Saturday, 3 March [1945] Auw, Germany
Up at 0600. Shaved and had breakfast by 0800. An uneventful day as a whole. 2 Me 109’s came over this morning. They didn’t linger long. The weather is unpredictable. The sun has been out intermittently all day. It was warm when the sun shone, cold otherwise. It snowed enough last night to give a rough‐iced cooky effect but it had vanished by noon. Lots of bombers came over today. I am pleased because the picture of destruction they paint for my mind is in no way objectionable. This village, like all villages over here is beginning to smell, as the weather becomes warmer, they will become smellier. Each house (I am reluctant to refer to them as homes) has a barn attached and a huge pile of manure, within easy throwing distance. All kinds of miserable, disease bearing bugs and germs hide out in this haven, awaiting only a signal from beneficent Mother Nature to carry out their plans of battle which they have carefully planned during the winter. We are meeting stiff resistance but that is to be expected. I received 3 letters today. Hit the sack at 2100.
Sunday, 4 March [1945] Auw, Germany
Up at 0600. This has been quite a day. Constant air activity and artillery. The Germans in our sector, are on the run for the Rhine and they are retreating so rapidly that we have lost contact with them in many places. We have urged the German Civilians (by radio and leaflets) to remain in their homes. If they leave home for a supposed [continued on next page]