Incidents from the battle of france 1940.

[tigre]

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

The Attack on Festieux and the March to the Aisne; 20 May 1940.

By 10:00 AM, the 5th Company arrived at Courtrizy, finding the village clear of hostile troops, and established outposts. Two squads had orders to advance to the Reims road. Moving forward, they drew dmchine-gun and rifle fire from the south, the direction of the Reims road. However, the opponent withdrew shortly. An antitank gun of the 14th Company (antitank company) arrived and was directed to establish cover against hostile tanks at the Reims road. As the two squads reached the road, the antitank gun clashed with hostile tanks (four 18-ton tanks, and armored car and an armored ammunition carrier) that had driven up from the direction of Festieux, following the trail which leads through the woods just south of the Reims mad. Replying to the fire, of the hostile tanks, the antitank gun shortly was caught between tire from several directions and its crew killed. The hostile tanks continued to fire for a while on the security, elements along the edge of the woods and then turned back toward Festieux, driving along the Reims road. (Festieux is about 4 1/2 kilometers southeast of Eppes.).

That moment, a second antitank gun — which the company commander had ordered forward, as soon as he learned that hostile tanks were present - reached the position of the two squads and was directed to a favorable location.

Sources: Fotoalbum Frankreich 1940 Infanterie Regiment 75. Martes, 19 de Octubre de 2010, 20:42:16
The Attack on Festieux by the 5th Company, 75th Infantry, and the March to the Aisne, 20 May 1940. Foreign Military Digests. Oct 1941.
Private Sales List-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 5 - 5. Infanterie-Division. Historical Media. ábado, 20 de Noviembre de 2010, 14:54:38.

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

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

The Attack on Festieux and the March to the Aisne; 20 May 1940.

The six armored vehicles of the enemy immediately turned about and resumed their attack on the security elements. The armored car and one of the 18-ton tanks were destroyed by the antitank gun and the armored ammunition carrier demolished at close range by two hand grenades. The other three hostile tanks escaped toward Festieux.

By that time the 5th Company was displaced as follows: One platoon was placed along the edge of the woods just north of the Reims road, front facing south. Two platoons were strung out in the woods southeast of Festieux; one of them occupying the part north of the Reims road, the other that on the south side of the road, both facing Festieux. The company CP, with a machine-gun squad and a heavy mortar squad, was set up close to the location of the platoon on the south side of the road. While the antitank gun remained in its position, the antitank rifle (Panzerbuchse) went into position close to the road.

Sources: Fotoalbum Frankreich 1940 Infanterie Regiment 75. Martes, 19 de Octubre de 2010, 20:42:16
The Attack on Festieux by the 5th Company, 75th Infantry, and the March to the Aisne, 20 May 1940. Foreign Military Digests. Oct 1941.
Private Sales List-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 5 - 5. Infanterie-Division. Historical Media. ábado, 20 de Noviembre de 2010, 14:54:38.

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

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

The Attack on Festieux and the March to the Aisne; 20 May 1940.

At 1:00 PM the company commander observed, on the road approaching Festieux from the north, a long column of hostile motorized forces, including motorcycles, armored cars, trucks and ten 18-ton tanks. Immediately he ordered the heavy mortar squad and heavy machine-gun squad to open fire on the hostile vehicles now deploying at the north entrance of Festieux. The effect of the mortar shell, fired at a range of 1,300 yards, was terrific.

The enemy was a mass of confusion. Some vehicles tried to escape. Three tanks left hurriedly; the other seven, a motorcyclist in the lead, made a dash against the reinforced 5th Company whose position was favorable. The motorcyclist was shot down immediately. The leading tank was destroyed by the fire of the antitank gun, as it was about to penetrate the line of the company. The next tank met the same fate. The remaining five tanks turned back into the direction of Festieux; while one of them went up in flames shortly before reaching the village, its crew escaped.

Sources: Fotoalbum Frankreich 1940 Infanterie Regiment 75. Martes, 19 de Octubre de 2010, 20:42:16
The Attack on Festieux by the 5th Company, 75th Infantry, and the March to the Aisne, 20 May 1940. Foreign Military Digests. Oct 1941.
Private Sales List-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 5 - 5. Infanterie-Division. Historical Media. ábado, 20 de Noviembre de 2010, 14:54:38.

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

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

The Attack on Festieux and the March to the Aisne; 20 May 1940.

Four hostile armored cars now could be seen approaching Festieux from the north. At the same time, the main body of an antitank company arrived at the CP of the 5th Company on the Reims road and immediately opened fire with all available guns at 2,000-yard range. Although the Armored cars suffered but slight damage, the crews deserted their vehicles and fled on foot.

At 3:30 PM, the commander of the reinforced 5th Company decided to launch an assault on Festieux. By 16:15 hours, the company was in position to attack from the east.

The ensuing assault met with little resistance, offered by individual riflemen. The greater part of the enemy was taken prisoner. The four armored cars and a large number of motor vehicles fell into the hands of the assault troops. So far there were no casualties on the German side.

Sources: Fotoalbum Frankreich 1940 Infanterie Regiment 75. Martes, 19 de Octubre de 2010, 20:42:16
The Attack on Festieux by the 5th Company, 75th Infantry, and the March to the Aisne, 20 May 1940. Foreign Military Digests. Oct 1941.
Private Sales List-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 5 - 5. Infanterie-Division. Historical Media. ábado, 20 de Noviembre de 2010, 14:54:38.

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

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

The Attack on Festieux and the March to the Aisne; 20 May 1940.

The battalion commander meanwhile had received orders to reach the Oise-Aisne Canal at and southeast of Braye-en-Laonnois that same evening. When the battalion took up the advance, it was still without news of the situation on its right and left. Tank and flank attacks could be expected momentarily.

The grass to the right of the road was still bent to the ground, evidence that the French troops had just departed. The fire in a deserted fireplace was still smoldering. Suddenly the commander of the leading echelon of the battalion shouted a warning: a barrier of timber, planks and trees was blocking the road. The officer thought he had seen a movement. Bringing the antitank gun into position was a matter of seconds; a shot rang out and swept a part of the barrier out of the way. Not a sign of life was behind it.

Sources: Fotoalbum Frankreich 1940 Infanterie Regiment 75. Martes, 19 de Octubre de 2010, 20:42:16
The Attack on Festieux by the 5th Company, 75th Infantry, and the March to the Aisne, 20 May 1940. Foreign Military Digests. Oct 1941.
Private Sales List-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 5 - 5. Infanterie-Division. Historical Media. ábado, 20 de Noviembre de 2010, 14:54:38.

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

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

The Attack on Festieux and the March to the Aisne; 20 May 1940.

The orders were to reach the objective by daylight, though feet were tired and eyes smarting from the dust. Passing through Chamouille, the battalion reached a crossroads. The road sign pointed to the Chemin des Dames, Ailette, Cerny. The battalion marched on through the valley without securing its flanks, heedless of any enemy that might be lurking in the hills on the right and left, As if by some miracle, the advance encountered no interference, however. The retreating French forces had left the village behind them in a state of pillage and destruction.

A wide paved highway extends through the valley of the Ailette and leads toward the dominating broad ridge along the Chemin des Dames. To the right and left of that road, hardly a spot of ground is left that was not plowed under several times during the World War. Not a single large tree with a real trunk can be seen far and wide. Roots have come to life again and the stumps grown into bushes. The old shell holes by the side of the road are filled with murky water. Over to the right, there lies an old trench, its walls collapsed, and in front of it a rusty wire entanglement.

Sources: Fotoalbum Frankreich 1940 Infanterie Regiment 75. Martes, 19 de Octubre de 2010, 20:42:16
The Attack on Festieux by the 5th Company, 75th Infantry, and the March to the Aisne, 20 May 1940. Foreign Military Digests. Oct 1941.
Private Sales List-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 5 - 5. Infanterie-Division. Historical Media. ábado, 20 de Noviembre de 2010, 14:54:38.

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

Hello to all ; the end..................

The Attack on Festieux and the March to the Aisne; 20 May 1940.

Were the French asleep? Why had they decided to give up this vital bridge without firing a shot? Certainly they remembered its importance from the days of the World War. When the advance guard of the battalion arrived at the foot of the Chemin des Dames, the sun had been down for an hour. The battalion continued its march up the winding road to Cerny. The sound of machine-gun fire could he heard in the distance. As the advance guard entered the village, a shot rang out from a house, with five or six more shots -following in rapid succession. A squad immediately went into action, beat down doors to search buildings, when a lone French soldier appeared—evidently asleep while his comrades left.

Still the battalion kept marching on. At 22:00 hours, the companies branched off into their respective company zones. Signal elements followed them, prepared to establish telephone communication at a moment’s notice. French artillery was not ready to open fire, or failed to notice the approach of the battalion in the dark. It was able to cross the barren slope along the Chemin des Dames without interference. “Forward” was the password of the day; every step forward meant that much more ground gained, ground which it would not he necessary the next day to wrest from the hostile artillery.

Sources: Fotoalbum Frankreich 1940 Infanterie Regiment 75. Martes, 19 de Octubre de 2010, 20:42:16
The Attack on Festieux by the 5th Company, 75th Infantry, and the March to the Aisne, 20 May 1940. Foreign Military Digests. Oct 1941.
Private Sales List-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 5 - 5. Infanterie-Division. Historical Media. ábado, 20 de Noviembre de 2010, 14:54:38.

It's all folks. Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

Hello to all ; here goes a new incident

The Case Kolrep.

Horst Kolrep was born on February 28, 1909 in Magdeburg; he completed his Abitur in 1928. In 1933 Leutnant der Landespolizei. In 1935 he was transferred to the Army, to the IR 82. At the beginning of World War II Company Leader in the IR 497. Wounded in 1941 was moved to the Head of inspection and then to the School of Infantry in Döberitz. In 1944 he held the rank of Oberstleutnant and was Commander of one Regiment in Russia; he was wounded a second time, suffering the amputation of a leg. Iron Cross 1st Class. After the war he was a manager in the British "Civil Advice Bureau" at Osterode. Married with three daughters of 12, 11 and 1 year.

In the summer of 1947 Oberstleutnant Horst Kolrep was arrested at his home by French military police and placed under arrest in Minden; six weeks afterwards he was taken to Metz. On October 26, 1950 was sentenced to death by the French military court of Lille, allegedly for having active participation in war crimes during the 1940 campaign and finally executed on June 1, 1951.

Source: Offizier, Bürgermeister und Europäer: Vom patriotischem Offizier zum ...Ralf Anton Schäfer, Kurt Schwerdt.

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

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

The Case Kolrep.

But, how it was the situation?.

In late May 1940 the German troops had reached the area of ​​Lille on their way to the Channel coast. In that situation Kolrep division (267 ID) was deployed around Lille in order to fulfil security tasks. In that region in a few days had been killed seven German soldiers by the guerrillas and even a greater number were wounded. The division had ordered the search for weapons in the town of Courrières.

In the house of the widow Carlier two rifles were found with signs of having been fired recently. The young Carlier had shot German soldiers with one of them. Hauptmann Kolrep (then Company Leader in the IR 497) established a military court that condemned to death the young Carlier and then informed the regiment and the division. Then following orders of the battalion (Oberstleutnant Hölscher), Hauptmann Kolrep ordered to burn all the houses in which weapons were found. Kolrep also was responsible for hanging three French civilians who were found with weapons in hand. The presiding judge was the then Leutnant Heggels who later was killed by the resistance.

Source: Offizier, Bürgermeister und Europäer: Vom patriotischem Offizier zum ...Ralf Anton Schäfer, Kurt Schwerdt.

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

Hello to all ; the end......................

The Case Kolrep.

But all was not so linear ..................

Although some French, who had been acquitted on that occasion by the Heggels' court stated that Kolrep had not been the responsible of it and he was not even in Courrires on that date, the French military Court stated that Kolrep had been guilty of killing French civilians without having carried out a trial and further stated that at that time there was no resistance in France. With trivial pretexts or for no reason, 97 French civilians were killed in four villages of the region and Kolrep had taken part in such actions.

A witness for the company Kolrep, then Uffz. Jacob who served as acting squad leader stated that Kolrep had acted arbitrarily and had not made ​​any court nor reported the fact to the battalion. But Uffz. Jacob was not an impartial witness, as Kolrep was reported in opportunity that the witness (who was a leader of the NSDAP) did not fulfill conditions for being promoted to officer and Jacob never got that promotion. Moreover the Kolrep company and Jacob were not on that date (May 26, 1940) in Courrires but at Estrée, reaching Courrières only on May 28, 1940 when the II. / IR 497 was given the task of reaching Courrières and raking the area in search of French guerrillas who had fired at German soldiers some 2 or 3 days ago.

Kolrep was a scapegoat after all?......................

Source: Offizier, Bürgermeister und Europäer: Vom patriotischem Offizier zum ...Ralf Anton Schäfer, Kurt Schwerdt.

It's all folks. Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

Hello to all ; another short story.......................

Hauptmann Albert Brachat.

He was born on 27.03.1915 in Hilzingen; later in the war he was severely wounded in the eastern front and died on 14.08.1943 in the field hospital located east of Karachev.

Something unusual was that he received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 04.07.1940, as a sergeant what was not necessarily the rule. (1./Inf. Rgt 14). Here are some details of the actions that led to receive the award .............

It is the morning of June 9, 1940. In the northeast of the Chemin des Dames, it begins to dawn. The clear and cloudless skies promises a hot summer day. Under the early morning fog in the valley beyond the Aisne, all is calm. For an hour the company is ready to attack; the 1. Company will be the main effort.

Everything is ready, we wait. There are still thirty minutes to go. The thoughts go back to the last weeks and days. Only a month had passed since we had begun the march, and the progress became a trench war. Nearly three weeks and we are between the Aisne and the Chemin des Dames, in a landscape that still retains vestiges of the First World: heroes' War cemeteries, abandoned positions and many grenades' craters.

Sources: http://www.forum-der-wehrmacht.de/thread.php?threadid=14718&hilight=Hauptmann+Brachat
http://forum.thiazi.net/showthread.php?t=129644&page=3
Der angriff über die Aisne. Die 5 Jäger-Division. Adolf Reinicke.
Fotoalbum Frankreich 1940 Infanterie Regiment 75. Martes, 19 de Octubre de 2010, 20:42:16

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

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

Hauptmann Albert Brachat.

Beyond the Aisne, the opponent works constantly and tirelessly on the other side. Every day we see progress in their defensive positions. The question that arises within us was, they will stand in place, because France had declared war on us. His current behavior suggests that it will. Their infantry actually behave calmly, but very alert. The hostile artillery shoot quickly and well. Last night just before dark, shortly after occupying the area of readiness, the enemy unleashed a surprise fire with heavy artillery. There were losses. In the town, in the rear, a house catches fire. Flashes and roar of explosions of infantry ammunition stored there, but then there was silence again.

At night, the companies transported their equipment, ammunition and rubber boats to the shore of the Aisne. It is clear that so far, nobody seems to have realized the situation.

Sources: http://www.forum-der-wehrmacht.de/thread.php?threadid=14718&hilight=Hauptmann+Brachat
http://forum.thiazi.net/showthread.php?t=129644&page=3
Der angriff über die Aisne. Die 5 Jäger-Division. Adolf Reinicke.
Fotoalbum Frankreich 1940 Infanterie Regiment 75. Martes, 19 de Octubre de 2010, 20:42:16

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

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

Hauptmann Albert Brachat.

The crossing.

At 05:00 hours with a thunderous roar started the fire of preparation unleashed by the German artillery. Above the heads of the soldiers flew mortar shells towards enemy positions, while it could be listening the rattle of the heavy machine guns.

At 05:30 hours began the crossing of the two front-line companies of the battalion. It was intense defensive fire from enemy artillery on the north bank and to the right on a bend in the river where it crossed the 1. Company, fired a French machine gun which remained invisible in the dense undergrowth growing on the shore. Disregarding the enemy fire, group after group venture across the river. A dinghy after another is destroyed.

Sources: http://www.forum-der-wehrmacht.de/thread.php?threadid=14718&hilight=Hauptmann+Brachat
http://forum.thiazi.net/showthread.php?t=129644&page=3
Der angriff über die Aisne. Die 5 Jäger-Division. Adolf Reinicke.
Fotoalbum Frankreich 1940 Infanterie Regiment 75. Martes, 19 de Octubre de 2010, 20:42:16

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

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

Hauptmann Albert Brachat.

The crossing.

Soon the company Leader, Oberleutnant Luther, with some of his men were on the other side, fighting against snipers and machine guns firing from all sides as they went into the forest, allowing the crossing of the rest of his company and then, all the battalion. The first prisoners began to arrive dazed and without understanding what happens on the river bank. Then the company hit an enemy strong point just before the canal - this position was a key ones to the enemy's defense - several machine guns unleashed a withering fire at short distance upon the attackers.

The first bursts knocked down the Company leader, Oberleutnant Luther and with him fell also Leutnant Fezer and Uffz. Stumpp. Under intense fire from an invisible enemy coming from all sides, including the top of the trees, the casualties of the company were multiplied. Even the guards of the prisoners were wounded. The French took advantage of this situation in order to escape, rearm and resume the fight behind the Germans's back . It was really a hell.

Sources: http://www.forum-der-wehrmacht.de/thread.php?threadid=14718&hilight=Hauptmann+Brachat
http://forum.thiazi.net/showthread.php?t=129644&page=3
Der angriff über die Aisne. Die 5 Jäger-Division. Adolf Reinicke.
Fotoalbum Frankreich 1940 Infanterie Regiment 75. Martes, 19 de Octubre de 2010, 20:42:16

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

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

Assault across the Aisne - Jun 1940.

The crossing.

In this situation, in the fog, with no connection to rear, with an invisible enemy far superior, Feldwebel Brachat assumed command of the company. Even wounded, fought against the pockets of resistance and also guarded and supplied to the wounded men, preventing further losses. When later, to the left, the Battalion's 2. Company under Hauptmann Goedecke advanced up to the level of the 1. Company, Feldwebel Brachat led the rest of his company back to the battalion, which meanwhile had penetrated to the banks of the canal, where they could help in a firefight, at the crossing point by the canal. He and his men have broken the resistance and the fighting spirit of the enemy, contributing significantly to the success of the attack. At 16:00 hours the 1. / IR 14 also crossed the Aisne Canal.

For this action and his leadership qualities, Feldwebel Brachat was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, something extremely rare for an infantry sergeant.

The aftermath.

The 14 Infantry Regiment lost during the crossing:

KIA: 3 officers, 45 NCOs and soldiers

WIA: 3 officers, 101 NCOs and troops.

While the Pi Btl 5 suffered 11 KIA and 19 WIA.

Sources: http://www.forum-der-wehrmacht.de/threa ... nn+Brachat
http://forum.thiazi.net/showthread.php?t=129644&page=3
Der angriff über die Aisne. Die 5 Jäger-Division. Adolf Reinicke.
Fotoalbum Frankreich 1940 Infanterie Regiment 75. Martes, 19 de Octubre de 2010, 20:42:16

It's all folks. Cheers. Raúl M .