18
Upon returning to Combat Group headquarters, Junger and the radio equipment were delivered back to Captain Beck’s charge. When replacements were eventually assigned, Voss would welcome the signalman’s expertise. The youth shook hands with Reinhardt and Hartmann and said he’d volunteer if he were able. Without the slightest trace of arrogance, Junger added that he doubted the intelligence staff would let him go, as he was too good at his job. After they said their good-byes and the corporal left the Hanomag, Beck congratulated them for the superb manner in which they had accomplished the mission. He passed along Colonel Hahn’s apologies for not being present to greet them, as he’d been summoned to an important staff meeting. There was no opportunity for an official debriefing, as Beck was pressed for time, although he did show Voss the general area on the map where his battalion operated. When the Combat Group linked up with the other divisions, namely the Ninth and Twenty-Third Panzers, there was a tendency toward overlap. The battalion covered a wide sector twelve kilometers further to the southeast. Skirmishes were flaring up all along the line and then quieting down, only to erupt in some other sector. This had been the rule since early morning. T-34s constantly probed and were kept in check by the few self-propelled guns at their disposal.
The first chore Voss and the crew had to undertake upon leaving Beck was to tow a Pak38 and transport the gun crew. The antitank cannon were to beef up an area undergoing repeated forays by enemy armor. Reconnaissance assumed it was no more than a feint rather than an all-out attack, but nothing could be left to chance. The consensus was that the Russians would continue to apply pressure, but it would be a couple of days before a major assault was launched. Their heavy artillery had to be moved up and into place, and that would cost the Red Army some time.
After the Pak crew had dug in and camouflaged the gun, a radio message relayed the designated sector Voss was responsible to keep under observation. Upon their arrival they were met by Griem’s adjutant, Lieutenant Konrad, who was in temporary command of the battalion. An important staff meeting was brewing, and a number of field officers, including the captain, were flocking to the rear at an undisclosed location. Konrad implied some important announcement was in the offing—he didn’t know what, but nonetheless the officer seemed pleased with himself that he could relate this much to Voss.
Activity gradually stabilized by nightfall. Flares lit up the sky, and there was the occasional stutter from the MG42s. The Hanomag had repositioned itself several kilometers to the rear of the front line, close to where an under strength platoon had dug in for the night. A coded message was received from the battalion command vehicle. Voss was ordered to stand by and wait for a visit from the CO.
Well after midnight the puttering of a motorcycle could be heard. Hartmann went to the aft machine gun and pointed west, the direction the sound originated from.
The engine noise increased in volume until it was suddenly switched off, and the motorcycle coasted to within a few meters of the armored vehicle. A dark form climbed out of the sidecar and approached.
“Turn that weapon aside, if you don’t mind. It’s me, Griem.”
“Sorry, Captain,” Hartmann said, and swiveled the machine gun away from the officer. Voss opened the crew compartment doors wide enough to allow the captain to enter.
“That will be all, Corporal,” Griem said, and the driver stepped out of the crew compartment. Griem then sat down on a bench nearest the rear doors. Sergeant Reinhardt was up in the co-driver’s seat, monitoring transmissions on the radio. “Anything happening I should know about, Lieutenant?” Griem asked.
“Enemy patrols are trying to work their way in to do some damage, only they haven’t had any success. At least not in our sector.”
The captain uttered his approval. “The theory at headquarters is that nothing significant is expected from the Russians over the next forty-eight to seventy-two hours. The First Guard Mechanized and the Twenty-Third Tank Corps received quite a thump on their return to South-West Front. They are in no mood to see action yet.”
“Was that the subject of the briefing?”
“Partly. That’s why I’m here. It’s official. As of twenty-four hundred hours, September fifteenth, Army Group South is to withdraw to the west bank of the Dniepr River.”
Voss exhaled a sigh that drained the frustrations, hardships, and even the anger that had accumulated over the past weeks. These were expected, needed words to hear; finally, the hopes of thousands of men fulfilled.
“Quite a number were there, including some of the staff from the Twenty-Third and Fretter-Pico’s Thirtieth Corps. I saw more than a few battle-hardened officers weep with gratitude when they heard the news. There is no other alternative open for us. Not without reinforcement, and that’s not to be had. The field marshal has understood all along what needed to be done, only it took some time for Berlin to accede to the reality of the situation. Well, there is no denying the reality any longer.”
Voss agreed and asked how they would proceed next.
“As you know, division has set up headquarters at Zaporozhye. The Combat Group will fall back to form part of a defensive ring east of the city as part of General Heinrici’s Panzer Corps. Exact details of the plan will be issued later.”
Zaporozhye played a pivotal strategic role, Voss knew. The enormous dam and power stations supplied electricity for the industrial and mining centers throughout the western Ukraine. During the Wehrmacht’s advance in ’41, the Soviets had sabotaged the dam before retreating further to the east. German engineers were required to spend a great amount of time bringing the facilities back online; even now, the electrical output capacity had yet to be fully restored. Zaporozhye was a prize the Fuehrer would not allow to be lost.
“Colonel Hahn gave the briefing,” Griem continued. “I imagine he wanted to be the one to convey some good news for a change, after so many months of sending us out on fire brigade duties. All orders concerning the strategic withdrawal will devolve from the respective Army headquarters, First Panzer, Sixth, Eighth, etcetera, and will coordinate with Army Group command. All strategic forces are to remain intact and cohesion maintained. ‘Grave risks will be undertaken. Difficult orders carried out. More sacrifices will be asked of you and your men to achieve this goal,’ to quote the Colonel.”
As always, Voss thought, only now the stakes are that much higher. Griem slipped a hand into the pocket of his field tunic, brought out a piece of paper, and gave it to Voss. “Your new orders.” it was too dark to read; Voss went for the flashlight clipped to his epaulette, but Griem stopped him. “I know what it says. You and your crew are to report to Reconnaissance Group Falkenstein and assist in all matters pertaining to the captain’s ongoing operation until further notice. Signed by Colonel Hahn.”
Voss was taken by complete surprise and did not know how to react.