SEPTEMBER 15, 1944

Soon after the transfer to Sebesh you are ordered to the rear for extensive modification and rebuilding. The repairs take a long time and it is almost year late, in July 1944, before you return to action; again with Army Group Center. In June the Soviets launched a major offensive (Operation Bagration) which by July opened a huge gap in the front allowing the Soviets to push west, then north towards the Baltic Sea. At that time the Panzerzugs are busy trying to keep the railway lines open. You are assigned to the 3rd Panzer Army and you move to Kovno, then Tilsit and finally to Krottingen, in East Prussia.

On August 1 the Russians reach the Baltic and separate Army Group North from Army Group Center. On August 16 a counterattack begins that temporarily breaks the encirclement; you are supposed to take part in that battle but your train is attacked and derailed near Krottingen.

You are returned to action in September and assigned to a railway line in Latvia and Lithuania running from southeast to northwest between the towns of Schaulen/Siauliai, Moscheiken/Mazeikiai and Weinoden/Vainode. Your current orders are to support the 201st Security Division in an anti-Partisan operation near the Latvian towns of Akmene and Papile (between Moscheiken and Schaulen) and near the front lines - so you should be on the lookout for Soviet army units.

