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Episode 114

This Waffen SS combat footage fits in nicely with part 3 of this series covering the unit which would be come the 2. SS Panzer Division Das Reich.

In part 2 of this series, we saw how the motorized SS Division Reich was champing at the bit for being temporarily held back. Finally on June 26 they were ordered to cross the Soviet border and quickly reached the fortress of Brest-Litowsk. Although fighting inside the fortress continued, Reich passed through the city without incident. The green soldiers had, however, seen evidence of the destruction of the war and were duly impressed. But this would prove to be a mild prelude as what was to come.

Our author, named Kurt, continues in his diary…
We still haven’t fired a shot at the enemy ourselves. Traveling on to the east we pass through Kopek, Hrozow, Puchowiczi and continue all the way up to the Berisina river where we finally stop. We spend the night under the cover of a thick Russian forest. Our only enemy so far has been the Russian flies, which come out in force during the night and drive us nearly crazy. We wrap ourselves in any kind of light cloth including bandages, curtains whatever we can find trying to keep them from our bodies.

July 6th, 1941
We are woken suddenly by the thundering sound of a mighty barrage of German artillery firing salvos over our heads into the Soviet positions on the other side of the river which really represents the beginning of our combat duty. At the town Beriosino, which is completely shot up and a mess, we cross the river in order to relieve a German infantry unit which frees them to continue with their attack.

We are looking at the situational map for July 6th, 1941. The SS Division Reich was part of Army Group Center in the 46 Army Corps that was under the command of General Heinrich von Vietinghoff. Army Corps was positioned here near the city of Pogost on July 6th.

The muscle in the Army Corps was the 10th PzD which had been advancing on the SS Div. Reich’s left flank since the beginning. That division seems to be confronted by a large contingent of enemy formations but the truth is that most were remnants of units that had been badly mauled and were in full retreat.

Now the Remains, or Reste, of the Soviet divisions were being squeezed against the Dnjepr River to the east. Their orders were to attack and keep as much of the enemy from escaping to the east bank of the Dnjepr as possible.

The red arrow to their north represents a desperate Soviet armored counter attack which was meant to relieve pressure on the retreating Soviet units. In order to allow the 10th PzD to continue its attack, the SS Division Reich was ordered to divide. Part of the division would continue east towards the Dnjepr and Kurt’s Regiment would advance on the morning of July 7th into the marshland and protect the 10th PzD’s left flank. It wasn’t possible to travel in the trucks because of the marshy terrain.

We can also see that the soviet 185. and 67. parachute divisions were dropped behind German lines to the south east of Minsk which which is evidence that the counter attack was meant to be more than a relieving action. The Soviets intended to break through the German ring and release the remnants of the 10-12 Soviet divisions that remained the Minsk pocket.

Kurt continues
During the day in pursuit of the enemy we march 40km on foot in the blazing heat through a maze of unending Russian forested and marshy lands. In spite of our rapid pace we’re unable to catch up with the retreating enemy which seems to be moving away as fast as they possibly can.

July 8th
Finally our motor vehicles catch up. We pile in and continue the pursuit up to Oarawonka. The following morning at 2.45 hrs the Russians suddenly attack. Our carefully focused counter fire stops them in their tracks and at 4.00 hrs we go over to the attack. This is the first time the Russians have made me feel uncomfortable. When SS Unterscharführer, or Sergeant, Starik and I pass over a hill looking to make contact with our lead company, a Soviet anti tank gun fires a round just over our heads.

The round passing right next to us making a tremendous whistle and we dive to the ground to take cover. When I lift my head to peer out trying to locate the enemy’s firing position another round wizzes by so closely that my helmet feels as though it’s being sucked right off my head. That must have been really close. A third shot less well aimed rushes past and we quickly decide to turn tail and scamper on hands and knees back to cover. Safe, we both burst out laughing nervously and light cigarettes.

The 30 photographs that the author put into the bound collection are not in chronological order. Clearly the Wehrmacht had no panther tanks in 1941. I have a feeling he just mixed them in with the text and his medals wherever he felt that they would look good.

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