Re: The 6 Pz in 1940.
Posted: Mon Mar 29, 2010 10:32 am
Hello to all ; something more on this unit.......................
Through Belgium and France with a Panzer division – 6 Pz in the west 1940.
Fall Gelb – May of 1940.
Towards the Channel’s coast.
On May 23 of 1940, the 6 Pz went towards Calais when about 06:20 hours it received the order to turn due north; at 10:00 hours the vanguard of the Kampfgruppe von Esebeck, constituted by the AA 6 adopted the new direction of advance. Now the Division was approached towards Kassel, where the Headquarters of the BEF was located at that time. However, the attack foreseen for next day (May 24 of 1940) was finally posponed. In the period stretched from May 23 till may 26 of 1940, the II. /AR 76 (Major Dr. Albrecht Aschoff) marched on St. Omer through Hallines, Wizernes and Arques.
As a result of the order of halting issued by the German High Command, on May 25 of 1940, the division held its positions on the own side of the channel, reason why the Pi Btl 57 took care again of the bridge of Arques only that this time preparing its demolition instead of to prevent it. In this opportunity and while they were prepared the explosive charges, the wooden superstructure of the bridge caught fire, reason why while several soldiers fought the flames, a sergeant ran towards one of the charges which was in danger to detonate due to the fire. While he worked in the maneuver, the explosive detonated throwing the sergeant into the water. The fire finally was extinguished but the wounded man passed away shortly after.
Sources: Artillerie-Regiment 76 - Lexikon der Wehrmacht.htm
Panzer Aces. Chapter 1. Franz Bäke.
The 6th Panzer Division 1937 – 45. Oberst a.D. Helmut Ritgen.
3d Battalion 4th Armored Regiment Forces a Crossing of the Meuse River at Monthermé May 13, 1940. Lieutenant Colonel James Crockett. Military Review Vol XXI, Nº 83.
Diario de una Campaña. Ingenieros “Panzer” a través de Bélgica y Francia. Ingenieros en Combate. Brig General Paul W. Thompson. Círculo Miltar.
PANZER Photo Album. Auction of Historical media 2007. LLC (now expired). Sábado, 25 de Octubre de 2008.
BATTLES IN THE ARDENNES, ON THE MEUSE RIVER AND IN THE MONT-DIEU AREA (10-25th May 1940). David Lehmann
Mit dem K durch Frankreich.
Blitzkrieg Legende. K.H. Fischer.
Cheers. Raúl M .
Through Belgium and France with a Panzer division – 6 Pz in the west 1940.
Fall Gelb – May of 1940.
Towards the Channel’s coast.
On May 23 of 1940, the 6 Pz went towards Calais when about 06:20 hours it received the order to turn due north; at 10:00 hours the vanguard of the Kampfgruppe von Esebeck, constituted by the AA 6 adopted the new direction of advance. Now the Division was approached towards Kassel, where the Headquarters of the BEF was located at that time. However, the attack foreseen for next day (May 24 of 1940) was finally posponed. In the period stretched from May 23 till may 26 of 1940, the II. /AR 76 (Major Dr. Albrecht Aschoff) marched on St. Omer through Hallines, Wizernes and Arques.
As a result of the order of halting issued by the German High Command, on May 25 of 1940, the division held its positions on the own side of the channel, reason why the Pi Btl 57 took care again of the bridge of Arques only that this time preparing its demolition instead of to prevent it. In this opportunity and while they were prepared the explosive charges, the wooden superstructure of the bridge caught fire, reason why while several soldiers fought the flames, a sergeant ran towards one of the charges which was in danger to detonate due to the fire. While he worked in the maneuver, the explosive detonated throwing the sergeant into the water. The fire finally was extinguished but the wounded man passed away shortly after.
Sources: Artillerie-Regiment 76 - Lexikon der Wehrmacht.htm
Panzer Aces. Chapter 1. Franz Bäke.
The 6th Panzer Division 1937 – 45. Oberst a.D. Helmut Ritgen.
3d Battalion 4th Armored Regiment Forces a Crossing of the Meuse River at Monthermé May 13, 1940. Lieutenant Colonel James Crockett. Military Review Vol XXI, Nº 83.
Diario de una Campaña. Ingenieros “Panzer” a través de Bélgica y Francia. Ingenieros en Combate. Brig General Paul W. Thompson. Círculo Miltar.
PANZER Photo Album. Auction of Historical media 2007. LLC (now expired). Sábado, 25 de Octubre de 2008.
BATTLES IN THE ARDENNES, ON THE MEUSE RIVER AND IN THE MONT-DIEU AREA (10-25th May 1940). David Lehmann
Mit dem K durch Frankreich.
Blitzkrieg Legende. K.H. Fischer.
Cheers. Raúl M .