New Years day 1944/45 had arrived. The news came to me that a promotion to Ober-Kanonier (Senior Gunner) for me was decided. This to me was an insult and I successfully avoided the occasion by volunteering for guard duty. This meant that I was not available at the time of issue. Never put that star, that goes with it, on to my uniform. This so-called promotion, was for sure the doing of an officer that did not like me too much.
From now on, day by day, we slowly moved back to where we had come from. First stop near a farm in Recht. A very cold night, time for me to warm up inside a shed, whilst on guard duty. Someone calling outside for the guard. That must be this lousy officer. Sure enough, it resulted in a extremely strong talking to, in the morning. Things like deserter, court-martial and other nice words.
On the 9.1.1944. I ended up in Nieder-Emmels. Our telephone operators were reported missing. This spot was under observation by the enemy. I had to hide behind a house at all times. A call for the Company to line up outside. My name was called and I had to step forward to receive the EK 2 (Eisernes Kreuz) Iron Cross 2nd class, quite an honour for me. That's funny, yesterday I was nearly shot and today I receive a medal? Something is gone haywire! Back to my beloved town St.Vith, the last place on earth for me to go to, at this moment. In one of the first houses, we all took shelter in a cellar.
Lack of ammunition for the cannons, the roads already mined and standing guard at the front line. Here I never forget the moment, when I reported a suspicious movement at our road barrier. The NCO from the Infantry said to me: "The sooner they come, the better." From that moment on, I bothered even less then before. The time had come to look after No.1 and try to stay alive.
23. January 1945, in the afternoon. My mate Albert Z. did wake me up in the afternoon with the words: "Take your belt off and come outside with your hands up, the Yanks are there." This explained why the officers and soldiers that went upstairs before me, did not return. Outside American soldiers made me stand against a wall, which was under fire from our own people. Forcing me and the others to stand straight. Bullets were hitting the wall above me.
Another one of those unbelievable things occurred. There came this Jerry running and shouting: "The yanks are here!" He had not realized, he was running directly towards them. When one of the American soldiers turned around and fired a few shots. The Jerry made a somersault, got up and held his hand, That's where he got hit. How lucky can you be?
Saturday, May 5, 2007
St. Vith was on fire and in ruins. It was time to move on.
24.12.1944. Then came the big one. A huge mass of bombers flattened the whole town. Again I was right in the middle of it. I was taking shelter in the garage corner under a low window, when a bomb hit outside, close to the wall. There was a powder smell, smoke, and me covered by bits and pieces. The garage door was now inside, over the top of everything. I was OK, but the soldier who went outside a moment before the bombing started was never seen again; not a piece.
Outside were bomb craters all around. Shrapnel pieces went right through the cannon's protection shields.
25.12.1944. St. Vith was on fire and in ruins. It was time to move on. A captured Dodge pulled the cannon. Driving through town, another Jabo tried his luck. Running for my life around a corner of the nearest house, I fell flat bang on my belly. "BOOM," the third near miss for me.
Quickly we got into the car and off we went, before the plane returned. One of us found a packet of asthma cigarettes. I tried one of them; ugh! phew! They really tasted bad. Every time we passed foot soldiers we gave them a few. I wonder what they thought of us, after trying those awful smokes.
26.12.1944. Onwards we went, via Roth, Recht to Pont. In a side street with a couple of houses, I found my Company. Here were hills all round. The cannons found their place behind the houses, under trees. Our bedroom was in the cellar of the first house. Before our big retreat started from here, first another two of my well known behaviour actions or reactions were due.
In the rush of the past days my cap went missing. I was the only soldier walking around with a steel helmet on. That thing had a camouflage cover which I found somewhere. My mates told me to get rid of it; if the Yanks caught me with it they would shoot me, because it was from the SS. That thing went quick smart into the fire. The order came to look for another cap. Across the road was supposed to be a cellar, where that sort of thing could be. There was only one problem; this crossing was under enemy shelling. I would have to sprint to a little prayer building first and then on to the other side of the crossing.
Standing behind that refuge, I could hear 'bang, bang.' Cannons fired in the distance and "BOOM, BOOM" the bullets had arrived. Splinters flew over my head into the wall. Some of these gun shots exploded in the air above me, shrapnel coming by the hundreds from above, at the same time. Out in the open, they surely would have hit me. I came safely back, with or without a cap, I don't remember. But there was a strong smell of chlorine in the place over the road; do you know what that means? [Not sure, does anybody know what he means?]
Outside were bomb craters all around. Shrapnel pieces went right through the cannon's protection shields.
25.12.1944. St. Vith was on fire and in ruins. It was time to move on. A captured Dodge pulled the cannon. Driving through town, another Jabo tried his luck. Running for my life around a corner of the nearest house, I fell flat bang on my belly. "BOOM," the third near miss for me.
Quickly we got into the car and off we went, before the plane returned. One of us found a packet of asthma cigarettes. I tried one of them; ugh! phew! They really tasted bad. Every time we passed foot soldiers we gave them a few. I wonder what they thought of us, after trying those awful smokes.
26.12.1944. Onwards we went, via Roth, Recht to Pont. In a side street with a couple of houses, I found my Company. Here were hills all round. The cannons found their place behind the houses, under trees. Our bedroom was in the cellar of the first house. Before our big retreat started from here, first another two of my well known behaviour actions or reactions were due.
In the rush of the past days my cap went missing. I was the only soldier walking around with a steel helmet on. That thing had a camouflage cover which I found somewhere. My mates told me to get rid of it; if the Yanks caught me with it they would shoot me, because it was from the SS. That thing went quick smart into the fire. The order came to look for another cap. Across the road was supposed to be a cellar, where that sort of thing could be. There was only one problem; this crossing was under enemy shelling. I would have to sprint to a little prayer building first and then on to the other side of the crossing.
Standing behind that refuge, I could hear 'bang, bang.' Cannons fired in the distance and "BOOM, BOOM" the bullets had arrived. Splinters flew over my head into the wall. Some of these gun shots exploded in the air above me, shrapnel coming by the hundreds from above, at the same time. Out in the open, they surely would have hit me. I came safely back, with or without a cap, I don't remember. But there was a strong smell of chlorine in the place over the road; do you know what that means? [Not sure, does anybody know what he means?]
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