Standing here let me tell you about Erich Kammerer. He was a Hauptmann in the German Wehrmacht. He served during the Second World War.
Erich Kammerer received a high honor. He was awarded the Deutsches Kreuz in Gold on February 12th 1945. This was a German military decoration. It recognized bravery and achievement.
To understand Erich Kammerer’s story we need to understand Budapest’s history. In 1873 the cities of Pest Buda and Óbuda merged. Budapest became one city.
The city’s story stretches back much further. Celts settled here in the 4th century BC. The Roman Empire conquered the area around AD 100. They established the town of Aquincum.
Hungary’s story is also one of conflict. The Mongol invasion in 1241 devastated the area. Later Hungary fell under Ottoman rule. The Battle of Mohács in 1526 was a disaster.
Budapest became a significant city in the 19th century. The Chain Bridge was built. It was the first permanent bridge between Buda and Pest.
World War II brought immense suffering. Before the war around 200000 Jews lived in Budapest. The Holocaust Encyclopedia states this made it a center of Jewish life.
In 1944 the Nazis occupied Hungary. They began persecuting and murdering Jews. Many sought protection from diplomats. Raoul Wallenberg was one such hero.
The Soviets captured Budapest in 1945. The retreating Germans destroyed the Danube bridges. A two-month siege reduced much of the city to rubble.
After the war Hungary fell under Communist rule. In 1956 a revolution was brutally suppressed.
Hungary transitioned to a democratic republic in 1989. Today Budapest is a popular tourist destination. It boasts thermal springs and rich culture.
Erich Kammerer’s story is intertwined with this history. He was part of the Siege of Budapest. The battle was a brutal episode in World War II.
The Battle for Budapest lasted for months. German and Hungarian forces were encircled. They faced relentless Soviet attacks.
Ungváry Krisztián wrote about the Budapest breakout. He described it as seen from below. This refers to the attempted escape by German and Hungarian soldiers. Hitler had forbidden any breakout.
The attempted breakout was a disaster. Thousands died. Soviet reports say they annihilated many groups of soldiers. The ratio of Soviet to German losses was around 1 to 100. It was like irresponsible clay pigeon shooting.
Karl Pfeffer-Wildenbruch ordered the breakout. This was senseless. It did not benefit the Germans. It did not harm the Soviets. The result was many widows and orphans.
Erich Kammerer’s unit was the 36th artillery measuring department. In early 1945 they were still performing their duties. However some were deployed as infantry.
On February 11 1945 57 of the units 179 men were wounded. All soldiers of the unit knew about the breakout order.
On February 13th Erich Kammerer was last seen at 3 p.m. He was limping with the help of a walking stick. He was the wounded commander of the 36th artillery measuring department.
Willi Eckert recalled that the commander was lost from sight around 3 a.m. on February 14th.
The men were exhausted and hungry. They struggled through the snow. To lie down meant to freeze to death.
So remember Erich Kammerer. Remember the horrors of war. Remember the suffering of Budapest.