What was the street address of the WAC billets in Vienna,Austria
during the time of the US Occupation Forces in Austria, (USFA) post
WWII.
The years I was there, 1946-1948 It could be on the same street as the
home of Mozart |
Request for Question Clarification by
missy-ga
on
29 Oct 2002 18:34 PST
Hi there,
I have an e-mail out to William Elkins, webmaster for the USFA
Association. The site shows numerous maps, but I've not been able to
locate one showing the WAC billets.
If anyone will know where the information is to be found, it will be
Mr. Elkins. A response may take several days however, so I wanted to
let you know that your query is being investigated.
--Missy
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Request for Question Clarification by
justaskscott-ga
on
30 Oct 2002 00:20 PST
Note to Researchers -- this is a repost of a previous question:
https://answers.google.com/answers/main?cmd=threadview&id=69221
I had forgotten to add my comment to the previous question, so I'll
add it now. I e-mailed Bill Billet of the USFA Veterans Association
at the end of September, and he replied that he personally could not
answer this question, but would pass it on to the editor of their USFA
Sentinel so he could place it in the November issue.
Perhaps missy-ga will learn more from the reply to her e-mail.
Otherwise, I plan to check back with Mr. Billet in mid-November to see
if anyone has come up with an answer.
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Request for Question Clarification by
missy-ga
on
30 Oct 2002 05:05 PST
Good morning, Row1!
I think you and I may have both e-mailed Mr. Elkins! I received the
following reply from him this morning:
"To: RowSm@[e-mail elided]
CC: prigl1964@[e-mail elided], missy@[e-mail elided]
Subject: Re: USFA
Hi Rowleen,
Thank you for your email. I will contact my good friend Dr.
Hubert Prigl,
who lives in Vienna and has done a lot of research on the
buildings used by
USFA. He might be able to help. I have a detailed map of Vienna
that I can
scan for you that shows the street names and location of several
of the
USFA buildings. But it does not include the WAC Billets. So we
will rely on
Hubert to help us.
I am sending a copy of this response to Ms Maggie [last name
elided] who
also sent me an email asking for the same information.
When are you planning to visit Vienna?
I will be out of town on vacation starting today, will return on
Tuesday
next week.
Best regards
Walter Elkins
Clearwater, FL
RowSm@[e-mail elided] wrote:
I was stationed in Vienna, Austria in the Womens' Army Corps,
USFA from
1946 to 1948. I served in the Adjutant General's Office,
quartered in the
Austrian Nat'l Bank Building. I would very much like to know
the street
address of the WAC BILLETS and the Bank Bldg. since I am planning
a trip to
Europe and want to visit those places, especially the billets.
The Bank
Building I probably could find.
Could you provide that information or refer me to someone who
would have
access to those records?
Thank you very much for any info you can provide.
Rowleen [last name elided],
Ventura, Ca."
The names are awfully similar, I'll bet you've got this same e-mail in
your in-box right now!
It would appear that the matter is now in Dr. Prigl's hands. As a
resident of Vienna, I'm quite certain Dr. Prigl will be able to
provide you with the correct address.
If I find it before he does (highly doubtful, but I will continue to
search), I will pass it along.
Warmest regards,
--Missy
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Request for Question Clarification by
missy-ga
on
30 Oct 2002 05:06 PST
Oh heavens, the formatting! I'm sorry about that, I have no idea why
it looks like that - it was perfectly straight when I pasted it in!
--Missy
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Request for Question Clarification by
silviares-ga
on
30 Oct 2002 09:08 PST
Hello row1-ga
I have the address of the WAC Detachment Snack Bar in Vienna. Maybe
you can confirm if this is in the same place as the billeting or not.
If it is not I also contacted Mr Bill Billet of the USFA Veterans
Association
and got the same reply justaskscott had.
Let me know
silviares
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Clarification of Question by
row1-ga
on
30 Oct 2002 10:32 PST
I have requests for clarification from both Missy and Silvieras. I was not aware
of a "WAC Snack Bar", as seperate from the billets. I do remember that the home of
Wolfgang A. Mozart was across the street from the billets. If Mozart's home is on
the same street as the"snack bar", perhaps the WAC billet was erroneously called
"snack bar".
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Request for Question Clarification by
silviares-ga
on
30 Oct 2002 12:10 PST
Hello row1-ga
I have the address of the house of Mozart and the address of the WAC
Detachment Snack Bar and they are not on the same street.
If you are sure that the house of Mozart was across the street than
maybe that address would be enough for you to find the site of the
billets.
If you think you can derive the location of the billets I can post the
address of the house of Mozart as an answer to this question. I can
also give you the address of the WAC Detachment Snack Bar. Otherwise
we will just have to wait ...
Let me know
Silviares
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Request for Question Clarification by
missy-ga
on
30 Oct 2002 12:55 PST
row1,
Directly across the street, or across the street and down a ways?
Here is a photo of Mozart's house on Domgasse, with part of a building
across the street visible:
http://www.mun.ca/german/German/tutorials/1001/tutorial2/christine/c5.html
Does this look familiar? Is it possible that the building visible on
the right is the billet? I want to make absolutely certain that you
get the information you asked for. (My thanks to Seedy for pointing
this photo out.)
--Missy
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Request for Question Clarification by
silviares-ga
on
30 Oct 2002 23:18 PST
Hello row1-ga
during my search for the house of Mozart I found out that the composer
lived in several places in Vienna. The famous house of Mozart (also
known as House of Figaro) is one of them and is visited today by
people sightseeing Vienna.
If that is not the house you recall (as in the picture by missy-ga) I
was wondering if any of the other areas where Mozart lived sounds
familiar to you and sounds like the same area where the billets were.
Those areas are
Hohe Brücke
Kohlmarkt
Judenplatz
Trattnerhof
Grosse Schulerstrasse
Landstrasse
Tuchlauben
Währingerstrasse
Judenplatz
Rauhensteingasse
just a thought ...
silviares
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Request for Question Clarification by
silviares-ga
on
31 Oct 2002 12:16 PST
Hello row1-ga
I did a little more detective work and I think I might have found
something interesting. As I told you I have the address of the WAC
Detachment Snack Bar in Vienna. As you can see in my previous posting
I also found all the places where Mozart lived while in Vienna (he had
to change residence very often because he never had enough money to
pay the rent).
After a little investigation I found that one of Mozart's addresses is
right in the same district (although not on the same street) as the
WAC Detachment Snack Bar. Now if Austria is anything like Italy (I am
Italian) the historical society has probably marked with a plaque on
the building every place where Mozart lived (something like "Wolfgang
Amadeus Mozart lived here from ... to ...").
So I got to the conclusion that if the WAC Detachment Snack Bar was
indeed located in a separate building from the billets it must not
have been very far from them, maybe around the corner or a few blocks
away.
The address of the house I was mentioning before where Mozart lived is
also not far from the address of the WAC Detachment Snack Bar. I have
both addresses and I will gladly pass them to you (together with
pointers to every step of my search) if you think that my flow of
thoughts makes any sense.
Let me know
Silviares
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Clarification of Question by
row1-ga
on
31 Oct 2002 13:42 PST
For Missy and Silviaras Re Street address WAC Austria
The place I'm seeking was "across the street and down a little." From
Mozart's House, (I understand there were many). Wahringerstrasse
sounds familiar. Maybe what is being called Snack bar was the billet.
The building I am seeking was used
to house Hitler's SS troops before the WAC arrived right after the end
of WWII.
The main floor, made of glass blocks, very pretty,second floor had
balcony running
circular,overlooking the glassblock floor I was there 1946 to 1948.
It is possible the WAC moved to a new location in 1949.
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Request for Question Clarification by
silviares-ga
on
31 Oct 2002 17:32 PST
Hello raw1-ga
I was hoping for you to say that !!! 135 Wahringerstrasse was one of
Mozart homes as you can tell from
http://www.allabreve.org/Mozart_Pages/wam_06jun.html
(June 17th) and it's exatly the residence nearby the address I have of
the WAC Detachment Snack Bar. Would you like me to post the address
WAC Detachment Snack Bar as an answer ?
Let me know
Silviares
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Request for Question Clarification by
missy-ga
on
31 Oct 2002 19:48 PST
Dear Row1,
Poking around a bit more, with the new information you've posted, I
found a map which clearly shows USFA facilities along the
Währingerstrasse:
http://www.usfava.com/H_Prigl_map1.htm
If you look in the upper left of the map, there is a notation that
says "110th Hospital" - that's the beginning of the Währingerstrasse
in that sector. If you follow the street as it travels to the right
and down, you'll see a cluster of numbers, 1 - 5, followed by, at
spaced intervals, 6, 7 and 33. The key lists the names of the
installations.
Were you close to any of these installations?
Perusing photos from the time of the Occupation, I notice that any
photos of "Snack Bars" depict such as being part of the PX. This may
or may not have been the case for the WACs - you may be able to
confirm this through Herr Doktor Prigl, to whom Mr. Elkins directed
your query. (Dr. Prigl is also the person who submitted the map noted
above, so I have reason to believe he is intimately familiar with the
area.)
In the meantime, I will continue searching to confirm an address for
you.
--Missy
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Request for Question Clarification by
silviares-ga
on
03 Nov 2002 16:57 PST
Hello row1-ga
can you take a look at this site
http://www.housing.oead.ac.at/wien/en/fr_akademiker.html and tel me if
the building at the right looks familiar ? It's not a very good
picture and is taken from far but maybe you recognize at least the
area
Let me know
Silviares
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Request for Question Clarification by
silviares-ga
on
03 Nov 2002 22:13 PST
Hello row1-ga
I am sorry, the link I gave you before is wrong, here is the correct
one
http://www.akademikerhilfe.at/wienmichaelerstr.html
Please tell me if the building at the right looks familiar, or at
least if you recognize the area.
Silviares
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Request for Question Clarification by
silviares-ga
on
07 Nov 2002 09:02 PST
Hello row1-ga
I was wondering if you are still interested in the answer to this question since
you have not replied to the last clarification requests. Let me know because I
might have found more interesting information for you
Silviares
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Clarification of Question by
row1-ga
on
07 Nov 2002 11:18 PST
For Silviares
Sorry,the pictures are not the place. I can tell you the building was
two-stories and the street was a cul-de-cac with much greenery around.
The name Baernfeldgasse
sounds familiar. Also,it was near Pheilgasse. Before the WAC
detachment was housed there, the building was used as quarters for
Hitler's S.S. Troops
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Request for Question Clarification by
silviares-ga
on
07 Nov 2002 16:28 PST
Dear row1-ga
at the address where the WAC Snack Bar was there is now a Student
Residence.
I contacted the director there and asked him if he new the history of
the building. He as been very kind and here is his reply. Let me know
if you
want to contact him for a tour or a picture.
Silviares
Dear Madam,
our student residence was taken over by the Reichs-studentenwerk in
1938 and used as school building and dormitory (Langemarkhaus). During
WW II a part of the buildung was destroyed by a bomb.
In 1945 the buildung was confiscated first by the Russian occupation
force and subsequently by the USFA (CIC?).
On August 22, 1955 it was returned tu us and has been used again as
student residence since 1955.
I have no evidence, if the buildung was used by the WAC right after
the end of WW II. There is no balcony on the second floor running
circular.
Please let me know, when you come to Vienna. It will be a pleasure for
me to show you the building.
Yours sincerely
Studentenunterstützungsverein
Der Generalsekretär
Dr. Sepp-Gottfried Bieler
P.S.: If you were interested in a foto of the building, please give us
your adress, so we can send a foto to you.
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Clarification of Question by
row1-ga
on
07 Nov 2002 18:26 PST
Response to Silviera and Dr. Sepp-Gottfried Bieler. November 7th
2002.The building I seek was two-stories. It definitely had the 2nd
floor balcony, and the building was not bomb-damaged. The street was a
cul-de-sac, with many trees. So,what Dr. Gottfreid Bieler has in mind
is not the one. Thanks for your persistance.
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Request for Question Clarification by
missy-ga
on
07 Nov 2002 20:28 PST
Hello Row,
I have personally e-mailed Herr Doktor Hubert Prigl, who not only
lives in Vienna, but has contributed many maps and photos to the USFA
Association.
I hesitate to say this, but perhaps the nearness of the Mozart
residence is not going to help us much - not only was Herr Mozart a
notorious deadbeat who lived in many places, but now that he is
considered one of Vienna's favorite sons, many places now may *claim*
he once lived there in order to attract tourist dollars, whether he
actually did or not.
Let's concentrate on buildings we know for sure, to try to narrow
things down a little. Please have a look at the following map of
Vienna and USFA installations:
http://www.usfava.com/H_Prigl_map1.htm
Of the following, which installation were the billets closest to? For
instance, when leaving the billets in the morning to report to your
post, which of these was the first you passed:
PX
Information Booth
Volksopera
Handicraft workshop
Cafe Weimar
Yank
ARC Clam Gallas
Gym 2
Tuxedo Sugar Bowl
Zebra Club (Enlisted)
Penguin Cellar Club (Enlisted)
Gym 1
USFA S.T. Library
SSFA S.T. Photography shop
Theater in der Josefstadt
Cafe Rathaus
Cafe Jose Club
Kosmos
Volkstheater
Sports Arena Messepalast
Ice Cream Parlor, Stiftskaserne
Opera (Theater a.d. Wien)
Redoutensaal
Studiotheater in der Josefstadt
Insel
Burgtheater
Bristol Club (Officers)
Musikvereinsaal
Concert House, Akademietheater
Welfare Theater
AKC (Löwen) Cinema
Regina Club (Officers)Rex Theater
Esquire Club (Enlisted)
Splendide Club (Officers)
American Barock Club (Officers)
Bank Building
The more details you can remember, the more landmarks you can place
yourself near, the better chance we have of finding the building you
seek. Any other information you might have would be very helpful - I
can pass it on to Herr Doktor Prigl.
Also, Company A of the 796th MP Battalion was responsible for WAC
Detachment security:
"COMPANY "A"
(Source: "796th Military Police Bn, 1947-1948 Yearbook", courtesy Mike
Keefe)
The Company's strength consists of 110 Enlisted Men, who are
responsible for the 1st Bezirk Station, the 19th Bezirk Station, and
the Linz Road Block. The men of Co. "A" also guard the Manner Food
Dump; Hq. Command, USFA; the Provost Marshal's Office; the WAC
Detachment; and the gates of the Stiftskaserne."
Is it possible that you were near one of the locations listed above?
I've located the following pictures:
1st Bezirk Station
http://www.usfava.com/M_Keefe/1st%20Bezirk%20Station.jpg
19th Bezirk Station
http://www.usfava.com/M_Keefe/19th%20Bezirk%20Station.jpg
Stiftskaserne - Mariahilferstrasse
http://www.usfava.com/M_Keefe/796thMPBn-StiftskaserneGate.jpg
Yank Movie Theater
http://www.usfava.com/H_Prigl/Wien07.jpg
Clam Gallas
http://www.usfava.com/H_Prigl/a0951-Clam%20Gallas%201948.jpg
I've also e-mailed the folks at vets.org, to see if anyone there might
have information. Any other details you can provide would be very
helpful.
--Missy
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Clarification of Question by
row1-ga
on
07 Nov 2002 22:03 PST
The address I seek was a building on an isolated cul-de-sac with much
greenery around. It did not face a thoroughfare. Two stories, with
nothing on either side. I was there from June 1946 to July 1948. The
streets Baernfeldgasse and
Pheilgasse sound familiar. We may have taken Wahringerstrasse on the
way home from the Bank Bldg., where we worked.
The building was not damaged in the war and had been used for
S.S.Troops prior to the end of the war. It may have been used as a
school originally because it had dormitory style rooms on the second
floor. The main floor was glass blocks, very pretty. The basement
housed the shower facilities and the mess hall. Wrought iron railing
surrounded the balcony overlooking the main floor Posted 11/7/02
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Request for Question Clarification by
missy-ga
on
13 Nov 2002 22:47 PST
Hi row1,
Just wanted to update you on the status of your question. To date,
I've received no reply from either Dr. Prigl or the vets.org people.
I haven't given up, though!
A good friend is with the US Army Band in Heidelberg, Germany. As it
happens, she's going to Vienna next weekend while she's on leave, and
has offered to look into records from the time of the Occupation. If
she's able to turn anything up, I will be certain to pass the
information along to you.
Still searching.
--Missy
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Request for Question Clarification by
missy-ga
on
27 Nov 2002 13:10 PST
Dear Row1,
I have received a response from Herr Doktor Hubert Prigl:
Subject: Re: Desperately searching for an address
To: Missy<missy@missy-ga>
Hello from Vienna!
Dear Missy!
Thank you for your e-mai. I am sorry about my late answer but I
have some PC problems during the last time. I have make a walk in
the Pfeilgasse but it is not easy to find the correct building. I
hope I can help you but it is not easy. Some buildings are new in
this street. In the district museum they have a index of all
buildings I hope I can find the information for you.
Please give me oneweek more. The museum have only two time open
in
week and only for 2 hours.
Many greetings from Vienna from
Hubert Prigl
As you can see, Herr Doktor Prigl is looking for the correct
information for you.
However, your question does expire tomorrow, so you might wish to
repost it while we wait for another response.
In any case, I shall continue to look for the address for you.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
--Missy
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Clarification of Question by
row1-ga
on
27 Nov 2002 17:48 PST
Nov. 27th - 2002
I am still interested in the illusive address. Pheilgasse and
Bauernfeldgasse are familiar. Either of those could be the street. It
was in the 19th bezirk. The street was a short cul-de-sac, NOT a
thoroughfare. The building was two stories, with few, if any, other
buildings on the street, except the Mozart house across the street
and down a short way. Perhaps the 796th MP battalion, Company A would
know the address since they were responsible for security in the WAC
detachment billets. There was no exit (cul de sac) from the street
itself except through the entrance street which ran perpendicular into
the street we are searching for. Since there has been so much effort
spent on this,I will up the ante to $75.00
Perhaps Herr doctor Prigl could visit the streets mentioned above and
maybe find the building we seek.
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