WW2 LETTER LOT 309TH INF 78TH SHELBY WHEELER ENGLAND FRANCE GERMANY BERLIN WWII

Description

The FINAL amazing collection of 76 letters, most with envelopes, 2 telegrams, 2 postcards and an original flyer from a concert by the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra in 1945.
These items are all from the estate of PFC William Alvin SANGTINETTE (1925-2001) from Camden New Jersey to his family. He started with the 1229th HR Training to become a member of the Company L, 309th Infantry, 78th Division and then in the 3rd Battalion HQ 309th Infantry, 78th Division. The letters span from 1944 through to March 1946 from his training at Fort Dix, Camp Wheeler, Camp Shelby and then being shipped to England, and then only Germany where he was part of the post war occupying Army. I only read a few of these as I have hundreds, as some of them are 5-6 pages and also double-sided, but the few I did read would make a great basis for a movie or book.
The 78th Division embarked for ETO on 14 October 1944. They arrived in England on 26 October and after further training crossed to France on 22 November 1944. After landing in France, they then moved initially to Tongeren, Belgium in November and then to Roetgen, Germany In December 1944, to prepare for combat. The 309th relieved elements of the 1st Division in the line in the vicinity of Entenpfuh in early December. On the 13th, along with other regiments they smashed into Simmerath, Witzerath, and Bickerath and were fighting for Kesternich when Gerd von Rundstedt launched his counteroffensive in the Monschau area, on 18 December.
The 78th held the area it had taken from the Siegfried Line against German attacks throughout the winter. The Division was involved in multiple battles and captured intact the vital Schwammanauel Dam. In the advance, the Roer River was crossed, and the Division joined the offensive of the First and Ninth Armies toward the Rhine, and crossed the river at the Ludendorff Bridge at Remagen.
Through April and May 1945, the Division was active in the reduction of the Ruhr Pocket and at VE-day was stationed near Marburg. In mid-November 1945 the Division relieved the 82nd Airborne Division on occupation duty in Berlin.