The 262 Infanterie Division during the years of the victory.

[tigre]

Hello to all ; here goes a new little history dealing with the 262 ID during the blitzkrieg in 1939, 1940 and 1941; there is no much writing about it (if nothing) so my interest in post this.............

La 262 in the blitzkrieg years: 1939 to 1941.

1. Organization.

Was raised on Aug 26 1939 as a división of the 4º Wave from the complement units belonging to the WK XVII, being its first Commanding Officer the General der Artillerie Edgar Theißen. It was composed of the following units:

Infanterie-Regiment 462: organized as regiment of the 4º wave with the replacements battalions of the IR 134.

Infanterie-Regiment 482: organized as regiment of the 4º wave with the replacements battalions of the IR 131.

Infanterie-Regiment 486: organized as regiment of the 4º wave with the replacements battalions of the IR 130 and IR 133.

Artillerie-Regiment 262: organized as regiment of the 4º wave with the replacements batteries of the AR 96, 97 and 98.

Pionier-Bataillon 262: organized as battalion of the 4º wave with the replacements companies of the Pi Btl 80.

Panzerjäger-Abteilung 262.

Aufklärungs-Abteilung 262.

Nachrichten-Abteilung 262.

Fuente: Der Kampf um den Maimont. Karl Unold. Festschrift anlässlich des Heimat- und Feuerwehrfestes Petersbächel im Jahre 1977. http://www.walthari-klause.de/Friedenskreuz.htm
http://www.gebueg.de/maimont/index.html
http://www.usmbooks.com
http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gli ... /262ID.htm

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

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

La 262 in the blitzkrieg years: 1939 to 1941.

2. The West Front 1939-1940.

At the beginning of the Second World War, the german population along the border was evacuated behind the westwall. So the inhabitants located in the border villages of Sauertal, Petersbächel, Fischbach, Gebüg, Schönau, Ludwigswinkel and Hirschthal had to leave their loved homeland in hurry from 01 September 1939 onwards, leaving their entire possessions in the uncertain. The border was protected in the outbreak of the war only by a weak, provisional, border guard (Grenzschutz).

At the beginning of November 1939 came from Lower Austria over the Training Ground of Münsingen the 262. Infantry division under General of the artillery Edgar Theisen; it marched to the border area of Pirmasens and so into the Sauertal also. This unit was called also Steffel-division, because it had the tower of the Viennese cathedral of Stephan as its tactical marking. The Commander in Chief of the German Army (Oberbefehlshaber des Heeres), Colonel General von Brauchitsch, visited the 262 ID on December 23 1939 in Dahn; the parade took place before the district court. Hitler also visited the French-German border area at that time and was in Fischbach.

In the Sauertal, the main combat line ran along the Sauer; the line Petersbächel - Ludwigswinkel was the frontline. The whole sauer valley had been flooded. The Westwall shelters, on the MLR at Fischbach, were mostly built only in the winter 1939/40 . The forward OPs were located in the proximity of the border on the Florenberges’ slopes close to the Bayerischen Windstein. The main OP was in a shelter in the Fauner Haardt, at the entrance of the Fauner valley in the proximity of the “Saarbacherhammer".

Fuente: Der Kampf um den Maimont. Karl Unold. Festschrift anlässlich des Heimat- und Feuerwehrfestes Petersbächel im Jahre 1977. http://www.walthari-klause.de/Friedenskreuz.htm
http://www.gebueg.de/maimont/index.html
http://www.usmbooks.com
http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gli ... /262ID.htm

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

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

La 262 in the blitzkrieg years: 1939 to 1941.

3. The Westfeldzug 1940.

Broadly speaking, the Maimont was the most important point in that front’s section. It gave to the opponent an excellent idea of the German landscape and a good view of the German positions from its heights 491 and 512. In the first months of the war, both sides carried out only small reconnaissance patrols, while the artillery zeroed itself on recognized targets. It was very unpleasant for the German soldiers walk around over areas which had mine fields set by the predecessor and without exact plans, this fact led to suffer some casualties.

After a hard winter the spring pulled into the area, and as May 10 dawned, the whole westfront turned out in motion as the German armies unleashed its offensive (Unternehmen Fall Gelb). Thus the Steffel-division received the order of seizing the Maimont. On May 11 1940, the Oberleutnant Schöne was entrusted with the before mentioned tasks in the IR 462. Nobody could sleep during the nights that followed. The assault would be accomplished at dawn on May 13 1940, pentecost’s monday.

Fuente: Der Kampf um den Maimont. Karl Unold. Festschrift anlässlich des Heimat- und Feuerwehrfestes Petersbächel im Jahre 1977. http://www.walthari-klause.de/Friedenskreuz.htm
http://www.gebueg.de/maimont/index.html
http://www.usmbooks.com
http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gli ... /262ID.htm

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

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

La 262 in the blitzkrieg years: 1939 to 1941.

4. The fight by Mount Maimont - May 1940. Height 512.

The hand was getting close to the X-time 05:05 o'clock. Whispering commands were passed on. Noiseless the companies’ combat patrols turned to the mountain. Without artillery preparation, which would alarm the opponent about the coming attack. Taking advantage of the daybreak the German troops wanted the surprise jumping off from the Zollstock as well as from the Wengelsbacher’s gorge towards the objective. Behind the combat patrols followed the pioneers, who were to secure the ground with mines.

The mountain lay in calm in the dawn of that Pentecost’s morning. But suddenly the whole height became alive. The oponent was watchful and did not let surprise themselves. Shots tore up the silence and soon the attackers knocked against the blocking positions and fell under the defensive fire. A combat at a very short range ensued with hails of bullets and hand-granades coming down which open gaps among the german troops.

The fallen soldiers were taken back to the “Main Aid Station”, there the wounded ones received medical care. With determination the attackers won ground and pressed forward. Grey and black columns of smoke poured up through the Maimont’s treetops. After two-hours fight the height 512 was seized and the Maimont’s summit on the Blumensteiner's side was in Germans hands. There 34 French soldiers were taken as prisoners.

Fuente: Der Kampf um den Maimont. Karl Unold. Festschrift anlässlich des Heimat- und Feuerwehrfestes Petersbächel im Jahre 1977. http://www.walthari-klause.de/Friedenskreuz.htm
http://www.gebueg.de/maimont/index.html
http://www.usmbooks.com
http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gli ... /262ID.htm

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

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

La 262 in the blitzkrieg years: 1939 to 1941.

5. The fight by Mount Maimont - May 1940. Height 491.

The fight for the height 491, the Maimont’s summit on the Petersbächel’s side, was more vicious; there stands today the Peace-cross. In the meantime the light and heavy artillery had opened up, unleashing a smoke screen behind the Maimont in order to prevent the opponent to furnish fire support from the Maginot Line located back in the depth. French Mountain troops defended the summit with tenacity and rejected the Germans attackers several times.

The Oberleutnant Schöne, the combat group’s leader reported as follows with regards to the attack: as we were rejected before, I requested fire support from the battalion, which I got from the infantry cannons (IG). Then we tried again but without success. The enemy’s will was not shaken yet in spite of the Maimont’s summit had been shelled heavily; but the shots went to far and over the summit falling behind of it. I requested artillery fires again and at 17:00 hours the last crucial attack went under way, which led us to the success. We worked ourselves under continual machine gun fire and mortar’s shell up to the wire obstacle and cut through it under heavy fire coming from the defensive line. Then we could reach the french positions at last.

After fighting fifteen-hour, the Maimont with its two dominating heights, was firmly in German hands. Another 75 opponents laid down their weapons. Thereby, a fight led with bravery on both sides found its end. In his division’s order on May 14 1940 General Theisen wrote: " The Maimont is taken! I thanks to those that took part in the heavy fight and my acknowledgement for the achievement. Before our fallen comrades we lower the sword. We wish a promptly recovery to the wounded ones.

The wehrmacht report told: With an attack carried out in the Saarfront the Oberleutnant, in an infantry regiment, Hans Schöne with his company stormed a dominating point south of Pirmasens showing outstanding bravery.

How much determination, effort and courage it demanded could only be estimate for those who were there. The fallen german soldires, among them Hauptmann Spoerl, were buried at the cemetery in Rodalben where they still rest today.

Fuente: Der Kampf um den Maimont. Karl Unold. Festschrift anlässlich des Heimat- und Feuerwehrfestes Petersbächel im Jahre 1977. http://www.walthari-klause.de/Friedenskreuz.htm
http://www.gebueg.de/maimont/index.html
http://www.usmbooks.com
http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gli ... /262ID.htm

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

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

The 262 in the blitzkrieg years: 1939 to 1941.

6. The ID 262 during "Fall Rot" - SF Rohrbach, Jun 1940

15 juin 1940.

The ID 262 launched raids and carried out patrols against the French Advanced Posts located between Gros Réderching and Bitche.

Early in the afternoon, one French patrol led by Lt Damour, left the Fort of Rohrbach towards the Advance Post located at the hamlet of Offerding, however the hamlet was already occupied by one German patrol, the lieutenant and one soldier were killed in the fire fight that followed.

At 21:30 the French Advanced Posts’s crews started the withdrawal under cover of fire furnished by the 59 RA.

16 juin 1940

The ID 262 pressed on against Binning. Reconnaissance patrols were sent towards Bettviller, Gising and Gross - Réderching.

Sources: Der Kampf um den Maimont. Karl Unold. Festschrift anlässlich des Heimat- und Feuerwehrfestes Petersbächel im Jahre 1977. http://www.walthari-klause.de/Friedenskreuz.htm
http://www.gebueg.de/maimont/index.html
http://www.usmbooks.com
http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gli ... /262ID.htm
http://casso.fortiff.be/index.php?p=0

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

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

The 262 in the blitzkrieg years: 1939 to 1941.

6. The ID 262 during "Fall Rot" - SF Rohrbach, Jun 1940.

17 jun 1940

The ID 262 could isolate and then encircle the fortified positions. The Fort of Rohrbach opened the fire against one reconnaissance patrol deployed on the hill of Guising; Lt Just was killed and two landsers were severely wounded. At 17:30 Grl Petain called for an Armistice and Grl Guderian’s panzers reached the Swiss border.

19 jun 1940

German troops tried to penetrate along the rail road leading towards the bunker of Bining but were rejected from the Fort of Rohrbach, four landser were taken as POWs. The barrack of Rohrbach was seized by German troops.

Sources: Der Kampf um den Maimont. Karl Unold. Festschrift anlässlich des Heimat- und Feuerwehrfestes Petersbächel im Jahre 1977. http://www.walthari-klause.de/Friedenskreuz.htm
http://www.gebueg.de/maimont/index.html
http://www.usmbooks.com
http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gli ... /262ID.htm
http://casso.fortiff.be/index.php?p=0

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

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

The 262 in the blitzkrieg years: 1939 to 1941.

6. The ID 262 during "Fall Rot" - SF Rohrbach, Jun 1940.

20 juin 1940

During the morning the 262 ID crossed the river Sarre south of Sarreguemines with the IR 482 and IR 486.

At 08:45 A German motorcyclist moved along the road Schmittviller-Etting. Early in the afternoon the first infantry troops took position on the crest located south of Kalhausen.

At 17:40 two cannons occupied position on the road Kalhausen - Oermingen, 1800 meters from the work of Haut Poirier. Grl v. Theissen established his PC at Kalhausen by nightfall.

German troops occupied Rahling and Oermingen, surveying the rear of the fortified positions.

Sources: Der Kampf um den Maimont. Karl Unold. Festschrift anlässlich des Heimat- und Feuerwehrfestes Petersbächel im Jahre 1977. http://www.walthari-klause.de/Friedenskreuz.htm
http://www.gebueg.de/maimont/index.html
http://www.usmbooks.com
http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gli ... /262ID.htm
http://casso.fortiff.be/index.php?p=0

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

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

The 262 in the blitzkrieg years: 1939 to 1941.

6. The ID 262 during "Fall Rot" - SF Rohrbach, Jun 1940.

21 juin 1940

Grl v. Theissen knew that Haut Poirier and Welschhof had not artillery. He set the attack’s hour at 13:00.

At 13:30 the German artillery opened fire against Welschhof with its guns of 150 mm, but were shot at by the guns of Simserhof.

At 15:00 the German artillery started to shell the works of Haut - Poirier. Meanwhile the troops of the IR 486 opened fire with machine guns and paks of 37 mm.

At 17:00 the assault troops carried out a secondary attack for deceiving the defenders. The troops could reach up to the Gros - Réderching graveyard but then were forced to regreat.

At 21:00 the fortified position of Haut - Poirier (the fort itself and 5 bunkers) gave up.

Sources: Der Kampf um den Maimont. Karl Unold. Festschrift anlässlich des Heimat- und Feuerwehrfestes Petersbächel im Jahre 1977. http://www.walthari-klause.de/Friedenskreuz.htm
http://www.gebueg.de/maimont/index.html
http://www.usmbooks.com
http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gli ... /262ID.htm
http://casso.fortiff.be/index.php?p=0

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

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

The 262 in the blitzkrieg years: 1939 to 1941.

6. The ID 262 during "Fall Rot" - SF Rohrbach, Jun 1940.

22 juin 1940

At 09:15 one German patrol against block II (Rohrbach) was rejected, Simserhof opened fire again, the German suffered one dead and three wounded. At 16:00 the German artillery took position west of Singling and shelled the works of Welschhof. The Commanding Officer of the ID 262, Grl v. Theissen called of one infantry attack in order to avoid more casualties. At dusk the village of Rohrbach was shelled.

23 juin 1940

At 08:30 the bunker of singling gave up. The works of Welschhof were bombed with 111 shells of 150 mm.

24 juin 1940

At 05:30 the bunker of Bining gave up after a strong artillery fire. At 10:00 Welschhof gave up. The German could not seize the Fort of Rohrbach before the Armistice.

Sources: Der Kampf um den Maimont. Karl Unold. Festschrift anlässlich des Heimat- und Feuerwehrfestes Petersbächel im Jahre 1977. http://www.walthari-klause.de/Friedenskreuz.htm
http://www.gebueg.de/maimont/index.html
http://www.usmbooks.com
http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gli ... /262ID.htm
http://casso.fortiff.be/index.php?p=0

Next "Barbarossa". Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

Hello to all ; more follows, now Unternehmen Barbarossa.............

The 262 in the blitzkrieg years: 1939 to 1941.

The 262 Infanterie Division in 1941.

In the last third of March 1941 we set in march toward the south to the ground training area of Wischau near Brünn in the Czech (Tschechei). The whole division 262 was on the way. In that spring days the ground still was soft and we sank to the ankles in the sandy clay while marching, 30 to 40 km daily. At night we were in tents and although it was still very fresh, it was good for resting.

In Wischau we carried out some excersices by one week, slept in tents and looked for a warm meal. Subsequently, the 262 ID went again towards our country, nearly on the same way to Upper Silesia.

In the middle of April we were again in Deutsch-Rasselwitz. Here at the old town we have again a few days of a normal service and at night we slept in beautiful and warm beds. Unfortunately it lasted however only some few days. On April 28 1941, in the morning, a short handshake with the people who gave us accomodation; then singing we left the small town of Rasselwitz.

The whole division loosely moved ahead eastwards on foot with the unit train. At night the troops slept in tents. At first it was still quite cool, but then, May came.

Source: Kriegserinnerungen 1939 – 1949 aufgezeichnet von Karl Fischl.

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

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

The 262 in the blitzkrieg years: 1939 to 1941.

The 262 Infanterie Division in 1941.

After several days we reached our first march’s objective in South Poland and north of the Tatra’s Mountains, Neu-Sandetz. We were lodged in Polish barracks there. Daily, sometimes also at night, we carried out exercises, which included river crossings also.

In the middle of May we were set in march again, the 262 ID went eastward through South Poland. It was a poor country, nearly a steppe. Beg or steal was strictly forbidden. After marching several days we reached a larger village named Bobrowa. Here we remained for a couple of weeks. At night we slept in tents in a school garden. A teacher’s family with some children lived there also. Aside of the military training we had to learn some sentences and words in “Russian“. However, nobody was speaking about war yet. No one word about an imminent attack on Russia.

Here in Bobrowa the service was not heavy at all, and even we had often the afternoon free. One day we had to get live ammunition for the machineguns and the rifles. So far we had only a few live cartridges. We were not in enemy's country.

Source: Kriegserinnerungen 1939 – 1949 aufgezeichnet von Karl Fischl.

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

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

The 262 in the blitzkrieg years: 1939 to 1941.

The 262 Infanterie Division in 1941.

On June 17 of 1941, the Division left Bobrowa in southeast direction , close to the Russian border. Now we had to camouflage ourselves. In the evening of 21 of June 1941, our troop leader gathered us and afterwards called our Battalion’s Commander (I./ IR 486) from who we heard:

„MORGEN WIRD DIE DEUTSCHE WEHRMACHT ÜBER DIE GRENZE GEHEN!"

“TOMORROW MORNING THE GERMAN ARMED FORCES ARE GOING OVER THE BORDER! "

It is the instruction of the highest authorities in Berlin that the German soldiers penetrate up to the oil fields located in Iran. Whether the Russian lets us march through in such a way or whether it must take place by the arms’ force, is not certain yet. Soldier! If the Russians' should offer resistance, then our first battalion has the following order: attack across the border and break through to Lemberg. The first daily objective is 35 km deep in the enemy rear. We should not get involved in small fights, which would settle by the second and third battalions. “

We were still 1km before the border. The platoon leaders had been called in the evening to a last meeting and as our platoon leader came back, we were split. Group Harter (to which the author belonged) was assigned to the 3rd Rifle Coy. Again weapons and the machine guns (more excited this time) were checked and then in the calmly night we were holding back close to the border. We crept only over the last few hundred meters and the instructions were whispered. We lay in the readiness area, until the first artillery shot will give us the signal for the attack. The daybreak was coming slowly, maybe in half hour, at 3 o'clock; around 03:15 hours it is to break-loose. We could see already the first Russian border posts. Some riflemen crept near to them. We should support the Infantry which meet heavy resistance with our MG (machine gun) - in such a way we had learned it.

Source: Kriegserinnerungen 1939 – 1949 aufgezeichnet von Karl Fischl.

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

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

The 262 in the blitzkrieg years: 1939 to 1941.

The 262 Infanterie Division in 1941.

There began the war in Russia. Rawa Ruska.

Thus it went under way: With the first shell falling somewhere within or behind the forest, a Russian soldier fell as an hero for his native country. Several shots had met his body, who knows, how many carbines were aimed to him. And with this first order came: „On your feet, go! “and we rushed ahead. Here only was a deep forest and the Infantry which was to deal with the border guards’ remnants, who certainly were in shelters, had a busy time.

I heard the beep of a well camouflaged radio apparatus placed in a fox hole; there still was the radio operator hidden under maps, about 50 m behind the border. - Now the attack went through the forest with little resistance. When we reached a clearing, we already were at the frontier station of Rawa-Ruska. Here a troop transport had just arrived and most of the Russian soldiers still were in the wagons so they were taken as prisoners, however, others could withdraw to the forest’s edge and offered considerable resistance from there.

We had to storm the forest’s edge and there the resistance was more and more intense, hence the infantrymen cried calling: „SMG, SMG!“ (heavy MG, heavy MG). In such a way it went nearly all day long and we had a lot of work to do. Finally, when we could break into the Rawa-Ruska’s forest, the engagements became even more violents and soon the hostile bullets came from all directions, particularly from the shelters of a line of defense, which could not tear off yet. Here we took our first losses by wounds and death. For us however the fallen will live for ever!. And already on the first day we often had to dig holes, so that we could get some cover.

Source: Kriegserinnerungen 1939 – 1949 aufgezeichnet von Karl Fischl.

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

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

The 262 in the blitzkrieg years: 1939 to 1941.

The 262 Infanterie Division in 1941.

Rawa Ruska.

However this first day became even worse. This 22 June 1941 was Sunday and in addition a very hot summer day. The sun stood highly over us as we were fighting without a pause. Soon the thirst tormented us and although it was forbidden due to health risks, we drank a sip from a puddle or a ditch.

We saw the 2. Company on an open meadow crossing a large brook to our left; there they fell into the field of fire of some hostile bunkers. There we saw the cruel war for the first time. There were many dead and wounded. Within the forest we crossed again the railway running from Rawa-Ruska to Lemberg.

At 13:00 hours we had reached half of the way towards our objective, and there we could not get ahead anymore.

Source: Kriegserinnerungen 1939 – 1949 aufgezeichnet von Karl Fischl.

Cheers. Raúl M .