Where the Iron Crosses Grow

Soldiers of the 17th Army, the Führer ordered us to defend the Sevastopol fortress and, by doing so, trusted us with a very important and serious mission. Our mission has a huge importance. The enemy made the mistake of taking powerful forces and an overwhelming number of tanks from the important points of the Eastern Front to send against the Crimea. This superior force succeeded in breaking through our over-extended front on the Sivash only after a hard battle. The quick redeployment of our Army to Sevastopol succeeded in stopping the enemy, forcing them to assault against our determined defence, which caused them terrible losses, they lost 602 tanks between April 8 and April 23. Everything they lose here they will lack in their Western offensive against the heart of Romania.

The actions of the brave German and Romanian soldiers here in Crimea, through faithful duty and bravery, serve a greater purpose. The harder the enemy will struggle to conquer Sevastopol, the safer our country will be, shielded by our actions. We are all aware of the tough battle that lies ahead. The Führer will help us with weapons and reinforcements. But our strongest force is inside us, the determination and unity proved by us in hundreds of battles in the Caucasus, Kuban and the Crimea, by all of us, Germans and Romanians, ground forces, Luftwaffe and Kriesgmarine.

Our motto is: “Not a step back!” Victory is ahead while death lies in retreat. We will stay here as long as the Führer orders us, in this critical spot of the titanic battle. Whoever will try to leave this mission, who will leave his post, those responsible for reducing the limited combat strength of our army, will be executed. Let the Soviets come, they will be destroyed. Let their tanks advance, if you infantrymen cannot stop them, let them enter our positions, they will be easier destroyed there. Every man able to hold a weapon will be sent to the front. All the reserves are ordered to work day and night to fortify the positions in depth. The 17. Armee fights now in a place where thousands of our brave troops offered an example. We will succeed in our mission, like they did, for our country! Long live the Führer! Long live his Majesty King Mihai! Long live Marshall Antonescu!