Ostpreußen (Wehrkreis I) panzer units in 1938-1939

[tigre]

Hello to all ; more follows about the PR 7...........................

The Panzer Regiment 7 - Mlawa Sep 1939.

Fall Weiss.

Continuing the attack on September 4 of 1939, the whole Group Steiner moved toward Ciechanow. The 6. / PR 7 reinforced an SS rifle company which blocked a road that ran from Mlawa, because it was expected an attempt to breakthrough there, but the Polish forces were dispersed by artillery fire. An attack on the back of a Polish division did not took place and the II. / PR 7 was directed to Przasnysz; light tanks of the Regiment Command and the I. / PR 7 carried out a reconnaissance towards Drazdzewo and were beaten by Polish anti-tank weapons, losing 3 vehicles.

At 10:00 hours an alarm was received as a Polish infantry division was retreating by Wierzbowka Wola. The I. / PR 7 was alerted but it was not employed. The I. / PR 7 (reinforced) as part of the group Kleinheisterkamp marched by Krasnosielc to Rozan on September 4, 1939 at 18:00 hours. The I. / PR 7 had available for its employment: 25 Pz Kw I, 20 Pz Kw II, 1 Pz Kw III and 5 Pz Kw IV. Krasnocielsk was reached during the night without contact with the enemy.

Sources: Mlawa 1939. W Zalewski y A. Aksamitowski.
http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gli ... /PR7-R.htm
Wydawnictwo Militaria 202 SS Verfugungstruppen 1939.
http://www.ziemiamielecka.pl/stara/pras ... 4ndipn.pdf
A Motorized Reconnaissance Detachment in the Polish Campaign. Wint Brandt.

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

Hello to all ; more follows...........................

The Panzer Regiment 7 - Mlawa Sep 1939.

Fall Weiss.

The bridge over the river Orcyc had been blown and the sappers had to build a temporary one. On September 5, 1939 the PR 7 marched by Sielun towards the little fortress of Rozan. The I. / PR 7 was to conquer that goal with some elements of the SS-IR "Deutschland". After overcoming the swampy region of Rozan, the Abteilung took its readiness area with many challenges after overcoming many obstacles and at 14:00 hours went on to the attack with kampfgruppe Kleinheisterkamp. The action was supported by the fire unleashed by an artillery group of 105 mm, two batteries of 150 mm and a battery of 100 mm.

Sources: Mlawa 1939. W Zalewski y A. Aksamitowski.
http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gli ... /PR7-R.htm
Wydawnictwo Militaria 202 SS Verfugungstruppen 1939.
http://www.ziemiamielecka.pl/stara/pras ... 4ndipn.pdf
A Motorized Reconnaissance Detachment in the Polish Campaign. Wint Brandt.

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

Hello to all ; more follows...........................

The Panzer Regiment 7 - Mlawa Sep 1939.

Fall Weiss.

During the attack Maj. von Gersdorff directed the artillery fire because it was not possible to establish advanced observation posts. The forts 1 to 3 were quickly silenced by anti-tank cannon fire. Suffering few casualties the infantry advance progressed well up to fort No. 3 but on reaching the fort No. 4 there were reactivated the other forts which had not been cleared and the attack was stopped before a heavy defensive fire from the front, flank and rear. The number of tanks was reduced even more, especially by mechanical failures in the Pz Kw I and II; the Pz Kw IV ran out of ammunition and without a promise of success, the attack was called off at 19:00 hours. It were lost about 20 tanks and the Abteilung had for the time being, 29 armored in service.

Sources: Mlawa 1939. W Zalewski y A. Aksamitowski.
http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gli ... /PR7-R.htm
Wydawnictwo Militaria 202 SS Verfugungstruppen 1939.
http://www.ziemiamielecka.pl/stara/pras ... 4ndipn.pdf
A Motorized Reconnaissance Detachment in the Polish Campaign. Wint Brandt.

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

Hello to all ; more follows...........................

The Panzer Regiment 7 - Mlawa Sep 1939.

Fall Weiss.

In the night from 05 to 06 of September, 1939 the defenders of Rozan withdrew and did not have time to destroy the vital bridge over the Narew, which fell intact into the German hands. The town was completely burned and abandoned. Due to the large number of tanks out of service, the companies of the I. / PR 7 had to be reorganized.

On the afternoon of September 08, 1939 the Kampfgruppe Steiner reinforced by the II. / PR 7 (minus its 8. Company) continued its progress in east direction; the group's mission was to advance on Sniadowo, about 20 kilometers south of Lomza and block the road Lomza - Ostrow Mazowiecka there. Passing by Goworowo - Suchcice on the night of September 08, 1939, they reached the road Ostrolenka - Czerwin with little contact with the enemy. On September 09, 1939 the progress continued by Laski toward Sokolow, the bridge over the Orz had been blown and the river was crossed by a ford. In the evening were conquered Nadbory and the heights north of the town.

Sources: Mlawa 1939. W Zalewski y A. Aksamitowski.
http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gli ... /PR7-R.htm
Wydawnictwo Militaria 202 SS Verfugungstruppen 1939.
http://www.ziemiamielecka.pl/stara/pras ... 4ndipn.pdf
A Motorized Reconnaissance Detachment in the Polish Campaign. Wint Brandt.

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

Hello to all ; last part...........................

The Panzer Regiment 7 - Mlawa Sep 1939.

Fall Weiss.

On September 10, 1939 the Steiner Group issued the following order: at dawn the group was to break contact with the enemy, then it was to withdraw by Nadbory - Laski towards the road Lomza - Ostrow Mazowiecka and there it was to cross the Bug in order to beat the retreating Polish army. On September 10 the I. / PR 7 met the Group Kleinheisterkamp in Suchice and after crossing the River Bug by Brok moved towards Lipki, a town that was reached during the night without contact with the enemy.

On September 11, 1939 the Steiner Group reinforced by the II. / PR 7 (minus its 8. Company) advanced from Lipki by Maydan - Paplin to Węgrów.

Sources: Mlawa 1939. W Zalewski y A. Aksamitowski.
http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gli ... /PR7-R.htm
Wydawnictwo Militaria 202 SS Verfugungstruppen 1939.
http://www.ziemiamielecka.pl/stara/pras ... 4ndipn.pdf
A Motorized Reconnaissance Detachment in the Polish Campaign. Wint Brandt.

It's all folks. Cheers. Raúl M .