Mork EastFront 1945 Pt3

8/12/2019 Mork EastFront 1945 Pt3

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Excerpts from the Memoirs

of

Werner MorkAus Meiner Sicht (From My View)

Copyright !""# $y Werner Mork A%% rights reser&e'

ther se%ections from these memoirs in the origin% *ermn text cn $e foun'on the we$site of the *ermn +istoric% Museum,

http,--www.'hm.'e-%emo-forum-ko%%ekti&es/ge'echtnis-

0rns%tion $y 1nie% +. Set2er3u$%ishe' here $y permission of the uthor

0rns%tion Copyright !""4 $y 1nie% +. Set2er
http://www.dhm.de/lemo/forum/kollektives_gedaechtnis/http://www.dhm.de/lemo/forum/kollektives_gedaechtnis/


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5Translator's Note: Werner Mork had let his emotions get away from him and he openly expressed hisopinions about the coming defeat of Germany and the need to use England as a model for a new

democracy in postwar Germany! " 'comrade' denounced him for this traitorous talk! #nly through

the good graces of an officer$ who sent him on a dangerous mission to %premberg$ did he escape animmediate drumhead courtmarshal that would almost certainly ha&e led to his execution on the spot! 6

On the Road in Eastern Germany

With &%i' set of mrching or'ers in my pocket7 tht now h' my nme on it7 8 ws $%e to pss free%ythrough M3 country. 8 ws $%e to get through the checkpoints n' e&en o$tin rtions from the %oc%commn' posts. 8t ws most importnt to stop 'i%y t some commn' post n' report to thecommn'er there in or'er to get signture n' stmp on my or'ers. Fi%ing to 'o so cou%' put nuntime%y en' to my tr&e%s. 8 h' to tke cre tht my pth to my 'estintion took the shortest possi$%eroute. When mo&ing through unfmi%ir territory it ws not %wys esy to $e sure you were on theright pth. ne cou%' not %%ow the impression tht one ws tking n unnecessry 'etour. 0ht cou%'h&e &ery $' conse9uences t checkpoint.

8 wou%' see n' experience such conse9uences s 8 cme into the town of Cott$us. 0here 8 sw thegruesome sight of pu$%ic%y hung so%'iers. 8t ws stge' with forethought s wrning to so%'iers n'ci&i%ins in Estern *ermny n' $ore the h%%mrks of +einrich +imm%er pro'uction. We were to $e:shown: wht ws to $e 'one now with tritors n' 'eserters. n e&ery %mppost on the ri&er $ri'gehung *ermn so%'iers of %% rnks7 e&en officers7 with p%cr's roun' their necks sying7 8 m 0ritor7 or 8 m 1eserter. 8t ws horrifying sight. So this is how fr we h' come in *ermnywith our won'erfu% Wehrmcht. Wsn:t this simp%y 'ec%rtion of $nkruptcy for the stte7 thego&ernment n' the rmy; Wsn:t this the c%erest possi$%e sign tht we h' come to the en' of the


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executioners; Wht $out the prty $ig@shots7 the mi%itry commn'ers %ike for exmp%e %oo'houn'SchBrner 5See :0he Wr on the Estern Front 3rt 88: on this we$site.67 n' the Stte %e'ers who h''one so we%% for themse%&es up to this point; A$o&e %%7 wht wou%' hppen to the F=hrer who h' themost responsi$i%ity for the prty7 the country7 the rmy n' especi%%y for wht ws hppening now; 8thought $ck gin to my 'rem of peop%e:s tri$un% tht wou%' $ring %% of the crimin%s in to nswerfor wht they h' 'one.

8 sti%% h' tht 'rem e&en though it ws c%er%y Dtopi. ut it ws %so certin tht none of thesemen wou%' reckon themse%&es to $e crimin%s7 $ecuse %% of them h' on%y 'one their 'uty s goo'*ermn men n' ptriots for the Fther%n' n' for new *reter *ermn


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ws m'e up of men from %% o&er *ermny most of whom 'i' not come from the Est. 0heVo%kssturm 'i' not fee% themse%&es mere%y c%%e' to 'uty7 $ut c%%e' $o&e %% others to 'uty s the true'efen'ers of their %n's which simp%y cou%' not $e %%owe' to f%% into the hn's of the


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rtion%e use' $y the :re%: *ermn women who fe%t themse%&es to $e t the mercy of the 2i propgn'.

8nci'ent%%y7 8 %so foun' myse%f to $e the trget of curses from refugees on treks wy from theie'er%usit2 8 'isco&ere' tht the motorpoo% 8 ws suppose' to fin' 'i' not exist7or no %onger existe' n' there were no&ehic%es to $e h'. 0ht cuse' me to skmyse%f if the goo' $er%eutnnt who sentme on this fictitious errn' to fetch &ehic%e on%y 'i' so to protect me from theStn'gericht. 8t cou%' $e tht he prepre'these phony mrching or'ers $efore 8 cmeinto the room in or'er to $ui%' me :$ri'ge:to my sur&i&%. From my 'eepest hert 8must thnk this mn once gin for wht he 'i' for me.

>ow the mrching or'ers h' $ecome $ur'en for me rther thn rescue for me hs they h'pre&ious%y $een. 8t ws $ecoming 'icey sitution 'ue to the $e%ie&$i%ity of the or'ers on the onehn' n' the %ength of time on the other hn' tht 8 h' $een using them to tr&e% in this &ery sm%%geogrphic% re. 8 h' to think $out wht it wou%' %ook %ike to the critic% eye of the M3:s n' theunp%esnt conse9uences tht cou%' rise. 0hinking $out the sitution g&e me the ?itters. 8 h' tofigure out wht to 'o. 0hese or'ers wou%'n:t $e consi'ere' &%i' nymore7 it wou%' %ook %ike 8 wswn'ering $out on my own on unuthori2e' %e&e from my troop. ut 8 h' to mke sure tht 8 'i'not go $ck to my o%' troop 'ue to the 'nger of $eing 'enounce' gin. 8n the men time it ws$ecoming un%ike%y tht 8 cou%' e&en fin' the o%' troop gin gi&en the chnges in the $tt%e %ine whichws in constnt f%ux.

After thinking it o&er the i'e cme to me to ct s though 8 ws strgg%er who cou%' not fin' hisoutfit.

At the troop co%%ection point in Sprem$erg where they to%' me tht the motor poo% no %onger existe'7 8to%' them tht 8 'i' not think 8 cou%' fin' my o%' outfit gin $ecuse they h' chnge' %octionsse&er% times. ecuse of tht it wou%' $e $etter to tke n ssignment with nother unit right here.

(hecking /ocuments


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0he re9uest soun'e' goo' n' showe' me to $e goo' so%'ier who ws eger to 'o his 'uty. 8tworke'G >ow 8 ws strgg%er who h' to report to new outfit tht ws sttione' ner$y $eingrep%enishe' n' re@outfitte'.

Panzer Korps Fsilier Regiment 79

0he compny 8 %n'e' in ws c%%e' 3n2er@Jorps@F=si%ier@ow 8 ws prt of


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ur regiment ws se%f@sufficient com$t group with %% of the necessry he&y n' &ery he&ywepons. We were e9uippe' in wy tht no one wou%' h&e sti%% thought possi$%e. 0his ws tot%%yopposite from the pro&isioning of the infntry units 8 h' ?ust ser&e' with. 0his com$t unit h' %% ofthe things tht wou%' mke re% so%'ier:s hert $et fster7 $ut not mine. We h' re% tnks %ike thenew n' much@prise' 0iger which ws n $so%ute rrity e%sewhere. 0here were %so new O cm.howit2ers on se%f@prope%%e' gun crriges7 rmore' personne% crriers n' %so rocket@%uncher units up

to the highest c%i$er. 0he u%timte ws the F%k cnnons7 the fmous PP:s tht were not use' $y us fornti@ircrft protection7 $ut rther for 'irect fire ginst '&ncing enemy tnks. 8n the mi%itry sense7this ws pro&isioning ofe9uipment tht ws 9uite uni9ue7especi%%y t this point in the wr.

ne shou%' h&e $een prou' to$e%ong to such 'istinguishe' unit7$ut 8 ws not prou' of the thesewepons of 'eth. 8 cou%'n:t 'onything $out it so 8 ?ust 'i' my'uty the $est 8 cou%'. 0he regimentws fu%%y mechni2e'7 there wou%'$e no foot@so%'iers 0his unit %soh' p%enty of fue%7 n' tht in spiteof the $re%y functioning supp%y%ines. >e&erthe%ess7 we h' it n'were $%e to keep on the mo&e thewho%e time in fie%'. 0hough*ener% >ehring ws ourimme'ite commn'er7 he reporte'to %oo'houn' SchBrner n' tht ws not t %% goo' thing.

0he ehring tht went $ck to the o%'


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''e' ?ust $out e&ery other me'% the Wehrmcht h'to offer.

$erst%eutnnt Fon'ermnn ws not on%y we%% knownto his own corps7 he ws %so &ery we%% known to thetion% Committee for Free *ermny g&e us news n' %so in&ite' us to'esert n' ?oin them. 0he


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We %so sw some Americn trucks. 0hey were Stu'e$ker trucks tht the Americns h' furnishe' tothe


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si' it ws 'ifficu%t for him %so $ecuse he 'i' not know if his fmi%y were sti%% in town or if they h'f%e'. +e ws concerne' tht his fther my h&e $een presse' into the Vo%kssturm. 0his shitty wr h' %ot of ghst%y stories to te%%G F=hrer commn' us7 we wi%% fo%%ow youG

ur positions cme un'er he&y fire n' 8 h' consi'er$%e trou$%e keeping the

phone system function%. 3rticu%r%y the %ines to the com$t compnies n' to*ener% >ehring:s +L h' to $e kept up. A%% of the 'ugouts were shore' upwith woo' supports7 $ut they were $eginning7 s%ow%y $ut sure%y7 to weken n'it wou%' on%y $e mtter of time $efore the sfety of the 'ugouts wou%'$ecome 9uestion$%e. We %so h' to keep in min' wht might hppen if thesupports fi%e' su''en%y n' $urie' us %%. 0he %ines to the forwr' positions$roke constnt%y. >o sooner 'i' the %inemn mnge to repir %ine thn it gotshot up gin. 0he %inemen took he&y %osses n' were hr'%y function% nymore.

8t hppene' tht t one point 8 on%y h' sing%e function% %ine. 0ht %ine %e' to $tt%ion commn'er7 cptin nme' 0schiko&sky7 ?ust %ike the composer.A few 'ys $efore we h' met t the phone switch$or' n' spent some timet%king. +e ske' me to c%% him from time to time when 8 cou%' so tht wecou%' cht. +e h' the impression tht 8 ws 'ecent guy tht one cou%' h&e sensi$%e con&erstionwith in spite of these crppy times. f course pri&te con&erstions on the communiction networkwere for$i''en7 $ut we thought we cou%' pu%% it off nywy.

0here cme 'y when the


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fought n' 'ie' to fu%fi%% wht ws once their p%e'ge to the f%g7 $ut ws now their person% p%e'ge tothe F=hrer A'o%f +it%er7 who now %et his so%'iers 'ie sense%ess%y. 0he so%'iers fought on. 1e%usion h'not yet gi&en wy to


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the $%ck@white@re' co%ors of the o%' f%g. 0hey informe' us tht mny *ermn officers n' e&engener%s were prt of the Committee. We her' nmes %ike 3u%us n' &on Sey'%it27 which impresse'us e&en though their ro%es t St%ingr' were not &ery %u'$%e. Most%y7 though7 we remine' &eryskeptic% or 'ownright un$e%ie&ing of these c%ims. We 'i'n:t re%%y $e%ie&e nything we were heringor re'ing from them. 0he on@Coms7 Sergents n' First@Sergent who worke' for me serching out $reksin the phone %ines.

As the on%y &i%$%e technicin 8 ws per force the he' of the sign% corps group for the


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After successfu%%y refreshing the 2i 3rty 3in. 0his pin ws consi'ere' 'ecortion7 not?ust mrk of mem$ership7 n' wr'ees were re9uire' to wer it s prt of their uniform. 8 wscurious $out the 'ecortion. +e wou%' h&e h' to perform some extror'inry ser&ice for the +it%erRouth or high@rnking %e'er of the +it%er Routh wou%' h&e h' to sing%e him out for this 'istinction.+e cou%'n:t $e so@c%%e' %' Wrrior7 he ws fr too young. 8 soon got to know him $etter7 $ut notin goo' wy7 n' %itt%e too we%% for my own goo'.

Gold .itler ;outh +in


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0he r'er from the F=hrer ws sti%% in effect7 to wit7 tht we were to tke no prisoners into custo'y7e&en though to'y peop%e often 'eny tht to $e the cse. When prisoners were tken7 their 81'ocuments wou%' $e tken from them7 8nte%%igence wou%' interrogte them n' fter interrogtion7 theywou%' $e e%iminte' ?ust %ike the others who might $e e%iminte' in the fie%'. 0his or'er ws issue' onhumnitrin groun's $ecuse the rmy no %onger h' ny wy to trnsport7 intern or cre forprisoners. Ji%%ing them ws re%%y humnitrin ctG Apprent%y7 the F=hrer n' the he%pers t his

he'9urters 'i' not gi&e much thought to the fct tht this ws pure mur'er crrie' out $y so%'ierswho7 $y this ct7 $ecme true mur'erers.

>ow tht the enemy prisoners h' $een $rought $ck from the front it threw the Mi'shipmn into fitof rge7 $ecuse to his min' the F=hrer:s r'er h' $een 'iso$eye'. +e g&e his nger free reign in phone c%% to the +L of the 1i&ision tht h' tken prt in the ttck. 0his con&erstion took p%ce inthe room next to my communictions room n' 8 o&erher' e&erything. +is comp%int $out the i%%eg%tking of 3o%ish n' o one steppe' forwr'. So thiss%e2e$g h' to resort to or'ering men to ser&e on the firing s9u'. +e e&en trie' to or'er men frommy communictions tem. +e cme to me n' to%' me to se%ect some of my men for his firing s9u'. 8ctegoric%%y refuse'. 8 pointe' out tht the sign% corps tem 'i' not f%% un'er his uthority sr'er%y fficer so 8 ws not re9uire' to o$ey the or'er. 8 on%y took or'ers 'irect%y from thecommn'er. An' in ny cse7 8 ''e'7 8 'i' not h&e the men to spre except the few stn'ing herewho were %re'y 'esignte' for other 'uties. 0he 'uty of %inemn ws of the highest priority7superse'ing other 'uties. 8 %so m'e the point tht shooting prisoners went ginst interntion% %w7which ws %so &%i' for *ermny. 8 %so ske' him if he h' thought $out the $' conse9uences ifthe '&ncing


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reson for tht ws tht the %osses mong the officers in one of the Fusi%ier compnies were such thtimme'ite rep%cements were re9uire'. +e sent this s%e2e$g 'irect%y to the front %ines. We ne&erher' from him gin. We h' other pro$%ems.

0wo 'ys fter the 'eth of the 'efense%ess 3W:s the


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ten'encies or 'esires7 8 'i'n:t wnt to ct %ike mur'er or ki%%er. 8 wnte' to ?oin this troop simp%y$ecuse they were recogni2e' s the e%ite n' on%y the $est in the %n' cou%' ?oin them. 0hen7 it ws nhonor to $e%ong to them.

0his is not inten'e' to $e white@wshing. 0he Wffen@SS en'e' upcommitting mny crimes n' not on%y s gur's in the concentrtion

cmps. 8 m ?ust trying to mke the point tht the Wehrmcht ws nots goo' n' respect$%e s the m?ority of *ermn peop%e sti%%$e%ie&e. 8 %so wnt to mke the point tht it ws not on%y the *ermnso%'iers who committe' wr crimes s the m?ority of peop%esuggeste' fter 4NO. 0his one@si'e'ness 'istorts the truth n'cmouf%ges the fct tht wr crimes7 $r$rity n' inhumnity reprt of e&ery wr n' %wys h&e $een. ecuse of tht thesefrightfu% truths must $e %i' s chrges ginst the who%e wor%' sincethey re the usu% prctice throughout the who%e wor%'7 in %% peop%es7%% ntions7 %% rces in %% wrs. 0o mock the peop%e %% of this isem$e%%ishe' n' prettie' up with the %%ege' necessity of imp%ementing 'emocrtic go%s. 0hisunp%esnt truth com$ine' with perfi'y is unfortunte%y the :common know%e'ge: of the peop%emsterfu%%y mnipu%te' $y the current :%e'ers: s misuse of their cr&ing for power. 8n %% ntionsn' %% peop%es there re ser&i%e cretures who ct s wi%%ing he%pers to these :Sttesmen: in $ringingtheir cr&ings into gruesome re%ity. 8 wish tht inhumnity throughout the wor%' wou%' $e $rought to?u'gment n' no %onger chnne%e' into one@si'e' o&ersimp%ifictions. 0he Secon' Wor%' wr is horri$%e story of inhumnity n' crimin%ity on %% fie%'s of $tt%e t tht time7 regr'%ess of their%oction on the Erth. A%% were n' re prty to it7 inc%u'ing the so%'iers of the 'emocrcies who wererepute'%y fighting for $etter wor%' free from tyrntsG 0o mke such sttement is not n improperccustion7 it is the s' sttement of fct7 tht the who%e wor%' is fu%% of men who 'o crimes7 %so sso%'iers regr'%ess of which ntion they $e%ong to.

ck to the trocity tht $efe%% the 3W:s. 8 took it &ery hr'. For me these 'eths were 'str'%yin?ustice tht 8 cou%'n:t %et go of. 1uring the wr 8 ne&er cou%' keep my $ig mouth shut when 8 sw nin?ustice7 n' this ws no 'ifferent.

Short%y fter the mur'er of the 3W:s $erst%eutnnt Fon'ermnn cme into my communictionscenter. +e wnte' to fin' out more $out $roken phone %ine tht we simp%y cou%' not get $ck up inspite of the repete' efforts of the %inemen. 8t h' to $e ssume' now tht this %ine ws in thepossession of the


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ny of our own so%'iers to the count. 8t ws now more importnt thn e&er to keep your mouth shute&en if now it were prticu%r%y hr' to 'o so. 8t wou%' not $e goo' t this time to wi%%ing%y hur%onese%f into misfortune. +e %ooke' t me gin7 then with fint smi%e he %eft the room. 8 took to hertwht he si' to me7 $ut 8 ws %so 9uite surprise' tht %ong@time7 creer officer wou%' h&e m'ethose remrks. Were such thoughts n' opinions more wi'e spre' in the higher rnks thn 8 h'suspecte'; 8f so7 why weren:t these conse9uences 'one wy with n' n en' put to this wr tht none

of us cou%' h&e ny effect on nymore; Sti%% 'eep in thought 8 went $ck to my switch$or' n' st'own. A &ery short time %ter the commn'er n' 8 h' nother t%k. 0his time it ws when the reportws $ro'cst of the %%ege' :+eroic 1eth: of the F=hrer.

1uring this time none of us knewwht ws going on in the wor%'$eyon' our hori2on. From time totime we got wht ws c%%e' theFe%'2eitung 5Fie%' >ewspper6.+owe&er7 we ne&er knew for sure ifthe pper we recei&e' ws our own7 orn e%$orte fcsimi%e pro'uce' $y theCommittee for Free *ermny thtws spike' with one of my %etters e&er reche' home. My fther n'my wife7 8%se7 h' no news from me whtsoe&er for 9uite %ong time. 8 foun' this out fter the wr.

As prt of my communictions e9uipment 8 h' not on%y the switch$or' n' the fie%' te%ephones7 8%so hs port$%e Wehrmcht r'io recei&er. 8 gur'e' it ?e%ous%y. 8 wou%' use it s often s 8 cou%'to try n' pick up ny *ermn r'io sttions tht sti%% existe'. 8n the e&enings the commn'er wou%'often come in to see if 8 h' mnge' to get ny news. We were sti%% unsure if we cou%' $e%ie&enything we her'. 8t wou%' hppen from time to time tht sttion wou%' $rek in tht c%er%y wsnot *ermn sttion. f course one cou%' twist the 'i% if you wnte' to tke the chnce n' pick upn enemy r'io $ro'cst. 0his ws strict%y for$i''en n' cou%' resu%t in the 'eth pen%ty if you gotcught. 8t ws &ery 'ifficu%t for me using the r'io $ecuse s 8 ws serching the 'i% for *ermnsttion 8 wou%' come cross n enemy $ro'cst. As 9uick%y s possi$%e 8 wou%' turn the 'i% n' hopetht no one ner me her' the foreign sttion. 8t ws on%y s%ip7 n' tht sort of thing hppene'.Anything tht ws possi$%y o&erher' 'i' not exist. We 'i' not %ook t ech other n' not sing%ewor' ws spoken $out wht ws7 perhps7 her'.

%oldiers on the Eastern )ront in 292 8eading the

)eld4eitung


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From time to time 8 wou%' mke use of woo%$%nket n' go :un'er co&er: to %ern %itt%emore from the r'io thn ws strict%y %%owe'.ften in the morning there wou%' come moment when the commn'er wou%' sk me if8 h' her' ny news n' he wou%' %ook t me

in n o'' wy. 8 wou%' te%% him wht 8 he' onthe one of these rumors pro&e' true7e&en when we were scrm$%ing to cross the mountins in the Su'eten%n' n' en'e' up in the reroun' Mhrisch@stru. nce gin we were 'ep%oye' s the :fire $rig'e: $ecuse on Apri% O7 4NOthe


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0he sitution t the irport ws such tht Stff no %onger h' nycommunictions with the forwr' units n' couriers were notgetting through. Where our s9u's were suppose' to $e7 wesu''en%y foun'


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As 8 trie' to get out of this 'isster 8 ws hmpere' $y the e9uipment 8 crrie'. 8 h' the "@%ine phoneswitch$or' s%ung roun' my neck n' the port$%e rmy r'io tie' to my $ck. 8 'i' not h&e wepon7 8 %ost my cr$ine7 $ut 8 'i'n:t cre $out tht. 0he on%y thing 8 wnte' to rescue7 $esi'es myown %ife7 ws this e9uipment which 8 sti%% thought of s $eing &ery importnt. 8 nee'e' the switch$or's the necessry too% of my function s sign% corpsmn n' the r'io s the &it% informtion source inthe coming 'ys.

0o this 'y 8 'o not know how 8 mnge' to get out of the fie%'s of ruins n' $om$ crters. At the time8 'i' not $e%ie&e tht 8 wou%' sur&i&e it7 $ut somehow 8 'i'. 8 got out of the ki%%ing fie%'s n' 'i' not$ecome &ictim of the orgy of mur'er tht took p%ce on the irfie%' t r=nn. 0ht is exct%y wht itws7 it ws not $tt%e7 it ws %ousy7 point%ess turkey shoot. 8t ws not necessry. We were route'7we were offering no resistnce tht wou%' h&e ?ustifie' these mur'ers. 8 h' the gret goo' %uck tosur&i&e n' %so the goo' %uck to fin' my comr'es from the


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8 continue' to ttempt to est$%ish contcts to get news n' informtion tht might ffect our situtionn' gi&e us hint s to wht ws going to hppen to us. 0hey cou%'n:t simp%y %e&e us out here in thisC2echos%o&kin fie%'7 $ut we cou%'n:t hck out wy out either. nce7 we mnge' to get Commn'erFon'ermnn connecte' to *ener% >ehring7 $ut he h' no cunning p%ns to offer us either.Fon'ermnn inferre' from tht con&erstion tht he ws on his own to %e' the remins of his


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After whi%e the commn'er si' tht 8 nee'e' to try once gin in spite ofthe 'ifficu%ties to try to reest$%ish communictions7 $ecuse now it ws'esperte%y nee'e'. First to the outer sentry posts n' the other most urgent%yto the Stff of *ener% >ehring:s corps. After se&er% tries 8 mnge' to getr'io contct to >ehring:s stff7 on%y to her tht the Comr'es from +Lh' not yet her' of the heroic 'eth of the *orth *ermny n' prt of 1enmrk. We 'i' not7 if you wi%% pr'on me7gi&e shit $out %% tht. We ?ust wnte' to get out of here n' into whte&er piece of the o%'

Mork EastFront 1945 Pt3

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Transcript of Mork EastFront 1945 Pt3