|
HEINZ TRAMMLER, Pvt. Wermacht |
|
Declassified
Captured Diary of a German Soldier During the Battle of the Bulge From the United
States Archives SECRET Translation of
Diary "On December 1, at 4 o'clock I arrived in Hamburg at 0530 I was standing in the ruins of my house. My heart stood still in my mouth. It was here that I lived with my wife and children in peace and comfort. Who is to blame for all of this ? The English ? The Americans ? Or the Nazis ? Had Hitler not come, there would have been no war. If the Nazis hadn't talked so big, or put on such a show, or rattled so with the saber, we would have had peace with those who are our enemies today. Had we retained democracy in Germany we would be in understanding with England and the United States. It was with these thoughts that I stood before my ruined home. "On the 16th of December, about 0530 in the morning we attacked. I shall march once more through Belgium and France, but I don't have the smallest desire to do so. My Platoon was in Regimental reserve for AT defense. On the way we found enough rations and cigarettes from the Americans. It was very good that we has this because our supply lines gave us nothing. I can't surpress my surprise at how much the Americans have to eat. The way they care for their troops is entirely new to us Germans. "On the 19th of December we had our first contact with American tanks at BM 522 for St. Vith. We had many losses. I saw for the first time the firepower of a tank. The infantry attacked. In our platoon we had many killed. I marvel at my escape. "We spent two days and nights in a foxhole with no food. On the 21st of December at 4 o'clock in the afternoon the attack of St. Vith started. But we get through in spite of it. At night we are in St. Vith. We dig in. It is snowing and raining. I am thoroughly wet. In the early morning we go back to the city and again had lots to eat, because the Americans have left much behind. At night we marched a few kilometers, then the American artillery started again. Comrade Hans and I were alone. Next to me is a comrade whose left arm is off. I gave him first aid. "About 20 meters ahead of us are the Americans. Suddenly our platoon leader is with us. We join him. We pass a house. There are a couple of men standing around a tank. Suddenly one yells loudly, "Oh, the Germans." We ran in the other direction. They discovered us at the other side of the railroad track and we received a terrific mortar fire. Brenner and I ran into a house. In the cellar is a wounded Lieutenant. A medic is with him. The house is hit suddenly, but the cellar remains safe. I went out and discovered an American tank in front of the house with a crowd of Americans. We remained very quiet. In the morning the Americans had gone. Shortly afterward we located our company in a village. A cup of coffee and crackers from the Americans. We are soon on the move again. "The night is quiet and in the morning we are in a chateau in a valley near a small Belgian village. In the mountains beyond the Americans are dug in. We don't care for that. We only look for a place to sleep. During the night the Americans annoyed us with artillery fire and it rained mortar shells. We are drinking real coffee with mild and sugar. Suddenly we are called and told we are going back for a rest. Hans remarked it was the best Christmas present ever. But our happiness is short, for the next day we go back again. Ach ! If this idiotic war would end ! Why should I fight ? It only goes for the existence of the Nazis. The superiority of our enemy is so great that it is senseless to fight against them. "We are in a village, we are beaten down to the last one-quarter of the company. The village is called Wanne. The heavy artillery is firing at us. This evening we go to Stavelot. Between us and the town there is only a little river. We are in a cellar. We don't go out by day, only at night to stand guard. We are called a supporting point. We are only a couple of men. If our enemy only knew how thin our lines is ! "On 30 December an enemy combat patrol took our Sgt (Feldwebel) and two men. It is ghostly at night here.... Taken from a pocket notebook of HEINZ TRAMMLER, Pvt. Wermacht, killed near Henumont, Belgium 13 Jan 45 |