Radio operator Willi Kramp

This story was sent to us by Oskar Jess:

After my training at the Unterführerschule in Radolfzell I came to the Artillerie-Vermessungstrupp (Survey unit A.T.V) SS Nord.

In this unit was the radio operator Willi Kramp, who I had already become acquainted with in the June of 1941 in Stettin.
In the middle of September 1941 a large Russian combat unit tried to break through into our flank between two lakes,
north of the Louhi-Kiestinki road (Strasse der SS) then later toward May-Weg that was in the west .

In view of the dangerous situation that had suddenly developed all dispensable forces were assembled (zusammengerafft)
in a combat reconnaissance patrol of 50 men under the command of Ostuf. Neuwirth (A.V.T) .
Our orders were to stop in three groups along the two lakes that had a connecting brook between them . My group of 18 men formed the northern flank
and positioned themselves on the left bank of the lake. It should been only for one night and we were shortly to have been replaced .

We remained there without food supply and in our summer uniforms already badly tattered hardly protection from the wetness in the swampy area.
The night was calm but with the daybreak the action began within the range of the two of the groups on the right the shooting became ever more violent
I had the radio operator Willi Kramp with me so I could inquire and determin that in the center between the two groups a break-through was happening .

I decided to place between the units my group as we arrived there, we saw the advancing Russians going into positions.
Our radio operator Kramp had been in thearea already before as a advance artillery observer ( Vorgeschobener Beobachter= VB)
and knew from thenthe fire commands for the artillery fire control. Now he actually succeeded in guideing the fire of our artillery
exactly on the positions of the Russians lying before us. However these soon started their attack on our position during our artillery fire .
All the time Kramp acted like an experienced VB and controled the fire , not only could we see the impacts in the Russian ranks,
but also had the shrapnel fragments flying around our ears ! Now the time had come to open fire with our infantry weapons .
The Russians had difficulties to cross the swampy area of the brook. Coming under fire by our MPs and MGs, the Russian attack collapsed.

Without Willi Kramp´s excellent guidance it would have not been possible.

Willi Kramp 17.3.1922 - 6.12.1998

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