Notes
Chapter 1. The Development of a Fortress
1. Thrams, p. 13.
2. Thrams, pp. 14–15.
3. Thrams, pp. 22–4.
4. Melzheimer, p. 180.
5. Kohlase [BO], p. 161; Thrams, p. 28.
6. Melzheimer, p. 180; Thrams, p. 26.
7. Thrams, p. 31.
Chapter 2. The Vistula–Oder Operation
1. Duffy, pp. 249–51; BMA RH 19/XV/13K3.
2. Chuikov, pp. 148–9.
3. Babadshanian, p. 217.
4. Chuikov, p. 159.
5. MA USSR, Stock 333, List 396, File 396, Sheets 58–9 [Bokov, p. 101]; Chuikov, p. 159.
6. Chuikov, p. 160, Order No. 00172 of 27 January 1945.
7. Babadshanian, pp. 218–20.
8. Kohlase [BO], p. 45.
9. Katukov, pp. 329ff; Spaeter, pp. 321–2.
10. Duffy, pp. 178–9; Tieke, p.12.
11. Kohlase [AKTS], pp. 20–2.
12. Kohlase [AKTS], pp. 33–5.
13. Kohlase [AKTS], pp. 68ff.
14. Kohlase [AKTS], p. 145.
Chapter 3. Defence Preparations
1. Thrams, p. 21
2. Thrams, p. 19.
3. Kohlase [Band 4], p. 72.
4. Kohlase [Band 3], p. 32.
5. Kohlase [Band 4], p. 86.
6. Kohlase [AKTS], p. 89.
7. Kohlase [Band 4], p. 77.
8. Kohlase [AKTS], p. 71.
9. BMA RH XII/23, Sheet 352 and RH 19/XV/3 [Kortenhaus, pp. 105, 107]; Schrode, p. 82.
10. Kroemer and Zobel to the author.
Chapter 4. The Russians are Here!
1. Kohlase [BO], p. 45 [Bokov, p. 88] and [Band 4], p. 99; Thrams, p. 32.
2. Kohlase [Band 4], pp. 73–4.
3. Kohlase [Band 4], pp. 73–4.
4. Kohlase [Band 4], p. 87.
5. Kohlase [AKTS], pp. 71–2.
6. Thrams, pp. 29–32.
7. Melzheimer, p. 181.
8. Kohlase [AKTS], pp. 61–3.
9. Boehm, pp. 275–7.
10. Kohlase [Band 4], p. 91.
11. Kohlase [Band 4], pp. 29–35. Schmidt’s unit was the 8th Bty, IInd Battalion, Flak Regiment 14, 23rd Flak Division. The railway sidings he mentioned were part of the Potato Meal Factory (Norddeutschen Kartoffel-Mehlfabrik), Küstrin’s largest employer of labour.
12. Rudolf Dawidowski in Kohlase [AKTS], p. 82.
13. Melzheimer, p. 182.
14. Kohlase [Band 3], pp. 51–2.
15. Thrams, pp. 33–4.
16. Boehm, pp. 277–8; Schrode, p. 82.
17. MA DDR, WF-03/17398, Sheets 461 and 488 [Simon, p. 351]; tanks in Knüppel, p. 104.
18. Kohlase [AKTS], pp. 43–4.
19. Schrode, p. 82. These Ju-87G Stukas were equipped with 37mm cannon underslung from the wings outboard of the fixed undercarriage.
20. Thrams, p. 34.
Chapter 5. The Siege Begins
1. Erickson, pp. 473–4.
2. Zhukov, pp. 327–34.
3. Duffy, p. 188; Zhukov, pp. 330–1.
4. Duffy, pp. 181–2; Guderian, pp. 342–4; Zhukov, p. 337.
5. Duffy, pp. 182–3, as amended from Tessin.
6. Erickson, p. 520.
7. Kohlase [AKTS], pp. 26–7.
8. Kohlase [AKTS], p. 27.
9. Thrams, p. 35
10. Kohlase [AKTS], pp. 21–4.
11. Kohlase [AKTS], p. 27.
12. Kohlase [AKTS], p. 25.
13. Thrams, pp. 35–9.
14. Thrams, pp. 36–8.
15. Kohlase [Band 4], pp. 35–8.
16. Kohlase [AKTS], pp. 72–3.
17. Kohlase [AKTS], p. 44.
18. Kohlase [AKTS], p. 62.
19. Kohlase [Band 3], p. 43.
20. Kohlase [Band 4], pp. 87–9.
21. Kohlase [AKTS], p. 85.
22. Kohlase [Küstrin], pp. 42–3. The main responsibility for this massacre lay with State Secretary Klemm, Oberstaatswalt Hansen, Prison Director Knops, his deputy Rung, Inspector Klitzing, the leader of the special Gestapo commando Krause, and the SS men who had carried out the murders. Rung was later sentenced to death for his part in this crime, Klitzing died in prison, and Klemm was given a life sentence but released after only a short while.
23. MA DDR, WF-03/5083, Sheet 820 [Simon, p. 20].
24. Bokov, p. 106; MA DDR, WF-03/5083, Sheet 820 [Simon, p. 20]; Schrode, pp. 85–6.
25. Kohlase [Band 4], pp. 38–42. Despite Schmidt’s account, one 16-year-old Soviet soldier surrendered [Märkische Oder-Zeitung of 15 November 1996].
26. Kohlase [Band 3], pp. 32–4.
27. MA DDR, WF-03/5083, Sheet 820 [Simon, p. 20].
28. Kohlase [BO], pp. 164–5 [Busse, p. 51.]
29. Thrams, p. 40.
30. Thrams, pp. 40–1.
31. Thrams, p. 41.
32. Kohlase [AKTS], p. 45.
33. Kohlase [Band 4], pp. 77–9.
34. Kohlase [AKTS], pp. 142–3.
Chapter 6. The Russians Close In
1. Chuikov, p. 156.
2. Knüppel, p. 115.
3. Chuikov, pp. 160–1.
4. Erickson, p. 474.
5. Knüppel, pp. 115–16.
6. Thrams, pp. 43–4.
7. Thrams, pp. 41–2.
8. Kohlase [Band 4], p. 42
9. Thrams, pp. 42–3.
10. Thrams, pp. 44–5.
11. Thrams, p. 45.
12. MA DDR, WF-03/5083, Sheets 27, 147 and 950 [Simon, p. 37]: Weber article.
13. Thrams, pp. 45–8.
14. Kohlase [Band 3], p. 56.
15. Kohlase [BO], pp. 164–6. The sources only mention one lunette on the Island but aerial photographs show two side by side protecting the Artillery Barracks from the southern tip, that nearest the Oder being the remains of an earlier defensive work along the river embankment and balanced by another, since covered by the Altstadt railway station development.
16. Kohlase [BO], p. 166.
17. Thrams, pp. 44–5.
18. Thrams, pp. 48–50.
19. Thrams, pp. 48–9.
20. Thrams, pp. 50–1.
21. Kohlase [AKTS], p. 80.
22. Thrams, pp. 51–4.
23. Thrams, pp. 54–5.
24. Thrams, pp. 56–7.
25. Thrams, pp. 57–8; Kohlase [BO], p. 163.
26. Thrams, p. 58.
27. Thrams, pp. 59–60.
28. Kohlase [Band 4], pp. 42–8.
29. Kohlase [Band 3], pp. 44–6.
30. Thrams, p. 61.
31. Thrams, pp. 61–2.
32. Thrams, p. 62.
33. Thrams, pp 64–5; Kohlase [Band 4], pp. 44–8.
34. Thrams, p. 66.
35. Thrams, pp. 67–8.
36. Kohlase [AKTS], p. 111.
37. Kohlase [Band 3], pp. 44–6.
38. Kohlase [AKTS], p. 90.
39. Kohlase [Band 4], pp. 48–55.
Chapter 7. Evacuation
1. Thrams, pp. 69–72.
2. Kohlase [AKTS], p. 143.
3. Kohlase [BO], p. 169; Thrams, pp. 44–5.
4. Kohlase [Band 4], pp. 55–9.
5. Thrams, pp. 72–4.
6. Kohlase [Band 4], pp. 91–2. The reactive mortars referred to were large rockets packed in wooden cases that also served as their launching racks.
7. Thrams, pp. 74–5.
8. Thrams, pp. 76–8.
9. Thrams, pp. 78–9.
10. Thrams, pp. 79–80.
11. Kohlase [Band 4], pp. 79–80.
12. Thrams, pp. 80–1
13. Thrams, pp. 81–2.
14. Kohlase [Band 3], pp. 34–5.
15. Thrams, pp. 83–4.
16. Thrams, pp. 84–6.
17. Thrams, pp. 69–79.
18. Kohlase [AKTS], pp. 111–12.
19. Thrams, pp. 86–7.
20. Thrams, pp. 87–9.
21. Kohlase [AKTS], p. 112; Thrams, p. 89.
22. Thrams, pp. 90–1.
Chapter 8. Assault on the Neustadt
1. Kohlase [K], p. 58; Thrams, pp. 92–3.
2. Kohlase [K], p. 58; Thrams, p. 94.
3. Bokov, p. 119; Hahn, p. 8; Thrams, pp. 94–6; article in War Literature. The Seydlitz-Troops were mentioned in a telephoned report to HQ 9th Army (exhibit in Seelow Museum).
Seydlitz-Troops was the name given to the turncoat German units raised by the National Committee for a Free Germany within the Soviet Union from prisoners of war. The members were initially used for disseminating written and oral propaganda encouraging German soldiers to desert, but later went into actual combat against them; they also spread false orders among retreating troops in order to trap them. General Walter von Seydlitz-Kurzbach, captured at Stalingrad, was the vice-president of the committee, but had disassociated himself from all but the propaganda purposes of these troops and was later officially exonerated.
4. Kohlase [AKTS], pp. 47–8.
5. Kohlase [Band 4], p. 80.
6. Kohlase [AKTS], p. 85.
7. Kohlase [AKTS], p. 36.
8. Kohlase [AKTS], pp. 46–7.
9. Thrams, pp. 96–100.
10. Kohlase [Band 3], p. 46.
11. Kohlase [Band 3], pp. 52–3.
12. Kohlase [AKTS], pp. 75–6.
13. Kohlase [AKTS], p. 37.
14. Kohlase [Band 4], pp. 80–1.
15. Thrams, pp. 100–3.
16. Kohlase [Band 3], p. 35.
17. Kohlase [Band 3], pp. 46–7. Peters was given his marching orders on 13 April, being sent to Engineer Replacement and Training Battalion 3 in Brandenburg. He eventually got across the Elbe to the Americans, who handed him over to the Russians in a group of 50,000, but he managed to escape before they crossed back over the Elbe and found his way home safely to Ringelheim, near Salzgitter.
18. Kohlase [Band 3], p. 53. The Goliath was a small, tank-like tracked vehicle used for demolition purposes. It could be steered by cable or wireless to a range of 650–1,000 metres and was only 67cm high.
19. Thrams, p. 103.
20. Kohlase [AKTS], p. 48.
21. Kohlase [Band 4], pp. 74–5.
22. Kohlase [AKTS], pp. 112–13.
23. Thrams, pp. 104–5.
24. Kohlase [Band 4], pp. 74–5.
25. Kohlase [Band 3], pp. 37–40.
Chapter 9. Assault on the Altstadt
1. Brückl, p. 15 [Simon, p. 44]. The only elevation of 16.3 metres in the area is a hillock within the Kalenziger Wiesen, giving an actual elevation of about 7.3 metres above the surrounding area. This was already occupied by the 60th Guards Rifle Division.
2. Thrams, pp. 105–11.
3. Kohlase [AKTS], pp. 47-8.
4. Kohlase [AKTS], pp. 76–7.
5. Kohlase [303], pp. 35–6.
6. Kohlase [303], p. 36; Schöneck, pp. 31–42.
7. Kohlase [AKTS], pp. 48–50.
8. Thrams, pp. 111–12.
9. Boehm, p. 289; Hahn, p. 9; Thrams, pp. 112–14; Zobel to author.
10. Kohlase [303], pp. 36–9.
11. Kohlase [AKTS], pp. 50–1.
12. Kohlase [AKTS], pp. 63–4.
13. Thrams, pp. 114–15.
14. Kohlase [303], p. 39.
15. Chuikov, p. 169; Thrams, p. 115.
16. Kohlase [303], p. 41.
17. Kohlase [303], p. 41.
18. Kohlase [AKTS], pp. 90–2.
19. Kohlase [AKTS], pp. 85–6.
20. Busse, p. 154; Guderian, pp. 353–4; MA DDR WF-03/086, Sheets 262ff [Simon, pp. 48–9].
21. Duffy, pp. 243–5.
22. Boehm, p. 280; Hahn, p. 9; MA DDR W-03/5086, Sheets 170, 223 [Simon, pp. 48–9].
23. MA DDR W-03/5086, Sheet 261 [Simon, p. 50]; Thrams, p. 115.
24. Kohlase [303], p. 41.
25. Thrams, p. 117.
26. Kohlase [303], pp. 41, 43.
27. Kohlase [AKTS], p. 64.
28. MA DDR W-03/5086, Sheet 505f [Simon, pp. 50–1].
29. Boehm, p. 281; MA DDR W-03/5086, Sheets 505ff [Simon, pp. 50–1].
30. Hahn, p. 9; MA DDR W-03/5086, Sheets 292, 313 [Simon, p. 51]; Zobel to author.
31. Thrams, pp. 117–18.
32. Kohlase [AKTS], p. 83
Chapter 10. Breakout
1. Thrams, pp. 118–20.
2. Kohlase [AKTS], pp. 38–40.
3. Kohlase [303], pp. 48–9, 52.
4. Kohlase [Band 3], pp. 53–4. There were no Königstigers in Küstrin.
5. Kohlase [AKTS], p. 92.
6. Kohlase [Band 4], p. 91.
7. Kohlase [Band 4], p. 86.
8. Kohlase [AKTS], p. 64.
9. Thrams, pp. 120–1.
10. Kohlase [AKTS], p. 65.
11. Kohlase [AKTS], pp. 51–3.
12. Kohlase [AKTS], pp. 39–40.
13. Thrams, p. 121.
14. Report dated 1993 in the author’s possession.
15. Kohlase [Band 4], p. 93.
16. Kohlase [AKTS], pp. 53–4.
17. Kohlase [AKTS], pp. 39–41.
18. Kohlase [AKTS], pp. 65–6.
19. Kohlase [AKTS], p. 86.
20. Kohlase [303], pp. 48–9, 52–5, 57–60.
21. Kohlase [Band 3], p. 54.
Chapter 11. Consequences
1. Kohlase [Band 4], p. 56; Thrams, p. 122.
2. Melzheimer, p. 185.
3. Thrams, p. 136.
4. Thrams, p. 121.
5. Kohlase [AKTS], pp. 54–5.
6. Kohlase [Band 4], pp. 93–5.
7. Report by Second-Lieutenant Karl-Hermann Tamms, in the author’s possession.
8. Davies, p. 545.
9. Davies, p. 252.
10. Davies, p. 279.
11. Kohlase [AKTS], p. 161.
12. Kohlase [AKTS], p. 188.
13. Kohlase [AKTS], p. 14.
14. Article in Alte Kameraden taken from Oberstleutnant Ulrich Saft’s Das bittere Ende der Luftwaffe(Verlag-Saft, Langenhagen).
15. Antipenko, p. 279.
16. Zhukov, pp. 609, 612.
17. Thrams, pp. 136–7.
18. Twierdza Kostrzyn 2015.