Hello my dear friends, today we are going
to read a remarkable diary of a German tank crewman. He served as a feldwebel of
the 3rd Panzer Division of the Wehrmacht, which was involved in the invasion of the Soviet
Union. He wrote his entries in a very careful and meticulous manner. Through this, we will not only
discover his opinion about the fierce battles in the Soviet Union and the hardships of the retreat
from Moscow, but also have a closer look at the life of a German tank crewman. He wrote down
details that I haven't read in other diaries, and it's very fascinating. Indeed, you begin to
realize the seriousness of the situation of German troops fighting in the Soviet Union. The enormous
losses of soldiers and equipment, impassable roads, overextended and overloaded supply lines
for the armies, the partisan operations and the unbelievable cold - all of this was crushing
the invincible army that had conquered Europe. The fact that the author of the diary, awarded
the Iron Cross 1st class, had to drive a tractor instead of a tank, due to the lack of new tanks
in the German army - indicates many things.... Well, now let's begin...
June 20. The vehicles are being prepared. At
4:00 p.m. we arrive at the 9th company. At 5:00 p.m. we set off to the place of
concentration. The arrival at 23:30 p.m. June 21. The state of affairs is being
announced. I wrote a letter home. June 22.
At 2:30 a.m., it's wake-up call. The Führer's proclamation
was recited. At 3:15 a.m. there is an artillery softening-up. Not long after the march we
lose the target. We cross the Bug River. We take the battle formation to the south of
Stradetch. We are engaged in a battle for the village. There is a march with infantry
through the swamps, through Faustinovo to Loscenica and near the road Brest-Mokryany. In
the evening there is a returning march to Brest. June 23. The march is on the Brest-Kobrin road.
Lieutenant Geyer gets a direct hit from a tank gun near the town of Kobrin, and
non-commissioned officer Rerner is killed. In the town radio engineer Willitseck was
killed (he came from the headquarters), Gefreiter Ruding was executed. We stayed overnight
on the road to the east of Bereza-Kartuzka. June 24. I joined the company again. There was the first
attack by Russian bombers. The Russians resist stubbornly. We spent the night on the road south
of Baranovichi. Hirshman's vehicle was exploded. June 25. We passed 4 kilometers. There was an attack
of the Soviet attack planes. I wrote a letter. June 26.
We marched to Slutsk; the town is burning terribly. On the road in
front of Slutsk we caught fire of attack planes. The air battles are going on between fighters and
bombers. We take guard to the northwest of Slutsk, there are searching the Russians in the
kolkhoz, now we have plenty of eggs, butter and sour cream. At 8:00 a.m.
we moved over the old Russian border. June 27.
We recalled those who were killed... Non-Commissioned Officer
Naumani was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd class. So was Grossman. We'll march at about 7:00 p.m.
The march will be about 60 kilometers. It's a night march. The Russians attempt to take Slutsk
and cut off the movement of our supply wagons. June 28.
I wrote a letter. At 12:00 a.m. there is a heavy bombardment by Russian air force. The bombs
fall near us. Gefreiter Hungerbach gets a piece of shrapnel in his finger. At 3:30 p.m., there's a
second bombardment. In the 9th Company a vehicle is destroyed by a direct hit. At about 0:00 p.m.
we have to leave the road, because the bridge to the west of Bobruisk is blown up. An automobile is
hitched to each of the tanks. About 1 km south of the road begins the forest. The road was without
any incidents. Later the rain starts to fall and we must often help other vehicles. At about 3.00
a.m. we reach the highway again with 2 automobiles on the trailer. We stop about 5 km to the west of
Bobruisk in the forest. There is a preparation for the battle. In the daytime there are many air
fights. The first reports came over the radio. June 30.
At 9:00 a.m. we move out of the forest to the road. The Russians are bombarding
the bridges near Bobruisk. In evening we left the highway and settled down quite comfortably for a
night's rest. In the daytime an active air battle is going on. As far as we could see, our fighters
shot down 23 of the enemy's bombers. Our air force occupied the airfield, which previously had
been a regular target for enemy planes. At night, there were air raids, also. An engineer
platoon got a direct bomb hit near us. July 1, 1941.
At 3:30 a.m. we went through Bobruisk to the area of concentration -
this is 5 km to the east of Bobruisk. At 11:30 a.m. we were assembled on the highway. After 5
km we stopped because of the destroyed bridge. We build a ferry and the enemy immediately
destroys it. We turn our tanks off the road to attack. The length of the road is 1600
meters. I can see well the shooting of our tanks. The first enemy tank is hit directly at the
bridge, the bridge is on fire. All of a sudden, a gun carriage appears on the bridge. There is
a hit close to us, we are being bombarded by heavy artillery. We move to another position;
I see two tanks of the 9th Company hit. One of them is on fire. I want to approach to help our
crews, but suddenly an anti-tank gun fires from the highway. I see two enemy anti-tank guns.
They both become the target of the shelling. As they are suppressed, we carry off three
wounded men. Unexpectedly, a shell detonates two meters from the raspberry bushes ...
A heavy rain begins to fall. Further on our riflemen make their way to the village situated
opposite. We take up a guard. During the night we move back 3 kilometers away. It rains continuously
until morning. We are soaked to the skin. July 3.
Lieutenant Griman is awarded the Iron Cross 1st class. At
12:30 p.m. it's march out. The Russian artillery obstructs the advance. We go down the highway, our
fighter planes shoot down the Russian bombers. The detachment is assigned to cross the creek to the
north of Rogachev. Just as we leave the highway, the enemy bombers appear and bomb us. The bombs
are dropped among us. At the last moment we manage to hide in a vehicle. Manteg has no time to
close the hatch and the whole "blessing" breaks in there. Miraculously we, except for a small piece
of shrapnel in our right hand, survive unharmed. It is crazy stormy all around, like in a
big thunderstorm. As everything clears out, I see two damaged Type 2 tanks. Besides that,
an infantry soldier is killed and there are two wounded. We move on. Without any incident,
we cross the creek. After making a series of bends back and forth, we come out of the
woods and see a village in front of us, at a distance of about 100 meters. We recognize
the Russian soldiers to the left and right of the village in the woods. Unexpectedly,
an anti-tank gun fires from the left, immediately followed by another one. I fire on
them at once. We see the field fortifications. A fierce firefight begins. Suddenly an anti-tank gun
fires straight from the front. With three shots it is destroyed by a headquarters tank, and we break
into the village. We capture 5 anti-tank guns, 2 heavy machine guns, 1 mortar and 1 tractor.
We stay as a guard in the village for the night. July 4.
At 11:00 a.m. we leave on patrol to the Dnieper. The crossing
must be reconnoitered. We drive through Madora to Kisteni. The Russians are in the village,
we return and guard the eastern outskirts of Madora. Then we are summoned to Vischin, there
we stop for a while. In the bend of the Dnieper, we spot the fortifications. Then we move
on to Shabrin. The artillery and dive bombers open an annihilating fire on the enemy
artillery. We stay in Shebrin for the night. July 5.
We are supposed to cross the river with our detachment.
The situation is unfavorable. The Russians are fortified on the other side of the river. We
are camped in the woods to the north of Shabrin. July 6.
I got a letter and a parcel. For breakfast we have some bean coffee and eat a pastry. At about
noon we go on guard to the east of Madora. After lunch we go on reconnaissance to the bend of the
Dnieper. The Russians have changed their positions to trick us. We move back to our positions.
There are air raids in the evening and at night. July 8.
We return to the company. About 9:00 a.m. we drive to Madora. We
come under heavy artillery fire on the highway. In the woods south of Madora we mean to stop,
but we get detected and again we are attacked by heavy artillery fire. All day long the
Russians fire harassingly. At about 12:30 p.m. I and Hirschman go on a reconnaissance to
the creek. We abandon our vehicles on the way and in a group of five men make our way
through the woods. It's unbearably hot, after an hour and a half we make it to the edge of
the forest. We can see the Russian fortifications and positions. At about 3 p.m. we return, weary as
dogs. Until 9 p.m. we stay in the forest, then we move back three kilometers. At night the Russians
shell the whole forest by artillery barrage. Our detachment and the 394th sapper regiment
are here near the Dnieper in guard, and the 4th Panzer Division and another detachment
attempt to overwhelm the Russians ahead of us. According to reports, there are 17 or 18
divisions against us. The enemy has gathered an enormous amount of artillery. Therefore, it is
hopeless to cross at this point without extensive preparations. On a daily basis, before
we are replaced by an infantry division, we show up at the river to fool the enemy
about the presence of our large forces here. The Russians make heavy counterattacks
on the 4th Panzer Division's section. July 9.
At about 10.00 we leave the forest and go to the Kisteni area. Our platoon is
sent immediately on reconnaissance to Kisteni and Vischin. At the same time we are supposed to pull
back the headquarters tank, as it has run into a mine in Kisteni. When we drive into the village
we are at once bombarded by artillery fire. So we turn around, and at about 2:00 p.m. we head back.
Right about the time I'm writing this diary our guard is opening fire. Two of the 12
suspicious civilians are detained and we identify them as partisans. They are
interrogated, and afterwards, as they have dug their own grave, they are executed.
The detachment retreats to the old position. Our platoon is supposed to stay behind to bombard
Kisteni. We deploy and take up positions. Not long before the set time I myself go to reconnaissance
the road and lose the direction in the woods. When I leave the forest after half an hour
of wandering, from a distance of about 1 km I hear vehicles starting up. I run towards the
direction of the sound. When I reach a meadow, I see in the dusk that tanks take up positions and
shoot. I get to the vehicle and after a firefight we move back to our resting spot. After a while
there is heavy firing on us, so we can barely show our faces from under the vehicles.
At night we sleep under the vehicles. The artillery and thousands of
mosquitoes sing while we sleep. July 10.
We move to new positions; about noon we get news that Feldwebel
Taikhman and his vehicle ran into a mine at Kisteni. The whole crew is dead. In the
evening we move off to Shabrin and there, along with the infantry, take up a guard.
The Russian artillery is pretty quiet. July 11.
At about 3 a.m. we are replaced by the 1st Cavalry Division.
At 6.00 a.m. we leave Shabrin and move with a detachment to the west of Bobruisk, then in
the same direction to the north-east. On the way I received a letter. We stop for the night
in a forest about 50 km away from Bobruisk. July 12.
The detachment moves out at 7.00 a.m. We stay here for a
whole day, as we are changing running wheels. July 13.
At 12.00 a.m. we move out. I write a letter. We follow the Company and stop for a rest in 3
km to the east of the Dnieper near Stary Bykhov. July 14. In the morning we met the first wagon.
We refuel and drive on. After some time, we have to replace running wheels and track links.
At noon we have to rescue the surrounded division commander. On the road I meet Holland-Kuntz.
In the evening we meet our company again. There are about two Russian divisions in the
encirclement, which are systematically being annihilated. In the evening we arrive at
Gorovtsy and stay there for the night. At 3 p.m. we leave and engage in
battle 3 kilometers from Chusa. In the woods, the Russians are
fortified. Several guns and anti-tank guns were destroyed.
Our artillery set fire to the villages. At nightfall we along with the
infantry approached the village closely. July 16.
At 3.30 a.m. the attack is launched. Our artillery began the preparation. When we enter
the village, it's quiet at first, and then the shooting starts from all sides. When our vehicle
approaches the bridge itself, it blows up. From the village on the opposite side, anti-tank guns
and artillery also start firing, the village burns like a candle. There are two grenades that hit
close to my vehicle, damaging the tank's track. We move off into one of the side streets to replace
the links of the tank track. We then change position after position as we are found everywhere
by artillery. We are out of ammunition. Things go on like this until noon. Then we pull back
and get ammunition and fuel. At noon I and the riflemen cross the stream and move forward to the
next river, where we find a functioning bridge. The Russians appear to be hastily withdrawing.
The separate parts of the division pursue them, while we remain on the spot in guard.
A refreshing bath rewards us for the last fight. We stay for the night. The
commander is awarded the Knight's Cross. July 17.
At 9:30 a.m. we leave. After approximately 50 kilometers we reach the town of
Krichev. The Russians detected our movement and opened heavy artillery fire on us. We turned north
to Lobkovichi, so just before dark after a short battle the enemy retreats. The small bridge is not
damaged. We advance with the 2nd Cyclists Company to the northern outskirts of the village and take
up a combat outpost. The rain begins to fall. July 18.
At about 3 a.m. we are awakened quite rudely by terrible firing. The
Russians have crept up in the darkness 100 meters to our positions. They open a murderous fire
from machine guns, and anti-tank guns. We rush off our feet to the combat crew. A shell hits the
bridge and sets it on fire. The riflemen run off in all directions. We move to draw the fire and
immediately get a grenade in front of the tank. We move forward a little more and open fire.
It is still dark and we can barely see a thing around us. The other tanks move forward as well.
The Russians again immediately spot us and set fire to the house close to where we are. We move
forward, the anti-tank guns cease firing. We push forward about three kilometers more and bring with
us many captives, a whole battalion. The counting of the trophies results as follows: 6 anti-tank
guns, 11 guns, 3 mortars and a bunch of machine guns. This is the penalty for a disrespectful
wake-up call. The infantrymen suffered a loss of 4 killed. The captives are later used to repair our
guns and vehicles. At night we stay on the spot. July 19.
We move 6 kilometers forward to Sergeevka. Right at the moment when we are about to slaughter
two chickens, our platoon should move out to capture the parachutists. However, we fail to do
anything out of this mission and return to rest. July 20.
We're woken up at 4:00 a.m. We leave to rescue two tanks stuck in Sokolyanka.
There are many Russians in the woods just behind Wabichevskaya, but they are unable to put their
heavy weapons into action because they have no time to do so. Outside Sokolyanka I see the two
tanks, the others don't notice them and pass on. I use the radio to summon them to come over
and we pull Lieutenant Lübk out of the ditch. When we all get together Lieutenant Schistophel
gets the chain. While we are standing like this in an open area, the Russian artillery from
a distance of 1200 meters opens fire on us, we turn the turret and hit them directly
from the second shot. Otto Lehmann goes there and eliminates the remnants of the resisting
enemy. Then we head back to Sergeevka for a rest. July 21.
We rest, repair tanks and equipment. July 27.
It is still a rest, and there is a volleyball and soccer tournament
among the company. At 13.30 p.m. our afternoon rest is disrespectfully interrupted by fire:
the Russian attack planes strike with bombs and airborne weapons, several houses catch fire,
the wind carries the fire to other houses. The whole village catches fire almost instantly.
We quickly pack our belongings and move to the nearest forest. On one of the tankers, the
driver is killed and his assistant wounded. July 29. We have a rest. At noon I with the
company raid the enemy-occupied area. The Russians are not visible at all. At
nightfall we return to our place of rest. July 30. We have a rest day. During the day we
change several tank track rollers. From midday until the next morning, the units
move continuously through Sergeevka. August 1, 1941.
At 3.00 a.m. we move out. At 4.00 a.m. the offensive on
Vakhichevka begins. Along with us the 4th Panzer Division on the right and the 7th Army
Corps on the left advance. We break through to Mikulichi without any real contact with
the enemy. On the road we run into fleeing enemy columns several times. We capture
an automobile with women. By evening the division's units crossed the Oster River on
undamaged bridges. During the attack our dive bombers destroy enemy artillery positions. At
noon 9 bombers drop leaflets on our convoy. August 2.
At Mikulichi we cross the Oster and move forward to the highway, along which the 4th Panzer
Division has already marched 15 km. The Russian cavalry chases the combat units of the 4th Panzer
Division and attempts to cut off the highway, but they are pushed back and partly captured by us. We
drive to Kovalevka and stay there for the night. August 3.
At 5 p.m. we move out and pull back along the highway 15 km to our place of rest.
The Russians try to shell the highway repeatedly. August 6. We are in Dubovitsa. At 10.00 a.m. we leave for
a rest in Markovka. In the evening we have some beer. Since 9 p.m. and until morning we
are in constant readiness for the march, however, we are told that we are
supposed to rest for about 8 days. August 7.
We rest, and carry out a technical inspection. At 7
p.m. we leave and have a rest in Paporotka. At night we hear that the Russians try to break
through at Inovskaia. They make a great noise.
August 8.
We are sent to Yanovskaya before noon to replace the 2nd
detachment. Hirschmann and Lehmann are again reassigned to the 9th Company, which launches an
attack. At 4 p.m. Hirschman returns and brings in killed Gefreiter Kirsch. He is buried near the
highway. In the evening Feldwebel Busch from the 9th Company comes back carrying Lieutenant
Christophil, who is badly wounded in the abdomen. August 9.
We move out at 5:00 a.m. and take up a starting position 2 kilometers to the east of Yanovskaya.
We advance alongside the infantry, the objective is Krichev. At 11:00 a.m. the offensive begins.
Our artillery prepares it with annihilating fire. Everything that can shoot is being fired. Our
company is attached to the infantry. We move forward with the infantry. In front of us the
Russian cavalry shows up on the field. We try to fire, but our machine gun fails. They are under
fire with the other tanks. I turn right into a swampy ditch and as we are about to drive onto the
bridge - there are two explosions. The whole tank is filled full of heavy smoke. At first it crosses
my mind that it's a direct hit. I jump out of the vehicle and fall almost straight into the mine.
Now it's clear that we blew up on the spot. It was at 11.45 a.m. We rush immediately to the radio
operator's hatch and try to pull out Georgsbach, who is apparently badly shell-shocked. Ranteg and
I cut open his boots and then we see that he has nothing but bruises and hemorrhages on both legs.
Our physician puts a bandage on it and we pull him off. Our company and infantrymen enter the village
and we stay behind on the outpost guard. We search for mines and find about 40 of them, all of which
we destroy. With no success we try to repair our tank, then we are dragged away by two tractors.
On Sunday morning we arrive in Krichev. August 10. We are in the repair shop. Ruth from
9th Company arrives and reports that on Saturday during the attack Feldwebel Gross,
Non-Commissioned Officers Kohler and Kleiner and Lieutenant Wittenberg were all killed.
Lieutenant Geyer survived with slight wounds. August 11.
We remove our engine in the repair shop. August 13.
We are in the repair shop. Our engine is removed and we find out
that it has to be replaced. We are on guard duty. August 15.
We're in the repair shop. I have to hand over my vehicle and by commanding
officer's order I am appointed to command an infantry detachment. At 5 p.m. I leave the repair
shop and reach the company as darkness falls. In half an hour we move out. On the road we rest
between 2:00 a.m. and dawn, then we move further to the south. The purpose of our march is not
clear. At noon vehicle No. 1231 breaks down, and I return to the repair shop for spare parts. On
the way my engine fails and I must move on in tow. August 17. At 6:00 a.m. we drive on and
reach the repair shop at noon. August 20.
We are in the repair shop. At noon I and Freygang go to Minsk for the chains. We go through Cherikov
- Chausy to Mogilev, where we spend the night. August 21. At 6.00 a.m. we leave Mogilev, drive
through Orsha and arrive in Minsk at 4.00 p.m. The same evening, we get our spare
parts. The city is almost totally destroyed. August 22.
At 8:00 a.m. we set out. At dusk we arrive in Chausy.
We take 5 soldiers with us from Mogilev. August 23.
At 6:00 a.m. we set off. At 3 p.m. we arrive at the repair shop. The tank was
sent to the 2nd platoon in Unecha this morning. August 24-27.
All these days we spend in the repair shop. August 28. We are in the repair shop; the vehicles
are being prepared for the road. August 29.
At 5.00 a.m. we set off. We go through Roslavl to Yarshchitsa. At the supply station
in Roslavl we get food for our men for 6 days. August 30.
At 6.00 a.m. we move out. We take the workers on the tank armor to Mglina, in the evening we arrive
at the repair shop in Unecha. We are informed that Oberleutnant Dereter, who was commander
of the 7th company is seriously wounded, and Oberfeldwebel Gess and non-commissioned officer
Wiklohen, Senior Gefreiter Nick, are also wounded. August 31. The breakdowns detected along the way
are being repaired in the repair shop. September 1, 1941.
At 4.30 a.m. we leave. We drive from Unecha to Novgorod-Seversky. On the
way there are active attacks by Russian bombers. September 2.
We are in the repair shop in Novgorod-Seversky.
Non-commissioned officer Vik-Klohen has died. In the afternoon we arrive at
the unit. Feldwebel Müller takes my tank. September 2.
We are in Voronezh. It rains almost all day. In the evening we are
visited again by Russian pilots. It's fleas! September 4.
At 5.00 a.m. we set out for Bolshaya Goncharovka, from there
I return to the convoy to Shonstensky in the afternoon. Along the way the Russian pilots
bomb the highway. Two bombs fall close to us. September 5.
At 9.00 a.m. I leave the wagon. The detachment rests and I
meet the company between Krolevets and Mutino. We guard the district of Boshek, there's no
crossing. We are positioned in the village. The infantry crosses the Seim at night. The
whole night the village is under extremely heavy artillery fire and we can barely get
out of the ditch and at 12 p.m. we retreat. The tank of the commander is a bit shattered
by a direct hit, but remains combat-ready. The new position we have to abandon soon as well,
since our own artillery draws enemy fire on us. September 6.
We are getting ready in the field with our six vehicles, in the straw. The enemy's
artillery fire still continues. At lunchtime we drive back to Krolevets. After resting for an
hour, we move to the main street and on towards Konotop. At night we stay in the village of
Altyno, we are bombarded by Russian pilots. Oberfeldwebel Bleik gets a direct hit at night
coming from a Russian 51-ton tank. His tank is burned. Oberfeldwebel Kleich is seriously wounded
and Non-Commissioned Officer Grossman is lightly wounded. Non-Commissioned Officer Schultz and
Senior Gefreiter Schultz are killed on the spot. September 7.
At 3:30 a.m. we move out. We stopped in Meln. A new bridge is to be built across the
Seim. All day long our dive bombers have been attacking artillery positions on the opposite
bank. At noon I drive back to Ksendzovka and arrange a funeral for the dead fighters with the
same surname Schultz. At night we stay at Meln. September 8.
At 8.00 a.m. - we set off across the river to the place of concentration.
The whole combat group assembles behind a grove. The Russian artillery soon detects us and gets
us under heavy fire. There are several dead near us. At 10.30 a.m. our dive bombers show
up - this is the signal to start. There is a terrible fire. The Russians have gathered a lot of
artillery and anti-aircraft guns. Our detachment destroys 14 anti-aircraft guns and 8 anti-tank
guns. In the evening we halt in the woods near the railroad bridge to the north of Konotop.
Tank No. 1223 is hit by two shells in the hull. September 9.
At 8:30 a.m. we move to Verenka. Our dive bombers attack the Russian
positions and the artillery north of Konotop. The enemy aviation is very active as well. At
6 p.m. we pull out and head south past Konotop, across the east-west road to Sosnovka.
There we will stay for the night. September 10.
At 6.00 a.m. we set off. At first, we move to the south, then turn to the south-east. The target
is Romny. The town was taken by our vanguard detachment within a day. Konotop was also occupied
by the 10th Motorized Division. Both of these towns are the key depots for the Russian army.
At lunchtime the rain begins to fall and the roads are soon becoming almost impassable obstacles. The
whole supply wagon is stuck. The automobiles are stuck in the mud - the remaining ones are finished
by Russian attack planes, which keep close behind us. It is getting dark and we spend the night
on the road, moving forward from time to time. September 15. We're in the town of Romny. We established
communication with Kleist's group in Lokhvitsa. September 16.
At 10.00 a.m. we leave Romny. By lunchtime we arrive at
the 1st wagon in Lokhvitsa. We move forward at once and arrive at Chervonny, where
we meet the company. In the evening we sit near a barrel of beer. Feldwebel
is wounded. I received some letters. September 17.
At 8.00 a.m. the combat unit moves on, and I return to Lokhvitsa
to the repair shop. We spend a night in the wagon. September 18.
We stay at the wagon until lunchtime. At 4 p.m. we move to the combat unit.
Before nightfall we reach Chernukha and there we stay for the night. At daybreak the Russians
attempt to break through, but their attack is repeled by our fire. The regiment makes a detour
around the nearest area, destroys the Russian columns and by evening returns to Chernukha. In
the afternoon our commander gets shot in his side. September 20. The detachment marches further on
Lokhvitsa. I return to the repair shop. September 21.
In the afternoon the combat unit arrives in Lokhvitsa. The
commander of the unit is wounded on his head. September 22.
At noon I and my squad set out to get new tanks. In the evening we
reach Romny, spend the night there in our "hotel". September 23.
In the morning a liaison officer shows up and informs us that
we must report back to the company. We take the Division's marching route onward and reach
the company 10 kilometers from the Seim by evening. In the evening we have a celebration
and say goodbye to our anti-aircraft gunners. September 24.
At 6.00 a.m. we drive to Gomel. When darkness falls, we
reach Chernigov and spend the night there. September 25.
There is a good highway from Chernigov to Gomel. About
2 p.m. we arrive in Gomel. There is no word yet about our tanks and others. We
settle down in a 7-story communal house. September 26.
At 11.00 a.m. we arrive at the station and, to our great pleasure, we find there
two echelons with new tanks. By lunchtime other shipments arrive. The vehicles are being unloaded
and immediately distributed. In the evening we leave Gomel and drive to get the ammo. The crews
are left behind and we return to the apartment. September 27.
At 5.00 a.m. we head for the fuel depot and at 8.00 a.m. we take
the highway. We arrive in the evening in Repki, about 20 kilometers north of Chernigov, and
there we settle down at the quarters. On the roads from Chernigov to Gomel the whole
group of Kleist was moving to the north. September 29.
At 5.30 a.m. we set off and, in the afternoon, we arrive in Krolevets. The
detachment for some time before our arrival had taken a new starting position. There has been
considerable change in the regiment. The first detachment is subordinated to Kleiman's group,
while the 2nd detachment is assigned to the 4th Panzer Division, the attacking division.
Our detachment with its two companies forms the entire regiment and must be used as a
flank guard. The 9th company is disbanded. September 30.
We are in the town of Krolevets. The weather is bad, we are
in the house all day and write letters, the rest of the time we spend hunting for bugs. October 3, 1941. At 10.00 a.m. we drive from Krolevets
to Glukhov. When darkness falls, we pull over in Sevsk. The Führer gives a speech
on the radio. We guard the way out of Sevsk. October 4.
Approximately at noon we encounter a company that follows the 4th
Panzer Division towards Orel. We turn from the route of the 4th Panzer Division in Dmitrovsk
to the left and halt in the village of Druzhka. October 5.
We are in the village of Druzhka. The Russian aviation is very active, but also our
fighter planes gain respect by several victories. During the night the Russians reward us with
several bombs. In the evening Feldwebel Müller, non-commissioned officer Frest, Verteg, Bruckner,
Geminge and I have some fun near the vodka barrel. October 6.
At 9:00 a.m. we leave Druzhna. We drive to Dmitrovsk, turn
again to the route of the 4th Panzer Division and drive towards Orel. It is very cold today, it
rains at times. The road is very bad, there are stuck automobiles on the left and right roadsides.
Despite the darkness we move on, it is snowing for the first time at night. It is getting colder
and more stuck automobiles are surrounding us. At 3.30 a.m. we make a stop in Kromy at the 3rd
Sapper Regiment. Here I meet Lieutenant Eskart, he invites me to sleep in his quarters.
Long time passes before I finally warm up. October 8.
We're in the city of Orel. We examine two Russian tanks to
the north of Orel, each one weighing 51 tons! October 9. We are still in the city of Orel. I drive to
the station in order to find something for the company there in trains standing
around with uncountable good stuff. October 10.
The 4th Panzer Division is stuck in heavy fighting near Mtsensk. It has been
snowing almost all day, at night the thermometer shows a temperature of - 3 °C. At night I'm on
watch guarding our troops from the partisans. October 11.
The activities of the partisans become conspicuous and two Russians are hanged by the commandant's
office. I am again on anti-partisan patrol. October 18.
Rutkowski and I go on patrol along the streets of Orel wearing civilian clothes,
but we don't find anything worthy of attention. October 13.
We're in the town of Bolkhov. It is rumored that the Russians have broken through the encirclement
at Bryansk and move on Bolkhov. Hence the attack, which was intended to support the 4th Panzer
Division to the north of Mtsensk, is postponed. October 16. We go alone to the city of Orel
and by evening return to Bolkhov. October 18.
At 6:30 a.m. we leave. On the route of the division march we pass
the village of Dezhkino. The road is appallingly muddy. The village is almost deserted.
We are lucky that the ground is frozen, as otherwise the road would be impassable
for cyclists. There are no decent houses in the village and everything is incredibly dirty. We
head to Bolkhov at around noon to get our vehicles repaired, on the way back we lose our right track
twice. As darkness falls we arrive at Bolkhov. October 19.
As day comes on, the murderous firing begins. When we ask in the division about
the situation - they say we have to leave the village immediately. The Russians are attacking.
We pack our belongings and go to the city of Orel. October 23.
The combat group is assembled for an offensive to the north of Mtsensk. All day long
at the airfield dive bombers prepare for battle. October 24.
At 3 p.m. I set off and before nightfall I reach a village
10 kilometers away from Mtsensk. In darkness we search in the crowded village for quarters
and after a long search we find a very bad one. October 25. Our tank starts to break down again and we
have to go back to Orel to the repair shop. November 1, 1941.
At 12.00 a.m. we move out. We lose both of our chain tracks in the mud
about 12 kilometers away from Mtsensk. While pulling out by a heavy vehicle the left driving
wheel breaks off. And we stay until evening, then we are dragged to Mtsensk
and there we spend the night. November 2.
We pull the vehicle to our first wagon. I take the train to the
city of Orel in the evening. I leave at 7.30 p.m. The train moves at almost a pedestrian's
speed and at 2:30 a.m. it stops 10 km. away from Orel. At 3.30 a.m. we set off into the city
on foot. At 5.30 a.m. I arrive at the quarters. November 5. At 6.00 a.m. I take a train from Orel to
Mtsensk. At 10.00 a.m. I arrived. At 12.30 p.m. I leave by automobile towards Tula. On
account of bad roads, we move forward slowly, and spend the night in a village, 10 kilometers
away from the village of Cherni. On our way we pass abandoned Russian positions. Everywhere the
Russians have put aerial bombs instead of mines. November 6.
We drive to the first convoy; about 20 kilometers from the village the running
wheel breaks. I drive the non-commissioned officer Richter's vehicle further and I reach the company
which is located 12 kilometers away from Tula at about noon. We are quartered in a hospital. There
the regiment is being re-formed and only three companies with the second convoy remain in line.
All the others withdraw back to the city of Orel. November 7. All day the Russian artillery fires to
make the bridge on the highway unusable. November 8. We leave at 9.00 a.m. and we get a running
wheel for the small vehicle on the way. In Cherni we obtain a permit to drive on the
highway to Orel. Approximately 12 km beyond Cherni our vehicle rolls over. All of us are
unharmed. I get on another vehicle, which, though, also gets stuck. I go on foot to the
nearest village and spend the night there. November 9.
A passing vehicle takes me to Mtsensk, and thence I take
a train to Orel. I arrived at 3 p.m. November 30.
At 8:30 a.m. I left Orel. I have to take the 2nd tractor in
the combat group. It's very cold and windy, the road is frozen. Before nightfall we reach
a place about 25 kilometers north of Plavsk. December 1, 1941. At 8.00 a.m. we continue our way and at
noon we find a detachment in the village of Obolenka. The big tractor has just
pulled away and I have to stay behind. December 2. Our detachment attempts to break through on the
Tula-Moscow Road to cut off the enemy's troops and material moving to Tula and to block
the detour of enemy troops to the north. December 3. One company of our detachment reached
the Tula-Moscow Road in the evening. December 4.
Our units are pulled back to the defensive position behind. The frost
reaches - 34°. Every day several kilometers are surrendered. All the villages are being burned
to prevent the Russians from consolidating. We retreat about 15 kilometers and take up quarters
in Bolkhovka. This position has to be held until the infantry on the march occupies winter
positions. This should last about 10 days. December 12.
There is a very strong wind and thaw outside in the village of Bolkhovka. The Russians push on
so hard that we have to pull back far again next day. The villages are burning in a semicircle
around us. At night the frost begins again. December 13.
At 9.30 a.m. we set off. The road is very icy, so that
the tanks slide on the road. It starts snowing later and it is very cold. At
about 3 p.m. we reach the village of Milenino. The buildings are very poor.
All of a sudden, a thaw and rain begin. December 14.
A big vehicle arrives at our place in the evening. December 15. There was a blizzard during the night and now
there is a frost which feels distinctly hard. I sit on the armor of a tank and at about 9:00
a.m. we leave to drag the tanks across the Uts River. At lunchtime we return for the disabled
tank. After considerable effort we get it moved by two vehicles. In darkness we drive along
with the last infantry guard. At the height in front of the Uts we have to abandon the
tank and blow it up, regretfully. We halt in the village of Goryachkino. The position
on the Uts River must be held for some time. December 16.
I take over instead of the diseased Oberfeldwebel Kaiser the auxiliary
unit at headquarters. At 3 p.m. we set off and drive all night to Nikolskoye, which is 2.5
kilometers north of Cherni. The road near the town of Plavsk is very badly jammed.
It is quite painful frost and a blizzard. December 17.
At 5.00 a.m. we arrive at Nikolskoe. We find quarters and sleep until lunchtime. After
nightfall a Russian plane appears and shoots from its machine-gun like mad at the vehicles which
are moving along the road with the lights on. December 19. At 6.00 a.m. we drive through Chern and Mtsensk
towards Orel. At the halfway we turn to the east to take up the guard position about 30
kilometers to the east. When darkness falls, the driving becomes very difficult. We pull our
vehicle up twice by ourselves, as the road is very slippery. Therefore, we only at 1:00 a.m.,
weary as dogs, leave for the village of Sybino. December 22.
I drive from Sybino to Orel. On the way we frequently get
stuck in the snow. It's an enormous blizzard! December 24. It's Christmas Eve. At the Christmas tree we
sing songs and think of our families back home. December 25.
In the morning we leave for Orel, about 4 p.m. we return back from there. On the way we are caught
in a blizzard and in the darkness with lights we hardly overcome 10 km. Two kilometers away from
Sybino the big vehicle gets stuck in a ditch and the small one breaks down in the field. I have to
go on foot to the village and drive from there the second big car for towing, but unfortunately,
we are forced to leave the big car in the ditch. At 10:00 p.m. we get back, completely
frozen. It was the first Christmas evening. December 27. Before lunch we set off south. The weather
is getting bad, because of the passing and oncoming columns we are moving forward very
slowly. When our vehicle begins to resist, we halt at the village of Kresty at
the house of a German-speaking family. December 28.
In the morning we, notwithstanding all measures, fail to bring our tank to life and have to follow
in tow. At midday we arrive at Mokretsy, where our detachment should be positioned. However,
it has already moved further in the morning. We settle down. At night a Russian plane bombards
the vehicles that pass along the road with lights. December 29.
At 7.00 a.m. we set off and by midday we reach a place 10
km east of Maloarkhangelsk. The detachment and tanks are pulled 30 km to the east to
push back the Russians, who have broken through the defense of the SS divisions. The
Russian brigade headquarters is captured. December 30.
In the daytime several Russian airplanes fly over and drop a few fragmentation
bombs on us. It is very cold - about - 28 °C. December 31. In the daytime several Russian planes
drop fragmentation bombs again. January 1, 1942.
There is nothing new for us. Our combat unit is facing Russian
tanks ahead. There are four of our tanks hit. January 7.
Our division is withdrawn from the battle and should be put into action
east of Kursk. The tanks by railroad are going to Kursk. The cyclists’ units move in marching
formation. At night a blizzard began and the vehicles have to be dragged out by tractors.
With darkness we reach the road Orel-Kursk. January 8. The day is very good. At about
3 p.m. we arrive in Kursk, and spend the night there. We have a very clean
quarter. The Russians celebrate their Christmas. January 9. This morning we go further east towards
the village of Tim, advancing forward but very slowly. In 3 kilometers from
the objective, we stop at nightfall. January 10.
At about 4.30 a.m. I drive after two automobiles stuck on the road.
About an hour later the Russians break through at the place where they were and kill several men
of the crews of the vehicles that were stuck. January 11. At about noon we go to the combat unit, which
has the mission of cutting off the Russian withdrawal from the encirclement they have
formed. We spend the night at Baryshnikovo. January 12.
In the morning we drive on and reach the company in the neighborhood of the village
of Polevaya. Our quarters are pretty decent. January 13. The Russians attack by fire of tanks
and artillery destroying 8 of our tanks. January 14. At noon I go to Kursk. There I meet old comrades
from Detachment No. 33 and spend a nice evening. January 15.
I stay in Kursk. This evening we go to the city theater,
where we watch Cabaret. It was very good. January 16.
I return to the village of Polevaya. January 17.
Our combat group hit 2 T-34s. January 18.
At noon we go to Kursk to get spare parts. The following
day in the evening we return to our village. January 21.
I remain lying in bed, as I have a bad cold. With darkness
falling, a Russian plane drops a bomb 20 meters away, as someone has lit a
fire outside. The bomb causes no harm. January 22.
At 7.00 a.m. the company leaves the village and returns to Kursk. We settle down in the southwest
part of the city. It is very cold in our quarters. January 29.
It is rumored that we should again engage in battle northeast
of Kursk. We would like to stay here willingly, as Kursk is rather a large town and
it's cleaner here than elsewhere. January 25.
The company leaves at 7.00 a.m. in the direction of the village
of Shchigry where, people say, the Russians have broken through. Since I have no automobile,
I stay and wait for the arrival of an automobile. From January 25 to February
4, I have been in Kursk. We empty all the automobiles that were
left in Kursk. We find a nice and clean quarters in the center of Kursk. I
get a notification from the company that I have to arrive in the village of
Ohachevka. I take a train on February 4, 1942, as it is impossible to go by automobile
because of the snowstorm. Due to the weather, the railroad traffic is very irregular. The train
should depart at 3:00 p.m., but only at 9:00 p.m. the steam locomotive attempts to depart. It
drags us 2 km with long stoppages, but then returns to the station again at 12.00 p.m.
It's terribly cold and windy outside. When the train still isn't moving at 11.00 a.m.
the next day, I return back to the quarters. February 7, 1942.
At 8:00 p.m. the train is scheduled to depart. We get in
with our luggage in a very crowded car, where it is impossible to sleep or
even sit. In addition, it is very cold. February 8.
Finally, at 1.00 p.m. we are just departing. Despite my fur coat, I am freezing. It was a
terrible trip. At about 5.00 a.m. we arrive in the village of Ohochovka, I search for the place
where we are staying at night. It is very dirty. February 9. We prepare an 8-ton tractor for the road.
The day passes in repairing the vehicles. February 10.
At 9.00 a.m. our company sets off in the direction of Kursk. I
drive the vehicle with an automobile mounted on a trailer. The column moves forward, but
very slowly. At 1 a.m. we arrive in Kursk. February 16.
At noon we go to the cinema and watch the movie "Easy Girl." When we return
to the quarters at 8:30 p.m., we are told that I must report to the commander immediately. When
I arrive, he awards me the Iron Cross 1st Class. February 20.
In the evening we go to the theater. February 21.
In the evening we go to the theater again. February 22.
At 9.00 a.m. I go to Oboyan, which is 70 kilometers south of Kursk -
there is an abandoned vehicle of the company, which I have to deliver. The weather is
good and it is enjoyable considering the Sunday walk. On the way back
we "obtain" a few chickens. February 23 to March 19, 1942.
I have been in the city of Kursk. The reserve soldiers for the regiment have
arrived, and our company is supposed to train them. The company leaves for Kharkov.
The whole division must be assembled in Kharkov for formation. I stay longer
until all the vehicles are put in order… A separate sheet of the same
diary contains the address: "Lydia Mikhaylovna, city of Kursk,
Gostinaya street, house No. 24". Another sheet contains a list of 18 numbers
of some kind. As it can be understood from the comparison with the numbers mentioned in the text,
these are the numbers of 18 tanks, which formed the detachment, as part of which the author of the
diary went on a campaign against the Soviet Union. The text shows that by the end of
September of 1941 the Panzer Regiment, to which the detachment was attached, had been
disbanded, and the detachment had lost 16 of its 17 tanks, among which 5 were totally
destroyed and two needed serious repairs. After getting new tanks in the city of Gomel
and reorganization, the author of the diary notes that "our detachment with its two
companies forms the whole regiment, i.e. the regiment actually has only 18 tanks in line.
According to the information of the diary author, in the battles of Tula and Kursk, out of
these 18 tanks, 9 tanks were destroyed, and 4 were hit and require serious repairs.
Therefore, it turns out that the tank detachment, to which the author of the diary belonged,
in fact once again ceased to exist. The Germans failed to " bring it back to life"
with new tanks, because the vehicles that had been transported to form a division in Kharkov
had to be moved to the front on the Donets River. The fate of the German tank crewman
was sad. He died in the battles near the Northern Donets River in late March 1942.
His diary turned out to be a valuable source of various information, I hope you found
it very useful as I did. And that is all for today. Thank you for watching this video
until the end, goodbye everyone, see you soon!
