Eyewitness Testimony Günter Leisering

To the History and Research Association Walpersberg e.V. My Deployment in the REIMAHG Aircraft Factories My name is Günter Leisering, I was born in 1929 and in the years 1944/45 I was a middle school student in Hermsdorf/Thuringia. I was a member of the Flying HJ (Hitler Youth). It was around "Michaelis," when there were certificates in Thuringia. I did not receive my certificate booklet; my father had to pick it up later. One day I was summoned to the school principal Leßmann, and he informed me that from tomorrow 7:00 a.m. I should not come to school, but instead report at Hermsdorf train station with sturdy footwear, a weatherproof jacket and cap, and if possible with a shovel, hoe, or spade. I was to be assigned to a work deployment. Another student from my class, Werner Timmer, was also ordered, and from another middle school class a certain Zemplin, also from Hermsdorf. The three of us met at the station and an HJ leader received us. The HJ leader accompanied us to Göschwitz station and then returned to Hermsdorf. On the train, we met other boys with work tools, including Gerhard Burkhardt from Hisschberg on the Saale. In Göschwitz, many other boys from Jena were already waiting; I knew some from the flight days we had completed in Jena-Lobeda. Then a special train came from the direction of Weimar and we were taken to Kahla. From there we went to Walpersberg. My first deployment in this aircraft factory lasted until November 2. Then I was granted leave for a flight training course in Altdörnfeld. This course lasted about 3 1/2 weeks, after which there was school again until the Christmas holidays. During the first deployment, we shoveled, raked, and cut earth along the runway. Our work area was on the northern side, left and right of the elevator. We were "commuters" at that time. Everyone had prepared and brought a bread bag, cooking utensils, and a spoon. We received bread and soup (carrot, barley, turnip soup) as food. In the evening, we returned via Kahla-Göschwitz-Hermsdorf. During this first deployment period, the first Me 262 was started. The concrete runway was clear and clean; we had to step back from the edge and stood somewhat elevated so that we could observe the start, taxi, and flight well. At our height (elevator), the pilot still had no centimeter of ground clearance. Probably not even at the end of the runway, as the machine sagged downward toward Eichenberg. We were already holding our breath. But suddenly we saw that the pilot pulled his aircraft steeply up to the left and he - 2 - came flying at very high speed from the south over the Walpersberg. We had never before experienced such high speed with machines. We all cheered and waved to him. The Me 262 was top-class for that time and we promised ourselves a lot from this aircraft. In case of air raid alarms, we went down into the tunnels. It is true that no one cared about us. Because of this, I ended up several times in front, clean tunnels, some lined with bricks, some concreted tunnels. I looked at quite a bit there, especially the lathes - later we turned rings (made of steel and round aluminum) there. Everywhere it swarmed with people in brown uniforms. Some said: "Boys, look at this, maybe soon you will be at the machines." Our work detail worked on what was assigned. The mood was also good; there was no malcontent among us. After the first start, we were taken to the end of the runway, because earth was being filled there, probably to extend the concrete runway. Many Italians in their green uniforms worked there, strictly watched so that we would not make contact with them. The "brown" of the overseers stood out sharply against the "green of the prisoners" and our civilian clothes. Our work detail was set up so that we wanted to contribute here in some form and within our possibilities. My second deployment in the aircraft factory began right at the start of the new year 1945 and lasted for me until February, then there was a bit of school again, and from April 1, 1945, I was drafted into the Volkssturm. We took the train again to Kahla and from there on foot to Bibra. Behind Bibra, in a valley, stood the shell-built gray two-story houses. I do not remember exactly whether we were in the first or second house. In any case, the responsible HJ leader lived on the ground floor. (He walked on crutches or with a walking stick, was somehow disabled). A certain Haase from Camburg was responsible for our room. (I knew him from flight days in Lobeda.) Haase was immediately assigned as cook and quartermaster; he was a butcher by profession. He chose three high school students from Jena, whom he also knew from flying, then Zemplin, who became his deputy in the room, Tümmler, Burkhardt, and me were selected. In our room stood four bunk beds, each with a straw sack covered with paper, and some chairs and a table. Also two blankets. Whether it was because comrade Haase also stayed in our room, we always had enough and good food. Because of this, the mood was good. When we went to work, we always had to pass the camp of the Italian prisoners. They lived in small makeshift barracks, wore green uniforms and caps. We were led past the camp by the HJ leaders in such a way that we could not speak with these former Badoglio soldiers. (This was strictly observed.)- 5 _ For a longer time, I worked in a tunnel, always under the supervision of a brown official, because I had to install the antenna of the Me 262. (Picture with arrow enclosed) I was selected from our group, instructed, and then the work started there. I had to start the work in the HJ uniform and received a gray or blue smock, which I had to wear over the uniform. With the German worker who worked on the tail or vertical stabilizer of the Me 262, one was only allowed to speak within the scope of necessary information about the work. During breaks that the workers took, we were then also allowed (strictly observed) to go to the lathes and could turn rings for friends or girlfriends. I also turned a ring for a "Brown." My other comrades were up on the airfield, and then I reported back there. They agreed immediately, so I assumed the worker who usually installed the antenna was perhaps sick and I was the substitute for antenna installation. While I was working again on the runway, the 2nd and 3rd Me 262 were started. The start was done with rocket boosters. These were ignited at the height of the elevator, and the machine immediately gained ground clearance. The pilot flew a large curve towards the west and thundered at high speed over the Walpersberg. > м | My comrades Gerhard Burkhardt from Hirschberg an der Saale and Werner Tümmler from Hermsdorf I unfortunately cannot provide further evidence for. Both have passed away some time ago. Zemplin from Hermsdorf went to the West after finishing middle school; his whereabouts are unknown, as no relatives live in Hermsdorf either. I had contact with Albert Horst Lange from youth. He often spent holidays in Hermsdorf. Later I met him again in Jena when he worked in the district leadership Jena-Land. From him, I also received the printed manuscript "The foreign forced laborers of World War II in the fascist armaments factory REIMAHG near Kahla (Thuringia)." Unfortunately, I lost contact because I was transferred to Eisenach and Potsdam. Now I am back in Eisenach and heard about the book "Jet Fighters over the Walpersberg." I immediately bought the book, have read it several times, and found myself reflected in many places. For me, the book is great and will always remind me of a terrible time back then, because I was also one of the 3000 Hitler Youth who had to perform war service work in the REIMAHG plant. (By the way, Lange also gave me pictures (aerial photographs of the > Мы, taken by a Lightning in 1945). и > 1 D le Ze Günter en Palmental 3 99817 Eisenach