Military Germans about Russian girls. Have you been given winter gear? Armor shield of Stalin

Source - "Diary of a German soldier", M., Tsentrpoligraf, 2007.

From the memoirs of G. Pabst, I extract only those fragments that I consider important from the point of view of studying the realities of the confrontation between the Red Army and the Wehrmacht and the reaction of the local population to the occupation.
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07/20/41... you can see people lining up at our bakery for bread local residents led by a smiling soldier...

In the villages, a huge number of houses are abandoned ... The remaining peasants carry water for our horses. We take onions and small yellow turnips from their gardens and milk from cans. Most of them willingly share this...

09/22/41 ... Walking this cold winter morning was a pleasure. Clean, spacious country with big houses. People look at us with awe. There is milk, eggs and a lot of hay ... the quarters are amazingly clean, quite comparable to German peasant houses... People are friendly and open. It's amazing for us..

The house where we are staying is full of lice. The socks that were put there to dry were white with lice eggs. The Russian old man in greasy clothes, to whom we showed these representatives of the fauna, smiled broadly with a toothless mouth and scratched his head with an expression of sympathy ...

What a country, what a war, where there is no joy in success, no pride, no satisfaction...

The people are generally responsive and friendly. They smile at us. The mother told the child to wave to us from the window...

We watched as the remaining population looted in a hurry...

I stood alone in the house, lit a match, and bugs began to fall in a stream. By the hearth it was completely black from them: a terrible living carpet ...

11/02/41 ... we do not get new army boots or shirts when the old ones wear out: we wear Russian trousers and Russian shirts, and when our shoes become unusable, we wear Russian shoes and footcloths or even make earmuffs out of these footcloths ...

The offensive on the main direction to Moscow was stopped, "stuck" in the mud and forests about a hundred kilometers from the capital ...

01/01/42 ... in this house we were offered potatoes, tea and a loaf of bread, kneaded from rye and barley flour with the addition of onions. There must have been a few brown cockroaches in it; at least I cut one...

Franz finally got iron cross. AT track record it says: "For chasing an enemy tank from point C to a neighboring village and trying to knock it out with an anti-tank rifle" ...

03/10/42... for the past few days we have been picking up the corpses of Russians... This was done not for reasons of piety, but for hygiene... the mutilated bodies were thrown into heaps, hardened in the cold in the most unthinkable poses. The end. It's all over for them, they will be burned. But first they will be freed from their own clothes, Russians - old people and children. It's horrible. When observing this process, an aspect of the Russian mentality is visible, which is simply inaccessible to understanding. They smoke and joke; they are smiling. It's hard to believe that someone in Europe can be so insensitive.....

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Of course, where are the Europeans to understand what value trousers and overcoats were for the villagers, even if they had holes ...
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Some of the bodies have no heads, others are chopped up with fragments...only now you begin to gradually realize what these people had to endure and what they were capable of...

The field mail brought me satisfaction with letters and parcels of cigarettes, biscuits, sweets, nuts, and a pair of hand warmers. I was so touched...
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Let's remember this moment!
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Our Russian Vasil gets along well with the battery ... We picked him up with thirteen of his comrades in Kalinin. They remained in the prisoner of war camp, not wanting to be in the Red Army anymore ... Vasil says that in fact he does not want to go to Germany, but wants to stay with the battery ..

Yesterday we already heard how they (Russians - N) sang in their dugouts in P. The gramophone howled, the wind carried fragments of propaganda speeches. Comrade Stalin gave out vodka, long live Comrade Stalin!...

Order is maintained in the dugout thanks to the general good will, friendly tolerance and inexhaustible good humor, and all this brings a glimmer of cheerfulness into the most unpleasant situation ...

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Keep that in mind for later comparison...
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It seems that the Russians cannot, and we do not want to...

How tired I am of these dirty roads! It’s already unbearable to see them anymore - rain, ankle-deep mud, villages that look alike ...

Country of extremes. There is no moderation in anything. Heat and cold, dust and dirt. Everything is wild and unrestrained. Isn't it to be expected that people here are like that too?...

There were many destroyed buildings in the city. The Bolsheviks burned all the houses. Some were destroyed by bombing, but in many cases it was arson ...

08/24/42 ... they have been advancing here now since the beginning of July. It's incredible. They must have terrible casualties... they rarely manage to deploy their infantry even within range of our machine guns... but then they reappear, moving into the open, and rush into the forests, where they come under the flat fire of our artillery and dive bombers. Of course, we also have losses, but they are incomparable with the losses of the enemy ...

Their mother was washing the dugout today. She began to do the dirty work of her own free will; believe it or not...

At the door I saw two women, each carrying a pair of buckets on a wooden yoke. They friendly asked: "Comrade, wash?" They were going to follow me just like that...

And yet they hold on, old men, women and children. They are strong. Timid, exhausted, good-natured, shameless - according to the circumstances ... there is a boy who buried his mother in the garden behind the house, the way animals are buried. He rammed the ground without uttering a word: without tears, without putting up a cross or a stone ... there is a priest's wife, almost blind from tears. her husband was deported to Kazakhstan. She has three sons, who are unknown where now...the world collapsed, and the natural order of things was violated a long time ago...

All around us, the villages blazed in a wide ring - a terrible and beautiful sight, breathtaking in its splendor and at the same time a nightmare. With my own hands I threw the burning logs into the sheds and barns across the road....

The thermometer dropped to forty-five degrees below zero ... we have created an island of peace in the middle of the war, where companionship is easily established and someone's laughter is always heard ...

01/25/43 ...between our own trench and the barbed wire of the enemy, we were able to count five hundred and fifty dead bodies. Quantity captured weapons was represented by eight heavy and light machine guns, thirty submachine guns, five flamethrowers, four anti-tank rifles and eighty-five rifles. It was a Russian penal battalion of 1,400 men...

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here, indeed, the theory of one rifle for five is confirmed, as it were. With the only feature that the battalion was penal. "Redempted", that is, with blood ...
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04/24/43 ... I can’t help but recall how often during the first summer of the war we met with sincere hospitality from Russian peasants, how even without asking they put out their modest treats before us ...

I again saw tears on the woman's haggard face, expressing the full severity of her suffering, when I gave her child a candy. I felt the old hand of my grandmother on my hair when she received me, the first terrible soldier, with numerous bows and an old-fashioned kiss on the hand ...

I stood in the middle of the village handing out candy to the children. I already wanted to give another one to one boy, but he refused, saying that he had one, and stepped back, smiling. Two candies, just think, that's too much...

We burn their houses, we steal their last cow from their barn, and we take their last potatoes from their cellars. We take off their felt boots, often shout at them and treat them rudely. However, they always collect their bundles and leave with us, from Kalinin and from all the villages along the road. We assign a special team to take them to the rear Anything, just not to be on the other side! What a split, what a contrast! What must these people have experienced! What should be the mission of restoring order and peace to them, providing them with work and bread!...

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In general, what can be said about these memoirs? As if they were written not by a Nazi occupier, but by some direct warrior-liberator. It is possible that he passed off something he wished for reality. Certainly missed something. Perhaps, in his notes, G. Pabst calmed his conscience. It is also clear that in addition to such intellectuals as he, in german army there were enough cruel and immoral people. But it is quite clear that by no means all the Nazis were fascists. Even, perhaps, those were a minority. Only Soviet propaganda. She carried out the task - it was necessary to increase hatred for the enemy .. However, G. Pabst does not hide the fact that the Wehrmacht brought destruction to the conquered villages and cities. It is also very important that the author did not have time to fit his notes to any ideology. Since he was killed in 1943, and before that he did not belong to the censored war correspondents at all ...

It should also be noted that for the German, everyone was "Russian", "Ivan", although he met both Ukrainians and Belarusians on his way. Those attitude towards the Germans, and the opposite attitude, was somewhat different.

However, in the next post, we will consider excerpts from the diary of a Russian soldier. and compare some important points. At the same time, I affirm that I did not specifically select the diaries, I took them for analysis by random sampling ..

how it was at the end of the war

How did the Germans behave when meeting with Soviet troops?

In the report of the Deputy Head of the Main Political Directorate of the Red Army Shikin to the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks G.F. Aleksandrov dated April 30, 1945 on the attitude civilian population Berlin to the personnel of the Red Army troops said:
“As soon as our units occupy one or another area of ​​the city, residents begin to gradually take to the streets, almost all of them have white armbands on their sleeves. When meeting with our servicemen, many women raise their hands up, cry and tremble with fear, but as soon as they are convinced that the soldiers and officers of the Red Army are not at all the same as they were painted by their fascist propaganda, this fear quickly passes, more and more more population takes to the streets and offers his services, trying in every possible way to emphasize his loyal attitude to the Red Army.

The greatest impression on the winners was made by the humility and prudence of the German women. In this regard, it is worth citing the story of the mortar man N.A. Orlov, who was shocked by the behavior of German women in 1945.

“No one in the minbat killed civilian Germans. Our special officer was a "Germanophile". If this happened, then the reaction of the punitive authorities to such an excess would be quick. About violence against German women. It seems to me that some, when talking about such a phenomenon, “exaggerate” a little. I have a different kind of example. We went to some German city, settled in the houses. A "frau", about 45 years old, appears and asks for "the commandant's hero". They brought her to Marchenko. She claims to be in charge of the quarter and has collected 20 German women for the sexual (!!!) service of Russian soldiers. Marchenko German understood, and to the political officer Dolgoborodov, who was standing next to me, I translated the meaning of what the German woman said. The reaction of our officers was angry and obscene. The German woman was driven away, along with her "detachment" ready for service. In general, German obedience stunned us. Expected from the Germans guerrilla war, sabotage. But for this nation, order - "Ordnung" - is above all. If you're a winner, then they're on hind legs, and knowingly and not under duress. That's the kind of psychology...

A similar case is cited in his military notes. David Samoilov :

“In Arendsfeld, where we had just settled down, a small crowd of women with children appeared. They were led by a huge mustachioed German woman of about fifty - Frau Friedrich. She stated that she was a representative of the civilian population and requested that the remaining residents be registered. We replied that this could be done as soon as the commandant's office appeared.
"That's impossible," said Frau Friedrich. - There are women and children. They need to be registered.
The civilian population with a cry and tears confirmed her words.
Not knowing what to do, I suggested that they take the basement of the house where we were located. And they calmed down went down to the basement and began to be accommodated there, waiting for the authorities.
“Herr Commissar,” Frau Friedrich told me benevolently (I wore a leather jacket). We understand that soldiers have small needs. They are ready, - continued Frau Friedrich, - to provide them with several younger women for ...
I did not continue the conversation with Frau Friedrich.

After talking with the residents of Berlin on May 2, 1945, Mr. Vladimir Bogomolov wrote in his diary:

“We enter one of the surviving houses. Everything is quiet, dead. We knock, please open. You can hear whispering in the corridor, muffled and excited conversations. Finally the door opens. Women without age, huddled together in a close group, bow frightened, low and obsequiously. German women are afraid of us, they were told that soviet soldiers, especially Asians, will rape and kill them ... Fear and hatred on their faces. But sometimes it seems that they like to be defeated - their behavior is so helpful, their smiles are so touching and their words are sweet. These days, there are stories about how our soldier went into a German apartment, asked for a drink, and the German woman, as soon as she saw him, lay down on the sofa and took off her tights.

“All German women are depraved. They have nothing against sleeping with them, ”such an opinion was common in Soviet troops and supported not only by many good examples, but also their backfire which were soon discovered by military doctors.
Directive of the Military Council of the 1st Belorussian Front No. 00343/Sh dated April 15, 1945 read: “During the stay of troops on enemy territory, cases of venereal diseases among military personnel have sharply increased. A study of the reasons for this situation shows that venereal diseases are widespread among Germans. The Germans before the retreat, and also now, in the territory occupied by us, took the path of artificial infection with syphilis and gonorrhea of ​​German women in order to create large foci for the spread of venereal diseases among the Red Army soldiers.
On April 26, 1945, the Military Council of the 47th Army reported that “... In March, the number of venereal diseases among military personnel increased compared to February of this year. four times. ... The female part of the German population in the surveyed areas is affected by 8-15%. There are cases when German women with venereal diseases are deliberately left by the enemy to infect military personnel.

Interesting diary entries were left by the Australian war correspondent Osmar White, who in 1944-1945. was in Europe in the ranks of the 3rd american army commanded by George Paton. Here is what he wrote down in Berlin in May 1945, just a few days after the end of the assault:
“I walked through the night cabarets, starting with the Femina near Potsdammerplatz. It was a warm and humid evening. The air smelled of sewage and rotting corpses. The front of the Femina was covered in futuristic nudes and advertisements in four languages. The dance hall and restaurant were filled with Russian, British and American officers escorting (or hunting for) the women. A bottle of wine cost $25, a horsemeat and potato burger $10, a pack of American cigarettes a mind-boggling $20. The cheeks of Berlin women were rouged and their lips made up in such a way that it seemed that Hitler had won the war. Many of the women were wearing silk stockings. The hostess of the evening opened the concert in German, Russian, English and French. This provoked a taunt from the captain of the Russian artillery, who was sitting next to me. He leaned towards me and said in decent English: “Such a rapid transition from national to international! RAF bombs make great professors, don't they?".

The general impression of European women that Soviet servicemen have is that they are sleek and well-dressed (in comparison with compatriots exhausted by the war in the half-starved rear, on lands liberated from occupation, and even with front-line girlfriends dressed in washed-out tunics), accessible, self-serving, dissolute or cowardly submissive. The exceptions were Yugoslav and Bulgarian women.
Severe and ascetic Yugoslav partisans were perceived as comrades in arms and were considered inviolable. And given the severity of morals in Yugoslav army, "partisan girls probably looked at the PPZh [field wives] as creatures of a special, nasty sort."

About Bulgarians Boris Slutsky he recalled as follows: “... After Ukrainian complacency, after Romanian debauchery, the severe inaccessibility of Bulgarian women struck our people. Almost no one boasted of victories. It was the only country where officers were accompanied on walks very often by men, almost never by women. Later, the Bulgarians were proud when they were told that the Russians were going to return to Bulgaria for brides - the only ones in the world who remained clean and untouched.

But in other countries through which the victorious army passed, the female part of the population did not command respect. “In Europe, women gave up, changed before anyone else ... - wrote B. Slutsky. - I was always shocked, confused, disoriented by lightness, shameful lightness love relationship. Decent women, of course, disinterested, were like prostitutes - in hasty availability, the desire to avoid intermediate stages, disinterest in the motives that push a man to get closer to them.
Like people, out of the whole lexicon love lyrics who learned three obscene words, they reduced the whole matter to a few gestures, causing offense and contempt among the most yellow-mouthed of our officers ... It was not ethics at all that served as restraining motives, but the fear of infection, the fear of publicity, of pregnancy, ”and added that in conditions conquest"general depravity has covered and concealed the particular depravity of women, made her invisible and shameless."

Interesting, isn't it?

German postcard and notebook seized during the arrest of prisoners of war

I was called up for military service.

In the battles near Reval on August 20, Ferdy Walbreker fell for his fatherland. Hans and I spent the last Sunday of September in Aachen. It was very pleasant to see the Germans: German men, women and German girls. Before, when we first arrived in Belgium, the difference did not catch my eye ... To really love your homeland, you must first be away from it.

1941 October. 10.10.41.

I'm on guard. Today they were transferred to the active army. Read the list in the morning. Almost exclusively people from construction battalions. Of the July recruits, only a few mortarmen. What can you do? I can only wait. But next time, it will probably affect me too. Why should I volunteer? I know that it will be more difficult to do your duty there, much more difficult, but still ...

14. 10. 41.

Tuesday. On Sunday, machine gunners were selected from 1 platoon. Among them was me. We had to swallow 20 quinine pills; tested suitability for service in tropical conditions. On Monday I received the answer: good. But I heard that the shipment was cancelled. Why?

Today we had a review. It was conducted by our company commander. All this is just a theatrical performance. As could be foreseen, everything went well. Vacation in Lüttich for 18-19.10 is arranged.

22. 10. 41.

Vacation is already over. Was good. We still found the military priest. During worship, I served him. After dinner he showed us Luttich. The day was pleasant. I felt like I was among people again.

Hans, Gunther and Klaus have left. Who knows if we'll see each other.

At home, there has been no news from my brother for many weeks (7-9). After I received the news of the death of Ferdy Wahlbreker, I have the feeling that my brother will also be killed. May the Lord God protect from this, for the sake of my parents, especially for the sake of my mother.

Werner Kunze and Kosman are killed. Nothing more is heard about Africa.

Wrote to Frieda Grislam (attitude towards the government and the people; a soldier and a woman at the present time).

1941 November.

20. 11. 41.

Five days in Eltfenborn passed. The service there was very easy. In addition to firing a platoon, we practically did nothing. But we were in Germany and it was nice. In Eltfenborn I visited the priest.

The way the Germans hold themselves in the former Eifen-Malmedy can be understood; we expected another Germany. Not so anti-Christian. But there are also Walloon villages, and not a few. During the firing, someone lit a fire. When you stand like this and look at the flame, old memories come up. As it was before. For me, nothing better could be right now than to go with a few guys on the road, but ...

P ... also wrote about the loss of time; now that we are in the prime of our powers and want to use them. What would you not work on?

What tasks await us! They say that two marching battalions are being formed again. News from home: Willy Walbrecker has also been killed. We also made our sacrifice. Willy fourth. I'm asking, who's next?

26.11. 41.

Willy Schefter in the infirmary. This was a real friend. More and more often the thought occurs to me that I am wasting my time here aimlessly. I hesitate who I want to be: Africa; technical profession; or a priest only for God.

You won't find companionship in our room. I would like to get to the front as soon as possible. It will be good for me.

25. 11. 41.

Yesterday morning, unexpectedly for everyone, the order to send came. Now no one wanted to believe it when we were gathered. But it is so. The day was spent in uniform. Finally, what I expected has come, and I firmly believe that more will come. There comes a more difficult but better (if that's the right word) time. Now we have to show whether you are a man or a coward. I hope that this experience will be a lifetime gain for me; I will become more mature.

I don’t want to write about the general enthusiasm that was expressed in drunkenness; it won't last long.

1941 December. 8.12.41.

I have written various things this week, and there is much more to be written. About general enthusiasm, about duty in this moment etc. Düsseldorf! It's not good for you. Not!

Magdalena was also here on Wednesday (my parents were here last Sunday). The Gestapo made a search and took away my letters and other things. Comments are superfluous. On Sunday I will get a vacation and find out more about it. From me they went to the Dealer and took a lot of things there. Are they right, because we live in Germany; The dealer was picked up at... and from there sent to Dortmund, where he is in pre-trial detention. Until Sunday they were still sitting. Johann is there too. I think that there are 60-100 people sitting there.

12.12. 41. Friday.

We've been on the road since Wednesday. They say that we are 13.12. we will be in Insterburg, and on December 15 - on the other side of the border.

America also entered the war.

It's cramped in here. Whether we will get to the Southern Front is now, perhaps, doubtful. Regarding the Gestapo, I was with our captain; he promised me full support. I made up a letter, but there are a few other details, we'll see. We'll be somewhere for Christmas.

13.12. 41. Saturday.

Wrote a letter to the Gestapo. The captain will probably sign the petition. What more could you want. I put it all down to business. Success is doubtful. We are in Insterburg.

Vost. Prussia is almost all behind. I haven't shaved since Monday. "Unshaven and away from home." Haven't come across partnerships yet. I hope that things are better at the front in this respect; otherwise it would be a big disappointment for me.

16. 12. 41. Tuesday.

Lithuania, Latvia - behind. We are in Estonia. We had a long stop. I was in the city. Nothing interesting. Riga was already better. Unfortunately, we could not get into the city.

We have a terrible mood in the car! Two people had a fight yesterday; Today there are two again. Comradely relations here are an illusion, a utopia.

Lithuania is a flat country, spreading wide before our eyes. This poor country. Everywhere there are wooden huts (they cannot be called houses), covered with thatch. Small and cramped inside.

Latvia is not so equal. One part is mountainous, covered with forest. Houses even in the villages are better here, they look more comfortable. Estonia also has many forests and hills.

The people here are very nice. The language is completely incomprehensible. There is not much here either. There is no vodka. Food cards.

In Riga, they say, 10,000 Jews (German Jews) were shot. Comments are superfluous. Three people were shot for robbery, I support this, no matter how harsh it may be. Decisive intervention is needed to prevent this from spreading. This is a mistake: on Tuesday we were not yet in Estonia (18.12.)

18.12. 41.

In Russia. Estonia passed very quickly. Russia is an even, endless country. Tundra. Got ammo.

We traveled along the following route: Riga - Valk (Estonia) - Russia; in Pskov. Pskov is said to be the third most beautiful city in Russia.

I read Shakespeare: The Merchant of Venice and Hamlet. We are located 10 km. from Pskov and will probably stay here for a long time. I like Shakespeare.

19.12. 41.

We are still near Pskov. The fact is that the Russians have severely damaged the railway facilities and there are few steam locomotives here.

I gave some Russians some bread. How grateful these poor people were. They are treated worse than livestock. Of the 5,000 Russians, approximately 1,000 remained. This is a shame. What would Dwingof, Etiggofer say if they knew this?

Then I "visited" a peasant. When I gave him a cigarette, he was happy. I looked at the kitchen. Poor! I was treated to cucumbers and bread. I left them a pack of cigarettes. Not a word is clear from the language, except for: "Stalin", "Communist", "Bolshevik".

The ring around Petersburg was broken by the Russians a few days ago. The Russians broke through 40 km. Against the tanks...they couldn't do anything. The Russians are extremely strong here. Whether the ring is closed from the side of the lake is doubtful. There are too few of our troops there. When will Leningrad fall? War! When will it end?

21. 12. 41.

Today is Sunday. It's not noticeable in any way. The trip is over. In Gatchina (Baltic) we were unloaded. The population besieged our wagons, asked for bread, etc. It's good when you can bring joy to a child, woman or man. But there are too many of them.

We are located 6 km. from the station. There are 16 of us in one room with 4 wide beds; for each bed - 3 people, and the other four..?

O last days I don't want to write anything in the car. From the soldier's friendship - not a trace. In one prison camp, more than 100 prisoners are said to have died in one night. 22.12.41.

Our apartment is good. The hostess (Finnish) is very kind, but poor. We give her quite a lot. It's better to give than to take.

24. 12. 41.

Today is Christmas Eve... In Gatchina most of churches destroyed by German pilots, not by the Reds. There is still a cross on the palace.

(Bra)uhich resigned, or he was dismissed. What does this mean?

27. 12. 41.

Christmas has passed. In fact, they were very, very sad days, real Christmas mood could not be.

It is said that the 1st division, since it was involved in very heavy fighting, will be sent to the south of France. Therefore, we will probably end up in the 12th division. I hope so. Others would also like to go to the south of France.

Today we saw seven wagons with soldiers who arrived from the ring near Leningrad. These soldiers looked terrible. Such pictures are not seen in the newsreel.

It's getting colder here. 20 degrees.

Wrote something about the soldier's life. I think a lot about Dealer, Johann and things related to them.

30. 12. 41.

Today or tomorrow we are being sent, and, moreover, to the 1st division ... Something will happen with the Dealer, Johann and others ...

1942 January. 03.01.42.

Has come New Year. Will the war end in 1942? On December 31, 1941, we set out from Gatchina. When we walked 15-20 km, two buses and one truck arrived, which immediately delivered 60 people. in 1 division. Among these 60 were also me, Wunten and Cuiqinga. In the division, we were immediately assigned to regiments; the three of us ended up in the 1st regiment. That same evening we were sent to the 3rd battalion, where we spent the night in a dugout as cold as ice. It was a New Year's gift. Then we were divided into companies. Wunten and I ended up in the 10th company. We handed over our products to the kitchen and “stomped” to the company, which had been on vacation for five days and just on 1.1.42. returned to the front in the evening.

And here we are in the dugout. We stand at the post for 6-7 hours a day. The rest of the time we lie down or eat. A life unworthy of man.

We are here between Leningrad and Shlisselburg, near the Neva, where it makes a sharp bend. The crossing is still in Russian hands. We are to the left of it. The dugout is tolerable (compared to others). It's calm here. Mortars occasionally fire. One person was killed last night. Today in the second platoon one was killed.

Our life is in the hands of God. For 10 days we must remain on the front line, and then - 5 days of rest.

The company has 40-50 people. Of the division (15,000), only 3,000 survived. The ring around Leningrad is not closed (propaganda). The food is very good.

04. 01. 42.

You look like a pig. It's not too strong a word. You can't wash. And so, eat like this. I am not writing this to complain. It just needs to be recorded.

Yesterday we brought the dead man - "We are not carrying a treasure, we are carrying a dead man." The rest pay no attention to it. It's because you see too many dead people.

Friendship! Will she come again? Don't know. Or am I still not comfortable with the new environment?

Johann and Dealer, what could it be? You often get furious when you think about this meanness. If you then think that you are here at the front, then questions arise that I would like to get an answer to. But there is a difference between the government and the people. This is the only solution.

07. 01. 42.

Yesterday, more reinforcements arrived from the 4th marching company. There is talk that we will be replaced in the coming days!?!

"Comrades" often sing a beautiful song:

"Heil Hitler, Heil Hitler.
All Day - Heil Hitler
And on Sundays Heil Hitler
Heil Hitler, Heil Hitler.

They sing this song to the melody “Gedwig's aunt, Gedwig's aunt, the machine doesn't sew”… Comments are superfluous.

There is one soldier in our section. He is a Catholic. He is 35 years old. Peasant (6 cows, one horse). He is from Altenburg; from Bourscheid 2.5 hours walk. Maybe it can be used somehow for a group, or..?

(?). 1. 42

Yesterday there was a conversation that we were leaving here. The convoy seemed to have already been loaded. Everyone believes in it. I also believe that this is true. I call it big shit. "Comrades" rejoice. I understand those who are here from the very beginning. But we, who have just arrived, are already back; it's a real scandal. But we can't change anything about that. Where they go, no one knows. To Koenigsberg? To Finland, go skiing?

13. 1. 42.

We are on vacation. If you can call it rest. In any case, better than at the forefront. As for the shift: behind Mgoy, where the convoy is located, a new position is being built.

18. 1. 42.

We are again on the front line for ten days. This time on the right position (south). We should post a few more posts. The dugout is small and cold. The conversations were really useless. It will probably take a long time. But we believe that we will not be here in the spring when we advance, because then we disappeared, everyone says.

Friendship is funny. Sometimes you are satisfied, and sometimes again the most uncomradely and selfish act that can be. In the near future I will again collect cigarettes, since comrades really do not deserve to always give them cigarettes.

30. 1. 42.

Only today I have found time to write further. Instead of ten days, it turned out to be thirteen, but it was pretty good in the dugout ... During this time, I shaved once and “washed” in a lid with water (1/4 liter). Von Leeb also left, or he was suspended. Reichenau is dead. It is not known how this is to be understood. I don't mind going to Germany either.

1942 February.

02. 02. 42.

Two days of rest very soon ended. On Sunday, January 31, the order came. At 18:00 we went out and back again. We were only supposed to be here the next morning at 6 o'clock. At night they changed their linen and “washed”. We are further east from the old position. Again at the Neva. The area is quieter and better. The dugouts are all pretty comfortable. The company occupied 1800 meters (probably - the length of the defense sector - ed.). There are 4 people in our department. We put one person out for the night. It would be nothing if we were not busy during the day with other things (carrying ammunition).

They say we'll stay here until the offensive? We don't get trench rations. It is not right.

15. 2. 42.

I'm back in another department. Tomorrow we are moving to another place. Erwin Schultz was wounded 7.2 by a mine fragment. Because of this, we are forced to stand at the post of the three of us. It's a bit much, but other departments cost the same. So you have to be happy. Everything is still calm here. I rejoice in every letter from home. Now I finally know about Johann and Dealer... I'm done. Prayer must not be forgotten. I'll be glad the time I'm free from military service and I can live the way I want - not like everyone else.

Long live Moscow! Mouth front!

22. 2. 42.

We are still in the same position. It got colder again. I am happy with the mail. We had the Gestapo. They wanted to know the address. Hope I hear something about it soon.

27. 2. 42.

Today I turn 19 years old. Corporal Schiller arrived from Mga. The wound was not terrible, it was caused not by the Russians, but by Domerak.

I am already looking forward to the day when I can start working, free from military service.

Non-commissioned officer Riedel seems to be a big pig. Nothing has been heard of the Gestapo yet. If only for a few days we would not hear anything at all from all that is so disgusting.

1942 March. 09.03.42.

Several days passed again. It would be nice to sleep a few nights. I don't have enough food - too little bread. There is wild talk about Vienna, Cobland, etc.

12. 03. 42.

From 9.30 to 10 a.m. approximately 100-200 shots were fired per rifle, 600-1000 shots per machine gun; in addition, a mass of lighting rockets was fired. After 10 o'clock - silence. We weren't supposed to show up during the day. This was done on the section from the crossing to Shlisselburg (15 km.). The command wanted to attract defectors in this way or cause the expulsion of the reconnaissance detachment, since prisoners were needed to get evidence.

On the night of 9.3. at 10.3. on the left wing of our company a man came - a defector or not, on this the opinions of eyewitnesses differ. He told a lot: the positions were poorly defended, there was nothing to eat, the company commander seemed to be a Jew, etc. Whether this is true is doubtful. I don't know how many Russians fell into our hands in the area indicated.

It was also said that if we did not get prisoners, we would have to send a reconnaissance detachment across the Neva, which, one might say, was a suicide squad. Volunteers go! Bring in the prisoners!

I haven't heard anything about the Gestapo yet.

20. 3. 42

At 20-30 we were loaded and transported by trucks to Shapki (a little further).

21. 3. 42

Reconnaissance in the forest.

24. 3. 42

About 3 hours. Order: get ready. Now, as a reserve of the battalion, we are sitting in dugouts, in which "the sun is shining." Worst of all - artillery fire.

10 company - loss of 9 people.

10, 11, 12 companies - loss of 60 people.

9th company - 40% loss.

Our position is omega (maybe Mga - ed.). Food is better. Easter. What will happen for Easter?

Translated: shekhn. quartermaster of the 1st rank - Zinder.

Representation of the German occupiers about Soviet women ah was formed on the basis of Nazi propaganda, which claimed that on the most extensive eastern territory inhabited by semi-wild, dissolute ladies, devoid of intelligence, who have lost the concept of human virtues.

Having crossed the border of the USSR, the Nazi soldiers were forced to admit that the stereotypes imposed on them by the party did not at all correspond to reality.

Mercy

Among the amazing qualities of Soviet women, the German military especially noted their mercy and lack of hatred for the soldiers of the enemy army.

In the front-line records made by Major Küner, there are passages dedicated to peasant women who, despite hardships and general grief, did not become embittered, but shared their last meager food supplies with the needy fascists. It is also recorded there that “when we [the Germans] feel thirsty during the transitions, we go into their huts, and they give us milk,” thereby putting the invaders in an ethical impasse.

Chaplain Keeler, who served in the sanitary unit, by the will of fate turned out to be a guest in the house of 77-year-old grandmother Alexandra, whose heartfelt concern for him made him think about metaphysical questions: “She knows that we are fighting against them, and yet she knits socks for me . The feeling of enmity is probably unfamiliar to her. Poor people share their last good with us. Do they do it out of fear, or do these people really have an innate sense of self-sacrifice? Or do they do it out of good nature or even out of love?

Kuhner's true bewilderment was caused by the strong maternal instinct of the Soviet woman, about which he wrote: "How often I saw Russian peasant women wailing over the wounded German soldiers, as if they were their own sons."

Moral

The real shock of the German occupiers was caused by the high morality of Soviet women. The thesis about the promiscuity of Eastern ladies, planted by fascist propaganda, turned out to be just a myth, devoid of foundation.

Wehrmacht soldier Michels, reflecting on this topic, wrote: “What did they tell us about the Russian woman? And how did we find it? I think that there is hardly a German soldier who has been in Russia who has not learned to appreciate and respect a Russian woman.”

All the fair sex, driven to Germany from the occupied territories of the USSR for forced labor, was immediately sent for a medical examination, during which very unexpected details were revealed.

Eirich's assistant doctor Hamm, on the pages of his notebook, left such a curious note: “The doctor who examined Russian girls ... was deeply impressed by the results of the examination: 99% of girls aged 18 to 35 turned out to be chaste,” followed by the addition “he thinks that in Orel it would be impossible to find girls for a brothel ... "

Similar data came from various enterprises where Soviet girls were sent, including from the Wolfen factory, whose representatives noted: “It seems that a Russian man pays due attention to a Russian woman, which ultimately is also reflected in moral aspects life."

Fought in the German troops writer Ernest Junger, having heard from staff doctor von Grevenitz that the data on sexual debauchery Oriental women a complete deception, he realized that his feelings had not failed him. Endowed with the ability to look into human souls the writer, describing Russian young ladies, noticed “the brilliance of purity that surrounds their face. Its light does not have the glimmer of active virtue, but rather resembles the reflection of moonlight. However, just because of this, you feel the great power of this light ... "

performance

The German Panzer General Leo Geir von Schweppenburg, in his memoirs about Russian women, noted their “standing, no doubt, purely physical performance". This trait of their character was also noticed by the German leadership, which decided to use the Eastern ladies stolen from the occupied territories as servants in the homes of devoted members of the National Socialist Workers' Party of Germany.

The duties of the housekeeper included thorough cleaning of the apartments, which weighed down the pampered German Frau and had a bad effect on their precious health.

Cleanliness

One of the reasons for attracting Soviet women to housekeeping was their amazing cleanliness. The Germans broke into rather modest-looking houses civilians, were amazed at their interior decoration and neatness, imbued with folk motives.

Fascist servicemen who were expecting a meeting with the barbarians were discouraged by the beauty and personal hygiene of Soviet women, which was reported by one of the leaders of the Dortmund health department: “I was actually amazed by the good appearance workers from the East. The greatest surprise was caused by the teeth of the workers, since so far I have not yet found a single case of a Russian woman having bad teeth. Unlike us Germans, they must pay a lot of attention to keeping their teeth in order.”

And chaplain Franz, who by virtue of his calling did not have the right to look at a woman through the eyes of a man, stated with restraint: “About feminine Russian women (if I can put it that way), I got the impression that they are their special inner strength keep under moral control those Russians who can be considered barbarians.

Family bonds

The lies of the fascist agitators, who claimed that the totalitarian authorities Soviet Union completely destroyed the institution of the family, to which the Nazis sang praises.

From the front-line letters of German fighters, their relatives learned that women from the USSR were not robots without feelings at all, but quivering and caring daughters, mothers, wives and grandmothers. Moreover, the warmth and tightness of their family ties could only be envied. At every opportunity, numerous relatives communicate with each other and help each other.

Piety

The deep piety of Soviet women made a great impression on the Nazis, who, despite the official persecution of religion in the country, managed to keep in their souls close connection with God. Going from one locality to another, the Nazi soldiers discovered many churches and monasteries in which services were held.

Major K. Küner, in his memoirs, spoke about two peasant women he saw, who prayed frantically, standing among the ruins of a church burned by the Germans.

The surprise of the Nazis was caused by women prisoners of war who refused to work on the days church holidays, in some places the guards went towards the religious feelings of the prisoners, and in others the death sentence was pronounced for disobedience.

"Stalingrad - good lesson for German people The only pity is that those who have been trained are unlikely to be able to use the knowledge they have gained in later life.

“Russians are not like people, they are made of iron, they do not know fatigue, they do not know fear. Sailors, on bitter cold, go on the attack in vests. Physically and spiritually, one Russian soldier is stronger than our entire company.”

“Russian snipers and armor-piercers are undoubtedly disciples of God. They lie in wait for us day and night, and do not miss. For 58 days we stormed one - the only house. In vain they stormed ... None of us will return to Germany, unless a miracle happens. And I don't believe in miracles anymore. Time has gone over to the side of the Russians.”

“No, father, God does not exist, or only you have him, in your psalms and prayers, in the sermons of priests and pastors, in the ringing of bells, in the smell of incense, but he is not in Stalingrad. And now you’re sitting in the basement, drowning someone’s furniture, you’re only twenty-six, and it seems like your head is on your shoulders, until recently you were happy with shoulder straps and yelled “Heil Hitler!” with you, and now there are two ways: either to die, or to Siberia".

“I’m talking with Chief Warmaster V. He says that the struggle in France was more fierce than here, but more honest. The French capitulated when they realized that further resistance was futile. The Russians, even if this is unsuccessful, continue to fight ... In France or Poland, they would have surrendered long ago, says Sergeant G., but here the Russians continue to fanatically fight.

“My beloved Zilla. This, to be honest, is a strange letter, which, of course, no mail will send anywhere, and I decided to send it with my wounded fellow countryman, you know him - this is Fritz Sauber ... Every day brings us great sacrifices. We are losing our brothers, but the end of the war is not visible and, probably, I will not see it, I do not know what will happen to me tomorrow, I have already lost all hope of returning home and staying alive. I think that every German soldier will find his grave here. These blizzards and vast fields covered with snow terrify me to death. Russians cannot be defeated ... "

“I thought that the war would end by the end of this year, but, apparently, the situation is different ... I think that we miscalculated with regard to the Russians.”

“We are located 90 km from Moscow, and it cost us a lot of dead. The Russians still put up very strong resistance, defending Moscow ... Until we arrive in Moscow, there will be more fierce battles. Many who do not think about it yet will have to die ... In this campaign, many regretted that Russia is not Poland and not France, and there is no enemy stronger than the Russians. If another six months pass, we are gone ... ".

“We are on the highway Moscow - Smolensk, not far from Moscow ... Russians are fighting fiercely and furiously for every meter of land. Never before have battles been so cruel and difficult, and many of us will not see our relatives ... ".

“For more than three months I have been in Russia and have already experienced a lot. Yes, dear brother, sometimes your soul goes straight to your heels when you are only a hundred meters from the damned Russians ... ”

From the diary of the commander of the 25th Army, General Günther Blumentritt:

“Many of our leaders have grossly underestimated the new adversary. This happened partly because they did not know the Russian people, much less the Russian soldier. Some of our military leaders throughout the First World War were on Western front and never fought in the East, so they had no idea about geographical conditions Russia and the resilience of the Russian soldier, but at the same time they ignored the repeated warnings of prominent military experts on Russia ... The behavior of the Russian troops, even in this first battle (for Minsk), was strikingly different from the behavior of the Poles and the troops of the Western allies in the conditions of defeat. Even being surrounded, the Russians did not retreat from their lines.