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.

In Yartsevo, we were but not for long. Sunday, the 28. Flak travel day was again. We packed up again and took drawing up. Great excitement arose, as the small dog, He herumtrieb with the boss and his driver, was not to be found. As a result even the departure also was delayed. As this dog had finally found, We drove los and faster, It was an unbroken journey to Smolensk, through which we pass was in the dark. Again it went on the Roslawler road, then after Pochinok, where was held. At dawn it went forward again on the road to Yelnya, that we had only happened a few days ago in the opposite direction. In fine weather, the trip was wonderful. During a short break I witnessed, how in the context of a bet a driver of a living mouse bit off the head. He then spat the head and said, It would have tasted sweet.

Middle during packaging of the device, a boxer came as long remaining post. This was but a mountain of packages, Letters and newspapers. When we had then charged everything and even had increased, We found time to open the packages only. And then was cost of everything and everyone got something from.

Then as quickly as possible, we made, that we bodly from this position, because we saw, how an other Flakbatterie in the fire was hostile artillery. Our way ran again across the zerwühlte and open road into to Yelnya, where we arrived at the beginning of the night. We drove further. Soon, our chef for this night but ordered final stop, because Russian bombers attacked the area and scattering their bombs indiscriminately in the area. It jumped in the ditch and there was wait for the command to the continuing.

As the air was again pure, It went on. The road was covered with sand high. The vehicle wheels are produced in the sand and some followers, for example. the KDO-Hi device [“Command support unit”], floated at greatest risk, that the expensive box umkippte. But it all went well, and in the morning, we achieved without failure Pochinok. Then it went to the beautiful paved road to Smolensk. Shortly before that we were still on a State[s]good rest. By Smolensk, the battery was closed, and it not attracted little look up, as the heavy tractors with their freezing chain noise and cheerful, singing soldiers on it, braußten through the busy streets.

I will say it right, it again went to Yartsevo. Just next to our position we show off and made the battery feuerbereit. We did not know only, why we came just after Yartsevo. The front was 15 km and was currently calm. It will have been so, If you with a unit did not know where, you put it after Yartsevo. There was not much to shoot.

One night, during the watch, I got to know the thunderstorm in the infinite Russian lands. Convulsing flashes and Flash Feuerscheine lit up the pitch black night into day. Terribly booming Thunderclaps echoed through the night. This includes a huge Platschregen, he instantly turned the loamy Earth into a tough sludge. I was glad, as I was able to return in the tent. In the tent it was dry, The tarpaulins held tight.