Moon momentarily hiding behind some clouds at around 4 am in Bad Reichenhall.

Morning comes early… so early the sun has even not risen yet. The moon was still high in the sky. Still above the mountain peaks. But nonetheless, I needed to be on my way for a bit more research and to follow the schedule the 101st Airborne units had taken 70 years ago.

My guide… an edited, published account written by Daniel K. Webster of his time in the 101st Airborne. The book is called Parachute Infantry.

I decided to head back to Tiesendorf briefly to take a look around and see if I could identify some possible locations where the soldiers may have spent the night, before having my own breakfast back at my guesthouse in Bad Reichenhall.

Descriptions were of men lodging in several houses and of lining vehicles up in a field to continue transporting the men on their way.

Looking at photos and google earth images narrowed the possibilities for the field location considerably, but without veterans to verify, it remained a consideration at that point, not confirmed. I took so pictures and moved on. I drove along the road looking for locations or things to identify locations by Webster’s descriptions. I believe I found another location where the road from Tiesendorf and Anger angles towards the autobahn and crossed it but no longer merged directly.I got out to take some pictures and was impressed that Germans were up early and out doing or going for walks.

I continued back towards Bad Reichenhall, crossing the Saalach river at Piding. The 101st Airborne had driven across the railway bridge below because the autobahn crossing (behind me in the picture below) had been blown up in attempts to slow the Allied advance in the area.

Crossing the Saalach river near Piding.

It wasn’t too long and I was back at the guest house for my breakfast, my early morning “chores” complete. It was a little bit for me to adjust my ear to the accent of the region, but we managed to communicate breakfast desires, look at the morning paper ( which had an article about the 70th anniversary and soldiers) and, after packing, return the key.

I was then out on my way into the mountains–to the Eagle’s Nest. My next problem (besides getting more petrol) was finding a place to get a bottle of Champagne. I would need it to commemorate the anniversary in fitting fashion later. What are the chances of finding any with my limited knowledge of the area?

I set up the GPS and was on my way towards Berchtesgaden looking for gas and Champagne…

The moon from my balcony in Bad Reichenhall.

Moon momentarily hiding behind some clouds at around 4 am in Bad Reichenhall.