From the Bug to Lohvica.

[tigre]

Hello to all ; more of it.................

The greatest encirclement in history.

The ring is closed.

On September 13, 1941 at 13:00 hours, aerial reconnaissance reported strong Soviets elements advancing from the southwest against the bridgehead. Meanwhile the division had sent a powerful battle group southwards to reinforce Frank. It was in effect the Kampfgruppe of Oberstleutnant von Lewinski, whose tanks, motorized riflemen and motorcyclists ran to the aid of Maj Frank.

Meanwhile, about 35 Soviet armored (including a KV I) were advancing from the outskirts of Lohvica, "Panzerjäger nach vorn !" (antitank to the front!) But, what could do a couple of light tanks PzKw II and a pair of anti-tank guns against these monsters?. The panic began to appear when the Germans heard the sound of engines in the sky, it were the Stukas, seven machines and quickly German soldiers signaled the first line with white smoke to avoid casualties by friendly fire. Around 15:30 hours, shortly before the reinforcements arrived, the division was able to coordinate with the Luftwaffe air attack against Russian armored formation breaking the attack before it reached the bridgehead.

Shortly after the reinforcements arrived, and after conferring both comanadantes, Oberstleutnant von Lewinski and Major Frank agreed that the only alternative was to attack Lohvica. The battle group moved together to fight their way to the city winning the big bridge to the north on Ssula River's tributary running through the town in another raid on September 14, 1941 at 05:00 hours.

Sources: The greatest encirclement in history: Link up of the German 3rd and 9th Panzer divisions on 15 September 1941 in the Central Ukraine. RUSI Journal, Dec 1996 by Stolfi, Russel H S
Obrona Kiev – 1941.
DER LANDSER GROSSBAND 818 - Das Inferno von Kiew, von W. Borcher.
Panzer Leader. Heinz Guderian.
Geschichte der 3.[dritten] Panzer-division Berlin-brandenburg. 1935-1945. Traditionsverband der Ehemaligen Dritten Panzer-Division Publicado por Richter, 1967.
FOTOALBUM 153 FOTOS VOM KRIEGSBERICHTERSTATTER LEUZE bei eBay_de 1918-1945 (endet 02_11_09 191750 MEZ).

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

Hello to all ; more of it.................

The greatest encirclement in history.

The ring is closed.

When the Soviet commander, Colonel Horodysz became aware of the fact, ordered the recapture of the place and close fight became general. Oberstleutnant von Lewinski used his panzers Pz Kw III and IV for creating gaps in the Russian positions, then charged the riflemen of the I./ SR 3 fighting and taking the hotile positions one by one. However Lohvica could not be taken that day and von Lewinski was forced to retreat on the eastern sector of the city.

That night the situation was as follows: the 4 Pz had taken Gaiworon, the Division SS-Das Reich was marching on Borsna and the 10th ID (Motorized) progressed well towards Romny the advanced guard of the 16 Pz was marching towards Lohvica.

On September 14, 1941 at 04:00 hours the German troops resumed the assault on Lohvica and gradually were rolling the Soviet resistance so around mid-morning the city was held by the Germans and elements of the I./ SR 3 occupied dominant positions in the ground to the south of the city.

The Generaloberst Guderian reached Lohvica at noon and met with Generalleutnant Model, ordering him to send a group to find the link with the troops of the armored group von Kleist. Thus Oberleutnant Warthmann (leader of the 9./ PR 6) was given the task of leading a patrol of exploration and seek contact with the 16 Pz. Warthmann selected to Oberleutnant Müller-Hauff, war reporter Heysing and 45 men to accompany him on the job. Oberleutnant Warthmann marched south and reached the target without finding German troops, this was reported by radio to the division and he was ordered to move forward. An order is an order Oberleutnant told his men and the patrol continued.

Sources: The greatest encirclement in history: Link up of the German 3rd and 9th Panzer divisions on 15 September 1941 in the Central Ukraine. RUSI Journal, Dec 1996 by Stolfi, Russel H S
Obrona Kiev – 1941.
DER LANDSER GROSSBAND 818 - Das Inferno von Kiew, von W. Borcher.
Panzer Leader. Heinz Guderian.
Geschichte der 3.[dritten] Panzer-division Berlin-brandenburg. 1935-1945. Traditionsverband der Ehemaligen Dritten Panzer-Division Publicado por Richter, 1967.
FOTOALBUM 153 FOTOS VOM KRIEGSBERICHTERSTATTER LEUZE bei eBay_de 1918-1945 (endet 02_11_09 191750 MEZ).

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

Hello to all ; last part.................

The greatest encirclement in history.

The ring is closed.

On September 16, 1941, after several encounters with scattered enemy, Warthmann's troops walked the last hundred yards of open ground before reaching a bridge when they saw infantry in position; the panzers loaded and pointed, but never open fire because they could recognize in time that those troops wore the German uniform. The Landser who advanced presented himself as part of the security positions belonging to the 2. / Pi 16. The armored patrol of the 3 Pz continued its advance towards Lubny and shortly afterwards Obeleutnant Warthmann shook hands with Generalmajor Hube the Commander of the 16th Pz.

About the same time the anti-tank alarm sounded along the Major Frank's positions and quickly the orders were given to the panzerjägern, the grenades of 50 and 75 mm were loaded in the chambers of the guns but fortunately the apparent enemy tanks also were recognized as Germans, the armored vanguard of the 9th Pz had reached the positions of the 3 Pz; now the siege of Kiev was finally closed.

Sources: The greatest encirclement in history: Link up of the German 3rd and 9th Panzer divisions on 15 September 1941 in the Central Ukraine. RUSI Journal, Dec 1996 by Stolfi, Russel H S
Obrona Kiev – 1941.
DER LANDSER GROSSBAND 818 - Das Inferno von Kiew, von W. Borcher.
Panzer Leader. Heinz Guderian.
Geschichte der 3.[dritten] Panzer-division Berlin-brandenburg. 1935-1945. Traditionsverband der Ehemaligen Dritten Panzer-Division Publicado por Richter, 1967.
FOTOALBUM 153 FOTOS VOM KRIEGSBERICHTERSTATTER LEUZE bei eBay_de 1918-1945 (endet 02_11_09 191750 MEZ).

It's all folks. Cheers. Raúl M .