German Units in the Balkans - 1941.

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Re: German Units in the Balkans - 1941.

#61

Post by tigre » 28 Oct 2012, 17:54

Hello to all :D; a new story about the German campaign in the Balkans ...................

Nach Saloniki - 1941.

On April 5, 1941 at 11:00 hours came the order for the attack for the 2. Pz and the Pz Jäg Abt 38 attached their companies to the marching columns; the 3. / Pz Jäg Abt 38 was assigned to the SR 2 (Oberst Koelitz). It was an arduous march and when the I. / SR 2 crossed the bridge in Mikrowo, at 22:00 finally the 3./Pz Jäg Abt. 38 joined with the column of march. In Petritsch (20 kilometers from the Greek border) the column continued westwards through the valley of the Struma for a better and wider route.

As also a portion of the SR 304 (Oberstleutnant Balck) was running over there, ensued a fierce competition in order to gain positions to keep the unit cohesion, a gun of the 1. Platoon, 3. / Pz Jäg Abt 38 went off the road and overturned in the dark. The Ogefr. Plank was with serious injuries but survived the accident and the gun was again in service shortly afterwards, thanks to our maintenance branch; the tractor vehicle only suffered a broken windshield.


Sources: http://www.gedenk-tafel.de/forum/index. ... 4#msg11104
http://www.ebay.de/sch/sis.html?_nkw=B8 ... 0775181037
Gebirgsjäger in Griechenland und auf Kreta.

Cheers. Raúl M 8-).
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Re: German Units in the Balkans - 1941.

#62

Post by tigre » 04 Nov 2012, 13:23

Hello to all :D; a new story about the German campaign in the Balkans ...................

Nach Saloniki - 1941.

At dawn on April 6, 1941 was reached Strumica. The march stopped shortly before the Yugoslav border. Beyond Strumica stretched southbound the Belasica plateau with elevations rising up to 1800 meters. There was the Greek border. All remained quiet yet, strangely quiet. Then at 05:20 hours an artillery shot, then another and another; the campaign against Yugoslavia and Greece, which would necessarily involve Great Britain, had begun.

It was a hot sunny day, at 10:45 hours the 3. Company crossed the Yugoslav border near Novo Selo, then followed the 1. Company. The 2. Company and the detachment's HQ reached the border only on April 7, 1941. In Novo Selo the column had to ford a small stream, because the bridge was blocked by a prime mover, towing a gun of 88 mm, which had been destroyed by a direct hit by the Serbian artillery.

Sources: http://www.gedenk-tafel.de/forum/index. ... 4#msg11104
http://www.ebay.de/sch/sis.html?_nkw=B8 ... 0775181037
Gebirgsjäger in Griechenland und auf Kreta.

Cheers. Raúl M 8-).
Attachments
image004.jpg
A Sd Kfz 7 tractor towing a 88 mm cannon, a similar one was destroyed and blocked the bridge in Novo Selo ..................
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Re: German Units in the Balkans - 1941.

#63

Post by tigre » 11 Nov 2012, 15:10

Hello to all :D; more follows...................

Nach Saloniki - 1941.

On the evening of April 6, 1941 the 3. / Pz Jäg Abt 38 reached Strumica, which had been conquered around midday by the advance guard of the 2 Pz. The Company, without its 3. Platoon, was attached to the I. / SR 2 whose mission was to cover the southern flank of the division. On April 7, 1941 it was organized the Kampfgruppe Hagen, on the basis of the 1. / SR 2 reinforced with one Platoon of the 2. / PR 3, one Platoon of the 3./Pz Jäg Abt 38; one Platoon of the 2. / Le Flak Abt 76, one gun of the le. IG Platoon of the 11. / SR 2 and the sapper Platoon of the HQ Company.

The Kampfgruppe's task was to reach Stip and link there with the 72. ID. At 17:00 hours it was assembled about 5 kms southeast of Radoviste and from there had to travel 30 kms to Stip. The 1. Platoon of the 3. / Pz Jäg Abt 38 afforded antitank protection to the march column with: 1 self-propelled gun of 37 mm behind the spearhead, 1 gun of 50 mm in the middle of the column and 1 gun of 37 mm in the rear.

Sources: http://www.gedenk-tafel.de/forum/index. ... 4#msg11104
http://www.ebay.de/sch/sis.html?_nkw=B8 ... 0775181037
Gebirgsjäger in Griechenland und auf Kreta.

Cheers. Raúl M 8).
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A Sd Kfz 251 towing an antitank gun ......................
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Re: German Units in the Balkans - 1941.

#64

Post by tigre » 18 Nov 2012, 16:44

Hello to all :D; more follows...................

Nach Saloniki - 1941.

Initially the column marched quickly and without encountering enemy resistance. About 10 kms west of Radovice the Kampfgruppe got fire of two Serbian batteries, which apparently had good observation. The group sought cover behind a hill north of the road Strumica - Stip and established a defensive position. There were not casualties. The 1. Platoon placed the 50 mm cannon in the valley south of the road and the gun of 37 mm directly on the road, engaged against fortified and ground targets. The self-propelled gun was available as a backup. From the reconnaissance it was determined that the Serb forces, infantry reinforced with antitank weapons, was positioned about 12 kms west of Radoviste.

The information was confirmed by the intelligence of the higher echelon. The artillery required by the Kampfgruppe was not sent, yet the group was ordered to resume the march and reach Stip despite the opposition of the enemy.

Sources: http://www.gedenk-tafel.de/forum/index. ... 4#msg11104
http://www.ebay.de/sch/sis.html?_nkw=B8 ... 0775181037
Gebirgsjäger in Griechenland und auf Kreta.

Cheers. Raúl M 8-).
Attachments
image010.jpg
A Sd Kfz 10, in this case with a gun of 20 mm (Selbstfahrlafette-self propelled)..............
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Re: German Units in the Balkans - 1941.

#65

Post by tigre » 25 Nov 2012, 14:36

Hello to all :D; the end...................

Nach Saloniki - 1941.

On April 8, 1941 at 00:10 hours the Kampfgruppe resumed the march, but without reconnaissance echelon, at the engine noise the enemy responded with artillery fire and red flares. After advancing about 100 meters the armored spearhead was attacked with anti-tank fire and the unit was diverted to a narrow dirt road north of the main road and shortly thereafter the tanks could not recognize any trace due to total darkness. Then went ahead the self-propelled anti-tank gun of the 1. Platoon; the enemy did not open fire again, but the voices and orders of the adversary could be heard. The driver of the self-propelled gun was led by guides marching on foot. At 11:00 hours the column finally reached Stip and achieved contact with the 72. ID.

Sources: http://www.gedenk-tafel.de/forum/index. ... 4#msg11104
http://www.ebay.de/sch/sis.html?_nkw=B8 ... 0775181037
Gebirgsjäger in Griechenland und auf Kreta.

It's all folks. Cheers. Raúl M 8-).
Attachments
image015.jpg
A Sd Kfz 10 crossing a river on a raft - Balkans April 1941.
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image017.jpg
A Selbstfahrlafette (self-propelled gun) through the streets of Athens .....
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Re: German Units in the Balkans - 1941.

#66

Post by tigre » 09 Dec 2012, 17:04

Hello to all :D; a new history of the beginning of the campaign...................

Early struggles of the vanguard of the 73. ID in Yugoslavia - April 1941.

In April 1941 the Pz. Jäg. Abt. 73 was engaged in the campaign in the Balkans. On April 1, 1941 the anti-tank detachment was north of Gorna Dzumaja in Bulgaria. There on April 4, 1941 was organized the vanguard of the 73. ID at the start of the offensive against Yugoslavia. The detachment was composed of the following units:

HQ of the Panzerjäger-Abteilung 173
Radfahr-Schwadron 173
a Platoon of light infantry howitzers (le. IG) of Infanterie-Regiment 170
2 companies of Panzerjäger-Abteilung 173 (1 Pl. Cñ 5 cm)
3. / Pionier-Bataillon 173
One rifle company of Infanterie-Regiment 213
Battery Heinemann (mot.)
1 Group Radio of Nachrichten-Abteilung 173
1 antiaircraft group of I. / Flak-Regiment 61

Sources: http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gli ... lung%20173
Der Südostfeldzug eines frankisches division. German Infantry Romania to Greece +Belgrad 455 photos ! - eBay (item 370390018510 end time Jun-06-10 070824 PDT).
73.Inf.Div.Albumseiten mit 54 Fotos BALKANFELDZUG 1941 Bulgarien Serbien uvm Bay.htm

Cheers. Raúl M 8-).

Feliz Navidad - Feliz Natal - Frohe Weihnachten - Joyeux Noël - Merry Christmas - Wesołych Świąt!. :lol:
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Road of the 73. ID ......................
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Re: German Units in the Balkans - 1941.

#67

Post by tigre » 16 Dec 2012, 15:14

Hello to all :D; more follows...................

Early struggles of the vanguard of the 73. ID in Yugoslavia - April 1941.

On 06 April 1941 the detachment crossed the Yugoslav border. Cyclists elements advanced toward Careve Selo, where they found the first resistance. The bulk of the detachment engaged in struggle for the town and conquered it after four hours of fighting, suffering in doing so 9 KIA and 16 WIA. After that the detachment was assembled again and continued Westwards. At dusk it had penetrated some 30 kilometers into the interior of Yugoslavia.

Fighting by Carevo Selo - 06 April 1941...

Sources: http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gli ... lung%20173
Der Südostfeldzug eines frankisches division. German Infantry Romania to Greece +Belgrad 455 photos ! - eBay (item 370390018510 end time Jun-06-10 070824 PDT).
73.Inf.Div.Albumseiten mit 54 Fotos BALKANFELDZUG 1941 Bulgarien Serbien uvm Bay.htm

Cheers. Raúl M 8-).

Feliz Navidad - Feliz Natal - Frohe Weihnachten - Joyeux Noël - Merry Christmas - Wesołych Świąt! :lol:
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The artillery crushed the enemy positions...
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image011.jpg
Then the infantry advances...
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Re: German Units in the Balkans - 1941.

#68

Post by tigre » 23 Dec 2012, 13:14

Hello to all :D; more follows...................

Early struggles of the vanguard of the 73. ID in Yugoslavia - April 1941.

The next day the vanguard continued its progress and at the level of Kalimanso it engaged in combat with hostile forces for three hours. After overcoming such resistance, the vanguard reached and crossed the creek located behind, then continued the march towards Istibanja where conquered intact the bridge over the Bregalnica. Hundreds of prisoners were captured in this action. The advance continued toward Kocane and Stip, where it found little resistance. Here the cyclists were responsible for the custody of the prisoners and the booty, while the bulk of the detachment continued its drive towards Veles.

Sources: http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gli ... lung%20173
Der Südostfeldzug eines frankisches division. German Infantry Romania to Greece +Belgrad 455 photos ! - eBay (item 370390018510 end time Jun-06-10 070824 PDT).
73.Inf.Div.Albumseiten mit 54 Fotos BALKANFELDZUG 1941 Bulgarien Serbien uvm Bay.htm

Cheers. Raúl M 8-).

Feliz Navidad - Feliz Natal - Frohe Weihnachten - Joyeux Noël - Merry Christmas - Wesołych Świąt!. :lol:
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Yugoslav prisoners ......................
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Re: German Units in the Balkans - 1941.

#69

Post by tigre » 30 Dec 2012, 15:54

Hello to all :D; more follows...................

Early struggles of the vanguard of the 73. ID in Yugoslavia - April 1941.

In Krivi Do the detachment got fire from the heights situated to the left of the route, however the resistance was broken quickly. Around 16:00 hours the first hostile tanks coming from Veles, were detected in front of the detachment. The detachment disabled six of the attacking light tanks and at dusk had reached Veles, taking intact the bridge located there by mean of a coup de main.

Sources: http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gli ... lung%20173
Der Südostfeldzug eines frankisches division. German Infantry Romania to Greece +Belgrad 455 photos ! - eBay (item 370390018510 end time Jun-06-10 070824 PDT).
73.Inf.Div.Albumseiten mit 54 Fotos BALKANFELDZUG 1941 Bulgarien Serbien uvm Bay.htm

Cheers. Raúl M 8-).

Feliz Año Nuevo - Happy New Year - feliz Ano Novo - gluckliches Neues Jahr - Bonne Année - Felice Anno Nuovo - Szczęśliwego nowego roku!! :lol:
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A column of artillery (howitzers le. FH 18) crosses a Balkan village (photo-history).....................
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Re: German Units in the Balkans - 1941.

#70

Post by tigre » 06 Jan 2013, 14:44

Hello to all :D; more follows...................

Early struggles of the vanguard of the 73. ID in Yugoslavia - April 1941.

The advanced detachment remained in the town until the next day, April 8, 1941, at 15:00 hours when the HQ, the Signals Platoon, the 2. Company with the 5. (Cyclists) / IR 213, the Platoon of the light howitzers of the 13. / IR 170, Battery Heinemann, the Flak Group Gebauer and Battery Streck continued to Prilep. The rest of the detachment remained in Veles as security. During the march towards Prilep were destroyed three tanks. Prilep was reaching in evening without finding new resistance. On April 10, 1941 it was secured the surrounding area and the last enemy resistance was broken.

Sources: http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gli ... lung%20173
Der Südostfeldzug eines frankisches division. German Infantry Romania to Greece +Belgrad 455 photos ! - eBay (item 370390018510 end time Jun-06-10 070824 PDT).
73.Inf.Div.Albumseiten mit 54 Fotos BALKANFELDZUG 1941 Bulgarien Serbien uvm Bay.htm

Cheers. Raúl M 8-).
Attachments
image008.jpg
A Sd Kfz 7 with a quadruple AA gun mounted on the box ............... (Anyone recognize the emblem on the left fender of the vehicle?)
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Re: German Units in the Balkans - 1941.

#71

Post by tigre » 13 Jan 2013, 15:49

Hello to all :D; last part...................

Early struggles of the vanguard of the 73. ID in Yugoslavia - April 1941.

On April 13, 1941 the detachment raided the town of Brod; the town was in flames. There are no references about prisoners or war booty. On April 14, 1941 the detachment continued to advance in the direction to Florina in Greece, this town was reached during the afternoon of that day. The detachment was employed in security tasks on reaching the position.

Sources: http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gli ... lung%20173
Der Südostfeldzug eines frankisches division. German Infantry Romania to Greece +Belgrad 455 photos ! - eBay (item 370390018510 end time Jun-06-10 070824 PDT).
73.Inf.Div.Albumseiten mit 54 Fotos BALKANFELDZUG 1941 Bulgarien Serbien uvm Bay.htm

It's all foks. Cheers. Raúl M 8-).
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image012.jpg
A Pz Kw III rolling down a narrow mountain path.............
http://www.usmbooks.com/balkanfeldzug.html
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Re: German Units in the Balkans - 1941.

#72

Post by tigre » 02 Jun 2016, 04:01

Hello to all :D; a little more........................

Bridge Generaloberst Freiherr von Weichs in Belgrade 1941.

The Pi. Reg 677 built the makeshift bridge Generaloberst Freiherr von Weichs in only one week. The bridge had a length of 1,250 meters.

Source: http://www.filmarchives-online.eu/viewD ... 81a5daf554
http://www.germanautographs.de/home/med ... rkreuz.jpg
http://www.alamy.com/stock-photo/generaloberst.html

Does anyone have more information about the Pi Reg 677 (its commander for example)? Cheers. Raul M 8-).
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image016.jpg
Opening the bridge by Generaloberst Freiherr von Weichs (CO of 2. AOK).......................................
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1z4aeiu.png
Generaloberst Freiherr von Weichs, who opened the famous bridge, traveling back from the north coast of the Danube with the commanders of the sappers battalions which took part in the construction - Belgrade May 1941................

The officer at the far right - behind the driver - is Gerhard Feyerabend (Ia of 2. AOK).
1z4aeiu.png (469.48 KiB) Viewed 1021 times

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Re: German Units in the Balkans - 1941.

#73

Post by tigre » 17 Jun 2016, 00:07

Hello to all :D; a little doubt ...............................

Marching into Belgrade 1941 - Kradschützen Bataillon 59.

During the Balkan campaign the battalion fought on Stracinpass in Skopljes and Prizren and from April 13, 1941 against the British Expeditionary Force on Bitolj, Klidi and Kozani to Aliakmon Venetikos, Elasson and Larissa to Volos. Then it carried out a land march in order to be reconditioned in the Moravian-Silesian Region.

Source: http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gli ... tl59-R.htm
http://www.ebay.at/itm/Foto-2-Kradschut ... SweW5U-1yg
http://www.ebay.de/itm/Foto-2-Kradschut ... SwpDdU-10b

When was it? What bridge? Bridge General Freiherr von Weichs? Greetings. Raúl M 8-)
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The 2./ Kradsch. Btl 59 in Belgrade............................
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Re: German Units in the Balkans - 1941.

#74

Post by tigre » 09 Jul 2016, 04:29

Hello to all :D; a little more...............................

Marching into Belgrade 1941 - Kradschützen Bataillon 59.

Source: http://www.ebay.de/itm/Foto-2-Kradschut ... SwPhdU-11O

Cheers. Raúl M 8-).
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The 2./ Kradsch. Btl 59 in Belgrade............................
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Re: German Units in the Balkans - 1941.

#75

Post by tigre » 04 Feb 2017, 23:33

Hello to all :D; a little more...............................

German troops in Piraeus 1941.

The photos come from the album of David Ralph Goodwin who served on the Cruiser HMAS Perth in April 1941, as this seaman was not captured and was removed from active duty by a medical condition in 1943, then those German soldiers were prisoners being evacuated from Greece. Any idea if the British evacuated German / Italian prisoners from Greece and how many? TIA.

Source: http://collections.museumvictoria.com.au/items/1712877

Cheers. Raúl M 8-).
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image004.jpg
Nazi troops embarking on Dago destroyers, Piraeus, Greece .................................
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