Departing the Caucasus 1943 Nr 5 war diary - Retreat to Crimea - Taman Peninsula - Kertsch Straight

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Episode 124

This 1944 color footage shows a German field repair station. Specifically associated with this video is the prime mover which was used to move heavy vehicles and weaponry. At this end of this video I’ll show more from this clip so stick around.

The order comes in, prepare to depart. What we believed yesterday to be impossible has happened, the ground can be traversed.

This nice footage from 1944 shows the process of fueling in the field. The soldier first uses a hand pump to fill his fuel canisters and then uses them to fill the tank of his vehicle. Footage like this showing every day tasks give insight into the soldiers daily routine.

This is part 5 of a series covering a fantastic and unique 1943 war diary of a German soldier who took part in the Wehrmacht’s retreat out of the Caucasus. The last time we were with our author Fritz, after being stuck in a field in the mud for days of rain the weather finally turned. With the ground now frozen it seemed that the convoy would be able to continue their journey West towards the Kertsch straight and the Crimea.

In this video using his diary as a framework, I’ll add related private film footage, an original map of the region and at the end more from that color footage to continue with his story. If you like this kind of material based on primary historical sources please like the video and subscribe to the channel. You won’t be disappointed, I promise.

he was literally dangerously stuck out in the open in a field among many vehicles in the mud after days of rain with the situation looking grim.

We drive slowly forwards across the fields being careful so that the truck doesn’t get stuck. When a more complicated obstacle is reached we come to a stop and discuss the best way to approach it hoping to avoid unexpected surprises. Many were not as careful and have gotten stuck. It’s also not possible to simply push the stuck trucks out because the axels are so low which could result in damaging the vehicles and then they reallywould be stuck. They have to wait until a prime mover can come and carefully lift them out. We come to s a little stream that seems too risky to try and cross. As evidence, on the other side sits a truck that tried and is stuck. What to do? Heinz, our most map literate, finds a location about 2km to the south where he believes it will be easier to cross so we move on in that direction. The carpentry truck follows us in the mobile office vehicle. We arrive and the stream is little more than a trickle so make it across without much trouble.

Only a small portion of the Taman Peninsula remains in front of us now, then comes the Kertsch Straight and finally the Crimea. In the distance we can already see the city of Kertsch with its many factory smoke stacks thrusting up into the air. Beams of sunlight pierce the clouds and provide us with a magnificent view. Our two truck, the small BMW of the carpenter and our mobile office vehicle are the first to arrive to the new destination which means that we’re the winners of the great obstacle course! The rest of the convoy arrive one after the other over the next few hours however two small Fiat trucks had to be left behind. Their transmissions weren’t up to the challenge. A small BMW that’s having problems with its clutch needs a friendly push which we provide with the mobile office vehicle. The clatter that truck makes as it limps along is pitiful.

We stay for 2 days just outside of Taman and wait for our turn to proceed. A seemingly endless line of vehicles are waiting in front of us for the same thing. There are 30 vessels in operation that are doing the ferrying. Upon arrival they unload massive quantities of fuel, munitions, rations, horse feed, and wood and stone for construction. Unloading it all takes a considerable amount of time which is slowing everything down.

Taman is a horrible place. Ash, rubble and destroyed buildings as far as you can see. Everything near the harbor has been completely leveled. In this zone the garrisoned soldiers live in foxholes and bunkers. There are few civilians present living in the few houses that remain standing. All the windows have been bricked up with only small cracks left open to allow at least a little light in.

And now, here is the rest of that color clip. Please remember too subscribe. Thanks for watching.