Eyewitness Testimony Georg Potzler

Report of the former Major of the German Air Force Georg Potzler on his activity as commander of the Volkssturm Battalion REIMAHG My last duty station, the IX Air Corps, had arrived in Neu Bihg near Munich after the dramatic retreat on February 27, 1945. The operational capability of the units attached to us was no longer possible due to the now almost catastrophic fuel shortage. The Soviet forces had reached Silesia and West Prussia. The English-American forces had crossed the Rhine. It was clear to each of us that the war was coming to an end. At the beginning of March, my duty station was dissolved, and I asked the Chief of Staff for my provisional leave to my hometown Kahla. This was initially refused with reference to the existing orders, but finally approved out of consideration for my absolute redundancy there. On March 7, 1945, I was sent on march to Kahla with the condition to report to the next air service station every few days. Arrival in Kahla on March 9, 1945, initially on leave. Reporting in Jena-Rödigen every three days and inquiry whether new assignment had been received from the Air Force Personnel Office. Towards the end of March, the previous commander of the Volkssturm Battalion REIMAHG was relieved of his post due to incompetent behavior. He had triggered an alarm based on a rumor, which almost led to the blowing up of the Saale bridge. An acquaintance of mine, who it was I do not know, had mentioned my name as a possible successor to the combat commander in Jena. Thus, I was appointed leader of the Volkssturm Battalion REIMAHG. I then went to REIMAHG to inform myself about the strength, armament, and tasks of this unit. What I learned was catastrophic. Strength about 500 men, who at that time were employed in aircraft construction. Equipment with weapons and ammunition was completely insufficient; the mission to hold the Saale line with this unit was in any case not feasible. My second concern was the approximately 15,000 foreign workers employed in the construction work in the mountain. These were conscripts from Italy, Poland, Serbia, and the Soviet Union. For these 15,000 people, provisions were available for only a few days. What was to become of them when this time had passed? I discussed these matters with the factory cell leader of the plant, SS-Brigadeführer Pflomm. He recognized the precariousness of the situation, and we decided to report this to the combat commander in Jena. The Americans had meanwhile advanced into the area of Gotha. It was only a matter of days before they would be in Kahla. During the night, I received the order from Jena to neutralize the 15,000 foreign workers due to the threat to our own front. When I asked how I should do this, I was told it was my business. It was clear to me, as well as to Brigadeführer Pflomm, that this insane order could not be carried out. Since the Volkssturm was still under the Gauleiter Sauekel, it was agreed that Pflomm would orally present the situation to him and suggest that the 15,000 foreigners be distributed nutritionally over a larger district. This proposal of ours was approved by the Gauleiter, who was then located at the Köppe in Hermsdorf. We informed the foreign workers that they would be marched eastward in groups of about 1,500 people and that all available provisions as well as the kitchens on the vehicles would be provided. Around March 15, 1945, these groups set out and marched east. I gave most of my Volkssturm men to them to maintain peace and order. Thus, it was possible to remove about half of the foreign workers from here. The others refused to go along. Meanwhile, the Americans were already in Weimar. I took up a position with the men remaining to me, about 80 men, between Löbschütz over the Dohlenstein to the Suppische Höhe. Effective resistance was completely hopeless given the armament. The Americans occupied Kahla, and I was taken prisoner on April 14 in Leubengrund. I had no insight into the aircraft factory itself.