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$25 Softcover

337 pages 

Compiled 04/2006 by Robert H. Cardinell (261HQ3)

Division Historian serving from 2003 to 2014

 Former title on order blank was: The 65th Inf Div at German Concentration Camps & End of War

35 U.S. military divisions are credited with liberating German concentration camps in Europe during WWII. These liberations took place as U.S. ground forces were rapidly driving east or southeast from Germany into Austria. All 35 liberations took place between April 4th (Ohrdruf) and May 7th, 1945 (Falkenau an der Eger) toward the end of the war.

Men of the 65th Infantry Division were involved in one way or another with the following three camps. Both photos and maps follow the progress as the division drives southeast in April and May.

Ohrdruf – Observation and Photos     The 4th Armored and 89th Infantry Divisions are credited with the liberation of Ohrdruf on the 4th of April 1945. It was a horrible sight and the first concentration camp to be liberated by U.S. troops, so the call went out to have men from nearby troop units visit the camp. It was about April 12th when over twenty 65th Division men located nearby documented in words and photos their gruesome tour of the grounds at Ohrdruf.  

Hersbruck – Camp Liberation     By the 3rd week in April the 65th Infantry Division had moved southeast toward Bavaria. By April 18th, mostly motorized, the division had passed Bamberg advancing on secondary roads east of Nuremberg. On the 20th the 1st Bn, 261st was in the town of Hohenstadt, just east of Hersbruck. The 3rd Bn, 261st was behind in regimental reserve and while moving through the city of Hersbruck, men of K Co, 3rd Battalion found and liberated Hersbruck Concentration Camp before pushing on south to Kucha

.Mauthausen – Visit then Participation     Gusen sub-camp and Mauthausen main camp were liberated by the 11th Armored Division on May 5th and 6th.  However, as soon as the war was over, men and units of the 65th Division were very active at Mauthausen. First visiting the camp in person and noting the stench and horrible conditions. Then men and units were assigned for active participation at the camp, installing communications, helping the 131st Evacuation Hospital staff take care of the inmates and organizing burials of inmates who didn't survive.

The last section of the book covers the end of the war and the return of inmates or displaced persons to their homes. 

$35 Softcover

544 Pages

Compiled 03/2004 by Robert H Cardinell, Division Historian serving from 2003 to 2014

Part 1: The 65th Division History & Reports by Unit

Part 2: Some Casualty Stories & Statistics

  During recent years, this editor has compiled 10 books on the history and experiences of the men of the 65th Infantry Division in WWII. These books have been shared with some of the men still living. No one book covered all of the division history or described how our men became casualties. 

Over time various men have collected and shared a great deal of the historical or casualty reports. If all such records were obtained, the total would be thousands of pages, so the object of this book is to record a representative sample of history records and describe how some men were killed, wounded, or missing in action. 

The result is a two part book. First, historical records which are mostly impersonal. Follow those records with many griping stories of how men became casualties in one way or another. A surprising 243 65th Division men are named in these historical records. In Part 2 under casualties, a total of 575 men are named, of which 364 are recorded in the various short stories. 

We are fortunate to be able to include historical accounts by three German or Austrian historians featuring actions against the 65th. German historians Eduard Fritze and C. U. Peter Dirks covered the German counter-attack of 4/7/45. Dr. Hans Sperl, Linz, Austria covered the end of fighting by German forces in Austria in May 1945. 

$25 Softcover

177 pages 

Compiled 10/2009 by Robert H. Cardinell (261HQ3)

Division Historian serving from 2003 to 2014

Despite having had only two years of active duty and just over two months in combat in Europe as the last U.S. infantry division to be activated, the 65th Infantry Division performed adequately in combat. It took its lumps but was right there in Patton's Third Army advancing from the French border, through Germany and into the middle of Austria when the war ended on May 9, 1945. Despite having to go into combat with men who had only 6 months or less of unit infantry training at Camp Shelby, Major General Stanley E. Reinhart was pleased with their performance and said they had "A Right to Be Proud". Over the years a great deal of credit has been awarded to members or units of the 65th Infantry Division in one form or another. The purpose of this book is to highlight some of those honors through photos or words. Some may feel that highlighting how some men were killed (KIA) or wounded (WIA) in action is not something to be honored. Not true in the sense that they were there with us while attempting to drive the enemy backwards so they would lose the war. Without such deeds and loses, no war can be won. A total of 799 medals were awarded to men out of a total division authorized strength of 14,253 men. These medals range from the highest, the Medal of Honor, down to the Bronze Star and Air Medal. Wording of what the men had done to earn their medal covers quite a few pages. 65th Infantry Division men killed are buried in four different cemeteries in Europe unless their families had them brought to the U.S. for burial.

$25 Softcover

280 pages 

Compiled 02/2004 by Robert H. Cardinell (261HQ3)

Division Historian serving from 2003 to 2014

Over the past 15 years (1989-2003) I have compiled nine books full of 65th Infantry Division history plus personal stories and shared them with the men. These volumes total 2,680 pages and 1,390 copies printed.  

There were many great stories in my files that I never used in the books because the writer did not know when or where that event took place. With some of those stories as a starting point, realizing the official history and unit reports were informative but boring, I thought it would be great to compile a book of just great stories by division men and that is what you have here. The only 65th Infantry Division history summary is on the next page as a refresher or for those not familiar with the 65th Infantry Division in WWII.  

After scanning through my nine books, the 65th Infantry Division Association Halbert newsletters from 1965, and letters in my files, I realized I would have to compile a book of 1,000 or more pages to do justice to everyone. Instead, I have picked out good representative samples written by 152 different men covering all of our combat days and early occupation into this volume. I realize it slights many great stories by other men.  

Note also these are often extracts copied from copies and cut and pasted together. Many photos are of poor quality, but at least give an impression of places or events. Stories don't always progress from one thing to the next, but overall, you can get a feel for the action and progress of the fighting. Note also 450 65th Infantry Division men are named in the book. 

$25 Softcover

396 pages 

Compiled 05/2004 by Robert H. Cardinell (261HQ3)

Division Historian serving from 2003 to 2014

In January 2004 I compiled & had printed a 253 page book of World War II combat stories by the men of the 65th Infantry Division titled "Just Good Stories". No official history or after action reports were included. Regardless, through these varied stories by the men, an unofficial combat history emerges of their impressions, thoughts, and experiences during WW II. 

This book 2 of "Just Good Stories" is an offshoot because the first book omitted many good stories from letters and publications such as the 65th Infantry Division Association Halbert newsletters. I offer you this second book that starts with the activation of the 65th in summer of 1943 & carries the action through our war in Europe to the final inactivation of the division in Austria in August 1945. I have tried not to include the same story in both books.  

In combination these two books of "stories" cover the history of the 65th Infantry Division from beginning to end in a more personal and exciting nature than the official history, journals and after action reports on file in museums and archives or in my own 500+ page history book compiled on the 65th Infantry Division in WWII.  

Note in these 360 pages, 151 different 65th Division men have contributed stories, reports, or photos and 656 65th men are named alphabetically.

$25 Softcover

424 pages 

Compiled 03/2005 by Robert H. Cardinell (261HQ3)

Division Historian serving from 2003 to 2014

Will make this the final compilation of interesting stories that have come my way about the experiences of men of the 65th Infantry Division during WW II. I have woven shorter personal accounts around extracts from two good books concerning the 65th actions. One by David J. Loughlin and Peter Pharnes titled Hqs. Co. 2nd Bn. 260th Infantry Trek from Saarlautern to Linz follows their unit from Saarlautern into the early occupation days. The other book a second volume by German historian Eduard Fritze.

Die letzten Kriegstage im Eichsfeld enlarges on his Struth battle book to include both the actions of American and German forces in the Eichsfeld region around Muhlhausen. The 6th Armored and our 65th Infantry Divisions are featured as well as the impact of the war on German civilians in that area. Again, we are fortunate to have permission to share the contents of both books and give special thanks for translation of Fritze's book by Bill Hansen, Director, USA Armor School Research Library.  I have tried not to duplicate stories that appeared in Just Good Stories 1 and 2 so with these three volumes we pretty well cover most of the writings by 65th Division about their experiences during the war. If other great stories are missing it is because those men did not take the time to share their experiences with us, and too many times with their own family.

Please bear with me for a cut and paste effort designed to fill the pages. The progress of the war does not always unfold in a day by day or unit by unit fashion. Taken on the whole this is still a good portrayal of our experience in this war that ended 60 years ago.

$25 Softcover

357 pages 

Compiled 11/2007 by Robert H. Cardinell (261HQ3)

Division Historian serving from 2003 to 2014

 Much of the material for this book are extractions from letters or new data from the many replies received by this editor from the men, families, or others after compiling 18 books on the 65th Infantry Division in WWII from 1989 through 2007 totaling 5,797 pages. While sorting through my cluttered files, hoping to reduce the volume, I kept noting new war stories or material not used in previous books. These became the framework for this book. Not everything covered is new, but I have tried to make the book complete enough that it covers the full actions of the 65th Infantry Division from date of activation at Camp Shelby, Mississippi in 1943 through the end of the war in Europe and into occupation of Germany in the summer of 1945 in what is now Austria.

It is gratifying to know that 420 men of the 65th Infantry Division are named and identified by page numbers in a glossary of names. Hundreds of other 65th Division men are also named in tables or reports that list little but names on a page. I don't have the patience or skill to easily include all those names, but I have identified those page numbers for you to review in the tabulation of names that follow.

Please note I am merely a compiler so many pages are a cut and paste effort designed to fill a page and photos are copies of copies in black and white and intended only to give an impression of people or places.

Also, as a compiler I can't guarantee the accuracy of stories, some written up to 60+ years after the event, but I believe they do portray events of those days of WWII because I too lived through many of those episodes.

$25 Softcover

259 pages 

Compiled 4/2008 by Robert H. Cardinell (261HQ3), 

Division Historian serving from 2003 to 2014

 We are not fighting the war in this book although stories include the progress against the German Army as the Division advanced in Europe from France, through Germany and ending in Austria during 1945. Rather the object is to focus on contacts with other people or events as extracted from 19 books of 6,134 pages compiled on the 65th Division from 1989-2007. Stories focus on such subjects as our men “interacting” with civilians; liberating U.S. or Allied prisoners (POWs) of the Germans; capturing German or Hungarian forces; being ambushed by the Germans; setting up POW camps; viewing, liberating, and assisting at German concentration camps (CC); and meeting the Russians - friendly at first, then some hostilities.

Many of the extracted stories cover one or more of the different events listed above so please bear with them and just go with the flow of events as written by men from nearly every different unit of the Division. Over 400 65th Division men are named in the book and these are listed, with page references, at the back of this introductory section.

For readers not familiar with WWII this introductory section also includes - the organization of a 14,253 man infantry division by unit, some military abbreviations are explained, a map of the general route of the 65th Division in Europe and the liberation of German concentration camps by date and units liberating each.

Please note this is a compiled book, full of cut and paste stories, plus black and white photos of photos to give at least an impression of places or people. Despite these negatives these are informative stories that describe human events which are not often evident in more structured history books on the war. Of particular interest is the fact there was no advanced training of an infantry division to prepare the men for these types of events during their combat days. Amazingly, most turned out well.

$25 Softcover

360 pages 

Compiled 07/2008 by Robert H. Cardinell (261HQ3)

Division Historian serving from 2003 to 2014

Shortly after the war a 44 page booklet "65th Division Pictorial History" was printed. During my compilation of 19 books of 6,134 pages on the 65th Division in WWII dating from 1989-2007, I have used photos from that book because they depict various events of interest but none later than those war years and none featuring photo input or names of our men who actually fought in the war. 

Thus, the idea formed to extract photos sent in by men and printed in the 65th Halbert newsletters over the years. Add to it photos sent to me by men and cap it off with other photos that depict our war years. An example is the photo booklet of 16 August 1944 printed as "65th Infantry Division - Camp Shelby, Mississippi - 1944" which I had never seen until a copy was sent to me by Gale Scarborough, brother-in-law of Pfc Dale E. Smith, E Co, 259th Infantry who was killed in action (KIA) on 4/18/45 in the early days of combat.

What you have here are hundreds of photos from the men and other sources with some words of explanation for most pictures. These take the 65th Division from activation to deactivation (1943-1945) in WWII. The events go from training at Camp Shelby, MS, shipment overseas to France, combat through Germany to mid-Austria, then end of the war with meeting the Russians and early occupation days near Enns and Linz. With this flow of events the names by page number of some 1,578 65th men are included at the end of the introduction section as well as some other individuals. 

As part of this introduction, to help readers understand WWII, are the following: The organization by unit of a typical infantry division; explanation of some abbreviations used; a map of the general route of the 65th in Europe; a “Thumbnail History of the 65thDivision”; U.S. Army division battle casualty numbers in Europe; and two pages mostly about Adolf Hitler, the main cause of the war in Europe. 

Unfortunately, most of these photos are copies of copies, so details are often blurred, but readers can at least get an impression of the men and the places or situation depicted in this historical record. 

$25 Softcover

173 pages 

Compiled 12/2008 by Robert H. Cardinell (261HQ3),  

Division Historian serving from 2003 to 2014

These are a series of accounts written by men detailing their adventures when the war ended for them. Most accounts start after the war ended on May 9th, 1945, when the 65th Infantry Division was at the Enns River in mid Austria and post war occupation days began. Prior to the time the 65th Division was deactivated in August 1945, many of the men had already been transferred to other U.S. Army units in Europe or else had been shipped back to the states for training in preparation for the invasion of Japan. Those latter men were the lucky ones because Japan surrendered before they could be shipped from the west coast, so most were discharged soon thereafter. 

Some interesting adventures are related that cover men being sent to schools in Europe, vacations to Switzerland, France, England, etc., or transferred to other U.S. divisions in Europe so men from those older combat divisions could be returned home. Citing an example of this latter subject is the fact that about 25% of the 65th Division men, in combat for only 2+ months, were transferred to the 9th Infantry Division so their men could return home early. The 9th Division landed in North Africa in November 1942, fought in Sicily, and then participated in the European fighting until the end of the war in 1945. As a result, they had incurred over 19,000 casualties vs. only about 1,100 by the 65th so we could not begrudge their early departure for home and our doing occupation duty in Germany. 

The book starts with short accounts of what 125 65th Division men experienced from war's end to their return home, most for discharge. Included are a few accounts by men who had been wounded in combat and their hospital experiences before being returned home for full recovery. Following those short summaries are more detailed stories by men of their experiences in getting home. Three of those stories pertain to two European DPs (Displaced Persons) who joined our forces, plus the bitter account by a German lieutenant who was a POW of the Americans and British until 1948 before he returned home. 

Over 415 65th Division men are named in the book. 

$25 Softcover

379 pages 

Compiled 05/2010 by Robert H. Cardinell (261HQ3),   

Division Historian serving from 2003 to 2014

This is a compiled book that should have been done years ago when more of the German/Austrian soldiers were still available to tell their stories of how they defended their homeland in 1945 when the "green" 65th Infantry Division and other Allied forces began their push to the east. This was after the Battle of the Bulge had ended and the German forces were on the defensive facing both Allied and Russian advances from both east and west. 

The book covers only sites or areas where stories or history have been written covering both the actions of the 65th Division and the German defenders. In some cases, the Germans were the attacker such as Battle Group Worgitzki's attack on the 3rd Bn, 261st Infantry Regiment located in the small towns of Struth and Dorna on 4/7/45. 

There were other battle sites where the 65thDivision ran into strong opposition. An example is the city of Neumarkt, Germany on 4/22-23/45 where units of the 259th and 261sthad hard fighting in and around the town before it fell. No known stories have emerged from any defender in that area, so Neumarkt fighting is not covered. 

Following this introduction, I have added as unnumbered pages the organization of a WWII infantry division, explanation of some military abbreviations, map of the general route of the 65th Division in Europe, and a "Thumbnail History of the 65th Division", a tabulation of European Theatre casualties of U.S. divisions showing the 65thlost 1,180 men. Five pages of photos will remind readers of the German Nazi regime and their military. The introduction section ends with 18 pages of names by page number in near alphabetical order. 

As said before in the 23 books on the 65th that I have compiled since 1989, I can't guarantee the accuracy of stories, some written up to 60+ years after the event, but they do represent the overall combat action of those days because I too lived through some of these battles.