Christmas 1917
Diary of a Stosstrupp Leader (Part 29)
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 posts in this series in the following guide.
6-11 December 1917
The trip from east to west lasted five days. The food was good, but often frozen, as it was rarely heated.
We lacked heat pipes. Later, however, Bergner was able to improvise some.
In Kallisch (Kalisz, then at the border between the Russian and German empires) we went through a mighty delousing.
During a movement by rail, an officer always had a lot to do.
Germany made a sad, half-dead impression! The spirit of our people was good.
After lots of going back and forth, we finally got off the train in Vervins (France). From there, we marched (seven kilometers) to Harcigny.
Hinnenthal and I lived on Hindenburg Street, with a woman with a small boy. I was appointed orderly officer on the staff of I/97 (1st Battalion, 97th Infantry). Afterwards, I lived with Lieutenant Oppermann in the house of Madame Lefèbre at Number 2 Hindenburg Street. She had an older daughter and a younger one.
The house had a large chimney. When I sat in front of it, the front of me roasted like a baked apple and the back of me froze like an icicle.
We built assault courses, where we practiced with live grenades. We learned the latest combat techniques from reports and specially assigned officers.
I also served as the fire chief, and so had to make sure that all of the firefighting equipment was in good order.
When time permitted, I went riding, often with Dr. Kanzow, to refresh my knowledge of horsemanship.
We conducted a full-scale battalion exercise, complete with artillery fire and the following of a rolling barrage.
We built a gas chamber for testing our gas masks. We attended classes about gas warfare in Plomion (about three kilometers away).
Christmas 1917
We set up two fine Christmas trees in the church and conducted memorial services. Afterwards, the officers gathered at the battalion headquarters, where we took a group photo.
In my own quarters, we had a little tree of our own, which Oppermann, my hostess, her daughter, and I decorated. We went looking for a suitable firing range. Even during Christmas, our men were obliged to work on improving the assault course.
to be continued …
Sources
The text comes from Alwin Lydding Meine Kriegstagbuch (My War Diary), an unpublished manuscript that I found at the Bundesarchiv (German Federal Archive) (Folder N 382/1).
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