War diary German MP w. situational maps and film footage 1941 FELDGENDARMERIE in BARBAROSSA № 2

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Episode № 284

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This is a police unit positioned near the Soviet border on June 21, 1941. They are celebrating the momentous beginning of operation Barbarossa.

Wolfgang was a member of troop Nr. 140, which was attached to the 170th ID.

Einback, April 16th, 1941.

I’ve been a soldier since January 9 of 1940- While our field police unit was being created at the compound in Munster in the first months of the year and then during a waiting period, our division marched into Denmark and then took part in the campaign against Holland, Belgium, and France. They then paused for a break in Chantilly and on the channel coast at Trouville. But now finally it seems that we too will be going to war. This reality has instilled in us a spirit of optimism. It’s said that the day after tomorrow, Friday will be a fateful day; that we’re going to be sent to Constanze on the Black Sea.

On April 17th Wolfgang writes that preparations for the trip are made. The following day, in the evening, he along with his comrad Joosten, leave Einbeck driving in an Opel Olympia. Their trip takes them through the eastern part of Greater Germany, into the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia, into Hungary through Budapest and then on through the part of Hungary that was recovered from Romania the year earlier. On the 22nd it becomes clear that they are heading towards the Romanian Russian border.

Der 25. April

We drive through the night south along the main road until about 200 hours when we arrive to Buzau. By 500 hours we’ve unloaded everything and make our way a temporary barracks where we all gather.

This is the situational map for June 21st of 1941 the day before Barbarossa kicked off. In it we can see where all the German units were positioned for the attack and German estimations of the Russian units and their locations.

Wolfgang’s entry from April 25th states that they are in Buzau, Romania, situated here, which was about 100 km to the Soviet border.

In entries over the next few days, Wolfgang describes the generally dirty living conditions, their need on sleep on straw sacks, the presence of mice that eat their bread, and having to deal with lice. He and two others go to the city of Buzau and see the serious damage caused to buildings from a large earthquake. The city streets are terribly dirty and they see many prostitutes and they estimate, judging by their appearance, that 90% of them are sick.

Much of the soldiers time is spent cleaning, playing the card game Skat, and unsuccessfully fighting the mice. Wolfgang’s entry from May 1 gives an interesting insight to the global situation. During the day we begin patrolling the camp. The Romanians in response take precautionary measures by setting up two light machine guns within the camp and driving through the city with machine guns.

In September of 1940 the country of Romania was turned into a dictatorship under Ion Antonescu. By October 8th German forces had begun entering the country and their number quickly rose to more than 500,000. Romania then officially joined the Axis powers on November 23 of that year. With the crisis in Bulgaria which threatened to turn the country against Germany, the first German troops crossed the Danube river from Romania on February 28 of 1941. The following day Bulgaria, now securely under the leadership of King Boris III, also joined the Axis powers. Interestingly, Russophile Bulgarians that came into contact with the invading German forces welcomed them as liberators, believing that Germany and the Soviet Union were allied. At the time it was true, but not for long.

When Wolfgang wrote this entry, on May 1, the Romanians had not yet been informed about the German intention to attack the Soviet Union. With the Balkan campaign over It was clear to all that that the Germans were not drawing down their military power in Romania; in fact it was increasing considerably, which made some in the government nervous. This nice footage shows Wehrmacht soldiers crossing the Brenner Pass in northern Italy and being sent to the Balkans in preparation for the attack against the Soviet Union.

Not until Antonescu traveled to Munich on June 11, just 11 days before the beginning of the invasion, would Hitler inform him of the pending surprise attack. At this date the German soldiers also had no idea.

As Germany prepared to invade Russia in 1941, Romania faced a momentous decision. Antonescu traveled to Munich where on June 11 Hitler informed him of his plans to invade the Soviet Union. Antonescu pledged Romania's support in liberating Bessarabia and Bucovina but made no promises as to further operations.