Germany and Austria
1945


items from Charles T. Craton, Jr. (C Co, 1st BN; H Co, 3rd BN, 506th PIR, Jan 45-Nov 45)
Der Berghof 1945
May 1945 photo of Hitlers' home, Der Berghof, which was heavily damaged during
the RAF bombing raid on 25 April 1945, about 10 days before the 506th PIR arrived
at Berchtesgaden. Der Berghof was NOT the Eagle's Nest, Hitler's retreat built on the
top of Kehlstein Mountain, overlooking the Berchtesgaden area. To deter tourists, the
Bavarian government blew up the ruins of Der Berghof on April 30, 1952, the seventh
anniversary of Hitler's death.


Der Berghof

This postcard of Der Berghof, showing what it looked like before the April 25, 1945
bombing, was picked up by Charles Craton in May 1945 while he was at Berchtesgaden.

Printed on back of postcard: Alpiner Kunstverlag Hans Huber, Garmisch-Partenkirchen



Hermann Goering Private Plane

Bruck, Austria, 1945: private plane of Hermann Goering, Commander-in-Chief of the
Luftwaffe; President of the Reichstag; Prime Minister of Prussia; and, as Adolph Hitler's
designated successor, the second in command in the Third Reich.

This plane is a SIEBEL Si.204 D, a trainer manufactured by Siebel Flugzeugwerke; crew 2;
passengers: 8; engine: 2 Argus As.411 12-cylinder V air-cooled, 600 hp each; wingspan:
69 ft 11 in (21.33 m); length: 39 ft 2 in (11.95 m); height., 13 ft 11 in (4.25 m); weight:
12,348 lb (5,600 kg); maximum speed: 230 mph (368 km/h) at 7,600 ft (2,320 m);
ceiling: 24,600 ft (7,500 m); endurance: 1,118 miles (1,800 km)



Sink at Zell Am See
COL Robert F. Sink at Zell Am See, Austria, where he
had set up the REGT HQ Command Post in May 1945.
These Headquarters remained until the end of July 1945,
when the 506th PIR moved to Joigny, France.


Mercedes Benz
Mercedes Benz, probably for MG Maxwell D. Taylor (CO, 101st Airborne Division)
This may have been one of the automobiles (used by high officials in the German Army)
that were found by the 506th PIR at Berchtesgaden. According to Charles Craton, this
car was used by COL Sink.


Charles T. Craton, Jr.

Charles T. Craton, Jr. in the Alps



These pages are maintained by veterans of
The 506th Airborne Infantry Regiment Association (Airmobile - Air Assault)
Send any changes or corrections to: Hoyt Bruce Moore, III "The Moe"
This page updated 09/25/11