1/7
Humid day. Russian artillery fires same
place as yesterday. Our artillery combs the wood. Improved wire entanglements.
Trip wire of Russian forward posts found. Night quiet, some rain.
2/7
Nice weather. Afternoon, Russian artillery
on positions 10./258. No losses. Cholera vaccination.
5/7
Nice weather. Quiet. Relieved by Regt 257.
March to Rackucia (sp?) arrive next day 5am
6/7
Rest until 7am. Looked at our old
positions, continue over Upiki continue to Planginicle. Hauptmann von Olberg
takes over III. Batl. Arrive 9:30. Rest until 1:30. Food. Clothing maintenance,
Bivouac in open air, wonderful.
7/7
Wake up 4am. 7:10 batln marches over Olej-
Szynolawki to Kajunla. Arrive 9:30am. Very hot. (Illegible). Night, made camp
fire, told funny stories, drank Grog.
8/7
1am march. Over Kielburg to Wajgowo. Arrive
at noon. Very hot. Many men fall out. Storms start after 7:00.
9/7
Midnight assembly. 2am march over Giedryki
to Potunschis. Arrive 10am. Bivoac. Very hot in tent. Bathe in the Weiher.
Above: The first page of August Weber's last diary, the entries 3/8 and 5/8 3:30 were probably added in the hospital
10/7
Day of rest, Catholic service.
11/7
Awakened 2:00am, leave at 4:20 through
Lukuiki to Wieszwiemy. 12./258 into bivouac. Heavy rainfall. Abode not suited
to the weather.
12/7
4:00 am wakeup. 5:15 depart over
Telsze-Tuczec to XX Arrival at 6 pm.
13/7
Rest. At 5:00 pm orders to depart, march
with arrival Lelajcic. Rest from 9:30-11:20.
14/7
March through XX to the Wentor. Cross the
Wentor at point52 at 3:00am. March eastwards towards XX, arrive Uisle at
6:00am.
Attack Uisle then on to Railway station
Wiekszine. At 2:30 pm station occupied. 3 men wounded. At 17:00pm order to
advance. 10. and 11. Komp on the railway embankment, 9. and 12. Komp protect
the flanks. Through Polnosy to Dowbiszki. Harrased all the time by Cossacks.
Dug in. Attack by 3 Russian (Cavalry) squadrons beaten back.
15/7
2 am beat back another Russian attack.
8.30am march to estate Dowbiszki. 6 carbines, 33 lances and one Russian
officers horse with his full equipment captured during the night.
Division leaves Estate Dowbiszki for
Okwiany. Rest from 12-2.30pm. Continue
over Pokiempinie (South of Gaudajcie), Karlsfeld to Kulwele. Arrive 11pm. Sleep
in barn with artillerymen.
16/7
Wake 3am. 3.45am march. III. Batln over
Kiessy-Kalingan-Brass-Dagge-Alsch to Bauklaushof. Point of Batln. Fired upon.
11. Komp. In front. 10. Komp right, 9. Komp. Left. 12. Komp 150 meters behind
in 3 lines (One left, one on and one to right of road).
Orders received that point not to cross stream
between Merkakurt and Endenhof. 12. Komp stops on path 300m south of Griktze.
Stay until afternoon. Left and right wings under pressure from heavy enemy
forces. In afternoon 1st section in position at Sliter. At 5.30pm
II. And III. Battalions have to pull back because of danger on their flanks.
They move through 12. Komp. Positions which are still held. Rain. III./259
attacks enemy in flank. Enemy pulls back. Their positions taken. Sleep in open
field. Rain.
Left: "Zurück" a letter written to August Weber after his death, and returned to the family.
17/7
Morning advance in direction of Mestev.
III. Batl. west of road. At Mestev fired upon. Took positions. Enemy had strong
defenses. Barbed wire from railway embankment at Leyand over Roman to Pliskoli.
12./258 has one section left of road. This section took up position in woods
west of Mestev on northern fringe of forest. Terrible infantry and MG fire. Impossible
to advance. Have to dig in. Bruss wounded. Lay until 3pm. In the meantime
Russian position heavily hit by our arty. Enemy pulls back. At same time German
troops hit enemy in flank. III./259 and then III./258 attack positions in
forest. Enemy hoists white flag, surrenders. Hundreds of prisoners. Continue to
Alt Aus, pursue Russians. More prisoners. III./258 regroups.
On alert in Alt Aus. (Illegible). Wonderful
stone buildings. All inhabitants gone. 15 minutes later had to move out again
towards Estate Behnen. Got halfway there then turn around and go back over Alt
Aus to Friedrichshof. Arrive midnight. Nice barn to overnight in.
18/7
4.15am wake up and march to estate
Weitenfeld. Regt 258 and III./259 along with Totenkopf Hussaren Brigade and
some artillery from special detachment. Continue at 11am over
Wegiery-Kierczy-Welajeic-Korpiany to north west of village Szapnagi. Overnight
in barn. 1. section as advanced post. Arrive at night 11pm.
19/7
6.15 wake up. 7.50 march from Szapnagi to
Minki, at southern entrance into farm houses. Arrive 10.40am. That night II.
Zug as advanced post. The company in a barn.
20.7
7am wake up. 9.30 march over Bialy-Divor-Lizyki
(fire fight)- Gajzajcie to forest north of Welivecie. III. And II. Batl.
Through forest to WW (?) east of Kiawkei. Advance guard (I. Batl.) found
entrenched enemy at Minsajeie. III./258 to left of I. and II. Batln on extreme
left. 12., 9. and 10. Komp in front. 11. Komp in reserve. 12. Komp fired on by
enemy in Kiawkli and Unmajeie. Arty fire as well. 1 dead, 13 wounded. Advanced
to heights and dug in. At nightfall enemy abandons positions. We stay in place.
21/7
5am march to Kiawkli. Eat from field
kitchen. 6am continue over Piktujze to Gruzdzie. 2 hours rest. Continue over
Dowiacie and Racze. Rest. Prepare for combat in woods to the East of Kudgale. 12.+11. Komp first line,
9.+10. Komp to the right. No enemy in the woods. Continue to Lupajcie. Mount
guard. Overnight.
22/7
6.45am march over Dowgielajcie to estate
Najcie-Jackuny-Estate Degucie (rest here)-Staczuny-Katajcic-Kauksniye. Arrive
6.30pm. Secure road to Miedwoloki. 1 section on alert.
23/7
Midnight wake up, continue over
Paszkanze-Kianliszki to Pakroj. Esate Pakroj (Beautiful)-Wojszwidze to
Podowgie???.
Regiment continues on road to Siecie. 12
Komp sent to chase Russians in woods east of Podowgien??? On path south of
Polaszmen.-Kolingi-Kapczuny. 21 Russians captured. Arrive 5pm. Continue to
Waldejki, arrive 8:30pm. Put at the disposition of the brigade. Listening posts
sent out. Continue on to ???. Sleep 11pm-1am
24/7
On to estate Johaniszkiele. Camp in park.
Very nice estate. 1pm leave for Gajlaniszki –(Illegible)- set up in forest
south of Stacieny. 5am march back over Austokivie. 6pm arrival. Orders to
continue to Dylaski. Halfway there and then ordered back to Austokivie.
Continue on to Gajlaniszki. Arrive 10pm.
25/7
1am, Kompagnie had to go to WW South of
Gajlewiszki. Depart to Estate Johaniskiele. Assemble in woods north east of
Johanisgkiele advance 5am towards Lize. Russian positions stretched from
Szymauce-Walikiele-Lize-Katgnie nicely made.
Our arty fires on the trenches. 12./258. R.I.R.
in the forest across from Lize. Attacked Russian positions at 5pm. Enemy flees
12./258. crosses Lawena and Burg (rivers) arrives northern edge of Taloczkauy.
Continue to junction where Istra flows into Lawena. Night is calm
Left: The last page of August Weber's diary.
26/7
Bathe in the Lawena. Wonderful. Caught and
ate fish. 2pm march over Lize-Katynie-Polawen. Arrive 7pm quartered in nice
house. Pretty garden. The owners returned that night. Slept well.
27/7
5am wake up. 6.15am left over
Puszolaty-Staczuny to Estate Spiraki, arrive at noon. Quatered in govt
buildings.
28/7
5am wake up. 6.00am left over
Berczuny-Dunaberg-Baibaki-Biracie to Perz. Arrive 11am. Bivoac in grain silo.
Lukullishes dinner. Sausage, roast potato, asparagus and bean salad. Hauptmann
Seeboken takes command of the battalion.
29/7
4am wake up. 5.45 leave over point
51-estate Wodocty-Zawadzki-Zydele-Slobodka to Krakiwno. Arrive 10.30am. Town
almost completely destroyed. Very nicely positioned on the Miewiaza.
30/7
Rest day. Swam, fished, wrote letters.
31/7
Church service. 11am alarm. 12.45 march
over Siomeingiszki-Estate Rady-Tucuny-Estate
Livuiszki-Tamagola-Upita-Zubiszki-Malmy-Pouiewiez. Arrive 8pm. Nice big towm.
On alert.
1/8
3am wake up. 3.45 leave. March over
Wielze-Miezyszki I- Bojaryszki-Pushauce 3-Puskauce 5-Romanvino. Enemy in woods
north-north east. Very heavy fighting. Took positions that night. Advanced
through burned down Brozyszki. Dug in. In afternoon light wound. Clear shot
through thigh. Bandaged it and continued. Feldwebel Leutnant Kloss shot in
chest.
2/8
5:30am advance on Subocz. 9.+10. Komp. In front
line. Occupy enemy position south of Subocz
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Left: "Zurück" a letter written to August Weber after his death, and returned to the family.
Left: The last page of August Weber's diary.