We stopped at again at a State domain, to give us some orientation. We were staying and we enjoyed each other about our appearance. The skirts and pants were covered with dust Millimeterdick. From the schwarzgrauen face glowed the teeth and the white in the eyes. Sweat leaving long trains of moving sweat on the cheeks.

Suddenly there came a single car., and if you sat in it? Our Commander, Major Wendt. We were all together, Here it can be found. There was however the adoption, that he would be with front, in his combat batteries. As it Bodenscha[TZ] had asked for the places of our Protze and Wendt was again left, We discussed about him. Later it turned out then, that he was not up to the location, the nerves had lost and had made himself with his driver out of the dust.

We then drove Yelnya Pochinok on the street and searched for the place of our Protze, Iwanowo. I knew, that this place is pretty close in Yelnya lay, said nothing but, because were we but then immediately there and thus again quite close to the front. On the assumption, that would be this nest further back, We drove back along this road. As we saw also the first Tieffliegerangriff in this areas. This pilot had but other targets and turned again, before they came. Now, as we a piece were reduced and Ivanovo always still did not come, was our measuring troop Bodenschatz, that we would have to go to the opposite direction. So we repented and went back to front. We went quite a while. Getting closer and closer, we heard the noise of the lower front. But not came Ivanovo. We did not want to go further ahead, because we did not know, How was the situation. Also we did not believe, that our prowess position so close behind the lines. As the day went slowly to an end, We decided to reduce us again and to spend the night in a village.

On this trip, we came across prowess vehicles and the radio of our 5. Battery. Bodenschatz took the opportunity, to request their location by radio at our radio station. The answer came after a few minutes, It was promptly: Iwanowo. We already knew that. But where the village was, were we also still a mystery. So we drove further, a night place to look for. Suddenly popped up our tank trucks in the series of oncoming cars, with the tanker trailers for drinking water, on. He was also our Tross. We clarified on him and he joined us, and we wanted to look together for our people.

At one time excitement and confusion came in the vehicles travelling ahead suddenly. Stopten suddenly the vehicles and the occupants jumped out and ran indiscriminately in the area. We were also, saw after the reason of this behavior and noticed two associations in the air [Petljakow] PE2, You approached an angle on us. Now but down jumped and sought cover. Coincidentally, Russian women were there just next to us, a trench dig. We disappeared in this ditch and waited now, whether the road was the target of this attack with their active traffic. But the first Association turned to the left and the machines were out in the sun light flashing in the curve. Several minutes later winding smoke fountains and shortly afterwards following the area Thunder showed at some km distance, where the two associations had raised their bombs.

Joyful courage we rose up and drove a friend, mind on each unit shield, If not that of our battery it was. In the next village, a suitable field was found soon. We set up our tent and laid out us, to us of this eventful, but also exciting day, the 29. August, rest. Before I had even the shield with the yellow Wolf's head, the character of our battery, attached to a Pole on the road.

Everyone tried to leave as soon as possible[n]. We 14 Man sitting in a good suit our car and looked at the activities. We trust in the routine and cunning our driver, the Obgefr. Schmitz. Suddenly, two floors struck a densely in addition to our car. It seemed to us a Russian tanks have discovered, shelling us now. Then joined but Schmitz on the tube and withdrew us point of view by laying a hill in between.

In this wild flight knows its a little Lieutenant 10 Infantry at, a ditch dig. Willingly and indifferent they began to dig. Wanted to this Lieutenant with its 10 Stop areas the Russians coming man?

Slowly we were approached on Yelnya. Here, everything flowed together now, What zurückflutete. Everyone was looking to come with his vehicle on the bridge, She went over the line. Of course the effort had also our riders Schmitz, to come in across. He was very on wire.

Also a German force seemed at last to want to resist seriously. It was [the] Waffen-SS. These guys jumped right without rock and Stahlhelm in their assault guns and drove off.

Meanwhile it had become disastrous to the designated bridge. As of now still left and right of the bridge on 2 Surveys go impacts and people there aufgebauten 2 cm flak down kollerten the slope, Since it was out in full. It was packed, pushed etc.. Our high vehicles that was by quite well view, the surging and sparkling vehicle crowding around. But we came across the bridge, whether we pushed a smaller vehicle into the trench here nichtsachtend.

Shortly after the bridge was still a sore spot as also fleeing 8,8 Flak in the middle of the road to the tank shelling in position was. As a result the road was completely choked. But again, the Angel of happiness to the side was us. Slightly sideways was only a slightly greater space between the vehicles and already there into kurvte us Schmitz. No one was allowed to take into account, otherwise would be to sit remained forever. As well, it was almost hopeless, If a vehicle in this busy Gets a defect. Then you could leave immediately by the next vehicle in the ditch push this cart.

Behind us, at the bridge, it crashed several times concern. Pitch black clouds of smoke and debris flew through the air. But what was going on there now took us no longer. Now, the road was something free and with increased speed, it went through Yelnya. Here ran the same sisters, the us still 2 Hours earlier Merry had beckoned, in their Schwesterntracht headless back and forth to the pre-accession rauschenden vehicles with continuing to come. As soon the Russian had approached Yelnya, that not even these girls in time were transported. Our clever Schmitz went out again us now quickly through the city through and on the northwest side. As the city far in the back was only, Let keep Bodenschatz.

As we descend and brought us a few beets from an abandoned garden, were the two non-commissioned officers together and advised, what they should do now. Bodenschatz had taken a large responsibility. Yes our faster could possibly “Retreat” be construed as desertion. And he, Bodenschatz, granted Yes the command to do this. Of course, he had the intention now, as soon as possible to come to our Protze. After a short rest we went further West. Always on dusty country roads. Now we had become so the only vehicle on these routes. Flash Flash fire from Yelnya in the clear sky of midday beat behind us, big Rauchpilze showed at, where fuel warehouse in the air were hunted.

As it was now, that our B I car stood still alone, I no longer know. It can be, that we had missed connection or that we should stand still and wait, return to the guns. We put ourselves in the grass and waited. As an anti-aircraft battery of us came back. Later we learned it, that the battery has been, that we should replace. But because the situation was too dire, has left its position prematurely this battery. With the vehicles of this battery also the car came with our Commander hit. Sergeant. Bodenschatz inquired for him and the Kdr. said, He could no longer use us, We should reverse. This answer triggered a heavy stone us from the heart. Now, all were again fun and redseliger. It came directly new life in our operation.

Quickly, the car was turned and then he could drive not fast enough us. A short drive, we were again stopped by our Commander. We should stop. The batteries would go here to the air age in position. Our guns should come back soon also. As we sat now and again was returned the rest in us. Suddenly it happened, which probably no one had expected: First, individual vehicles to us came past gebraust, then, an infinite chain was created from it. They were driving through the fields and meadows across, because the way slowly clogged up. We looked around us, all raced and ran back. Weil also Bodenschatz and be clueless quiet solitary, gave the order to the continue Bodenschatz. Now it went back with the same pace.

We did not know the road conditions, Therefore, we wanted to head back the way, the forth, we came. It was a young lieutenant of the infantry, He told us, This way even from the Russians would be exceeded. We have been preserved so to speak before that by these clever people, turn directly to the Russians. Now just another way was driven. To us it was always great. Vehicles drove wildly to los, only back. Kräder knew no barriers and squeezed through everywhere. Stray horse jogged through the area. The soldiers were angerannt. A horsemen galloped through the middle of the fields. He sat in sleeves, rather, he hung, up to Ross. Now it was clear to us. This was an escape. This was direct panic. The further we came back, It was the great. The device and clutter on the cars was quickly thrown at the positions of the prowess and on it went. To do this, it popped a few times. This made everything just crazy.

Few kilometers from Yelnya we had to stop and waited for our boss, He came back from a briefing. He announced the location of the ranks and gave commands. The situation was about following: We should again in the area, where we once were, However, should we remain right rail and should 2 ge km behind the front to the air age in position[hen]. The position, We had left here a few days ago, was occupied by the Russians. How well, that we had left this position.

Now it was clear to us, What was us. The Protzenfahrzeuge were returned. We made ready us. Koppel with Patronentaschen strapped to, Carrying structure to do so and the Stahlhelm ready placed. All of us was […] clear, What is it for a risk, to lay a heavy Flakbatterie so close behind the front. Yes every gunshot could get there. Also, the extensive and valuable device not is here, to build a so dangerous position. Many of us were located in such positions. It was something new for me. I was even looking forward, as I took up that matter. Whether anxiety or fear grabs me, or whether me again, Ungeschehene and Unerlebte with driving forward. A restlessness infested me already, was it for me to speak a ride into the unknown. But the proximity and presence of my comrades had their act together me. Their silence and indifference voted me differently. Where I car go there the B, Since we just all go out with.

And so we drove off. The guns, We, a Muni cars and a tank wagon. First, it went through Yelnya. There still a real offered us, Inland about image. To cite just one example, because I come later once it too. In Yelnya, there was a soldier's House. There was still the most traffic and the Rote-Kreuz-Schwestern looked still merrily waving out the window. We left the city in a southeasterly direction.

Because the road to bad and was extended, We went next to the road on fields and meadows, where soon a smooth road was extended. Stagnation encountered it often, because us very many vehicles, more Yes all columns. That came before us slowly in Spanish. Artillery and other vehicles drove back and only we as flak drove. Sundry we heard already munkeln of: the Russians of zetar, breakthrough, our back etc.. Now we realized, that our air position 2 km behind the front is something impossible. Although our leadership was precisely oriented, They however insisted the company.

The troops, the us met all of us looked at joyful face. I do not know but now, whether they were happy because we sometimes had to forward in the shit, or they were pleased that finally the dreaded 8,8 Cannons went forward, or have they laughed at us, because we drove the Russians directly into the hands.

We left the road and drove right into the ground. It once went on a free area, It was already “make small”, Visit of the enemy, and it went in a breakneck ride on these posts. Only the damned dust clouds, They moved from the vehicles behind you, verwünschten we, because they were widely. And we saw a Garnet Lunar times. Also on this small road still columns came forward to us. Our battery held again.