MILW The Milwaukee's war in Europe

MILWAUKEE ROAD WAR’S IN EUROPE

Would this be an idea for a book of say 100 pages?

An army marches on its stomach said Napoleon. But who fed the army’s stomach in World War II? Usually railroads did; especially in Europe.

Much has been written about the Milwaukee Road’s role in moving masses of troops, tanks and military across America during World War II. The Milwaukee and its employees did yeoman’s service. But did you know the Milwaukee Road also fought in Europe during World War II? Yes, the Milwaukee Road and its employees went to war in Europe in 1944.

The Milwaukee Road sponsored two U. S. Army Battalions which fought in the European Theater following the invasion at Normandy. The battalions were officered and partially manned by Milwaukee Road management and union employees during the war.

The battalions were the 744th Railway Operating Battalion and the 757th Engineer Railway Battalion.

The Queue Busters. The 744th Battalion moved more military and passenger freight behind Allied lines during the battle for Europe than any other transportation battalion. It was known as the “queue buster” for its ability to clear up snarled log jams of Allied military rail traffic and move massive amounts of war material and troops on France, Belgium and Germany’s wrecked railroads. After the battalion was decommissioned in 1946, members of the battalions started a battalion association that met annually until the association was discontinued in 2006.

The Milwaukee’s Enduring Legacy. The 757th Battalion was never decommissioned. In fact, the Milwaukee Road lives on today through the 757th Battalion; the Battalion exists today as the 757th Transportation Battalion, U.S. Army Reserve. It is the only railway battalion left in the United States Army. The 757th is headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Its motto is “Source of Power.” The battalion, still a railroad battalion, today trains reserve and active military engineers from across the Milwaukee Road’s territory including Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota and Montana. The 757th recently saw service in war-torn Iraq repairing facilities at the Port of Qasr.

In response to the Allies need to quickly assemble transportation units that could serve Allied armies particularly in the African and European Theaters, the U.S. Army turned to America’s railroads to “sponsor” railroad battalions. America’s railroads rose to the challenge. Some thirty four battalions were formed and were dispatched overseas during World War II to the European and Pacific fronts. .

Each battalion had four companies of one hundred men and full compliment of officers.

Battalions were specialized. Operating battalions like the 744th operated trains. Shop battalions repaired and returned to service operating equipment. Engineer battalions like the 757th repaired and returned trackage and facilities to useable service.

The battalions were under fire by German bombers and fighters who constantly bombed and straffed railroad facilities and trains behind Allied lines.

In fact, Winston Churchill’s single largest worry after the beaches at Normandy were secured was the ever lengthening lines supporting the Allied armies from Normandy. He was constantly amazed at the work performed by the Allied supply and transportation units who fed and supplied the Allied armies. It was not easy, particularly in the face of enemy bombing and straffing, for the railway battalions to keep up with Patton’s tanks!

Railway service in France and Belgium was particularly difficult due to the long lines of wrecked railroad trackage and facilities that the Allied armies depended on as they hurdled across Europe. From June 1944 to early December, 1944, almost every scrap of Allied supplies and fuel, to say nothing of troops, had to be brought to the European Theater frontlines off the beaches of Normandy and the small port of Cherbourg in Lower Normandy. In some cases, Allied Armies were fighting three hundred miles from Normandy while being supplied by rail service from the Normandy beaches.

Railroads manned by American railway battalions transported everything from tanks to toothpaste to the Allied troops fighting the German Armies. The freight volume was stupendous; some 20,000 tons of supplies every single day plus troops traversed wrecking railroads. From the frontlines the Battalions transported wounded Allied solders to hospitals in the rear areas as well as damaged and broken tanks, artillery pieces, other damaged military material and prisoners of war.

Only after the Allies captured the Belgium Port of Antwerp and the Scheldt Estuary which winds from the Belgium North Sea Coast to Antwerp were the supply lines finally shortened. Antwerp was captured on September 4th but was not usable until the Scheldt Estuary was cleared by Canadian forces on November 28th , 1944 . Hitler’s attempt to recapture Antwerp resulted in the Battle of the Bulge.

The supply lines from Antwerp reached some two hundred fifty miles into Germany before the war was over. After the end of hostilities, the American Railroad battalions fed not only the Allied troops of occupation but the civilian population and surrendered armies was well.

 

Milwaukee Army Battalions

I don't know if the Archives have any photos but that is a great iodea. Thanks!. We are in touch with the Commander of the 757th battalion - it is the only remaining Railway Battalion left in the U.S Armed Forces. Hopefully, the unit has retained photos and other items we can use. The 744th Battalion did have a reunion association that met annually until last year. Hopefully the old association records will have photos and other things we can use. A woman wrote a "memories" book about the 744th in 1985. I have contacted her for a copy of her book and hopefully she will have other things we can use. So far, the response to our idea has been very positive. We are thinking about a book that would cost about $18.00. What do you think? Does it sound like a worthwhile idea. John

 

Amazing information. It is still difficult to comprehend the enormity and scope of World War II. I'm always amazed to hear the stories like this that truly demonstrate the breadth of involvement dedicated to the war effort. I'm interested in the story, but probably wouldn't buy a book. This would be a great segment for "Tracks Ahead" or a History channel special. Maybe try to sell this story for video production.

 

I would certainly read it!!

 

HI - Thanks for the comments. They are useful. I am now in contact with four guys who served in the 744th Battalion. As one gent said, the Milwaukee Road provided all the officers for the Battalion he was in AND the railroad did its best to provide all of the enlisted men as well. There evidently were four companies in each. Battalion - each company had 250 soldiers. The 744th Operated trains - one veteran I talked to operated a 30 caliber anti-aircraft four barrel gun mounted on a flat car on trains in France and Belgium. He shot down German Stuka dive-bombers. Sounds dangerous at best! Most of the men in the 744th were engineers, firemen, brakemen, and conductors off the Milwaukee Road. This project is gathering some steam as we have applied for a grant to help fund the research for the book. I will keep everyone posted as we move forward. Thanks, Montananext.

 

I'd buy one for sure...You also may be able to get some information from the US Army Transportation Museum in Fort Eustis, VA. Might be able to sell your book through their gift shop as well as the Transportation Corps regimental association.