In the Hell of Fortress Poznań: First-Hand Accounts of German Soldiers on the Eastern Front in 1945

Lohse's memoirs reveal how Poznań's fortress endured a ruthless siege, shaping the citadel's final defense and revealing the harsh costs of battle.

**Battle Group "Lohse"** - Oberleutnant Heinrich Lohse's memoirs detail his time as a training officer at the 5th Wehrmacht Infantry School in Poznań. 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 Poznań** - Leutnant Jonny Neuwirth recounts his role in the battle of Poznań. 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 Poznań 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.