Battle for Aachen
                     The time period from Sept. 10 to Oct. 10 1944
                             Diarist G. Muellenmeister

     [comments by the translator are in [...] brackets]

     [dates in UK order, i.e., day.month.year.  Mostly USA spelling]

     [Note: str. is a contraction of Strasse which means street and
     is appended to most of the street names]

     [Most german place names are not translated, e.g. Drimborner Waeldchen
     would be Drimborn Copse in English]

     [Erzbergerallee 46, where the diarist was holed up, still exists]

     [Helfferichstr. no longer exists; it's probably now Adenauerallee,
     which runs approx. from southwest to northeast.  Erzbergerallee
     comes from the north and ends there]

     [Beverau is a part of Aachen, sort of like the Bronx or Manhatten in
     New York City, and lies both to the north and to the south of what was
     then Helfferichstr. Erzbergerallee is located there]

     [Burtscheid is also a part of Aachen and lies to the west of Beverau]

     10.09.44
             Even before 10.09.44 rumors were circulating in Aachen about an
             impending evacuation of the city, which caused a giant uproar
             among its residents.

             These plans were temporarily revoked only to pop up again,
             causing an extreme level of fear and uncertainty among the
             population.  Many were plagued by doubt:  what to do?
             Evacuate?  Or stay in the city?

             In either case danger was in the offing, an uncertain future
             which had us shaking in our boots.

             Fantastical rumors about what could come to pass in either
             case flitted like poisonous insects through the city.

             Carpet bombing of the Siegfried Line, the city, the bunkers,
             exactly as happened at the Atlantic Wall, then firing by our
             soldiers at the enemy troops moving through the city - a city
             without lights, gas and water, with no food deliveries, were
             prophesied for those who remained.  For the evacuees attacks
             on trains, the misery as refugees, loss of all goods, of their
             livelihoods.  Many thought that the Siegfried Line could hold
             out for months, but Aachen would then be under attack from
             both sides.

             At the behest of the Fuehrer Himmler inspected the defenses
             today.

             Late in the evening I enter our bunker area and find persons
             there who have fallen prey to helplessness and inner conflict
             as a result of their fear and uncertainty.

             Suddenly we sit up and take notice.  A leading personality,
             who is in contact with the Mayor, makes a consoling speech.
             The Mayor informs the citizens of Aachen that for the time
             being an evacuation is not being considered.  Himmler was
             here and asserted that the rescue of the german troops from
             the pocket near Antwerp was grounds for new hope.

             The graveyard humor disappeared as if blown away by a wind
             storm and was replaced by good humor [Fidelitas].  The mood
             was improved by a cup of [real] coffee and the bread and
             butter was once again eaten with good appetite.

     11.09.44
             Nevertheless, on 11.9. the city was again in a state of panic.

             Panic buying, particularly of food stuffs, increased.  In the
             course of the day it was announced that mothers with their
             children and old people would be able to leave until 7 [number
             hard to read and not clear whether AM or PM] o'clock.

             In recent days many had already left Aachen to visit distant
             relatives.  But a special police pass had been required.

             Nonetheless, 98,000 food ration cards had been distributed
             to residents in Aachen on 9.9.

     12.09.44
             In the late afternoon of 12.09. the evacuation order was brought
             to our house (Peterstr.).  Appointed time 8:30AM on 13.9.,
             destination Beeckstr.  The explanation: it is forbidden to stay
             in this part of Aachen.  Previously it was discretionary.  The
             Grevensteins, who planned to bed down in the underground shelter,
             come back.  All underground shelters and bunkers are being closed.

             Martin picks me up in the evening so we can move to Conrads'
             house in the Helfferichstrasse, where the family Corsten is
             also living.  The getaway luggage is tied onto a bicycle which
             Martin bought on the way over for 50 Reichsmark and some
             cigarettes.

             We move through practically abandoned streets.  Now and then
             a group of refugees on their way to the train station appears.

             Small handcarts, prams of various provenance, suit cases, amazing
             back packs quickly fashioned from all kinds of curious material,
             characterize the emigrants.

             In the Helfferichstrasse I had expected to find a group of
             people determined to remain in Aachen, as imagined by Martin
             C.  Instead: the highest level of fear induced panic, flowing
             tears, mindless packing resulting from a need to be ready at
             shortest notice to flee.  Some of the pickled eggs are given
             away, some are choked down as quickly as possible so that no
             stranger can eat them.

             Not just food, clothes and underware, but a spinning wheel packed
             in a sack, are to be taken along on the flight.

             Martin had to pull all the stops of his leadership talents to
             get the excited minds onto a path of reasonable action.

             Brainless neighbors who rushed over in a state of the highest
             hopelessness also had to be made to see reason and finally
             went, determined and thankful, back home.  People acquiesced
             to Martin's strict orders to stay while maintaining their
             composure and confidence.

             But they kept packing anyway, just in case they might still have
             to take off.

             In the evening we ate at the round table in the dining room.  A
             good, warm meal!

             Afterwards: a new uproar about where to spend the night.  Bunker,
             underground shelter or cellar?

             Against the desires of the fearful minds a decision is reached:
             either in the house itself or in its cellar.

             I sleep on the couch in the living room.  Sustained flak fire
             near and far.

     13.09.44
             The flak position behind our house is disbanded.  We hear the
             demolitions, see the fires.  Withdrawal of the flak unit.

             Many residents in the Beverau were determined not to leave.
             They remained at home, some in two underground shelters,
             about 200 people.

             Supposedly there are still thousands of people in the
             Frankenberger bunker, determined not to leave Aachen.

             A representative of Graf Schwerin, whose tank division is
             tasked with defending the city, addressed the people in the
             bunker during the night:  never before has such a disgraceful
             abandonment of a city taken place as in Aachen.  The Party
             [NSDAP] functionaries and the police ran away before the
             civilians were evacuated.  It is impossible to evacuate those
             who remain.  The citizens should stay put and support the army
             [Wehrmacht].

             And indeed, those who went to the train station yesterday
             returned today.  Among them the Pfannschmidts; having eaten
             all their provisions and broken their butter crock along the
             way, they now had to stay here.

             Many evacuees are near Dueren.  Many were dropped off a mere
             15 kilometers from Aachen.  Hardly anyone answers the phone.
             Apparently already all gone.  Only the Franciscan nuns
             (Kleinmarschierstr.) answered, determined to remain here.

             I heard from them that the people from the block of houses
             in the Peterstr. hadn't gone along to the train station and
             had remained in Aachen.

             We don't hear any more flak, but rather the thunder of the
             artillery in the Siegfried Line, which becomes louder and
             louder.

             I stand at the window with Martin and observe the shell hits
             in the german positions in the woods, all along the ridge,
             which was jam-packed with german troops, as fleeing soldiers
             reported.  In the evening a car full of Waffen SS drives past.
             The officer says that they're looking for lodgings for the
             staff.

             He thinks it will be impossible for civilians to get out
             of the city if they wait until morning.

             Now that the flak soldiers have abandoned their command post
             Franz Conrads and Edgar Pfannschmidt start to get things
             organised. The following items are quickly brought into the
             house: 1 sack of C(ombat)-rations, 1 box of hard tack, 5
             rabbits, 1 radio, 90 liters of petrol/gasoline, milk from
             the cows which are wandering around.

             All meals are eaten above ground.

             Because the enemy is getting closer the fearful souls demand
             that we go to the bunker or the underground shelter.  We stay
             in the house, as Martin orders.

             Good spirits prevail in the expectation that all difficulties
             will soon end.

             We move our sleeping quarters into the cellar in the evening.
             The couch, reclining chairs and a mattress on the floor serve
             as beds for the eight members of the household: Conrads,
             Corsten, Franzen, Muellenmeister.

     14.09.44
             Thursday.  This morning things are getting serious.  The
             artillery bombardment becomes an artillery duel early on.
             The enemy fires from the woods and our forces reply from
             the east and the north (Soers) of the city (Lousberg).

             We hear that the enemy is in Wahnbruch.

             The roads leading out of the woods are under continuous fire.
             Towards Ponttor, Ludwigsallee one sees lots of shell hits,
             also in the inner city.  The artillery duel goes on for
             hours.

             Long distance calls to Franz in Gelsenkirchen and Hanne
             in Dortmund this morning.  We're on pins and needles and
             hope that the worst will be over in two hours.

             We talk to some soldiers who, coming from Eupen, are glad
             that they could get out of the Aachen woods.  They are
             flabbergasted to hear that they're in front of Aachen.
             They're weary and listless and can only think about
             being taken prisoner.  They tell us that the enemy has
             more troops and is better equipped than we are.  Their
             answer to our question, whether it's dangerous out there,
             is that it's dangerous everywhere here.

             We'd written a lot of letters and wanted to give them to
             them to forward.  They refused because they didn't expect
             that they'd be able to get out of Aachen.

             A short time later another two soldiers came running by,
             breathless and shaking.  They were running fast, hoping
             that they could get away to the east.  They readily took
             our letters along.

             The firing from the artillery/tanks gets heavier and heavier.
             The shell hits get closer to our street.

             We sit close together in the cellar.  The shell hits on the
             side where the garden lies shake the house.  Greetings from
             the Americans in the nearby Aachen woods.

             Hardly a pause!  Hardly a dwindling.  A hard impact - the
             lights go out and the entire house remains dark!

             We dare to go upstairs once the rain of iron ends and see
             the destruction at the rear of the house.

             The window panes in the dining room and the kitchen are
             shattered as if from a bombardment.  Shrapnel went through
             the cabinet and bored holes in the wall.  Floors, furniture,
             all covered with dust, dirt, chips and shrapnel!

             In the evening we stand on the side of the road and talk to
             two soldiers who are passing by.

             One soldier cries "Watch out!  Shrapnel!" We race to the side
             of the house and lie flat on the ground.  Shrapnel rains down
             around us for several seconds.  Fearful seconds!

             Another night, another round of discussions and doubts about
             where to spend the night.  Martin's order "we remain in the
             cellar" wins out.

             The consecrated candle burns in the cellar while we say the
             rosary together in our great peril.

             From today onward no more lights or drinking water.  No radio,
             no newspapers; cut off from the outside world.

     15.09.44
             Friday.  The night in the cellar was pretty quiet.  The fire
             [in the oven] is brought back to life this morning.  Milking
             the cows - cooking.  Impossible!

             Yesterday we ate a posh rabbit stew with pudding - today a
             simple milksop [from Old English milk soppe, which is pretty
             much the same as the word Milchsuppe used in the text].  We
             spend most of our time in the cellar, see the Waffen SS go
             past, hear their tanks.

             At around 10 o'clock intense roar of artillery around us.
             The house shakes and trembles to its foundations.

             We huddle close together in the most distant corner of the
             cellar, near the consecrated candle.  We don't have enough
             breath to pray aloud.  Anni cries bitterly.

             In the afternoon low-flying enemy planes appear.  They fire
             their machine guns!  The artillery duel resumes as soon as the
             planes leave.  This happens by turns the whole day.  Without
             let up!

             We stay in the cellar because it pings and whizzes around us
             incessantly.

             During the day soldiers cross the street.  They throw open
             the garden gates, ours too, as possible cover.

             The Nicolins tell use that the Waffen SS is supposed to relieve
             the Gallwitz-Kaserne, which is in the hands of the Americans.
             All this reduces our courage.  How much longer must we remain
             captives in our cellar?

             We begin to reckon how long our available provisions will last
             for eight people.

             The bombardment lasts until 9PM.

             Late in the evening Martin returns in a good mood from Dr. Schul.

             The people living in the underground shelter always wear a white
             armband when they go outside because the Americans can be seen
             in the Drimborner Waeldchen.

             The copse opposite our position!  Two wounded soldiers are
             brought into the underground shelter.  They asked right away
             "Are any of those louts from the SA or SS here?" "No!"
             "Otherwise we would have done for them too!"

             Communal evening prayers in the cellar.  The enemy's heavy
             artillery in the woods fires over, and sometimes into, the
             city for a little more than half of the night.  The brave
             want to sleep upstairs, but soon return.  Only Martin and
             Franz stay upstairs.

     16.09.44
             Saturday.  Heavy morning fog.  The fighting resumes as it
             gets brighter, mostly mortar fire.  Shell hits nearby.  In
             the distance one hears the rhythms of a moving tank.

             Rushed coffee brewing!  Breakfast together underground.

             Chaplain Hugo Baurmann comes to pick up Franz to go milking.
             We wait in the house until the shell hits move away from us.

             Chaplain Baurmann tells us that there is still a way out of
             the city.  Juelicherstr. is still open.

             The Party turned up yesterday at Bluecherplatz with 24
             vehicles for evacuating the city dwellers, 23 went away
             empty.  The Party tears down the white flag which the
             populace had raised.  The flag appeared again after the
             Party had disappeared into the distance.  Plain clothes
             SS were disarmed by civilians.

             The Waffen SS pushes the enemies back to the edge of the
             woods.  America is again a little further away from us.
             But the Americans still control the Gallwitz-Kaserne and
             Nellessen Park.

             Shops in the city were plundered, lots of alcoholic beverages
             found a new home.

             After midday extreme artillery fire on both sides of us.
             Shell hits nearby, heavy smoke rises from the gable end of
             the neighboring house.  We again huddle close together in the
             cellar, near the consecrated candle.

             This drama is replaced by climbing planes: 4 german and 8
             enemy.  An air battle ensues and an american plane is hit.
             The pilot can parachute out.  Near Forster Kirche.  The
             Pfannschmidts leave the city at the last minute, after having
             slaughtered a pig beforehand.  Around Wuerselen fires can be
             seen.

             Juelicherstr. is supposedly still open.

             Franz goes to the bunker in the evening to get Uliana, who
             was earlier the Conrads' housemaid, and is hiding there.  He
             comes back heart stricken, without Uliana.  Along the way he
             heard from a soldier that Aachen would be defended and all
             civilians forcibly evacuated.

             All nerves in the house are totally frayed.  Martin has to use
             force to make reason prevail.  Around 5:30PM the onset of a
             total smoke screen in the woods and city.  American planes drop
             smoke bombs/grenades.

             More and more plane formations are coming from the enemy side.

             Phillip dictates "Between 7 and 8PM a total eclipse of the
             souls."

             On the heels of the smoke screen comes the twilight.  The
             Americans probably plan to use this protection to get closer
             to the city.

             We'd planned to slaughter a calf in the afternoon, but were
             unable to do it.  Our enemies always have a say when we plan
             something.

             We no longer hope from hour to hour, but rather from day to
             day, that we will be liberated from our underground prison.
             Franz and Martin go to the underground shelter and also hear
             there that Aachen is supposed to be forcibly evacuated.

             Schmeer (district administrator) was in the city.  Vehicles
             are standing by.  What would become of us if the underground
             shelters and the bunkers were forcibly evacuated?  Or should
             we evacuate too? - This thought leads to an unhappy and doubt
             filled mood. - Renewed packing with great anxiety and the
             unanswered question: what will become of us?

             We eat our evening meal in the cellar in silence.  Around 10:30
             PM Martin and Dr. Schleicher head out to the bunker and Chaplain
             Baurmann respectively, but are stopped along the way by a patrol
             (Dr. Dreising).

             Communal evening prayers.  Around 12AM Martin appears with the
             same news about a forcible evacuation.

             Tomorrow, Sunday, is Martin's last day of leave.  He plans to
             do his duty and leave then, come Hell or high water.  What
             would happen to us without him?  Wouldn't it be better for us
             to leave at the same time?

             Martin and I stand for quite some time at the open mansard
             window, look out into the night and confer with one another.
             We hear the enemy artillery from the direction of Triererstr.
             The artillery is located on/near the last two open streets out
             of the city.  Fire shine in Wuerselen.  I go to bed at about 2
             AM and fall asleep around 5AM.

     17.09.44
             I get up around 6:30AM.  Martin is already here, wearing his
             uniform, and gets ready to go, since today is the last day of
             his leave.

             In the cellar kitchen I prepare some breakfast for him and
             also some food to take along on his journey.  While I hastily
             cut some bread some excited souls tumble down the stairs,
             crying:  Americans around our house!

             Now no-one dares to go outside.  Martin also has to stay to
             avoid being captured by the Americans while unarmed.

             Around 10AM Chaplain Baurmann tiptoes by on his way to the
             underground shelter, with the articles for Mass in a case.  He
             ducks behind a garden gate whenever the artillery roars.  One
             can only walk on the pavement/sidewalk along the houses, and
             even then only with the greatest care, because the entire
             street has been turned into a minefield.

             All day the heavy american cannons thunder from the south-east
             towards the north-eastern areas of the city.  A neighbor turns
             up around 12 and tells us about a Major who wants to search
             every house for Germans fit for military service.

             We heard from the underground shelter that the enemy made an
             offer in a letter to Graf Schwerin, the division commander, to
             initiate negotiations for the surrender of the city.  Graf
             Schwerin passed the buck to the heads of the civilian
             government.  They passed the buck in turn to the Fuehrer in
             Berlin.  Graf Schwerin was ordered to immediately report to
             the Fuehrer.  He was to be court-martialed.  He reacted with
             the request to be allowed to continue to defend Aachen, before
             appearing before the court. [In reality, he was relieved of his
             command on 14.09.44 for allegedly preventing the evacuation of
             civilians.  He was placed in the officer reserves and charges
             against him were dropped in November, 1944.  He then commanded
             troops in Italy and was captured there in 1945.  He died in 1980]

             At the moment low-flying planes are attacking the german position.
             We hear from some SS soldiers that the ring of fire around Aachen
             has been closed.  None of us has a choice [but to remain].

             The sergeant who's nearby wants to surrender himself and his 30
             men.  But his people don't want to, they hope that they can still
             escape.  Many of them are wearing civilian clothes under their
             uniforms.

             From the third floor we can see that the Guelicherstr. is under
             fire, close to Haaren.  Martin wonders whether he may be able
             to leave after all.  Since lunch time continuous action by the
             enemy planes with the usual bombardment.

             The aerial attacks end at about 3PM.  We hear an american loud
             speaker from the direction of the Drimborner Waeldchen.  We
             keep the blinds closed all day so that no Major or soldier
             gets the idea that there are men fit for military service here.

             Martin and Franz C., who's been drafted into the labour service,
             sneak through a hole in the hedge to Schleicher's house.  They
             plan to return in the evening, after the Major has inspected all
             the houses.  We sit in the cellar and say the rosary after the
             young men have gone.

             Rifle fire, hand grenade explosions around us!  We go to bed
             early since we don't have any candles for light.  Some on the
             ground floor, some in the cellar.  On the ground floor in
             protected corners Anni, Lilli and Fine.  Marianne, Phillip and
             I in the cellar.  Reconnaissance patrols still fighting around
             us in the night.  Explosions from shells startle us at around
             1:30AM.  We hear the glass rattle and can smell the cordite.
             Those upstairs come down into the cellar and we close ranks.
             I fall asleep around 5AM.

     18.09.44
             The german and american patrols are still going at it in the
             morning.  Fighting drops off at dawn.  Heavy fog.  A neighbor
             [Frau G.] tells me that a german soldier was buried yesterday
             in the beet field behind Pfannschmidt's place.  I consider
             going with her to the underground shelter at Beverau to pick
             up some food.

             Deliveries are made for the 200 people there every now and
             then and there's enough for the rest of the neighborhood too.
             But Frau G. is too scared to go with me.  The reason being
             that her husband was held up by an american soldier with a
             pistol who suddenly appeared out of no where.  "Soldat?
             [soldier?]" he cried.  Only after turning out all his pockets
             did the soldier believe his denial.  We thoroughly clean all
             the rooms facing the garden in the course of the morning.

             The explosions during the night have left noticeable traces.
             Two rabbits are dead and the third one, seriously injured,
             cowers before the door and asks to be let in.  The peach tree
             was hit in the middle of its crown.  A good 3/4 of the peaches
             are on the ground.  One can easily see how the shrapnel from
             the crown hit the house wall and also entered the house,
             tearing the floors and windows apart.  Lilli's bedroom (2nd
             floor) has the most damage with 19 strikes.

             It's a Herculean task to clear the rooms of dust, rubble and
             glass shards.  During the clean up I sneak into the cellar and
             sit in front of my spy hole to see what's happening outside.

             Suddenly people appear.  A family rushes past, loaded down
             with their belongings.  It's the family H. from the
             Viktoriaallee, who now stand in front of our door and ask to
             be let in.  The family H. is fleeing because the Frankenburg
             bunker is being forcibly cleared out by the SA and SS.  With
             brutality and cruelty they force the occupants to evacuate to
             the Reich [east of Aachen] and tell them: "You lazy people
             hang around here while we need every available worker on the
             other side of the Rhein [rechtsrheinisch] to manufacture
             ammunition."

             The occupants defend themselves and tell the well groomed
             power mongers that they have a more important role to fill
             at the front.  In spite of the pleas and threats of the crowd
             they [the SA/SS] yell: "Just dare to touch us!"  The braver
             crowd members step forward and remind them with raised index
             finger that "others will take care of that for us." (they mean
             the Americans).

             I heard father H. say to his three daughters: "Children, don't
             forget that in this hour the Deutschtum [Germanness] has been
             driven out of you."

             Several thousand were supposed to be removed from the bunker.
             Where to?  Those already evacuated had waited in vain at the
             train station, were dropped off a mere 15km from Aachen, only
             to be forced to camp in the surrounding fields with no certain
             future.

             German soldiers who had seen the misery of the refugees at the
             train station told father H.: "We're hard men, but when we saw
             the misery of the refugees we couldn't shoot at an American any
             more."

             No artillery fire or tank actions during the whole morning,
             just skirmishes between raiding parties, apparently from
             Kirschenbueschchen [little cherry bushes] to the bridge.  But
             still dangerous for us.  At the same time lucky for us,
             because neither the SA nor the SS dares to come here.

             We turn our house into a sort of fortress, keep the doors and
             windows tightly closed, blinds down, move as quietly as possible
             and talk only in whispers.

             We're also determined not to eat any more warm meals so that
             the smoke from the chimney won't betray our presence.  After
             eating we move the bedding into the furnace room, add two beds
             and a sofa to the already present couch.  Room for six people.

             Martin and Franz disappear through the hedge to Schleicher's
             place to continue their hidden life.

             Heavy fighting nearby all day long.  The Germans drove the
             Americans out of Kirschenbueschchen.  The Americans counter
             attack.  It's only safe in the cellar.  The married couple
             Schlitz was killed in their cellar during the heavy shelling.

             We also had three shell hits in the garden.

             Martin and Franz return, unseen in the dark, for dinner.

             The Family H. also wants to relocate to the neighboring house,
             in order to share their hidden existence with Martin and Franz,
             because Mr. H. is also fit for military duty and doesn't want to
             be sniffed out by any Germans.  H. disappears silently through
             the hedge, followed later by Martin and Franz.

             We're all burdened by the fear of the enemy projectiles, but
             even more so by the fear of being discovered by our "german
             friends."

             As he departs Martin says: "Pray children, everything depends
             on that!" After they're gone we hold communal evening prayers,
             long and imploringly.

     19.09.44
             A fairly quiet night.  At about 1:30AM we're woken up by a
             shell hit nearby, along with the usual rattles and clicking
             noises.  In the morning we see that Ebert's house across the
             street was hit hard.  The shrapnel also hit our house and the
             window panes in the front.  The windows on the gable side are
             also damaged.

             The heavy american artillery gets back to work after nine.  The
             impacts are in Kirschenbueschchen, which is again occupied by the
             Germans.

             Breakfast at eleven.  We hole up in a corner of the cellar due
             to the heavy shelling and cower there until midday.

             Franz shows up with an american weekly newspaper.  Masses of
             them were dropped on a nearby field.  The american report
             states that Aachen is surrounded and that there's only a gap
             between Merkstein and Weisweiler.  Only the Krefelderstr.
             offers a way out.  Eilendorf, Eschweiler, Stolberg and
             Roethgen are in the hands of the Americans.

             Franz requisitions an abandoned Tempo-Wagen [a transporter
             with three wheels] and brings bread for us and the underground
             shelter.  Also Maggi [bouillon cubes and/or bottles of food
             flavoring for soups etc.], paper and an oil lamp.

             Heavy shelling until evening. Lots of explosions, but far away.

             Around 11PM heavy explosions behind the house, like bombs.
             That lasts until 2AM.

     20.09.44
             German soldiers are hiding in abandoned houses in the Beverau
             and are firing from them.  The Americans fire back.  Just
             about every house has bullet holes. The Vondenbusch farm is
             also a defensive position.

             Since it's impossible to stay upstairs we move the oven into
             the cellar, which is slowly being turned into a complete
             kitchen, and is being used to cook and bake for 13 persons
             (including family H.).

     21.09.44
             The night was much quieter than we're used to.  Only moderate
             artillery fire.

             Anni and I go in the early morning to the field to collect
             potatoes.  Absolutely necessary for the kitchen.

             Two soldiers on leave pass by at around 10AM.  They want to
             visit relatives at Beverau, after having fruitlessly tried
             to get to Brand, which is now in american hands.

             Artillery fire from both sides during the day.  Apparently in
             connection with the railway bridge (railway embankment), which
             lies in the german line of fire.

     22.09.44
             The night was nice and quiet, only distant artillery hits.
             Early in the morning to Opitz to pick up necessities for
             the kitchen, while the american artillery shells whiz by
             above us.

             The houses in the Beverau which our soldiers have occupied
             are under continuous artillery fire.  Several houses have
             burned down.  The Beverau is being turned into a field of
             rubble.  Many houses are badly damaged.

             That soldiers enter, exit and stand around outside the
             underground shelter also increases the danger to the
             civilians sheltering there.

             The Americans now control Kirschenbueschchen, Drimborner
             Waeldchen and Nellessen-Wald, along with the left side of
             our street.  The Germans are on the other side.

             A german tank drives up at noon and stops a few houses below
             us in the Helfferichstrasse.  It's supposed to fire 200 rounds
             at the Americans.  The second round is a dud.  The tank must
             pull back.  A second tank shows up and has to pull back after
             the same thing happens to it.

             Chaplain Baurmann is tireless in his zeal to support the
             spiritual and physical well being of his flock.  Frequent
             masses at the underground shelter or in the cellar of one
             of the houses.  After setting up the altar with the few
             remaining flowers and candles he held a mass at 7PM in our
             cellar.

             A large number of neighbors is present.  Chaplain Baurmann
             absolves all those present of their sins, everyone receives
             the Holy Communion.

             We get a chance to hand a passing soldier some letters in
             the evening.

     23.09.44
             Artillery and tank fire, as usual.  Particularly heavy around
             midday.

             At 7PM a mass in our cellar, 26 participants.

             A raging fire visible on the eastern horizon.

     24.09.44
             An unpleasant night!  An armored car drives around behind our
             house the whole night, firing off booming shots, sometimes
             nearby, sometimes further away, until 5AM.

             German soldiers blow up the railway bridge to Helfferichstr.
             early in the morning.  German soldiers invade Prang's house,
             paw through the cabinets and steal stuff.

             At 5PM mass in our cellar, 25 people present.  We hear that a
             man and a woman from the underground shelter secretly went to
             the Americans in the Drimborner Waeldchen and asked them to end
             the misery of the 180 persons (civilians) there by pushing
             their lines beyond it.

     25.09.44
             A quiet night!

             The row of houses closest to the enemy in Beverau burns down
             in the morning.  The Americans threw incendiaries into them.
             A group of 20 [american] soldiers enters another house.  Of
             the [german] soldiers hiding there one is captured and the
             other killed.  Then the Americans enter the underground
             shelter and search for soldiers and weapons, but find nothing.

             Big preparations in our cellar kitchen!  The people in the
             underground shelter slaughtered a pig and an ample amount of
             it is earmarked for our group of 13 hungry mouths.

     26.09.44
             The police turn up at the underground shelter at 2AM.  Orders:
             the shelter must be evacuated immediately.  Its inhabitants
             prepare themselves for transportation to the Reich!  Some go
             along during the night, others wait until the morning, a slew
             of them fools the police and hides in empty houses, 20 of them
             in a single house.

             Franz tells us this even before we've gotten out of bed.  The
             result is maximum fear and uproar.  We fear that the police
             will search and evacuate the houses too.  What will become of
             us then?  We fear for Franz and Martin.  Martin comes to us
             without being seen [on the way over].  He manages with great
             difficulty to calm us down and make us keep quiet, so that the
             house will appear to be uninhabited [loose translation].

             It rains cats and dogs from early morning until late
             afternoon.  We're happy to have the rain water for cooking and
             cleaning.  But, oh no!  A multitude of holes in the roof allow
             the precious fluid to flow in streams and trickles into the
             house, through the ceilings, even reaching the ground floor.
             There aren't enough pots and tubs to hold back the floods in
             the attic and the second and third floors.

             Family Braunsdorf knocks at the door in the afternoon.  They
             want to take their leave before heading out to the other side
             of the Rhein [rechtsrheinisches Land].  Their nerves are
             jangling from all the packing and toting and having to leave
             so many possessions behind.  They believe the horror stories
             which have been dished up to the undecided migrants:
             executions of civilians, undermining of their houses,
             destruction by flame throwers!

             The fantastical description of what may happen inflames the
             already so often afflicted nerves of our household.  New
             doubts and fearful wavering between staying and leaving
             prevails yet again.

             Martin must take stern action to convince us to remain.

     27.09.44
             We remain shuttered in the house and only sneak over to family
             H. to bring them their three meals.  The H. daughters often come
             over to fetch the food.

             Artillery duel from far and near.  The Germans fire out of the
             city from Lousberg at the american positions in the woods.

             We start eating the last of the bread.

     28.09.44
             Artillery barrage!

             German soldiers are present in the Helfferichstr. less often.  In
             our neighborhood only patrols and outposts.  The command post is
             in Rinkens' house, six houses above ours.  German battle line,
             the american artillery targets the railway embankment, about
             50 meters behind us!

             Many shell hits in Burtscheid today.

             We hope to be relieved from week to week.  A calf was
             slaughtered at Cohnen's place [lots of people named Cohnen in
             Aachen].  For us and Horbach also a goodly portion.

     29.09.44
             Low flying planes circle for hours after noon, firing their
             machine guns and dropping bombs.

             Artillery in the evening.  Shell hits from Preusweg to
             Vaelser-Quartier along the woods.

     30.09.44
             A quiet night!  A quiet morning!  Foggy outside!

             Franz informs us what was in the radio report of the german
             army.  He got it from our neighbor Hanrads, who has a
             listening device.  The Schwerin Division is supposed to be
             relieved by a new one, which is allegedly tasked with
             arresting all civilians.

             Martin must repeat his emphatic admonition to remain unnoticed
             in the house over and over.

             German soldiers move up from the railway embankment to the former
             flak position in the afternoon.  An american soldier in an outpost
             is wounded.  He pins a bit of white cloth to his uniform and crawls
             on his knees with great effort to the enemy position, from which he
             is taken to the command post in Rinkens' house.

             Six german soldiers search the flak position and then take cover
             in a hedge where some one-man foxholes had been previously dug.
             It's the hedge which runs at a right angle to our house on the
             adjacent field [the diarist later calls it the Querhecke. which
             literally means the hedge at a right angle.  Since Querhecke is
             easier to write it will be used in the rest of this translation].

             Now the Americans fire at the bushes behind the flak position.
             Their fire hits the flak position, the Querhecke, the gardens
             of our row of houses and the railway embankment.  A flak shack
             catches fire.

             Great anxiety in our cellar domicile! Anni is too afraid to go
             to bed.  Phillip is afflicted with enormous anxiety all night,
             wants once again to get away to the east [to the Reich].  In
             these days we realize how our situation worsens from day to day.

             I remember that The Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary will soon
             (07.11) be celebrated.  Pope Pius V instituted the feast of
             Our Lady of Victory in order to commemorate the victory at
             Lepanto, which he attributed to the Blessed Virgin Mary.  Who
             can count the number of miraculous deliverances which Mary,
             Our Lady of Victory, has since then made possible through her
             intercession?

             We are united in our determination to today start the novena in
             honor of Our Lady of Victory.  Our neighbors also take part.  The
             statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary has a place of honor in the
             cellar.

     01.10.44
             A quiet night after the storm!  Martin calms the jangling nerves
             and steadies our resolution [to remain].

             A rainy day!  All available containers are upstairs but aren't
             nearly enough to catch the streams of water entering the house.
             The unstoppable water seeps through and turns the ceilings
             into mud in some places.  The weather improves around twilight.

             We see fire in Morsbach, Wuerselen; smoke rises from the railway
             embankment, the row of houses in Turpinstrasse, which was hard
             hit by the continuous bombardment of the railway embankment.

             Suddenly we see close-quarters fighting between the patrols
             behind our house.  The fire of the rifles, machine guns and
             grenades goes to and fro, to and fro between the railway
             embankment and the Querhecke, where the Germans are, and the
             thicket on the heights, which is held by the Americans.  We
             can clearly see the tracer bullets [the diarist uses
             Feuerkugeln, which can be translated as "fire bullets." I
             chose to translate it as tracer bullets, since that's the more
             technical term], since it's getting dark, which fly, well
             aimed, like the balls of playing children.  End of the fight:
             six Germans in the hedge take to their heels in the direction
             of the railway embankment!

             To bed at 9PM!

             A continuous, hours-long bombardment with all kinds of weapons
             begins.  The house shakes.

     02.10.44
             Afternoon!  The Americans bombard the Querhecke and the surrounding
             area.  The Germans blast the american artillery position in the
             woods.  U. Branusdorf knocks on our cellar door in the evening.
             She took the risk of returning from the other side of the Rhein
             [rechtsrheinisch] to Aachen to collect some belongings from
             her apartment.  Very risky!

             With nervous jitteriness she spouts horror stories without end
             about the catastrophic dangers which face those who remain in
             the beleaguered city of Aachen, without mentioning the dangers
             which she herself faced. [She did this with] such astounding
             conviction that she completely dominated the thoughts of those
             present.  A protest or plea for common sense was impossible.

             Struck by her words we go to bed, unable to find peace in sleep.
             Thoughts of exodus rack our brains.

             Lilli has acute heart problems during the night and has to get
             up to take some medicine.

     03.10.44
             Early in the morning, before we even get out of bed, we discuss
             the arguments for leaving presented by our over-wrought guest.
             We note their obvious contradictions and fantastical nonsense.
             Common sense wins out before we even get up.  No-one in our
             dormitory [Schlafstube] now considers leaving.

             U. Branusdorf, our guest during the night, leaves us in the
             morning to visit her house again, after which she'll go back
             to the other side of the Rhein.  We take advantage of this
             opportunity to give U. Branusdorf some letters, which we
             hastily write.

     04.10.44
             Lilli, Anni and Marianne are busy procuring goods from Opitz
             in the morning.  Adequate supplies for the 13 of us are
             guaranteed for a while.

             Reconnaissance patrols clash near the flak position behind our
             house in the afternoon.  Two soldiers bring down a wounded man
             who is wearing a civilian coat and no hat.  A bombed out house
             burns down!  Flashes of distant artillery fire on the southeast
             and northwest horizons late in the evening.

     05.10.44
             We fetch lots of fruit home in the morning, namely apples!
             Anni encounters a sergeant at Opitz' who warns her not to
             let herself be seen, because the Army [Wehrmacht] will not
             tolerate civilians in a war zone.  Mrs. Gerhards also ran into
             a soldier who asked in amazement "Huh?  Are there still civilians
             here?  Don't you know that you're in the middle of a battle field?"

     06.10.44
             During the night we heard the explosions of the mortar shells,
             close by and all around the house.  In the morning we find that
             the cherry tree was knocked over.

             Pfannschmidt's house suffered a shell hit.  All morning long
             lots of fighter bombers and continuous mortar fire.  As I sit at
             the window and look out at the street a shell hits right in front
             of our house.  Black smoke and some shock!

             The farmer Peters, who was forced at gunpoint to abandon his
             farm, comes back home.  His second attempt to get away from
             the mass of refugees succeeded in Guerzenich near Dueren.  He
             brought along two people who live in Beverau.  The three take
             lodgings in Prang's house, since the Americans occupy his
             property.

     07.10.44
             Constant fighting in the night, in particular mortar attacks.
             Baltes came back into the city on his military motorcycle (as
             a soldier), taking advantage of the fog.  He went up to
             Helfferichstr. to collect some possessions for the last time,
             since it's otherwise practically impossible to enter or leave
             Aachen.

     08.10.44
             Such a night as we've never experienced before!  Sustained and
             booming artillery fire wakes us up at 4AM.  The clanking of
             tanks and the roar of their cannons in addition - until 1:30PM!
             Not a single shot from the german side in reply.

             The battle for the railway embankment heats up in the light of
             day.  Shell hits close to the front and rear of our house!  A
             shell strikes the fence of the strawberry field!  Shrapnel
             enters Lilli's living room, goes through its wall and enters
             the pantry!

             An NCO [Unteroffizier = Non-Commissioned Officer] appears at
             the garden gate on the other side of the street, skittish,
             cowering, keeping a lookout both up and down the street.
             Soldiers come up from below [probably on the street].  He
             tells them:  "We don't have any more ammunition, the tanks
             fire without let up." No soldier dares to go up and down the
             street anymore.  They all sneak to the command post in
             Rinkens' house through the gardens on the right side of the
             street, well camouflaged.  The telephone line to the command
             post has apparently been cut.  Three soldiers hide in
             Barth's garden, dig two fox holes near the hedge in our
             garden.

             The Americans blast the outposts without let up.  Along with the
             usual bombardment of the railway embankment.

             We see damage to glass and walls as never before.  The street facing
             part of the house, which was in pretty good shape up to now, does
             not have a single intact window left.  The bathroom can only be
             used for air baths.

             We stay behind closed doors and talk only in whispers.  Impossible
             to bring food to the the neighbors, as is our wont.

             Chaplain Baurmann had intended to celebrate mass with us at
             5PM.  Since we consider this to be impossible we hold communal
             prayers in the cellar dormitory at 11AM.  Deeply moved and
             devout in our adoration of Our Lady of Victory we trustingly
             sought her succor on this last octave [last Sunday of the
             novena they started on 30.09.44].  However, before our
             devotions reach an end the windows suddenly burst and shards
             of glass fly about us and land on the table.  The cause was the
             blast from an explosion in front of the house.  We're shocked,
             but no-one was hurt.

             Rather than cooking lunch we make do with left overs.  Our
             mood is such that it ruins our appetite.  Especially when we
             consider that our neighbors are now completely cut off from
             our supplies.  We very cautiously peek through the gaps in
             the roller shutters to see what our soldiers are up to,
             observe their movements to and from the command post.

             They enjoy the fruit in our garden, especially the peaches,
             all of which they gobble down.

             The soldiers spend the night in the cellar at Barth's place.

             At twilight a soldier with a stomach wound is carried away on
             a stretcher behind our garden fence.

             Many shell hits in the neighborhood today.

             The gable side of Badet's house was severely damaged by two
             shell hits.  The Haus zur Eule also took a hit.  The nicest
             tree in front of Ebert's house was destroyed.

     09.10.44
             Sustained bombardment of the railway embankment over night.
             There's a knock at our cellar door before we've even gotten
             out of bed.  It's Franz with several Americans who want to
             come in.  They step to our beds and greet us in a very
             friendly manner while at the same time anxiously checking
             whether any german soldiers are in our house.

             We're told that the Americans now control the entire left
             side of Helfferichstrasse, from the Beverau to our location.

             Our amazement at the unexpected deliverance can't be expressed
             in words.  We can hardly believe that we can now go out into the
             sunlight and breath the fresh air without having to fear being
             shot or coming face to face with menacing scouts.

             As if with one mind we all cry: Our Lady of Victory!  We resolve
             never to forget our savior.

             I explain to the American closest to my bed how it came about
             that we held out in our cellar for four long weeks under
             continuously worsening conditions, which he listened to with
             sympathy.  The Americans searched the houses in such a decent
             and courteous manner that one can hardly see them as the enemy.
             The upshot is that we offer the fighters, worn out from the
             stresses and strains of the night, our bottle of cognac.

             "Cognac will soon be off" says one of the Americans with a laugh,
             analogous to our oft repeated question "Are the german soldiers
             gone off?" - we still can't get it into our heads that not a single
             German [soldier] is now present in our defense area [the words
             in quotes are in the original text].

             Some Americans enter Barth's cellar, where five german soldiers
             were staying yesterday evening, one of whom was kneeling in
             front of the entry with his weapon at the ready, partly hidden
             in the corner.  Luckily, the cellar was empty and no shots were
             fired.  The last glasses of cognac are emptied in our cellar
             stairway.  We wish the fighters good sailing in future.  "Yeah,
             and that we can soon go back home, we've been away from home for
             two years!" said one who'd been sadly sitting in the middle of the
             stairs with his head down.

             After the victors leave us we apply ourselves, with easy minds
             and full of joy, to our breakfast, which tastes much better
             today.  Our modest meal is only half eaten when all of a
             sudden the Americans order: all the local residents of
             Helfferichstr. [which includes those in Erzbergerallee] must
             immediately group at the street [Helfferichstr.], because
             we're to be moved to Eupen for two days to get away from the
             german cannonade.  No food is to be taken.  Lock the house
             door, nothing in the house will be touched.

             We take that literally, quickly pack a few essentials and move
             up to Helfferichstrasse at the woods opposite Rinkens' house.

             Woe!  The street is a sorry sight.  Unbelievable destruction
             as the result of the marksmanship of both sides.  More like
             the results of a bombing raid.  The entire Beverau is now just
             a field of rubble.

             Fallen warriors line the way.  I observe an American who,
             pressed tight against a wall so that he's barely visible,
             takes a shot at a German with his pistol.  The bullet has
             barely left the barrel when he jumps back like a lizard.

             The Germans pound the area which was just torn from their
             grasp.  The Americans in Rinkens' house yell "Down!".  We
             hastily go down into the cellar with them, in which only
             yesterday german soldiers were holding out while the
             Americans were already in control of the upper floor.
             An american guide takes us in tow to escort us to our
             transportation.  Before crossing the wide street to the
             edge of the woods he calls to us "Duck and run fast!"

             We pass through a few streets of the smashed Beverau and
             are glad to reach the protection of the woods.  Dead cattle
             lies along the way, some shot and others dead from starvation.

             We see the tanks, the cannons, well hidden in the heavy
             undergrowth, which caused us so much grief for four long
             weeks.  We pass by the Gallwitz-Kaserne, which suffered so
             severely from the german cannonade, and end up at the
             Goldhausen pub, where we take a short break.

             As we continue our journey a car shows up and picks up our
             baggage, which is a great relief.

             By way of Lichtenbusch, which is partly abandoned, we reach
             Lintert, end point of our trek.  The Americans have completely
             taken over the school.  The Gatzweiler family has been evicted
             and is not allowed to enter their house.

             We await our evacuation behind a small farmhouse, opposite
             the school.  A crowd of german POWs opposite us.  Worn out
             and miserable, lethargic and brooding.  We're not allowed to
             approach them.  We see well camouflaged cannons in a clearing
             in the woods which fire without let up across the city.  An
             American takes down our names and addresses.  We try again and
             again to find out where we'll end up.  In answer: "You'll
             go to a neighboring village, don't know the name, or maybe
             to Eupen, or maybe to a refugee camp."

             Two american reporters join us to get as much information
             about conditions in Germany and Party affairs as possible.
             Not knowing our final destiny makes us despondent, but that
             the Americans treat us in a gentlemanly and polite manner is
             consoling - not a sign of enmity towards or hatred of Germany
             is evident.  On the other hand, it's clear that the Americans
             harbor a particular sympathy for the catholic part of the
             german population.

             After a long wait two lorries/trucks drive up - one for the
             women and their baggage and one for the men and their baggage.
             Our route goes by way of Oberforstbach, Hallset, Eynatten,
             Eupen to Homburg and there to the refugee camp.

             We're happy to leave the battle zone behind and to once again
             see peaceful communities which haven't been destroyed by the
             fighting.

             Along the way we saw a valley meadow with a few tents and
             crowds of german POWs standing around.

             List of names and addresses of people living in Erzbergerallee
             going from south to north

             58 Rinkens 56 Opitz 55 Mertens 54 Nicolin 53 Ebert 52 Jacobs
             50 Huellenkremer 48 Schleicher 46 Conrads (the diarist was here)
             45 Ranzen 44 Barth 43 Pfannschmidt 42 Badet 40 Peetz