Obertrum am See, Austria

In July 1945 Uncle Dix was transferred to the 961st Field Artillery Battalion which was located near the village of Obertrum am See. In October 1945 Dix wrote:

"The last two days here have been beautiful with the trees on the mountains beginning to turn color. It is really beautiful, the bottom part of the mountains are all colors then comes a deep purple where there is nothing but rocks, and sometimes a bush, then the tops are all white with snow. It is really pretty. I am getting so I love these mountains."

On his Fall travels, Uncle Dix No Doubt saw Vistas in the Austrian Alps like This

In the photo below, Obertrum is on the far side of the lake where the white Catholic church spire is seen. Based upon Dix's letters, his camp was a couple miles closer to the mountains than the village. The population of Oberstrum in 1939 was only 1436 - a third of the size we see in this photograph. In his November and December letters, Uncle Dix continued:

"I am Motor Sergeant now just like W. F. (Freer). I wonder how many vehicles he has? I have eleven now but getting more later. This is one job I love.... All I could ask for is to have a job like I have now back in the states; it keeps me busy as I can be but I love it.... I have been all over Austria hauling men and supplies. You all won’t understand this but Freer will. Tell him I have the neatest looking Weapons Carrier in Salzburg. I cut the cab from an old Heine truck and put it on, doors & all. It really is swell."

The white spire of the Heiliger Jakobus Catholic church can be seen on the far side of Obertrum See.

Obertrum Village in early Fall

Obertrum Lake in early Winter

Heiliger Jakobus Catholic church in Obertrum am See: the Gothic west tower dates from 1499 AD. In 1714 and in 1799 the south and north Baroque-style sides aisles were added. In the 1950s there were external and interior restorations.

This Catholic church was standing in the center of the village when Uncle Dix drove through, just like today.

 

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