5 th Panzer Division in the French Campaign

[gajabhau]

I want to know the 'itinerary' of the 5th Panzer Division from May 10 to May 29, 1940 during the French Campaign - each date and place , preferably with sources. I think a good part of it was detached to 7 th Panzer Division (Rommel). Any way, what about the rest of it? I shall be thankful for any help.
Gajanan

[Michael Emrys]

You might look into The Blitzkrieg Legend: The 1940 Campaign in the West by Karl-heinz Frieser and John T. Greenwood. It gives fairly detailed descriptions of at least some of 5th. Panzer's actions.

Michael

[gajabhau]

Thanks, Michael. I shall try to get that book. But it seems from your reply that the book describes only some of the actions of the 5th Pazer. So I shall be thankful if anyone could come up with more details.

[tigre]

Hello Gajanan, you are a lucky guy . Here goes something, hope be useful................

Marschweg – 5 Pz Div.

09 May 1940. Assembly area around Euskirschen, Munstereiffel, Geisdorf and Dusdorf. Near Bonn.
10 May 1940. At 09:30 hours the advance guard’s spearhead got across the international border at Wischeid – Schönberg (advance guard CO was Oberst Werner from PR 31) together with IR 190 form the 62 ID and H. Pi. Btl 627 (1 KIA and 6 WIA first day). At 13:00 hours the spearhead got St Vith the advance guard at 16:00 hours. At 19:30 hours attack against Petite Langlir, bulk of the vanguard between Baclay and Bovigny.

11 May 1940. At 05:00 hours Roncebach with 6 and 5./ PR 31. At 08:25 hours Regne. Two columns towards Hotton; northern ones: Liernueux – Grandmenil – Briscol – Erezee – Soy – Hotton (Marschgruppe Stegmann); the southern ones: Baraque de Fraiture – Odeigne – Amonines – Soy – Hotton (Marschgruppe Lübbe). At 18:00 hours the vanguard reached Hotton and the Ourthe river. At 21:00 hours the divisional CP at Soy.

12 May 1940. At 06:00 hours the vanguard (Werner) left Marenne towards Yvoir and Houx. At 08;30 fights at Hogne and 3 kms west of Sinsin with the French 4 DLC. At 12:00 hours again met French troops 5 kms far to the west. At 12:15 hours marschgruppe Stegmann at Erizee waiting to get across the Ourthe behind the Marschgruppe Lübbe. At 16:40 hours fought the vanguard by Purnode. At 17:00 hours the panzerstossgruppe Zöbel reached the heights eastwards of Yvoir seeing the bridge still stood; however the bridge was destroyed (with a Schützenpanzerwagen onto it) by Lieutenant De Wispeleare (engineer Belgian Army) who was killed in turn. At 15:00 hours the MG Btl 8 took positions along the line Assese – Crupet – Boqubach in order to protect the northern flank (troops from the VIII AK were 40 kms far behind). At 13:00 hours Marschgruppe Lübbe crossed the Ourthe; Marschgruppe Stegmann about 15:00 hours. At 19:30 hours CP at Sesenne. Men belonging to the 3./AA 8 found the dam Nº 5 intact during the night 12 to 13 May troops of the 6./SR 13 reinforced with 1 Pl of the 5./SR 13 got across the Meuse establishing the first bridgehead.

13 May 1940. At 04:30 hours began the river crossing to the south of Yvoir and at 05:30 hours the Schützenbrigade around Houx. At 16:00 hours after hard fight was taken height 109 by 20:00 hours Hauptmann Witzel with his 6./SR 14 took Haut Le Wastia.

14 May 1940. At 05:30 and 08:00 hours French couterattacks, the germans held in the northeastern corner of the town, there fell Hptm Witzel and several landsers; between 10:00 and 11:00 hours the first panzers reinforced the German riflemen, they were from PR 31 under Oberleutnant v. Bodenhausen. The bridgehead was enlarged along the line Molinéebach – Haut Le Wastia – Hontoir. At 15:00 hours the PR 31 together with the SR 6 (7 Pz Div) pressed against Sommiere, the town was seized at 17:30 hours. The divisional CP was at 22:45 hours in the Chateau de Bloqumont. The 5. Schützebrigade and the PR 31 Staffs at Chateau de Senenne. The 8 Pz Brigade Staff and the PR 15 still at Ciney without bridging columns (taken by the 7 Pz Div). The Voraus abteilung Werner was disbanded and all units reverted to their parents commands. Heavy losses that day: 41 KIA, 131 WIA and 22 MIA (the 6./ SR 14 alone took 11 KIA and 25 WIA)

Taken from: the divisional history written by Anton Detlev v. Plato. (thanks Jan-Hendrik )

Regards. Raúl M

[gajabhau]

Thanks Raul. You are great. I am indeed a lucky man. I wanted to ask two or three more questions about the 5th Panzer. But you have caught me completly unprepared ! I shall ask my questions in next couple of days. Thanks again.
With regards.Gajanan

[bf109 emil]

ok, dumb question...a panzer division, say Hoth's 4th...was this a separate army so to say, or an armoured unit attached to an army group. I believe the 6th army, crushed, or surrendered @ Stalingrad was the same vaunted army which defeated France?? Is this so, or did a panzer division operate independantly say as a complete army would, with quartermasters, infantry, engineer's, logistics, etc. or a basic armour unit, going from battle to battle as needed??? But had the advantage, persay of tank as their main weapon, as oposed to a calvary army using a equestrian mount as theirs??

thanks...bf109 Emil

[gajabhau]

ok, dumb question...a panzer division, say Hoth's 4th...was this a separate army so to say, or an armoured unit attached to an army group. I believe the 6th army, crushed, or surrendered @ Stalingrad was the same vaunted army which defeated France?? Is this so, or did a panzer division operate independantly say as a complete army would, with quartermasters, infantry, engineer's, logistics, etc. or a basic armour unit, going from battle to battle as needed??? But had the advantage, persay of tank as their main weapon, as oposed to a calvary army using a equestrian mount as theirs??

thanks...bf109 Emil

I think the question has been posted in the wrong place, though in the right forum of course ! But I shall try to answer it. The battalion was the basic building block in the British army. It was THE UNIT. For example, the 3rd battalion of the Black Watch regiment shall always remain the 3rd battalion of the Black Watch regiment; but it might be moved from one formation to another from time to time. The Army, say the Sixth Army, was a much less stable formation (especially in its composition) in the German army, or any other army.For example the Sixth Army formed a part of Army Group B of the German army at the beginning of the French Campaign (10th may 1940) and comprised the following divisions:- 3rd panzer, 4th panzer, 7,14, 18, 19, 30, 31, 35, 56, 61, 216, 253, 269. On the other hand the Sixth army formed a part of Army Group South of the German army at the beginning of Operation Barbarossa (22nd June, 1941) and comprised the following divisions:- 19, 44, 56, 62, 75, 111, 168, 297, 298, 299. The 30 Division was a part of the IX Corps of the Sixth Army of Army Group B of the German army on 10th May,1940. It formed a part of the X Corps of the 16 th Army of Army Group North of the German army on 22nd June 1941.
In the German army, as well as in the U.S. army, the basic building block was the regiment ( equivalent to the British brigade).

[bf109 emil]

ok, i kinda understand, but will have to research logistics, or composition of what constitutes an army, a corp. To put simply, Paulas commanded the 6th army of 285,000 men at Stalingrad...but did he also command armour units under his control, grenadiers, and where these armour units his to place or use where deemed fit, or did he have to request armour support from a Panzer Division, I assume an army had it's own artillery, but seeing AA units belonged to Goering's Luftwaffe, could these be taken from a field-marshall, and moved at Goering's whim?? I understand the 3 army groups opposed to Russia, but was unsure if Panzer Division was tied to an army group? specific army? or an individual stop gap. battle where needed Division.

bf109 Emil

[tigre]

Hello to all people ; more follows...................................

Marschweg – 5 Pz Div - May 1940.

15 May 1940. At 03:00 hours the pontons were launched; at 09:00 hours the bridge (142 m and 8 ton) was finished and at 13:00 hours was ready to use it. The PR 15 was the first unit that got across over it (the heavy tanks Pz III and IV got across over the 7 Pz Div’s bridge at Dinant). 08:00 hours scout parties over the line Weillen – Faläen – Sosoye.

At 09:00 hours Oberst Werner ( with the bulk of PR 31) got the following Divisional order: storm against Silenrieux thru Sommiere – Faläen – Flavion – Florennes. At 11:00 hours the SR 13 crossed the line Weillen – Faläen. When the PR 31 was closing Flavion the spearhead reported enemy tanks in great number, the vorhutkompanie (spearhead) 6./ PR 31 under Hptm Höhn (5 Pz IV) turned right covering the road Biert l’Abbé – Flavion; without waiting for the I./ PR 31, the II./ PR 31’s Commanding Officer Maj Hildebrandt charged against the foe (the French 1. DCR).

At 14:00 hours several hostile tanks were burning, the Abteilung Commander was severely wounded in his Pz II and the Pz IV ammunitions were ran out. There attacked the I. Abteilung, the situation was critical for the ammunitions lorries were still on the river Meuse’s east bank. However, when the French seizing the initiative and knocked against the road Anthée – Philippeville they met there the 7 Pz Div (the PR 25 led by the Divisional Commander). At this moment the happy regiment’s commander (Oberst Werner) riding on a soft-skinned kübelwagen led all his Pz I and II (three shots x gun) to the attack compeled the enemy to retreat towards Fraire and Beaumont, it was at 18:30 hours. One battery of the schw Art. Abt 48 engaged the last hostile tanks in direct firing, the 1 DCR was destroyed by the 5 Pz Div. At night the PR 15 reached the line Yves – Philippeville; the bulk of AR 116 at Hemptinne; the SR 13 covered the north flank to the north of Flavion. At 22:00 hours the Divisional CP at Flavion. Losses for that day: 10 KIA and 52 WIA.

Taken from: the divisional history written by Anton Detlev v. Plato. (thanks Jan-Hendrik )

Regards. Raúl M

[gajabhau]

Thank you very much Raul and hats off to you ! You could certainly be a good panzer commander, because you move real fast. Please add to the movements of 5th Panzer (till 27th May,1940) when you find time. I have yet to ask one or two small questions and these I shall ask soon. I am sure you have the knowledgw to answer them. Thanking you again for your kindness,
regards,
Gajanan

[tigre]

Hello to all people ; more follows...................................

Marschweg – 5 Pz Div - May 1940.

16 May 1940. At 03:35 hours the AA 8 was directed towards Hemptinne in order to carry out the reconnaissance up to the line Mertet – Gerpinnes – Thuillers. At 05:30 the newly attached Pz Jäg Abt 652 was covering to the north from Hemptinne and the II./ SR 13 was at Florennes. The I./ SR 13 which spent the night facing north at Flavion resumed its march and by 09:20 hours covered the line Yves – Walcourt. At 04:30 hours the 8 Pz Brig occupied an assembly area west of the road Yves – Philippeville with PR 31 right and PR 15 left, ready to attack towards west or north. At 04:00 hours the SR 14 was marching to Haut Le Wastia and at 09:30 hours proceeded to Silenrieux. At 12:00 hours the Pz Jäg Abt 652 took Boussu establishing a bridgehead there; at 15:00 hours hostile infantry supported by 10 tanks attacked the bridgehead. At 15:30 hours kampfgruppe Haarde (8 Pz Brig) entered Beaumont. At 19:00 hours the kampfgruppe engaged against hostile tanks along the north and west edge of Beaumont. The SR 14 stormed against the French border southwest of Beaumont. At 21:00 hours the II./ SR 13 was relieved by troops belonging to the 8 ID at Florennes. Casualties: 8 KIA and 35 WIA. Divisional CP at Barbençon (17:00 hours).

Taken from: the divisional history written by Anton Detlev v. Plato. (thanks Jan-Hendrik )

Regards. Raúl M

[gajabhau]

Thanks Raul for the history of 5th Panzer Division till 16 May 1940. I would be thankful if you could give its story till 29 May 1940. I want to know a couple of details and shall ask about them soon.
Regards,
Gajanan

[tigre]

Hello to all people ; more follows...................................

Marschweg – 5 Pz Div - May 1940.

17 May 1940. At 05:00 hours Corps’ order: “Advance thru Hestrud against Semousies and cover the Corps’ northern flank against enemy attacks to Maubeuge; for this task the 8 MG Btl was to be attached to the division”. As Division’s advance guard marched the PR 15 plus the II./ SR14 under Oberst Streich; at 09:00 the infantry battalion pressed on thru Grandrieux and at 10:00 hours crossed the French international border at Hestrud. At 11:00 hours the spearhead attacked the Maginot Line east of Solre Le Chateau; the fortifications were quickly destroyed by the panzers, the direct fire of the II./ AR 48 and the engineers of the 1./ Pi Btl 89. At 14:00 hours the vanguard broke through. At 16:00 hours was taken Semousies and at 19:00 hours the regiment reached Berlaimont. At 20:00 the II./ SR 14 established a bridgehead together with the 4./ PR 15; 1./ Pz Jäg Abt 53 and a half of one company of engineers (Pi Btl 89). At Point gelingt the 5./ PR 15 and a half of one Company of engineers (Pi Btl 89) established a defensive position on the west bank of the river Sambre. The rest of the advance guard was at Alnoye. The PR 31 took over the flank covering to the north; II./ PR 31 Eclaibes, I./ AR 116 with the 3./ Pi Btl 89 at Ecuélin, Staff abd I./ PR 31 at Dourlers; Divisional CP at St Rémy au Chaussée.

Taken from: the divisional history written by Anton Detlev v. Plato. (thanks Jan-Hendrik )

Regards. Raúl M

[tigre]

Hello guys ; here goes the last post, unfortunately this is all what I've ( as my interest was focused on the crossing of the river Meuse I got the story till 17 May 1940). However some forum mate could follow it till the end of May 1940. Hope may be useful and all the best. Raúl M .

[Bronsky]

Thanks Raùl for posting this.

I'd be very interested in a follow-up when one is available, especially near the end of May. Regarding the actual crossing of the Meuse, this is relatively well-documented so we could match the German account with the French one in a specific thread for some of the days, if you want.