Maastricht, the most southern city of the Netherlands, was liberated on the 13th and 14th of September 1944. The Ninth Army established its headquarters in Maastricht and stayed there for about five months.
About 800 American soldiers were in Maastricht and surroundings, in part preparing for Germany. They were also protecting the area and Antwerp harbour (all the American supplies were there) from V1’s and V2’s, launched from Germany.
127th AAA and 131st AAA Gun battalion had their gunpits in Maastricht and in the neighbourhood. It was their responsibility to protect the whole area from attacks by planes and bombs. The soldiers belonging to these units were the ones who took down enemy planes and the so called Buzz-bombs. In many cases they succeeded as reports show and Antwerp harbour was “safe”.
In the meantime the coldest winter of the 20th century arrived and the soldiers had to do their duty under extreme circumstances. In the days around Christmas it was minus 32F, extremely cold, and some had to sleep in their tents. An American chaplain, Father Dobrzynski, together with some Brothers of the Immaculate Conception of Maastricht, thought about how to give the boys a kind of Christmas Feeling in these days. They knew of a cave, the Schark cave, which was very safe, and where a Mass could be held on Christmas Eve.
The cave was prepared. Sal Barravecchia, one of the soldiers, created a beautiful mural in which he showed how Freedom was guarded from all sides. About 260 American soldiers attended Mass. After Mass they had coffee and donuts. Most of the soldiers were staying Maastricht, and some came from the Ardennes, where the fighting in the Battle of the Bulge was raging on. They were taken to Maastricht by their trucks.
After Mass they all wrote their names on the wall with charcoal. This wall is still preserved.
The website itself shows some pictures of the Christmas Eve Mass in 1944, taken by American soldiers.
Yearly Commemoration
Every year the Foundation of the Commemoration of the American Christmas Celebration 1944 ( abbr. SHAK1944) organizes a Christmas Eve Mass to commemorate those brave boys who fought for the Liberty of Europe. Every year about 200 American soldiers attend this Service, together with their superiors, the American Ambassador or his representative, the King’s Commissioner of the province of Limburg, the Mayor of Maastricht and some other people. Sometimes a veteran himself or his relatives attend Mass as well.
Requesting Your Help
Not all the names on the wall can be read, because sometimes people swept their coats along the walls or tried to touch the names. We, the SHAK board, would like to know whether there are families who know that their grandfather attended Mass in 1944. Are there sons, daughters, grandchildren or other relatives who could help us in completing the list of names?
Should you be interested, the list of names is presented on our website. There are even some letters written by soldiers the day after the Mass.
We would be very grateful for any information. You may contact us through our email address.
Thank you very much for your kind cooperation.
On behalf of the SHAK1944 board,
Mr. Jons van Dooren,
Chairman
My father was one of the soldiers that attended mass in the Schark cave in December, 1944. His letter written home to my grandmother is on the website. My nephew recently visited the site with friends and had such an amazing experience. It’s on my bucket list to visit in my lifetime.
My father and my uncle were both in World War II, my dad in Europe, my uncle Leo in Australia. Proud of their service.
I was thrilled to find soldiers from the American 131st AAA Gun Battalion names on the SHAK wall!!! And I think I might have found 3 additional soldiers who may be part of the 131st. They are: J. Gent-B Battery; Joseph Hart-B Battery; Robert Yaklin-D Battery.
I am an American filmmaker and am creating a documentary about the US 131st AAA Gun Battalion (mobile anti-aircraft) during WWII. Col. Arthur Arend, commander of the 131st became friends with then Maastricht Mayor as the 131st spent most of their time defending Maastricht. Col. Arend had written recounted how the Mayor took him to a series of underground tunnels in Mount of St. Peter around Christmas time 1944. There were 200 miles of tunnels where villagers took refuge. Some of the children living in these caves were as young as 4 years old and spent their entire lives living in these caves. He showed Col. Arend art treasures, Rembrandt’s ’Night Watch’ and other treasures that were stored there for safekeeping. The children sang Christmas sons in English and Col. Arend secured candy and 200 chocolate bars for the children.
Do you know if the tunnels he referred to was the SHAK tunnel or different tunnels of Mount St. Peter?
Would you happen to have any images of these tunnels or of the 131st AAA Gun Battalion soldiers?
Also, might you know the mayor’s name during this time? And could you recommend a Historian who specializes in WWII in Maastricht?
Thank you so much for your help!
Sharon
Hi. You might reach out to Frank Gubbels in the Netherlands – he knows Maastricht well and the 30th Division history. He may be able to help. https://www.facebook.com/frank.gubbels.5