Hildesheim
& The Soldiers
(Written by Heinz Kempe I believe)
Created 5 May 2003 Updated: 25 Dec 04

Chapter 1: 1866 -1934
Chapter 2: 1934 - 1945
Chapter 3: 1945 End of WW2
Chapter 4: 1949 - 1987

Chapter 1

In earlier times Hildesheim belonged to the Kingdom of Hannover, but returned to Prussia after the war between Prussia and Austria in 1866. In the same year a new Infantry Regiment was formed and Hildesheim was chosen as their home. The soldiers were warmly welcomed by the population which, at that time, was in the region of 20,000. The relationship between the soldiers and the Burger of Hildesheim was very good. As there was only one small barracks available the soldiers were put up in private accommodation. The building of new barracks then took place, as was a rifle range in the Jalgenberg region (Silberfundstr). During 1868 the soldiers who worked on the range found the so called "silberfund" which consisted of old roman silver crockery from 3AD. This roman crockery can still be seen in the museum. During 1868 (the papers say 1968?) the Regiment was given its title "The Third Hannoverian Infantry Regiment Nr 79". In 1870 the Regiment was ordered into active service during the German-French War 1870 - 1871. It was mentioned in despatches at the Battles of Vionville; Mars la Tour; Grovelotte; Saint Prival; Loire and Montoire. A monument was erected at the Hagentorwall (destroyed in the air raids of 1945).

After the war new larger barracks were built, at the Steingrube a large parade ground and Exercise ground was made available. In 1901 the Regiment was granted the wearing of the "Gibraltar Ribbon", to remind them that Hannoverian soldiers had fought in war FOR England. Beginning August 1914 the Infantry Regiment 79 moved out of Hildesheim during the night of 6/7 August into WW1. The Regiment got involved in many battles on various front lines; it was specially mentioned in the battle of (?)andern 1917. Over 4000 soldiers were killed in action. The monument at the Galgenberg was erected in memory of those who gave their lives. After WW1 Hildesheim became a town without soldiers; this situation changed in 1934.

Chapter 2

During 1934, the picture changed quickly, autumn of 1934 the first soldiers moved into Hildesheim. A new Infantry Regiment 79 was established. New Barracks were built, the Leckbur Barracks (known as Clive Barracks) and the Cerny Barracks were made for accommodation for the various battalions; the Steingrube was again used as the parade and Exercise ground. At the Osterberg (Himmelsthur Training Area) another large training area was established. It was not only infantry that moved into the area. In 1935 the 2nd Bty of Arty Regt 19 moved into the new building in Gallwitz Barracks on Route 6 to Hannover. 19 Arty Regt were replaced in 1937 by the Heavy Arty Regt 55. There was also a civil aerodrome near Steurwald (Tofrek Bks) and in 1933/35 the first pilots and air troopers moved in. The buildings in this barracks were completed in 1937. A Recce Scouting Aeroplane School was established in Tofrek Bks West. The large hangars were used to accommodate the airplanes; W33; W34; Ju52; Heinkel 45; Heinkel 46 and later Heinkel III. Commanders of the school were in order of succession; Col Reinecke; Col Sperling; Col Behrla and finally Col Muller-Kahle. During 1939 this school and the unit was moved to Brieg near Breslau; now under Polish administration. Only a small admin unit remain in Tofrek West.

In 1935 the Aerial Photography Training School was established in Tofrek East (See Hildesheim Page 2 - The Barracks). Other Units using this barracks at various times were:

1. Air transport Regt 1

2. Nahaufklorungs Sqn 23

3. Zerstorergeschwader 26 with Me 410 equipped with 7.5 AA cannon.

4. Paratroopers - as below:

Nov 3 1939 the first paratroopers moved into Tofrek Bks West. It was the 1st Company of the Parachute Regiment from Stendal; numbers were increased with the introduction of army and pioneer paratroopers. A Tpt Sqn equipped with 6 Junkers 52 planes and gliders arrived also, at the airfield. The gliders had a wing span of 30 meters and were 11.24 meters long each able to carry 10 fully equipped paratroopers and the pilot. Support Units arrived, a signal troop and paratroopers equipped with heavy machine guns. Objectives and actions of this unit were maintained at Top Secret, units name and titles being changed at regular intervals. Capt Koch was the OC and the Regiment was sub divided into 4 Stormgroups, again split into groups of 10 men. Each group was trained to take over the duties of the other groups in the event of a group being "knocked out". Training was carried out day and night and the Regiment earned the nickname "Moonshine Company", trained on nearly all aspects of army equipment available at that time.

Caption reads: Ehrenwache der Fallschirmjager in der Bernwardstrasse (1940)

During May 1940, the entire Regiment moved to Köln and on 10th May 1940, at 0430hrs, the 4 Stormgroups started off for the surprise taking of the bridges over the Albert Canal south of Maastricht and the taking of the fortress at Eben Emael. Although a great success, they lost 48 men. The unit returned to Hildesheim following this action. All those involved were highly decorated by General Student, the Commander of all Paratroop Regiments. A new Regiment was formed in Hildesheim, known as Storm Regiment 1; under the command of Major General Eugen Meindle. The OC of 1 Bn was Capt Koch in Hildesheim; " Bn was stationed in Quedlinburg, 3 Bn in Halberstadt and 4 Bn in Helmstedt. The Unit then received orders for action in Crete and on the morning of 20 May 1941, the attack on Crete took place, the fighting carried on till the end of May, both sides suffering heavy losses. After the battle for Crete was over what was left of the Regiment returned to Hildesheim.

1. Paratrooper. 2. Glider and dead paratroopers. 3. Paratroopers landing in Crete

Packing parachutes at Wittstock

From that time onwards the paratroopers were to become involved in many battles on many fronts throughout WW2. The memorial inside Tofrek Bks West is to the memory of those paratroopers who gave their lives. The memorial has been handed over to the Old Comrades Parachute Association in Hildesheim, by kind permission of the British Authorities. They are permitted to visit on certain occasions such as 20 May, Crete Day, and on Remembrance Sunday or any other time by special request. Whilst Tofrek has been in the hands of the British Army this memorial has been carefully maintained and preserved.  This was the end of Hildesheim being a Garrison for US Troops who were the first to enter Hildesheim, 8 - 10 April 1945.

found on the following site http://forum.axishistory.com/forum

The image of the female partisan, bottom row, second from left, being questioned may have been just prior to her being possibly tortured and killed. Her name was Gospa Talic, a Yugoslavian partisan who fought the para's when they parachuted in force to attempt a capture of Tito.

Chapter 3
 

The last days of the war 1945. The narrative for this section of the story can be found on Hildesheim - Civil Population 39 - 45. And then the story continues here:

It is a pity that it happened, but such are the fortunes of war. It has happened many times before and has soon been forgotten. The present generation of Hildesheim have no regrets and in years to come old Hildesheim will be an historical memory. It is known that Hildesheimers fearful for the preservation of the old town asked that it be declared "open" to the advancing Allied Forces but the Gauleiter of Hannover firmly forbade it and ordered that it be defended to the last living soul.

Dom Museum

Reconstruction

Until July 1948 little had been done to restore any of the town's buildings. It was a sea of waste marked here and there by the standing shells of a few stone buildings such as the Rathaus and Churches. The only building unharmed was the solidly built old mint. By this time grass and weeds had grown over the rubble and the place resembled the surface of a giant midden. Where the main streets now run there were paths winding their way over and through the rubble. Then came the currency reforms and the circulation of the new Deutschmark. The people were given fresh hope and the pace of recovery and reconstruction accelerated rapidly. It became imperative to find sites which would suit the requirements for the establishment of modern industrial plants and to provide accommodation for those returning to the town. It was now more than ever necessary to preserve what treasures could be retrieved and to find room for their exhibition as evidence of the past. Salvage preserved the following:

The flat ceiling of St Michaelkirche with its romanesque painting of the Jessebom.

Bishop Bernward's large bronze casts in the Dom.

http://www.bistum-hildesheim.de/start.html - Dom Bells (Audio) Click on Kulture and Dommuseum

Bishop Bernward's bronze doors

St Bernward's Saule (Bronze christ column).

Bishop Hezilo's wheeled candelabra.

The 13th Century Font.

The 16th Century gallery between the Nave and the Choir of the Cathedral.

The Wheeled Candelabra may be seen in the Berwardskirche in Carl Peterstrasse, the bronze casts of bishop Bernward may be seen in St Anne's Chapel east of the Dom near the 1000 year old rose bush (this is the symbol of the indestructible ability of Hildesheim blossoming anew above the ruins of the firebrand. The most impressive proof of this vitality is the extent of reconstruction 12 years after the blow which was thought to be mortal. The town, which in 1948, was a mass of rubble could be seen clearly across from one end to another, has now been almost entirely rebuilt. There is little to remind the beholder of the utter despair presented by the ruins which abounded so recently.

Chapter 4

The Time After 1945

After 1945 the following situation existed, the following barracks still suitable as accommodation:

Ledebur Bks renamed Clive Barracks
Mackensen Bks renamed Essex Barracks
Waterloo Bks
Gallwitz Bks
Flughafen Bks renamed Tofrek Bks

Approximately 110 houses in Hildesheim were requisitioned plus several recreation grounds were acquired by the occupation forces. The sites of the houses requisitioned for officers and ORs were in Mozart Str; Heincler(?) Str; Sebastion Bach Str; Richard Wagner Str; Hohnsen; Am Katztor and Konigs Str. The former Assmann's Hotel am Weinberg was an Officers Beehive Club. The first BFES School was established in Richard Wagner Str. The Toc H Club was in a hotel in Einumer Str; the Services Liaison Officer had offices and quarters in Am Hohnsen. The Mil Govt were put up in the Regierung an Domhof; SIB, RMP and Aero Cash Office had their accommodation in Kaiser Friedrich Str. PCLW Civil Labour had offices in der Kleinen Venedig opposite the Johnanniswiese swimming pool. Centres of amenities were in some hotels and the swimming pool, hotels and the swimming pool in Bad Harzburg. The Admin for these places came in 1950/51 into the hands of the Station Staff Officer Hildesheim. All requisitioned property was handed back to the owners during 53 - 59. New houses and flats were specially built in Brahms Str. Handel Str; Saar Str; Lilienthal Str; Immelmann Str; Behrla Str; Richtofen Str; Von Steuben Str; Beethoven Str; (T)elemann Str; Stuve Str; Hardenberg Str; Hohenstaufenring (next sentence is illegible but mentions Gross Giesen) in use by the Forces. The overall administration started in Sept 50 when the station had a Station Staff Officer established, until that time each unit did their own admin.

The following full time station staff officers were from then to date:

Capt WJ Newman RA
Maj RS Clarke RA
Maj ET Moss Sth Argyle Highlanders - to approx 1963

Then, until 1967, the station only had part time SSO's who were nominated by the major units in station. There were approx 14 or 15 officers who acted as part time SSO's. The next full time Officer, who at the same time (was) appointed the Garrison Adjutant came to Hildesheim with HQ 1st Arty Brigade in 1967.

Lt Col ED Bradly RA
Major GV Evans RA
Lt Col DA Lloyd RA up to the "present" SSO, at the time of the brief:

Lt Col Protheroe

From 1945 onwards the following Units, Organisations and Establishments were stationed, at various times, in Hildesheim, in the following Barracks:

Mackensen Bks (Essex Bks)

Was occupied by parts of the Sherwood Foresters and 91 Lorried Infantry Brigade. Now in use by Bundeswehr - HQ Panzer Grenadier Brigade 1

Ledebur Kaserne (Clive Bks)

29 Fd Amb RAMC; GSO Transport Unit; NAAFI Shop; BFES School, other small dets. Now Bundeswehr.

Gallwitz Kaserne

Post war used as camp accommodation, for displaced persons and after redecoration, Bundeswehr units, 14 Pz Bn.

Waterloo Kaserne

Civil Authorities. Now Bundeswehr Admin.

Flughafen Kaserne and Airfield (Tofrek Bks)

First occupied by US advancing forces, late 46/47by Dorset Regt, 3 Para Regt and parts of Sherwood Foresters. Smaller Units were 37 Area Cash Office; 50 AEC; CE Works Lower Saxony Engineers (Later DWO/PSA); GSO Artisans and GSO Tpt Det; Toc H; Church Army Bookshop; PCLU Labour Offices; MSO. Major Units in this barracks were:

1950 - 1958 2nd Regt RHA (later renamed 2 Fd Regt RA) - 157 Loc Bty RA

1958 - 1965 1st Regt RHA

1957 - 1963 in Tofrek East - 654 Sqn AAC; this Sqn moved out of Tofrek East and a Sqn of Bundeswehr AAC moved in. It was later increased in strength to a full Regt AAC. Their CO's Lt Col Brinkmeyer; Lt Col Gerlach and Lt Col Pimps. For a short time an Anti Aircraft Coy stayed there in 70/71.

1971 Sqn Bn 1 took over the complete eastern side of the Bks. Sqn Bn 1 is still in occupation. Some of the buildings have been handed over to 1 Regt AAC, 2 hangars and garages.

1965 - 1972 32 Regt RA in Tofrek West.

1967 - 1977 HQ 1 Arty Bde

1977 - 1978 14 Signal Regt (EW)

1972 - 1984 5 Regt RA

1978 1 Regt AAC (east)

1984 1 RTR (west)

Note: Some of the buildings in Bks are still serving the same purpose as they were under the 1000 Year Reich, which lasted 12 years. These are:

Officers Mess; Sgts Mess; OR's Cookhouse; Medical Centre, Block 71 Admin HQ; House No 67 and 69 - MQs; the accommodation blocks; Gym; Hangars and Guard Room.

During all those years many of the well known officers have been stationed during the course of their Service in Hildesheim, to name a few:

Gen J Sharp; Gen H Tuzo; Gen Freeland; Gen M Farndale; Gen TA Richardson (AAC); Gen McQueen; Gen Trant; Gen M Jones; Gen Young; Gen Morony; Gen Stephenson; Gen Plumer; Gen B Cornock; Gen Newill; Gen Richardson; Brigadiers Bremner; Worthington Smith; Hodge; Fielder; Crossley; Body; Canterbury and others. (Can't say I have heard of 95% of these!)

To name the biggest event so far in Hildesheim was certainly the Exercise Crusader 80/Spearpoint 80 on new HQ Camp called Mons Camp was built on the north side of the airfield. The whole barracks was over crowded with vehicles, tents and other equipment. Block 71 was the Press Centre, with all necessary equipment. The Exercise lasted from 2 Sep 80 to 28 Sep 80. It was a very busy time for all those participating.

Many successful "Open Days" were held during the long period, these days were very much appreciated by the people of Hildesheim (and no doubt, a few foreign agents too!!). Good contact exist(ed) between the Civil Admin Authority, Police, other official organisations and the Bundeswehr. Especially with the Standortkommandantur and the CO Lt Col Holscher, the Pz Bn 14 at the Gallwitz Kaserne (and) not to forget Panzer Grenadier Brigade 1 with the commanders who were, since they exist (existence started?)

Col Fisher
Brig Gen von Tempelhof (who occupied 18 Brahms Str by permission of the authorities)
Brig Gen Von Hinkeleley
Brig Gen Middeldorf
Col von (??)semann
Brig Gen Poeppel
Col Hoffmann
Brig Gen Ahrens
Col Graf von Kielmannsegg
Col Scobeth

It may not be known that the Hildesheim Aero Club were given permission to use the airfield in 1955 and were allowed to build a wooden hut for training. The following article was published in the Hildesheimer Allgemeine Zeitung:

Lt Col Cunliffe was honoured by the Aero Club for giving permission to use the airfield

The presentation of the badge of the German Aero Club to the Commanding Officer Lt Col Cunliffe, which was carried out by Mr W Kohler and Mr M Seigmund, the Presidents of the Hildesheim Aero Club yesterday, became a pleasing little celebration. In a speech held in English in the Officers Mess Mr Kohler appreciated the courtesy of the Lt Col and his officers when they were undertaking a Deutschlandflug all over Germany. Lt Col Cunliffe then said that he was not only happy about the badge, but that he also appreciates the idea behind it. The German guests stayed for another hour with the Commander, having a drink. During the conversation which was led in a friendly tone by both sides, the Germans also learnt of the "private" worries of British officers, whose children were, for example, born in Kenya and due to their black skinned nurses, learnt more Swahili than English, then had to adopt the Italian language when the father was based in Italy and after the posting, now had to learn German. Major Moss, the editor of the Hildesheim Bulletin, which supplies information and many local news for the troops, even puzzled Hildesheim born people with the question, "Where did the Georgs Church stand in Hildesheim?" Indeed it DID exist, namely at the corner of today's Osterstrasse and Marktstrasse.

There were many many events which would fill a book, but the editors memory has faded away and it is now very difficult to clear and trace down all the details. It would be nice if some old photographs could be traced and if some pictures show Tofrek Bks as it was during 1934 - 1945. There are (were) still some people in Hildesheim who have served on the Flughafen during 1934 - 1939.

The attached scans show images provided by Herr Kempe
1. Memorial - Tofrek Bks. 2. Returning Paratroopers from Crete Invasion 3. Caption says "Major Koch" although refered to by Herr Kempe as "Captain".

Disclaimer: The above information is as supplied, apparently, by Heinz Kempe and has been copied into here almost ad verbatum. any words in brackets and green, are my own.

http://www.hionline.de/english/index.asp?ID=1

http://www.eagle19.freeserve.co.uk/award.htm - Awards & Decorations

http://www.eagle19.freeserve.co.uk/aircraft.htm - Airplanes used by German Fallschirmjäger