Dangerous near front
29. August 1943
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.
