As noted in the sampler we are invited to visit this fabulous, hundreds year-old mill that is the residence of German couple Mareike and Peter, called Frenzer Muhle. (If the link doesn’t work for your browser google Frenzer Muhle and select ‘translate page’ by the appropriate link.)
After breakfast in the morning we leave Aachen and are guided by commentary from local historian Albert Trostorf. One of our first stops is to see ‘dragon teeth’.
As mentioned in the sampler post dragon’s teeth to this day can stop a tank from driving through. The reinforced concrete goes 2 meters into the earth. The teeth pathways were 4-5 rows deep and miles long. Allied solution? Cover them with dirt where you want to cross!
Photos from the bus get window stickers, heads, and reflections included!
Peggy and Betsy.
Reinforced with rebar.
Millie.
Timberwolf vet Tom.
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Towards the Frenzer Muhle, past a ‘friendly fire’ incident in Weisweiler that could have killed Nancy’s father:
Countryside and canola fields.
The current site of an old brickette factory near the other factory in Weisweiler. 104th Div. HQ, Nancy’s father’s unit, was located here. Nancy’s father was away from the building when there was an accidental ‘friendly’ aircraft bombing, else he might have been killed as many of his fellow soldiers were.
The nearby steel factory we think is pictured in the vintage photo.
Except for chance there might not have been 4 generations living today from Nancy and her father’s family.
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The Old Mill at last. Mareike and Peter are the newest owners.
Did I mention that Germany is big on solar also? We haven’t seen as many of these, but when we do they are BIG.
FRENZER MUHLE! (Sorry I’m not getting the umlaut on the U with my English keyboard.)
The bus squeezes into the courtyard and we all pile out. Pup and Tour Coordinator Mary, Mareike, Peter, and Guide Patrick are pictured.
Marieke and Peter holding a WWII war stories book by 104th GI Charles Norris, whose name is carved in one of the marble sills of the house.
Bullet holes remain on the back wall of the mill.
Every mill should have a millstone. I believe it was mostly a grain mill. Check the Frenzer Muhle website for details.
The main house.
GI names carved in marble. No wonder they lasted for 68 years.
Mareike and Peter treat us to delicious food. I inhaled the cream puffs. Sorry!
Mareike trains dogs. Her shirt says “Dog trainer? We need an exorcist!”
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