SUPPORT THE CHANNEL and get access to exclusive film footage
www.Patreon.com/Military1945
Episode 118
This footage from the Summer of 1941 goes well with Part 5 of the series covering the 20th PzD. To this point we’ve seen how the division played a key role as part of Panzer Group 3 in the opening weeks of Barbarossa. Using prime historical sources including this original folder containing reports about the actions of formations in the Panzer Group I’ll use situational maps, and associated film footage to continue with the units history. At the end of the film I’ve added more from the 1943 German tank training film so stick around, it’s worth it.
This is an original directory of the 3rd Panzer-Group containing information about the individual divisions in each of its Corps through mid 1942. The HH logo at the bottom stands for General Herman Hoth, the leader of the Panzer group. In addition, Army Group Center had Panzer-Group 2 which was lead by General Heinz Guderian. This is a good time to thank my Patreon supporters who make the production of these videos possible. If you are not a Patreon supporter please consider becoming one. Supporters get regular access to exclusive material.
The 20. PzD was lead by Major General Horst Stumpff. In October of 1942 command of the division would be handed over to Ritter von Thoma. An interesting side note is that later in the war, after being captured and in British captivity von Thoma spoke openly to other prisoners about the V1 and V2 programs and the testing at Penemunde. The information turned out to be quite useful to the allies.
This wonderful private footage comes from a 1941 collection of material taken by a soldier that was part of a recon unit in the 20th PzD. Some of the footage in reels is actually in color.
In the opening phase of the war agains the Soviet Union the 20th had been involved in the capture of Vilnius and participation in the double battle of Bialystok and Minsk.
Using original situational maps from the official German High Command war diary we can see how these operations progressed.
This is the situational map for June 23, just the second day of battle in Russia. The 20th PzD at the tip of the spearhead advances encountering little organized resistance into Lithuania.
The following day almost unopposed the division moves into the capital Vilnius. Then over the next few days and together with the other armored formations the 20th is ordered to immediately continue east towards Minsk with the intention of putting the lid on what would become the Bialystok Minsk Pocket.
On July 8th the crossing had been made.
After a forced march of 62 hours which covered 400 km and encountered little resistance the 20th PzD arrived to the Duna River just across from Ulla. The taking of this key city would put the city of Witebsk within easy striking distance. But it was the rockets from the Nebelwerfer Regiment 51 that would clear the way for the river crossing made on July 8th.
After intense combat including the use of the special Brandenburger forces, the city of Witebsk was finally secured by the attacking Wehrmacht units on July 10. At the end of this video there are links to videos cover the units I’ve mentioned here.
This great private footage is of the 51st Neberlwerfer/ or rocket launcher regiment as it racing east to towards the Duna River to support the 20th PzD with the Ulla crossing. Notice it HH logo which identifies the unit as part of Panzer Group 3.
And now here is more of the Panzer Training film that was produced in occupied Poland in 1943. Thanks for watching.
