The battle was actually small. In the next morning one scanned us [Iljuschin] IL 2 in about 20 m height. Our 2 Although cm could install hits, You abprallten but as a result of the sharp angle of the target. Otherwise hunters in our shot came during the day only to once. During the night but we learned the “quiet Willy” right to know. On a moonlit night, this biplane flew a and back again. Very many were however captured by the bright light headlamp tentacles and thus exposed to a concentric flak.

We took on many machines in the dark. The Russian pilots tried to the best defensive maneuver with their machines. One went for example. Dive stop download. We thought “Launch”, But shortly after he flew over us across. Another was fired on by us to 50 m above the ground: Then we had to stop shooting, because we would have otherwise done more damage to the Earth as in the air. One [Polikarpow] U-2 flew to us. Suddenly it rustled in the air, then just next to our B I stand a Puffen and a large narrow Earth fountain mounted high. He wanted to meet but really I state our B. He had probably seen our electric lighting. In short, that night, some were “quiet Willy's” shot down and the next day brought Oblt. Reinecking a piece of gray plywood, by a downed flier came with home. We saw also the Luftwaffe here very actively. So I could observe, as an association [Heinkel] He 111 put a bomb row, She had it in itself, on the hochsteigenden Earth as we- and saw columns of smoke.

Our pots were a novelty for the young and the old soldiers. Clearly, we saw the oblique rising plumes of this terrible missiles and shortly afterwards the huge detonation of Einschlages, We could even hear. One day as a blechener pop whistled it in the air, and shortly thereafter. Aha, the Russian scored in our vicinity. I got me pretty soon used to these new sounds and learned to distinguish soon launch and impact. But even in this position, you were numbered days. The order to the rebase was given, was again lifted to be given final.

On Sunday, 14.8. (Flak travel day) We packed back together. Morning, the weather was beautiful. It went back to Jnotchkino and then right off the road to Yelnya. Since it began to rain. The dusty streets with tough mud were covered in no time, so that the riders had to watch hell, not slip or stuck. On this way to Yelnya I met once Russia. The streets were a single mud- and puddle area, the houses built in poor and patched with all the possible and patched, the people dressed licentie. The fields were unkempt, until we saw only a Veldt. The city of Yelnya itself was almost extinct. We went then on the road to fun-Demensk about yet 15 km and were then away near the village of Medvezh'ye in a Bush area in position.

Since the front from here only 12 km was away, had to be disguised all. The Geschützrohre were wrapped so with branches, that you could hold them for a tree. The building of the tents was no pleasure, because in the Grase wet from the rain it seemed to be no good Commons. But after enough straw was been brought, could we very well establish our tents.

Our first lunch in this position brought finally boiled potatoes and goulash.. Already during the last period in Sechtschinskaja our potatoes to end were gone, and so there were about 14 Day long only noodles, Macaroni, Rice and grains in all possible preparations. Now we had can find again potatoes and there was a Cookware also again fully. Has also our young these days, cooking gewandter Werner Lotz from 8 l milk a pudding for us cope made, the look really could be. Our measuring crew leader was at that time Lance Sergeant. Bodenschatz. Sergeant. Theißen was on vacation. I came out for the time being not so good with Bodenschatz. Is it because he likes to hintenanstellte us young corporal something or is it due to his being and feel what I liked not and has never promised.

On Friday, 12.8., a dimmer, rainy day, the battery went on and closed it went in the great road of Roslavl. From there eastwards, about 38 km, After Inotschkino on the large Desnabrücke. In the position we went east of the Desna, in the village of Kolodesi. From here, we saw strong for the first time through the glass [Iljuschin] IL 2-Attacks on the Frontgebiet. The two nights, that we were, were very lively. The Russians attacked Roslavl and flew over us across every time. Here already the temperament was purity lists: We had to try, sign of the machines in the dark. It went very well. This position was a standby position for us. We should wait, until our final deployment area will be announced.

An evening of Russian began again with stronger night attacks. It started so, that a plane in the first dark could silently heranpirschen. Due to the explosion of two bombs the entire defense in action was with a male. That night went to still very hairy. Bombs fell close to threatening. Lieutenant Kruchen was often forced to the command: “Heads away!” To give. It was also done on such a night, that shot a single one of our four heavy guns. Everyone else had fallen for short or longer time. But at least we came also on about 1.200 Rounds per night. But the success: equal to zero. lieutenant. Hendel said in a short address, that this night was under a unlucky star. Some machines were destroyed on the tarmac. But no enemy aircraft shot down. He said, that the Russian at night now you quick “Douglas Boston” uses, that would be difficult to fight. He said, We should be second man, He spoke of readiness, Toughness etc.

But also this beautiful recreation- and rest in this position inclined to a close. One munkelte of rebase, Earth application etc.. Our chassis, Devices and our things were checked and supplemented. This was still, that Captain SIEBECK was transferred to Germany. As new Chief met Oblt. Reinecking a. This seemed to put much on outside show very, Since he came into the ceremonial suit with all order, wearing a peaked Cap. Gave a short and brief welcome speech. Then he was our Chief. It should be for him to lead our battery to great success and to earn eternal glory.

So the rebase was prepared and as most 11. August the battery relieving us arrived, We went from our booths and went in a field next to it in a position. Now could times a “Ivan” come. Two batteries next to each other, that would have been a fire spell. The night to the 12. We slept for the last time in our barracks. For the last time under bugs. That was so great in the last few days, that half of the operation in our tool”butze” or on the roof of z.b.V. [“for special use”] The blockhouse was sleeping.

I was operating at that time not yet in the B I, But even in the conversion. We made about the following: When an aircraft came, magnas it the Seetakt [“Shipborne”, Today radar] on and we found, If the current location of the aircraft in the air on the surface of the Earth down is gelotet, in which square on a sprawling map indicated it was. These squares were then placed on the night hunters control center and she had the night fighter. Then the conversion had still the purpose, the target path of the aircraft record. Also we should introduce other batteries to the objective thus. All this was a pretty interesting for me, especially since I da while air activity in the ZbV [“for special use”] Budé was sitting. That the ZbV bunkers very close most, beimit in the B I stand was, had his good reason. B I and ZbV were always together. There, all the messages from the battery ran together and met messages from outside a. Here, everything was represented during the battle, What was the rank and name. Here the Chief met his decisions and led the dimensional officer shooting. I have to get there during my presence in many things insights and belongs to many other situations in the command post with, the majority of the members of the battery did not know of which.

I was now involved, the target path record. We could look nice, as the aircraft flies. It was an unpleasant thing, If the side angle to the enemy aircraft did not change. As the machine exactly on us flew to. Then we were always in the dark, What would now follow. It crashed loudly, then we had known, that the machine threw bombs, our battery should apply. But mostly it was so: When a straight on[flight] We shot but under facilitated conditions, because Yes the side angle ahead intermediary. And when the first shots it moved “Ivan” before abzuschwirren in an elegant curve, threw out his eggs somewhere and smashed East.