The Eastern Front in 1943

A selection of posts from the year in which the tables were turned in Russia and the Wehrmacht started a long retreat

Welcome to the Eastern Front

Last weekend the melt water reached up to our knees and filled up the creeks and gardens. The surrounding landscape is a giant lake. Our vehicles are stuck. It takes us three to four days to move a single vehicle which before took only an hour.

24th March 1943: A seasoned veteran watches as fresh new troops encounter the reality of life on the front

6th June 1943: Hitler delays launching his 1943 campaign while he awaits new tanks and tank destroyers

8th July 1943: A Wehrmacht Panzer commander describes the tactics used to close with the Red Army tanks in a long day of fighting

A grayish yellow cloud arose in front of us, as if created by a hurricane. Heavy rounds whistled overhead and crashed into the artillery positions behind us. It sounded like a frog concert, except with a lot of horrible tones. Shrapnel, tree limbs and clumps of earth hissed through our fruit orchard. Wounded cried out in a way that went to the marrow of your bones: “Meddicccc!”

22nd July 1943: After Hitler calls off 'Operation Citadel' the Russians begin to reveal the massive strength they now have, especially in artillery

19th September 1943: As the Red Army recovers territory in the Ukraine they find a people traumatised by the German occupation

Nothing could save us from the enemy numbers. One company withdrew from the trench, and two of our guns were lost. The Russians drove their wedge farther into our hinterland. Our reserves were being bled dry, even before any counterattack could be mounted. There was no help to come. We wrote farewell letters and waited to die.

11th October 1943: A graphic and honest account from a German soldier of how the fighting on the Eastern Front has become a series of desperate retreats

6th December 1943: Despite all the reverses and retreats since Kursk the Germans can still mount a three Panzer Division counter-attack