286th Engineer Combat Battalion, Headquarters and Service Company

Paul Anesto’s daughter Crystal has asked that I post this picture of her father at Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest in hope to identify any of the other soldiers.

You can click on the photo to make it larger. Anyone?

Will Hoppe’s handwriting on the back says “Merkin, De Murjian, and myself. Merkin is a Bklyn boy, too.”

Please use the comments to help identify the soldiers in this photo!

View 286th Engineering Combat Battalion in more detail on Google Maps.

Based on a map produced in June 1945 by the father of Arthur Alexander of Brooklyn, NY.

Will Hoppe told me some more details about the production of this map, which I will follow up with him.

Compiled by Will HOPPE and Bob McKEAN in Bad Mergentheim, Germany.

Photos by Nick KISCHITZ