English Translation

260 - 5 - the Russians obviously gather reinforcements in the area of Temeshburg. Brigade leader Fiedler sees that a clarification of the evacuation question together with group leader Behrends is not possible, since this factual argument is not accessible. .He therefore decides to go on his own to Budapest to receive from there any instructions. His sudden departure seems spectacular, since the people's Germans initially suspect that brigade leader Fiedler considers the situation hopeless and therefore evacuates themselves. Rudolfsgnad has for a long time been home to l7oo Romanian Germans, who are not allowed to cross the bridge under the Reichsführer's stop orders. The Russians push forward in the Temeshburg-Arad area. Arad is firmly in her hand. As her approach is in a north-western direction, the 4th SS-Pol. is forced to retreat to the northwest to find connection to the Hungarian associations at Szeged. The front gap to the south of Temeschburg becomes even bigger. It is now expected daily that the Red Army will break through in the area of this externally wide frontal gap. -The flow of refugees from Romania is starting again. No one adheres to the Reichsführer's stop order, since the 4th SS Pole orders the evacuation on its own initiative for reasons of military necessity. In Betschkerek and Hatzfeld the extensive discussions between the staffs dealing with the question of evacuation took place /VoMi, Fiedler leadership staff, ethnic group leadership Romania, ethnic leadership Banat, Höhrer SS and police leader Belgrade/. On September 25, the Russians are in front of Szeged. Dr. Vanek /doctor of the Voli commando/ tells that he on 24.9. He said that it would be better if the German people remained in place and expected the Reds in their home country. That was still better than if they were attacked on the trek. The German services and the individual associations had to get through Croatia. On 28.9. All members in Betschkerek, including Fiedler, agree that the evacuation of the Serbian Banat is essential. However, group leaders of Behrends continue to prohibit any measures in this area, so that the ethnic group leadership of Banat will be forced to carry out certain individual measures that can be disguised illegally. Every day the breakthrough of the Russians in the area between Modosch and Werschek is expected. In the south-west Banat, the quartermaster of General Schneckenburger tells the mayor of Weisskirchen, Sepp Marter, constantly about the military situation and demands from him the immediate evacuation of the population. Marter orders certain preparatory measures and achieves by the fact that most of the Weisskirch population is actually saved from the Bolsheviks. However, in the Middle East and in Betschkerek in particular, it is not possible to make advances, since Gruppenführer Behrends has obviously instructed the apparatus under his control to report on the matter if measures are taken in the sense of evacuation. In the course of this tactic, the Kreiskommandantur prohibits the use of pontoons for 10815