I was always very scared when the Americans used military "pyrotechnics" for their exercises. These were,
next to other stuff, various kinds of smoke grenades - with their colors of red, green, white, yellow and
purple. They looked fantastic, but only from a distance! If you went too close to the clouds of smoke they
gave off an awful stench and caused a strong irritation in the throat. The soldiers then put on their gas
masks as quick as a flash and screamed "Gas, Gas"!
Each time I noted the use of these smoke grenades, I fled well away. The soldiers looked like people from
a different planet in their outfits. Luckily, it was even rarer for them to set off tear-gas grenades.
(Anti-Riot equipment) The contents of these devices were as white as snow, and they let off an unmistakable
hissing noise whenever they were set off. If you ever found yourself amidst one of these clouds, it was an
unforgettable experience! Your eyes would be burning and streaming for hours afterwards. Sometimes, U.S.
helicopters hovered for a short time over the tree tops and dropped tear-gas devices onto the unsuspecting
troops. The effect was quite impressive. Because of the rotor blades the gas quickly became mixed up with
dust and dirt and it swirled around in all directions. I had never seen so many soldiers weeping all at
once, for they couldn't put on the protective masks they were carrying quickly enough. After this
experience, I always immediately leapt to safety whenever a helicopter appeared.
Likewise, their practice hand grenades, called "simulators", often caused me to experience fear and horror.
They were elongated cardboard devices which, because of their dimensions, reminded me of two empty toilet
rolls stuck together. The smaller of the two (a grenade simulator) exploded without warning; the larger
device (artillery simulator) immediately after a long, shrill whistle. After a dazzling flash and a huge
bang, all that was left of them were small scraps of cardboard. The ground would be all churned up where
the grenade had detonated. However, there was nothing at all that could stop me, after a brief escape, from
going back to the practicing American soldiers. They seem to have possessed a magical appeal.
I soon learned that it was in fact the simulators that often started a practice battle, or rather announced
the start of one. While the troops marched along behind one another, weapons at the ready, in search of the
"enemy", so-called "referees" (also known as "umpires") accompanying the unit would suddenly throw out these
practice explosive devices. Unlike the troops, these umpires walked along the middle of the trail. So they
could easily be told apart, they wore a white ribbon on their helmets and shoulders. The "referees" escorted
the unit constantly through the wood. Their opponents, who instead of "steel pots" wore either just the
cardboard inserts from their helmets or soft caps, lying in ambush, could already observe this course of
events from a distance, so they were always prepared for the attack that was about to take place.
I sometimes felt really sorry for the other soldiers whenever they had to walk up to their waists through
water as part of an exercise. With their rifles held high, they often waded through the connecting canal
at the "Riemeisterfenn," and then stormed down the steep hill slope on the opposite bank, firing wildly.
Only the opponents, called "AGGRESSORS," who were no doubt envied because of their pleasant and easier role,
were able to smile as they stayed perched in their ambush positions and kept their feet dry. Such exercises
were often repeated several times within the space of just a few hours. At the end of a training day you
could see how shattered and exhausted the soldiers were, as they climbed onto their trucks, soaking wet and
covered in mud.
Even in this case they could still count themselves lucky, for it was quite a common occurrence for a unit,
after finishing an exercise, to have to march several miles back to their barracks (McNair Barracks or
Andrews Barracks) in the area of Lichterfelde. Regardless, the GIs always gave a smile and a friendly
goodbye wave!
Unfortunate shopping