Eastern Inferno by Christine Alexander

Author:Christine Alexander [Christine Alexander]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Bisac Code 1: HIS027100
Publisher: Casemate Publishing
Published: 2010-11-18T22:00:00+00:00

Kharkov town center prior to German occupation. (Photo courtesy of www.wwii-photos-maps.com)

At 20.00 hours the concentrated storm on the city begins.

At different locations the enemy succeeds in breaking through; in bloody close combat he is beaten, breaks through again at different places, infiltrates the field hospital and causes a horrific bloodbath among the wounded. With limitless fury we force him back again, not being in control of our senses, we are shooting, stabbing and beating around us like in the throws of madness. On a ward in a side wing of the hospital there has been a horrible struggle. The Reds do not have any more hand grenades; with long sticks the Caucasians beat at us, with our rifles we force them towards the windows and throw them hand over feet out the windows into the yard. I look terrible, the hands are bleeding, the uniform is ripped, soiled with brain matter and dirt. A tank shell rips howling through the outer wall, a hand-sized fragment rips the head off the body of my companion, nothing happens to me. Damned, am I immune?

Up until the early morning hours there is bitter fighting in all street quarters. With the breaking of dawn the attack has finally been defeated.

January 9: The pressure of group Dostler, approaching from the south, onto the deep open flank of the enemy is definitely discernable.

Around 10.00 a.m. the enemy attempts another breakthrough in the north, but with the aide of our two storm cannons this undertaking is stopped and squashed right in its inception.

Outside the heavy firing, the day passes in relative calm. The hour has arrived when we, together with our infantry, assemble for the counterattack. At around 21.00 hours our own intelligence reports that the enemy is retreating toward the northwest while leaving a rearguard. He must retreat because he is forced to do so from the outside.

January 10: The connection with group Dostler stands. The retreating enemy is nearly completely destroyed; the remaining troops are forced eastward.

January 11: The small brave fighting group of Obojan takes a roll call at the main city center where there remains not one building standing. The general, who was awarded the Knight’s Cross the day before, thanks his men. He reads a thank-you telegram from the Führer, which makes us all very proud. (Only once before during this war has the Führer issued a similar personal telegram: This was to general Dietl at Narvik.)

We can hardly believe it: Obojan is free again, and free is the connection to the rear areas in Kursk and Charkow. Finally there is something to eat and finally we can sleep in. Unimaginable hard days lie behind us, bitter fighting at temperatures of –45 degrees Celsius. But despite everything we held on to Obojan, thus honoring our dead comrades. They will not have died in vain!

The heavy casualties of these fights are demonstrated by the following numbers:

Dead are 195 men

Missing in action: 18 men

Wounded: 327 men, 65 of whom are suffering from exposure of the severest degree.

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