To 7 Coy The enemy attacking KLESSIN is most urgently to be forced to ground with machine guns.
From 7 Coy Enemy attack from WUHDEN toward west swung round on KLESSIN and from the dip in front of our own Sector on KLESSIN.
To II Do you have lamps for a night supply air drop?
From II 1344 To 13 Company: 2 salvoes on MARS.
From II 1347 Situation re-established, cleared up. Casualties from enemy artillery fire expected.
To II 1350 Query: Have all attacks been beaten back?
From II 1355 Prepare for further all round fire.
To II 1419 How was the last rocket barrage?
From II 1435 To 2nd Battalion/Armoured Artillery Regiment ‘Kurmark’:
One salvo on GUSTAV immediately.
From II Query: Is the barrage ready? Command TONI 100m up, otherwise in own trenches.
To II 1448 Barrage ready.
From II 1448 …and thrown out again in a counterattack. The enemy was being driven on by commissars. Current statements from prisoners. We are expecting further enemy attacks.
Casualties not yet reviewed.
Conditions for wounded very, very bad.
Cover hardly possible. Reserves fully committed.
Urgently request fighter aircraft support.
To II What is situation?
From II 1540 Relief today urgently necessary. The enemy is occupying the eastern part of the SCHLOSS and is constantly reinforcing. Forces for a counterattack not available. Please relieve urgently.
From II Barrage all round.
From II Continual barrage all round urgent.
To 7 Coy Force the enemy now attacking southern KLESSIN to the ground with all your weapons.
From II Barrage all round urgent.
From II Where is the barrage?
To II Where is the main enemy point of attack?
From II East and south of SCHLOSS.
From II 1630 Heavy losses. We are fighting to the last man.
To II 1643 Hold on. Decision applied for.
From II One battery on GUSTAV. Own artillery firing too short.
From II To 2nd Battalion/Armoured Artillery Regiment ‘Kurmark’: one salvo on SPERBER.
From II One salvo on GUSTAV.
From II 1711 Situation difficult. We must fear the worst this evening.
From II To 2nd Battalion/Armoured Artillery Regiment ‘Kurmark’: one salvo on GUSTAV.
From II To 2nd Battalion/Armoured Artillery Regiment ‘Kurmark’: Harassing fire on SPERBER, GUSTAV and RITTERSPORN 2.
From II Where is the harassing fire on areas GUSTAV, SPERBER and RITTERSPORN 2?
To II Harassing fire being fired constantly. Report where and how strong enemy penetration.
From II Enemy has penetrated SCHLOSS and southern part of village with one company.
From II Where is the harassing fire?
To II 1754 Artillery report that they are firing constantly. What is the situation?
From II 1800 Prepare all round barrage.
To II 1805 Barrage ready.
From II Request constant harassing fire all round.
To II 1821 Own artillery doing everything possible.
From II 1825 Wounded can no longer be provided shelter in the position. Considerable collapse of trenches. We are using the last of our strength. Enemy preparing to attack.
To II Tell Lieutenant Schöne of concern that all the divisional Radio codes, including the most important, be destroyed in radio station HOPP. Report immediately if code blown. Corporal Hopp is already aware.
From II 2000 Fire barrage!
From II 2001 Request last orders.
To II 2036 Is there an enemy attack?
From II No!
From II Mortar fire landing on own positions.
From II 2055 Heavy artillery harassing fire on position.
To II 2104 Decision whether KLESSIN garrison is to continue fighting has been passed by Division to Army Group.
From II 2101 To Regiment: Old command post blown up.
To II 2126 Through a direct hit or demolition?
From II Several direct hits. Burnt, then exploded.
From II One salvo on all blocking areas.
To II 2206 KLESSIN can be assured that the Regiment is doing everything possible.
The garrison’s fighting strength fell dramatically through losses in dead and wounded, and both tanks were knocked out by direct hits during the course of the day. That evening Second Lieutenant Greib of the Bicycle Platoon knocked out a Stalin tank with a Panzerfaust at point-blank range. However, the situation demanded constant artillery support, which did not stop the Soviets getting a foothold in the eastern corner of the Schloss that evening that proved of considerable tactical value to them.
Although the situation in Klessin was now desperate, both the Corps and Army commanders regarded Hitler’s orders as sacrosanct, so Colonel Langkeit apparently decided to bypass them and appeal direct to Colonel General Gotthardt Heinrici at Army Group. Meanwhile decorations and promotions were used as morale-boosters. Years later Schöne was to comment that they had never lost confidence in their regimental and divisional commanders in this situation.
On the morning of the 23rd March the Soviets broke through into the main part of the Schloss after a long and heavy artillery preparation and after several failed attempts. The defence were by now too weak to mount a counterattack and were obliged to form a cordon west of the building. The Soviets then brought in two tanks, an anti-tank gun and several heavy machine guns with which they began to dominate the hamlet from the Schloss, causing trenches to collapse and inflicting heavy casualties to the extent that nearly everyone of the defence were wounded.
Two breaches in the northern defences had to be cleared during the morning, and by noon the last fifteen to twenty unwounded soldiers formed a hedgehog around the battalion command post, into which a number of the wounded had to be carried. Then, during the late afternoon, the Soviets forced their way into the centre and the northern part of the hamlet, splitting the garrison into several groups. The radio log shows how the situation developed during the day:
To II 0036 All officer cadet staff sergeants in KLESSIN are promoted second lieutenant with immediate effect. Heartiest congratulations.
From II To Commanding Officer 300:
Enemy is pressing in ever closer on inner defences from all sides.
One tank destroyed in close fighting. The wounded are lying in the trenches. Everything can be expected to be overrun in the next attack. No reserves left. Is it possible to break out or be relieved by 0300 hours?
From II Tanks are ready with infantry.
To II Send further recommendations for Iron Cross.
From II Where are the barrages on ILONA and RITTERSPORN 2?
To II Barrages coming.
From II Decision presses until 2300 hrs. This combat team cannot take another attack without reinforcement and will be overrun.
To II Highest recognition of your brave conduct. Hold on!
Langkeit, Colonel.
From II Request harassing fire on DROSSEL.
To II Men of KLESSIN! One looks on you full of pride and admiration. You are the decisive wave-breakers against the Bolshevist storm on the Reichs capital. Heil our Führer! SS-Obergruppenführer and General of the Waffen-SS Kleinheisterkamp.
From II To 2nd Battalion/Armoured Artillery Regiment ‘Kurmark’: one salvo on RITTERSPORN 2.
Enemy forming up point.
To II Lieutenant Schöne: The Führer has awarded you the Knights’ Cross. Heartiest congratulations from the Regiment.
From II 0410 Strength 90 men.
From II 0445 Request permission to break out. Russians ready to attack.
To II 0515 To Captain Böge: High Command insists position is to be held under all circumstances.
From II Enemy attacking. Barrages on ILONA and RITTERSPORN 2.