1. Infanterie Division help?

[Schaefer76]

Thanks a lot

[tigre]

Hello to all ; a little complement.....................

The Infanterie Regiment 1 - France 1940.

With Prince William and the 11. / IR 1 in the Western Campaign.

The Company in running order.

Through the Reich.

May 10, 1940, by several months the company was stationed in the beautiful city of Wuppertal, where we had regained our shape after the wear suffered in the Polish campaign. Early in the morning the company had left its bivouac in order to take part in an exercise within the framework of the IR 1 (Oberst Grase), but soon came the alarm by telephone; the company suspended its operations and was prepared to march towards the west, none knew whether we'll come back or not.

Shortly after the alarm the company was ready to leave. Here were all our friends, women, girls, boys who gave us flowers, chocolate and cigarettes and we parted with a "safe return". Proud we move singing for the last time through the streets of Wuppertal.

Through Mettman the march proceeded by Düsseldorf-Gerresheim. Five kilometer away, in Eller, a suburb of Düsseldorf we sleep for the first time in this new campaign.

Sources: 1. Infanteriedivision, 23.05. 1940, von Tycowicz, Rudolf, „Das Infanterie-Regiment 1“, München, 1966.
Wittrien, Ernst, „Vier Stunden lang im schwersten Feuer – vor 45 Jahren fiel Prinz Wilhelm von Preussen an der Spitze der 11. Kompanie des Infanterie-Regiments 1“, Ostpreussenblatt Nr. 24, 15. Juni 1985
http://www.instahlgewittern.com/2010/09 ... ussia.html

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

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

The Infanterie Regiment 1 - France 1940.

With Prince William and the 11. / IR 1 in the Western Campaign.

The Company in running order.

Through the Reich.

On May 11, 1940 at 15:00 hours, the company continued the march for Oberkassel to Mönchengladbach. We feel a strange feeling when we crossed the Rhine by the great bridge of Skagerrack. When midnight came, the enemy sent its aircraft which first launched flares looking for its goals and then came the bombs, however, the antiaircraft guns kept them at a good height. We slept in a school.

On May 12, 1940 it was distributed the live ammunition and the mouth covers of the gun's tube disappeared into the pockets. At 14:00 hours the march continued to Rheindahlen and then towards Geilenkirchen. In Süggerath, a small town just before Geilenkirchen, the troops spent the last night on German soil.

Sources: 1. Infanteriedivision, 23.05. 1940, von Tycowicz, Rudolf, „Das Infanterie-Regiment 1“, München, 1966.
Wittrien, Ernst, „Vier Stunden lang im schwersten Feuer – vor 45 Jahren fiel Prinz Wilhelm von Preussen an der Spitze der 11. Kompanie des Infanterie-Regiments 1“, Ostpreussenblatt Nr. 24, 15. Juni 1985
http://www.instahlgewittern.com/2010/09 ... ussia.html

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

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

The Infanterie Regiment 1 - France 1940.

With Prince William and the 11. / IR 1 in the Western Campaign.

The following night, from 13 to 14 May , 1940, very early at 03:30 hours the unit crossed the border into Holland by Gangelt and marched through the southern end of Dutch soil, and at 06:20 hours on May 14 of 1940, the IR 1 set foot in Belgium.

The IR 1 had a long road ahead yet, but the situation remained quiet; by Berg the regiment crossed the River Meuse through a temporary bridge. Here could be observed the first traces of the war, burned down houses, destroyed pillboxes, weapons abandoned by the enemy. In Asch the unit enjoyed a short break of one hour. Netherland had capitulated and the news spread like wildfire among the troops. We had already gone 55 kilometers but the news gave us strength to go another 10 or 20 kilometers. We marched singing through the small town of Sledderloo. It was 14:00 hours and the sun burned the skin, but we were happy to rest again. The troops were dead tired but calm.

Sources: 1. Infanteriedivision, 23.05. 1940, von Tycowicz, Rudolf, „Das Infanterie-Regiment 1“, München, 1966.
Wittrien, Ernst, „Vier Stunden lang im schwersten Feuer – vor 45 Jahren fiel Prinz Wilhelm von Preussen an der Spitze der 11. Kompanie des Infanterie-Regiments 1“, Ostpreussenblatt Nr. 24, 15. Juni 1985
http://www.instahlgewittern.com/2010/09 ... ussia.html

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

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

The Infanterie Regiment 1 - France 1940.

With Prince William and the 11. / IR 1 in the Western Campaign.

On May 15, 1940 it was again a beautiful and radiant day and yet brought to us another joy. Some of our comrades returned to the regiment and among them our esteemed company commander, the Prince William of Prussia. So we could continue together again.

At 20:30 hours the regiment was back on its track and crossed the Albert Canal; the previous night the enemy bombers had attacked the crossing points but without reach them. They would return in the evening, we knew that so we hurry up the crossing. Over a lock the engineers had built a good temporary bridge which was crossed by the IR 1. In the dark we listened to our "friends" come and then felt the explosions far away because we had gone others 10 kilometers .

Sources: 1. Infanteriedivision, 23.05. 1940, von Tycowicz, Rudolf, „Das Infanterie-Regiment 1“, München, 1966.
Wittrien, Ernst, „Vier Stunden lang im schwersten Feuer – vor 45 Jahren fiel Prinz Wilhelm von Preussen an der Spitze der 11. Kompanie des Infanterie-Regiments 1“, Ostpreussenblatt Nr. 24, 15. Juni 1985
http://www.instahlgewittern.com/2010/09 ... ussia.html

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

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

The Infanterie Regiment 1 - France 1940.

With Prince William and the 11. / IR 1 in the Western Campaign.

After considerable progress, in the early morning of May 16, 1940, we reached Hasselt and moved to an abandoned farm, we had marched 50 kilometers and we were ready to take a break, but soon: Alarm!, So back to the ring. We had gone only half an hour when the order came: armored attack rejected, go to rest. In Berlingen finally we got lodging. All day (16 May) and the night to dawn on May 17, 1940 passed quietly. On May 17, 1940 at 08:00 hours we marching again and after passing through St. Truiden we reached Hoegaarden, the first large town abandoned by the civilian population.

On May 19, 1940 at noon we passed through Wavre, a town completely destroyed in the direction of Court-Saint-Etienne. The next day at 15:00 hours marched again even all night passing through Charleroi, a vast city, Großfließ (Gosselies?), Courcelles to Cronfestu, a town which arrived on May 21, 1940 at 03:00 hours. We were able to rest there in the abandoned industrial plant facilities.

Sources: 1. Infanteriedivision, 23.05. 1940, von Tycowicz, Rudolf, „Das Infanterie-Regiment 1“, München, 1966.
Wittrien, Ernst, „Vier Stunden lang im schwersten Feuer – vor 45 Jahren fiel Prinz Wilhelm von Preussen an der Spitze der 11. Kompanie des Infanterie-Regiments 1“, Ostpreussenblatt Nr. 24, 15. Juni 1985
http://www.instahlgewittern.com/2010...f-prussia.html

Cheers. Raúl M .

Feliz Navidad - Feliz Natal - Frohe Weihnachten - Joyeux Noël - Merry Christmas - Wesołych Świąt!.

[laurence strong]

At the start Prit posted an excerpt from the Oct.44 fighting by Dieckert/Grossmann, it states that

"....The artillerymen fired their last rounds and then destroyed their guns......."

So my question is....."when did they get new guns and what were they equipt with. Were they given German kit or captured guns"?


Many thanks
Larry

[tigre]

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

The Infanterie Regiment 1 - France 1940.

With Prince William and the 11. / IR 1 in the Western Campaign.

On May 22, 1940 at 15:00 hours, the 1ID was subordinated to VIII. AK and was ordered to prepare to cross the river Mons in order to advance on the city of Valenciennes. The divisional commander, Generalmajor Kleffel, went immediately to the VIII AK CP in order to obtain a clearer picture of the local situation. Meanwhile, Oberstleutnant Freiherr von Strachwitz , Ia of the VIII AK, reached the 1 ID and passed a directive stating that the division was to secure the gap between the 4 AOK and 6 AOK, because the enemy was trying to break there, and therefore closing the cauldron.

The regiments were alarmed in order to move towards Mons. But just before the first elements were put in motion, an officer of the VIII AK issued a verbal order through which the division was to move towards Bavay and placed at the left of the 269 ID (XXVII Armeekorps) in order to force a crossing of the "Canal de l'Lessaut." Objective: To create a barrier to the enemy's efforts to break through to create a bridgehead, and if possible create bridgeheads in order to attack westwards.

Sources: 1. Infanteriedivision, 23.05. 1940, von Tycowicz, Rudolf, „Das Infanterie-Regiment 1“, München, 1966.
Wittrien, Ernst, „Vier Stunden lang im schwersten Feuer – vor 45 Jahren fiel Prinz Wilhelm von Preussen an der Spitze der 11. Kompanie des Infanterie-Regiments 1“, Ostpreussenblatt Nr. 24, 15. Juni 1985
http://www.instahlgewittern.com/2010...f-prussia.html

Cheers. Raúl M .

Feliz Navidad - Feliz Natal - Frohe Weihnachten - Joyeux Noël - Merry Christmas - Wesołych Świąt!.

[tigre]

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

The Infanterie Regiment 1 - France 1940.

With Prince William and the 11. / IR 1 in the Western Campaign.

After receiving this verbal order, the 1 ID was divided into two columns: to the right, the reinforced IR 22, and to the left the main column, consisting of the reinforced IR1 to the front and the reinforced IR 43 to the rear. Meanwhile, the vorausabteilung, divided into two parts, had reached Givry (the Aufklärungs Abteilung 1) and Mons / Sars le Bruyere (the Pz.Jäg.Abt.1).

When the Pz.Jäg.Abt.1 went ahead, received heavy fire from machine guns from the southwest, however reached Bavay at 23:00 hours on May 22, 1940. Meanwhile, about 20:30 hours on May 22, 1940, the main column got heavy artillery fire in the road of Givry / Bavay, southwest of Givry. As a result, the March group of the reinforced IR 1 was temporarily stopped in order to turn west. The March group of the IR 43 was stopped according to orders.

Sources: 1. Infanteriedivision, 23.05. 1940, von Tycowicz, Rudolf, „Das Infanterie-Regiment 1“, München, 1966.
Wittrien, Ernst, „Vier Stunden lang im schwersten Feuer – vor 45 Jahren fiel Prinz Wilhelm von Preussen an der Spitze der 11. Kompanie des Infanterie-Regiments 1“, Ostpreussenblatt Nr. 24, 15. Juni 1985
http://www.instahlgewittern.com/2010...f-prussia.html

Cheers. Raúl M .

Feliz Año Nuevo - Happy New Year - feliz Ano Novo - gluckliches Neues Jahr - Bonne Année - Felice Anno Nuovo!!!

[tigre]

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

The Infanterie Regiment 1 - France 1940.

With Prince William and the 11. / IR 1 in the Western Campaign.

On May 22, 1940 at 16:00 hours, our chief returned with the news we were going into combat. Throughout the day and the night before in the distance we heard the thunder of the guns. The division was to close a gap between two German armies. No more troops in the rear but fighters, many had experienced combat in Poland, for others it was a completely new experience.

The march proceeded to the border between Belgium and France in the direction of Maubeuge. There some forts which had not been conquered yet slowed our progress with artillery fire. Towards midnight the spearhead parts of the regiment made ​​contact with the enemy. We stopped in a village. Weapons ready, stand guard and wait for the dawn.

Sources: 1. Infanteriedivision, 23.05. 1940, von Tycowicz, Rudolf, „Das Infanterie-Regiment 1“, München, 1966.
Wittrien, Ernst, „Vier Stunden lang im schwersten Feuer – vor 45 Jahren fiel Prinz Wilhelm von Preussen an der Spitze der 11. Kompanie des Infanterie-Regiments 1“, Ostpreussenblatt Nr. 24, 15. Juni 1985
http://www.instahlgewittern.com/2010/09 ... ussia.html

Cheers. Raúl M .

Feliz Año Nuevo - Happy New Year - feliz Ano Novo - gluckliches Neues Jahr - Bonne Année - Felice Anno Nuovo!!!

[tigre]

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

The Infanterie Regiment 1 - France 1940.

With Prince William and the 11. / IR 1 in the Western Campaign.

Shortly before 23:00 hours on May 22, 1940, the vanguard of the IR 22, constituted by the III. / IR 22, had been engaged in a fierce battle south of Blaragenies. By means of observation and the prisoners we knew that strong elements of French 43 DI and the Fortress Brigade Maubeuge had joined forces and had entrenched in the area Quevy Le Petit and Quevy Le Grand in order to attempt a break in the west / northwest direction. Both the IR 1 and the IR 43, retained the ground seized near Givry. The objective of the 1 ID was to attack towards Quevy Le Petit, Quevy Le Grand and more to the west in order to encircle the enemy from the north with the IR 1 and the IR 43, while the IR 22 was occupying a defensive front to the east and north of Blaragenies.

The night of 22 to 23 of May, 1940 passed tense but in calm and without contact with the enemy for the IR 1. According to our reconnaissance we must continue the march. After advancing a few kilometers the regiment halted. A new day was dawning. It was May 23, 1940 and it would be an unforgettable day. For the 11. / IR 1 would be a day of pride but also of sadness.

Sources: 1. Infanteriedivision, 23.05. 1940, von Tycowicz, Rudolf, „Das Infanterie-Regiment 1“, München, 1966.
Wittrien, Ernst, „Vier Stunden lang im schwersten Feuer – vor 45 Jahren fiel Prinz Wilhelm von Preussen an der Spitze der 11. Kompanie des Infanterie-Regiments 1“, Ostpreussenblatt Nr. 24, 15. Juni 1985
http://www.instahlgewittern.com/2010/09 ... ussia.html

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

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

The Infanterie Regiment 1 - France 1940.

With Prince William and the 11. / IR 1 in the Western Campaign.

The hand grenades were distributed; unfortunately some parts of the company were left behind. A handshake with the troops of our supply train, whishing to see each other again. The company went off the road and prepared for the attack. The land still has to be raked as there are dispersed French soldiers. Move forward. The first objective of the attack was an embankment which ran transversely to the axis of advance. The patrols which had been detached in advance found weapons and equipment abandoned by the enemy, and even the corpse of an opponent.

Therefore the enemy is in retreat, continue the advance. The march went through a field of clover. The dew moistened the boots and clothing of the troops, they were soaked to the bone. Up ahead a town, continue to the left. The IR 1 had launched its attack at 06:00 hours on May 23, 1940. With the III. / IR 1 to the right, the IR II to the left and the I. / IR 1 acting as reserve, the II. / AR 1 would furnish fire support. At the same time the VIII AK notifies the division about a possible French counter-attack from northwest of Valenciennes to the southwest.

Sources: 1. Infanteriedivision, 23.05. 1940, von Tycowicz, Rudolf, „Das Infanterie-Regiment 1“, München, 1966.
Wittrien, Ernst, „Vier Stunden lang im schwersten Feuer – vor 45 Jahren fiel Prinz Wilhelm von Preussen an der Spitze der 11. Kompanie des Infanterie-Regiments 1“, Ostpreussenblatt Nr. 24, 15. Juni 1985
http://www.instahlgewittern.com/2010/09 ... ussia.html

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

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

The Infanterie Regiment 1 - France 1940.

With Prince William and the 11. / IR 1 in the Western Campaign.

We had advanced about 200 or 300 meters when it began the rattle of machine guns from the village. They fired upon us from all corners. Our boss immediately gave the order to attack as the best defense is the own attack. Through fire and movement we move forward another 100 meters. On us unleashed a deadly fire on both flanks. The enemy opened fire with heavy and light mortars. Someone calls for help, he was wounded, then another more. The opponent can not be see, where is he in reality?.

Mortars are very precise, clean punch. We move on. We are 50 meters away from the first houses. Men do not have any cover, as if lying on a bed, we must seize every furrow in the earth. Clovers and pastures can protect against the view but that's it all. They are shooting from the roof of the White House someone shouted. We can see the muzzle flash and nothing else. The machine guns were placed and we returned the fire, even with the rifle. The objective is the most important house of the town, to the right a stone wall and to the left a hedge.

Sources: 1. Infanteriedivision, 23.05. 1940, von Tycowicz, Rudolf, „Das Infanterie-Regiment 1“, München, 1966.
Wittrien, Ernst, „Vier Stunden lang im schwersten Feuer – vor 45 Jahren fiel Prinz Wilhelm von Preussen an der Spitze der 11. Kompanie des Infanterie-Regiments 1“, Ostpreussenblatt Nr. 24, 15. Juni 1985
http://www.instahlgewittern.com/2010/09 ... ussia.html

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

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

The Infanterie Regiment 1 - France 1940.

With Prince William and the 11. / IR 1 in the Western Campaign.

Employment of the artillery.

That house, the White House was heavily defended. We shoot while our legs hold us. To the left fell another one, shot in the thigh. In the rear a concentration of artillery, it will not be smooth. Where the hell is our artillery?. Now! Jump on the wall, our Lieutenant is already there. From the white house someone leaves with a white cloth. Does not fire upon the house, our troops are there. Here is the artillery. Grenada after grenade fell on the town. The enemy fire is weakened.

We moved!, The enemy charged again. We prepared the hand grenades and with a hurrah! Raided the village. The trumpet sounded. Hooray! The French come to meet us with their hands up. They have thrown their arms and the terror could be seen on their faces. The tension has slackened, and we have fulfilled the mission. It took some time until the company was assembled. But what followed was the most difficult for us.

Sources: 1. Infanteriedivision, 23.05. 1940, von Tycowicz, Rudolf, „Das Infanterie-Regiment 1“, München, 1966.
Wittrien, Ernst, „Vier Stunden lang im schwersten Feuer – vor 45 Jahren fiel Prinz Wilhelm von Preussen an der Spitze der 11. Kompanie des Infanterie-Regiments 1“, Ostpreussenblatt Nr. 24, 15. Juni 1985
http://www.instahlgewittern.com/2010/09 ... ussia.html

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

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

The Infanterie Regiment 1 - France 1940.

With Prince William and the 11. / IR 1 in the Western Campaign.

The town was Blaragenies, two dead and 18 wounded were lying on the battlefield. Several of them seriously, and 4 died later in hospital. The company moved to the assembly area of the regiment. What happened to our company commander?. The regimental commander is at the crossroads and provides information. The Prince was shot three times in the groin and lost to much blood, but gave his orders even while being evacuated from the battlefield. The bitterness is mixed with the pride we feel after having fought four long hours under heavy fire.

The 1.I.D. then quickly reached the canal south of Valenciennes with its advance guard. A reconnaissance unit of the 3.Panzer-Division from le Quesnoy reached the canal shortly thereafter. The attack of the IR 1 destroyed the enemy by 1200 hours. Over a thousand prisoners were taken and about the same numbers of enemy soldiers were killed in this battle.

Sources: 1. Infanteriedivision, 23.05. 1940, von Tycowicz, Rudolf, „Das Infanterie-Regiment 1“, München, 1966.
Wittrien, Ernst, „Vier Stunden lang im schwersten Feuer – vor 45 Jahren fiel Prinz Wilhelm von Preussen an der Spitze der 11. Kompanie des Infanterie-Regiments 1“, Ostpreussenblatt Nr. 24, 15. Juni 1985
http://www.instahlgewittern.com/2010/09 ... ussia.html

Saludos. Raúl M .