Re: Podgaje, 1945
Posted: Wed Sep 29, 2010 5:07 am
hello Gents-heare an update/P.S.on whats happening to the Podgaje/Flederborn Refugees Report of the Innkeeper&Major? Erhard Jahnke Original in Bundesarchive Koblenz/Germany?
My Translation from a polish Record:Erhard Jahnke was ask (by the majority of escaped Refugees) to go back after the Battle and have a look at the Village..19.2.1945..He reportet befor to see the Units of the "Volksturm" from Ledyczka and other Villages,Never to forget the Sight! Old and Young Men some without Boots in "Slippers" without arms,slowly marching in the kneedeep Snow! in the last Days of this Week came also 500 Cadetts (or Officer Aspirants) from "Gross Born"as backup.On the Monday 29.1 came the Latvian SS Divison-the Soldiers behaved like in "Enemy Country"!In the Evening we all seen in the East the burning Villages..
The Breakout was discribed by Arthur Sigaillis,Latvian SS Fhr.in his Book:"Latvian Legion":The breakout startet 11ham on 2.2.1945 but came under severe Artillery Fire(10 MInutes!) from both Roadsides,at Podgaje?Flederborn the Units became entangled with the Refugees who jammed the Road-with severe Casultys and gret Damage.The Road was litteret with dead Men and Horses The Div.Artillery lost 3 light and two heavy Guns (10,5cm Hauoitzers?)many Buildings on Fire and illuminating the Streetfighting...
Back in Podgaje/Flederborn Erhard Jahnke see's the destroyed Village The Remains of the Defense Barrels of the destroyed 8,8cm Flak-next to it the naked Bodys of 2 german Women the Fight from 31.1.-3.2 1945 all destroyed all over lie dead Men and Animals many unknown Civilians-(Possible a Transport of escapees from the Front)No dead Russians 2 in a Grave in Augustas Berkow's Garden?after a Week (still Frost!) the buried the Dead all 400 Men most Latvians many german Soldiers and Civilians 15-20 polish Soldiers in an extra grave buried-a Shellhole filled with Dead in the Road and a Massgrave in nearby Jastrow in the Schoolyard so in the Woods around Massgraves..
My Translation from a polish Record:Erhard Jahnke was ask (by the majority of escaped Refugees) to go back after the Battle and have a look at the Village..19.2.1945..He reportet befor to see the Units of the "Volksturm" from Ledyczka and other Villages,Never to forget the Sight! Old and Young Men some without Boots in "Slippers" without arms,slowly marching in the kneedeep Snow! in the last Days of this Week came also 500 Cadetts (or Officer Aspirants) from "Gross Born"as backup.On the Monday 29.1 came the Latvian SS Divison-the Soldiers behaved like in "Enemy Country"!In the Evening we all seen in the East the burning Villages..
The Breakout was discribed by Arthur Sigaillis,Latvian SS Fhr.in his Book:"Latvian Legion":The breakout startet 11ham on 2.2.1945 but came under severe Artillery Fire(10 MInutes!) from both Roadsides,at Podgaje?Flederborn the Units became entangled with the Refugees who jammed the Road-with severe Casultys and gret Damage.The Road was litteret with dead Men and Horses The Div.Artillery lost 3 light and two heavy Guns (10,5cm Hauoitzers?)many Buildings on Fire and illuminating the Streetfighting...
Back in Podgaje/Flederborn Erhard Jahnke see's the destroyed Village The Remains of the Defense Barrels of the destroyed 8,8cm Flak-next to it the naked Bodys of 2 german Women the Fight from 31.1.-3.2 1945 all destroyed all over lie dead Men and Animals many unknown Civilians-(Possible a Transport of escapees from the Front)No dead Russians 2 in a Grave in Augustas Berkow's Garden?after a Week (still Frost!) the buried the Dead all 400 Men most Latvians many german Soldiers and Civilians 15-20 polish Soldiers in an extra grave buried-a Shellhole filled with Dead in the Road and a Massgrave in nearby Jastrow in the Schoolyard so in the Woods around Massgraves..