2. Panzer-Division KTB for the early part of the Campaign in Greece

[Bob_Mackenzie]

Hi All

I know this is a big ask, but if anyone has the time and inclination to translate the following pages I'd appreciate it. My usually approach would be to OCR it and then put it into an on-line translator but the text quality isn't good enough for OCR

Thanks Bob

[history1]

Hi,

what´s exactly your interest on those days? What are you looking for?
I´m not going to translate all the pages but I´ll look if I can find the information for you there.

Cheers,
Roman

[Hohlladung]

-16-
Night

5.4. 1941 - 6.4. 1941 Both battle groups are moving towards the Bulgarian-Yugoslavian border.
Div.Gef.Stand: 6 km in front of border. There a liasion officer of Brü.-Bau-Btl. 41 reports, which is ordered by XVIII.A. K. for cooperation with the division, the confirming radio message of the Korps from 7.4. 12.40 hours reads:
Brücken-Bau-Btl 41 will be deployed, Commander ahead to Strumica.

5.20 Hours. The division lines up as ordered at Zlatarevo and Gabrene-Konareno.
Shortly after Pz.Rgt.3 (without I.) struggles with road difficulties on left advancing route. Div.Kdr. with the vanguard.

7.15 Hours. Leader of vanguard (2.Schtz.Brg.) reports: Group Balck without routes, has order to insert behind II./ Schtz.Rgt. 304.

7.50 Hours. Report from Schtz.Brg: Right spearhead meets with weak enemy and mines at Point 200. 20 prisoners.

7.54 Hours. Reconn plane reports: Own tank-spearhead around 500 m south of Novoselo on road Konarene heading north.From the mountains of left advancing route an in between on height of own tank-spearhead, no enemy detected.

8.05 Hours. Commander of vanguard reports: Spearhead right group gains at 7.35 hours Point 200, 3 km west of Zlatarevo, weak enemy resistance, tank trench and mines, border Battalion. Deployed here since 3 months, mixed ethnic. After clearing of mines, group approaches further on.

8.40 Hours. Vanguard reports: Forward parts 200 m in front of Novoselo, mines and weak infantry nests.

[Hohlladung]

8.50 Hours. Pz.Rgt.3 reports from left advance route: Baggage trains turned via Potric, after clearing of barricades approaches with battle parts around 9.00 hours further on in original advance direction.

9.30 Hours. Div.Kdr. in Novoselo. There is following radio message coming in from him.

10.20 Hours. Tank barricade at Susica. Resistance in front of infantry at Novoselo livenes up again.

10.30 Hours. Pz.Rgt.3 reports: Severe road difficulties, heavy material losses, reconnaissance crossing at Mokrino.

11.03 Hours. Radio message from Div.Kdr.: In Kovoselo 300 prisoners, 1 battery captured, 1 own 8,8-gun out of action after direct hit.

11.30 Hours. Accord radio message from Div. Kdr. spearhead reaches Turnovo.

11.45 Hours. Commander of vanguard reports: I./Pz.Rgt.3 reached Stolinia Dabilja.

12.00 Hours. Div.Kdeur. at Bosilivio.

12.30 Hours. Note of XVIII.A. K. Ia Nr. 1097/41 dated 5.4. arrives, stating that Flakampftrupp of II./Flak-Abt. 24 is only allowed to be moved forward so far, that its pulling out during night 6./7.4.

[Hohlladung]

Sorry,
Addition for 8.50 Hours: Before " border Battalion" 4 tanks out of action, 50 prisoners.
Best Regards

Hohlladung

[Hohlladung]

-17-

in direction Duprica is secured. Attach. 105

Corresponding radio message is forwarded at 15.20 hours to Div.Kdeur.: Flakampftrupp II./24 leaves division unit. Front parts are stopped in Bosilovo.

12.30 Hours. Strumica taken by tanks. (Corresponding radio message 15.00 hours to XVIII.A. K.).

15.00 Hours. Div.Gef.Stand moved to Strumica.Following messages are transmitted to the Korps.

15.01 Hours. Bridge west of Bosilovo collapsed , advance delayed.

15.05 Hours. In Susica battle with weaker enemy forces livened up again.

16.30 Hours. Flakampftrupp stopped in Bosilovo, begins march back to new employment, both 8,8-guns out of action, one by direct hit. This report is updated on 7.4. 12.47 hours to the effect that: losses at Flakampftrupp II./24 dated 6.4: 2 guns (8,8), 1 tractor, 1 trailer, 4 dead, 8 wounded.

17.37 Hours. Another message to the Korps. Division fights with parts against enemy north of Strumica. Height west and south of Strumica still partly occupied by the enemy. Enemy fights tougher than expected from the beginning.

17.50 Hours. Evening report to the Korps: Strumica-Valley is cleared of enemy further on in nortwest direction, parts turn to south direction, until now over 2000 prisoners, 2 batteries, 1 Pak captured, hand weapons, M.G. not counted. Only few officers taken prisoner. According order Division will push forward this night. Div.Gef.Stand: Strumica.

[Hohlladung]

-17-
18.10 Hours. Stomü reports that detour at Bosilovo through both fords are now only passable conditionable and wheel vehicles get stuck in the mud. 2./Pz.Pi.Btl. 38 moved forward and is at present building bridges at both fords.
Crossings will be passable around 18.15 hours.

19.15 Hours. Schtz.Rgt.2 reports: 3.Kp. in front of Anzali, strongly occupied by enemy. Therefore right flank of Division not free of enemy yet.
At the same time radio message from the Korps arrived. According message from the army, 6-8 battalions on road Strip-Radoviste.Watch out for the right flank.

20.30 Hours. Radio message from Korps arrived: At first mass of 2. Pz.Div. will throw back enemy in direction Strip and block narrow passage at Jargulica. Focus on Stuka at 2. Pz.Div. tomorrow.

Remark: I can't figure out what "Stomü" is standing for. Anybody an idea?

[Jan-Hendrik]

Stabsoffizier für Marschüberwachung.

Jan-Hendrik

[history1]

Sorry,
Addition for 8.50 Hours: Before " border Battalion" 4 tanks out of action, 50 prisoners.
Best Regards

Hohlladung

It´s an additon for 8.05 a.m. and not for 8.50 hours!

[Hohlladung]

Thx Jan-Hendrik

So Stomü is the abbreviation for "Stabsoffizier für Marschüberwachung": Staff officer for march surveillance.

-18-

22.00 Hours. Division therefore gives following order to Kdeur./2.Schtz.Brg. and Kdeur./Pz.Rgt.3: By order of the Korps mass of Division throws back enemy on 7.4. at first into direction Strip and blocks narrow passage at Radoviste. Therefore former battle group Balck stays at disposal of the Division, to be deployed for support of Oberst Kölitz if necesary. Mass of group v.Vaerst attacks only by order of Division. Focus of Stuka-support on 7.4. at 2.Pz.Div.
Furthermore Schtz.Rgt.2 is ordered by radio not to cross line Podares-Kalugjierica, also is asked for priority targets in direction Radoviste-Strip.

22.45 Hours. Schtz.Rgt.2 reports: I.Btl. fights on road Kalugjierica, until now 250 prisoners.
Anzali is taken fighting at 17.00. Safeguard on its way to Nova-Mala.
Battle report of break through of Serbian border until capture of Strumica on 6.4.1941 by Kdeur./2.Schtz.Brigade......Attach. 106

[Hohlladung]

7.4.1941
0.10 Hours. Stomin reports, that the approach and exit of the new erected bridges at Bosilovo are completely driven soft, almost all wheel vehicles habe to be town with tractors over the field and bridge. Further advance is heavy delayed.

5.50 Hours. Due to incoming messages of the units, morning report to the Korps: Line Anzali, northeastwards Strumica, Nova-Mala-Pokrajevo-Point 615-Strumica south taken fighting at night. No enemy pressure. Road to south heavily blown up.

7.45 Hours. Further report to the Korps: New pass road to Lake Dojran north of Kosturino effectively blown up.Restoration not under 12 hours possible. Bridges south of Strumica to weak for tanks, all have to be reinforced. Old pass road not passable for wheel vehicles. Reconnaissance for roads to the south ongoing.

7.50 Hours. Schtz.Rgt.2 reports: I.Btl. reached Kalugjierica at 5.55 hours, few prisoners, several guns captured.

9.05 Hours. During road reconnaissance to the south it was detected, that bridge at Popcevo is destroyed also.

9.17 Hours. Korps orders: As soon as rear and flank cover is secured, advance further south.

9.19 Hours. The northwest advancing reconnaissance unit reports: Until Radoviste no wort mentioning enemy forces.

[history1]

7.4.1941
0.10 Hours. Stomin reports, that the approach and exit of the new erected bridges at Bosilovo are completely driven soft, almost all wheel vehicles habe to be town with tractors over the field and bridge. Further advance is heavy delayed.
[...]

Stomü
had to be towed with tractors

[Hohlladung]

-19-

10.30 Hours. As the bridges south of Strumica can't be repaired without difficulties, Pi.Kdeur. is called forward to Gef.Stand. and 1 Pi.Kp. is employed for wood transport and residents of Strumica for construction.
Regarding evaluation of supply situation report of Ib. Attach. 107

10.45 Hours. Report of Stomü that bridges at Bosilovo are finished and Division marches on fluently.

10.50 Hours. Report to the Korps: Old pass road furtheron unpassable due to weather influences and enemy effect. Repair of new pass road is ongoing. Duration at least 24 hours.

11.10 Hours. A.R.74 reaches with tip bridge at Bosilovo.

11.12 Hours. Report to the Korps: At present 24 tanks not ready for action. Mainly terrain causes. Majority of breakdowns will be restored within 3 days.

13.48 Hours. The Korps gives order: Spearhead 73.Div in Stip. For support break through with strong forces until Stip.

13.50 Hours. The Division gives order: Battle Group 2 with battle parts will get in touch with Stip.

15.30 Hours. Group A of Battle Group 1starts its march to the south. Corresponding order from 2.Schtz.Brg. Div.Kdeur. with the vanguard. Attachm. 108

[history1]

-19-
10.30 Hours. As the bridges south of Strumica can't be repaired without difficulties, Pi.Kdeur. is called forward to Gef.Stand. and 1 Pi.Kp. is employed for wood transport and residents of Strumica for construction.[...]

Commander of the sappers
command post
1st engineers company

[Hohlladung]

To history 1:
For someome who refused translation right from the beginning, glad to see you are now engaged again.
But the text passage is not talking about the" 1st company", but " one company for wood transport".
Furthermore I prefer to keep the terms for German units and ranks. Whatever Bob needs the translation for, I am sure, he will get along with it and knows, what is meant.
So, I"ll leave page 20 up to you. (Don't worry, I will not correct it, but it takes more than"copy and paste")

15.45 Hours. Radio message from Schtz.Rgt.2 received: II.Btl. reaches Kosturino at 15.00 hours. Minor enemy resistance, Btl is attacking. On the other hand it is reported from there,

16.10 Hours. that on height on both sides 3 km Kosturino strong enemy forces located. 6 enemy tanks. Own tanks are requested.

16.45 Hours. Reconn plane reports from there: Own forces with spearhead at 16.00 hours 500 m south Point 617 in heavy fighting with enemy in field fortification.

17.00 Hours. Accord report of a liasion officer convoys on march to Strip were attacked by 3 planes at Novoselo without success.

17.30 Hours. Evening report to the Korps: Narrow passage at Jargulica blocked. Reconnaissance until noon without enemy contact.Parts on their way to Strip. South group in battle on both sides of advance route 4 km south of Kosturino. Intention: Continuation of advance south with major forces after repair of road and solving of situation at Strip.

19.10 Hours. South group reports: Tip of battle group 19.00 hours at road crossing east of Valandovo. Report to the Korps: Spearhead northeast of Valandovo.