In October 1944, American intelligence officer Hugo Sims and his battalion were ordered to capture as many German prisoners as possible. After two unsuccessful operations, Sims decided to carry out the order himself. Together with five volunteers he crossed the Rhine in the dead of night and ventured far into enemy territory. Coincidence and luck were on his side from time to time.
Capturing Germans
In October 1944, the 101st US Airborne Division was positioned in the Betuwe and
was trying to find out where the Germans were in the Veluwe. On 30th October
six men decided to head towards Ede, crossing the Rhine and arriving at a house
on the edge of the Ginkelse Heide (Ginkel Heath) early the following morning.
There were two German officers fast asleep in the house so the Americans took
them prisoner. Later that morning, they put a number of locals who happened to
pass by, under house arrest, shortly before capturing yet another four German
soldiers. Then they waited until twilight to start the journey back across the
Rhine. The Americans forced one of the German prisoners to stop a German
military vehicle as it approached, which he did. There were 13 members of the
SS in the back and the Americans took them prisoner too. An SS captain passed
by later that evening who surrendered, just like the other 13. Then the men set
off in the two vehicles they had just commandeered. Not long after setting off,
the vehicles got stuck on the Rijksweg 12 road and the men had to walk to the
bank of the Rhine via Renkum. There, they took some guards prisoner and finally
crossed the Rhine. By the time they came to reporting to their battalion, they
had captured a total of 32 prisoners of war. Incredible!” was
the only response.
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