In March 1917 Dieter described large destructions in preparation of a planned retreat, which were part of Operation Alberich:
Um uns gehen die Dörfer in Flammen auf; der gesamte Horizont ist blutrot. Ein schaurig-prächtiges Bild!
All around us, villages are going up in flames. The whole horizon is blood-red. A picture of terrible beauty!
Autour de nous les villages sont consumés par les flammes: tout l’horizon est rouge sang. Tableau d’une beauté terrible!
Attorno a noi i paesi sono distrutti dalle fiamme: tutto l'orizzonte è rosso sangue. Quadro di una bellezza terribile!
For more detailed information on Operation Alberich see Wikipedia.
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alberich_(Unternehmen)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alberich_(World_War_I_German_operation)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alberich_(World_War_I_German_operation)