Tony Le Tissier - With Our Backs to Berlin

From II To 2nd Battalion/Armoured Artillery Regiment ‘Kurmark’: Harassing fire on SPERBER, GUSTAV and RITTERSPORN 2.

From II Where is the harassing fire on areas GUSTAV, SPERBER and RITTERSPORN 2?

To II Harassing fire being fired constantly. Report where and how strong enemy penetration.

From II Enemy has penetrated SCHLOSS and southern part of village with one company.

From II Where is the harassing fire?

To II 1754 Artillery report that they are firing constantly. What is the situation?

From II 1800 Prepare all round barrage.

To II 1805 Barrage ready.

From II Request constant harassing fire all round.

To II 1821 Own artillery doing everything possible.

From II 1825 Wounded can no longer be provided shelter in the position. Considerable collapse of trenches. We are using the last of our strength. Enemy preparing to attack.

To II Tell Lieutenant Schöne of concern that all the divisional Radio codes, including the most important, be destroyed in radio station HOPP. Report immediately if code blown. Corporal Hopp is already aware.

From II 2000 Fire barrage!

From II 2001 Request last orders.

To II 2036 Is there an enemy attack?

From II No!

From II Mortar fire landing on own positions.

From II 2055 Heavy artillery harassing fire on position.

To II 2104 Decision whether KLESSIN garrison is to continue fighting has been passed by Division to Army Group.

From II 2101 To Regiment: Old command post blown up.

To II 2126 Through a direct hit or demolition?

From II Several direct hits. Burnt, then exploded.

From II One salvo on all blocking areas.

To II 2206 KLESSIN can be assured that the Regiment is doing everything possible.

The garrison’s fighting strength fell dramatically through losses in dead and wounded, and both tanks were knocked out by direct hits during the course of the day. That evening Second Lieutenant Greib of the Bicycle Platoon knocked out a Stalin tank with a Panzerfaust at point-blank range. However, the situation demanded constant artillery support, which did not stop the Soviets getting a foothold in the eastern corner of the Schloss that evening that proved of considerable tactical value to them.

Although the situation in Klessin was now desperate, both the Corps and Army commanders regarded Hitler’s orders as sacrosanct, so Colonel Langkeit apparently decided to bypass them and appeal direct to Colonel General Gotthardt Heinrici at Army Group. Meanwhile decorations and promotions were used as morale-boosters. Years later Schöne was to comment that they had never lost confidence in their regimental and divisional commanders in this situation.

On the morning of the 23rd March the Soviets broke through into the main part of the Schloss after a long and heavy artillery preparation and after several failed attempts. The defence were by now too weak to mount a counterattack and were obliged to form a cordon west of the building. The Soviets then brought in two tanks, an anti-tank gun and several heavy machine guns with which they began to dominate the hamlet from the Schloss, causing trenches to collapse and inflicting heavy casualties to the extent that nearly everyone of the defence were wounded.

Two breaches in the northern defences had to be cleared during the morning, and by noon the last fifteen to twenty unwounded soldiers formed a hedgehog around the battalion command post, into which a number of the wounded had to be carried. Then, during the late afternoon, the Soviets forced their way into the centre and the northern part of the hamlet, splitting the garrison into several groups. The radio log shows how the situation developed during the day:

To II 0036 All officer cadet staff sergeants in KLESSIN are promoted second lieutenant with immediate effect. Heartiest congratulations.

From II To Commanding Officer 300:

Enemy is pressing in ever closer on inner defences from all sides.

One tank destroyed in close fighting. The wounded are lying in the trenches. Everything can be expected to be overrun in the next attack. No reserves left. Is it possible to break out or be relieved by 0300 hours?

From II Tanks are ready with infantry.

To II Send further recommendations for Iron Cross.

From II Where are the barrages on ILONA and RITTERSPORN 2?

To II Barrages coming.

From II Decision presses until 2300 hrs. This combat team cannot take another attack without reinforcement and will be overrun.

To II Highest recognition of your brave conduct. Hold on!

Langkeit, Colonel.

From II Request harassing fire on DROSSEL.

To II Men of KLESSIN! One looks on you full of pride and admiration. You are the decisive wave-breakers against the Bolshevist storm on the Reichs capital. Heil our Führer! SS-Obergruppenführer and General of the Waffen-SS Kleinheisterkamp.

From II To 2nd Battalion/Armoured Artillery Regiment ‘Kurmark’: one salvo on RITTERSPORN 2.

Enemy forming up point.

To II Lieutenant Schöne: The Führer has awarded you the Knights’ Cross. Heartiest congratulations from the Regiment.

From II 0410 Strength 90 men.

From II 0445 Request permission to break out. Russians ready to attack.

To II 0515 To Captain Böge: High Command insists position is to be held under all circumstances.

From II Enemy attacking. Barrages on ILONA and RITTERSPORN 2.

From II Enemy attacking. Barrages on ILONA down 50m and RITTERSPORN 2, for 13 Company.

From II All artillery resources on RITTERSPORN 2.

To 13 Company: on SCHLOSS and 8 Company.

From II ILONA up 200m. Barrages on ILONA and RITTERSPORN.

From II Enemy attacking from east via SCHLOSS (one company). Request running barrages on ILONA and RITTERSPORN.

To II Query: whether one can fire on the SCHLOSS?

From II The SCHLOSS can be fired on. Not too short!

From II What is the situation?

To II 0750 Hold on! How is it, Lieutenant Schöne?

From II Where is barrage on ILONA? Schöne OK.

To II ILONA fired on several times.

From II Prepare barrages on ILONA and RITTERSPORN 2.

To II 0826 Ready.

To II 0910 Is it known that Schöne has been awarded the Knights’ Cross?

To II 0952 Award all those recommended for Iron Cross First and Second Class, also Iron Cross First Class for Christ, Second Class for Hohenstein, Ackermann and Scherzinger.

From II 0957 Why no fire on ILONA?

From II Artillery firing too short. Up 100m.

From II 1000 Enemy in company strength in SCHLOSS. No reserves left to throw them out with. Situation of wounded hopeless. One cellar of wounded in enemy hands in SCHLOSS. Fire support from own arms especially lacking. Artillery radio unserviceable through battery, also Panthers. Transmitting with last battery. Desperately need ammunition, food, batteries, flares.

From II 1100 To Regiment: Recommend Iron Cross First Class for Second Lieutenant Zeller (twice wounded) and Second Lieutenant Plonka.

To II 1103 What are hedgehog coordinates now?

From II 1130 Prepare barrages for ILONA and RITTERSPORN 2.

To II 1130 Artillery fire on ILONA. Give corrections immediately.

From II 1137 Fire barrages.

From II 1142 Fire barrages immediately.

From II 3 salvoes on RITTERSPORN 2, 100m left.

To II Where enemy attack? Give bearing.

From II Enemy attack from east.

From II 1200 Two shots were too short.

To II 1302 Please report whether codes for all radio stations in KLESSIN (apart from the valid sheets for the 23rd and 24th) have been destroyed or have fallen into enemy hands.

From II 1345 When is relief coming? Own artillery especially tired.

To II 1349 Highest Command have yet to give orders.

From II Urgent barrages on RITTERSPORN 2 and ILONA.

From II 1440 To Regiment: Enemy counterattack in northern part.