; let's see a little as it was from the point of view of the ground combat ...................Through Brittany until the conquest of Brest - June 1940.
On June 16, 1940 at 05:00 hours the Command of the 5. Pz moved to its new settlement the Château Neuf in Portmont. The new target of the campaign was the great port of Brest, the beginning of the displacements had been set for 05:45 hours. At 11:00 hours the troops gathered north of the Seine and at 17:00 hours the division began its passage on the bridge. On June 17, 1940 the division pressed for Mayenne. At 07:00 hours departed the vanguard, the Aufkl. Abt. 8 reinforced with antitank and sappers, then the armored Brigade (each armored regiment reinforced with an artillery group), finally the Rifle Brigade; the command of the division at the head of the armored brigade. At 17:00 hours the Aufkl. Abt. 8 arrived at Alençon, which was occupied by the PR 31 that followed behind. The objective of the day, around Mayenne was reached at 21:00 hours.
On June 18, 1940, the advanced to Laudeac, 70 km south of Rennes. The advanced detachment Werner and the armored Brigade by the south route, the Rifle Brigade by the north route. At 12:15 hours the Aufkl. Abt. 8 arrived in Rennes and at 19:30 hours the objective set Laudeac. At 21:00 hours, the Command of the 5th Pz and the PR 31 were there. At 22:00 hours, the Rifle Brigade rested west of Rennes.
On 19 June the advance continued to Brest at 08:00 hours with the same groups and routes of march. At 14:30 hours was found in Landernau the first enemy resistance, a blockade of the viaduct under the railway. After a brief artillery fire the blockade was cleared and the advance continued at 18:00 hours. The division tried to send a parliamentarian towards Brest but the initiative was inhibited by the XV. AK (Mot). Meanwhile the 2. ID (Mot) that advanced to the north of the 5. Pz obtained the surrender of the place by telephone. After passing other blocks, the 2. ID (Mot) marching from the north occupied Brest with a battalion ahead of the Aufkl. Abt. 8. The Command of the XV AK (Mot) ordered the 5. Pz to take over the security of Brest and the coast to the south. The advanced detachment Werner occupied the northeast access of Brest, a battalion of SR 13 St. Divy, a battalion of SR 14 Guipavas and I. / AR 116 in La Foret; the rest of the division in the vicinity of Landernau. At dusk the Command of the 5. Pz entered Brest and settled in the Hotel Continental ..............................
Source: Die Geschichte Der 5 Panzerdivision by Anton Detlev Von Plato.
Greetings. Raul M
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