Bunker Busters and the Flu (June 1918)
Diary of a Stosstrupp Leader (Part 55)
This post continues the translation of the diary of a German soldier who fought in the First World War. Readers can find links to other installments in this series in the following guide.
5 June 1918 (Continued)
At dawn, and every thirty minutes afterwards, we were shelled systematically with shrapnel shells and ‘bunker busters’ (Stollenquetschern). These were shells with delayed action fuzes that penetrated into the ground before exploding.
The British seem to believe that we are located in deep bunkers. A direct hit landed in the shell hole next to us, in which two messenger pigeon handlers from the division headquarters had been sitting. The explosion tore them up beyond recognition.
6 June 1918
At night, the Third Battalion (III/97) relieved us. I don’t think we could have held on much longer.
1 July 1918
After spending some weeks on leave, I have returned to my battalion, which is serving, once again (in the very front lines) as a battle battalion.
At one in the morning a took a messenger with me to visit the forward companies. At four, we returned to the battle battalion headquarters (KTK)
Those who lack knowledge of this rumpled, shot-up ground can easily stumble into a British trench!
Our men look thin and hungry.
Nonetheless, I can see in their gaunt faces the resolute will to carry on and do their duty without reservation.
With every passing day, the weak band grows smaller.
In addition to gas and shell fire, a peculiar trench fever knocks many men out of the fight. Comment added at a later date: It was the flu!
Between three and five, heavy shell fire fell to the right of the highway. In the ground between our position and the highway, a surprise concentration of gas shells, fired by three enemy projector batteries, fell.
4 July 1918
Quiet reigned all day … more or less.
The British broke into the sector of the 13th Infantry Division.
5 July 1918
From four to six, heavy artillery fire fell on our sector.
Two (rifle) companies possess a single officer. First sergeants (Feldwebeln) lead the other two.
No one has seen Lieutenant Schröder since the last surprise volley of artillery fire.
6 July 1918
Forty medium-weight artillery shells fell in the vicinity of battle battalion headquarters (KTK). Each time one exploded, it struck a blow to my lungs. For two days, we have have received nothing more to eat or drink.
(Note: I would not be surprised to learn that the artillery shells that fell had been 35-pound projectiles of the sort fired by 4.5-inch (114mm) howitzers.)
7 July 1918
The Second Battalion (II/97) relieved the handful of survivors of my battalion (I/97). While moving to the rear, we suffered additional casualties. A shot to the head killed the brave Feldwebel Rixecker of my old assault company (Sturmkompagnie).
8 July 1918
We took up residence in Camp Lübeck (Lübecker Lager). At one in the morning we were alerted and placed at the disposal of the 26th Infantry Brigade (of the 13th Infantry Division).
Even when we were at rest, Death took his toll. Today, artillery fire killed three of us, and wounded seven.
9 July 1918
I/97 are located in Camp Hamburg and Camp Lübeck. The battalion headquarters found accommodations in Camp Hamburg.
10 July 1918
Nothing special happened.
The captain (commanding I/97) rode to Morcourt, to visit the headquarters of the 26th Brigade. He received orders to place the battalion at the disposal of the 26th Infantry Battalion for service as a readiness battalion (Bereitschaftsbataillon).
to be continued …
Sources
The text comes from Alwin Lyding Meine Kriegstagbuch (My War Diary), an unpublished manuscript that I found at the Bundesarchiv (German Federal Archive) (Folder N 382/1).
Related Reading
