CONCLUSION
There
is little to add to the story of the 315th Engineer Battalion. On 9 May, the
official "V-E Day", the entire battalion assembled in Zwiesel then on
the l4th it moved back to Weiden where it was to renovate the Metzerkaserne.
The
next day the first contingent of "high‑point" men left for the
US and home. Thus began the slow, then rapid, disintegration of the battalion
under the redeployment plan.
Russians,
(liberated PW's) had moved from the Weiden cage into the barracks of the
Kaserne and now the cage was filled with the fallen Wehrmacht – after much
haggling and many delays the Russians were moved out and the 315th fell to the
task of completely renovating this German military post. Using German PW
laborers the brick buildings were scrubbed from top to bottom. Tons of rubbish,
loot and trash were hauled to the dump and burned. Hundreds of window panes
were replaced, roof tiles installed and then the inside walls were completely
repainted. Utilities were repaired, new furniture was brought in and elaborate
company kitchens were arranged in the basements of the barracks. A fine motor
park was paved with brick and a complete theater installation was constructed
in an armory‑type building. The Kaserne was rapidly becoming a first‑class
garrison post.
In
June the major work was completed and the 315th together with division
headquarters, the Reconnaissance Troop and the Signal Company moved into the
Kaserne – the finest installation that the battalion occupied during its three
and a half year history.
There
were routine road repairs in the division zone and there were construction
projects at the Weiden and Flossenberg PW cages but most of the work was taken
over by civilians and PW's under engineer guard and supervision. At the
Kaserne, PW's and civilians took over many of the housekeeping duties for the
troops.
There
were retreat parades in the quadrangle, award presentation ceremonies,
calisthenics at reveille and considerable unauthorized fraternizing "after
fours".
For
one special ceremony, the battalion, at "present arms" lined the
street into town while General Patton rode into the Kaserne to review the
troops and deliver a victory message.
But
this garrison life was not to last long. In late June the trickle of
redeployment became a stream and in July and August it became a torrent. All of
the "old men" of the 315th were transferred to units scheduled for
early return to the states and "low point" men from all over the
third army area arrived to take their places.
Within
a few months there was almost a complete turn‑over in personnel and
although the 315th remained in Weiden until November, its history to those who
knew it best, ended in August and September 1945.
With
other units of the 90th the battalion was shipped to the states and deactivated
in December 1945, and in 1947 a completely new version of the engineer
battalion was activated as a reserve unit in San Antonio, Texas.
No
written history can possibly describe the invincible spirit of the men who
fought and labored in the ranks of the T-O Engineer Battalion. This brief
history may have described some of their deeds, it may help its members to
recall other gallant actions, but no words can possibly give sufficient honor
to those men who served under the red and white shield which bears the
inscription – "Fabricamos'”
In
preparation of the narrative, former members of the 315th Engineer Battalion ‑
Clifford F. Thompson, Walter K. Stromquist, Andrew P. White, Clint Peterson and
John E. Margin rendered invaluable assistance.
A
large majority of the pictures were made by the battalion photographer, Millard
McKee and were assembled from the photograph album which was maintained by men
of the battalion headquarters sections.
M/Sgt.
Carl J. Reames, 4401st ASU, performed the major portion of the typing
throughout the volume.
F. G.
Russellville, Arkansas 5 July 1949