90th Infantry Division Pic of the Week: Hof, Germany
October 10, 2011
Posted in 358th Infantry, 90th Infantry Division, 90th Infantry Division Pic of the Week, Hof Germany, World War II
Tags: 358th Infantry, 90th Infantry Division, 90th Infantry Division Pic of the Week, Hof Germany, World War II
Awesome weekend! But Monday’s upon us, and time for the 90th Infantry Division Pic of the Week. Today we travel back in time to Hof, Germany, where members of the 358th Infantry, 90th Infantry Division battle German snipers street-by-street, house-by-house.
I love dissecting these period photos. First, for all you weapons experts, is that a .30 caliber water-cooled machine gun? Secondly, about the fourth guy back appears to be pointing up to a higher target, while the machine gun is definitely trained at ground level. I wonder if he spotted a second or third floor sniper. Thirdly, isn’t the older gentleman to the far right wearing a German uniform. I would assume that he was a recent capture, though it doesn’t look like the Americans are too worried about him. Could he be helping them identify targets. And lastly, how about the sign. If I remember my college German, “brot” translates to “bread” and “feinbackerei” means “confectionery.” Was this Fritz Schultheiss’s Bakery? I’d love to see what the corner store looks like today.
Soldiers from the 358th Infantry, 90th ID battle enemy snipers, house-by-house, in Hof, Germany - April 1945. (U.S. Army Signal Corps Photo, Courtesy National Archives)
My father received a bronze star during this time at Hof. I have his orders for the star but the details behind it are at least sketchy. He was assigned to the 90th recon troop and drove an M8 scout car.