German Units in the Balkans - 1941.

[tigre]

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

The 50 ID in the Balkans. Assault on Height 510.

On this day April 6, 1941 the 2. / IR 123 (Oberleutnant Ponath), with Maj. Kodré in the lead, managed to seize the heights west of the Fort Hellas. There Maj. Kodré found the 9. / IR 123, which took command. The reinforced 3. / IR 123 (Oberleutnant Willi Schulz) reached the north front of the fort, astride the valley road and could not progress in its advance. There was no information about the 1. / IR 123 (reinforced) advancing on the heights located to the east. It later turned out that the company had reached and occupied the heights east of Fort Hellas.

The order issued by the 50 ID stating to get close with the infantry during the night from 06 to 07 April, 1941, in order to win the starting positions to carry out the assault to the fortress could not be fulfilled due to hostile fire and the rough terrain.

Sources: http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gli ... n/50ID.htm
http://forum.balsi.de/index.php?topic=3142.0
http://www.50-infanterie-division.de/Ei ... gt-123.htm
Private Sales List-Army Light Field Artillery. Historical Media. Martes, 07 de Abril de 2009, 23:33:41
Kriegstagebuch der II. Abteilung des Artillerie-Regiments 150. http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gli ... R150-R.htm
http://www.50-infanterie-division.de/Ka ... enland.htm

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

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

The 50 ID in the Balkans. Assault on Height 510.

On the morning of April 07, 1941 on the IR 123 the Divisional Commander stated that the infantry of the division along the first line had not clear the whole picture, since the broken terrain and the lack of observation hindered the appreciation of the situation and the liaison. The II. / AR 150 executed harassment fire on Altura 510; at 01:50 hours artillery fire on Height 510.

Meanwhile there was ​​good radio link with Major Kodré, who at 14:00 hours carried out the attack of the division with his two companies attacking from the west and southwest, with strong support from artillery; 6 light batteries (105 mm) and 9 heavy batteries (150 mm).

Sources: http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gli ... n/50ID.htm
http://forum.balsi.de/index.php?topic=3142.0
http://www.50-infanterie-division.de/Ei ... gt-123.htm
Private Sales List-Army Light Field Artillery. Historical Media. Martes, 07 de Abril de 2009, 23:33:41
Kriegstagebuch der II. Abteilung des Artillerie-Regiments 150. http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gli ... R150-R.htm
http://www.50-infanterie-division.de/Ka ... enland.htm

Cheers. Raúl M .

[genstab]

I tried to access Greiffenberg's monhograph on the Invasion of Yugoslavia 1941 on the US Army War Colalege site. Think I could figure how to [pull it up? No dice. Can anyone send me a direct link to it or tell me how to do it?
Best regards,
Bill in Cleveland (OH)

[tigre]

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

The 50 ID in the Balkans. Assault on Height 510.

At 17:00 hours and 18:00 hours followed separate general attacks of division. In those attacks took part the 3. Company from the north and part of the III. Battalion from the West. A battery of assault guns (Stug Abt 190) and 2 anti-aircraft guns supported the attack from the north. Meanwhile, it could establish liaison with the 1. / IR 123 (Oberleutnant Leukefeld) which continued the attack from the east.

The reinforced I. / IR 122 (Major v. Viebahn) pushed farther westwards and after a difficult battle reached the plain of Thrace at 13:00 hours, taking Komotini from the west. The battalion was ordered to proceed from Komotini to the north and thus support the attack of the IR 123 from the south. However, due to the efforts undertaken in the recent fights that battalion was unable to continue the action.

Sources: http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gli ... n/50ID.htm
http://forum.balsi.de/index.php?topic=3142.0
http://www.50-infanterie-division.de/Ei ... gt-123.htm
Private Sales List-Army Light Field Artillery. Historical Media. Martes, 07 de Abril de 2009, 23:33:41
Kriegstagebuch der II. Abteilung des Artillerie-Regiments 150. http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gli ... R150-R.htm
http://www.50-infanterie-division.de/Ka ... enland.htm

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

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

The 50 ID in the Balkans. Assault on Height 510.

At the beginning of the attack, were deployed Major Kodré ​​with the 2. and 9. Companies and sappers elements due west and southwest of the fort; there was the Commander of the IR 123, Oberstleutnant Frenking. To the north the 3. / IR 123 (Oberleutnant Schulz) had gained more ground. Here it was committed under orders of the division the 3. / Pi Btl 85 (Oberleutnant Rast). East of the fortress was the 1. / IR 123 (Oberleutnant Leukefeld).

Between 17:30 and 18:00 hours it was carried out a successful artillery barrage, unleashed by 11 batteries on the western and southwestern slopes, which was shifted to the crest and eastern slopes. Taking advantage of the fire support Maj. Kodré led his fractions to the assault and with courage and determination broke into the Greek fortifications. Having worked with explosives charges and hand grenades, Maj. Kodré was among the first to reach the height 510.

Sources: http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gli ... n/50ID.htm
http://forum.balsi.de/index.php?topic=3142.0
http://www.50-infanterie-division.de/Ei ... gt-123.htm
Private Sales List-Army Light Field Artillery. Historical Media. Martes, 07 de Abril de 2009, 23:33:41
Kriegstagebuch der II. Abteilung des Artillerie-Regiments 150. http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gli ... R150-R.htm
http://www.50-infanterie-division.de/Ka ... enland.htm

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

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

The 50 ID in the Balkans. Assault on Height 510.

Simultaneously with the assault carried out by Maj. Kodré jumped out the northern group (Oberleutnant Schulz and Oberleutnant Rast) and they crushed the remaining resistance on the southern slope with explosive charges, hand grenades, flamethrowers and infantry weapons, destroying six bunkers in the process. This group moved forward up to the foothill of Height 510, taking advantage of the fire support; the infantry Platoons ahead and the engineers Platoons, led by Leutnant Liesegang, Leutnant Fw Inter Rühl behind. Meanwhile the 1. / IR 123 attacked from the east and southeast reaching the top.

The Fort Hellas was defended by a staff of 3 infantry companies (about 450 men) and its conquest allowed that the 50 ID had a clear path to move towards Komotini and Xanthi, on the eastern flank of the Greek Army of Macedonia.

Sources: http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gli ... n/50ID.htm
http://forum.balsi.de/index.php?topic=3142.0
http://www.50-infanterie-division.de/Ei ... gt-123.htm
Private Sales List-Army Light Field Artillery. Historical Media. Martes, 07 de Abril de 2009, 23:33:41
Kriegstagebuch der II. Abteilung des Artillerie-Regiments 150. http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gli ... R150-R.htm
http://www.50-infanterie-division.de/Ka ... enland.htm

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

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

The 50 ID in the Balkans. Assault on Height 510.

On the afternoon of April 8, 1941 Rittmeister von Bernhardi reached Alexandroupolis with the 1. / AA 150 and was received there with flowers. A strong combat group of the II ./ IR 123 reached the Gulf of Porto Lagos on requisitioned fire trucks. Cyclists of the I. / IR 122 occupied Xanthi. The Advance Detachment of Oberst v. Geyso marched towards Nestos and before nightfall passed through Xanthi pushing to Toxotes, thus preparing the ground for the Nestos river crossing. The bridges west of Toxotes had been blown however and the river flooded due to rain.

Sources: http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gli ... n/50ID.htm
http://forum.balsi.de/index.php?topic=3142.0
http://www.50-infanterie-division.de/Ei ... gt-123.htm
Private Sales List-Army Light Field Artillery. Historical Media. Martes, 07 de Abril de 2009, 23:33:41
Kriegstagebuch der II. Abteilung des Artillerie-Regiments 150. http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gli ... R150-R.htm
http://www.50-infanterie-division.de/Ka ... enland.htm

Cheers. Raúl M .

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

[tigre]

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

The 50 ID in the Balkans. Assault on Height 510.

On April 9, 1941 at 17:45 hours broke the support of artillery and 18:00 hours began the crossing of the first wave of IR 121 with engineers support and under heavy fire from the Greek positions; many boats of assault were destroyed and there were many casualties, but a handful of men managed to win the second bank and settled down there. In the evening went on the attack and the cannons of the Pz Jäger Abt 150 fought the Greek machine guns with direct fire. This time after a brief battle the Greek soldiers retreated towards Kavalla.

The II. / IR 121 had 5 KIA and 16 MIA, the Pi Btl 71 5 KIA and 1 MIA, the 3. / Geb Pi Btl 85 6 KIA, 6 MIA and Pz Jäg. Abt 150 1 KIA. In total 65 German soldiers of all ranks were WIA.

Sources: http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gli ... n/50ID.htm
http://forum.balsi.de/index.php?topic=3142.0
http://www.50-infanterie-division.de/Ei ... gt-123.htm
Private Sales List-Army Light Field Artillery. Historical Media. Martes, 07 de Abril de 2009, 23:33:41
Kriegstagebuch der II. Abteilung des Artillerie-Regiments 150. http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gli ... R150-R.htm
http://www.50-infanterie-division.de/Ka ... enland.htm

It's all folks. Cheers. Raúl M .

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

[tigre]

Hello to all ; here goes a summary of the actions of the XVIII Geb. AK (particularly the 5 GD) during the assault on the Metaxas Line ..................

Metaxas Line - Break through the Blocking position of the Strymon.

In early April 1941 within the 12 German AOK located in southern Bulgaria, it was deployed the Army Corps of General d. Infanterie Bohme (XVIII Geb AK) in order to attack in the direction of Greece. While the 2 Pz would advance to Thessaloniki through the Strimon Valley west of Lake Doiran, the 6 GD to right and the GD 5 to the left, should break through the defensive positions built in the mountains along the border with heights above 2000 meters. The overall objective of the attack was to win as quickly as possible the northern coast of the Aegean Sea, with its surrounding islands.

The 5 GD under command of Generalmajor Ringel was the main effort of the Army Corps and its mission was to breakthrough the western side of the Rupel line, where were the strongest bastions of the front. On the slopes of the Belasica Mountain Range, the river Strymon had built its bed over the centuries and from Kulatas in Bulgaria runs for 20 kilometers until Sidirokastron, the first major town on the Greek side.

Sources: http://www.festungsbauten.de/metaxas3.htm
http://www.deutsches-afrika-korps.de/vi ... 121&t=3388
http://www.deutsches-afrika-korps.de/vi ... 121&t=2943
http://www.deutsches-afrika-korps.de/vi ... 43&start=0
http://www.deutsches-afrika-korps.de/vi ... 121&t=2443
Der Kampf um die Metaxas-Linie. Buchner, Alex. Allgemeine schweizerische Militärzeitschrift : ASMZ, Vol.123 (1957).

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

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

Metaxas Line - Break through the Blocking position of the Strymon.

The fortifications.

Since about 14 days before executing the attack, the division (5 GD) conducted intensive reconnaissance of the area and it had an incipient idea of ​​the strength of the position. In the facts and upon fulfilling the mission it was showed that there were a lot more powerful than previously thought. Until the day of attack in the zone of action of the Division it were recognized the following forts in the defensive sector that should be seized: Kongur (1930 meters) - Rupesco (1828 meters) - Popotliwitsa (1697 meters) - Sultanitsa (1447 meters) - Istibei (1335 meters) - Letsitsa (958 meters) - Kelkaja - Arpaluki - Cota 307.

The fort of Kelkaja constituted the left corner (to the attacker) of the fortified position covered to its rear by the fort of Arpaluki and especially the imposing fortress of Istibei, called by German hunters as the "mountain fortress" (festungberg). A total of 62 officers and 3176 NCOs and soldiers of the Greek 18 DI manned those positions.

Sources: http://www.festungsbauten.de/metaxas3.htm
http://www.deutsches-afrika-korps.de/vi ... 121&t=3388
http://www.deutsches-afrika-korps.de/vi ... 121&t=2943
http://www.deutsches-afrika-korps.de/vi ... 43&start=0
http://www.deutsches-afrika-korps.de/vi ... 121&t=2443
Der Kampf um die Metaxas-Linie. Buchner, Alex. Allgemeine schweizerische Militärzeitschrift : ASMZ, Vol.123 (1957).

Cheers. Raúl M 8).

[xristar]

A total of 62 officers and 3176 NCOs and soldiers of the Greek 18 DI manned those positions.

Do you know where this figures comes from and what units it includes?

[tigre]

Hello xristar ; thanks for joining here. Those figures were told by Alex Buchner in his work "Der Kampf um die Metaxas-Linie" published in the Allgemeine schweizerische Militärzeitschrift : ASMZ, Vol.123 (1957). No detailed Greek OoB. All data/figures/info that complements/modifies the post are fully appreciated. Cheers. Raúl M .

[xristar]

I have the official Greek histories from the war. The volume about the fighting in Eastern Macedonia was published in 1956. Unfortunately it does not include detailed troop strengths and its order of battle's tend to be confused.

In April 1941 the 18th Division was responsible for the Belles mountain. Based on the peace time plans the 6th division was responsible for this sector, but like many other units from East Macedonia it was sent to the Albanian front against the Italians. The 18th division was newly raised, created on 11 December, with the regiments 70 (reserve Serres), 81 (Alexandroupoli) and 91 (renamed, the old VIa Border Sector) as organic infantry. It also took under its command the 5 forts of the sector, namely the Popotlivitsa, Istibei, Kelkaya, Arpalouki and Paliouriones.
Its artillery was the XVIII (18th) mountain arty btn, 22nd mountain arty platoon with 105mm guns, the VIa positional arty group with 6in guns, C3 field battery, and the XVIII positional field battery. Total 52 artillery pieces: 1 X 37mm AT, 12 X 75mm field as AT, 27 light (65mm and 75mm), 12 medium (4 X 85mm, 2 X 105mm, 6 X 6inch).<---This list may be incomplete

It also had the 18th signals company and 18th sapper company.
In the event, on 6 April 1941, the division was arrayed as such:

Division's HQ at Vyroneia
one infantry company as reserve

a)Rodopoli Sub-sector (left, against the 6th Gebirgs Division):
*HQ at Ano Poroia, the 70th Regiment's Staff, under Lt. Col. Loukas Kitsos
*infantry: II/70 and II/91 battalions
*artillery: one mountain 65mm battery, one 85mm platoon, one 37mm AT gun

b)Roupesko Sub-sector (center, against the 5th Gebirgs Division)
*HQ at Vyroneia, Lt. Col Thomas Nikitas
*infantry: III/70 battalion, plus one rifle company (perhaps the same as the divisional reserve above?) and two machinegun platoons at Vyroneia
*fort: the incomplete Popotlivitsa fort, with limited combat value
*artillery: two mountain batteries, one 105mm platoon

c)"Thylakas" (=salient) Sub-sector (right, against the 5th Gebirgs Division)
*HQ at Letsista, Col. Georgios Karpenisiotis
*infantry: I/70 battalion, plus 4 companies from the 81st and 91st Regiments
*forts: Istibei, Kelkaya, Arpalouki, Paliouriones
*artillery: two field 75mm batteries, two 6inch batteries (each with 3 pieces), one 85mm platoon, four field 75mm guns in AT role

[tigre]

Hello to all ; thank you very much for that great complement xristar . Now, more follows ..................

Metaxas Line - Break through the Blocking position of the Strymon.

The fortifications.

"The Rupel Pass, named for the throat forming by the Strymon as it passes through klidi (Rupel in Turkish) is the oldest and the main connection between Bulgaria and northern Greece. The task of Strymon Blocking Position was to prevent an advance along the valley of the river in the basin of Seres and beyond to Thessaloniki, Western Thrace and Eastern Macedonia".

The XVIII. Geb. A.K. must attack the blocking position, with the 5 Mountain Division (GD), and the reinforced IR 125 . The area of ​​attack of the 5 GD stretched from Rupesko (included) up to Paljurjones fortified Group (excluded), while the IR 125 (reinforced) astride (each side) of the Strymon must act against the forts groups of Paljurjones and Usita.

Sources: http://www.festungsbauten.de/metaxas3.htm
http://www.deutsches-afrika-korps.de/vi ... 121&t=3388
http://www.deutsches-afrika-korps.de/vi ... 121&t=2943
http://www.deutsches-afrika-korps.de/vi ... 43&start=0
http://www.deutsches-afrika-korps.de/vi ... 121&t=2443
Der Kampf um die Metaxas-Linie. Buchner, Alex. Allgemeine schweizerische Militärzeitschrift : ASMZ, Vol.123 (1957).

Cheers. Raúl M 8).

[tigre]

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

Metaxas Line - Break through the Blocking position of the Strymon.

The attack of the GJR 85.

In order to break through the Greek positions due south of Petritsch, the GJR 85 received the following task: the reinforced GJR 85 was to break the Greek positions strongly supported by artillery and Stukas through Rupesko (1828.6) - Popotliwitza (1697 , 87) - Sultanitza (1447.71) - Istibei (1335.54) and was to advance to the south and southeast, along the valley of the Struma (Strymon) in order to reach the exit. Thus facilitating the attack of the GJR 100 (left) toward the bridge over the Strymon and the opening of the Rupel Pass.

Sources: http://www.festungsbauten.de/metaxas3.htm
http://www.deutsches-afrika-korps.de/vi ... 121&t=3388
http://www.deutsches-afrika-korps.de/vi ... 121&t=2943
http://www.deutsches-afrika-korps.de/vi ... 43&start=0
http://www.deutsches-afrika-korps.de/vi ... 121&t=2443
Der Kampf um die Metaxas-Linie. Buchner, Alex. Allgemeine schweizerische Militärzeitschrift : ASMZ, Vol.123 (1957).

Cheers. Raúl M .