Against the Weygand Line - June 1940.

[tigre]

Hello to all ; a new story...........................

Against the Weygand Line - June 1940.

War of movement. Oberstleutnant Matthaei.

While in Artois and Flanders in late May (1940) began to decide the fate of the encircled British and French Armies, a strong group of the German Army in the West served a dual combat mission; it was to defend the German front which stretched from the Abbeville bridgehead due east-southeast and meanwhile was to prepare for the new southbound assault. To this group belonged, among the many units of the army, a division that at Amiens in the heart of the German defensive front had the double task ahead: to retain and to expand properly the Amiens bridgehead for the next offensive action to the south; since May 27 of 1940 it saw a fierce pressure from an enemy attack.

Source: http://klee-klaus.business.t-online.de/ ... erbung.htm

Cheers. Raúl M 8).

[tigre]

Hello to all ; something more...........................

Against the Weygand Line - June 1940.

War of movement. Oberstleutnant Matthaei.

At dawn on June 5, 1940 it was launched the new German attack. Fighting amidst the armored divisions which had the task of breaking through the defensive positions, the infantry divisions had to bear the brunt of the struggle that had become fierce and bloody. After a short artillery preparation the Division launched the attack from the bridgehead of Amiens against the French defense which had adopted a new form of struggle that had to be be overcome by special means.

Immediately after starting the offensive, the Division encountered serious resistance in the villages of Dury and St. Fuscien just south of Amiens. The enemy fought with tenacity especially on the south exit of Dury organizing defensive positions with barbed wire, landmines and heavy machine guns flanking fire. These positions had to be defeated in close combat, and assault troops using flamethrowers.

Source: http://klee-klaus.business.t-online.de/ ... erbung.htm

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

Hello to all ; something more...........................

Against the Weygand Line - June 1940.

War of movement. Oberstleutnant Matthaei.

With the order to advance in a southeasterly direction, the division continued with the same task the next day (June 6). The town of Boves with its adjacent forests offered stiff resistance and then around Cambos-Ferme it was developed a fierce struggle; the French ability to organize their strongpoints had increased. Here the French deployed several light batteries in front or behind the villages, well - camouflaged and plenty of ammunition. Due to the well known ability of the French artillery, the German regiments typically had to devote all its energy and coordination to overwhelm these enemy strongholds.

Source: http://klee-klaus.business.t-online.de/ ... erbung.htm

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

Hello to all ; something more...........................

Against the Weygand Line - June 1940.

War of movement. Oberstleutnant Matthaei.

Through Remiencourt, Dommartin and Moreuil the division broke into the enemy's defensive lines. Finding and beating, again and again, stiff resistance in every village, town and city. One of the regiments of the division, still engaged in the Somme, managed to break the French defensive system between Amiens and Corbie and moving in a southwesterly direction linked with the division. Although the bridges over the waterways had been destroyed, the regiment marched without rest and without vehicles, with its heavy weapons in hand, towards the hot fighting zone.

Source: http://klee-klaus.business.t-online.de/ ... erbung.htm

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

Hello to all ; something more...........................

Against the Weygand Line - June 1940.

War of movement. Oberstleutnant Matthaei.

The momentum of the assault of the German regiments, which could not break the desperate resistance of the Weygand line despite the fierce fighting in urban areas, ended wearing up the French troops. Thus began the retreat of the French Army from the Weygand Line, which soon degenerated into flight, while the German artillery beat the rear and the routes of retreat from the villages. Often were found loaded vehicles, material, equipment and weapons abandoned by the enemy.

Source: http://klee-klaus.business.t-online.de/ ... erbung.htm

Cheers. Raúl M .

Feliz Navidad - Feliz Natal - Frohe Weihnachten - Joyeux Noël - Merry Christmas - Wesołych Świąt!.

[tigre]

Hello to all ; something more...........................

Against the Weygand Line - June 1940.

War of movement. Oberstleutnant Matthaei.

In endless and long columns of German troops marched to the south and the division reached the following days and the town of Maignelay. Advanced motorized detachments pursued the enemy and after a night fighting house to house captured the important crossing over the river Oise at Creil, establishing a bridgehead there and still reaching the forest of Chantilly. Thus the attacker division had gone from Amiens and after seven days was in front of Senlis, on the defensive positions of Paris.

Source: http://klee-klaus.business.t-online.de/ ... erbung.htm

Cheers. Raúl M .

Feliz Navidad - Feliz Natal - Frohe Weihnachten - Joyeux Noël - Merry Christmas - Wesołych Świąt!.

[tigre]

Hello to all ; something more...........................

Against the Weygand Line - June 1940.

War of movement. Oberstleutnant Matthaei.

Paris open city!

There was no avail. The courage of the French soldiers, confirmed in the preamble to the terms of the armistice in Compiegne was great, their strength and resistance had been harshly demonstrated. So it was a mark of distinction for the German divisions which were victorious in this kind of battle "the struggle in the streets." The French had recognized that one thin defensive line was not applicable against the "blitz" and the Luftwaffe air superiority.

Source: http://klee-klaus.business.t-online.de/ ... erbung.htm

Cheers. Raúl M .

Feliz Navidad - Feliz Natal - Frohe Weihnachten - Joyeux Noël - Merry Christmas - Wesołych Świąt!.

[tigre]

Hello to all ; something more...........................

Against the Weygand Line - June 1940.

War of movement. Oberstleutnant Matthaei.

Paris open city!

Trying to defend his country fiercely, the French leaders moved the last decisive battle to the streets and villages, and so many sites and villages were burned and left in ruins, bringing only calamities to France. But the High Command and the German troops soon realized the new method of struggle used by the French. With unprecedented power were launched the German infantry regiments, often supported by squadrons of Stukas, which attacked the fortified villages; with high accuracy the artillery fought the nests of resistance; with great courage the shock troops of the infantry and the Pioneers stormed the forts and town after town fell after a fierce urban combat in the hands of the German troops.

Source: http://klee-klaus.business.t-online.de/ ... erbung.htm

Cheers. Raúl M .

Feliz Año Nuevo - Happy New Year - feliz Ano Novo - gluckliches Neues Jahr - Bonne Année - Felice Anno Nuovo!!!

[tigre]

Hello to all ; last part...........................

Against the Weygand Line - June 1940.

War of movement. Oberstleutnant Matthaei.

Beneath the surface hid the death. All roads were strewn with mines of all types and sizes. German engineers cleared the route for horse-drawn and motorized columns and also the infantry could march safely.

Source: http://klee-klaus.business.t-online.de/ ... erbung.htm

It's all folks. Cheers. Raúl M .

[gajabhau]

Great Tigre! As always I am following you on the Western Front. Thanks.
Gajabhau

[tigre]

Hello gajabhau ; thanks to you for following the thread . Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

Hello to all ; a new story in this topic..................

March from the German border and assault across the Aisne. May-June 1940.

The Pi Btl 5 was running an exercise on the river Moselle under command of the XVIII Geb AK together with the Geb Pi Btl 54 and the Pi Btl 21. The bulk of the 5 ID was concentrated in the area of ​​the Eifel. On the afternoon of May 09, 1940 at 13:45 hours reached the Divisional CP at Bad Neuenjhar the code word ordering the beginning of the offensive and at 14:40 hours it was delivered to the other units the password "Ulmer Spatz".

The 5 ID with the 1 GD were the spearhead of the advance of the XVIII Geb AK ahead of the other two divisions of the Army Corps (21 ID and 25 ID). At 17:45 hours the Pi Btl 5's companies were attached to its respective columns of march and by 22:00 hours on May 09, 1940 on IR 75, reinforced with the 1. and 2. / Pi Btl 5 led the way; the 3. / Pi Btl 5 (Mot) was attached to the Pz Jag Abt 5. The bridge column C did not return for the field exercise and was attached to the rear train. The 1. and 2. Companies had joined the column of march without its vehicles, horses and field kitchens. The division was divided into four columns for the long march.

Sources: Der angriff über die Aisne. Die 5 Jäger-Division. Adolf Reinicke.
DER LANDSER GROSSBAND 765 - Horst Niemack, von K. Kollatz
http://www.forum-der-wehrmacht.de/board ... 0e4aac1488
http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gli ... Bat5-R.htm
Fotoalbum Frankreich 1940 Infanterie Regiment 75. Martes, 19 de Octubre de 2010, 20:42:16
The Attack on Festieux by the 5th Company, 75th Infantry, and the March to the Aisne, 20 May 1940. Foreign Military Digests. Oct 1941.
Private Sales List-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 5 - 5. Infanterie-Division. Historical Media. ábado, 20 de Noviembre de 2010, 14:54:38.

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

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

March from the German border and assault across the Aisne. May-June 1940.

On May 10, 1940 at 01:10 hours the motorized parts of the Pi btl 5 reached the assembly area in Berlingen. Companies with the IR 75 reached the place at 07:00 hours after marching 40 kilometers. The battalion of engineers was authorized by the division that a few horses followed the motorized parts, the rest rejoined the unit only on May 17, 1940. The motorized column marched to the new assembly area at Eilscheidt at 19:00 hours, the column on foot proceeded at 19:30 hours and arrived the next day at 07:00 hours after another 40 kilometers of marching. On this day the Führer spoke to the nation and said: from today in the morning, our guns respond to the French artillery.

On May 11, 1940 was crossed the border with Luxembourg by Utrecht - Eisenbach and at 23:00 the motorized parts reached Weickendingen. While on foot columns after three night marches of 50 km by Nürburgring-Kelberg-Gerolstein-Waxweiler crossed the border at Gemünd.

Sources: Der angriff über die Aisne. Die 5 Jäger-Division. Adolf Reinicke.
DER LANDSER GROSSBAND 765 - Horst Niemack, von K. Kollatz
http://www.forum-der-wehrmacht.de/board ... 0e4aac1488
http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gli ... Bat5-R.htm
Fotoalbum Frankreich 1940 Infanterie Regiment 75. Martes, 19 de Octubre de 2010, 20:42:16
The Attack on Festieux by the 5th Company, 75th Infantry, and the March to the Aisne, 20 May 1940. Foreign Military Digests. Oct 1941.
Private Sales List-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 5 - 5. Infanterie-Division. Historical Media. ábado, 20 de Noviembre de 2010, 14:54:38.

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

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

March from the German border and assault across the Aisne. May-June 1940.

On May 12, 1940 at night was crossed the border between Luxembourg and Belgium due west of Longvilly. On May 13, 1940 at 13:30 hours, the 5 ID got the order to organize a vanguard comprised of the AA 5 (Hauptmann Horst Niemack), the Pz Jäg Abt 5 and the 14. / IR 14 under the command of Oberst Faulenbach (Commander of the IR 14). This detachment was to conquer crossing points on the Meuse between Laifour and Braux and to watch the crossing points over the Semois by Tournavaux and Haulme.

The detachment reached Amberloup at 17:00 hours and then advanced by St. Hubert, Libin, Graide, Bievre, St. Denis and reached Gedinne at 21:00 where it took a rest. At 23:00 hours Leutnant Roentgen received the order to reach the river Meuse in Montherme and to link there with the German forces in the area; the Leutnant returned on May 14, 1940 at 05:30 hours and reported harassment fire of the enemy artillery and that the SR 4 had established a small bridgehead there.

Der angriff über die Aisne. Die 5 Jäger-Division. Adolf Reinicke.
DER LANDSER GROSSBAND 765 - Horst Niemack, von K. Kollatz
http://www.forum-der-wehrmacht.de/board ... 0e4aac1488
http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gli ... Bat5-R.htm
Fotoalbum Frankreich 1940 Infanterie Regiment 75. Martes, 19 de Octubre de 2010, 20:42:16
The Attack on Festieux by the 5th Company, 75th Infantry, and the March to the Aisne, 20 May 1940. Foreign Military Digests. Oct 1941.
Private Sales List-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 5 - 5. Infanterie-Division. Historical Media. ábado, 20 de Noviembre de 2010, 14:54:38.

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

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

March from the German border and assault across the Aisne. May-June 1940.

On May 14, 1940 the cyclist squadron of the AA 5 pressed on Levrezy and at noon hit enemy troops, there fell in action Leutnant Frhr v. Wöllwarth and Gefr. Brugger. At 06:00 hours the Commander of the Pi Btl 5 went to Linchamps with the reconnaissance patrols of the 2. Company and 06:30 hours crossed the French border, previously the 3. / Pi Btl 5 cleared a well built barricade in Linchamps. At 07:15 hours the patrol arrived at the destroyed bridge of Hautes Rivieres, connecting there with Rittmeister Niemack, Commander of the AA 5, who had built a temporary passage on the watercourse.

Leutnant Hauff (2. / Pi Btl 5) was given the task of reconnoitering upstream and downstream of Hautes Rivieres. At 08:30 hours arrived the leader of the 3. / Pi Btl 5 and was ordered to improve the passage to support 8 tons; at 09:00 hours came back Leutnant Hauff reporting that all the bridges had been destroyed. Leutnant Hauff cleared the path from Nohan to Thilay with a group of the 3. Company and later followed the Commander of the Pi Btl 5 to Tournavaux. The commander made ​​the trip with his assistant and Oberleutnant Wildschütz belonging to the IR 14 and along the way reconnoitered several detours to avoid the roadblocks built with trees which were left by the opposing troops in retreat.

Der angriff über die Aisne. Die 5 Jäger-Division. Adolf Reinicke.
DER LANDSER GROSSBAND 765 - Horst Niemack, von K. Kollatz
http://www.forum-der-wehrmacht.de/board ... 0e4aac1488
http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gli ... Bat5-R.htm
Fotoalbum Frankreich 1940 Infanterie Regiment 75. Martes, 19 de Octubre de 2010, 20:42:16
The Attack on Festieux by the 5th Company, 75th Infantry, and the March to the Aisne, 20 May 1940. Foreign Military Digests. Oct 1941.
Private Sales List-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 5 - 5. Infanterie-Division. Historical Media. ábado, 20 de Noviembre de 2010, 14:54:38.

Cheers. Raúl M .