Battle Group "Lohse" - Oberleutnant Heinrich Lohse's memoirs detail his time as a training officer at the 5th Wehrmacht Infantry School in Poznan. When the battle for the city began, he led a reserve battle group and commanded the fortress headquarters' last defence. Lohse is notably critical of General Gonell, the fortress commander and former head of the 5th Infantry School, in this gripping memoir about the fight for the citadel. Fahnenjunker from Poznan - Leutnant Jonny Neuwirth recounts his role in the battle of Poznan. After being wounded, he describes the dire conditions in military hospitals, his attempted escape and his experience of being captured by the Polish militia and taken into Soviet captivity. His memoir details his suffering and that of his fellow German soldiers under a ruthless enemy, highlighting the brutal reality of war and its aftermath. Two Steps to a Mass Grave - Kurt F. Lange, a pre-war German citizen of Poznan and former Polish Army soldier, faced persecution due to his origins. After the German invasion, he joined the Waffen-SS, serving in the SS "Lenzer" Combat Group. His memoir offers detailed battle accounts from across the besieged city, culminating in the Citadel's defence. Captured, he narrowly escaped execution after being identified as a member of the Waffen-SS. AUTHORS: Kurt F. Lange completed his military service in the Polish army, but deserted and joined the Wehrmacht after the outbreak of war. Initially serving at the air defense headquarters, in 1943 he was called up to serve at the Waffen-SS Supplemental Command in Poznan. After the alarm was sounded on 20 January 1945, he joined the SS Battle Group "Lenzer". From 1944-45, Oberleutnant Heinrich Lohse served as a training officer of the 5th Wehrmacht Cadet School in Poznan, commanding the 3rd platoon of the 6th company During the battle for the city in January and February 1945, he commanded the "Lohse" Battle Group. As a conscript, Jonny Neuwirth first served in the 319th Mountain Rifle Battalion, and then graduated from the Land Forces Non-commissioned Officer School in Saalautern. In 1944, he was sent for training at the 5th Wehrmacht Cadet School in Poznan, where he took part in the battle for the city in early 1945. 140 b/w illustrations
