More of our men died–world history and facts

“More of our men died—so fast that you couldn’t keep track of their numbers,” wrote Tony Acevedo, an American soldier fighting in World War II. “We kept on marching.”

On this day in 1945, Tony and members of the US Army’s 275th Infantry Regiment were captured by the Germans and held prisoner for 15 weeks. Much of what we know about their experiences is due to a diary Tony secretly kept while in captivity. 

A Mexican American who had faced discrimination because of his heritage, Tony nonetheless enlisted at age 17 with his father’s permission after the US government called for volunteers. He became a medic. 

After only a few weeks in combat, Tony and the men of his company were forced to surrender to the Germans when they ran out of ammunition and food during the Battle of the Bulge.

They faced physical and emotional abuse at the hands of their German captors. Tony was tortured and sexually assaulted. 

The soldiers were fed starvation rations and forced to work. In his diary, Tony recorded names and death dates as the men succumbed to pneumonia, heart conditions, and malnutrition despite his medical care. Some men who tried to escape were captured and shot dead. 

Tony wrote that he feared that “our bodies would [not] resist any more.”

He survived a prisoner of war camp and a forced labor subcamp of the Buchenwald concentration camp, known as Berga an der Elster.

In April 1945, German guards realized that American and Soviet troops were closing in, and they evacuated the POWs from Berga. 

Tony and the other prisoners were sent on a forced march that lasted more than two weeks and claimed the lives of about 80 American soldiers.

Photo: USHMM, Gift of Anthony Acevedo

We hope that you have enjoyed reading our blog on the world history and facts. If you enjoy this blog please let us know in the comments below. If you are interested in history, we recommend you check out our other blogs here on the world history and facts. Thank you for reading.


THE DAY AFTER… BATTLE of MAGERSFONTEIN – the TRUCE for retrieving dead and wounded… ACCIDENTALLY BROKEN. And the WITHDRAWAL.

THE DAY AFTER… BATTLE of MAGERSFONTEIN – the TRUCE for retrieving dead and wounded… ACCIDENTALLY BROKEN. And the WITHDRAWAL.

This text from Steve Lunderstedt (KIMBERLEY CALLS…AND RECALLS): “On this day, the 12th December, in 1899, as the sun rose…

Read More


“Trench fighting is the bloodiest, wildest, most brutal of all…

“Trench fighting is the bloodiest, wildest, most brutal of all…

Of all the war’s exciting moments none is so powerful as the meeting of two storm troop leaders between narrow…

Read More


British Soldier Leonard Thompson experience during the Gallipoli campaign.

British Soldier Leonard Thompson experience during the Gallipoli campaign.

“We set to work to bury people. We pushed them into the sides of the trenches but bits of them…

Read More


What is Krampus ?

What is Krampus ?

The Feast of St. Nicholas is celebrated in parts of Europe on 6 December. On the preceding evening of 5…

Read More


A HEART WRENCHIG STORY

A HEART WRENCHIG STORY

Bronx mother accused of hanging her 6-year-old daughter in a closet and beating her before she died due to prolonged…

Read More


In 1976, Shavarsh Karapetyan, an Armenian Olympic Swimmer, had just completed a 12-mile run with his brother when they saw a trolley bus crash into a dam reservoir.

In 1976, Shavarsh Karapetyan, an Armenian Olympic Swimmer, had just completed a 12-mile run with his brother when they saw a trolley bus crash into a dam reservoir.

The trolley bus sank 80 feet offshore at a depth of 33 Feet. Shavarsh immediately dove in and swam to…

Read More


In 1867, deep within the dense forests of Uttar Pradesh, India, a hunting party stumbled upon an astonishing sight in a jungle cave:

In 1867, deep within the dense forests of Uttar Pradesh, India, a hunting party stumbled upon an astonishing sight in a jungle cave:

a young boy living among wolves, behaving more like a wild animal than a human. This child, later named Dina…

Read More


She got married at the age of 14, and at the age of 20, she became a single mother.

She got married at the age of 14, and at the age of 20, she became a single mother.

The first female millionaire who made a fortune with her 10 fingers.She entered the Guinness Book of Records as the…

Read More


Today we Remember Charlotte Salomon

Today we Remember Charlotte Salomon

On April 16, 1917, Charlotte Salomon was born in Berlin, Germany—a gifted artist whose life and legacy would become a…

Read More


The Woman Who Lived Across Three Centuries — Jeanne Calment

The Woman Who Lived Across Three Centuries — Jeanne Calment

She was born in 1875 — before the light bulb, the Eiffel Tower, or sliced bread.And she lived until 1997….

Read More

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *