Hi everyone,
Thanks for the warm welcome!! I think I will really enjoy this forum…So far I have been in here checking everything out…I will have to upload some pics from the lake for David…it is nice…take care…
Regards,
Robbielynne
Hello and warm welcome Michael 
Hope you will like it here
Hey, I’m new to the forum and I would just like to say “Hello”.
Hello IS-3, welcome to the forum from a fellow San Antonio resident! Hope you enjoy the site and become a regular visitor!
P.S. Welcome robbie lynne, hope you enjoy the forum also!
I am into ww2 and korean war reading and research for model building.I also enjoy looking at old photos of uniformed soldaten unt old buildings in germany france and ussr. Iam a tread head and also like ww2 /korean war aircraft.I will admit to one thing only I was born in 1958 I should have been born 1925 0r so! I dig the forties big band and swing.
hello there chuck…welcome to the forums…you will enjoy it here:)
Hello Everyone! I am doing research on my dad’s brother.,… PFC. Jospeh A. Rotarius, 1st Infantry Div, 18th Infantry Reg., Co. I. My Uncle was killed while planting anti-personnel mines, Oct. 18, 1944. The report states "the casualty occurred 700 yards North of Haaren, Germany. My Uncle enlisted early in the War and I believe was involved in the African Campaign and D-Day. I am trying to give a picture of what he lived through for the family genealogy and would like to be as accurate as possible, as to where his Regiment and company were involved.
In doing the research on 1st Inf Div, 18th Inf Reg, I find data and stories confusing…the 18th is usually mixed in with the 16th, and so-on. So, when company “I” is mentioned, I don’t know which regiment it belongs to. I know this sounds like a dumb statement. It is hard to discern where, when and how the 18th Regiment was deployed.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks, Teri
Hi Teri and welcome to the forum.
Unfortunately I don’t have much access to US sources (others here definitely have) but the following map shows the frontlines in the Aachen area of October 18, 1944 - the day your uncle was killed. By that time the town of Aachen was fully encircled by US forces for two days already. The place - app. 700 yards north of Haaren, which should be the Kaninsberg area - is marked with the red circle. You mentioned mine laying actions, so my guess is (and just a guess) your uncle’s unit was securing the area against any possible German attempts to break the pocket from the outside.
Thanks flamethrower! Every little bit helps to put the puzzle together. The map and where you have circled, makes it a little more personal for the family. Thank you again!
Teri
I reread the info on the mine laying and I believe you are right! It states, “PFC Rotarius became missing in action while planting anti-personnel mines in front o defensive positions.”
Teri
You’re welcome, Teri. Gimme some time and I’ll get you a couple of photos showing how the place looks like today.
BTW, like so many family names within the 1st Infantry Division “Rotarius” sounds pretty German to me. Does this part of your family come from the Rhineland originally?
That would be greatly appreciated, indeed! Yes, originally my family “Rotarius” came to the USA sometime between 1840 and 1850, as the 1850 census is the first time they show. They came from Herschbach, Prussia, Germany. According to German phonebooks, there seems to be alot of Rotarius’ still there. Haven’t done any research over there, as yet.
Hey, I was pretty close then. Look here how the name Rotarius is spread throughout Germany today. The town of Herschbach would be in the yellow region to the right of the red one:
http://www.verwandt.de/karten/absolut/rotarius.html
Wow, is right! When I’ve done searches on the FTW site, I did find the one and his family that came over, but can’t seem to connect who his father, etc. was. There are so many!!! LOL Like I said, one of these days I’ll get brave and write a letter or two to the people listed in the German phone book. I suppose I could pay for a searcher over there, but there are more important things to spend my $ on right now. It does get the curiosity up though.
Am I looking at your location right…Aachen, Germany?
Yes, right.
Small world. You’re right there! LOL
Thanks again, Teri
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