German wartime unit diary detailing the invasion of France, 1940.

>>1863059
>I would share it with /k/ or /his/ but I feel like /pol/ deserves this story.
oops

I hope you are storing this correctly.

Yes, please post your translation
ty

>>1863066
yea, I posted on /pol/ no one was interested.

If no one is interested here too, I'll let the thread die.

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>>1863059
1. From Glaucho to Neudorf

Snowflakes dancing around, the first Christmas trees being brought into the houses and cottages. Children with sparks in the in their eyes standing in front of shop windows.
Well, it’s Christmas soon. Then one day a written order is being brought for all of us, we have mixed feeling when orders arrive at this time of the year, the order is the call to report for Wehrmacht duty. Naturally, we all expected to be called up one day. Anyways, most of us are anxious to don the gray green coat of our Wehrmacht and join the ranks of those, who in September victoriously beat Poland, and now guard our Western frontier with iron will. Yes, now it is the time, Christmas 1939, the most celebrated days in Germany. Not time to worry, nor Contemplating, we pack our bags, why not celebrate Christmas with like minded comrades. On Dec. 11th 1939 a small rabble of civilians report in Glaucho. In front of the main guard house, the 1st Battalion of the 174th Infantry Regiment is formed. Two days later the appearance of the civilians has changed a bit, we look like Soldiers now, well, atleast from a distance. Our Company is drilled from day 1 in a hard way from our Company Commander, Captain Unterstab, who is not only a veteran of the great war, but also a dedicated and obedient National Socialist who, with his experience of war, takes us under his wings.
But alas the stay in Glaucho is not of long duration, already on Dec. 14th 1939 we board a train in freezing cold and the Journey takes us away from our beloved Saxon land and we cross into the Sudetengau (Sudetenland).
Trautenau is the town that receives us, even if for only 2 weeks. And it’s deepest winter here. We admire the view towards the Riesen Mountain range, the Schneekoppe, the unbelievable cold we won’t forget so easily, the warm barracks.

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>>1863076
We are surprised one day to be issued with weapons, leftovers from the Czech Army, Constructed in an earlier war by Austrians. We celebrate out first Christmas in war time here in Trautenau.

2. Only a very few of our Company are in luck to go home for Christmas. By Dec. 28th we are on our way again, this time the destination is Oberlechen and the winter here last until March. We are now on a training grounded for the Army at Neuhammer. We celebrate the New Year in the comfortable houses of this camp. New Year 1940, what will it bring for us? Are we going to fight against the enemies of the Greater German Reich? Will this New Year bring us the expected peace? Where will the will of wind blow us? Will we be sacrificed to lay down our lifes for the Fatherland & our beloved Fuehrer. Those are questions that we all seem to ask ourselves at New Year. Whatever will be our destiniy, we are ready, even to give our lives, it is no phase to us, and Germany must live even if we must die. But the time has come now to adjust to a real Soldier's life, we learn to know the word ‘stress’. In snow and ice, wind and rain, we out win the woods, firing shots into the trees from the bunkers; yes we are going through a hard school of training. It’s amazing what’s expected of us and what we can take. We realize that we have to be trained well for when the time comes, we must be ready, we know despite these harsh winter conditions, the loneliness and, the duty, we know “Praise the life that makes us hard”. We stay in this area until the beginning of March 1940, then at last we again are on the move and board a train that takes us to Bunzlau, Tillendorf, from there we were on the march until the 9th of March to Groeditzberg in Silesia. 4th Company is assigned quarter in Neudorf, a nice village that at last we came in contact with people again, nice and friendly folks, we make acquaintances.

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>>1863078
Here we are in the spring of 1940. Here we are also issued brand new machine guns, we are on the firing range day by day, the range is in a sand pit and we are top marksmen. Our company commander makes sure of that, I have to add that he also is very concerned about our welfare and under his watchful eyes, we are issued excellent food.

3. I never forget April 20th, Our Fuehrer’s birthday, the morning parade and beautiful “Hitler Weather”, the nice hours we had in the evening with a comradeship meeting and entertainment. Meanwhile, all eyes are focused on Northern Europe where our glorious, and heroic Comrades in arms took one of the prestigious British foot holds, Denmark, and Norway are now in German Hands. Heavy fighting is reported from around Narvik, our thoughts are with our Comrades, we wait for the hour were we too can participate and prove our ability to deal with our enemies.
I never forget this April 9th, when our Company Commander told us proudly, that German Troops had occupied Denmark & Norway. Who can forget the Gleam in the eyes of our Comrades?
We are ready to march, everyone of is.

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>>1863080
But alas it is still waiting time for us. Early in May we are again on the firing range in battalion strength near Bunzlau. Wonderful spring weather is with us now. Who will ever forget May 10th, when a Message reached us, that Germany’s counter stroke has finally started in the west. We received this news over a portable radio while we were resting in a roadside ditch around noon. Now we know the hour has come for us it’s only a matter of a few days before our attack orders will come. How long now?? Where will we go??
A last kit and weapon inspection, one more drill, then at last, the order to move out. We are ready!

>>1863059
Keep posting, interested.

>>1863143
this
cheers btw

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>>1863143
>>1863153
We march, we march, we march into France.

Late in the evening of May15th, we leave Neudorf. Almost the entire village is on the feet giving us a grand farewell.
Then we are on our own in the night. We march until we reach Loewenberg, a train awaits us at the station platform, and we board the cars.
Early on May 16th, the train departs into the unknown journey. Where will it end? Rumors say we’re heading east? Or Denmark? Some suggest we’re going to Bohemia, or Moravia, and yet some say the Netherlands. Nobody as yet believes that we are bound for France or Belgium, but the direction the in which the train is going makes us think differently. We look out for familiar towns but the train makes a wide sweep to the east, the North, and after 24hours we begin to see clearly the cities of Kohlfurt, Cottbus, Wittenberg, Magdeburg, Osnabrueck, and Muenster. The train then takes a sharp turn to the south west, in the Ruhr area. An area, since the war has started in the West, can not be reached by our enemies.
We cross the River Rhine and late afternoon we reach Aachen on the German-Belgian border.

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>>1863190
In haste we unload our equipment, and not long after, we are on the march. Aachen receives us with joy, which is typical for this city that produces the best cookies in Germany. It rains cookies, cigarettes, malt candy, and other goodies the people throw at us. We are delighted. We look at the hills to the south west of the city. It gives us a taste of the things in store for us the next few days and weeks. At dusk we cross the old German-Belgian border and move into the area that the Treaty of Versailles shamefully took away from us in 1919. The area of Eupen-Malmedy, now once again incorporated into our Reich.
Through Hergersrath and Lontzen we reach Rabotrath. We later find night quarters in an old farm house at Walborn. It is our first night on foreign soil. Our first night also brings us our first war experience. A Belgian fort near Liege, that was by-passed by our Infantry, shelled neighboring Herersrath. The following day all is quiet. Our Division is assembled first. We then begin lots of marching. The distances we march are enormous, the mountains of the Eiffel, and the Ardennes are no game. Up and down, all day.
On May 18th we pass the city of Eupen then we climb the road up to the plateau of the “High Venn”, the highest points in Belgium. The sun burns down on us, while it saps our strength.

>>1863143
Second that

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>>1863207
We pass the Belgian city of Spa, which during the Great War, was the Headquarters for our Kaisers Army. We reach a small dirty village 8 miles further named Winamplanche. We rest for a few hours in the night.
May 20th we march for hours up hill. At noon, just as the Battalion has stopped for rest, we came under Artelleriy fire. Like Lightning out of nowhere, all of a sudden, artillery shells explode left and right from us, on the road, in the forest around us. Our first real war experience. We run hither and tether like ants that have been disturbed. Our Company Commander trys to bring order into chaos, as he manages to take us out of the firing line. He is everywhere, shouting orders, pointing directions. Sadly many men are killed and wounded. This was our baptism of fire in which we spilled our first blood. The artillery fire we received came from For Battice, but two days later we are informed over radio that the fort was taken by our comrades.
We march again into the valley of the river Ambleve. Here we see first hand the destruction this war has caused. Blown up bridges, destroyed towns, Restaurants, and houses that have been looted by retreating civilians and enemy soldiers.

>>1863080
>Germans
>white

Since it's a official unikt report rather than an individual's diary, I expect a lot of silenced stuff (German casualties and war crimes) and propaganda

>>1863562
>German casualties
>"Sadly many men are killed and wounded."

>war crimes
not every German soldier was running around killing kikes you fucking faggot.

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>>1863642
>not every German soldier was running around killing kikes you fucking faggot.

Then explain how 6 millions died

More please!

>Blown up bridges, destroyed towns, Restaurants, and houses that have been looted by retreating civilians and enemy soldiers.
>Aachen receives us with joy
>beautiful “Hitler Weather”, the nice hours we had in the evening with a comradeship meeting and entertainment
>Are we going to fight against the enemies of the Greater German Reich? Will this New Year bring us the expected peace? Where will the will of wind blow us? Will we be sacrificed to lay down our lifes for the Fatherland & our beloved Fuehrer.

Is there even anything interesting or do they just write what they were ordered to write?

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We stay in Remourchamps until 10 PM, then the march continues. The country side reminds us of central Germany with its hills and valleys. We climb the steep roads into the Ardennes. Men and horses have to work hard & and to their limits, especially since it is night time. The march ends in early morning hours of May 21st at a Chateau of an Industrialist from Paris, who has fled the property. We have 2 hours to rest, eating and sleeping before we go on the road again, still through the Ardennes. The endless road brings us to the city of Verviers, where we find tons of good butter in an abandoned creamery. We load up with butter and other “goodies” we find in the town. Erezee and Amonines, our horses just about had it on the trip. We had to find some strong Belgian animals to take their place. Mostly at night time, we proceed in a south western direction through the Ardennes.

May 22nd we arrive early in the morning at Marcour -La Roche, and then rest in the flower mill. A few hours later and head for St. Hubert. During the night march we pass Val du Poix, Libin, Maisssin, Bievre.

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>Ran out of photos from the document grouping so now I will start posting random German Army images with the story.

At 2:40am on the morning of May 24th, we finally cross the border into France near the town of Houdremont through swamp land and think underbrush.
We descend into the Meuse Valley, having left the Ardennes far behind us now. We pass the graves of our fallen comrades. The road is littered with abandoned French weapons, equipment, uniforms, and helmets.
We have a short break in a ruined foundry in Monthmere but at noon we are on the road again, this time westward in brutal heat, up and down hills. We pass Bourg Fidele, Sevigny, Haubert, Fontaine, until we reach Beaulieu. Around mid day we have to rescue one of our horses that have fallen into a deep ditch. During the night an air raid by enemy planes on a German fighter base nearby does not diminish our longing for sleep. From now on we march mostly in day light, the sun still with us and hot, but the country side is more in our favor. No big hills to climb, the fields are well kept; large meadows were we pass cows. They go crazy because nobody gives them water, or does the milking. Think of what a German farmer could do with soil like this.

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Villages and towns are empty, houses looted by the retreating enemy, and in these large French country mansions, our Quartermasters literally have to do a huge clean up before we can have a good rest.
This is what is known as the “great French culture”??? That is how it looks in the country of “La granda Nation”.
The only good things are the first class tarmaced roads, and those were built with German money, and labor.
May 25th, at Beaulieu, Signy, Le Petit, Watigny, St. Michel, Hirson, Wimy, we see for the first time the results of our Stuka attacks. We also see a bunch of Moroccan POW’s. At Hanappes-Regnicourt, we see destroyed French tanks, dead niggers, in which the heat makes the smell worse.
In a large Mansion house, near Aubencheul, we finally get a few days rest. We are in an alert state, since we are 15km away from the City of Cambrai. Life is good.

>>1863059
>some German units would have enlisted men from their company keep an official diary for posterity.
Propaganda then.

But don't let that halt your efforts. This should be entertaining nonetheless.

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We live well. There are plenty of Pidgeons, chickens, and calves, in these god foresaken villages. The gardens are full of lettuce, strawberries, and flowers. We decorate our rooms, and with the rest of our time we repair our boots, weapons, and other equiptment.
Life is good here, if we only had more water. From a neighboring German airbase, we fetch thousands of packs of French cigarettes. We soon find out what a horrible lot of smoke this is. How can the French inhale this? Well, the French have no other choice, and they take what they can get.
On June 2nd this peaceful life comes to an end for us. New marching orders, but our senses tell us that this time there will be fighting. We are sure and ready.

You have to take risks in your life, or else you will never win in life.
We march at night again, and during the day we take cover in farms or villages, from French planes. That night we are ordered to retreat to Bohain, and then swing onto a southern course through a French farming community. This is blood drenched soil; the cemeteries remind us that this area was fought over in 1914-1918. We still see houses destroyed during the Great War. We only pass a few lonely villages; field after field, not much work has been done here. On the morning of June 3rd, we find ourselves in Tieulaine. From here we are directed towards the front. We travel through Fontaine Notre Dame, Neuvilette, Origny, Ribemont, Villiers de Sec until we reach Pont Remies.

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>Keep dismissing the lootings performed by German units that passed there before them as having been done by the enemy

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Here we take quarters in a chateau. It is an old dirty Mansion, ones which we see all over France, we’re used to it by now. We stay in Pont Remies on June 4th and 5th. We have the feeling this will be our last good rest before we go into action. We take baths and clean ourselves up. In the evening we listen to the radio and hear the 1st great report about our victorious Flanders Battle. The High Command explains our Victories we achieved through our campaign. It is an unforgettable hour for us.
We are under a starry night here in the enemies’ territory. At midnight we listen to the radio play our national anthem, and the prayers of thanks.
In the evening of June 5th we advance a few kilometers. We stay overnight in a small forest near Gessiers. Ahead of us we hear low rumbling from the front line, which lulls us to sleep. It looks like June the 6th will be our hottest day so far. By 10 am the sun is burning down on us. Noon comes and we depart through the woods, a few hills, then through Lanscours, Nons en Laonais, Bourguignon, and Merlieux.
In this heat some of our men faint. But they soon catch up again. At 5:30pm we reach the Aisne-Oise Canal. On the other side, the enemy occupies the forest.
We notice several sign posts that say, “Attention, this area can be observed by the enemy. We know then that we have reached the front line. We cross the canal without any problem, so far so good. There is no enemy resistance yet. Swamp covers several hundred yards. On the southern side of the canal we see, abandoned fortifications, fox holes, trenches, and then a strip of jungle like underbrush.
We are 100% alert now, but hardly anyone realizes that death might be coming to find us, somewhere up ahead. We have to find a way through this jungle, come what may.

>>1865084
>We have 2 hours to rest, eating and sleeping before we go on the road again, still through the Ardennes.

I bet the massive amounts of amphetamine they took helped a little

>>1865115
>not expecting this from german propaganda drivel

The majority of what's written is dismayingly artificial, and would never be the thoughts that would emerge from a soldier only out to protect his life and not die. It's propaganda to the fullest that regurgigates every facet of Hitler's speeches.

>Our Fuehrer’s birthday, the morning parade and beautiful “Hitler Weather”, the nice hours we had in the evening with a comradeship meeting and entertainment.
Nazism = great.

>Who can forget the Gleam in the eyes of our Comrades?
War is fantastic, and glorifies the proud Aryan.

>Restaurants, and houses that have been looted by retreating civilians and enemy soldiers.
Totally not us!

>Think of what a German farmer could do with soil like this.
Wink-wink, nudge-nudge, Lebensraum!

>This is what is known as the “great French culture”??? That is how it looks in the country of “La granda Nation”.
>We also see a bunch of Moroccan POW’s. At Hanappes-Regnicourt, we see destroyed French tanks, dead niggers, in which the heat makes the smell worse.
Heh, anyone that isn't an Aryan is a subhuman, who summon foreigners to fight for them!

>The only good things are the first class tarmaced roads, and those were built with German money, and labor.
Whoah, just in case you'd forgotten about that horrendous Diktat!

And let's dismiss the Stukas massacring fleeing cities, won't we?

Either that, or the author was fanatical to the core, but how he compiles such a list of examples Hitler's own words seems to indicate that none of this really came for him, but was added on by some Goebbels goon.

>>1865171
examples to echo*

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>>1865171
>soldier's fighting a just cause can't actually believe in what they're fighting for
>most German soldiers didn't enjoy Hitler's birthday, revel at the victories of their armies on every front, French didn't loot their own shit instead of leaving it to the Germans and treat their land like a bunch of lazy niggers, and the Treaty of Versailles and the trespasses that follow were good things.

wew fuckin' lad. WEW

>And let's dismiss the Stukas massacring fleeing cities, won't we?
Yea, just like we'll dismiss the Western Allies killing more French and Dutch civilians in their bombings than the Germans ever did.

WEW WEW WEW LAD

>>1865171
Maybe the French shouldn't have declared war on Germany, considering they had no interest in the west, only a war with the Soviets in the east?

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>>1865171
>Nazism = great.
>War is fantastic, and glorifies the proud Aryan.
>Totally not us!
>Wink-wink, nudge-nudge, Lebensraum!
>Heh, anyone that isn't an Aryan is a subhuman, who summon foreigners to fight for them!
>Whoah, just in case you'd forgotten about that horrendous Diktat!

>mfw

>>1865226
>>soldier's fighting a just cause can't actually believe in what they're fighting for
True, but not your every thought while invading a foreign, and essentially sending yourself somewhere where you could meet your death, would be spent reveling in the glory of fascism and the brilliance of Hitler. The Wehrmacht were heavily fanatical, but they wouldn't have either thought only about while in a live-or-die environment.

>French didn't loot their own shit instead of leaving it
Considering the amount of luxuries, trucks, tanks, planes that the French and British had to leave behind in rushing to retreat, I doubt they would've had the time to loot at their leisure.

> treat their land like a bunch of lazy niggers
>hurr why isn't this land that was poisoned by all the metal from the WW1 soils producing anything
You do realize that even up to 2016, the land there is very faulty for growing crops?

>Treaty of Versailles
Slap on the wrist, and the Germans only screwed themselves in attempting to not abide to the reparations (and screw over the allies) with hyperinflation, which they discovered they couldn't control (but too late alas).

>Western Allies killing more French and Dutch civilians in their bombings than the Germans ever did.
Considering how little the WA had air superiority throughout the Battle of France, [CITATION NEEDED].

>>1865244
They opted to put their foot down, but did so too late.

>>1865323
>True, but not your every thought while invading a foreign, and essentially sending yourself somewhere where you could meet your death
They just don't dwell on it. Several times they mention they are close to death, and that some of their friends have already died. This isn't an emo kid's diary, this is a Wehrmacht soldier who is writing down what he sees.

>Considering the amount of luxuries, trucks, tanks, planes that the French and British had to leave behind in rushing to retreat, I doubt they would've had the time to loot at their leisure.
Ok then, spoils of war. Who cares if the Germans looted some booze and cheese from abandoned areas?

>Slap on the wrist
WEW

>[CITATION NEEDED]
>French civilian casualties are even more difficult to measure accurately. Most civilian casualties resulted from Allied bombing, especially in and around Caen. It is believed that between 15,000 and 20,000 French civilians were killed during the Normandy Campaign
>http://d-dayrevisited.co.uk/d-day/cost-of-battle.html

>>1865375
>>http://d-dayrevisited.co.uk/d-day/cost-of-battle.html
>Bringing me D-Day era figures when we were digressing on the Battle of France

>>1865375
>this is a Wehrmacht soldier who is writing down what he sees.
>what he sees
He barely is. Although intersped with the names of towns and villages through which they are treading, most of its glorification for the Reich. What's the point of that in a diary? In 1940, you'd find propaganda for the Reich anyways, so why pollute your personal diary with objective flatteries for the Reich?
I mean, who in Hell thinks to themselves. "Golly gee, rather than write about the actual battle of France we're living through, how about I write some propaganda for the Reich that I could be making LITTERALLY anywhere but here." ?

>WEW
France didn't exactly cry and whine about the reparations exacted upon them in the Franco-Prussian war, so why should the Germans?

>>1865418
>France didn't exactly cry and whine about the reparations exacted upon them in the Franco-Prussian war, so why should the Germans?

The Germans paid the reparation for like two years anyway (which amounted to less than 10% of the sum they were initially planned to pay)

>>1865418
>>Bringing me D-Day era figures when we were digressing on the Battle of France
Well I retract that.

I can grasp why you'd bring it up, but I had simply thought that you were referring exclusively to 1940. But for Caen for example, those bombardments were aimed towards the remnants of the German army sheltering themselves there, while the Stukas would dive-bomb civilians in full knowledge of their status, in the intent that civilian corpses be sprawled on the streets to hinder the French and British from moving about.

>>1865418
>Bringing me D-Day era figures when we were digressing on the Battle of France
I was only pointing out that in the Normany campaign alone the Allies killed 15-20,000 French Civilians, let alone the bombings from 1940-1944, the push past Normandy deep into France, Southern Invasion, Belgium, Netherlands, Italy, etc.
Again, More French civilians died from Allied bombs than German bombs.

>>1865444
Yeah, was confused at first but retracted it afterwards: >>1865444

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Colonel Goltzen, our regimental commander, leads us in the front of our formation. Somewhere we have to find a way to flank this tangled obstacle. Horses must be diverted. Some men had found bicycles a few days ago, but we had to leave them by the canal. It’s very slow moving through this underbrush. Dusk comes, and our advanced line falls apart. Then all of a sudden we are at it with the enemy. Out of nowhere, we receive heavy fire from machine guns. No one knows where it is coming from. No one knows what to do next, we can only find cover. Beyond the jungle enemy tank tracks can be heard, and then thank cannon fire spits death and destruction towards us.
By early morning, on June 7th however, we break through thanks to our Anti-Tank Cannons that sorted the enemy armor out.
The French retreat from the area, and we take many POWs on the southern side of the Aisne Canal, mostly colored troops. Our thoughts are now with our brave comrades who have lost their lives. Death has finally marched through our ranks. To the left of the road to Chavignon-Pinon, a detail of our unit pays their last respect to, SSgt. Werner Steinberg, Cpl. Hans Wagler, and Cpl. Kurt Flemming. Our Captain sends prayers and thanks into the cool grave of these brave soldiers.

>>1865452
Here, my bad. >>1865436

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Some of our Comrades are not afraid to cry. Tears roll down their faces. The Captain is quiet and lets them cry. We also have quite a few serious wounded men from the fight at the Aisne Canal. SSgt. Sommer, Sgt. Ruppmann, and PFC Arno Roscher. Light casualties are Sgt. Endorfund and Pvt. Illing. At noon on June the 7th we assemble near Allemant, just south of Pinon. We now look older, we’ve received our baptism of fire, we stood up to the task that was given to us.
But soon the order to move forward comes, and we have to pursue the enemy. We had a few hours of rest after the fight last night, and we move out,
Towards Soissons we advance, the enemy occupies a strong position south of the river Aisne. We stay in a barn for the night, all around us cannons are sending their shells toward the French.
>>1865171
>>1865323
Maybe you should sit down and shut up. Wait until I post it all to start criticizing it.

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Our 3rd section is already entrenched near the river south of Bouchy-le-Long. Here the fighting is hard and man against man. It is the second enemy line of his famous Weygand Fortifications. Again we have casualties. Pvt. Eric Roscher needs field hospitalization. Early on the morning of June 8th, our battalion moves forward to the river bank. How strange we can hear the nightingales sing in the park of a Chateau, while a few 100 yards away war is waged, and men are killed. Our Artillery is death on target and covers our river crossing, and in front are our gallant officers. We advance yard by yard, the enemy gives up parts of his defense system. Our company is in the lead, our Captain in front. We cross a railroad track, and then reach a highway. We attack the village of artillery fire. Our attack causes the French to abandon the town of Billy, between this village and Septmons, we dig in on a ridge overlooking the valley of the Aisne River. We are supposed to hold this line until relieved by one of our Panzer units. A few French bombers appear above us but German air superiority is assured. We wave and shout at our flying comrades in arms, above us, endless streams of German Air might on their way to the West.
The expected French counter attack is not forth coming, it means, we have to chase after the enemy, even if it means without our Panzers. We advance on June 9th, the highways are in a state of unbelievable melee, this is war, we recognize it not. The sun unmercifully burns down on us.

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The stench of dead horses that litters the highway is awful. On we march to Septmons-Roziers where a French air attack comes upon us. Near Rollone a convoy of our trucks overtakes us, some wise guy has written the following French words on the sides “La guerre es fini” or “The war is over”. Of course the war is far from over but it might work as a ruse to convince the enemy to les us cross the Ourq River in peace.
But the plan misfires. An infantry unit that has advanced to the river’s edge is repulsed with heavy casualties. Shortly after midnight our Colonel and Captains move cautiously forward to recon the best way of a morning attack by our Regiment. They find an intact bridge across the river Ourq near Breny. Two water towers and several houses are in runis, beyond this the enemy occupies a strong position.
Early in the morning we let loose with all of our 12 machine guns into the French lines. Mortar bursts mingle with exploding artillery shells. The enemy retreats yard by yard. We Take Breny, the next town; La Croix falls to our attack. A ridge ahead we clean of enemy resistance. We capture two French anti tank weapons, a good addition to our Army. We are dead tired but we must not let off, the enemy must be perused.
A few kilometers north of the Marne River, we finally come to a halt. On June the 11th we leave this area, where 25 years ago another big battle had been fought. We move towards Chateau Tierry. The day is wet and dull; we practice gas alarm just as a precaution. Three kilometers from Chateau Tierry we have a break in our march. We are getting ready for this final push across the Marne River, the River that had saved France’s destiny twice in the past, but not this time. We are determined not to let it happen again. We must, and we WILL cross this time.

After reading these three passages
>>1865482
>>1865490
>>1865470

Im convinced this guy needs to seriously STFU
>>1865171
>>1865323
>>1865418

>>1865490
>Near Rollone a convoy of our trucks overtakes us, some wise guy has written the following French words on the sides “La guerre es fini” or “The war is over”. Of course the war is far from over but it might work as a ruse to convince the enemy to les us cross the Ourq River in peace.
>But the plan misfires. An infantry unit that has advanced to the river’s edge is repulsed with heavy casualties.

Looks like German humor was not appreciated by frogs

>>1863059
What's the point of this thread? Are you trying to imply that Germans are actual people with souls, and not soulless evil autistic automatons that wouldn't otherwise be working in factories trying to take over Europe's economy and playing factory simulator games if they weren't actively engaged in a world war?

Because you'd be wrong

>>1865544
you're simple minded

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June the 11th, evening, we advance into the river valley and into the beautiful city of Chateau Tierry. Heavy artillery fire lies on the French line on the southern side of the river but the French too are determined to hold, and they counter attack. We find many of our dead comrades still lying in the streets in the northern part of the city. We are supposed to stay ever night in cellars while the engineers prepare our rubber rafts to cross over at first light. But just as darkness falls we are ordered to cross over, without any noise that would betray us to the enemy we cross the Marne & Marne Canal and go under cover in the first houses we reach. As soon as we secured the bridgehead our engineers are hard at work constructing a new bridge. By dawn the Grench artillery begin their work and soon the new bridge is destroyed. Heroic engineers loose their lives for Germany, but we prepare for attack.
We must take these southern Marne heights; the French artillery fire is on target and blocks the main road. We advance none the less, one, then two rail roads we cross, we soon find ourselves halfway up on these Marne hills. To our left by the main road we occupy a castle, we find a huge depot of provisions there. Bread, canned meat, chocolate, sugar, among other things. But soon our joy disappears; enemy tanks are coming so we are told. Our anti tank cannons and our machine gun carriers are still north of the river, besides we had run out of anti tank shells, but alas the enemy tanks do not show up. But the French artillery makes up for it. Also a few enemy bombers appear about to drop their eggs on our position without results. We enjoy the view of a flight of our Stuka’s who suddenly cross over us to attack the French lines on the ridge about us. Under cover of their attack we continue our advance uphill. We come under French artillery fire and reach the top of the hill after a short fight.

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The last of the French fortified lines of the Weygand Belt is broken and falls into our hands.
We settle down on the ridge to hold at all cost when we receive the good news that 2 German Panzer Divisions have just crossed the Marne River and sure enough, late in the afternoon the 12th 800 Panzers rolls past us and breaks the last resistance from the enemy. Our sour mood turns to joy, all of our sacrifices, all of our efforts were not in vain.
To top the victory, just at this moment a heavy and cooling shower of rain comes down on us, this is our “Wonder of the Marne”. Up to now we had the most beautiful sunshine, even though it was brutally hot at times, no rain could possibly hinder our operations. Far sough to the Marne, we find at last our deserved rest in an old farm house. Meanwhile our Panzers are involved in a pursuit of the fleeing enemy. From now on the front is far ahead of us, perhaps it will out run us.
Not to mention that the rather large chicken congregation on the farm, and the deserved rest is a welcome change. Our Commanders express their thanks for the battles that we have won. What follows now is our advance over roads that were used by our Panzers in the drive south. Late on July 13th we again are on the move.

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This time the roads are mostly destroyed, we pass uncountable POWs, destroyed bridges, dead horses, ruined cities and endless refugees who are trying desperately to return home. Everywhere we see the evidence of our Panzers and Stuka’s. We also sense that French resistance in coming to an end. It might be only a matter of days, even hours before the French collapse. We pass endless columns of French POW’s who are marching towards our rear without a German guard in sight. Most just stare ahead, fear in their eyes, others smile and shout to us “La guerre fini” “The war is over. Yes the war is over for them, a senseless war that they had started on September 3rd 1939. But it’s their own fault, they did not take our Fuehrer’s peaceful intentions seriously.
We march through the forest at Montmirail, huge stacks of shells are laying here in these woods, probably meant for us to give the French another “Wonder of the Marne”. Well, we might use them now to fight the English. Eternay, Villenauxe, are totally destroyed. We reach the Seine River and cross over at Nogent sur Seine. The French retreat was so rapid here that they didn’t even blow the bridges.

In a small town south of the Seine River, Cumery, we have a well deserved rest. But not for long, we are supposed to cross another river at the Yonne. We reach the town of Pont sur Yonne, the bridge was blown by the retreating enemy but our engineers worked miracles and a new bridge was in place, a Baily Bridge of 16 ton capacity and we cross without let up. Near St. Serotin we reach the modern highway to Coutenay. Just before we enter the city, good joyful news arrive this day on July 18th. The Fuehrer has received a cease fire offering from the French. We think it’s almost unbelievable despite the fact that common sense tells us the French have no fight left. We had heard many rumors in the last few days and weeks that had turned out to be untrue but now it is for real. France is going to capitulate.

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While this might be colored by some bit of propaganda, this is still a primary source and a unique look into the Wehrmacht's mindset.

Cheers, OP. Keep it up.

>>1866720
>Yes it is a war they started

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>>1866720
>. Well, we might use them now to fight the English

Lmao this deluded fuck thought the English were going to stay and fight them instead of cowardly running away to hide on their island
I bet they didnt teach European history in the Reich's schools

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From the “Great Halt” we return home to Germany. Deep in the heart of France, on the same latitude as the Swiss Border, our Regt camps by the Loire River, near the town of Bourges. The 4th Battalion has been distributed and occupies a few farms in the area of Dampierre. Our Company HQ has comfortable Quarters in a Chateau; the owner probably fled the premises long ago. The name of the place is La Raterie. This place will be in my memory forever, during the night of June 24th, we listen to the radio, we are witnessing in this great hour the capitulation of France. It is a wonderful cool summer’s night, we sit around in the so called yellow room, candles lit on the tables, a few bottles of good French wine we empty. Our thoughts wander between front and home, we think back to the times o heavy fighting, the good and bad hours, we think of our fallen Comrades, with our wounded, long after midnight we hear in the distance the trumpet signal “All halt”, it is the end of the war in France. No words can express our feelings, now that all is over, an eery quietness descents over us, nobody talks but inside we all thankdfull that we are part of this historic hour, our eternal love for our Fuhrer, he who called us, who gave us the chance to be part of all this. We live & let live in Retiere here, almost like back home, we can sleep in normal beds again and feel grand. We take care of some refugees that have now returned to their homes, our Battalion has even opened a refugee camp in Vailly. We confiscate all Hunting weapons of the local people, write down a few orders, we mend shoes and make butter, we wash and cook. We even organize a bash for our Battalion officers. One day the owner of the Chateau turns up with his wife. He wants us to move out so he can move back in, but we make it quite clear, that, as victors, we have every right to sleep in his beds.

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We explain to him in broken French, that, if France had not declared war on us, we probably would be sleeping in our own beds at home, and besides, our Soldiers behave far better then the French rabble that occupied the Rhineland after the war of 1914-1918. So therefore, Monsieur and Madam, you have to be satisfied with accommodation at the home of one of your workers. He sent a protest to our Army High Command with no avail. But when the time came to leave this nice place, we take him on a tour of his home and show him that we left everything in 1st class order. He is overjoyed and thanks us, he can’t believe that German soldiers behave like decent humans, “Mercie, tres bien, felicite de vos Soldat Monssieurs Capitan”. Yes, soon our farewell comes, by the end of the month we get ready to move out. We hear news that our Battalion is to proceed to Germany in the area of Oppeln-Liegnitz for demobilization. Shall we believe it? One thing is clear, we are send first to Saarbrucken, about 300 miles away and we march, knowing that home is ahead of us, we even skip rest days, we want to get home, only one thing matters, “we see you all again in the homland”. We break camp on June 30th, traditionally, it is a hot summer’s day again, and towards Cernoy where we cross the River Loire again. Onwards we march, French war equipment, destroyed or cannibalized lays along the road. We reach Chessey, and here we find a huge Egg Depot almost a Million Eggs, that’s food, plus a lot of other things we find, Wine, Champaign etc.

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Here we gorge ourselves on all these goodies. Tomorrow we are on the road again to march another sack of miles.
We reach the river Yonne again, and the heights of the Oth Forest.
Here again the road is littered with destroyed French trucks. In the village of Acres we stop. Here we take a days rest. Our Commander finds quarters in a house occupied by an elderly friendly couple. For the first time in France we notice a well and orderly kept house. The occupants assure us, that they not French but originated from Spain. They also tell us that the French told them stories about us barbaric Germans, chopping off hands of children etc. They talk about the French Army, destroying their own towns, robbing, and looting their own kind’s dead. The German soldiers, so they tell us, were well behaved. With open mouth and ears, they listen to our talk about our glorious Fuhrer Adolf Hitler, and his care for the German people, the KdF, and social institutions. In turn they mention the bad French economy, and the empty promises of Party and Government. The French peasant puts the blame on the English, and also the bad role the Jews played in their economy. We talk until late that night. It was a nice and pleasant meeting. July 4th we’re on the road again early in the morning. Near Troyes our Company Commander leaves us, he has been ordered to attend a Reichstag meeting by the Fuehrer, our Commander is not only a soldier, he is a Congress man in the Government. The next day we march on, typical French dirty roads, to a Nunnery, where it’s our day of rest and it rains madly.

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>>1867233
>and besides, our Soldiers behave far better then the French rabble that occupied the Rhineland after the war of 1914-1918

Kek
They seemed like edgy guys indeed

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>>1867233
>We explain to him in broken French, that, if France had not declared war on us, we probably would be sleeping in our own beds at home, and besides, our Soldiers behave far better then the French rabble that occupied the Rhineland after the war of 1914-1918. So therefore, Monsieur and Madam, you have to be satisfied with accommodation at the home of one of your workers.

What a fucking brainwashed asshole, I hope Ivan gave him a fitting end on the eastern front.

Pic related

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>>1867390
He's right that French occupying forces were dicks in Germany
Pic related, total assholes

>>1863403
> looted by retreating civilians and enemy soldiers.

Totally not looted by our own soldiers, they'd never do that.

>>1867137
You on the other hand would have made your army stay and fight! Shortly leading to the deaths of all your troops and the loss of the war.

No, if you were there you would have been the first to cry and run.

>>1865171
It could also be the thoughts of a well drilled soldier with a bit of an artistic streak.
It's still early into WW2, odds are he was one of the people really drinking the nazi coolaid, which were plentiful amongst the ranks of Wehrmacht.

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July 8th, the road takes us to Blumery, into the Meuse Valley to Joinville. Here we meet the first new German recruits who will be the occupational force in France. Also, here we learn once again how beer tastes. The next day we pass through Greux, the city where the legendary Joan de Arc was born, and then on to a village named La Pucelle. It resembles more a manure heap than an inhabited place, and here we reach the banks of the Moselle River. Here we have the inkling, that we not far from Germany now, we march through the fortifications of the old Maginot Line, into Lorraine, that is once again a German province. On July the 11th, our 3rd rest day before the cease fire came into effect. Truck loads of weapons of all calibers are parked everywhere, but we want to go on, we would not mind marching day and night to leave this hated country and get home to Germany. July 12th, we pass Nancy, a coal and salt mining district. We stop overnight in Buissoncourt, the next day is a march, in which we are going up and down hills. Germany is looming ahead. Near Velaine we finally reach the old German frontier in Lorraine. Towns and villages have German names now but it seems that the people are not very keen on us soldiers. Maybe because some men from the village had joined the French army?

>>1865102

>implying studying the propaganda version of events isn't as important as studying the actual events

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The village, as it still is in the old French province of Lorraine, was probably anti-German. In the school house we find lots of French propaganda material, where the Germany was trodden into the dirt. Today is also the French national Holiday, July 14th, but here we hardly see any celebrations, only a few patriotic school boys singing the 14th July song.

The next day we march towards Falkenberg. All around us we see the forts of the Maginot line, with bunkers, anti-tank gun positions, Tank traps, and flooded trenches. We enter St. Avold, where not a soul is in sight. In the Army Quarters of the Garde de Mobile Nationale we were supposed to stay a few days, but nobody wants to stay in a pigsty like this. Swarms of flies attack us all day, getting water is almost impossible, and the whole town has only one well and that is undrinkable.

We had enough and hit the road again, where we reached the border town of Ennsdorf, and at last we are in Germany. What a difference, clean houses and streets, order and organization. Here we are at home so to speak, here we have once again running tap water, electricity and even top clean German restaurants that serve everything we have longed for. We stay a few days here, some guys take a trip to the big city of Saarbrucken, and others take a walk to the new German border fortifications, the Westwall. People decorate our carts with flowers before we depart.

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Finally we board a train on July 21st, the train takes us to Saarbrucken, Kaiserslautern, Mainz, Frankfurt, Geisen, and Kassel. There we experience an Air raid by British bombers. The train takes us to, Berlin then to Oberlechen. Late that night, we arrive in thick fog and mist in our quarters Ostlager Strans. Naturally, we almost expected that we would get a surprise message, for the demobilization of our Division has been completed. Our faces drop several inches, this ended our tour of duty, but we soon get use to the daily score of training.

We are overjoyed to hear that most of us are in line for a furlough home to help with the harvest.

We, who had done our duty with our weapons in our fists, for the Fuehrer and Fatherland, now we can do our civilian duty for Germany, like a good National Socialist should do.

But when the call to arms is ordered again, we will gather around the banner, and we will fight again until final victory.

Like France, England will fall so we can have better Europe were Germany takes the front seat that it deserves.

When the Fuehrer calls us, we will follow.

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>>1863076
>>1863078
>>1863080
>>1863082
>>1863190
>>1863192
>>1863403
>>1865084
>>1865094
>>1865098
>>1865108
>>1865123
>>1865455
>>1865470
>>1865482
>>1865490
>>1866693
>>1866709
>>1866720
>>1867214
>>1867233
>>1867242
>>1868688
>>1869259
>>1869264

And that is all folks, I hope y'all enjoyed reading it.

>>1867347
Wow, I'm totally convinced by your 1 picture without context argumentation. Totally into Wehrmacht now! Go Krauts!

>>1865226
>Yea, just like we'll dismiss the Western Allies killing more French and Dutch civilians in their bombings than the Germans ever did.
I'm Dutch and I'm gonna need some source on this so I can shut down anglos on /int/

Thanks for the translations, first hand accounts are interesting to read. It does read like a propaganda piece (which it is) but that is to be expected because the writer is a bluepilled normie who has been fed the official state propaganda since he was around 11 years old. He can't redpill himself on 4chan for another 63 years.

>>1863078
>We are surprised one day to be issued with weapons, leftovers from the Czech Army, Constructed in an earlier war by Austrians.
I think that means they were given M1895 Mannlichers, so these guys were not expected to do much (if any) fighting.

>>1869272
thanks anon/

>>1863657
>Then explain how 6 millions died
OH FOR FUCK'S SAKE

>>1869272
Thank you very much!

Holy shit with the fucking bullshit in this thread.

Fascinating historical document translated by OP for /his/ to enjoy.

...and then a buncha teenage faggot edgelord SJWs hop in and shit politics all over the fucking place like drunk monkeys on acid.

>>1870013
>I think that means they were given M1895 Mannlichers, so these guys were not expected to do much (if any) fighting.
Fun fact, even with the Czechoslovak army, the Mannlicher was kept in storage and reserve by the late 20s, as they had switched to their Mauser 98 variant, mk. 24. So these guys got, like, "double" hand-me-downs.

>>1865171
You have 10 seconds to explain why wouldn't you loot your own village before leaving

Keep in mind whatever you don't grab goes to Hitlers pocket

Go be a Nazi apologist somewhere else.
It is fascinating to read, but it's about 50% pure unadulterated propaganda.

Of course we're gonna laugh at it.

>>1870154
It's not looting if you're grabbing your own stuff y'know

>>1870158
Meant for >>1870107

>>1870128
The germans issued some really ancient stuff, oldest I'm aware of being the Lebel from 1886, first military issue rifle using smokeless powder. It is overshadowed by their wartime developments on modern things like assault rifles and machine guns, but a lot of the guys away from enemy lines got some pretty old stuff that they got from occupied territories.
Here's a list of them for those who are interested, the Mannlicher would be considered modern compared to some of the things in there:
http://www.axishistory.com/about-ahf/138-equipment/equipment/4257-fremden-geraet-captured-small-arms

>>1863059
Post the German text you faggot (pretty please)

>>1865470
>Maybe you should sit down and shut up. Wait until I post it all to start criticizing it.
The butthurt caused by this is too strong. He can't help it.

>>1870158
>too butthurt to appreciate a historical document and shitting on OP's thread who was kind enough to translate it
OP should have posted it on /k/, /his/ can't handle talking about history in a mature manner.

>>1870013
I think it means more that they were just a Reserve unit. A lot of reserve units had hand me down weapons

>>1870158
Fuck you. Remove politics. History only.

anyone who considers this diary as "propaganda" is bluepilled as fuck.

>>1874343
what do you expect from a tumblr colony