Introduction
One of the most impressive finds of the last couple of years is this diary. The diary belonged to a German officer who was active under Werfer-Regiment 83. After the creation of this unit, it was based in the sector of La Havre. Following the allied invasion of Normandy on June 6th 1944, the unit was on full alert and got sent to the area of Caen. There it had its baptism of fire on June 11th, firing on Canadian troops north of Caen and around Carpiquet airfield, and giving fire support to Kampfgruppe Waldmüller of the 12. SS-Panzer-Division Hitlerjugend. It was also involved in the German efforts to contain Canadian troops moving south over the Caen plain, and eventually forming the northern pincer of the Falaise pocket. In those desperate defensive actions before the retreat over the Seine the unit gave fire support to units such as Grenadier-Regiment 1053 of the 85. Infanterie-Division. It remained on the front line until the end of August 1944, when it withdrew to Germany. There the unit was refitted and sent into action during the Ardennes offensive (Battle of the Bulge). The writer of this diary was sent to East Prussia prior to the commitment of his unit in the Ardennes. The reasons for his transfer remain unclear, although it is possible that he was part of the cadre of a new unit. He remained in action against Soviet troops until the end of the diary (January 19, 1945). His original unit ended the war in Austria. During the fighting in Normandy the regiment lost three quarters of its original strength.
A four-leaf clover, commonly seen as a symbol of good fortune, that was stuck between the pages.
The diary begins when Werfer-Regiment 83 moves out of Celle. On the 13th of May 1944 they arrive at Romescamps, where they will stay until D-Day. On June 7th the unit arrives in the Falaise area.
After the fighting around the Falaise pocket, Werfer-Regiment 83 retreats across France. At the Belgian border the writer’s battery is committed once more in fire support of SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 26. It then retreats through Belgium to Gemen near Borken. After that the unit is refitted in Mellendorf/Celle, before being committed in the Ardennes.
For unknown reasons, the writer is transferred to East Prussia somewhere between November 20 and December 11, 1944. On December 11 he is at Truppenübungsplatz Stablack, before going to the area of Viehof. On December 21 he is committed in the area of Zellmühle/Grossguden and is in action against Soviet troops until the end of the diary (January 19, 1945).