Photograph by Erik Suijkerbuijk © 2010. No un-authorised use.
Early morning, and the sun slowly starts to rise above the horizon. The Füsilier company stands to in the chill air. Stabsgefreiter Heinz, tired and cold, keeps a sharp look out. He knows that a small group of his closest comrades have been out all night on a patrol ordered by battalion, and have yet to return.

The woods in the distance were their target. The silence is ominous. “They had better get back now” thinks Heinz “if they leave it any longer it will be too light and they will never get back across no-man’s land alive.”

Photograph by Erik Suijkerbuijk © 2010. No un-authorised use.

Further down the trench system, the Leutnant and Hauptfeldwebel discuss the situation with concern. “We can ill afford this, Rolf” grumbles the officer “we are thin on the ground as it is and the men are tired. We could not send out the new boys on a patrol as dangerous as this.

"They would not have lasted one moment. And so we dare to risk the lives of our few veterans, who have already been through so much. What choices we have to make... and furthermore, where the hell are they!?”

Photograph by Erik Suijkerbuijk © 2010. No un-authorised use.
As if in answer to the Leutnant’s question, the morning air suddenly explodes with noise from the distant woods. The sharp detonations of grenades, the crackle of sub-machine guns and the distinctive rrrrrrrip, rrrrrrip, rrrrrrrip of a MG42 can be heard. All along the Füsilier position optics of all types are aimed towards the commotion.

The veteran Stabsgefreiter Heinz points out some movement at the edge of the tree line. “Can you see?” he asks his K43 equipped comrade “There, just to the left of the largest pine, is that one of ours or one of theirs? You are young, my eyes are not what they used to be” he quips.

Photograph by Erik Suijkerbuijk © 2010. No un-authorised use.

“Well then Kalten, it sounds as if our patrol has stirred up a real hornet’s nest over there. I pray they get out of that unscathed.

 

"No sign yet... but... Wait! Aha, there they are! Some way off still but I can see them now... 1... 2... 3..4... 5... now 6... alles gut!

"They are all there, hopefully safe and sound! You had better get along and tell our boys that they are ours coming back in and not Ivan!”

Photograph by Erik Suijkerbuijk © 2010. No un-authorised use.

Further down the line in one of the company MG positions Füsilier Riedmuller and Füsilier Andreas attentively watch the drama in front of them. Suddenly Füsilier Riedmuller spots running figures in the distance. Thick white smoke billows from the edge of the woods, the rattle of small-arms fire continues to reverberate through the early morning air. “Look out, potential trouble brewing ahead” he growls at Andreas. The younger Füsilier makes ready to assist the MG gunner...

Photograph by Erik Suijkerbuijk © 2010. No un-authorised use.

The voice of the Hauptfeldwebel can be heard as he runs along the trench. “Hold your fire! Hold your fire! It’s our lads!” Füsilier Riedmuller squints through the MG optics at the potential targets now racing across the open ground in front of him, and then knowingly smiles. “Hold fire then, they are ours... the patrol is on its way back. I recognise Obergefreiter Henken at the front darting from cover to cover like a hare!”


Photograph by Erik Suijkerbuijk © 2010. No un-authorised use.

Having crossed back over no-man’s land and entered the Füsilier trench network, the patrol leader and his assistant are fatigued but quietly jubilant at their safe return.

“The woods to our front which Battalion thought were unoccupied are now absolutely crawling with enemy infantry, Herr Leutnant” says Obergefreiter Henken.

“Those damn Soviets have been busy... MG’s, light infantry guns, mortars... all being dug in... we were extremely lucky to get away. Thank God we had those smoke grenades to cover our withdrawal.”

Photograph by Erik Suijkerbuijk © 2010. No un-authorised use.
Füsilier Sondermann, one of the latest recruits from Cottbus, reflects on his first combat patrol.

Having stocked up on fresh ammunition for his rifle, he clutches a new Panzerfaust and listens as Obergefreiter Henken makes his report.

He knows he was lucky to get away without more than a few mosquito bites and wonders if he will be allowed some sleep now... it has been a long night.

Photograph by Erik Suijkerbuijk © 2010. No un-authorised use.

The Leutnant listens as the patrol leader tells of their narrow escape. He is content that ‘his boys’ have returned unharmed and the information that they relate will be of use to the Regiment’s assessment of the enemy.

A brief but deadly bombardment of the new enemy positions will surely follow... such is the nature of trench warfare, and tonight he will undoubtedly have to send out yet another patrol...

Photograph by Erik Suijkerbuijk © 2010. No un-authorised use.

Stabsgefreiter Heinz, a seasoned campaigner and veteran of the Großdeutschland Division, is experienced enough to take cover during the proceeding bombardment. While the Division's gunners are well trained, their artillery is no match to the calibre and sheer quantity of their Soviet opponents. The Stabsgefreiter wonders to himself, "what will the next day bring...".