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Anthony Pasternak : ORIGINAL AND HANDWRITTEN DRAMA-FILLED DIARY OF A PRIVATE IN THE ‘BATTLE OF HURTGEN FOREST’, THE LONGEST SINGLE BATTLE IN U.S. HISTORY AND ONE OF THE BLOODIEST BATTLES IN WORLD WAR TWO

12mo - over 6¾" - 7¾" tall. On offer is an exceptional and fascinating handwritten diary of Anthony Pasternak, a private in the 387th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion (Battery A) recording action in one of the deadliest and lengthiest battles of World War Two, the "Battle of Hurtgen Forest". Hurtgen Forest was a series of fierce battles that were fought from September 19, 1944, to February 10, 1945, between American and German forces on the Western Front. It was the longest battle on German ground during WWII, and went down in history as the longest single battle the U.S. Army has ever fought. Pasternak's anti-aircraft battalion was attached to the 47th Armored Field Artillery Battalion for the duration of the war. This diary presents an extraordinary account of what it was like to be a soldier on the ground during this pivotal and bloody battle. The diary begins with 16 pages of names and addresses of friends from the war, friends at home, those he met in England, and in Paris. There is also an address for his "Special Girl" and "Sweetheart" Stella Dobazynski who also lived on Medill Avenue in Chicago, and whom he seems to have married, since there is a note "Anthony Pasternak and Stephanie Dobzynski - married in Chicago January 8, 1946." There is also one address entitled "My sweetheart! Miss Stella Dobazynski". After the addresses end, the diary entries begin. The first entry is a quick summary of the points up to the battle: "Left U.S.A., Feb. 9, 1944. Arrived in England on February the 25th, 1944; Left England July 23rd, 1944; Arrived in France July 25, 1944; Went into action, August the 1st, 1944; Lost two M-7s. August the 10th, 1944; Left France Sept. 9, 1944; Arrived in Belgium, September the 9th, 1944;" After this quick list, the diary entries expand in length and detail. "September the 9th, 1944 - Time, 9:30A.M. Went Through Gay Paree! August 30th, 1944. Better known as Paris! Ha! Whee! What a time we boys had, Cognac! - Wine and Beautiful Women! Ha! Went through Luxemburg September the 10th, 1944. Luxemburg is right on the border line of Germany. Fired our first round into Germany Sep. 13. 1944 Time - 5:15 P.M. We are exactly 3 miles away from German soil." For a couple months, Pasternak's company is not in battle. He does not specify why. On the fourth page of the diary, Pasternak finally enters battle: "November the 2nd 1944. Finally have entered Germany Boy! What a reception those Jerry's gave us. Dog fights and what not. Whee!"; "Nov. 30. 1944. Well here we are in Hurtgen Germany. Believe me it's plenty hot over here, we happen to be The Front Line Artillery and the Jerry's are sure throwing plenty of artillery at us. Boy's out here, in fact it's to close for comfort. Ha!"; "Dec. 2. 1944. Well! Here we are still in the Hurtgen Forest, saw one of our P47's shot down today. The pilot bailed out in enemy territory." Pasternak keeps an intriguing attitude to the war he is fighting in, possibly a way to deal with horror of it all. If the death and destruction around him is affecting him, he does not put it in writing. "Dec. 3. 1944. I and two other fellows helped bury a dead Jerry, about 20 Jerry planes came over today and really strafed our positions. Our Ack Ack Boy's got 7 of the Jerry planes. These Jerry planes have been strafeing us for at least 30 minutes if not more. There sure are plenty of Dead Jerry's here in this Hurtgen Forest, also a few dead American." He also mentions shooting down two British planes by accident. The dog fights in the sky are of particular interest to Pasternak: "Dec. 18. 1944. Boy! Talk about planes flying around here today. Whee! All kinds American P47's, P51's, P38's, British Spitfires, Hurricane's and Typhoon's. Sure have seen some good dog fights out here today...One of those Jerry plane's went down in Flame's." On December 23, after 23 days of "some good fighting" Pasternak leaves back to Belgium. "Dec. 25. 1944. Christmas Day back in Belgium once again! Went to church today, the mass was in French, also had plenty of turkey for Christmas also have seen a lot of good dog fights out here." This part of his diary covers 11 pages, each numbered at the top. There are a few additional pages with handwritten entries of money owed him from card games, etc. Anthony Pasternak has written his name and address on the first page "Tony Pasternak, 2313 Medill Ave., Chicago, Illinois". There is the address of Joe Pasternak, c/o M-G-M Studio's, Culver City, California, who was a big producer of movies in Hollywood at that time and who quite possibly may have been a relative of Tony. This diary is somewhat delicate. A number of the pages from the address section are loose, but still present. The handwriting is in all capitals and exceedingly easy to comprehend.. Manuscript. Book Condition: Good

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