The Decoy Doughboy

Souvenir Edition -- Printed in Czechoslovakia

May 23, 1945. -- Publishes by and for the men of the 18th Combat Team. -- First Infantry Division, U. S. Army.

"The Great Day"

 The 18th Combat Team has played a major role in the organizing of the vast emigration of German Wehrmacht and civilians passing through its front lines to a makeshift concentration area under the direction of Major Sam Carter, Regimental O. Under Major Carter's supervision huge convoys of the German 7th Army were registered, disarmed, instructed as to further procedure, and sent to the rear.

Major Carter set up his headquarters on the outskirts of a small village near where the front lines were at the war's end, and the German troops were assembled in nearby fields until their commanders had been questioned and instructed by 18th Reg't officers as to their next move. The enemy had brought rations and all prisoners were under strict discipline during the processing. A public address system made the direction of in-coming and outgoing convoys simpler and more rapid.

Administrative details were ably attended to by Captain Frank Buss in charge of transportation, 1st Lt. George Kramer of the Decoy M. P. platoon, and 2nd Lt. Martin Lewkowicz who handled all matters pertaining to interpretation. (These veteran officers directed the work which scores of M.P.s, truck-drivers, and many others efficiently carried out.

When a saturation point was reached in the rear as far as the handling of such great amounts of troops was concerned, the order came down to halt the seemingly endless columns. Immediately the battalions issued instructions to the line companies to the effect that no more surrendering Wermacht would be permitted beyond the outpost lines.

This sudden turn of events threw many a fearful Nazi into a panic, for the German soldier and civilian's greatest fear is to fall into the Russians' hands. "The Russians are coming!!!" That was and still is the phrase on every Nazi tongue and it was a desperate people who begged the regiment's riflemen to be allowed to pass through. But the deadline had fallen and the Germans were turned away in great numbers.

Now it is a matter of facing the bitter music the tune of which they, themselves composed. "The Russians are coming!!" Dreaded words but the sure-cure for any aspirations which Germany may have for a future comeback.