Klaus Ritter
Letter
dated 4 June 1999

How old were you during the offensive? I was 18 years old.
Were you a Private First Class or a private? I was a Gefreiter (Private First Class) and officer candidate.
To which company were you assigned? I was assigned to the 18th VGD. The division had three regiments 293rd, 294th, and the 295th. I was assigned to the Panzerjäger Battalion (Anti-Tank) 1818.
Which weapons were you issued? I carried a Pistol M1934, a machine assault rifle StG44 (this was a brand new machine pistol).
What type of equipment were you issed? I wore a greatcoat, a complete German uniform, belt buckle, gas mask, bread bag, canteen, however I did not wear a white camouflage uniforms.
Shoes (quarter-ankle) or boots? I wore normal shoes.
Socks and underwear? Yes, but very often they were poor quality. I did not have frozen feet.
Did you have enough to eat? Yes, most of the time. We often ate captured American food stocks. Describe your combat morale. At first very good, then worse. Did you have any friends? We had eight soldiers, a towed anti-tank gun (caliber 75mm).
Did you have enough ammunition? Yes. Did you see your commanding officers? No.
Did you destroy and tanks? No.
Did you receive any decorations? Yes, the Wound Badge.
What were the circumstances when you were wounded? I was underway in the evening with the gun from St. Vith to Crombach. The American fired phosphor projectiles (artillery). My comrades and I sought cover in a ditch along the road. A projectile detonated next to us along the road and we were sprayed with phosphor. Our clothes began to burn. A medic placed me in a large tub full of cold water. Without air phosphor is unable to burn. I do not have any photographs from the war because they all burned.

Sincerely,
Klaus Ritter

Copyright Stenger Historica 2008