Schwedt Bridgehead - Zehden, February 1945

Описание: This rare original colour footage was taken by a German propaganda cameraman, Gerhard Garms in the area of what is known as the Schwedt Bridgehead presenting German defences on the eastern bank of the Oder river just a few kilometres southwest of the town of Zehden in southern Pommerania. The bridgehead was established in February 1945 as part of preparations to counterattack advancing Soviet forces who were already occupying the town of Zehden (Cedynia) as part of their own preparations to cross the Oder and attack Berlin in the final days of the war. The unit defending this sector is a mixture of the 1st Naval Infantry Division along with Heavy AA-Detachment 326 being supported by StuH 42 and StuG III assault guns from the Assault Gun Brigade 210.

The village highlighted at the start of the footage is Alt Küstrinchen (Stary Kostrzynek) situated on the eastern bank of the Oder, the cameraman then moves up the road to a factory complex on the outskirts of Hohenwutzen again on the right bank of the Oder close to the main crossing point then moving up the hill onto the heights overlooking Zehden itself with Alt Küstrinchen behind them.

Of note: The factory complex at Hohenwutzen still stands today virtually unchanged but the village of Alt Küstrinchen now known as Stary Kostrzynek although still remains, has clearly suffered. Losing many of its original homes, war memorial and the church bell tower being demolition at some point after the war, perhaps part of the postwar period when German inhabitants were being expelled by the Polish.