Memoirs of the Second World War German tankers. Otto Carius "Tigers" in the mud

Dedicated to my comrades from the 2nd company of the 502nd heavy tank battalion, in order to honor the memory of those who died and remind the survivors of our immortal and unforgettable friendship.

TIGER IM SCHLAMM

Foreword

My first notes about what I had to experience at the front, I made exclusively for those who fought in the 502nd battalion of the "Tigers". Eventually culminating in this book, they proved to be an excuse for a German soldier from the front line. The German soldier has been slandered openly and systematically, deliberately and occasionally since 1945 both in Germany and abroad. Society, however, has the right to know what the war was like and what a simple German soldier really is!

However, most of all, this book is intended for my former tank comrades. It is conceived for them as a reminder of those difficult times. We did exactly the same thing as our comrades in arms in all other branches of the military - we did our duty!

I was able to capture the events that formed the main essence of the narrative, the military operations between February 24 and March 22, 1944, because I managed to save the relevant divisional and corps reports after the war. They were then placed at my disposal, and I sent them home. As an aid to my memory, I also happened to have the usual official documents for all other occasions.

Otto Carius

By the call of the Motherland

“What are they thinking of doing with this little thing… that's what I'd like to know too,” said one of the card players. They huddled together with their suitcases on their knees, and in an attempt to make their departure less painful, whiled away the time playing cards.

“What are they thinking of doing with this little thing…” – I heard. I stood at the compartment window and looked back at the Hardt Mountains as the train thumped eastward for miles across the flat country of the Rhine. It seemed that this ship had left the safe port, sailing into the unknown. From time to time I still made sure that my draft certificate was in my pocket. It read: "Posen, 104th reserve battalion." Infantry, queen of the fields!

I was a black sheep in this circle and, perhaps, could not blame anyone for not being taken seriously. As a matter of fact, it was quite understandable. I was rejected twice after being challenged: "Currently unfit for active duty due to underweight"! Twice I swallowed and secretly wiped bitter tears. Lord, there, at the front, no one asks how much you weigh!

Our armies have already crossed Poland in an unprecedented victory march. Just a few days ago, France began to feel the paralyzing blows of our weapons. My father was there. At the beginning of the war, he again put on a military uniform. This meant that my mother would now have very little housework to do when she was allowed to return to our home on the border. And for the first time I had to celebrate my 18th birthday on my own in Posen. Only then did I realize how much I owe to my parents, who gave me a happy youth! When will I be able to return home, sit down at the piano or pick up the cello or violin? Just a few months ago I wanted to devote myself to the study of music. Then he changed his mind and became interested in mechanical engineering. For the same reason, I volunteered for the army with a degree in anti-tank self-propelled guns. But in the spring of 1940, they did not need volunteers at all. I was assigned as an infantryman. But that was good too. The main thing is that I am accepted!

After a while it became quiet in our compartment. There is no doubt that everyone had something to think about: thoughts swarmed in a heap in his head. The long hours of our journey, of course, provided the most favorable opportunity for this. By the time we landed in Posen with stiff legs and a sore back, we were quite happy that we had lost this time for introspection.

We were met by a group from the 104th reserve infantry battalion. We were ordered to keep pace and brought to the garrison. Barracks for conscripts, of course, did not shine with luxury. The barracks was not spacious enough, and in addition to me there were forty other people there. There was no time to reflect on the high duty of the defender of the fatherland; began a struggle with the old-timers for survival. They looked at us like we were annoying "strangers". My situation was practically hopeless: a mustacheless youth! Since only a thick stubble was a clear sign of real manhood, I had to be on the defensive from the very beginning. Jealousy on the part of others about the fact that I got by with a shave only once a week only made matters worse.

Our preparation was quite adequate to get on my nerves. I often thought of my Ludwig Maximilian University when the drill and formations reached a breaking point, or when we were floundering in the mud on the training ground during field exercises. Why such training is needed, I learned later. I had to repeatedly use the skills I learned in Posen to get out of dangerous situations. However, only a few hours passed, and all suffering was forgotten. From the hatred that we felt in relation to the service, to our superiors, to our own stupidity in the course of training, soon there was not a trace left. Most importantly, we were all convinced that everything we did had a purpose.

Any nation can consider itself lucky if it has a younger generation that gives its all to the country and fights so selflessly, as the Germans did in both wars. No one has the right to reproach us after the war, even though we abused the ideals with which we were overwhelmed. Let's hope that the present generation will be spared the disappointment that was destined for us. It would be even better if there came a time when no country would need any soldiers, because eternal peace would reign.

My dream in Posen was to complete the basic training of an infantryman and still smell like a rose. This dream turned into a disappointment mainly because of the marches on foot. They started at fifteen kilometers, increased by five kilometers every week, reaching fifty. It was an unwritten rule that all recruits with higher education should be allowed to carry a machine gun. Apparently, they wanted to test me, the smallest in the unit, and see what the limit of my willpower was and whether I could successfully pass the test. Not surprisingly, when I returned to the garrison one day, I had a sprain and a festering blister the size of a small egg. I was unable to further demonstrate my prowess as an infantryman in Posen. But soon we were transferred to Darmstadt. Proximity to home suddenly made life in the barracks less painful, and the prospect of being fired at the end of the week brightened it up even more.

I think that I behaved rather self-confidently when one day the company commander began to select twelve volunteers for the tank corps. It was supposed to take only auto mechanics, but with a benevolent smile I was allowed to join a dozen volunteers. The old man was probably glad to get rid of the undersized. However, I did not quite consciously make a decision. My father allowed me to enter any branch of the military, even aviation, but categorically forbade tank troops. In his mind, he probably already saw me burning in a tank and suffering terrible agony. And, despite all this, I put on a black uniform of a tanker! However, I never regretted this step, and if I had to become a soldier again, the tank corps would be my only choice, I had not the slightest doubt about this.

I became a recruit again when I went to the 7th Panzer Battalion in Vaiingen. My tank commander was Sergeant August Dehler, a huge man and a good soldier. I was the loader. We were all filled with pride when we received our Czechoslovak 38(t) tank. We felt almost invincible with a 37 mm cannon and two Czechoslovak-made machine guns. We admired the armor, not yet realizing that it was only moral protection for us. If necessary, she could protect only from bullets fired from small arms.

Introduction

The history of the 3rd (German) SS Panzer Corps, brought to the attention of the reader, begins with its formation and first participation in battles in 1943. The formations that formed the core of this tank corps - the 11th SS Volunteer Motorized Division "Nordland", the 4th SS Volunteer Motorized Brigade "Netherlands" (since January 1944, the 23rd SS Volunteer Motorized Division "Netherlands") - together with the transferred in subordination of the corps in parts (see below) were an example of an indestructible military partnership and, in addition, already at the end of the war, fighting in Berlin, when, in fact, only numbers and names remained from the units and divisions of the corps, they also determined the title of this book narrating about the formation and death of the 3rd (German) SS Panzer Corps - the tragedy of fidelity!

The history of the 3rd (German) SS Panzer Corps is not just a military diary, a dry enumeration of military operations, but also a story about a simple soldier of the Second World War.

Apparently, it would be superfluous to mention how difficult it was for the author of this book to convey the whole flavor of the battles in which the 3rd (German) SS Panzer Corps fell to participate. And in this regard, the author expresses gratitude to the Library of Contemporary History in Stuttgart, the Research Center for Military History in Freiburg im Breisgau and many other organizations, publishing houses and individuals who provided invaluable information, memoirs, personal impressions and judgments about that difficult period in our history.

Wilhelm Tike

Chapter 1. Formation of the 3rd (German) SS Panzer Corps

The 3rd (German) SS Panzer Corps was created in accordance with the order of the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of March 30, 1943. The huge losses in manpower suffered by our troops during the war forced the command to use all the human resources available at that time, including not only Germany, but also a number of other European countries, to ensure the possibility of conducting combat operations in a significantly expanded theater of operations.

The first contingent to form the corps, in particular, the reserve battalion of the SS motorized regiment "Germany" stationed in Holland, arrived at the training ground in Debica (Poland).

The order of April 19, 1943 from the command of the Waffen-SS units served as an official order for the formation of the 3rd (German) SS Panzer Corps, for which the Grafenwöhr training ground was chosen. The initial contingent assembled in Debica was transferred to Grafenwöhr.

The list of units from which the corps was to be formed, along with the SS division "Nordland", included the SS division "Viking" - both formations were supposed to form the backbone of the future 3rd (German) SS Panzer Corps.

Volunteer Legion "Nederland" ("Netherlands"), which was originally planned to be included in the division "Nordland" being formed, as a result of petitions from influential people from Holland, it was decided to form it as a separate brigade, and the corresponding activities were already carried out in Thuringia. Meanwhile, the SS divisions "Viking" and "Totenkopf" were merged into the SS Panzer Corps, thus the "Netherlands" brigade was included in the 3rd (German) SS Panzer Corps instead of the SS division "Viking".

In February 1943, preparatory work had already begun on the formation of another, the so-called "German" SS division, which was to include the Netherlands Legion, the Danmark Freikorps and the Norwegen Legion. The name originally chosen - "Waräger" ("Varangians") - was rejected, and the connection became known as "Nordland". The Netherlands legion, which was still on the Eastern Front at that time, for political and personal reasons, was transferred to Thuringia in the spring of 1943 and reorganized into a brigade.

In the Sonnenberg area, the 49th Regiment "De Ruyter" ("De Ruyter") is formed, consisting of two battalions. The regiment commander Sturmbannführer Kollani, like the entire permanent staff, served in the previously disbanded Finnish Waffen-SS volunteer battalion.

The 48th Regiment "General Zeyfard" is also formed as part of two battalions. Regimental Commander Obersturmbannführer Witzchum. Along with the above, the formation of the first parts of the brigade is carried out.

The commander of the 4th SS Volunteer Motorized Brigade becomes Jurgen Wagner, who was awarded the rank of Brigadeführer (Major General) of the Waffen-SS. Wagner commanded the regiment "Germany" as part of the division "Viking".

The Nordland division was sent to form at the Grafenwöhr training ground. Grafenwöhr is also identified as the location of the headquarters of the division command. Chief of Staff - Sturmbannführer Volmer. On May 1, 1943, Brigadeführer and Major General of the Waffen-SS Fritz von Scholz was appointed division commander. Sturmbannführer von Bockelberg becomes the first staff officer.

Along with the headquarters of the regiment, the regiment "Norway" is also being formed within the framework of the "Nordland" regiment. The remnants of this legendary Nordland regiment, which fought for two years as part of the Viking division in southern Russia, are assembled on May 10, 1943 in the Auerbach camp. On May 12, Waffen-SS General Felix Steiner, together with the newly appointed division commander Fritz von Scholz, conducts the last formation of the regiment. Steiner recalls with praise the exploits of the Nordland Regiment and at the same time introduces himself as commander of the 3rd (German) SS Panzer Corps. After that, the personnel of the regiment announced a three-week vacation.

The 1st battalion "Norway" is formed from the Norwegian legion, created in the summer of 1941 and positively proved itself during operations on the Eastern Front. Before the reorganization, the legion was subordinated to the 2nd SS motorized brigade and the volunteer Latvian SS brigade, after heavy battles near Leningrad, the unit was removed from the front, and in May 1943 was transferred to the Grafenwöhr training ground and officially disbanded. There, out of the 600 remaining personnel, the 1st battalion "Norway" is put together.

The 2nd battalion "Norway" is created from the remnants of the 2nd battalion "Nordland". The former 1st battalion "Nordland" becomes the 3rd battalion "Norway", as it is planned to equip it with armored personnel carriers.

At the same time, the 13th company of infantry guns, the 14th anti-aircraft company and the 16th sapper company are being formed. The creation of the 15th company of motorcycle shooters was also envisaged, but later it turned out that nothing of these plans

did not work, and the listed units were never formed.

The formation of the "Danmark" ("Denmark") regiment did not go smoothly at all. To understand the reasons for this, it is necessary to go back in time.

When German troops occupied Denmark on April 9 (the official name of the country is Danmark. - Ed.) and this country entered the Anti-Comintern Pact, the German authorities, after the start of the war with the Soviet Union, demanded Denmark's participation in this war. With the sanction of the Danish authorities, Freykor Danmark (Volunteer Corps Danmark) was formed. Campaigning for conscription in the mentioned corps took place throughout the country. In a circular dated July 8, 1941, the Danish Minister of War stated that officers and non-commissioned officers, both fit for military service and reserve officers, should be enlisted in the corps, and upon completion of service there, return to the ground forces or to the navy. . Additional directives stipulated all issues of supply and allowance for Danish soldiers entering the corps. The German diplomatic mission in Copenhagen promised that the Danmark (Denmark) volunteer corps would operate on the Eastern Front as an independent national combat unit.

On July 19, 1941, the first 480 volunteers, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Krüssing of the Danish army, marched from Copenhagen to Hamburg. The formation and combat training of the corps was carried out in Hamburg and Posen-Treskau (in the Poznan region. - Ed.) under the leadership of Danish officers.

Since May 1942, the volunteer corps "Danmark" ("Denmark") under the command of Obersturmbannführer Frederick von Schalburg was transferred to the Eastern Front to participate in the operation in the area of the so-called "Demyansk Fortress" (Demyansk boiler). Acting as part of the 3rd SS division "Dead Head", the Danes fought heroically in the area along the railway (Staraya Russa - Bologoe in the area within the Demyansk cauldron), lost one after another two commanders - ober-

Sturmbannführer von Schalburg and Obersturmbannführer von Lettow-Vorbeck. After resting in the rear area, the Danmark volunteer corps in December 1942, already under the command of Sturmbannführer Martinsen, again participated in hostilities in the Velikiye Luki region, where it suffered heavy losses. On May 20, 1943, the remnants of the Danmark volunteer corps withdrawn to the rear were disbanded at the Grafenwöhr training ground, and the Danmark regiment was re-formed from them. Contrary to promises to use "Danmark" as an independent national combat unit, during the formation of the "Danmark" regiment, non-Danes were also included in it. In addition, the command of the Danmark regiment was entrusted to the German, Obersturmbannführer Count von Westphalen. The Danes protested against such a decision, part of the personnel demanded to return to their homeland. General Steiner intervened in the conflict and justified the need for changes by saying that a relatively small infantry unit in the division would be constantly reassigned to different commanders, and those, in turn, would not spare the temporarily seconded unit in battle. Therefore, it is much more expedient to fight as part of the same division. Steiner's argument was unconditionally accepted by experienced front-line commanders.

This also became known to the highest commanding authorities, who were not slow to contact the German Foreign Ministry, which immediately contacted the Danish government circles. The Danish envoy in Berlin was also connected.

On July 28, 1943, the Danish envoy Mohr arrived at the Grafenwöhr training ground. In honor of his arrival, a regiment with weapons on guard was lined up and a military parade was held. Mor tried to calm the personnel and turned to the officers and soldiers of the Danes with a request on behalf of the Danish and German governments not to demand that they be sent home, because the fight against Bolshevism is also the task of Denmark under the Anti-Comintern Pact.

At the end of the military parade, Mohr was invited to dinner with Waffen-SS General Felix Steiner in order to

Mock Plassenburg near Kulmbach, where Steiner had his headquarters.

However, despite the arrival and personal intervention of the Danish envoy, some of the Danes continued to insist on immediate dispatch to their homeland; among them was the last commander of the Danmark Volunteer Corps, Obersturmbannführer Martinsen.

After settling all these disagreements, the formation of the Danmark regiment was gradually moving forward. Along with the battalions, other units of the regiment were also created - as in the course of the formation of the "Norway" regiment.

At the same time, an artillery regiment, a sapper battalion, a tank reconnaissance battalion, as well as utility and quartermaster units of the Nordland division were being formed. In Nuremberg, the formation of the communications battalion "Nordland" was completed. All units receive personnel from their respective reserve units. Thus, the engineer battalion is constantly replenished with officers, non-commissioned officers and privates from the reserve SS engineer battalion and the SS training battalion in Dresden, as well as from the sapper school located in Hradishtko (near Prague).

The sapper battalion "Nordland", which was in the formation stage, was first engaged in combat training of personnel as future infantrymen - it was necessary to solder, put together units. The combat training of personnel as sappers focused on working out the skills of assault groups and demolition workers, and on the installation of minefields. The volume of the training program, although it was quite extensive, was limited by the lack of the necessary weapons, equipment, equipment and vehicles. All divisions, without exception, faced similar difficulties.

The Nordland repair battalion is on formation in Schwabach near Nuremberg; the formation was carried out on the basis of the 1st platoon of the repair battalion of the Viking division.

The Nordland anti-aircraft division was formed at the Aryus training ground in East Prussia and arrived at the division's location later than the rest of the units.

The field reserve battalion "Nordland" was formed under the command of Sturmbannführer Franz Lang with the involvement of a reserve contingent from Sennheim.

Gradually, in the battalions and regiments of the formation, difficulties with the replenishment of personnel began to affect. The shortage of volunteers from the designated countries (Northern Europe) leads to the fact that the 3rd (German) SS Panzer Corps and the Nordland division begin to receive a contingent of volunteers and, in part, called up from the countries of South-Eastern Europe. But, despite the understandable difficulties of the initial stage, dictated by various factors, a soldier's community was born, which in the near future proved its worth in battles with the enemy.

Replenishment came and went, people were divided into companies. As a result, the Danmark regiment consisted of 40% Danes, 25% Reich Germans and 35% Volksdeutsche (ethnic Germans) from Romania. The number of the regiment soon reached the figure of 3200 people. The situation was approximately the same in the "Norway" regiment. Parts of the division in the vast majority consisted of the Germans of the Reich, who had undergone combat training in the corresponding parts of the reserve. But even there, recruits from other countries gradually arrived, as a result of which the ethnic composition changed.

Difficulties with the supply of weapons and equipment were felt everywhere. We had to change plans for combat training of personnel again and again on the go. But the ingenuity of the commanders helped to get out of the situation and, in spite of everything, to continue training.

The tank battalion was formed by Sturmbannführer Kausch. But the main person in charge is Obersturmbannführer Mühlenkamp, who arrived at the Grafenwöhr training ground along with units of his Viking tank regiment.

Around the battalion commander, a battle-tested Viking officer, combat officers and non-commissioned officers rallied.

Untersturmführer Willy, along with several technically trained soldiers, was sent to Erlangen to a tank training battalion for technical documentation and visual aids necessary for training tankers. The result of painstaking eight-day work in Erlangen is the technical documentation of the Pz V ("Panther") tank. It was possible to move on to the theoretical training course for tank crews and their commanders. There was a need for numerous business trips of specialists to deliver all the materials and documentation necessary for the units.

Reinforcements arrived, among them a large percentage of ethnic Germans from Romania. All of them were physically healthy, young people with an open character. It was a pleasure to serve with them. The combat training of the infantrymen was nearing completion. After that, most of the personnel were to be sent to special courses at the tank training battalion in Erlangen, to the tank factories in Nuremberg, to the tank school in Wünsdorf and to the tank training ground in Putlos.

Under the command of Obersturmbannführer Mühlenkamp, combat training of tankers was started on old equipment - tanks Pz III and Pz IV. They also studied radio.

It was clear that all the units and subunits that were still in the formation stage would have to fight in extremely difficult conditions. But, despite all the problems of combat training, the formation of the Nordland division by the beginning of August 1943 was basically completed. At the head of the formation was the Brigadeführer (Major General) of the Waffen-SS Fritz von Scholz, the same Scholz who at one time was just as responsible for the formation of the Nordland regiment, and then commanded it for three years.

The sapper battalion Nordland, which is under formation in the western camp of Auerbach, merged with the 16th battalion "Norway" and "Danmark" and in mid-August 1943, together with parts of the 3rd (German) SS Panzer Corps and the Netherlands brigade, was transferred to the Beneschau training ground in Bohemia (Czech Republic) to conduct exercises under a special program. The personnel were stationed in settlements located in the immediate vicinity of the SS sapper school in Hradishtko. While at Moldau, the personnel had the opportunity to conduct training on the water, especially since weapons, equipment, vehicles and the necessary equipment are gradually beginning to arrive.

According to a similar scheme, the personnel of the regiments of the "Netherlands" brigade were trained in Thuringia, but there were no artillery weapons and the units and subunits of the brigade were not fully formed.

Meanwhile, in the Grafever area, the formation of parts of the corps was completed. The chief of staff, Standartenführer Joachim Ziegler, set up the headquarters of the 3rd (German) SS Panzer Corps and oversaw the formation of units and formations.

After a three-month period from the beginning of the formation of the OKH (High Command of the Ground Forces), ordered the transfer of the corps to the front-line region. General Steiner rejected the original option - the transfer of the corps to the Atlantic coast - citing the fact that the personnel of the corps, which largely consisted of volunteers, due to a number of circumstances, it would be advisable to use them not on the Western Front. In the end, it was decided to transfer the 3rd (German) SS Panzer Corps to Croatia. So far, armament was limited to personal firearms - neither tanks nor assault guns had yet arrived, and the necessary vehicles and artillery were missing.

Chapter 2. Transfer to Croatia

At the end of August 1943, an order was issued to transfer the 3rd (German) SS Panzer Corps to Croatia. On August 28, the corps headquarters left the station in Bayreuth by train. General Steiner, along with several staff officers, set off in cars on August 29, and by September 1, the entire headquarters of the corps command gathered in the eastern part of the Croatian capital of Zagreb.

Soon all parts of the Nordland division arrived in Croatia. The Netherlands brigade was transferred a little later.

September 8, 1943 at 20 hours 20 minutes the corps received the news of the surrender of Italy. At 21:30, parts of the corps were put on alert. The 3rd (German) SS Panzer Corps was subordinate to Army Group F under the command of Field Marshal Weichs and the 2nd Panzer Army under the command of General Rendulich. The units of the 5th SS Panzer Regiment and the Nordland tank battalion that had just arrived in Zagreb were sent from Zagreb through Samobor to Karlovac, where they disarmed units of the Italian Lombardy division and captured Generals Kipione and Pitau. Reliable protection of the Karlovac region from the south was ensured. In mid-September, the Panzer Group of Obersturmbannführer Mühlenkamp was subordinate to the 14th Regiment of Police Forces under the command of Colonel Grisel, moving south from the Karlovac-Trieste road, to ensure the defense of the area exposed after the departure of the Italians. To support the regiment of Colonel Grisel, a battalion under the command of Hack (re-formed as part of the "Germany" regiment) was attached.

During the disarmament of the Italian units in Samobor and Karlovac, the corps was forced to protect the Italian officers from their own soldiers. The tank battalion "Nordland" - so far without tanks - received from the disarmed

Italians, their materiel - the so-called "Badoglio tanks".

The division is stationed in the Sisak - Glina - Bosanski Novi area, the command post of the division is located in Sisak. However, almost all parts of the division are located in Sisak, including the reconnaissance battalion. The communications battalion was located south of Zagreb and was directly subordinate to the corps. In Samobor, the Nordland tank battalion was located, which began to receive tanks and assault guns. In addition, the already mentioned "Badoglio tanks" were in service. Italian cars were not equipped with radios, so the interaction of units was carried out through signal flags. Assault guns entered the 3rd company of the 11th SS tank battalion. The missing personnel also arrived - drivers and non-commissioned officers.

In the area controlled by the partisans, skirmishes were not uncommon. Guerrilla tactics are known - insidious blows in the back. There were three forces in the area: the German armed forces, the Croatian Ustashe loyal to the Germans, of which the police forces of the Croatian government consisted, and pro-communist partisans who sought to enlist the support of the population. And I must say, the gross political mistakes of the Croatian government often pushed the population into the arms of the partisans.

In the area of Bosanski Novi, the 23rd Regiment "Norway" carried out several operations, but they did not achieve much success. At the end of September near the town of Ogulin

The 14th police regiment found itself in a very difficult situation - for several days this unit was surrounded by a fairly large partisan formation. The communications company (transmitter power 80 watts) of the 2nd company of the 11th SS communications battalion provided communications with the command headquarters of the 3rd (German) SS Panzer Corps. General Steiner flew in a Fieseler Storch light aircraft to the encircled town to prepare for the release operation.

During this operation, the 3rd battalion "Norway" was transferred to the threatened area. Unloading in Duga-Resa, then on foot march to Kistol to the starting position. The police regiment under the command of Colonel Grisel was released, the area to the south was taken under guard. Based on Kistol, Sturmbannführer Loman's 3rd Battalion "Norway" carried out several operations against the partisans. At the end of October, the shock group of the 3rd battalion "Norway" went on the offensive and for several days held a bridgehead across the river. During the operation, the squad leader Fritz Sievers (2nd company "Norway") died. On November 21, the 9th and 11th companies of "Norway" were drawn into a fierce battle with the partisans, in this battle one Norwegian, Untersturmführer Lund, was killed. From Samobor, the tank battalion "Nordland" on "Badoglio tanks" and assault guns was sent to carry out an operation to liberate the area of \u200b\u200bMount Okich from the partisans.

The Danmark regiment, which was stationed and improved its combat training in the area of the settlements of Petrinya and Glina, should also be on the alert. The regiment's companies were located in the most threatened areas and were constantly replaced. But, in spite of all measures, the Germans managed to control only the settlements in which their units were located - the partisans were everywhere, and at the same time their presence remained secretive.

The 1st battalion "Danmark" was stationed in Glin in the most open place. Clay is a village or even a town with a population of 2300 people. Communication from here only

to the village of Petrina. Clay is surrounded by a semicircle of hills occupied by partisans. Continued partisan attacks forced the battalion to be in a state of constant combat readiness. On September 28, an exchange of prisoners of war took place in Glina. In the following days, the partisans subjected this village to intense attacks several times, but the 1st Battalion "Danmark" successfully repelled them.

On November 20, partisans attacked Glina with a force of up to 5,000 people in total. The 1st Battalion "Danmark" had 300 soldiers in position, and another one hundred and fifty were in reserve, mostly Danes. At the cost of significant losses, the battalion managed to repulse all enemy day attacks, as well as one night attack. Bloody battles continued on November 21; On November 22, the tension subsided. An attempt was made to establish contact with Petrina. The 1st platoon of the 1st company was ambushed and defeated. Untersturmführer Larsen and several others managed to return. A strike group was sent to help, but also unsuccessfully, the result was 3 people killed and 8 wounded. On February 23, at 16:00, the partisans again went on the offensive with the support of three tanks. Two tanks were knocked out by the anti-tank guns of the 4th battery of the 24th regiment, the third managed to escape. On November 24–25, fierce fighting resumed. After the dive bombers attacked the partisan positions from the air, there was a respite. The 1st Battalion of the 24th Regiment managed to hold Glina. Obersturmbannführer Norreen, who was temporarily acting commander of the 1st company, was appointed to the post of deputy commander of the 3rd battalion of the 24th regiment.

Having received a report from the headquarters of the 1st Battalion of the 24th Danmark Regiment from Glina, the regimental commander, Obersturmbannführer von Westfalen, withdrew the forces of the 2nd and 3rd battalions to the mountains, where, according to intelligence, partisans appeared. Only the 5th and 10th companies remained in place, which were tasked with defending Khrastovitsa and Petrinya. The commander of the 3rd battalion of the 24th regiment was left in Petrina by the responsible commander of the remaining German forces there.

#A little later, the partisans attacked the village of Khrastovitsa. Before the regiment commander clarified the situation in the sector of the 5th company, the fate of the forces surrounded by partisans in Hrastovice was decided. In response to the request of the commander of the 5th company of the 24th regiment to send reinforcements, Sturmbannführer Jacobsen immediately sent 2 squadrons of Cossacks from Petrini to Khrastovitsa. Both units were drawn into a heavy battle and were stopped by the partisans. The 7th company of the 24th regiment under the command of Hauptsturmführer Hemel, two days before the events described, was separated from the 5th company of the 24th regiment in Hrastovice, attacked Hrastovice, and ... it turned out that the blow was in vain - the partisans retreated to the mountains. The soldiers of the 7th company found in Hrastovice only the mutilated corpses of their comrades, only a few managed to escape the bloody massacre organized by the partisans.

The reconnaissance battalion of the "Nordland" division placed its headquarters and some of its units in Sisak. On September 15, the 2nd and 3rd companies were transferred 25 km into the mountains. The 2nd company was quartered in one of the peasant farmsteads. There were classes in combat training, equipping positions, escorting transport and passing training courses. On October 11, the 2nd company was transferred to Topolavach, a village next to the one where the 3rd company was stationed. And again, outposts, position equipment and combat training. On October 15, the companies were alerted. The building of the railway station was blown up 4 km away. Both companies went to guard two villages. October 24 again alarm. The divisions of the reconnaissance battalion on all available vehicles were urgently transferred 40 km downstream of the Sava and attacked the partisan camp. The camp turned out to be empty - the Germans found only two partisans there. In early November, the 1st company received an 8-wheeled armored personnel carrier, the rest of the companies received half-tracks.

Combat training continued in the Nordland tank battalion in Samobor. The battalion was still waiting for the tanks to arrive. Stationed in Kar-

At the end of October, units of the 5th SS Panzer Regiment were withdrawn from the infantry division of Lieutenant General Niehoff, received armored personnel carriers in Erlangen and were transferred to Russia to participate in hostilities as part of the SS Viking division.

The same picture is observed in the "Netherlands" brigade, located north of Zagreb. The brigade headquarters moved to Krapinsk, the 98th regiment to the area of the town of Zabok (headquarters and the 2nd battalion of the 48th regiment in the village of Krapina), the headquarters of the 49th regiment to Stubica Toplice, the 1st battalion of the 49th regiment to Donya - Stubica, 2nd Battalion of the 49th Regiment in Oroslavie.

At the end of November 1943, the Nordland division received an order to redeploy to the front near Leningrad. One after another, companies and Cossack units set off. Fighting broke out again with the partisans. Armored vehicles were used to protect units and subunits to be transferred. Some of them have to fight their way to the loading stations. The 3rd Battalion of the 23rd Regiment "Norway" was loaded in Karlovac on 25 November. The loading of the 24th "Denmark" regiment is carried out in Petrina, from where the last echelons left on December 7th. Among the latter - not counting the tank battalion - the 2nd company of the reconnaissance battalion was loaded in Zagreb, which provided protection for units and subunits during the transfer to the loading stations. All units received winter uniforms necessary for combat operations on the Eastern Front.

The “Netherlands” brigade, located north of Zagreb, has so far remained in the area of partisan activity, improving its combat skills.

The sapper battalion of the Nordland division and the 16th (sapper) companies of the Norway and Danmark regiments did not get into Croatia. Directly from the Beneschau training ground, they were sent on a march to connect with the rest of the Nordland division for the upcoming participation in hostilities in the area of the Oranienbaum bridgehead west of Leningrad.

On December 22, 1943, the last unit of the Nordland division, a tank battalion, left its place of deployment in Croatia. Having plunged into Zagreb, he will follow the rest of the division. On the same night, the partisans managed to break through to the outskirts of Samobor. A platoon of anti-aircraft gunners and a field guard entered into battle with them and pushed the attackers back. The personnel of the tank battalion met Christmas 1943 in the train cars that brought soldiers and officers to the front. And armament with Pz V "Panther" tanks was still waiting.

At the end of December 1943, the Netherlands brigade also followed the 3rd (German) SS Panzer Corps to the area of the Oranienbaum bridgehead of the Soviet troops (which existed from September 1941 to January 1944). At that time, the Netherlands brigade did not have heavy weapons. The artillery battalion envisaged by the plan had yet to be formed at Benešau in the Czech Republic.

The anti-aircraft division of the "Netherlands" brigade was also not in Croatia. The unit was ordered to proceed to the northern sector of the Eastern Front, being at the Aris training ground in East Prussia.

Italian tanks, even the so-called "medium" M 13/40 (and its modifications 14/41 and 15/42), had low combat characteristics - with a weight of 14-15.5 tons, 45 mm frontal armor, 25 mm side armor, 47 cannon -mm. During clashes with infantry tanks of the British "Matilda" (which had 78 mm armor) or Soviet medium tanks T-34 or heavy KV, the Italians massively "burned with a blue flame." "Tanks of Badoglio" - because after the arrest of Mussolini, the king of Italy appointed Badoglio as prime minister (July 1943), and on September 3, the Badoglio government signed an agreement on the surrender of Italy.

The Croatian rulers carried out the genocide of the Serbs with the help of the Ustashe, exterminating hundreds of thousands, as well as other minorities, in the most brutal ways. Actively involved in the war against the USSR.

Otto Carius(German Otto Carius, 05/27/1922 - 01/24/2015) - German tank ace during the Second World War. Destroyed more than 150 enemy tanks and self-propelled guns - one of the highest results of World War II, along with other German tank battle masters - Michael Wittmann and Kurt Knispel. He fought on tanks Pz.38, "Tiger", self-propelled guns "Jagdtigr". Book author " Tigers in the mud».
He began his career as a tanker on a light tank "Skoda" Pz.38, from 1942 he fought on a heavy tank Pz.VI "Tiger" on the Eastern Front. Along with Michael Wittmann, he became a Nazi military legend, and his name was widely used in Third Reich propaganda during the war. Fought on the Eastern Front. In 1944, he was seriously wounded, after recovering, he fought on the Western Front, then, by order of the command, he surrendered to the American occupying forces, spent some time in a prisoner of war camp, after which he was released.
After the war, he became a pharmacist, in June 1956 he acquired a pharmacy in the city of Herschweiler-Pettersheim, which he renamed Tiger Apotheke. He headed the pharmacy until February 2011.

Interesting excerpts from the book "Tigers in the Mud"
the book can be read in full here militera.lib.ru

On the offensive in the Baltics:

“It’s not bad at all to fight here,” Sergeant Dehler, the commander of our tank, said with a chuckle after once again pulling his head out of a tub of water. It seemed that this washing would never end. The year before, he had been in France. The thought of this gave me self-confidence, because I entered the fighting for the first time, excited, but also with some fear. We were greeted enthusiastically everywhere by the people of Lithuania. The people here saw us as liberators. We were shocked by the fact that before our arrival, Jewish shops were destroyed and destroyed everywhere..»

On the attack on Moscow and the arming of the Red Army:

“The attack on Moscow was given preference over the capture of Leningrad. The attack choked in the mud, when the capital of Russia, which opened before us, was a stone's throw away. What then happened in the infamous winter of 1941/42 cannot be conveyed in oral or written reports. The German soldier had to hold out in inhuman conditions against those accustomed to winter and extremely well-armed Russian divisions.»

About T-34 tanks:

“Another event hit us like a ton of bricks: Russian T-34 tanks appeared for the first time! The astonishment was complete. How could it happen that up there, they did not know about the existence of this excellent tank?»

The T-34, with its good armor, perfect shape and magnificent 76.2-mm long-barreled gun, made everyone in awe, and all German tanks were afraid of him until the end of the war. What were we to do with these monsters thrown against us in multitudes?

About heavy IS tanks:

“We examined the Joseph Stalin tank, which, to a certain extent, was still intact. The 122-mm long-barreled gun aroused our respect. The disadvantage was that unitary shots were not used in this tank. Instead, the projectile and powder charge had to be loaded separately. The armor and uniforms were better than those of our "Tiger", but we liked our weapons much more.
The Joseph Stalin tank played a cruel joke on me when it knocked out my right drive wheel. I did not notice this until I wanted to back away after an unexpected strong blow and explosion. Feldwebel Kerscher immediately recognized this shooter. He also hit him in the forehead, but our 88-mm gun could not penetrate the heavy armor of "Joseph Stalin" at such an angle and from such a distance.

About the Tiger tank:

“Outwardly, he looked handsome and pleasing to the eye. He was fat; almost all flat surfaces are horizontal, and only the front slope is welded almost vertically. The thicker armor made up for the lack of rounded shapes. Ironically, just before the war, we supplied the Russians with a huge hydraulic press with which they were able to produce their "T-34" with such elegantly rounded surfaces. Our armaments experts did not consider them valuable. In their opinion, such thick armor could never be needed. As a result, we had to put up with flat surfaces.”

“Even if our “tiger” was not handsome, his margin of safety inspired us. He really drove like a car. With just two fingers, we could control a 60-ton giant with 700 horsepower, drive at a speed of 45 kilometers per hour on the road and 20 kilometers per hour over rough terrain. However, taking into account the additional equipment, we could only move on the road at a speed of 20-25 kilometers per hour and, accordingly, at an even lower speed off-road. The 22 liter engine ran best at 2600 rpm. At 3000 rpm it quickly overheated.

On successful Russian operations:

« With envy, we watched how well equipped the Ivans were compared to us.. We experienced real happiness when several replenishment tanks finally arrived to us from the deep rear.

“We found the commander of the Luftwaffe field division at the command post in a state of complete despair. He did not know where his units were. Russian tanks crushed everything around before the anti-tank guns had time to fire even one shot. Ivans captured the latest equipment, and the division fled in all directions.

“The Russians attacked there and took the city. The attack followed so unexpectedly that some of our troops were caught on the move. Real panic set in. It was quite fair that the commandant of Nevel had to answer before a military court for a flagrant disregard for security measures.

About drunkenness in the Wehrmacht:

“Shortly after midnight, cars appeared from the west. We recognized them as ours in time. It was a motorized infantry battalion that did not have time to connect with the troops and advanced to the highway late. As I found out later, the commander was sitting in the only tank at the head of the column. He was completely drunk. The disaster happened with lightning speed. The whole unit had no idea what was happening, and moved openly through the space being shot through by the Russians. A terrible panic arose when machine guns and mortars began to speak. Many soldiers were hit by bullets. Left without a commander, everyone ran back to the road instead of looking for cover south of it. Any kind of mutual assistance is gone. The only thing that mattered was every man for himself. The cars drove right over the wounded, and the freeway was a picture of horror.

On Russian heroism:

“When it began to get light, our infantrymen approached the T-34 somewhat inadvertently. He was still standing next to von Schiller's tank. With the exception of a hole in the hull, no other damage was visible on it. Surprisingly, when they approached to open the hatch, he did not give way. Following this, a hand grenade flew out of the tank, and three soldiers were seriously wounded. Von Schiller again opened fire on the enemy. However, until the third shot, the commander of the Russian tank did not leave his car. Then he, seriously wounded, lost consciousness. The other Russians were dead. We brought a Soviet lieutenant to the division, but it was no longer possible to interrogate him. He died of his wounds on the way. This incident showed us how careful we must be. This Russian sent detailed reports to his unit about us. He only had to slowly turn his turret to shoot von Schiller point-blank. I remember how we resented the stubbornness of this Soviet lieutenant at the time. Today I have a different opinion about it ... "

Comparison of Russians and Americans (after being wounded in 1944, the author was transferred to the Western Front):

“In the midst of the blue sky, they created a screen of fire that left no room for imagination. It covered the entire front of our bridgehead. Only Ivans could arrange such a barrage of fire. Even the Americans, whom I later met in the West, could not compare with them. The Russians fired in layers with all types of weapons, from continuously firing light mortars to heavy artillery.

“Sappers were active everywhere. They even reversed the warning signs in the hope that the Russians would drive in the wrong direction! Such a ploy sometimes worked later on the Western Front against the Americans, but did not pass with the Russians.»

“If I had two or three tank commanders and crews from my company that fought in Russia with me, then this rumor could well turn out to be true. All my comrades would not fail to fire on those Yankees who were marching in "ceremonial formation". After all, five Russians were more dangerous than thirty Americans.. We have already noticed this in the last few days of fighting in the west.

« The Russians would never give us so much time! But how much it took the Americans to eliminate the "bag", in which there could be no talk of any serious resistance.

“... we decided one evening to replenish our fleet at the expense of the American one. It never occurred to anyone to consider this a heroic deed! The Yankees slept in the houses at night, as the "front-line soldiers" were supposed to. After all, who would want to disturb their peace! Outside, at best, there was one sentry, but only if the weather was good. The war began in the evenings only if our troops retreated, and they pursued them. If by chance a German machine gun suddenly opened fire, then they asked for support from the air force, but only the next day. Around midnight we set off with four soldiers and returned pretty soon with two jeeps. It was convenient that they did not require keys. One had only to turn on a small toggle switch, and the car was ready to go. It wasn't until we were back in our lines that the Yankees fired indiscriminately into the air, probably to calm their nerves. If the night were long enough, we could easily drive to Paris.”

Protected by the legislation of the Russian Federation on the protection of intellectual rights. Reproduction of the entire book or any part of it is prohibited without the written permission of the publisher. Any attempt to break the law will be prosecuted.

Der weg war wait. Panzer zwischen weichsel und Wolga

© Translation and publication in Russian, CJSC "Tsentrpoligraf", 2015

© Artistic design of the series, CJSC "Tsentrpoligraf", 2015

Chapter 1
Polish campaign

Overview of the campaign

Memoirs of the regiment commander, lieutenant colonel Eberbach

Beginning in mid-August 1939, we knew that something was about to happen. War with Poland was already on the horizon. We all felt that we should do what we had to do, but there was no such enthusiasm as in 1914.

On the morning of August 26, 1939, we moved to the Polish border, east of the city of Rosenberg (now Olesno) in Silesia and prepared for the offensive. But no order came. In the evening we returned to the quarters. Everyone was silent, hoping that in the end the war would somehow be avoided.

The regiment consisted of six companies. In most of them, the tanks were armed only with machine guns (Pz I tanks). In addition, we had several Pz II tanks with a 20 mm automatic gun and Pz III tanks with a 37 mm gun as the main armament. The 4th and 8th companies also had 4 Pz IV tanks with a short (24 caliber) 75 mm gun. The staffing of officers and non-commissioned officers, despite the replenishment, did not even come close to the regular strength.

September 1 - the first day of the war

With the first rays of the sun, we again stood on the border. Our artillery opened fire at 4:45. Several houses caught fire. Our rifle regiment moved forward. At 6:30 our regiment also received the order to advance. Moving through Opatow - Vilkovitsko-Mokra-III, we supported the offensive of our troops on the Kocin Islands. It's about 40 kilometers.

The XVI Army Corps, consisting of the 1st Panzer Division, our 4th Panzer Division, the 14th Infantry Division and the 31st Infantry Division, was supposed to be used as a kind of crushing battering ram in the middle of the Reichenau army.

Regiment's baptism of fire

Progress was slow. The roads were clogged with traffic; the bridge over the Lisvarta River was blown up. We had to ford it. We took our motorcyclists to the rear armor of the tanks. Fortunately, not a single car got stuck. We reached Opatow through Krzepice under machine-gun and artillery fire, responded from our tanks and reached Wilkovicko. Directly in front of us were the villages of Mokra—each named I, II, and III respectively—and behind them was an impenetrable (for tanks) forest. The 2nd Battalion attacked and destroyed the Polish battery; he broke through the villages and reached positions 400 meters from the forest. Artillery, anti-tank guns and machine guns fired from the forest.

None of the enemies were visible. Bullets from Polish anti-tank rifles pierced the armor of our light tanks. Captain Butz and Lieutenant Lohr were killed; Lieutenant Snabovich is wounded.

When the regimental commander ordered the 1st battalion to make a round on the right and comb the area, the battalion commander, Lieutenant Colonel Stenglein, was seriously wounded. The operational command of the battalion was taken over by Captain von Lauchert. We reached the edge of the forest and gradually cleared it. Our artillery provided support. To our left, the 36th Panzer Regiment also suffered losses during the offensive. Colonel Bright redeployed his regiment to Wilkowitzko and reorganized it. The infantry moved slowly forward towards Mokra. There were no orders from the division, because there, in the rear, confusion reigned. The commander of our division with his staff had to forcefully return demoralized combat vehicle drivers and columns of mobile rear units and subunits back to the front. Thus, our regiment was left to itself at the edge of the forest. Was it worth the risk to move on?

At the end of the day, the commander of the light platoon of the 2nd battalion, sergeant major Gabriel, sent for reconnaissance, returned and reported: "There is no enemy behind him in the forest and in the village." The 2nd battalion and regimental headquarters immediately moved forward and went through the forest. They moved forward, sent patrols forward, and took up a circular defense. At that time, the 1st Battalion remained in the area around Mokra.

As a result, on this first difficult day of the war, our regiment nevertheless achieved success thanks to perseverance, onslaught and aggressiveness. The first line of defense of the Poles was broken. The division commander noted the well-coordinated actions of the regiment.

The price paid for the first day of the war was high: 15 killed, including 2 officers; 14 wounded, including 3 officers, and 14 tanks. We were opposed by the Polish elite unit: the 1st Volyn brigade.

Attack on Warsaw

On September 2, 1939, the 12th Infantry Regiment, excellently supported by our 4th and 8th tank companies, reached the village of Kozinki with heavy fighting. On September 3, the will to resist of some of the Polish units opposing us was broken. The 7th reconnaissance motorized battalion captured the crossings across the Warta River almost without a fight and advanced 4 kilometers to the outskirts of the city of Radomsko. Our neighbor on the left, the 1st Panzer Division, took Kamensk.

On September 3 and 4, our regiment moved forward with difficulty along bad roads. The reconnaissance battalion and the 12th infantry regiment crossed the Vidavka and were 20 kilometers south of Kamensk. Only on September 5, our regiment was able to move forward again. The offensive was aimed at capturing Gomulin, located east of the city of Piotrkow Trybunalski. But only the 6th company had to face a strong enemy - artillery and anti-tank guns of the Polish army. The company threw them back into the forest.

On September 6, the regiment took Bendkuw and Rudnik; On September 7, he was again at the forefront of the division and, in a fierce battle, drove the enemy out of the city of Uyazd. By 9:00 we reached Lubokhna, and in the evening the regiment retreated through the town of Rawa-Mazowiecka to the area assigned for the rest of the troops.

On that day, the division advanced 40 kilometers deep into enemy territory. The regiment would have been happy to ride further, because on the outskirts of the village there was a road sign: "Warsaw - 115 kilometers." For the first time we felt the magnetic attraction contained in the name of this large city, which was extremely important to master.

The order for the division ended with the words: "To Warsaw." There was very little time for sleep.

With the first rays of the sun on September 8, the regiment took its place in the vanguard of the division. After walking 10 kilometers, he entered into battle with the Polish infantry, supported by artillery. Soon the enemy was defeated. Continuously firing at separate pockets of resistance, the regiment approached Radzejowice. The offensive continued on Volitsa-Sitanets in order to capture the crossings across the Lost River. Polish soldiers surrendered by the thousands. After reaching the river, the regiment approached Rashin. The enemy blew up two bridges ahead to our right. But we managed to cross over. The sapper company repaired the bridges. The commanding general advanced to the location of the 1st battalion, where he listened to a brief report from Captain von Lauchert, splashed from head to toe with mud and in one tunic and breeches.

The regiment commander recommended to General Goepner and the division commander to take the enemy by surprise and, without waiting for the approach of other parts of the division, continue moving towards Warsaw. The Polish government declared it an "open city". Permission has been granted. Just at that moment, aviation also delivered the plans for the streets of Warsaw. All tankers were eager to become the first Wehrmacht soldiers to enter the enemy capital. The 2nd Battalion was ordered to advance through Piłsudski Square and cross the Vistula in the direction of the Prague region (on the right, eastern, bank of the Vistula). The 1st Battalion was to remain in the center of the city. Finally, Goepner said: "Eberbach ... if you enter into negotiations with the Polish authorities, remain firm!"

Our regiment formed up and at 17:00 set out in marching order and soon entered the unsightly suburbs of Warsaw. There were several queues. Rows of houses suddenly gave way to wastelands, and urban development appeared again only after the settlement of Rakovets. The tanks passed over the road bridge. The real outskirts of the city began after him after another four hundred meters, somewhere undeveloped, somewhere occupied by suburban gardens. The road to the border of the city was blocked by a barricade, consisting of overturned tram cars and trucks for transporting furniture. Because of it, as well as from four-story residential buildings, roof vents, windows and holes in the basement floors, our tanks were fired from all types of weapons. One of the few Pz IVs received a direct hit. It was later renovated.

The sun began to set. Twilight fell on the road ahead of us. The regiment commander saw how the Poles kept their word about Warsaw as an "open city" and that a heavily fortified capital could not be taken by a sudden blow. He stopped the offensive and withdrew his forces behind the bridge. By that moment, the entire vanguard of the division had pulled up, and the regiment was covered from all sides.

The night passed quietly. We refueled cars, stuffed machine-gun belts with cartridges and received food rations. In the meantime, all units and subunits of our division pulled up. The divisional commander ordered the reinforced 35th Tank Regiment on September 9 to repeat the offensive from its current positions. The 36th Tank Regiment, which had also received reinforcements, stood a little to the west.

At 7:00 our 1st battalion went on the offensive against Warsaw for the second time. The attack was supported by a battalion of motorized infantry and a sapper company. Previously, artillery conducted fire training in the suburbs. Our tanks again moved over the road bridge, accompanied by motorized infantry. The first obstacle was overcome together with the sappers. The Poles defended their capital bravely and fiercely.

Despite this, the second bridge was taken. The infantrymen had to storm every house and clean it from the enemy. The crackle of machine-gun bursts, bursts of hand grenades thrown from basement and dormers, blocks of stone thrown from roofs - all this significantly hampered the advance of the infantry. The tankers decided to continue the offensive on their own, on their own. The commander of the 1st company, Lieutenant Klass, continued the attack along the main street. His car was hit with a cleverly camouflaged cannon. Despite this, the Klass tank did not stop. However, the next projectile hit set it on fire. Klass and his radio operator managed to get out. But both of them died from their wounds.

The regimental adjutant's car was stopped by the same gun. Oberleutnant Guderian 1
This refers to the son of Colonel-General of the Wehrmacht Heinz Guderian, Heinz Gunther. During the war, he also held more responsible posts. On October 5, 1944, he was awarded the Knight's Cross, being an operational officer at the headquarters of the 116th Panzer Division. In the post-war Bundeswehr he was a division commander. ( Note. ed.)

He jumped out and through the gate of the estate ran into the garden. There he saw Lieutenant Diergardt's tank. Together with a tank and a platoon of riflemen, they slowly moved forward.

Other tanks tried to advance through estates and gardens. For example, Lieutenant Esser and two platoons managed to reach the railway line, where the defending Poles disabled the radio station. Feldwebel Ziegler took command of the remaining machines and reached the Warsaw station itself. Finding himself without any support in the very center of the city, he was eventually forced to retreat. Lieutenant Lange made his way up to the positions of the enemy artillery and opened fire on the cannons with everything that his people had at their disposal. Brave Poles threw improvised explosive charges under his tracks. One of the tank rollers was torn off. The tower didn't turn anymore. He also had to retreat.

Around 0900, the regimental commander raised the 2nd Battalion, originally in reserve, and, with the support of a battalion of motorized infantry, threw it into a kilometer-wide area north of the road, since the enemy defenses seemed to be less organized there. At first, the battalion advanced rapidly. The old fortifications of Warsaw were overcome.

We went to the park. There, the infantry column following the tanks came under fire from the enemy, who poured machine gun and rifle fire on it from a height on the left. After our infantrymen dismounted, artillery began to hit them. Several cars caught fire. The enemy anti-tank defense stopped the attack of our vehicles. The commander of the 8th company, Lieutenant Morgenrot, was mortally wounded. Of the two platoons that entered the park, only three tanks returned.

The division was ordered: "Retreat to their original positions!" The number of tanks that went out of combat and remained combat-ready was strikingly small. But during the day their number increased to 91, of which only 57 remained fully operational, including the only Pz IV. The crews whose cars were hit also returned. Among them was Lieutenant Reibich, who had to break back through the defensive positions of the Poles.

Despite all this, the morale of the tankers remained unshakable. Everyone wanted to do something great. In the end, the division traveled 400 kilometers in 8 days, defeated the enemy in all battles and was the first to enter the Polish capital, leaving the main forces of the Polish army far in the rear.

Only much later did we learn that Warsaw was defended by 100,000 Polish soldiers. The demoralizing effect on the enemy of the vanguard of our regiment, advancing, in turn, in the vanguard of the 4th Panzer Division, should not be overestimated.

During the night, a large number of the regiment's wrecked tanks, including several that had hit mines, were repaired by the crews, in many cases right in front of the Polish positions.

The main forces of the Polish army, retreating from the western part of Poland, tried to reach Warsaw south of the Vistula. Our division—reinforced by the Leibstandarte Regiment, the 33rd Infantry Regiment, and other artillery and sapper units—was ordered to hold positions near Warsaw. The goal was to block the Polish troops retreating from the west to Warsaw. Only the 1st Panzer Division was located to the east of us. Together with her, we were left to ourselves, being about 100 kilometers deep in enemy territory, isolated from other German formations.

On September 9, a well-deserved rest break was planned for the regiment after continuous fighting and heavy losses, in order to be able to recover and repair and maintain vehicles. But the prevailing situation did not allow this to be done.

By the evening of September 10, the regiment again participated in the battles, this time to the south-west of Warsaw, in order to cover the position along the Osedle - Gorce - Blizna line from the advancing Polish forces. Success was achieved at the cost of losses.

September 11 passed relatively calmly. On September 12, Captain Schnell and the rear units of the first echelon knocked out seven Polish armored vehicles.

On September 13, the regiment withdrew and moved to positions at the factory in Strzhikuly, where it continued to advance along with the Leibstandarte.

At 14:30, our regiment went on the offensive to the west in the direction of the city of Blonie. Two battalions moved in line, with one Leibstandarte battalion following behind our vehicles. The settlement of Kaputy was taken, and thousands of Polish soldiers were taken prisoner. We captured their positions of anti-tank guns and artillery, along with a huge amount of ammunition. The target of the attack was reached in the dark. It was a significant success. The battalions quartered for the night in the industrial area of Leszno and Bialutka.

On September 14, the 31st Infantry Division, which had meanwhile arrived in our sector, took up the positions of the regiment, which now withdrew to the Krunice area to repair the tanks.

At noon on September 15, the regiment received an order the next day, September 16, to advance, crossing the Bzura River, together with the Leibstandarte and the 12th Rifle Regiment, in order to strike at the rear of powerful enemy units concentrated around Kutno. At the same time, the rest of the division was to provide cover from the north along the Bzura.

The regiment set out on a campaign on the morning of September 16, at 5:00. The sappers began to build bridges. The tanks descended the steep slopes, crossed the Bzura and formed up to attack. It was supposed to start the offensive at 7:00, but it took a long time before all units of the regiment crossed the river.

At 11:00 the battalions finally set out. It was raining. It was planned that the 1st battalion should pass through Bibyampol and reach the Mlodzeshin-Rushki highway. The 2nd battalion advanced from the southern part of Zuikovsk with the same task. The enemy suffered heavy losses at Bibyampol at the hands of the 1st Battalion. The battalion captured two pieces of artillery and at 12:30 saddled the highway, where it entered into battle with the retreating enemy columns. The 2nd battalion fought fierce battles with the enemy forces in Adamov and suffered heavy losses. The 6th company was practically destroyed by Polish anti-tank guns, hidden among small patches of forest. Lieutenant Dibisch was killed; Lieutenant von Kessel is seriously wounded. Despite all this, the 2nd battalion reached the offensive goal at 14:00.

Parts of the 1st Panzer Division, which were supposed to join our regiment in Rushki, did not arrive. The Poles unleashed unimaginably heavy artillery fire on the regiment from three sides. Our tanks were here as if on a platter, but they could not leave the infantry in front in a difficult situation, as the Poles attacked our infantry in wave after wave. Radio contact with the division was lost. From afar, the sound of machine-gun bursts and the whistle of mortar fire could be clearly heard. Having suffered losses, the 1st battalion was forced to retreat to Rushki. The tanks had almost no ammunition left. The artillery support we requested was not provided. The masses of the enemy continued to advance on Rushki, despite the extremely heavy losses inflicted by our fire. The fog slowly spread.

Around 17:00 one of our radio stations received the order to retreat. The infantry broke away from the enemy, retreating under the cover of our tanks. Then we also slowly began to retreat. The Polish infantry fired at us in Yuliopol. She could not be found in the pitch darkness of the night. It was a real "witch's cauldron." When we stopped to service our cars, people fell into a deep sleep right in their seats, no matter what they were doing, because they were very tired.

The 2nd battalion had to repel the attacks of the Polish infantry throughout the night. The 1st battalion and regimental headquarters finally managed to withdraw to the starting line of the offensive.

On September 17, the 2nd and 4th companies successfully fought together with the Leibstandarte in Mistevice and Yuliopol. The 4th company captured a Polish battery of heavy anti-aircraft guns, as well as two light anti-aircraft guns and several mortars. In the evening, the regiment marched to the area near the Terezin Palace. The combat strength was reduced to 60 tanks. Once again it was said that the regiment was planned to be sent to rest and provide an opportunity for the maintenance of machines. Contrary to expectations, September 18 was indeed quiet.

Battle of Annihilation on Bzura

At midnight the regiment was alerted. It was supposed to go to the industrial area Vulka-Aleksandrovsky at 4:00. And at 2:00 the tanks went out into the pitch darkness of the night. Despite this, the regiment arrived there on time. The rear units reported that there was no supply of supplies to the front line.

The commander arrived at the command post of the division in the industrial area of Tutovice. Here he learned the following from the division commander: after heavy fighting in Rushki, the enemy concentrated his forces on the line between Bzura and Vistula in an attempt to make a swift breakthrough in the direction of Warsaw. On September 18, the main part of the division managed to pass along the eastern bank of the Bzura up to its confluence with the Vistula. The terrain in this area was covered with small patches of forest and shrubs.

Before elements of the 4th Panzer Division could turn around to take up a defensive position, the Poles launched an offensive across the Bzura. Without exception, all parts of the division were drawn into the most difficult defensive battles that were fought from all sides. Our fraternal 36th regiment shared the common fate and held a desperate all-round defense on the ground, where there were no sectors of fire. One of the battalion commanders of the 36th Tank Regiment was killed. There was almost no ammunition left. There was no unified command, cooperation and control. Each unit was drawn into close combat. Losses were very high. The enemy and our units became so close that the artillery could no longer provide direct support. She fired direct fire at the enemy, who appeared in front of our guns. Throughout the night, the enemy, regardless of losses, continued his desperate attacks, trying to make a breakthrough. Constant attacks were made even on the command post of the division. Lieutenant General Reinhardt had to pick up a rifle, the barrel of which soon became hot from the fire. The units of our anti-tank battalion were crushed and destroyed by the enemy.

The regiment was ordered to advance with two battalions attached to it from the Leibstandarte and break through to the encircled units of the German troops. General Reinhardt shook hands with the regimental commander and said literally the following: "Eberbach, the fate of the 4th Panzer Division depends on your regiment."

And who wouldn't give anything to help their comrades in a desperate situation! At 08:00, our reduced regiment launched an offensive, the battalions marched level. At Khilarov, our tanks encountered large enemy forces armed with all types of weapons, including anti-tank guns. In a fierce battle, the enemy was destroyed.

“The warm spring sun lit up the ground southeast of Berlin. It was about ten o’clock in the morning. Everything started all over again. From the nearby asparagus field, the wounded were reaching out to us, everyone was trying to cling tightly to the armor of our “King Tiger” again.
We quickly rushed forward, catching up with others. Soon the tank stopped again. In front, next to the road, stood an anti-tank gun, which we managed to destroy with a high-explosive shell.

Suddenly, a metallic clang came from the starboard side, followed by a prolonged hiss. A dazzling white fog spread around.
There was dead silence for a second. We should have noticed earlier this Russian tank to our right. Eyes closed on their own, hands clenched over head as if it could protect...
Thick white smoke filled the entire cockpit of our tank, a wave of scalding heat took our breath away. The tank was on fire. Horror and paralysis, like an obsession, took possession of consciousness. Choking scream.

Everyone is trying to find a saving way out into the fresh air, and the flames are already burning their hands and face. Heads and bodies hit each other. Hands cling to the red-hot cover of the rescue hatch. Your lungs are about to explode.
Blood pounding furiously in the throat and skull. Before the eyes - purple blackness, sometimes torn by green flashes. With unruly hands, I grab the hatch, flounder, bumping into the gun and instruments, and two heads hit the hatch cover at once.
Instinctively, I push Labe down and forward with my head and my whole body falls out. I hook my leather jacket on the hook and rip it off; for the last time I notice how the Iron Cross flashes silver before the jacket flies into the burning belly of the tank.

I fall headfirst from the turret of the tank, pushing off the armor with my hands. I see that all the skin has almost peeled off the fingers of my hands and with one jerk I tear off its remnants, feeling how blood is flowing. Behind me, a figure of a radio operator, burning like a torch, jumps out of the tank.
Burnt Hunter, Ney and Els rush past me. The next moment, an explosion is heard behind our back, the tower is separated from the tank. All. This is the end! But I run towards my own people, to where salvation is ... "- from the memoirs of Hauptscharführer Streng 502nd SS heavy tank battalion.