Dortmund, Czechoslovakia and Home

Return fire from the 314th was not called for as long as the enemy remained on the opposite side of the Ruhr. Late that night, it was reported that I/Co had linked with the relieving elements of the 8th Infantry Division. The 314th Regiment's part in the war was over.

Contact with the enemy was lost on 16 April, and the 314th officially passed into the next phase of the war - military government. This occupational function would include everything from governing and policing, to caring for the "displaced persons" (slave laborers from all over Europe) and guarding POWs.

Dortmund was the center of the factory district and most of the displaced had been working there, so the problem of dealing with so many people was particularly bad for the 314th. There were over 19,000 people who needed repatriation to their homelands. Hospitals were set up and staffed, and troops acted as "guards" to quell looting attempts.

Sea of refugees in Dortmund

By 1 May, 1945, the entire area, including the camps, was secured and running smoothly.

On 7 May, 1945, a Liaison Officer brought the following written message from Division HQ signed by General Dwight D. Eisenhower:

"A representative of the German High Command signed the unconditional surrender of all German Land, Sea and Air Forces in Europe to the Allied Expeditionary Force and simultaneously to Soviet High Command at 0141 hours European time 7 May, 1945, under which all forces will cease active operations at 0001 hours 9 May, 1945. Effective immediately all offensive operations by Allied Expeditionary Forces will cease and troops will remain in present positions. Moves involved in occupational duties will continue. Due to difficulties of communication there may be some delay in similar orders reaching enemy troops so full defensive precautions will be taken..."

It was all over.

Beyond V-E Day

After the glorious V-E Day celebrations, the troops began training for the possibility of entering the Pacific Theater of Operations. Dortmund was still considered a hostile area, so guard duty was kept up, along with administering to all the displaced. Dortmund fell within the British zone of occupation, and on 28 May word came in that the 48th BN Royal Artillery would take over duties there sometime between 2-7 June. On 30 May, a Memorial Service for the entire Regiment was held at Garden Suburb, a large park in Dortmund.

On 5 July, after being relieved in Dortmund, the 314th moved out for a 400 mile journey to Cheb, Czechoslovakia. On 9 June, the 79th was transferred to the control of V Corps, 3rd Army. Regimental HQ was established in Konigsberg, in relief of the 1st Infantry Division. Duties for the Regiment included maintaining road blocks, guard and patrol duty, military governing, and training. This section of Czechoslovakia was opposite the Russian positions. Life in Czechoslovakia was a repetition of the site in Dortmund as regards to the displaced persons.

The Division was assigned "Category II" status: re-equip, retrain and ship back to America as reserves for possible deployment to the PTO. A review of personnel took placed based on the "point" system: high-pointers were to be moved out to units due for departure home, mid-pointers moved to units assigned occupational duties, and low-pointers scheduled for training. The unit was moved on 3 August to an isolated village named Dalherda in Bavaria. This location was an old German Panzer Division facility - perfect for training. But the conditions were horrible - what buildings remained were roofless, and it rained almost non-stop.

On 6 August 1945, at 0815 the first atomic bomb was dropped from a B-29 bomber on Hiroshima. On 9 August, the second one was dropped on Nagasaki. The Japanese surrendered - it was finally over.

Formal surrender ceremonies on the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay

The 12 August orders pending a trip home were rescinded for the 79th was to replace the 99th Division and the 6th Armored Division on occupational duties. On 23 August, the 314th relieved the 395th Infantry Regiment (of the 99th Division), and the 735th Tank BN. The 314th was again manning road blocks along the Russian frontier in Germany. 3rd BN found itself governing a huge civilian camp, previously known as the German camp Hammelburg-Läger. Men who had enough points started going home. The unit settled into what would be its last post in Europe: 1st BN at Konigshofen, 2nd BN at Mellrichstadt, 3rd BN and the Service Company at Hammelburg-Läger. The HQ Company resided in a small town called Munnerstadt, while the Cannon and Anti-Tank Companies camped in the resort town of Bad Bruckenau.

Sailing began the last week of November. The ships ported all along the eastern seaboard - from Boston to Norfolk, Virginia ten to fifteen days later.

On 11 December, 1945, the 79th Infantry Division, including the 314th Regiment, was officially deactivated. The men who wore the Cross of Lorraine and the Sign of the Falcon were finally home.

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