Gdańsk 1945 year described by the Germans.

At the turn of the year 1944/45 It was clear to all insightful, that the advantage of Soviet troops cannot be stopped with military forces, which we had; German 2 Army, which was in the reserve of West Prussia, She no longer had any prospects for receiving additions from the West. On the other hand, the Russians gradually sent against German 2 Army not less than 10 powerful armies, including first -class tank armies. Little chance of protecting the Gdańsk region would exist for some time, If the Supreme Command decided to withdraw from the beginning 2 Army to Gdańsk and leave it there in a hedgehog position, with the possibility of supplying a sea. At that time, troops in East Prussia and Kurland could be discharged by sea to Gdańsk, And the Russians would not be easy to overpower this sea position at the mouth of the Vistula.
The Supreme Command, however, decided differently: 2 The army was stretched like an eraser, To prevent Russian forces on Berlin, winging north towards West Prussia and Pomerania. This task was insoluble, because the Russians could, wherever they wanted, break through the extended thin German lines and divide the army. It happened immediately. At the beginning of March 1945 the year, the Russians went east of Köslin through the railway line and thus transformed Western Prussia with Eastern Pomerania into a boiler, whose connection with the crowd was only possible by sea. A few days later there was a deep break in the direction of PR. Stargard, which was occupied after street fighting.
Now command 2. Army (General Colonel Weiß) After all, he tried to lead the remains of the army back to the Gdańsk region. However, this met with great difficulties, because there was not enough fuel for tank power, Assault department etc.. A lot of this heavy weapon had to be saved. So many of these heavy weapons had to be blown up. When the first tanks appeared at the Field Fortifications of the Danzig-Gotenhafen outer defensive ring, The defenders did not know much, Is it about retreating German tanks, or about the attaching Soviet tanks, because in many cases Russian tanks were far before German piss and retreating German combat troops – hopeless confusion, which was gradually explained only with the greatest losses on our part.
In the area of ​​the cities of Danzig and Gotenhafen (Gingingen), which were recognized as fortresses, were located, Apart from Volksturm, actually only recovery companies, Marines participating in ground fight and other formations, whose combat strength was very low. In addition, even more able to fight formations, such as “General hall”, They were withdrawn from Gdańsk by sea, Not so much for military reasons, what political, In order to use them to create new military formations in the Reich. Generał of the Specht Infantry, commander in the fortress area, He was desperate, but his objections had no effect. Among other things, from the very beginning he had the greatest reservations about the recognition of Gdańsk and Gotenhafen for the fortresses, Because all the premises were missing. It would be much more favorable to withdraw the fighting troops to the Vistula line and together with the East Prussian army to keep the Delta of the Vistula and Nogat and the areas further east by flooding low -located areas. All these proposals were refused. According to the orders of the Führer, Danzig-Gotenhafen fortresses were to be kept to the end.
Not only Germany, But also foreigners were employed to dig trenches and build tank traps around Gdańsk. Food rations for these workers were very poor, Just like their accommodation and clothing. The weather was winter and very cold until March. All free rooms were occupied by refugees, foreign workers and wounded, unless the army needed them. As the front approaches from the east towards the Delta of the Vistula and Nogat, Most of the villages were evacuated, and wanderers in terribly cold days, on the snow -covered roads, They started wandering to the west. They followed the East Prussian wandering, some of which have already set off, but they didn't reach far. Wanderers from the vicinity of Neuteich and Tiegenhof only arrived at the area of ​​Marienee and remained there for several weeks, until, when the Russian tanks forced them to escape to Gdańsk and, If possible, to swim to the west. This caused a rapid deterioration in the food situation in the Gdańsk region.