Let's Build: 1. Infanterie Division

[Endzeit Jan]

Hi
Commanders
General der Infanterie Joachim von Kortzfleisch (1 Sep 1939 - 14 Apr 1940)
General der Kavallerie Philipp Kleffel (15 Apr 1940 - 12 July 1941)
Generalleutnant Dr Friedrich Altrichter (12 July 1941 - 4 Sep 1941)
General der Kavallerie Philipp Kleffel (4 Sep 1941 - 16 Jan 1942)
General der Infanterie Martin Grase (16 Jan 1942 - 30 June 1943)
General der Infanterie Ernst-Anton von Krosigk (1 July 1943 - 10 May 1944)
Generalmajor Hans-Joachim Baurmeister (10 May 1944 - 8 June 1944)
General der Infanterie Ernst-Anton von Krosigk (8 June 1944 - 30 Sep 1944)
Generalleutnant Hans Schittnig (1 Oct 1944 - 28 Feb 1945)
Generalleutnant Henning von Thadden (28 Feb 1945 - 8 May 1945)

Ia Obstlt.Steffler
---Maj.Pantenius
---Maj.Schreiber
---Maj.Overbeck
---Obstlt.Frank von Hausen-Aubier
IIa Maj.von Saint-Paul
----Maj.Scholz

its corect??
Jan

[tigre]

Hello to al people ; to those who already did not stumbled with it..............

http://www.pzgrenbtl193.de/infantriereg ... iment1.php

http://www.pzgrenbtl193.de/infantriereg ... desir1.php

All the best. Raúl M .

[carboxen]

Commanders:
Generalmajor Georg von Küchler ( 01 Oct 1934 - 01 Apr 1935)
unknown (01 Apr 1935 - 01 Oct. 1935)
Generalleutnant Walter Schroth (01 Oct. 1935 - 04 Feb 1938)
Generalleutnant Joachim von Kortzfleisch (04 Feb 1938 - 1 Mar 1940)
...

The Stellenbesetzung lists v. Brauchitsch as Kdr 1. ID for Apr 1934, but he was minister of defence then.
Ranks corrected to highest rank held in command of this division.
Source: Stellenbesetzung Apr 1934, Oct 1935, Oct 1936, Oct 1937, Jan 1939, reprinted in: O'Neill (1966), The German Army and the Nazi Party, 1933-1939.

Carboxen

[histan]

von Brauchitsch was Befelshaber im Wehrkreis I from 1.2.1933 this post was also Kommandeur der 1 Division until 1.10.1934 when it became Kommandierender General des I Armee-Korps so in April 1934 he was Kdr 1 Div

The same applied to the other Wehrkreis who gave up their division titles and assumed AK staus on the same date

In April and October 1934 the 'new' Divisions began to form using the title Wehrgau and assumed the title of Division on 15 October 1935

von Küchler who had been Artillerieführer I since 1.10.1932 assumed command of Wehrgau Königsberg on 1.4.1934. On 1.10.1934 this was earmarked to become the 'new' 1 Division which title it assumed on 15 October 1935.

Schroth assumed command on 1.4.1935 according to the Stellenbesetzung der deutschen Heere 1815 - 1939 from which this information has been taken.

Regards

John

[LRRPS]

From a Wehrpass to a soldier, belonging to Infanteri-Regiment 22. From start of Barbarossa until his death in 1944.:

tdb8 - Kopi.jpg (62.87 KiB) Viewed 6372 times

[bpfeffer]

Thank you, a very fascinating post!

[Piotr Kapuscinski]

The “Woodrig” Korps, which included the 1. Infanterie-Division and 12. Infanterie-Division, pushed east of Warsaw where it advenced on western bank or river Bug. It encircled some polish forces which surrounded around the 14.9.1939 (which unit that was that I don't know). Any possible help here?

It encircled the majority of Operational Group of general Kowalski - 1. Infantry Division (Legionary) and parts (over 50%) of Mazowiecka Cavalry Brigade - three times (10th – 15th of September). The Poles did not surrender but successfully broke through (three times), but with very high casualties. On 15th of September the battle was ended and general Kowalski started to regroup and reorganize his forces.

The Germans - however - on 14th of September reported, that they managed to destroy the Polish Operational Group, which was not true:

Fragment of OKW report number 14 from 14th of September:

"[…] Strong enemy had broken through near Stoczek (30 km south-west of Siedlce), was eliminated, 2000 prisoners and 13 guns captured […]".

On 15th of September 1. Infantry Division (Legionary) had got:

Divisional commander - general Kowalski

- headquarters

1. legionary infantry regiment - podpułkownik Jan Kasztelowicz:

- I infantry battalion (formed basing on 1. legionary infantry regiment) - 3 rifle companies, 1 HMG company
- V infantry battalion (formed basing on 5. legionary infantry regiment)
- VI infantry battalion (formed basing on 6. legionary infantry regiment)
- AT platoon (3 AT guns type 36 calibre 37mm)

1. light artillery regiment:

* II dyon of 1. light artillery regiment:
- headquarters
- 2. battery (3 field guns 75mm)
- 5. battery (3 field guns 75mm)
* I heavy artillery dyon:
- headquarters
- 1. battery (2 x 105mm guns)
* unit of dismounted cavalrymen

- divisional cavalry
- 31. divisional cyclist company
- parts of 61. armoured dyon
- 35. independent cyclist company
- 1. sapper battalion
- AA artillery platoon (2 x 40mm AA guns)

According to general Kowalski on 15th of September 1. Legionary Infantry Division had got 1/3 of its initial strength.

On 19th of September one additional regiment and one artillery dyon were joined to the division:

* 8. legionary infantry regiment with 4 battalions:

- 1. battalion
- 2. battalion
- 7. battalion
- 9. battalion

* dyon of 3. light artillery regiment (6 light guns).

On 17th of September Mazowiecka Cavalry Brigade (under command of pułkownik Jan Karcz) gathered in Radzyń Podlaski - it had got:

- headquarters

7. uhlans regiment (without 2 squadrons):

- regimental headquarters
- technical squadron
- 3 squadron
- 4 squadron
- HMG squadron
- marching squadron

* disposal units - including:
- AT platoon
- communication platoon
- cyclist platoon

11. uhlans regiment (without 2 squadrons):

- regimental headquarters
- technical squadron
- 1 squadron
- 4 squadron
- HMG squadron
* disposal units - including:
- AT platoon
- communication platoon
- cyclist platoon

Dyon of 1. KOP cavalry regiment "Rokitno":

- squadron KOP "Mizocz"
- squadron KOP "Rokitno"

13. uhlans regiment (from Wileńska Cavalry Brigade):

- regimental headquarters
- technical squadron
- 2 squadron
- 3 squadron
* disposal units - including:
- AT platoon
- communication platoon
- cyclist platoon
* Dyon of 4 uhlans regiment:
- 1 squadron
- 3 squadron

- rests of headquarters of 1. horse artillery dyon with over a dozen soldiers from 1. battery (without guns)
- 3. pioneer squadron
- 3. rifle battalion (rests)
- 2. pioneer squadron
- 2. communication squadron
- smaller units, service units and stocks

Apart from Mazowiecka Cavalry Brigade, several units of this brigade were attached to Cavalry Operational Group of general Anders on 12th of September:

- 1. light cavalry regiment (without 3 squadrons)
- dyon of 11. uhlans regiment (2 squadrons)
- dyon of 7. uhlans regiment (2 squadrons)
- 2, 3 and 4 batteries of 1. horse artillery dyon (2 battery – 4 field guns, 3 battery – 4 field guns, 4 battery – 2 guns).

=================================================

1. Legionary Infantry Division was crushed during the battle of Tarnawatka (night 21st / 22nd - 23rd of September) - general Kowalski was wounded.

The defeat of 1. Infantry Division in the battle of Tarnawatka was mainly the fault of general Władysław Anders and his insubordination - he didn't want to be captured by the Soviet forces - which were approaching from the east - and decided to break the orders of general Dąb-Biernacki - and escape to Romania with part of his forces (the rest - over 50% - were left for their own by Anders, he didn't wait for them) - by this action he exposed the rears and the flank of successfully attacking the German 8. Infanterie-Division, 1. Legionary Infantry Division - and the Germans made use of it.

Mazowiecka Cavalry Brigade surrendered on 27th of September - being attacked from the east and north-east by the Soviet forces.

It was in discrepancy with the orders of its commander - who yet on 23rd of September ordered to disband the brigade and to escape towards Hungary in small groups. But the soldiers still wanted to fight and joined the forces of generals Kruszewski and Przedrzymirski.

Pułkownik Jan Karcz together with his headquarters left his soldiers on 23rd of September and escaped from the Soviets towards Hungary.

[Bernd R]

A post by new member le.gennois has been moved to the Heer&Waffen-SS forum ->
http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic. ... 8#p1303488
le.gennois, bonjour, votre question est dans une autre place.
/ Bernd, Mod

[Bernd R]

A post by le.gennois has been deleted.
Dear le.gennois,
second try !! This is not a research forum here ! Look on the forum name, please !
You have posted a similar question already in the "Heer&Waffen-SS" forum. Post a follow-up question or more detailed questions there, please.

Bernd, Moderator

[Stauffenberg II]

In addition was dear JPK already delivered as per as Jan. 3rd, 1939 ... here is some more info, especially from the Stellenbesetzung 1938 as Stahl, Heereseinteilung 1939 is not totally complete! Also find the christian names added by me ... as well as one comment regarding the new Cdr. of the Artillery Regiment from 01.04.1939 on.

Friedenheeres am 3.1.1939

1.Division: Interburg [typo: should read: Insterburg]

Divisionkommandeur:...........Gen.Maj. von Kortzfleisch [Joachim]
Ia........................................Maj.i.G. Steffer [typo: should read Steffler [Johannes]]
Ib........................................Rittm. Müller [Christian] (U. K. R. 9), z. Dienstl. kdt.
Adj...................................... Rittm. Schmidtmann [typo of Stahl, Heereseinteilung 1939, in accordance with Stellenbesetzung 1938 this should read: Schmidmann (U. R. R. 2)]
Divisionarzt..........................Oberst-A. Dr. Forster [Edgar]
Divisionveterinär..................Oberst-Vet. Dr. Bongler [typo should read Dr. Bonger] [Karl]

Infanterieregiment 1 Königsberg.....Oberst Weiss [Walter]
I..........................................."......."........Obstlt. Chill [Kurt]
II.........................................."......."........Maj. von Proeck [Louis]
III........................................."......."........Obstlt. Noack [Kurt]
Rgt.Vet.................................."........"...... St.Vet. Trenkler

Infanterieregiment 22 Gumbinnen...Oberst Schreder [Ernst]
RSt..........................................."......."........Obstlt. Hippler [Bruno]
I..........................................."......."........Maj. Domizlaff
II.........................................."......."........Maj. Knobelspiess [in accordance with Stellenbesetzung 1938 should read Knobelspies instead of Stahl, Heereseinteilung 1939: Knobelspieß]
III.......................................Goldap.........Obstlt. Scheidies [Franz]
E.........................................Gumbinnen...Obstlt. Hahne [Hans]
Rgt.Vet.................................."........"...... St.Vet. Dr. Nickel

Infanterieregiment 43 Insterburg.....Oberst von Kropff [Helmut]
I..........................................."......."........Maj. Huethe
II.........................................."......."........Obstlt. Melzer [Walter]
III........................................Tilsit............Obstlt Fixon [typo: should read Fixson]
Rgt.Vet.................................Insterburg... St.Vet. Dr.Pollner

Maschinengewehrbataillon 31 Königsberg..Obstlt Hauschulz [Kurt]
Panzerabwehrabbteilung 1 Goldap...........Obstlt. von Frankengerg u. Proschlitz [typo: should read von Frankenberg und Proschlitz] [Ernst]
with subordinated 4. (E) Kp./Pz. Abw. Abt. 1 Goldap...........Hptm. (E) Dr. Dannenbaum
Pionierbataillon 1 Königsberg..................Obstlt. Meyer [Otto]
with subordinated 4. (E) Kp./Pi. 1 Königsberg............. Hptm. (E) Günther
Nachrichtenabteilung 1 Insterburg...........Obstlt. Stenzel
with subordinated 3. (N) Kp./N. 1 Insterburg ............. Hptm. Irkens [Josef]
Sanitätsabteilung 1........"........"..............Ob.St.A. Dr Forster [Edgar]

and troops of Artilleriekommandeur 1:

Artilleriekommandeur 1 Insterburg.....Oberst Herzog [Kurt] (U. A. R. 31) with:

Artillerieregiment 1 Königsberg.....Oberst Böttcher [Karl] [Note: 01.04.1939: Obstlt. Mühlmann [Friedrich]]
I...........................................Gumbinnen........Maj. Berr
II.........................................."......."........Maj. Hammer
III........................................Tilsit............Maj. Hähling [Kurt]
10. (E) Battr./A. R. 1.................Gumbinnen............Hptm. (E) Dipl. Volkw. Kamps
I. Abt./A. R. 37 ......................Insterburg ...... Maj. Frankewitz [Bruno]
Rgt.Vet.................................Königsberg... Ob.St.Vet. Dr.Keckeisen

II. Abt./A. R. 37 ......................Königsberg ...... Maj. Dr. Schauen [Bernd]
Beobachtungsabteilung 1 ......................Königsberg ...... Maj. Hittcher [Otto]
with subordinated 4. [Ballon] Battr./B. 1 Königsberg ............. Oblt. Meißner

Regards
JPK

[Baltasar]

The “Woodrig” Korps, which included the 1. Infanterie-Division and 12. Infanterie-Division, pushed east of Warsaw where it advenced on western bank or river Bug. It encircled some polish forces which surrounded around the 14.9.1939 (which unit that was that I don't know). Any possible help here?

The Germans - however - on 14th of September reported, that they managed to destroy the Polish Operational Group, which was not true:

Fragment of OKW report number 14 from 14th of September:

"[…] Strong enemy had broken through near Stoczek (30 km south-west of Siedlce), was eliminated, 2000 prisoners and 13 guns captured […]".

The reports of the OKW generally were more a matter of propaganda than anything else and should be disregarded as a source of information when it comes to refering to events in anything else than a purely nazi view.

[Endzeit Jan]

Hi
addition in Red!!

""""JPK wrote:
Friedenheeres am 3.1.1939

1.Division: Interburg [typo: should read: Insterburg]

Divisionkommandeur:...........Gen.Maj. von Kortzfleisch [Joachim]
Ia........................................Maj.i.G. Johannes Steffler
Ib........................................Rittm. Christian Müller (DKiG Ia/ Pz.A.O.K.4)
Adj...................................... Rittm. Schmidmann (IIa ??.??.1939-??.08.1940)
Divisionarzt..........................Oberst-A. Dr. Forster [Edgar] (Adelbert Fremd??)
Divisionveterinär..................Oberst-Vet. Dr. Bongler [typo should read Dr. Bonger] [Karl] (Karl Neumann??)

Infanterieregiment 1 Königsberg.....Oberst Weiss [Walter] (Bruno Hippler??)
I..........................................."......."........Obstlt. Chill [Kurt]
II.........................................."......."........Maj. von Proeck [Louis]
III........................................."......."........Obstlt. Noack [Kurt]
Rgt.Vet.................................."........"...... St.Vet. Trenkler

Infanterieregiment 22 Gumbinnen...Oberst Ernst Schreder
RSt..........................................."......."........Obstlt. Hippler [Bruno]
I..........................................."......."........Maj. Domizlaff
II.........................................."......."........Maj. Knobelspiess [in accordance with Stellenbesetzung 1938 should read Knobelspies instead of Stahl, Heereseinteilung 1939: Knobelspieß]
III.......................................Goldap.........Obstlt. Scheidies [Franz]
E.........................................Gumbinnen...Obstlt. Hahne [Hans]
Rgt.Vet.................................."........"...... St.Vet. Dr. Nickel

Infanterieregiment 43 Insterburg.....Oberst von Kropff [Helmut]
I..........................................."......."........Maj. Huethe
II.........................................."......."........Obstlt. Melzer [Walter]
III........................................Tilsit............Obstlt Fixon [typo: should read Fixson]
Rgt.Vet.................................Insterburg... St.Vet. Dr.Pollner

Maschinengewehrbataillon 31 Königsberg..Obstlt Hauschulz [Kurt]
Panzerabwehrabbteilung 1 Goldap...........Obstlt. von Frankenberg u. Proschlitz [Ernst]
with subordinated 4. (E) Kp./Pz. Abw. Abt. 1 Goldap...........Hptm. (E) Dr. Dannenbaum
Pionierbataillon 1 Königsberg..................Obstlt. Otto Meyer
with subordinated 4. (E) Kp./Pi. 1 Königsberg............. Hptm. (E) Günther
Nachrichtenabteilung 1 Insterburg...........Obstlt. Stenzel
with subordinated 3. (N) Kp./N. 1 Insterburg ............. Hptm. Irkens [Josef]
Sanitätsabteilung 1........"........"..............Ob.St.A. Dr Forster [Edgar]

and troops of Artilleriekommandeur 1:

Artilleriekommandeur 1 Insterburg.....Oberst Herzog [Kurt] (U. A. R. 31) with:

Artillerieregiment 1 Königsberg.....Oberst Böttcher [Karl] [Note: 01.04.1939: Obstlt. Mühlmann [Friedrich]]
I...........................................Gumbinnen........Maj. Berr
II.........................................."......."........Maj. Hammer
III........................................Tilsit............Maj. Hähling [Kurt]
10. (E) Battr./A. R. 1.................Gumbinnen............Hptm. (E) Dipl. Volkw. Kamps
I. Abt./A. R. 37 ......................Insterburg ...... Maj. Frankewitz [Bruno]
Rgt.Vet.................................Königsberg... Ob.St.Vet. Dr.Keckeisen

II. Abt./A. R. 37 ......................Königsberg ...... Maj. Dr. Schauen [Bernd]
Beobachtungsabteilung 1 ......................Königsberg ...... Maj. Hittcher [Otto]
with subordinated 4. [Ballon] Battr./B. 1 Königsberg ............. Oblt. Meißner

Jan

[manage1]

1st Infantry Regiment / Ist Infantry Division

The following are the COs of the 1st Infantry Regiment as best as I have at the moment.

Position From To Rank Surname
Cmdr 310201 341231 Lt/Col Luters Rudolf
Cmdr 350101 380430 Col Ott Eugen
Cmdr 380501 390731 Col Weiss Walter
Cmdr 390801 400131 Col Hippler Bruno
Cmdr 400301 411001 Col Grase Martin
Cmdr ?
Cmdr 420600 Col Proeck Louis von
Cmdr 440200 440700 Col Keussler Friedrick
Cmdr 450300 450500 Major Weissenberg Horst

Regards
Manage1

[tigre]

Hello to all ; a little info and a little request, especially for anyone who owns the books "Das Infanterie-Regiment 1" by R. v. Tycowitz and "Die erste (ostpreußische) Infanterie-Division".........

Prince Wilhelm v. Preussen, the oldest son of the Crown Prince and older brother of Louis Ferdinand, fell heavily wounded as Oberleutnant and company commander of the 11./ IR 1 on May 23 1940 as a result of the hard combats taken place at/near Blaragenies (close Malplaquet). Two days later he succumbed to his injuries. He was buried in the ancient temple at Potsdam . Hitler issued thereupon the so-called „Prince Decree “, according to which with immediate effect was forbidden the front employment to all members of the house of the Hohenzollern.

The request: could someone kindly tell me a more or less detailed picture about those fights (period 23 - 27 may 1940)?. TIA. Cheers. Raúl M .

[Tom Nutter]

Tigre, I have some information regarding the circumstances surrounding the death of Prince Wilhelm that I will set forth farther down. To begin with, however, I wanted to give you the Stellenbesetzung I have for certain of the elements of 1.Infanterie-Division. My source is Guenter Wegmann & Christian Zweng, Die Dienststellen, Kommandobehoerden und Truppenteile des Heeres 15.10.1935-8.5.1945, Band 1, Nr. 1-10 (Osnabrueck, Germany, Biblio Verlag, 1998), 17-19, 36. Some of the information is unfortunately incomplete, and in some places there are apparent typographical errors in the original text.

Kommandeur 1.Infanterie-Division

GMaj Kuechler, Georg v. 01.10.34 (KC ‘39, OL ’43)
GLt Schroth, Walther 01.04.35 (KC ’41, died in accident ’44)
GMaj Kortzfleisch, Joachim v. 01.01.38 (KC ’40, KIA [?] ’45)
GMaj Kleffel, Philipp 15.04.40 (KC ’42)
GMaj Altrichter, Dr.phil. Friedrich11.07.41 mFb
GLt Kleffel, Philipp 04.09.41
GMaj Grase, Martin 17.01.42 (KC ’41, OL ’43)
GMaj Krosigk, Ernst-Anton v. 01.07.43 (bis 1.9.43 mFb) (KC ’44, OL ’45)
Ob. Baurmeister, Hans-Joachim 10.05.44 mstFb
GMaj Krosigk, Ernst-Anton v. 08.06.44
GLt Schittnig, Hans 06.10.44
GLt Thadden, Henning v. 03.03.45 KIA

Ia 1.Infanterie-Division

Obstlt.Steffler, Johannes 26.08.39
Maj. Pantenius, Peter 01.08.40
Maj. Richter, Werner 10.12.42
Maj. Frank, Hilmar 10.12.43
Maj. Schreiber, Hellmuth 1.45-?

Ib. 1.Infanterie-Division

Hptm. Mueller, Christian 25.08.39
Maj. Kluge, Guenther v. 04.12.40
Maj. Bussmann, Heinrich 11.01.41
Maj. Klie 3.42 ?
Hptm. Frank 05.09.42
Maj. Reeder, v. 01.07.43
Hptm. Baur, Sven-Hugo 10.05.44
Maj. Kuschel, Hans 25.12.44
Maj. Lomoth 1.45 ?

Ic. 1.Infanterie-Division

Maj. Brunn, Joachim v. 26.08.39
Hptm.Danckworth, Rudolf 15.08.40
Maj. Danckworth, Rudolf 30.11.40 nicht wirksam *
Hptm.Lenz, Gottfried 01.12.43
Oblt. Schelsky, Dr. 25.11.44
Maj. Ipsen 1.45 ?
Oblt. Grossmann v. 15.03.45 mWb

* I take the authors’ use of nicht wirksam to mean that the appointment was not effective; this doesn’t seem to make sense, so perhaps someone can clarify this usage.

IIa 1.Infanterie-Division

Obstlt. Schmidmann, Horst 22.09.39
Hptm. Koller 17.03.41
Maj. Le Tanneux v. Saint-Paul 05.05.43
Maj. Scholz, Werner 20.04.44
Hptm. d.R. Lenz 1.45 ?

Divisions-Arzt 1.Infanterie-Division

ObstArzt. Forster, Dr. 01.07.37
ObstArzt. Rehber, Dr. Heinz 25.09.39
ObstArzt. Fremd, Dr. -13.09.43 *
ObstArzt. Schulz, Dr. Johannes 13.09.43

* It is unclear to me why the authors use this format.

Kommandeur Feld-Ersatz-Bataillon 1

Maj. Sichart v. Sichartshofen -01.03.44 (KC ’44, KIA ’45)
Hptm. d.R. Brauer 01.03.44
Hptm. Penkwitt 01.06.44
Oblt. Muenzer, Berthold 01.02.45

Kommandeur Infanterie/Grenadier-Regiment 1

Ob. Ott, Eugen 01.01.35 (KC ’42)
Ob. Weiss, Walter 01.01.38 (KC ’41, OL ’44)
Obstlt.Hippler, Bruno 01.08.39 mFb
Ob. Grase, Martin 01.03.40
Ob. Proek, Louis v. 27.12.41
Obstlt. Kutzbach 00.01.44 KIA
Maj. Trautmann, v. 10.11.43, -20.1.44 mFb
Ob. Keussler, v. 27.01.44
Ob. Baurmeister, Hans-Joachim 01.04.44 mFb
Maj. Feudenthaler, Anton 5.44
Maj. Joeres 01.01.45 mFb
Maj. Weissenberg 00.02.45 verwundet

Kommandeur Artillerie-Regiment 1

Ob. Hansen, Christian 01.10.33 (KC ’41)
Ob. Boettcher, Karl 06.10.36
Ob. Weikinn, Bruno 01.04.39
Ob. Muehlmann -02.11.39
Obstlt. Kossack, Walter 02.11.39
Ob. Richtmann 01.06.40
Ob. Weikinn, Bruno 01.10.40
Obstlt. Bockamp, Dipl.Ing. 04.01.43 mFb
Ob. Nagel 15.03.43
Maj. Neubecker, Heinz 1.44 ?
Ob. Drieshen 15.05.44
Obstlt. Pasternack 1.45, 3.45


The Gefechtsbericht for the period 22-29.5.40 is nine single-spaced typed pages long (NARA T-315, Roll 1, Frames 167-175), so I will attempt to summarize it. The facts surrounding the death of Prince Wilhelm were generally these (my apologies for the misspellings of French place names; the original documents are hard to read in places):

At 1500 hours on May 22, 1.I.D. was placed under the control of VIII.Armeekorps and received an order to prepare to cross the river Mons to advance on Valenciennes. The divisional commander, Generalmajor Kleffel, immediately went to the VIII AK HQ. In the meantime, Obstlt. Freiherr von Strachwitz, the Ia for VIII AK, came to 1.I.D. and delivered an order that it should move into the gap between 4.Armee and 6.Armee because the enemy was seeking to break through the gap and create an encirclement.

The regiments were alarmed with the order to prepare to move toward Mons. But just before the first elements got going, an officer from VIII AK delivered a verbal order that the division should advance generally toward Bavay and get on the left of 269.I.D. (under XXVII.Armeekorps) to force a crossing over the “Kanal de l’Lessaut”. Objective: create an obstacle to the enemy’s effort to break through to create a bridgehead, and if possible create bridgeheads to attack in a westerly direction.

The division was split into two columns: on the right, reinforced I.R.22, and on the left the main column, consisting of reinforced I.R.1 in front, and reinforced I.R.43 behind. Meanwhile, the vorausabteilung, in two parts, had reached Givry (the Aufklaerungs Abteilung) and Mons/Sars le Bruyere (Pz.Jaeg.Abt.1). As Pz.Jaeg.Abt.1 continued onward it received strong MG fire from the southwest; however, it reached Bavay at 2300 hours on May 22. Meanwhile, around 2030 hours on May 22, the main column received strong bracketing artillery fire on the Givry/Bavay road, southwest of Givry. As a result, the march group of reinforced I.R.1 temporarily halted in order to swing to the west. The march group of I.R.43 halted according to orders.

Shortly before 2300 hours on May 22 the vorausabteilung of I.R.22 (III./22) was engaged in a hard fight south of Blaregnies. Observation, as well as reports from prisoners, revealed that a strong section of the French 43 Division and the “Festungsbrigade Maubeuge” had joined together and concealed themselves in the area around Queve le Petit and le Grand to attempt a nighttime breakthrough to the west/northwest. I.R.1 and I.R.43 were holding their ground near Givry. The objective of the division now became to attack toward Quevy le Grand, Quevy le Petit, and westwards to encircle the enemy from the north with I.R.1, I.R.43, and the mass of the divisional artillery. I.R.22 would set up a defensive front east and north of Blaregnies.

I.R.1 opened its attack at 0600 hours on May 23. At the same time VIII. AK advised the division of a possible French counterattack from northwest of Valenciennes in a southwesterly direction. 1.I.D. then quickly reached the canal south of Valenciennes with its advance guard. A reconnaissance unit of the 3.Panzer-Division from le Quesney reached the canal shortly thereafter. The attack of I.R.1 destroyed the enemy by 1200 hours. Over a thousand prisoners were taken and about the same numbers of enemy soldiers were killed in this battle.

In the early afternoon of May 23 the division, less the reinforced I.R.1, arrived in the area of Bavay. The divisional vorausabteilung secured the area and reconnoitered in the canal area southwest of Valenciennes. The reconnaissance showed that all of the bridges were blown, on the canal banks were strong enemy positions, outposts on the south banks, and on the side occupied by the Germans, part of the Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler, making an excellent impression. The division commander then ordered an attack in the area of the canal south of Valenciennes with reinforced I.R.22 (including II./I.R.1, but less II./22).

At 2200 hours on May 23 an order from VIII.AK arrived. The order directed 1.I.D. to form on the right of 8.I.D. and deliver an attack in a northwesterly direction early on May 24 to create a bridgehead over the canal. 8.I.D. was to begin its attack at 0600 hours. VIII.AK provided the Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler and M.G. Bataillon 1 to support the attack along the line Wargnies/Crugies and north of Estreux. 1.I.D.’s position was on the canal on both sides of Trith and in front of the main French defensive line, which had in its rear a strong force in an advanced bunker line. The most forward enemy force was connected by telephone cable to the main French defensive line and could observe all movement of the 1.I.D.

The attack of 8.I.D. was supposed to begin at 0600 on May 24; however, 1.I.D. instead received a signal that 8.I.D.’s assault would be delayed 90 minutes, and that 1.I.D. should begin its attack at 0830, or one hour later than that of 8.I.D. Thus, after a concentration of artillery fire between 0830 and 0845 hours, infantry and sections of the 1.I.D.’s Pi.Batl.1 made a crossing, held up however by such heavy machine gun, mortar and rifle fire from barricaded houses on the opposite shore and on the right flank, that the first attack wave was shot down in the middle of the canal. Only two platoons on the right flank made it, clinging to the north shore after stopping a counterattack.

At about 1100 hours on May 24, the commander of I.R.22 (reinforced) reported that the successful continuation of the attack could only be promised after reconnaissance and the subduing of each resistance nest according to a well-prepared plan; adequate preparation for the assault would require about four hours.

After these events, the attack across the canal was called off, and both 1.I.D. and 8.I.D. received new orders that took them elsewhere. In any case, insofar as Prince Wilhelm is concerned, the further actions of 1.I.D. are irrelevant.

Here are the details of the loss report of 1.I.D. for the period 23.5 to 27.5.40:
In this table officers are denoted in parentheses.

Datum Gefallen Verwundet Vermisst Kranke
23.5.40 22 (6) 106 (3) 3 3
24.5.40 70 (2) 163 (4) 13 1
25.5.40 65 (2) 263 (10) 51 3
26.5.40 73 287 (12) 20 1
27.5.40 4 11 (1)

Totals 234 (10) 830 (30) 87 12

Gefallen:

Lt. Graf zu Dohna Stab 1.Div.
Lt. Schmidt I.R.22
Lt. Oellmann I.R.22
Lt. Karusseit I.R.43
Lt. Warkentin I.R.43
Lt. Imhoff I.R.43
Lt. Bouchee Pi.Batl.1
Lt. Reining Pz.Jaeg.Abt.1
Lt. Sydow Pz.Jaeg.Abt.1
Ob.Arzt Dr. Kuehn San.Kp. 2/1

Verwundet:

Major Schulte-Heuthaus I.R.1
Major Wisetzki “
Hptm. Kemsat “
Hptm. Jordan “
Oblt. Prinz Wilhelm v.Pr.(+)” (in hand): gestorben im ----- lazarett Nivelles
Oblt. Goldenbaum “
Oblt. Pallat “
Lt. Heinemann “
Lt. Beel “
Lt. Zerwer “
Lt. Reschke “
Lt. Weiss “
Oblt. Tolsdorf I.R.22
Lt. Kerbstat “
Lt. Geilenberg “
Lt. Lenz “
Major v.Basse I.R.43
Hptm. de la Motte “
Oblt. Alm “
Oblt. v.Ruthendorf “
Oblt. Kinder “
Ob.Mus.Mstr. Michalowski “
Lt. Domnick “
Lt. Schroeder “
Lt. Weller “
Lt. Schmidtke “
Lt. Canders “
Lt. Kunterwald “
Hptm. Zehe A.R.1
Oblt. Hermersdorfer Pi.Batl.1
Oblt. Hurtig “


All the best.

Tom