I supose that Lola’s Angel maiden name is Hassid-Frances
My grandfather Louis Figaro was there that day, although he passed before I was born, I do have photo’s of Col Dettmer. And other soldiers that were apart of the 823 TD B
He makes me proud….
Tracy
My grandfather was in the 823 Tank Destroyer Battalion also. His name was Ottis Kenneth Blair, mostly known as “Buster.” He died around 1961. If you have pictures of the soldiers that you possibly could e-mail, even though it may be a long shot that he might be in them, I’d be so grateful. My e-mail is crystallynn306@hotmail.com.
To Julio Botton,
Indeed my maiden name was LOla Hassid-Frances. I am also happy to hear news from you. Also that somebody remembers the fire. Could you give me more details. Sometimew I think i dreamed it.
Lola
Hi all,
Does anyone have any recollection of a women by the name of Chaya Goldberger and her children Rosa, Zundel, Yankel and Blima. My great grandmother Chaya Goldberger died and was buried in Hillersleben. If anyone has any memories or anything to share about them please email me – yoelgross@gmail.om
I just found out my uncle I never knew was liberated at Hillersleben. His name was Jozef Barg or Berg. He was the sole survivor of the family in the Warsaw ghetto, and then went to Bergen-Belsen, possibly via the Hotel Polski. He lost his wife Franciszka and 12-year-old daughter Sabina in the ghetto. He would have been about 43 when liberated. Then he emigrated to Israel/Palestine, and was living in Tel Aviv in 1955.
On the off chance anyone has a recollection, please email me:
rbaranlaw@gmail.com.
Thank you.
Roma Baran