German Army 1st september 1939

German campaigns and battles 1919-1945.

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Domen123
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Re: German Army 1st september 1939

Post by Domen123 »

He had got a prosthesis as far as I know.
He lost his left forearm (and he got a prosthesis) and it also seems that his right forearm was also damaged:

Image

He was WIA by Polish artillery fire (14. heavy artillery dyon) around 6:00 on 10th of September near his headquarters in Piątek, when he went on the first line to try to stop his last reserves, which also started to withdraw.

I don't know who - but some German probably - invented a legend, that he was personally leading a counterattack of his last battalion, and that it was succesfull and stopped the Poles.

While in fact he was not leading any counterattack personally and he also did not stop the Poles - they captured Piątek very soon.
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Re: German Army 1st september 1939

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Domen123 wrote: I don't know who - but some German probably - invented a legend, that he was personally leading a counterattack of his last battalion, and that it was succesfull and stopped the Poles.

While in fact he was not leading any counterattack personally and he also did not stop the Poles - they captured Piątek very soon.
This wrong information is given here:

http://www.feldgrau.com/InfDiv.php?ID=30
In Sept.1939 as a part of Heeresgruppe Sud, 8.Armee, X.Armeekorps (General Ulex), the 30th, led by Generalmajor von Briesen, saw very heavy action against the cut-off Polish Army in the final stages of the short campaign. After action reports state that with his division stretched to the limits against the counter-attacking Poles, Generalmajor von Briesen personally led his last reserve battalion into the desperate fighting, halting the Poles, but losing his left forearm in the process. Vistied in Hospital by Keitel and Hitler, von Briesen was awarded the Knights Cross for his gallantry, and for maintaing the integrity of Blaskowitz's 8.Armee's lines; the first Divisional commander of the war to be thusly awarded. Hereafter, the 30.Infanterie was commonly known as the Briesen Division. (Von Briesen himself was promoted, and later became Military Commandant of Paris, 1940-42.)
It was on 10th of September, not "in the final stages of the short campaign". Polish army was not cut-off. He did not halt the Poles, although he might have been desperated.

Piątek was captured by Polish II. battalion of 57. infantry regiment (14. Infantry Division) on 10th of September in the early morning.

The area Orszewice - Piątek was defended by German Infanterie-Regiment 6. from 30. Infanterie-Division.

Infanterie-Regiment 6. was attacked on 9th of September (around 18:00) by 5 Polish battalions (III/70, I/55, II/55, I/57 and II/57).

Polish operations in this area until the end of 9th of September (as you can see they advanced very close towards Piątek on 9th of September):

Image

On 10th of September they were advancing farther, capturing also Piątek.
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Re: German Army 1st september 1939

Post by sniper1shot »

Well, just read the whole thread here.
Excellant info and some great photos.

Just noticed a bit of "Tit for Tat" coming from two contributors. Lets try to keep this civil here and work together. This has the making of a great thread. Better to work together than against on this one.
Only he is lost who gives himself up as lost.
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Re: German Army 1st september 1939

Post by Domen123 »

Who was the commander of Infanterie-Regiment 102. (24. Infanterie-Division) on 1st of September 1939?

What was the Stellenbesetzung of this division in Polenfeldzug?
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Re: German Army 1st september 1939

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5. Panzerdivision 1st September 1939.

Kdr : Generalleutnant Heinrich von Vietinghoff Schell
Kdr Stabsquartier : Hauptmann (E) Ernst Mößl (KIA on 04.09.1939, Rajsko)
Ia : Major Thunert
Ia 0 : Hauptmann Werner von der Groeben (KIA on 04.09.1939, Rajsko)
Ib : Hauptmann Liebig

8. Panzerbrigade
Kdr : Oberst Haarde (heavily WIA by artillery fire on 01.09.1939, Wideki) - on 02.09.1939 Schuckelt took command
Adj : Unknown ?? (KIA by artillery fire on 01.09.1939, Wideki)

15. Panzerregiment
Kdr : Oberst Streich
Adj : Hauptmann von Werlhof
I. : Major dr Schmal
1. : Oberleutnant Lemor
2. : Hauptmann Graf Shiemmelmann
3. : Hauptmann Luedicke
II. : Major von Drabich-Woechter - after von Drabich-Woechter took command of the 31. Pz.Rgt., von Reinhardt took command
4. : Hauptmann von Kassel
5. : Hauptmann von Reinhardt
6. : Hauptmann Joachim von Stünzner (KIA on 02.09.1939, Ćwiklice)

31. Panzerregiment
Kdr : Oberst Schuckelt (missing on 01.09.1939, found during the night 01 / 02.09.1939) - after Schuckelt was missing, von Drabich-Woechter took command
I. : Major Bodenhausen
2. : Hauptmann [fälschlich Oberleutnant] Paul Emil Lein (WIA and captured on 03.09.1939, recaptured on 04.09.1939 in Rajsko, Died of Wounds on 04.09.1939, hospital in Rybnik)
II. : Oberstleutnant Adolf Friedrich Brunn (KIA on 08.09.1939)
4. : Leutnant von Abendroth

5. Schützenbrigade
Kdr : Oberst Degener

13. Schützenregiment
Kdr : Oberst Lübbe
Adj : Oberleutnant Braune-Krickau
I. : Major Knitter
II. : Major Kieler

14. Schützenregiment
Kdr : Oberst Stegmann
I. : Major Reese
1. : Oberleutnant von Frederici
3. : Oberleutnant Wichmann
II. : Major Schacke
6. : Oberleutnant Witzel
8. : Oberleutnant Hans Hauptmann

116. Artillerieregiment (mot.):
Kdr : Oberstleutnant dr Leyers
I. : Major Matting
2. : Oberleutnant Kohlhardt
4. : Hauptmann von Odarza
II. : Major Gerloch

53. Panzerabwehr Battalion
Kdr : Major Rodowski

Aufklärungsabteilung 8.
Kdr : Oberstleutnant Grolig

Pionierbatallion 89.
Kdr : Major August

77. Panzer Signals Battalion
Kdr : Major Grüder

85. Repair - Stock Column
Kdr : Major von Schweinichen
Werkstattkompanie : Major dr eng Weerts

My sources: Janusz Ryt, "Bitwa Pszczyńska 1939" (pp 66, 115, 117, 118, 184, 186; 216 and 217 - Stellenbesetzung; photo after page 110); Kriegstagebuch of 5. Panzer-Division (page 4); Polish combat accounts [with regard to Hauptmann Lein in Polish captivity on 03.09.1939]; Volksbund; photo of Leutnant von Abendroth from the German photo album
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Re: German Army 1st september 1939

Post by Jan-Hendrik »

5. Schützenbrigade
Kdr : Oberst Degener
was not formed before November 1939 :wink:

And Degener was, until 5.SchtzBrg. was formed, Kdr. of SR 14.
Adj : Unknown ?? (KIA by artillery fire on 01.09.1939, Wideki)
Hauptmann Alexander von Frankenberg und Proschlitz
53. Panzerabwehr Battalion
Kdr : Major Rodowski
No. Oberstleutnant Hans Assmann.
85. Repair - Stock Column
Kdr : Major von Schweinichen
Werkstattkompanie : Major dr eng Weerts
Divisionsnachschubführer was Major Bodo von Harbou, Major von Schweinichen took over in November 1939.

More later.

:[]

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Re: German Army 1st september 1939

Post by Domen123 »

Hi Jan-Hendrik,

Thanks for info and corrections.

By the way - on AHF you wrote:
Freiherr von Bernewitz (vermutl. Ortlof), 15.08.1915, Lt., -, -, [KIA on] 08.09.1939, VB
O2 der 5.Pz.Div., source: von Plato's unit history
So another officer to the Stellenbesetzung of 5. Pz.Div.

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Re: German Army 1st september 1939

Post by Domen123 »

14. Schützenregiment
Kdr : Oberst Stegmann
I. : Major Reese
1. : Oberleutnant von Frederici
3. : Oberleutnant Wichmann
II. : Major Schacke
6. : Oberleutnant Witzel
8. : Oberleutnant Hans Hauptmann
According to Anton Detlev von Plato - "Die Geschichte der 5. Panzerdivision 1938 - 1945", page 14 (quoted relation of Drewes from 6. company of 14. Schützenregiment) Oberleutnant Hans Hauptmann was heavily WIA on 02.09.1939 near Stara Wieś.

There was also:

Freiherr von Bernewitz (vermutl. Ortlof), 15.08.1915, Lt., -, -, [KIA on] 08.09.1939, VB - and he was from 02 of Stab of 5. Pz.Div.

And there was also:

Oberleutnant Dirlam from II./P.R.15, 5. Pz.Div., KIA on 02.09.1939 (battle of Pszczyna, burried in Jankowice), sources: G. Schrodek "Ihr Glaube galt dem Vaterland Geschichte der Panzer-Regiments 15" Schild Verlag München 1976 + relation of Lt. Schönstedt from I./P.R.15 quoted by J. Ryt "Bitwa Pszczyńska 1939" pp 181 - 182.
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Re: German Army 1st september 1939

Post by crolick »

In assignments of some of the Staff officers there is only written:
Ia, Ib, Ic,
IIa
III
IVa, IVb, IVc, IVd
or
OI, OII, OIII
What does it mean?!


Andrzej
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Re: German Army 1st september 1939

Post by Jan-Hendrik »

Staff officers positions, see:

Stabsoffiziere und deren Bezeichnung.

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Re: German Army 1st september 1939

Post by crolick »

Jan-Hendrik wrote:Staff officers positions, see:

Stabsoffiziere und deren Bezeichnung.

:[]

Jan-Hendrik
Thank you Jan-Hendrik! :up:


BTW. By any chance - do you know what 'W&G' and 'Krd. MZ' might stand for?!
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Re: German Army 1st september 1939

Post by Jan-Hendrik »

Waffen und Gerät

Kradmelder-Zug

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Re: German Army 1st september 1939

Post by ericv »

here is the 25. Infanteriedivision



Kdr : Generalleutnant Christian Hansen
Ia : Oberstleutnant i.G. Knesch
Ib:
Ic:
IIa : Oberstleutnant Reutter
III :

Infanterieregiment 13
Kdr : Oberst Philipp Müller-Gebhard
I. : Oberstleutnant Karl Casper
II. :
III. :

Infanterieregiment 35
Kdr : Oberst Otto Schmidt-Hartung
I. : Major Herrmann
II. : Oberstleutnant Paul Schultz
III. : von Kapf

Infanterieregiment 119
Kdr : Oberst Hoffmann
Adj : Hauptmann Schnez
I. : Oberstleutnant Anton Grasser
II. : von Parseval / Bräuchle
III. : Oberstleutnant Karl Sievers

25. Artillerieregiment
Kdr : Oberst Kruse
I. : Major Zerweck
II. : Major Walther
III. : Fornier/Thorbecke
I./61 : Major Eugen Wößner

Aufklärungsabteilung 25
Kdr : Hauptmann Eicke

Panzerjägerabteilung 25
Kdr : Oberst Sternkopf

Pionierbataillon 25
Kdr :

Nachrichtenabteilung 25
Kdr : Oberst Wilhelm Keiper
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Re: German Army 1st september 1939

Post by ericv »

here is the 20. Infanteriedivision (mot)


Kdr : Generalleutnant Mauritz (von) Wiktorin
Ia : Oberstleutnant Werner Friebe

Infanterieregiment 69
Kdr : Oberst Wolfgang Fischer
I. : Oberstleutnant Walter Hoernlein
II. : Major A.E. Bumiller
III. :


Infanterieregiment 76
Kdr : Oberst Hans Gollnick
I. : Major Buchholz
II. : Oberstleutnant Lemmel
III. : Oberstleutnant Arthur Boje

Infanterieregiment 90
Kdr : Oberst Dietrich Kraiß
I. : Oberstleutnant Hans Traut
II. : Oberstleutnant Norbert Holm
III. :

20. Artillerieregiment
Kdr : Oberst Hellmuth Weidling
I. : Major Sack ?
II. : Major Wagner
III. : Oberstleutnant Lothar Freutel (?)
I.AR 56 :


Aufklärungsabteilung 20
Kdr : Major Henning Schönfeld


Panzerabwehrabteilung 20
Kdr : Oberstleutnant Ludwig Fricke

Pionierbataillon 20
Kdr : Major Günsch

Nachrichtenabteilung 20
Kdr : Oberstleutnant Trautwein

DiNaFü 20 : Hauptmann Kinkelin

Source was mostly : http://www.20pzgrendiv.eu/, The history of the 20. Mot Div isn't as detailed with regard to Stellenbesetzungen. Although I haven't got part 8 yet.
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Re: German Army 1st september 1939

Post by ericv »

and here is the 24. Infanteriedivision

Kdr : Generalleutnant Friedrich Olbricht
Ia : Oberstleutnant i.G. Gerhard Feyerabend
Ib: Coßmann
Ic: von Knesebeck
IIa : Winckler
III : Dr. Scholz
IVa : Dr Haag?
IVb : Dr. Günther
IVc : Dr Kieseweter
IVd : Kath. : Sonntag
Evang.: Schumann
V. : Dr. Kopp
W.u.G. Zehl

Infanterieregiment 31
Kdr : Oberst Heinrich Krampf
I. : Förster
II. : Looff
III. : Oberstleutnant Neumeister (+ 12-9-1939)


Infanterieregiment 32
Kdr : Oberst Max Horn
I. : Brummund
II. : Lustig
III. : Opelt

Infanterieregiment 102
Kdr : Oberst Stephan Rittau
I. : Drossel?
II. : von Werder
III. : Major Witte

24. Artillerieregiment
Kdr : Oberst Walter Hartmann
I. : Oberstleutnant Kurt Guth
II. : Wolter
III. : Feldmann
I./AR 60. : Hoffmann


24. Aufklärungsabteilung
Kdr : Freiherr von Waldenfels

24. Panzerjägerabteilung
Kdr : Oberstleutnant Ewert
3. : Oberleutnant Bollmann

24. Pionierbataillon
Kdr : Paul

24. Nachrichtenabteilung
Kdr : Corleis
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