11. Februar 1944
The regimental commander comes down into my bunker. He informs me that an alarm unit of 180 men is approaching to reinforce us.[1] However, as the unit commander, Lieutenant Freitag, was ill, I would have to take over the company until a replacement for the sick man arrived. The news didn’t shock me much. After all, it’s not the first time I’ve had to lead two companies at the same time. It is clear that I inevitably neglect my own company somewhat. This is particularly true of the train, and I tell the commander as much. Haarhaus immediately becomes suspicious and asks if something is wrong with my train. But I calm him down and he leaves.
Such alarm units are hastily assembled groupings that are taken out of furlough trains, rear units or elsewhere in order to throw them - usually only for a short time - to endangered front sections. They can range from company to battalion strength. We urgently need reinforcements here, because Krivoy Rog is extremely vulnerable but must be held urgently to prevent Army Group South from being cut off. However, some of our companies only have half the manpower left and replacements are hardly ever arriving.
The alarm unit is here. I take my laundry bag and go over to the battalion. Here I learn that I am to relieve the company in the centre of our battalion section.[2] I take my place at the head of the motley crowd and march off towards the front. A long queue of 140 soldiers follows behind me. As it’s still light, I can’t just run down the slope. I therefore use a trench that runs diagonally down the slope from the heights and leads into the front trench. It is very deep and protects us completely from enemy fire. However, as there has been a lot of thaw recently, the meltwater has run into the trench. I am now splashing through puddles of water, trudging through slush in clay-encrusted felt boots and sinking through deceptive snow cushions, under which the water is already standing. I sink in up to my knees and the water runs into the top of my boots. The trench is narrow. In places, the Landser have to squeeze through with their packs and fully rigged belt system so that the greasy, tough clay sticks to their gear.
But what we don’t have hanging on our bodies! Belt with haversack, canteen and mess kit, spade and sidearm. Steel helmet and cartridge pouches. Blanket and tent half, gas mask and gas tarpaulin and then the carbine. For some, binoculars and map pouch. The German infantryman carries too much with him!
Damn, I’ve slipped into a water hole again. Before I can pull my leg out of the viscous mud, the meltwater has already run into the top of my felt boots. It couldn’t get any worse now. This is the moment from when you don’t care about anything. The water is gurgling in my boots, my coat is smeared with clay and my belt system and map pouch are filthy. I’m sweating profusely, because working my way through the narrow trench is tedious. The men are no better off. They are furious about this special assignment anyway, which keeps them away from their old units. They’ll probably swear horribly, and they have every reason to.
We have finally reached the front trench. It’s also very deep and narrow and just as muddy. I look for the company command post and relieve the company commander. He hands me the position sketch and fire plan and briefs me on the enemy situation and combat activity. In the meantime, the platoons have spread out across the trench. One by one, the platoon leaders arrive and report the takeover of their sections. But it all takes a long time, because it is already completely dark and it takes time to find the individual positions in the very long and sparsely manned company section. Now the last platoon leader returns. He is actually a medical first sergeant and has been promoted to platoon leader in this quickly assembled unit. Completely exhausted, he leans against a support beam and closes his eyes for a few seconds before he can make his report. And then he turns to leave again. A soldier who is overly zealous and dutiful. He’ll wear himself out on this unaccustomed and strenuous trench duty if he carries on like this. I’ll talk to him about it when I go through the trench tomorrow.
It’s pitch dark a night. I lay down on the bunk in my bunker to finally get some sleep, because I’m pretty exhausted. I’ve hung my completely soaked boots and socks on the stove. If Ivan attacks tonight, I’ll have to go out barefoot because I can’t get this stuff over my feet any more.
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- ↑ Soviet attacks were expected (KTB AOK 6, NARA T-312 Roll 1485 Frame 000759, Roll 1492 Frame 000269), a possible reason for the rapid deployment of reinforcements. They may also have been part of the 577 men of the half march battalion 257/13 that arrived in the army area on 12 Feb 44 (KTB 6.A., NARA T-312 Roll 1492 Frame 001105).
- ↑ According to the detailed situation maps (KTB 6. A., NARA T-312 Roll 1468 Frame 000300/311), a hill (Kurgan), which is only mentioned further down and can be clearly identified on the map, formed the right-hand boundary of G.R. 477 until at least 16 Feb 44. The later section of 10./477, which according to the text is supposed to be identical with that of the alarm unit, extended from the kurgan to the left and was therefore not in the centre, but on the right wing of III./477; it could only be considered “in the centre” if there was still part of the battalion to the right of the Kurgan. This is 11./477th in the sketch, and the sketch is credible. The regimental boundary has therefore been moved without this being noted on the army’s situation map; such an omission is also credible, as the 257th I.D. was not currently the focus of the army. Unfortunately, the KTB of the 257th I.D., which would make it possible to clarify this contradiction between documents and experiences, has not survived. - The company to be relieved was most likely the 11th, which was possibly pushed to the right across the previous border at the same time.