Anyone in central Europe got some free time?

[desantnik]

I have an award citation that I've found enough information for a great write-up, but photos would really help make the story come alive.

Is anyone in Germany or west Poland for that matter willing to visit Klessin, Germany (overlooking the Oder River) and take some photos? You'll get mention in my next book.

Thanks in advance.

[jefflgarrison]

Not that I think I can do it but what kind of photos are you looking for?

Looks to be about 5 hours by car (if you know the Polish roads, 3 if there was a nice highway)

BTW, Google maps seems to have a hi-res satellite photo of that town.

Go to http://maps.google.com/ and enter "Klessin, Germany" in the search box. When it displays the map, click the "Satellite" button on the upper-right of the map. Use the bar on the left to get a closer image. It goes down to the next to last point at the top of that bar.

[desantnik]

Thanks for the google map tip.

I actually wanted pictures at ground level. There was a dominating castle at this point that overlooked the Oder River valley that my particular award recipient had to storm. I wanted pictures from a high elevation in Klessin and from the river valley looking up. Thanks again, however.

[Bob]

I live in Munich and travel to Poland 1-2 a year. I'll keep it in mind next time I'm going.

[desantnik]

I would very much be indebted to you.

[Alfred]

Here is an article about the battle in Klessin near Berlin.
Also the castle is mentioned. It was a very long and hard battle.

400 soldiers of the Panzergrenadierregiment Kurmark defend the position in Klessin against the
4th soviet infantrie division with 8000 soldiers and a tank brigade. Soviet losses were frightening.

None of the houses are standing today. The hole village was destroyed.

Here is the link to the german article
http://www.stern.de/politik/historie...tml?eid=537265

regards
Andreas

pictures:
the map of Klessin and the relics of the castle after the battle

[Al-muell]

If You are not in a hurry - I will be in the area (on polish side of the boarder) in July...

[desantnik]

Originally Posted by Al-muell

If You are not in a hurry - I will be in the area (on polish side of the boarder) in July...

I can wait and look forward to it.

[desantnik]

Originally Posted by Alfred

Here is an article about the battle in Klessin near Berlin.
Also the castle is mentioned. It was a very long and hard battle.

400 soldiers of the Panzergrenadierregiment Kurmark defend the position in Klessin against the
4th soviet infantrie division with 8000 soldiers and a tank brigade. Soviet losses were frightening.

None of the houses are standing today. The hole village was destroyed.

Here is the link to the german article
Teil 2: Militärischer Zusammenbruch: Die letzten Tage von Klessin - stern.de

regards
Andreas

pictures:
the map of Klessin and the relics of the castle after the battle

Andreas, thanks. I've seen the article, though I'm not fluent in German and also the Tissier article on the fighting. Appreciate your input.

[Dat Nguyen]

I was in the area about 3 years ago visiting the Russian War Museum at Zeelow. We drove by your area of interest. I'll dig through my digital archives, but I do have photos of the Oder River valley beneath the Zeelow Height and Soviet War Graves at Reitweiner Sporn. I first visited the Museum in 1993 and then 2003. The changes in the town of Zeelow are amazing. It is like going from a black and white movie to Technicolor in the Wizard of Oz. I would love to go back to Zeelow and spend a month there looking at the German line of defense and follow the route of the advancing Soviet troops.

Dat