1. Panzer Division crossing the Meuse orders.

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Helmut Von Moltke

1. Panzer Division crossing the Meuse orders.

Post by Helmut Von Moltke »

hi, I was thinking about posting the orders issued by the 1. Panzer Division during the crossing of the Meuse in the Guderian XIX Army Corps orders thread, but decided making a new thread on this was better, as it is very detailed and less to do with Guderian. Unfortunately, the Divisional orders contain some stuff already issued in the corps order of 13.5.40 I posted already, but I will post the whole thing here to make it seem complete. Note that some similar orders in the divisional commands and the corps command are a bit varied as well.

cheers,

Kevin

1. Panzer Division
Operations Department

Div. H.Q.,
13.5.40, 12.00 hrs.

Divisional order NO. 5
for the attack across the Meuse on 13.5.40

1. As a result of sharp fighting on May 12th the XIX Army Corps has thrown the nemy across the Meuse along almost all the corps front. Strong enemy resistance is to be expected along the Meuse.

2. On the 13th of May the main point of our Western offensive lies in the sector of Group von Kleist.
The Group's objective is the seizure of the crossings over the Meuse between Montherme and Sedan. Almost the whole of the Luftwaffe will support this operation. By means of uninterrupted attacks lasting for 8 hours the French defenses along the Meuse will be smashed. XIX Army Corps will then proceed to cross the Meuse at 16.00 hrs.

3. XIX Army Corps will make the neccesary prepararions in it's previously assigned sector during the course of the morning and of midday so as to be in a position to seize crossings over the Meuse between the mouth of the Bar and Bazeilles at 16.00 hrs.

4. The attack will be launched as follows:
(a) Right attacking group: 2. Panzer Division between the Ardennes Canal and the Meuse bend (exclusive).
(b) Central attacking group: reinforced 1. Panzer Division between the Meuse bend (inclusive) and Torcy (inclusive).
(c) Left attacking group: 10. Panzer Division between Sedan and Bazeilles.

5. Boundaries:
unchanged, except:
Right - hand boundary with 2. Panzer Division: from Chehery to Singly (7 miles west of Chehery) - Poix Terron (localities inclusive to 1. Panzer Division).
Left - Hand boundary with 10. Panzer Division unchanged.

6. Task:
2. Panzer Division will move forward from it's jumping off position at 16.00 hrs, will attack across the Meuse, and will seize the high ground south of Donchery. The division will then swing immediately westwards, will cross the Ardennes Canal to the Bar bend inclusive, and will roll up the enemy defences along the Meuse, with right wing advancing to Boutancourt and left wing to Dapogne and Feucheres.
1. Panzer Division, with Infantry Regiment 'Grossdeutschland", under command, will be ready to attack at 16.00 hrs. After mopping up inside the Meuse bend it will push forward to the Bellevue - Torcy road. The division will proceed to attack the Bois de la Marfee heights and will pish on to a line Chehery - Chaumont.
Unit tasks remain as previously ordered, but x - hour and y - hour may now be ignored. Surpirse attack by K.1 begins ar 16.00 hrs.
10. Panzer Division, in conjunction with 1. Panzer Division, will by 16.00 hrs. have captured the strongpoints on the eastern edge of Sedan and will also by this hour have secured it's jumping - off positions in the Sedan - Bazeilles sector. The divsion will attack across the Meuse at 16.00 hrs. and will capture the high ground running from Noyes Pont Maugis - Pont Maguis.

7. Artillery commander 101 will prepare the Meuse crossing and will support the division's attack in accordance with the fire plan.

8. Co - operation with the Luftwaffe: The scheme of co - operation with the air force, both in space and time, is given in the attached time schedule and sketch map showing the bomb target areas.
Flak Regiment 102 is for the time being under command of the corps to cover the crossing of the river.

9. The schedule for crossing remains unchanged in accordance with the divisional order attached.

10. Reconnaissance and Signal Communications: unchanged.
Cover names, Series C, are increased as follows:
Infantry Regiment "Grossdeutschland' . . . Scheusal
Artillery Commander 101 . . . . . . Neubau
Artillery Regiment 49 . . . . . . . Taschenspieler
Observation Battalion 1 . . . . . . Ziegelstein
I. Battalion, Infantry Regiment "Grossdeutschland" . Eschenholz
II. Battalion, Infantry Regiment "Grossdeutschland" . Andenken
III. Battalion, Infantry Regiment "Grossdeutschland" . Miesmuschel
IV. Battalion, Infantry Regiment "Grossdeutschland" . Ofenrohr
Assault Engineer Battalion 43 . . . . . Monokel

11. Supply:
(a) Ammunition supply point: 1 mile east of Fays les Veneurs, will remain ready to issue.
(b) Fuel issuing point: In the northern part of the wood north of Noirefontaine, will be ready to issue by approximately 17.00 hrs. on 13.5.40. Reception approximately half of consumption.
(c) Main dressing station: Corbion.
(d) Vehicle Repairs: from P.M. on 13.5 one Workshop Comapny will be ready to work at Betrix.
One Tank Parts Replacement Staff of Group von Kleist has moved forward to Redingen (Luxembourg).
(e) Prisoner Assembly Point: remains Illy and south of the Meuse, Frenois. Guard duties are the responsibility of the Rifle Brigade.

12. Divisional headquarters: Until the start of the attack, point 360, 2 miles north of St. Menges. As the attack proceeds divisional headquarters will move forward along the line already indicated.

Annex to Divisional Order No.5 for the 13th Mat, 1940.

Special Artillery Order for the Meuse Crossing on 13.5. 40

1. Artillery Commander 101 will be responsible for making the neccesary artillery prepararions for the Meuse crossing.

2. Allotment of the artillery for the preparatory bombardment and for the carrying out of the attack.
(a) With 2. Panzer Division: Artillery Regiment 74, less III (Heavy) Battalion.
(b) With 1. Panzer Division: Artillery Commander 101. Anti - infantry units: Artillery Regiment 73 with Battalions I - III. Anti - artillery and point of main effort units: Artillery Regiment 49, with II. Battalion Artillery Regiment 45, II. Battalion Artillery Regiment 69, III. Battalion Artillery Regiment 74, III. Battalion Artillery Regiment 90 (I/10), Heavy Artillery Battalion 616.
(c) With the 10. Panzer Division: Artillery Regiment 90 less III (Heavy) Battalion.

3. Artillery Observation:
(a) The observation points of the artillery with 2. and 10. Panzer Divisions are to be so chosen that at least one battlaion with each of these divisions will be able to observe the sector of 1. Panzer Division.
(b) Observation by Observation Battalion. I
Observation Battalion. I is to be so disposed that it can carry out artillery observation in the target areas G, H, L, M and D.
(c) Observation by the Luftwaffe.
The division's artillery flyers will be allotted their tasks by the Luftwaffe but will also report directly to Artillery Commander 101. (with 1. Panzer Division).
2 Artillery flyers of 4/Army Recce 31 will be placed under command of Artillery Regiment 49 f rom 10.00 hrs.

4. Tasks of the artillery:
For support of the attack by the artillery fire see fire plan.
Control of the artillery throughout the corps will be by Artillery Commander 101 until the divisions have crossed a line running: high ground south of Donchery - Bois de la Marfee - high ground in the Noyers Pont Maugis area.
Targets: as per the target areas already alloted (see target area map)

Annex to Divisional order No.5
Fire plan for the attack on 13 May, 1940

1. Panzer Division:
Stage of the battle: Preparations for crossing the Meuse.
Time period: 08,00 to 15.00 hrs.
Weapons for anti - strongpoint fire: Pillboxes and strong points along the Meuse in Glaire and Torcy.
Artillery:
(a) Support to the preceeding operations by shooting at targets in Target Areas K and L.
(b)Harrasing fire along the Meuse.
(c) Anti - pillbox fire.
(d) Anti - artillery and anti - flak fire in Target Areas G, H, L, M, O.
Luftwaffe: See Time Schedule. Close support Group II:
(a) Destruction of inhabited localities in Target Areas G, H, L, M, O.
(b) Bombing of artillery positions.

Stage of the battle: Preparations for crossing the Meuse.
Time period: 15.00 to 15.50 hrs.
Infantry: As above.
Weapons for anti - strongpoint fire: Anti - pillbox fire along the Meuse.
Artillery:
(a) Concentrated fire on crossing places.
(b) Shooting at targets in Target Areas K and L.
(c) Anti - artillery and anti - flak fire.
Luftwaffe:

Stage of the battle: Immediately before the crossing.
Time period: 15.50 to 16.00 hrs.
Infantry: Concentrated fire on the crossing places.
Weapons for anti - strongpoint fire: As above.
Artillery: Concentrated fire on the crossing places.
Luftwaffe: See Time schedule. Close support Group will destroy villages of Glaire and Torcy. Attacks on Target area L 1 - 7.

Stage of the battle: Beginning of the crossing and first assault.
Time period: from 16.00 hrs.
Infantry: Support of the riflemen.
Weapons for anti - strongpoint fire: Anti pillbox fire before and after the crossing.
Artillery: Support of the infantry in the division's sector.
Luftwaffe: See Time Schedule.

Note: From 16.00 to 16.30 hrs. the Mortar Battalion will drop smoke along the Glaire - Torcy road, from 17.30 to 18.30 hrs. along the Bellevue - Torcy road.

Annex to Divisional Order No.5:

Time: 08.00
Luftwaffe:
Ground troops: Preparations for Meuse crossing so far as this can be done. Artillery activity according to Fire Plan.

Time: 08.00 - 12.00
Luftwaffe: Harrassing attacks on sectors BI and CI.
Ground Troops: Preparations for the crossing under cover of the harrasing attacks. Artillery activity according to Fire plan.

Time: 12.00 - 16.00
Luftwaffe: Concentrated annihilation bombing of sectors AI, BI and CI.
Ground Troops: Continuation and conclusion of preparations. Artillery activity according to Fire Plan.

Time: 16.00 - 17.30
Luftwaffe: Switch of harrasing attacks to sectors AII, BII and CII and works in the Mouzon area. Dive bombing attacks on sectors BI and CI.
Ground Troops: Surprise Crossing.

Time: 17.30 until dusk.
Luftwaffe: Attacks on targets of opportunity in the areas on the enemy side of sectors AII, BII, CII.
Ground Troops: Seizure of the bridgehead.

Time: Night.
Luftwaffe: Harrasing attacks on roads running north and east from Hirson, Laon, Rethel, Vouziers, Stenay and attacks on any traffic observed on those roads.
Ground troops: Bridge building. Move across the river of tanks and artillery.

10. Panzer Division
Operations Department, No.5

Div.H.Q., Pre St Remy
13.5.40

Divisional Order for the attack across the Meuse, 13.5.40

1. As a result of sharp fighting on May 12th the XIX Army Corps has thrown the enemy across the Meuse on almost all the corps front. Strong enemy resistance is to be expected along the Meuse.

2. The point of main effort of the battle in the West lies in the area of Group von Kleist on May 13th.
It's objective is the seizure of crossings over the Meuse between Montherme and Sedan. Almost the whole of the Luftwaffe will suppoty this operation. By means of uninterrupted attacks lasting for 8 hours the French defences along the Meuse will be smashed.

3. XIX Army Corps will make the neccesary preparations in it's previously assigned sector during the course of the morning and of midday so to be in a position t oseize crossings over the Meuse between the mouth of the Bar and Bazilles at 16.00 hrs. After the crossing has been achieved a bridgehead will be established running Bountancourt - Sapogne - Noyers - Pont Maugis.
10. Panzer Division will attack at 16.00 hrs. on May 13th, across the Meuse in the sector Sedan south - Bazeilles (inclusive) and will capture the heights of Noyers Pont Maugis.
Boundary with 1. Panzer Division the road fork 2 miles south of Bouillon - Illy - the central Meuse bridge at Sedan (all inclusive to the 1. Panzer Division) - the southern Meuse bridge at Sedan - Noyers Pont Maugis (both inclusive to 10. Panzer Division) - Bulson - Stonne (both inclusive to the 1. Panzer Division).

4. The attack will be launched as follows:

Right: Attacking Group 10. Rifle Brigade.
Commander: Commander of the 10. Rifle Brigade.
Troops: Rifle Regiment. 86
1. Comapny of Engineer Battalion. 41 with 90 small and 45 large kapok rafts.
2. Company of Engineer Battalion. 49 (less 1 platoon) as engineer assasult troops.
90. Anti - tank Demonstration Battalion (less 1 comapny).
1 Battery of Heavy Anti - Aircraft Battalion. 36 (less one gun)
1 and 2 . Heavy Infantry Gun Companies.

Left: Attacking Group Rifle Regiment. 69
Commander: Commander of Rifle Regiment. 69
Troops: Rifle Regiment. 69
1. Company of Engineer Battalion. 49 with 65 small and 30 large kapok rafts.
1 Platoon of the 2. Company of Engineer Battalion. 49 as engineer assault troops.
1. Comapny of the 90. Anti - tank Demonstration Battalion.
1 gun of Heavy Anti - Aircraft Battalion 36.

Boundary: Between the right and left attacking groups: Givonne east - Balan wast - Pont Maugis west - Noyers Pont Maguis east - Beau Menil farm east.

5. Tasks:
The right and left attacking groups will make ready for the assault in their respective sectors by the afternoon of May 13th; they will bring up their supporting troops and will engage pillboxes and strongpoints on the Meuse as well as targets in the sector of the attack. The attacking groups will arragne to move their assaulting spearheads up to the Meuse in such a way as to be able to attack across the Meuse at 16.00 hrs. Fro this purpose the period of our air attacks is to be particuarly exploited by every man engaged.
The right attacking groups will take as it's first objective the strongpoints west of Wadelincourty, will then turnsouth, will mop up the strongpoints south of Wadelincourt and will capture Noyers Pont Maugis and the heights immediately to the west.
The left attacking group will capture Pont Maugis and the strongpoints to the east with point of main effort on it's right wing and co - operating with the right attacking group it will then take as it's objective the road Noyers Pont Maugis - Pont Maugis.

6. The commanders of the attacking groups will arrange for start lines, under officer supervision, for the assaulting troops and, in the case of the right attacking group, for the units that will follow on the military bridge.

7. Artillery Regiment 90 (less I. Battery of Artillery Battalion 105) will support the attack in accordance with the Fire Plan. 1 Battalion will be assigned to the support of each attacking group.

8. Those elements of Engineer Battalions, 41 and 49 not assigned to an attacking group will assemble at 16.00 hrs. in the area north of La Chapelle whence they move up to the Meuse as ordered by the commander of Engineer Battalion. 41 and will build ferries, and, later, a bridge.
It is intended that a bridge be built at Sedan south.

9. The 1. Battery of Anti - aircraft Battalion. 71 will cover the preparations for the assault and the attack across the Meuse, with the point of main effort in the sector of the right attacking group. The 3. Battery of Anti - aricraft Battalion, 55 will cover the move up of the Panzer Brigade.

10. Reconnaissance:
(a) Air: 3/Army Recce 14 will reconnoitre in the area of the raods Donchery - Chemery - Tannay - Brieulles - Vaux - Pouilly - Tetaigne - Francheval.
(b) Ground: Armoured Reconnaissance Battalion, 90 is holding 2 reconnaissance groups ready and at the disposal of the division in the area noth of La Chapelle.

11. Signal Communications:
Armoured Signal Battalion. 90 will maintain wireless communications as heretofore as well as to the attacking groups and to the commander of the bridge - building operation. It will arrange with the officers responsible for the crossings to have 3 links with the 3 crossing places. The operators with the attacking groups are to cross the Meuse with the foremost infantry.

12. Traffic Control:
The road Mortehan - La Chapelle exclusive is assigned to Road Commandant. III and the Panzer Brigade; the road La Chapelle - Sedan (later Wadelincourt) to Road Commandant. IV and Armoured Recconnaissance Battalion. 90.

13. Divisional Reserve: 4. Panzer Brigade will be held ready in reserve in the wood Belle Viree from 17.00 hrs., later in the area of La Chaapelle. The brigade commander will be with divisional headquarters.

14. Main dressing Station: La Viree farm (half a mile south of La Chapelle).

15. Divisional Headquarters: Pres St. Remy
Advanced Divisional H.Q.: High ground south - west of Givonne.

signed : Schaal.
redenton
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Posts: 2
Joined: Sun Mar 05, 2017 3:24 pm

Re: 1. Panzer Division crossing the Meuse orders.

Post by redenton »

I would love to find the orders for the 10th Panzer Division as I am studying the actions of the early GrossDeutschland Infantry Regiments (Mot) actions during this time. Any suggestion as to where I can find such orders?
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