Barrenger Soldiers
6th Volksgrenadier Division
Photos 1 TO 4: Barrenger soldiers of the 6th Volksgrenadier Division Marching through the recaptured Lauban on March 30., 1945 In the last few days, six ten-Year-olds have been used to “armed” in the so-called Volksgrenadier divisions. Already after two to three weeks of training, these boys were sent to the front.
On March 3., 1945, the panzergruppe nehring started a counterattack with two tanks (*) on the soviets in silesia, in which they managed to regain the city of lauban, which was occupied by the Soviets, and a Soviet Guard-Shooter – Corps almost completely adversarial.
A witness describes his impressions after the conquest of Lau: ” on the way through the debris of the city, we saw terrible images of destroyed vehicles of all kinds, from panje wagons with dead horses and many dead Russian soldiers. On the occasion we also saw the American trucks delivered to the Russians by the USA, these were the “Studebakers” against which our still existing trucks were really pathetic. (…) if there is an increase in the terms of horror and grey, then I experienced this increase when I went to a house with two other countries. What we saw in the basement of the house was atrocious, and we got a terrible shock. In the basement were the bodies of five naked German women, who had been slashed from the sheath of the abdomen. I’m sure bayonets were used for that. At this sight we were not only fulfilled by a grey, but also from a terrible anger to those who had committed so mean, so-called murders. We were in a constitution where we would have killed Russians, if they would have stood in front of us as prisoners right now, without regard to whether they would have been the perpetrators or not. I think I might have been ready to kill another human being. Then I couldn’t have been more proud of not having a human being on conscience. What we saw there was a crime that was untitled to us, which put us in a rage of anger. For the first time, I experienced how fast it can happen to become completely unpredictable. Our anger did not stand against an ideology that addressed the brutes who had done so.”
(Source: Lemo Museum Online / witnesses report by Werner M. From Kronach)
(*) Daily report of the German wehrmacht leadership of 03.03.1945: ” group nehring joined two panzerkorps… in the room on both sides to attack… and came well forward against the first surprised enemy with both attack groups. While the right attack group is scheduled… on naumburg (! ) Eindreht, stands the left attack group in the fight with the… Self-reinforcing enemy.”
Day report of the German Wehrmacht tour of 04.03.1945: ” in lower silesia, the own attack of two panzerkorps in the room lauban did not bring the expected success and was first fixed. From the further course… it will depend on whether the enemy is prompted to use parts of the probably to refresh extracted 3. Tank Army, which is expected to have an essential disturbance of the enemy intentions regarding the timing of his planning.”
Day report of the German Wehrmacht tour of 05.03.1945: ” in lower silesia, the own attack after regrouping won several kilometers of ground.”
Day report of the German wehrmacht guided tour of 06.03.1945: ” in silesia, the own area reached its own attack… the queis section 6 KM N-O Lauban, while the eastern attack group was only insignificant forward by flank attacks of the enemy Came.”
Day report of the German wehrmacht guided tour of 07.03.1945: ” in silesia, the own attack in the area of lauban was essentially (! ) the goals set. Strong military forces have been dismissed and an enemy forces group included.”
