Military archeology

Military archeology

The term « archeology » usually implies ‘digging the ground’ for “old, buried stuff”.  Throughout the ages, researches have always relied on this method to unearth tokens of bygone days and to find clues for scientific evaluation of historical facts.  “Archeology” also usually is linked to the concept of rare and “very old items” like fossils or artifacts that are thousands or hundreds of years old.

Archeology is a science, but it is also a worldwide popular free-time activity for countless ‘non-pro’ researchers and enthusiasts.

Numerous museums rely on discoveries made by “weekend” researchers and archeologists and on many an occasion “their” discoveries have been the key to scientific success.

There is no established term such as “military archaeology”, so let us bring this one up.  Military archaeology suggests “digging the ground” to find military artifacts, pieces of equipment or traces of military presence and/or conflicts and battles.  Researchers dig former known battlefields plotted on maps or just follow the signals of their metal detector to gain a more in-depth knowledge through their finds of what may have happened there years, decades, centuries or millenniums ago.

Relating military archaeology to WWII and more specifically – the “Battle of the Bulge” implies carefully probing the Ardennes for left behind abandoned American, British or German military hardware and soldiers’ personal belongings.  As such, our museum actively participates in a joint campaign by all AMBA member museums in Belgium Luxembourg, in close cooperation with Dutch, French and German colleagues in the region, as well as with American, British and other partners and friends to find traces of WWII in an effort to preserve history and thus … remembrance.

This was especially true during the 60th anniversary (in 2004 and 2005) of the “Bulge” when numerous museums or temporary exhibits featured “battlefield pickups” to let returning veterans comment them and thus gain valuable personal information.

For many years has the National Museum of Military history in Diekirch been very active in military archaeology and battlefield investigations by relying on its own staff and on associated volunteers.  The museum has its own dedicated staff of battlefield archeologists or diggers, searching the “southern flank” areas for interesting traces and artifacts. The museum’s “dig squad” is primarily comprised of Mike Boehler, Marc B. and Carlo Schmitz.

Mike Boehler		Marc B.		Carlo Schmitz

The stuff they recently dug up is absolutely amazing.  The following photo series is just a sampler of countless artifacts and pieces of equipment found in the greater Diekirch area stored now for future analysis at the museum.  Sadly, the museum, since its creation in 1984, has also found the remains of seven German soldiers – three of them having been identified and buried along with their unidentified comrades at the German military cemetery of Sandweiler.

Finally, military archaeology also implies awareness about the environment (carefully covering up holes after discoveries) and reporting dangerous unexploded ordnance to qualified EOD (explosive ordnance disposal) staff – in this case of the Luxembourg army.

Military archaeology is fascinating … you can get addicted … just look at the pictures, but always be aware that you have to have a license delivered by local authorities, as otherwise you may be in an illegal situation resulting in the confiscation of your equipment and finds!

Some of the most exciting recent finds.

More UXOs (Unexploded Ordnance)

It is a fact that every year at the beginning of spring with the ploughing of crops fields, long-forgotten and buried relics turn up regularly. Such is certainly the case in the Luxembourg and Belgian Ardennes, where every year tons of WWII relics are still found.

On March 9, 2007, the museum was alerted by a private collector of  neolithic flint tools and arrowheads, who had “walked” freshly ploughed fields south of Diekirch, of an unwelcome discovery in one of the thick clay furrows.  A quick reconnaissance by a museum staffer confirmed the find – a partially covered 155 mm shell; obviously a dud, as the grooves of the shell’s driving band were clearly identifiable.

Thanks to the Luxembourg army’s E.O.D. (explosive ordnance disposal) team who were rapidly on site, the dangerous relic was soon unearthed (indeed an 83 pound, fired 155 high explosive shell) and evacuated for destruction.  But, surprise!  A second shell – this time a “fired” 105 mm high explosive round, was found next to it.  This led to believe that most likely an earlier “collector” had found both shells in the same field, but then decided to rebury them. This is something that SHOULD NOT BE DONE !!!

E.O.D. Specialists S/Sgts  Reiser, Derneden and Eiffes hard at work.  Some digging was needed to uncover the 155 mm and 105 mm U.S. high explosive shells. No additional duds were found after further careful detecting.  It is believed that both shells were fired from 107th FA Battalion 105 mm howitzers) and 108th FA Battalion (155 mm howitzers), both of 28th Infantry Division, during the first 2-3 days after the beginning of the "Bulge", as German troops kept infiltrating towards Diekirch via the "Herrenberg".  Both shells by the way had "broken off" electronic "VT" (variable time) fuzes.  Obviously both fuzes misfired 62 years ago.

Again THANK YOU to the Luxembourg army’s EOD team (S/Sgts: Paul Reiser, Luc Derneden, Remy Eiffes) who made sure that the dangerous stuff  was properly disposed of.

Early 2007 discoveries

Always amazing.  Still 62 years after the "Bulge" military artifacts keep popping up from time to time, emerging or resurfacing after a long period of "hide-away".  Such was the case recently, when a U.S. helmet was discovered in mid-January 2007 by a hunter in a ravine overlooking the "Our" river near Stolzembourg. The helmet itself after being exposed to 6 decades of "Ardennes'" weather was still in fair condition. The backside had been pierced by a shell fragment leading to believe that the unfortunate wearer (if the helmet was worn at the time of the impact) was hit though the left backside of the head. He would hardly have survived! Darker rust spots on the helmet shell indicate that there was a camouflage net, which had rotted away after all those years. The rim still had specks of OD green paint! Two patches of green moss on the outer shell are a clear token that mother nature was about to reclaim the helmet. For the museum, truly a historical, though sad collector's item, as the fate of the unfortunate soldier (either from the 28th or 5th U.S. Infantry division), will probably never be known.

This damaged U.S. helmet was found near Stolzembourg, close to the banks of the Our river in thick underbrush.

Another discovery was made on February 10, 2007 in a ploughed and completely soaked corn field. Looking for prehistoric flint tools, a private collector found this far more recent relic - a 3 Inch U.S. anti-tank shell (armor-piercing , charged, cap -- ballistic cap missing!) with a well preserved, grooved driving band. As this find is really too dangerous (duds can never be trusted and must not be handled at all!), the finder called the museum and reported the artifact. After positive identification, the shell was removed by the E.O.D. service to be properly disposed of.

A relic you would not touch - an "UXO" (unexploded ordnance) - still dangerous after all those years - in this case a U.S. 3 Inch anti tank shell, either from a towed anti tank gun or from a later model Sherman tank with upgraded gun.

Forgotten soldier no longer left behind !

It is known that „Schumann’s Eck“ crossroads near Wiltz/Gr.D.of Luxembourg, because of its critical importance leading towards Bastogne, became probably the most intense battelfield of the Bulge“ in Luxembourg in December 44 – January 45.  It is here that some years ago, the National Liberation Memorial was erected and a historical circuit  created to preserve  the memory of that once so bloody fighting in cold weather with hundreds of casualties on both sides.  It was also here that on the occasion of the 60th anniversry in 2004 a special memorial – to highlight reconciliation – was jointly unveiled by a U.S. and German veteran who fought here.  Histrocially, the following units fought in this sector (28th U.S. Inf. Div, 26th U.S. Inf Div, 90th U.S. Inf Div) as well as the 5th German Para and 9th Volksgrenadier divisions.

On September 9, 2007, three Dutch WWII history buffs were walking the Memorial trail and were also looking around for additional foxholes, traces and tokens of the battle.  In a  small plot of pine trees in direction of Winseler, they noticed the top of a German helmet.  Carefuly excavating the helmet and lifting it out, the finders quickly became aware what they had actually found.  The helmet had a skull in it with the leather chin strap still fixed.  The three Dutch finders DID THE RIGHT THING!  They covered the find and alerted the curator of the Diekirch National Museum of Military History, as they knew from the museum’s website that similar cases had happened in the past.  They agreed to return to Luxembourg a few days later to show the site.

German helmet, as found in original position on September 9, 2007-09-16.

Helmet with skull (lower jaw missing) with chin strap still fixed.

Part of the shoulders, arms and ribcage exposed after skull had been removed.

Mr. René Croë, Superintendant of Sandweiler cemtery, supervising the digging.

Careful search for the dead soldier’s ID tag (that was never found) with a sensitive metal detector.

Mike Boehler, „digger“ specialist of the Diekirch museum, slowly working with his hands.

Roland Gaul, video-recording the excavation in detail for the museum’s archive.

The rusted pieces of standard equipment that were found on the soldier’s skelatal remains.

Lid of standard WH messkit.

The casketed remains of this fallen German soldier to be buried at Sandweiler cemetery.

In the meantime, the curator (Roland Gaul) had alerted the German Embassy in Luxembourg, the Superintendant of the German cemetery in Sandweiler  (Mr. René Croë), as well as the Luxembourg Police and judicial authorities. On Sept 13, an official  retrieval and search party consisting of Mr. René Croë his assistant and Mike Boehler „digging specialist“ of the Museum met with the Police, Roland Gaul and the three Dutch WWII history enthusiasts at Schumann’s Eck Memoriall to proceed to the „grave site“ only some 600 meters from the Memorial.  Very carefully, inch after inch of dirt around the helmet was removed to expose the skelatal remains of the soldier’s body.  It appeared at first sight that the soldier had collapsed with both arms bent around the head.  After the complete skull and several neck vertebra had been salvaged, three „diggers“ took turns to carefully remove all earth around the ribcage , shoulders and arm bones, always probing with a metal detector for the soldier’s metal ID tag.  Three metal fragments were found in the ribcage leading to believe hat the soldiers had been killed by artillery shell fragments. Further scraping and digging brought a canteen, a messkit, leather belt with buckle, remains of leather straps, leather ammunition pouches (holding about 30 rounds), Wehrmacht-type buttons, some coins, a plastic comb, bakelite butter dish, bakelite „Losanin tablets“ container and the remains of ankle boots.  It appeared that the right foot was missing and its boot totally torn!  To everyone’s regret, no ID tag was found after hours of careful and expert search.  The human remains of that unfortunate, forgotten soldier were casketed by Mr. Croë for burial at Sandweiler cemetery, as a report was filed with the „Volksbund Deutsche Kriegsgräberfürsorge“) stating that no ID tag was found with the remains.  Although the fallen soldier will probably never regain its identity, he – at least – is not left behind and forgotten and will find his final resting place together with thousands of comrades in a dignified and blessed place in a tomb marked „Unbekannter Deutscher Soldat“ (unknown German soldier).  It is strongly believed that he was a member of the 9th German Volksgrenadierdivision who had static fights at Schumann’s Eck in January 1945.