Panzer in Warsaw August 1944

[DougENash]

Also, found a few things about Major Max Reck, who commanded "Angriffsgruppe Nord" during the Wola Massacre, later Regimentsgruppe Reck. He was hauled before a War Crimes Court, but escaped serious consequences for his actions.

[DougENash]

More on Reck:

[Orlov]

Another transcription error is "Stu.Gesch.Ers.Aufkl.Abt. 500” is actually a battery from Stu.Gesch.Ers.und Ausb.Abt. 200 - this StuG III Ausf. E supported Angriffsgruppe Nord and Angriffsgruppe Mitte.
Mentioned V for Fahnenjunker in Posen was formed in weak two-company Reck battalion. Interestingly, despite the first reflexes of humanity of the commander Major Max Reck - his unit involved in war crimes and shooting civilians in the area of Gorczewska St. Of course, lesser crimes than those committed (at Litzmannstadterstr./Wolska St.) by the Schutzpolizei and Gendarmerie companies that formed the Battaillion Peterburs.
The German investigating judges did not notice this warcrimes od Btl.Reck - it probably resulted from the fact that the commander of the heavy company of Btl.Reck (including 6 MG 34 or MG 42 and mortars - it is not known how many in this alert subunit) was Olt. Fritz Werner - after the war, president of the BundesVerwalwatungGericht and one of the most important representatives of the West German Themis in the 1960s.
The second interesting fact is the fact that when I established the involvement of the Btl.Reck in warcrimes - the grandson of this German officer, who is a Coastal Guard officer, broke off contacts with me and blocked me on FB - I had good relations with them and he stood out for his pro-Polish attitude - prepare his MA thesis about Warsaw Uprising (and now also pro-Ukrainian ). However, he did not accept the facts based on the documents of the Bundesarchiv Ludwigsburg. He decided to cultivate the honor of his ancestor, not wanting to acknowledge his involvement in war crimes during the Warsaw Uprising. Typical behavior for Germans, surprising in the case of an American - repressing uncomfortable facts into the subconscious.
Max Reck appeared as a witness in the court in Flensburg - next to Peterburs, he was the second to state that Reinefarth had ordered genocide - the other officers and non-commissioned officers denied it as part of omerta.
PS: I see we know the same person grandson of Maj. Reck.

[DougENash]

Orlov,
Thank you for the detailed response. I don't know the grandson, but I saw where he was active on the AHF for a while when he was researching his grandfather. As for the Soldbuch, a collector purchased it as part of an estate that was being auctioned. It looks like a very nice set. I do have one more question - when Korpsgruppe von dem Bach was abolished in October 1944, most of the Posen-based Ersatzheer units were sent back to their home bases in Posen, Gnesen, Kalisch, Rawitsch, and Hohensalza. One of those units was named "Pz.Jaeger-Zug Wilke." I was able to identify only one panzerjaeger platoon from "Gren.Btl.Gnesen" - that is, the one that was equipped with 4 Sfl. Pak. There was a Leutnant d.R. named Giselher Wilke from the 19. Pz.Div. who was to eventually commanded the 1. Kp./Pz.Jaeger-Abt. 19, where he earned the Ritterkreuz in February 1945. I am wonderingt if this is the one and the same Leutnant Wilke. I can imagine that Wilke was wounded in the spring of 1944 and sent to a Replacement unit to serve as an instructor while his wounds healed. Only a theory. But it is interesting to see the same name associated with Gren.Btl. Gnesen.

[Orlov]

Only two Gisela Wilke in the Bundesarchiv.

[DougENash]

Yes, I have searched for Giselher Wilke already. But a researcher would have to go there and copy his Wehrmacht file at the former WASt. I have a contact who could do this. I believe that he was assigned to the Pz.Jaeger-Zug (selbstfahrlafette) in Gren.Btl. Gnesen (aka Btl. Reck/Liebisch).

[DougENash]

Here's a report dated 6 August 1944, concerning the unexpected arrival of a nearly unequipped unit at the rail station in Pruszkow on 5 August. The unit arrived with old, used up weapons, no ammo and no fuel for its vehicles. The train that they arrived in carried a regimental staff and two recently recruited grenadier companies. Although the times doe not synchronize with each other, could this be the same first arriving element of KGr Reinefarth from Posen? The officer in charge of this unit states that his destination was Suchaczew, but of course during the confusion of those early days, he could have been mistaken.
Anyone have any thoughts on this?

[Orlov]

Typo error "Alarm Kp. Stu.Gesch.Ers.Aufkl.Abt. 500” is actually a battery from Stu.Gesch.Ers.und Ausb.Abt. 200 from Tr.Üb.Pl. Schieratz

[Gorni]

Hello,
I am preparing the publication of the memoirs of my father who, at the age of 16, fought as a soldier of the Polish troups in the south-eastern districts (left bank) during the Warsaw Uprising. I have difficulty identifying the German troops he fought against. He first speaks of heavy towed artillery batteries whose soldiers gave orders using English ("Fire!", "O.K.!", etc.), on August 30 and 31; he then mentions 3 and 4 self-propelled guns, on the Vistula side, intervening on August 25; he also mentions heavy artillery fire on September 1 and 2; finally, the intervention of 4 tanks which he said came from the 19th armored division. All this happened in zone "D", for which Rohr was responsible. The only batteries that I was able to identify with certainty in this region belonged to the 80th Flak regiment of the Lufftwaffe. I would be grateful if you could shed some light on this subject. Thanks in advance.
Best regards,
Godefroy, France

[COmentator]

The site of the photograph in the first message still exists today
viewtopic.php?f=111&t=272739