‘Wonderful!’ I replied. ‘At last there is something for us to do.’
When I reached the general, he was already talking to Bogdanov. From their talk I could make out that the army commander-in-chief was pleased with the results of the first stages of the attack and was now demanding the speedy taking of Malchow and Weissensee. Krivoshein signalled with his hand for me to wait for him at the regiment.
On the Perimeter of Berlin
A new day broke. The sun shone like a ball of fire over the fully blooming garden. Our heavy SPGs were standing in a field next to the highway. A signpost bore the inscription: ‘Berlin 7km.’ Our aircraft were bombing the city.
The SPG crews had made themselves comfortable next to their vehicles and were waiting for the order to attack. A little further off, next to some bushes in bloom, lay the commander of the 4th Company, Valentin Mussatov, on his spread-out waterproof coat, studying the map. He was thoughtfully chewing a grass stalk. He knew how many dangers a big city like Berlin concealed, so was going through everything in his thoughts. That meant thinking over all future handling in advance, not only his own, but also those of his subordinates.
The arrival of General Krivoshein interrupted Mussatov’s thoughts. The corps commander had us called together and explained the situation to us. ‘The infantry cannot break through the outer defensive ring on their own. They urgently need worthwhile support. This task falls to you.’
Krivoshein had me hand him my map and drew a red arrow from Birkholz to Malchow and on to the north-eastern edge of Berlin. Smiling, he handed me the map: ‘There you have your Berlin, do with it what you want.’
As I turned round to look at him, he went on: ‘The defence in Malchow must be burst apart by the force of your heavy SPGs. Then force your way into Berlin with your infantry.’
Lieutenant-Colonel Pashitnov had the regiment parade. All were in the best of spirits. I looked at my men. Yes, with these men I could fulfil my tasks should they be not too complicated. Many of them had travelled the difficult way from Moscow to here. They would now travel with the inexperienced men and support them.
Mussatov’s company would attack in the first echelon and be the leading company on the march as well as in the development phase. This decision was right up Mussatov’s street. His eyes flashed. ‘Thank you for your confidence, Comrade Commander.’ He put his helmet on and his company rolled off.
Ivanov’s company had the task, in cooperation with Mussatov and the tanks of Chotimski and Sokolov, who had replaced Colonel Yershov, to break into Malchow and attack the north-eastern edge of Berlin. A few days earlier the regiment’s Communists had accepted Ivanov as a member of the Communist Party. Major Odartshuk had handed him his membership card today.
Mussatov came across the first obstacle before Schwanebeck. The Buch–Birkholz road running across his line of attack was on a high embankment and hindered the company’s deployment. Although it was dangerous, he had to drive on in column ahead. The SPGs increased speed and passed through the village of Schwanebeck without a fight.
Through a liaison officer I informed Mussatov that he should deploy into line as soon as he had Schwanebeck behind him. But Mussatov replied: ‘That is not possible. Another road is already running ahead of us. It is only passable in column. There is an underpass at Point 71.3 of the road going past.’
It was obvious to me what was going to happen to us. If the regiment was unable to deploy in time, it would cost us more in losses of men and equipment, as the direction of fire would be impeded. ‘You must deploy as quickly as possible. Look for a suitable spot left or right of the road,’ I told him.
Mussatov called up the SPG commanders, Chorushenko, Bushuiev and Shevtshuk, by radio. They were to reconnoitre the ground. Meanwhile the companies stopped. I became worried when almost thirty minutes had passed and Lieutenant Mussatov had still not reported back. We could not stop for so long right under the nose of the enemy – the danger of air attack was much too great. I sent a messenger to Lieutenant Ivanov and ordered him to go round Mussatov’s company and attack Malchow. But hardly had the 2nd Company begun overtaking than the 4th Company returned. Mussatov did not want to be removed from the lead. The vehicles of Chorushenko, Luschpa and Ivanov followed him.
Finally Malchow lay before us. Only about 400 metres separated us from the village. I left my SPG, sought a suitable position and observed the terrain. Colonel Chotimski joined me. To the right of the village an anti-tank ditch ran towards Pankow, while to the left lay meadows and fields. The entrance to the village was barred with a barricade of tree trunks and stones. Our SPGs were not equipped for such difficulties: either the tracks would come off or the engines would fail. Chotimski promised to get some Sherman tanks to Malchow.
But Mussatov ordered his driver, Lieutenant Kusnezov, to accelerate and cross the barricade. He asked the commanders of the other SPGs to fire at the barricade to pin down any possible Panzerfaust men. Stones and splinters flew all around, but the barricade remained standing. It only shrank a little.
Mussatov got closer to the barricade. The first Panzerfaust shots were already flying towards him from the anti-tank ditch. In reply Ivanov showered the ditch with shrapnel to protect Mussatov. I got into contact with Lieutenant Muraviov and pressed him to thrust forward faster with his machine-pistol men.
Kusnezov turned the SPG on the barricade once more. Its tracks churned like powerful shovels at the obstacle. Finally he made it, and the SPG stood on the other side of the barricade.
I immediately told Ivanov to support Mussatov effectively. Muraviov’s machine-pistol men had not yet arrived. Majors Ossadtchi and Sacharkin concerned themselves with Mussatov and his crew, who were having to fight unaided. ‘What do you think? Could he hold out there for thirty minutes? ’ I asked. ‘Reinforcements can’t get there sooner.’
‘He would rather die than go back one step,’ replied Ossadtchi.
I was of the same opinion, but also did not want to provoke fate, so I sent Ossadtchi and Sacharkin to the companies to hurry them up. All seemed to be done, but my concern for Mussatov had not lessened. I contacted him by radio again and again.
‘It’s hot here in Malchow,’ he reported. ‘I’m hardly 300 metres from the barricade. There are Fascists everywhere. We are firing with everything we’ve got. Goldman and Kusnezov are keeping the enemy back with hand grenades. Should the Panzerfaust men come here, then its “good night!”’
‘Hold on, old chap, help is coming soon.’
‘We’ll get through it soon.’
A few minutes later I talked with him again. ‘What does it look like now?’
Mussatov coughed violently: ‘It’s just happened. A Panzerfaust got us. We can hardly breathe for smoke. My hearing has been damaged a bit. I don’t know what actually happened. I was sitting in the gun aimer’s place, Sergeant-Major Goldman standing behind me. Suddenly there was an almighty blow and a bright flash. The Panzerfaust must have hit the side right at the spot where Goldman was standing. He was killed instantly.’
‘How is the SPG?’
The engine is still running. We are driving into a building and climbing out of the emergency exit hatch. Then we will be able to defend the vehicle better.’
Thereupon the connection with Mussatov was broken. I hurried to the village. A tank whose engine had failed was blocking the SPGs. A towing vehicle was already there to pull it aside. Now the way was open for us. Among the charging submachine-gunners I discovered our Yura.