Now I will digress briefly from the warlike events and me the daily and official events, They were partly cheerful or serious nature for us, turn to. It is now been, that the other countries had a great anger on the flak, because we have been used in the Hinterlande Yes from time to time. And at such times we had a really pleasant life.

What we have now on air base. The most important was the sauna and the bath. It was a true delight for us, If we each week could wash the dust and sweat us. With the visit of the bath, a cinema was usually connected. I saw every film which ran there, and there were only the latest shown. Even in our position, the Weir surprised us(erzi)support with some well gelungenen events. So a KdF group enjoyed us in our defense childcare shanty [“Strength through joy”], a different times had to admit still a concert an air force Chapel, because their first concert was a huge success. A nice hour was also, as we be the war settled on a beautiful sunny days, put us in the grass and listened to the pop melodies of a Lautsprecherwagens, which had come to us.

The meals I can not complain about in General. I'm always become fed up. Burnt down as our kitchen with entire inventories, suffered no deterioration in the supply. Motorists however, There lived, had covered the opportunity quickly and under the guideline of Bergens of inventories they did what they could achieve only aside. So, they had real, Chocolate, Canned meat etc.. on their car. hidden. We are in the position got only 2 Scho-CA-Cola cans [“Flyer-chocolate”] and some canned meat, because they could no longer pick up the stuff because fire taste. We were also quite well supplied with personal demand items. Several times we were pretty drunk and a number “drunken bodies” showed us, the the Sutlers' brandy and-rum have not missed its effects. Particularly he sucked. “Goks” (Rum with sugar lumps) did not miss its effect. I drank with course fixed, was still not blue. Some from the BI operation fell together on the device when the night alarm. Again others were worn in the Leichenzuge in the barracks. Thank God, them that no officer has seen something.

The Russian came at 7. and 8. at night again and dropped numerous Leuchtbomben, to determine the success of his Großangriffs. This was probably quite flawed, so he started yet a concentric attack. This was most 9. at the same time, as most 7. This time there were but over 150 Machines.

It started exactly as most 7. Came, Hunters rose up, Sirens wail, great excitement everywhere. And then they came back from all directions. Highly and deeply they flew and back and forth. We shot at getting the Association, He was most dangerous for us. Then suddenly a large cloud of black smoke in the air. One [Iljuschin] IL2 had a 8,8 Get direct hit and was torn. An association [Petljakow] PE2 dropped phosphorus, the burning bright yellow, letting a long plume of smoke behind him, flew to the ground. The stuff was but poorly thrown, and it fell into a village and put there some huts on fire, instead of causing any damage on the premises of the flying eagle.

The air above us was like a hellish Inferno. The radiant chains of 2 cm saußten through the air, the yellow balls of 3,7 and 5 the black clouds of explosive of the heavy flak whistled cm everywhere the enemy contrary to and in between. The flak attacks, the howling of the bombs, the explode of the grenades, the resounding roar of the defensive movements of aircraft: all that was a hell concert, as I have not had experienced it. It was sometimes so dangerous (or looked at least as), that even the B II lay on the ground. And in these moments Oblt. Heudel on the mound of the B I, He was probably with this “brave behavior” the long-awaited EK II. purchase. He later also received it. But also the worst is past Yes, and peace was also on this night so again. This time are round 200 Aircraft flown in and which were 20 shot down. 12 by Hunter, 8 of the flak.

That were 2 heavy day for the flak of Sechtschinskaja and, I think, We can be proud of our commitment and our successes. The following nights were still very rich in Einflügen, but serious damages were not caused. The last Russian major attack would be to notice, that on the runway 2 or 3 Machines have been taken. On the whole, the Russian success was very “Malo”.

I completely forgot to mention, that most 5. June afternoon of overbearing clouds suddenly one NAB-25 stuck, turned on the runway a curve and finally again in the clouds of protection sought. Shortly thereafter, the machine came again, but from another direction, flew back to on the runway and went very deep down. The light flak shot obsessively. The NAB-25 received results, tried to pull up sharply, swished down and smashed to the ground. This should probably be a reconnaissance by fire. This wagemut-Russian attack was the prelude to the subsequent heavy days and nights.

The attacks were the first hit on 6. night and the two bombs in the battery. The 7. Finally brought the long expected major attack. It was in the evening, as the Sun was already deep in the West. I was at the cleaning before our accommodation, There fell on me, that a German Hunter started after the other, What was the case but otherwise never. It was something like 15 Machines. Suddenly, the air sirens on the Horst wailing her warning song. Since we got the message already: “Several foe organizations approaching the square from the direction of 1-3, Distance … km.” Highest Feuerbereitschaft. Everything was made ready to defence, Ammunition ready placed etc.. We were cool on a hot battle. I, in the excitement, put on the rock, Koppel with Patronentaschen drum, Stahlhelm on, Carbine in the hand and also stormed in anticipation of the enemy. (Later, I have to keep as the rest, and stood in collarless or sleeves in combat.)

The flight registration items have been reinforced: The entire measuring scale staring in the air. Because even the first reported an association from the direction of 1. Through the glass, we saw, that it was Schlachtflieger. Suddenly another reported still bandaged from 1, der flog höher und wurde als [Petljakow] PE 2 Association identified. Both organizations flew north past to us. We studied further, as by the phone and the flight registration posts came, that in the direction of 3-6 several are approaching. Now we had certainty, that the concentrated major attack is now increasing. Some instructions of officers have been sent. The two North vorbeigeflogenen associations had turned and attacked from the West, from the Sun out, at. I needed to go on this day in the conversion. I saw therefore to, as the approaching associations were fired on from the other batteries. We also opened fire on a PE-2 following us Association. We were served exactly and got back the moment, If the triggered bombs into noise into the battery. But this time we were lucky. No bombs were us. We saw, as the bombs of the aircraft classified, they saw at ever increasing speeds down turf until our eyes could no longer follow the bombs. Over there on air base smoke rose- and dust clouds high.

The Association of PE-2 was still not out of our shooting range, [da] also came out from the deep according Sun an association flying in less of about 15 [Junkers] JL2. Now, the matter was already dangerous. I quickly jumped into a man-made pit cover. There was still the possibility, that the JL2 with their gun on the flak get started. A large number 2 cm and 3,7 cm anti-aircraft guns opened fire on this Association also. In the middle of this fire spells the JL2 to attack the airfield continued to. Lowered the muzzle and the muzzle flash of their kews flashed on in the sloping downward flight and shot their rocket bombs with a loud hissing and hiss from then 2 Clouds of smoke back[to]Let. At this moment I shot indeed also a few times in the air, found it but pleasant to watch, What is above all played and whether it is still dangerous for us. Also here I saw flying bombs on us across. It came even more associations serviced, from all directions, but they came more or less in our shooting range. You were by the 4 other heavy batteries fired on. Conservatory Russian hunters showed to their presence by their original Gebrumme. You highly evangelizing about us.

After the last Association (by my count, there were a total of about 120 Machines) to the East was used, could we remove the Stahlhelm, wipe the sweat from the forehead and a calming cigarette smoke. The German hunters came back after. The result of the launch was sent. I know the number but no longer.

In the afternoons of this day, I took leave of R. Doelle, He was in the military barracks of childcare for honor. The huge fire spells, the flak before Sechtschinskaja brought the attacking enemy machines contrary to, was like a last greeting of his flak mate, that now continue their post survey. The funeral was the next day morning. Detachments of the batteries were in a square around the open grave. The Catholic Pastor, as well as lieutenant. SIEBECK remembered the fallen in short speeches. Sergeant. Theissen said in his obituary: “Earlier have failed like you, only after we learned to appreciate your true value!” After 3 Salvos were fired, We marched down. On the marshes, we saw a large number of bomb craters, flowing from the day before, somewhere in the outdoors, rather than on the runway were. I have then later every time, When the gang in the movies about the military cementary led me, Grave fresh laid a bouquet of colorful wild flowers on the.

Still, our machines flew battalion. Still getting the Russian suspected major attack did not. The uncertainty, whether the Russian comes and when it comes, as a heavy burden on us, up in our most 6. June in the truest sense of the word we were Center of air defense combat and bomb burst.

In the afternoon of 6. June I went to the cinema with comrade Rudolf Doelle. The film ran it “The Golden City”. After the screening we went for a change on the tarmac, us inspected there parked machines and given their size and facilities. In a small wood we looked at vintage bombs. On a particularly large caliber bomb Doelle said to me: “Where the einschläge, would he not be!” It was like a premonition, some hours later Doelle had fallen to a bomb victim.

It was also a night like any other. A and cool. Once again, a very lively enemy air activity was. We heard sounds from all directions. We have seen very many impacts on air base. Numerous bombs were somewhere in the site. Our battery shot without interruption and the cooperation with the Seetakt [“Shipborne”, Today radar] and worked well with the headlight.

As a machine of FM and shooter was used and it came to us. I was sitting in the conversion and was eager to work with the other, as suddenly two very explosions loud us frightened. The lights have been deleted by the air pressure. Windows klirrten and the pieces and dust flew us for the brains. I crawled into the first excitement under the table. After these marks was deathly silence few moments. We wanted to hear, whether other impacts are. Because suddenly uttered the reputation “Paramedics” from the B I stand to the battery down. We knew terrible below in our booth. After our receipt of something fabulous Earth free, were we up in the B I stand. There we saw how the last blades were scattered with sand on a large pool of blood just yet. Now we heard, Rudi Doelle, the nickname “Vincenz” led, just died. He made Seitenrichtmann to the device and when the target auffassen after the turning point, the two strikes were carried out and struck a large splinter in the mind. Of the gun “Dora” a man's hand was seriously injured. We put the steel helmet and first viewed the damage. Two bombs had gone down stand between battery and B I. The transmission cable was shredded. Were there two yawning funnel, where that by my count, about 250 kg heavy bombs had taken.

Immediately turned Sergeant. Theissen from reserve cables connecting operations centre and the guns restores and already the next approach was again. Our Spotlight also shone, Although his large glass was fragmented. Only the Seetakt had to suspend, because a splinter had hit the range finder. The Russians buzzed always still very numerous in the air around. I would prefer no longer shot this evening and extinguished the spotlight. Because we had now results in the battery, we seemed recognized his and every ray from the spotlight and every flash of muzzle flash reveals the position. I still think, that our headlights should be taken. We shot a whole while. lieutenant. SIEBECK rushed here immediately in our battery from the bar.

What the bombs had done, We only saw the other day. How looked our barracks. Roofs covered, Pressed doors, Moving walls, all glass broken. Inside everything was mixed up. All Wandbrettchen, where we our daily utensils had situated beautifully, lay on the floor and everything was on it was mixed up somewhere waste. We went immediately to, our barracks again in a comfortable State to enable. We hammered and nailed all day. We have completely forgotten the food this, the excitement of last night was us still so much in the bones, that we even felt no hunger and appetite. The ammunition were replenished and our captured Russians increased the mound of the B I stand.

After these heavy attacks on the Horst we knew, that we hire here. expected to have even heavier, especially since our Ho III associations pretty big bets to Yaroslavl and Gorky flew. Especially during the night the Russian came up with [Tupolew] SB-2, [Iljuschin] DB-3 and [Douglas] DB-7 (all machines, that he used only at night!). He tried to disrupt always operate on the square. The bomb rolls times went to the free field, or hit a Russian house, that immediately went up in flames. Also the airport got from his bombs. It was not uncommon, that the Flash darting flame of a taken gasoline tank or the colorful, popping Fireworks illuminated the night sky. The Russians used a lot of light bombs or so-called Christmas trees. In the distance as a cascade standing almost motionless in the air looks most glamorous, but where were these lights on the battery, then we were taken on the worst. It is not believed, What a luminosity such magnesium light bombs have got. You lit the area still from high elevation taghell.