8 months ago

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Episode 163

September 5, 1941 was the last time we were with Kurt. Having finally caught up with the rest of his company he arrived just in time to take part in an attack supported by two assault guns which pushed through the enemy lines and crossed the Desna River. The Battle for Kiev was on!

Der 2. Armee gewann mit linkem Flügel gegen
The 2nd Army, making up the left flank of the attack, encountered heavy enemy resistance but still made good progress. The bridgehead to the east of Tschernigow was widened considerably. Troops fighting through marshy areas using roads in terrible condition in bad weather have had a difficult go of it.

The enemy facing the 2nd PzG making up the right flank of the attack has retreated over the Desna River. Sosniza has been taken. Enemy units in the area of Trubtschwesk are being reinforced.

Hier erreicht mich die Nachricht, dass mein….
This is when I receive notification that Robert Stürzer someone I’d been close friends with since the beginning, had died from the battle wounds he’d received. His loss affects us more because he’s the first from our close personal circle to fall. Never again would we see his smiling face.

Regardless of the Russians constant artillery fire we cross the Desna river and push forwards without encountering significant resistance until we’re about 5 KM outside of Schafhürd. It seems that the Russians have still not managed to regroup. Feeling confident we organize only regular security patrols around the village for the night and so allow the majority of the men to sleep.
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Episode 163

This is the day I receive the order to move up with a mortar crew to support the 5th Company at the other end of the village along a forested area. During the night the Russians have pushed forwards in the woods to come to within 100 m of the village and have prepared excellent defensive positions.

The following morning we’re surprised to learn that the Russians have managed to move in force to the outskirts of the village and are actually occupying some buildings within the limits. Street fighting breaks out and continues throughout the morning. The intense fighting forces us to storm each individual house killing all enemy soldiers. 14 enemy enemy officers have been killed.

I get up to the forward outpost which is situated only about 50m from the enemy. From that close range the mortars begin firing hoping to reduce the pressure of the advancing enemy. The company’s strength is considerably weakened due to combat losses and being spread out widely which means that it would be unlikely to hold back a Soviet attack made in strength. Firing at this close range however is quite dangerous because there is always the chance that a misfired shot could land in our own lines.

This raw footage is especially interesting because it show much of the setting up and firing process for a mortar crew.

My best mortar crew, Conrad, Amplatz and Goldbach are up will me and I know that I can absolutely depend on each one of them. After about an hour of blanketing their position with mortar rounds the enemy pulls back about 600 meters to the other side of the forested area which gives the 5th company time to regroup. With the enemy bordering us on 3 sides the danger is real and come night fall, the Russians are likely to move forwards again.

Not long afterwards we receive an order from the commander to pull back to better prepared positions in front of the village. That night the temperature drops considerably and spending it in fox holes without blankets or even warm clothing is terribly uncomfortable.

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