SS Wiking at Rostov - Jul 1942.

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tigre
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SS Wiking at Rostov - Jul 1942.

#1

Post by tigre » 24 Mar 2006, 15:19

Hello to all gentlemen. Here goes the actions carried out by the SS Wiking division with regards to the capture of the city of Rostov on jul 1942. The source is the book "from Caucasus to Leningrad" by Lt Col Marini. Circulo Militar. Buenos Aires. Be patient with my translation.

The conquest of Rostov - july 1942.

Rostov, with 525.000 inhabitants (at that time) was an important city on the Don river. There crossed the river the only rail road leading toward the Caucasus with its large quantity of oil. Another rail road runs toward Stalingrad, 400 kilometers far to east.

Besides, Rostov was a vital railroad hub; from the west, the line Dniepropetrovsk-Taganrog; from the north the line Voronezh-Vorosilograd, which in the Lichaja region turned east leading towards Stalingrad; from the south came in the lines from Novorossijsk, Armavir and Tuapse; to the southeast, in the Salsk region, came in the line from Stalingrad.

Having started the advance with its northern wing, the 17 German AOK jumped off with its southern wing on the 20 july in order to attack Rostov from the west and northwest and conquest the city in conjuction with the 1 Pz Army.

But the SS Wiking division could not advance as a whole due to the shortage of vehicles, only one motorized detachment could be organized as follows:

Commander:
Sturmbanfuhrer Dieckman (Cdr I / SS Reg. Germania)
Troops:
I / SS Reg. Germania.
SS Pz Abteilung 5.
III / SS AR 5 (2 batteries of 105 mm and 1 battery of 155 mm).
10 / SS AR 5 (105 mm cannon battery)
1 company of engineers.
1 AA platoon (4 / 6 MG of 20 mm).
Supply column.

On 20 july the troops of the XXXXIX Mountain Army Corps had broken through the soviet defensive positions moving forward as far as 10 kilometers to the east. On 21 july the combat group “Dieckman” was ordered to advance along the north wing of the Mountain Army Corps, moving as far as possible toward the east in order to facilitate the movement of it.

The column moved on and having advanced 12 kilometers changed the direction heading northeast and passing through the locality of Vodianoie with the following disposition:

Advance guard: Cdr of SS Pz Abteilung 5 with one Pz company and half rifle company
Distance: two kilometers.
Main body: SS Sturmbanfuher Dieckman with the bulk of the troops. One tank platoon with one rifle squad (mounted) in each flank.
Distance: one kilometer.
Rearguard: one tank platoon with one rifle squad (mounted).

Roughly 10 kilometers after passing Vodianoie the vanguard exchanged fire with russian positions located further to the east. The commander then ordered to pass around it. When the night fell the combat group took up an all-round position at the cross-road located 3 kilometers west of Stojakov. The position was organized in three rings, in the inner ring was placed the artillery, in the midst ring the tanks and the heavy weapons and in the outer ring was deployed the infantry. The perimeter included also a source of fresh water.

The second part will follows ASAP. Cheers. Tigre.
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SS Wiking at Rostov - jul 1942.

#2

Post by tigre » 31 Mar 2006, 02:20

Attack on the first russian position.

On 22 july, in the morning, the combat group proceeded its advance. The vanguard just had left the last houses of Stojakov when was fired on by the russian from some hills located to the south. The formation continued its advance up to one kilometer before the position, where the riflemen dismounted in order to attack on foot; but the sight of the tanks roaring forward caused the withdrawal of the russian troops.

The vanguard proceeded then in deployed formation and shortly after that was fired upon again from enemy positions located two kilometers to the north of Sultan Saly. The infantry attack went over supported by the tanks, which moved ahead by bounds. But this time having reached a point 800 / 1000 meters before the posistions, some russian antitank cannons opened fire striking two tanks (one disabled by hit on one of its track and the other set on fire, nevertheless both crews were rescued). The tanks moved back up to 1.500 meters from the positions in order to avoid the antitank fire. The commander of the combat group, on the spot, stopped the main body in a valley, 4 kilometers to the north of the enemy position and ordered the artillery commander to be ready to support the attack. The sturmbanfuhrer Dieckman (situated on the top of one tank’s turret could observe the trench’s lines running along the ouskirts of the town and scarcely manned so decided attack at once. Taking advantage of the presence of one air liaison officer, Sturmbanfuhrer Dieckman requested air support, which was granted.

About 17:00 hours, 36 stukas appeared roaring and dropped its bombs over the enemy trenchs and the neighbourhood of Sultan Saly, simultaneously the artillery and the infantry heavy weapons shelled and fired on the russian positions. Making use of the fire suport furnished by the stukas, the artillery and the heavy weapons, the tanks with mounted riflemen reached the trenchs at great speed and then the infantry dismounted and cleared it. The mopping up operations lasted up to the 22:00 hours and when finished the combat group rested in an all-round position to the south of the town.

More follows ASAP. Regards. Tigre.


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#3

Post by Juha Hujanen » 31 Mar 2006, 16:24

Thanks for sharing Tigre!

Cheers/Juha

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SS Wiking at Rostov - jul 1942.

#4

Post by tigre » 05 Apr 2006, 03:24

The breakthrough of the second defensive position.

At that time the combat group commander could ascertain that:
The enemy in front of it were at least of battalion’s strenght.
Friendly forces (XXXIX Mountain Army Corps) had engaged strong hostiles forces along the line Krim-Tschaltir.
There were enemy forces of unknown strenght to the east and northeast.
The 13 Pz division was located between 10 / 20 kilometers toward the east and northeast of Rostow.

The combat group rested between the 23:00 hours and the 03:00 hours and then proceeded. About 04:00 hours and having reached the vanguard the point 93 (3 kilometers to the south of Sultan Saly) the situation had developed as follows:

West of the line Krim-tschaltir, roughly 10.000 / 15.000 were holding its defensive positions against the assault of the german infantry.
The combat group, in front of point 93 would be engaged by enemy troops in company strenght (200 - 300 men). These troops were in position about 8 kilometers off the Rostow ouskirts. An antitank ditch runs in front of it.
At the Trud factory (4 kilometers to the southeast of point 93) the russian had organized one strong point.
There were movements of russian troops toward the east, the german security troops there, could not get in contact with the 13 Pz division.

When the vanguard reached the point 93 was engaged in a firefight with the russian troops. The riflemen dismounted and pushed forward; having advanced up to 800 meters of the enemy position, the lead elements checked the presence of one antitank ditch. The tank platoons seeked for a ford but without success. The infantry men suported by the fire of the tanks, 4 heavy machine guns and 2 mortars (81 mm) pressed on and conquisted the point 80, the russian fled. Later the engineers blew up the walls of the antitank ditch allowing the armor to pass. About 07:00 hours the vanguard surpassed the point 80 and advanced up to leninawa, where was fired on by rifles, heavy weapons, antitank cannons and artillery. The russian position was heavily defended and the ground up to the enemy line (800 meters) was coverless. When the commander arrived at point 80, he ordered that the artillery be placed in order to fire on the enemy.

The air support requested was denied. Then taking advantage of one recce plane that was overflying that area, the german commander requested the pilot the following:
-Frontage of the position.
-Wheter it was totally manned or not.
-Troops location.
-passages through the anittank ditch.

About 11:00 AM the the pilot answered that:
-From Leninawa toward the northeast the position was manned.
-Roughly 2 kilometers toward south of the point 80, there is a bridge without security detachment, no troops can be seen nearby.

The commander in taking a daring resolution ordered a raid against the bridge; two rifle companies mounted over the tanks located in the same hollow. The artillery continued firing on the enemy, one of the batteries should follows the riders as soon as posssible.

The vanguard continued the exchange of fire with the foe in order to cover the action and avoid any countermeasure. SS sturmbanfuhrer Dieckman climbed up onto the tank battalion commander’s vehicle and pointing toward south ordered via radio: to reach the Tschaltir-Rostov road, from there to the east in order to seize the bridge located 5 kilometers west of Rostov.

The column advanced at great speed along the hollow, past the antitank ditch, reached the road and got through the bridge ( 9 kilometers from the starting point ) in less than 20 minutes. One engineers’ squad was left on the bridge dismounting the explosive charges. Having reached the objective, one rifle company reinforced with tanks attacked along the russian position from southwest toward northeast cleaning it and allowing the vanguard, deployed near of Leninawa, to join with the bulk of the combat group.

The combat group then took up an all-round position where the road cross the rail road and patrols were detached to reconnoiter the surroundings.

More follows ASAP. Tigre.
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SS Wiking at Rostov - jul 1942.

#5

Post by tigre » 08 Apr 2006, 22:52

Breakthrough the third defensive position and break into Rostov.

About 14:00 the commander knew the following:

-The main russian position (defeated shortly before) was cleaned of enemy troops.
-Toward the southeast, along the rail road and the edge of Rostov, the situation was unknown. Russian soldiers with heavy machine guns and infantry cannons had been detected.
-Toward the south, in the Sapadni area, own patrols met several russian soldiers, who surrendered at once. In the same direction and along the edge of the city, an antitank ditch could be observed (5 meters deep and 6 to 8 meters width) also 40 to 60 riflemen with machine guns could be seen in the neirbourhood, deployed in the houses.

The commander decided then engaged his troops in the Sapadni direction and organized the combat group as follows:

-Assault group: commanded by the Tank battalion commanding officer (Mulhenkamp), with one tank squadron, one rifle company and 2/3 of the engineers company (with explosive charges). Its mission was to attack in the Rostov’s neibourhood direction, directly to the southeast of Sapadni.

-Support group: composed of the heavy weapon company of the 3rd battalion SS Rgt “Germania” and the artillery group (III / SS AR 5). Its task was to furnish fire support to the asssault group. The heavy weapons (machine guns, infantry cannons, antitank guns and mortars) were placed on the eastern edge of Sapadni; the two 105 mm batteries occupied fire positions to the south of the locality, with the mission of furnish direct fire against the houses in the edge of Rostov, located 1.500 meters ahead. The heavy battery (155 mm) and the cannons of 105 mm occupied fire positions to the west of Sapadni in order to furnish indirect fire support on Rostov and, if necessary on the river Don’s bridges.

-Reserve group: composed by one rifle company, one engineers platoon and one tank platoon located west of Sapadni with two tasks, one to reinforced and exploit the attack in the Rostov direction and another, to protect the artillery positions against attacks from the north and the west.

-Security group: composed by one rifle squad and one tank platoon in order to protect the bridge conquested on the road Tschaltir-Rostov and to block the roads leading to Krim and Tschaltir.

When the order was given, the assault group pressed forward up to 100 meters before the antitank ditch where they were fired upon with rifles and machine guns from the neibourhood’s houses; the machine guns were shooting especially from the windows. Since there was not antitank fire, the tanks approached up to 50 meters before the edge of the city and shot against the windows; protected by this fire, the riflemen past through the ditch and occupied the first houses. While the engineers were trying to build a passage through the antitank ditch, the reserve company was engaged and break into the city carrying on with they the artillery’s forward observers. This attack reached a hill (point 80) located 2 kilometers to the southwest of the railway station and roughly 1.500 meters before the river Don. On the spot an all-round position was organized and simultaneously arrived there, the artillery group and the heavy batteries (155 mm howitzers and 105 mm cannons) commanding officers. From this position, toward the south, could be observed the great swampy area and the towns of Koisug and Bataisk. Towards the east and on a big island formed by the river Don, two bridges where located (one road bridge and one rail road bridge). A big number of russian troops trying to cross toward the south bank could be seen. To the souhtwest another men were building wooden rafts, surely there were the troops defeated at Krim-Tschaltir. The heavy batteries took the bridges under fire in order to break off the traffic, which they did. The light batteries were fired upon the russian troops located toward the southwest.

Meanwhile the engineers allowed the tanks to pass through the antitank ditch and the tank battalion commanding officer with one tank squadron, one rifle company, some heavy weapons and two engineers platoons raced across the city towards the bridges in order to block and break off all the traffic through them. After nightfall this group got in contact with formations of the 13 Pz division, which had break into Rostov from the northeast. Between 16:00 and 18:00 hours, the following dispositive was adopted:

- An all-round position between the rail road bridge and the railway station under orders of the tank battalion commander. Links with the 13 Pz division’s troops (on the road bridge) should be maintained.

- -An all-round position at a point located 2 kilometers to the south of point 80’s hill, in order to check the road along the south Don river bank.

- An all-round position at point 80’s hill with the artillery and the bulk of the combat group.

The last part will follows ASAP. Cheers. Tigre.

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SS Wiking at Rostov - jul 1942.

#6

Post by tigre » 13 Apr 2006, 12:15

Hello to all, the last part.

At Rostov.

The combat group had marched and fought during three days that seemed months. About 20:00 hours the orders had been accomplished and the defensive positions adopted. The following day arrived the infantry divisions advancing from Krim and Tschaltir. So with them and the 13 Pz division Rostov was mopped up and 10.000 prisoners were taken when the operation ended.

During the attack on the city itself, the combat group, suffered as casualties: 3 men killed in action and 12 wounded ( 2 seriously). The operations in order to clean the city lasted several days, block by block.

Rostov was an old city, occidental in aspect but it seemed that no one had maintained the buildings for the last 20 years. About the inhabitants: 1% were dressed as escandinavian workers; 24% were dressed with old but clean suits while the remainder 75% were dressed with old and ragged suits. In the squares only stalin’s statues were raised.

It's all folks. I hope you've enjoyed it. Best Regards. Tigre.

(PD: Any account about the infantry actions, specially the ID 125 would be appreciated. TIA)
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Sturmbanfuhrer Dieckmann issuing orders before the assault.
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#7

Post by Jan-Hendrik » 17 Sep 2006, 20:45

Map taken from :

Wilhelm Tieke "Der Kaukasus und das Öl"

Image

Jan-Hendrik

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Angriff auf Rostow

#8

Post by tigre » 18 Sep 2006, 02:31

Thank you for sharing it Jan-Hendrik; good complement, now I've the big picture about that operation specially the infantry movements. By the way, any word regarding the 13 Pz Div and the 125 ID. TIA. Cheers. Tigre.

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#9

Post by Rchrd » 20 Sep 2006, 04:21

What a great read. Thanks, guys.

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tigre
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From Rostov to the Caucasus.

#10

Post by tigre » 09 Oct 2006, 02:20

Hello to all, greetings from Argentina. Taking advantage of the Jan-Hendrik's map and taking into account the forum helps I'll try to summarise the SS Wiking campaign towards the Caucasus's mountain range. Here it goes.

Don river crossing.

In the spring the river Don basin had, at Rostov level, six kilometers wide; to the south of the city the river split up in three branchs, each 300 to 500 meters wide. Two bridges (railway and road) linked Rostov with Bataisk. The railway embankment had 5 to 6 meters high running in a straight line from Rostov to Bataisk for almost 7 kilometers. The main road was 6 to 8 meters wide rising a few meters from the swampy area; it began 800 meters to the east of the railway, after a big bend crossed below the rail running aside it toward the south separate by roughly 10 meters.

On July 24, 1942, a few infantry battalions, belonging to the German 73 ID, were advancing slowly through the swamp and mud astride the railway embankment towards Bataisk. Late afternoon, this very day, those advanced Battalions launched an assault against the Bataisk’s edge but were rejected. Nevertheless the swampy area between the city of Rostov and Bataisk was mopped up. By nightfall the engineers started the works on the destroyed bridges.

On July 25, the enemy positions at Bataisk were shelled by at least 40 batteries (light and heavy ones), also aerial attacks were carried out with 36 stukas.

On July 26 some gebirgs jagers units could finally seize great part of Bataisk with the support furnished by artillery and dive bombers (stukas).

On July 28 the tanks and heavy vehicles could go across the river and the last resistance at Rostov itself was wiped out.

The SS "Wiking" march to the Caucasus.

While resting at Rostov, the division was reinforced and re-organized as follow:

Commander: Oberst Gille (SS AR 5).

Troops.

SS Nordland Regiment (less one battalion)
I / SS Germania Regiment.
SS Pz Abt 5.
1 Engineer company.
SS AR 5 ( with 3 groups, two of them with 2 batteries of 105 mm and 1 battery of 155 mm; the third with 1 battery of howitzers 105 mm and 1 battery of cannons 105 mm).
1 AA Abt ( with two batteries of 88 mm and one with cannons of 20 mm and 37 mm).
1 Reconnaissance company.
1 Pz Jager Abt.
Support units (communications, maintenance and supply).

The Kampfgruppe was, as well, split in three groups as follow:

1 Infantry battalion.
1 Artillery group.
Antitanks ( half to one company).
1 AA Platoon.

The bulk of the tanks, antitanks and AA guns should march with the Advance Guard; the engineers should march either with the Vanguard or the others groups as ruled the situation. Each group could be employed with independence if necessary.

The Reconnaissance company was, in turn, split in two half companies ( one armoured car platoon and one motorized platoon each) and should be detached towards both flank to reconnoiter and maintain contact with the neighbour units, the 13 Pz Div to the east and the infantry divisions to the west.

The source is the book "from Caucasus to Leningrad". Tomo I. By Lt Col Marini. Circulo Militar. Buenos Aires.

Regards. Tigre.

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From Rostov to the Caucasus.

#11

Post by tigre » 14 Oct 2006, 06:02

Kampfgruppe “GILLE”.

It had the mission of “ To advance faster towards south, pushing the enemy troops to the southwest and in doing so to avoid the enemy withdrawal to the southeast”. Contact with the 13 Pz Div should be maintained all over the operation.

On July 27 at 16:40 hours the commander issued the march order, it should start at 19:00 hours but at the last moment was changed for the next morning, 28 July 1942 at 04:00 hours.

As it was ordered,the Kampfgruppe left its bivouac located at the west edge of the city and moved on towards the center of Rostov where was deviated to a readiness area by the feldgendarmerie, because the bridge was damaged by the tanks crossing. The Kampfgruppe got across the river Don on July 28 at 15:30 hours under strong AA protection with one distance between vehicles of 10 meters; when the leading elements reached the town of Bataisk, turned off on the left (the distance between vehicles was increased up to 50 meters) and after marching around 55 kilometers turned off on the south; there the vanguard (one tank squadron with half infantry company mounted on it) met weak russian resistance.

At Volno Verschinskij the vanguard repulsed an enemy force organized with one motorized company, some cavalry squadrons and up to two light batteries of artillery. By nightfall the advance group took an all-round position at the town of Volno Verschinskij, the vanguard did the same some 2 to 2,5 kilometers ahead; the Reconnaissance company was reunited inside the position. The others march group set up its hedgehod positions to the northwest.

Unknown to the Kampfgruppe, the enemy was occupying positions at one hill located roughly 8 kilometers south of the town, behind a stream tributary of the river Kagalnik covering the road to Bielaia Glina (white Mud).

The Kampfgruppe took many security measures, few survey measures and none of reconnaissance so the next day would pay it with blood.

Source: "From Caucasus to Leningrad". Tomo I. By Lt Col Marini. Circulo Militar. Buenos Aires.

Regards. Tigre.
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The march towards the Caucasus Range.
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From Rostov to the Caucasus.

#12

Post by tigre » 19 Oct 2006, 01:20

Hello to all, a little more.

29 July 1942.

At dawn the hedgehog was surprised by the fire of heavy russian weapon, the enemy rear guards approached up to 1 kilometer south of the advanced positions and the german soldiers were awoke suddenly with machine guns, mortars and cannons fire. After a few minutes the infantrymen answered the fire, the tanks crew were inside of his vehicles with the engines roaring and the commanders could regain the control.

The hedgehog was dissolved and the infantry companies, together with the tanks and supported by the artillery, were charging against the enemy . The russian rear guard withdrew step by step towards the main positions (the hill located 8 kilometers to the south) where the resistance stiffened up and the assault stalled.

Standarten Fuhrer Gille alarmed the others march groups putting them in motion in order to combine efforts with the advance group; in that way, nine batteries supported the attack carried out by the SS Pz Abt. 5 and the I./ SS Nordland Regiment which moved onwards in broad front trying to find either the enemy flanks or weak points on the defensive position.

Under this new thread, the russian units withdrew around 08:30 hours establishing new defensive positions roughly 22 kilometers to the south at the north edge of Metchetinskaia, as was known later.

The vanguard pushed southwards without changing its deployment, together with two tanks squadron which advanced forwards with mounted riflemen. Behind, 1 or 2 kilometers, followed a third tank squadron, the bulk of the infantry battalion and the artillery group.

At noon, before reaching the village of Rakitni, the vanguard was fired upon with light weapon and artillery so the morning scheme was adopted again. Immediately one infantry battalion was deployed which was followed by tanks, the artillery took up fire positions and the others battalions were in readiness for joining the assault. One hour later the enemy left the town, but seemingly a few hostile riflemen remained there and opened fire when the first german soldiers arrived.

Standarten Fuhrer Gille ordered then that the advance guard surpassed the village and established a hedgehog 3 kilometers to the south close to Mechetinskaia. The others two groups should carry out mopping up operations in the town (Rakitni) and then should proceed towards Mechetinskaia where all-round positions should be established. On this day the Kampfgruppe advanced only 35 kilometers in straight line. The half Reconnaissance company detached to the east got in contact with units of the 1º Pz Army which was crossing the river Manytsch in its southward movement.



Source: "From Caucasus to Leningrad". Tomo I. By Lt Col Marini. Circulo Militar. Buenos Aires.

Photo taken from: http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gli ... Abt5-R.htm
Regards. Tigre.
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Pressed forward between the Don and the Kubán - Jul 1942.
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#13

Post by tigre » 22 Oct 2006, 17:24

Hello folks. The story goes on.

30 July 1942.

On July 30 the advance march group was relieved by another group and the Kampfgruppe proceeded its march at 05:00 hours. This time the nature and fuel shortage delayed the movements; to the west was advancing slowly the 198 ID and to the east the 1º Pz Army with its yield diminished due to fuel shortage.

This day hostile cavalry cut short the supply line, so on Standarten Fuhrer Gille’s orders the rear group moved back to Jegorlikskaia, in order to reject the russian toward west and re-open the way to Rostov. During 30 and 31 Jul the Kampfgruppe should stop due to lack of fuel. The vanguard south of Jegorlik, the second march group northwest of that town and the rear group warding the road to Rostov west of Jegorlikskaia.

On August 01, after refueling, the Kampfgruppe advanced forward again. The rear group was attacked suddenly with light weapons, the riflemen detrucked, deployed and after a short fire fight captured more than 100 russian soldiers, losing one dead and 3 wounded, the artillery abteilung commanding officer among them.

At noon, Standarten Fuhrer Gille was informed (recce plane) that Bielaia Glina was occupied by the enemy, seemingly the same russian group that delayed him before so he decided annihilate them this time.

The attack on Bielaia Glina (White Mud).

On 01 Aug, at 13:00 hours Standarten Fuhrer Gille issued the following order:

The vanguard group, should attack Bielaia Glina from the north supported by one tank squadron, its own artillery abteilung plus the second group’s heavy battery, in order to engage the russian forces avoiding its withdrawal. Also the enemy should be deceived about the main effort.

The second group with the bulk of the SS Pz Abt 5 and two artillery batteries should carry out a flanking movement and hit the russian from the flank and rear (south and southwest).

The rear group should reinforce the attack from the north.

The two half recon companies should reconnoiter both flanks of the defensive position at Bielaia Glina toward east - southeast and west - southwest in order to avoid any surprise.

The reconnaissance confirmed that the defense was confined in the town. When the attack coming from the north reached up to 1000 meters from the enemy positions. The second group started its movement. At this very moment arrived the third group so Standarten Fuhrer Gille told the commanding officer that should advance immediately toward Bielaia Glina with the infantry battalion as if they were reinforced the frontal attack.

However the enemy could see the flanking movement due to the clouds of dust raised by the tanks moving at great speed and some units began to withdraw. Two tank platoons with some heavy weapons, were detached to protect the group’s rear and were deployed on the roads leading to Novopokrovskaia and Novopavlovskaia. The artillery batteries took up fire position at 1000 meters to the southwest of Bielaia Glina and fired some shells against the houses on the town’s edge, also some vehicles fleing to the south were destroyed. 100 meters before the town’s edge the riflemen dismounted and launched the assault entering the village almost without resistance. Around the half of the infantry (400 to 500 men) and all the artillery were captured. Among the vehicles there were great number of american trucks, some landser wanted to send one telegram of gratitude to Mr Rooseveld; Standarten Fuhrer Gille refused the idea because the notice could cut short the Uncle Sam’s trucks to the Wiking through his russian ally.

The fight lasted almost three hours and around 17:00 hours Bielaia Glina was cleared of russian troops. The inhabitants offered salt and bread to the commander and his officers, also a group of old cossacks paid a visit to Standarten Fuhrer Gille with uniforms and medals earned in the Zar period.

Source: "From Caucasus to Leningrad". Tomo I. By Lt Col Marini. Circulo Militar. Buenos Aires.

Regards. Tigre.
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#14

Post by Helly Angel » 22 Oct 2006, 18:13

Excelente trabajo pana!!!

Excelent work pal!!

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From Rostov to the Caucasus.

#15

Post by tigre » 26 Oct 2006, 23:11

Hello folks, a bit more.

The Kuban river crossing.

The river stretched out along 810 kilometers; Ptolomeo called it Vardames; Estrabon Hyspanis and the Cherkesses Pshishshe (old water). Runs from the Mount Elbrus area first towards the north and then to the west. It has two branchs, the north ones, called Protoka, reached the Azov see; the south ones, maintained its name Kuban, and reached the Black see in the Kziltash Gulf.

The Germans units were roughly 75 / 100 kilometers away to the north of the river trying to speed the advance towards the south.

02 Aug 1942 - The Kampfgruppe reinforced with the SS Germania Regiment’s Staff, the II./ SS Germania and the bulk of the Engineers, Flak, Antitank and Communications battalions remained at Bielaia Glina due to fuel shortage. The night before one supply column (five trucks) was suddenly attacked in the middle of the dark by soviet raiders south of Jegorlik; when the first vehicle stopped in front of one road obstruction, the crews were fired upon and killed with rifles and submachine guns, then the trucks were stormed and destroyed.

The divisional Commander analized two course of action, one sudden attack against Kropotkin including one coup de main in order to seize the rail and road bridges located there. The second, to ford the river somewhere between Kropotkin and Grigoripolnsskaia.

After a detailed study of some aerial photos, the staff could ascertain that in the Grigoripolnsskaia sector the river basin widened and wooded land covered both river banks. Also the bank’s slopes had only a few meters of height. Therefore this sector was chosen for fording the river.

03 Aug 1942 - The Division commander arrived and took over the command again; The SS Wiking was re-organized in two kampfgruppen, one around the SS Germania and the other around the SS Nordland. After replenishing (night of 02 / 03 Aug), the SS Wiking could proceed at dawn. The advance guard, established around the SS Germania (reinforced), reached Grigoripolnsskaia at 13:00 hours sending out recce patrols to the south and east.

Meanwhile, the SS Nordland (reinforced) march group reached Dimitrijewskaia at 12:30 hours and halted there in order to take some rest up to 16:00 hours, but around 14:30 hours was attacked by roughly 20 russian planes which straffed and bombed the town knocking only a few vehicles and destroying two storch planes landed nearby.

Late that very afternoon, the SS Germania (reinforced) after reaching the western edge of the town (Grigoripolnsskaia) launched one sudden attack trying to ford the river, but the surprise had been lost and the assault was rejected.

That night the divisional commander had on hand three courses of action:

- To resume the attack at Grigoripolnsskaia, strengthening it with the SS Nordland.
- To ford the river at Worowska.
- To launch the coup the main against the Kropotkin’s bridges.

The last solution was the chosen one.

The divisional commander ordered that the SS Germania (reinforced) should held the ground gained deceiving the enemy meanwhile the SS Nordland (reinforced) should attack Kropotkin at dawn, conquest it and then seize both bridges ASAP avoiding its destruction.

Source: "From Caucasus to Leningrad". Tomo I. By Lt Col Marini. Circulo Militar. Buenos Aires.

Regards. Tigre.

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