Marko wrote:Hi Igor
Here's an interesting tidbit about one of many unsuccessful German panzer counterattacks in Eastern Prussia.
The famous "Ghostdivision" - 7.Panzer Division - was on 15 January alarmed and committed in action against a Russian breakthrough N of Warsaw. But its attack soon bogged down as the divisional Panzer Regiment (in the morning 105 operational panzers) fall into a well prepared ambush and lost more then half of its tanks (in the evening 40 operational panzers) in a period of not less then 20 minutes (against zero Russian tank losses), before having to retreat from the battlefield and leaving most of the damaged vehicles behind. The Red Army unit responsible for 7th Panzer's disaster was apparently 60th Tank Destroyer Rgt. I would be really interested if you have any info on this engagement from the Russian side.
Hi Marco,Marko wrote:Thanks for the extra info, Igor and donwhite .
The battle took place just W of Ostenburg (Pultusk) at Trzciniec and according to German sources the Soviet unit was 60th ATR (so not necessarily the correct designation). Other RA units in the area (again German sources) were 142nd, 42nd, 98th Rifle Divisions all apparently part of 2nd Shock Army.
Igor regarding your last post (thanks again for posting it), the German unit opposing the 65th Army was most probably 3rd Panzer Division, which launched a counterattack supported by two Tiger battalions in order to eliminate the Serock bridgehead.
Cheers
Marko
I refer to your earlier post regarding combat taken place in Eastern Prussia on 15 January 1945 at W of Ostenburg (Pultusk) at Trzciniec where 7.Panzer Division started its attack having 105 operational panzers and fall into a well prepared ambush and lost more then half of its tanks (in the evening 40 operational panzers) in a period of not less then 20 minutes (against zero Russian tank losses), before having to retreat from the battlefield and leaving most of the damaged vehicles behind.
I am looking for a western sources, preferably in English, describing this event in more details and will greatly appreciate if you can provide more information from western side about this interesting combat.
I am also greatly interested in tank composition of the 7. Panzer Division as of morning of Jan 15th 1945 (105 operational vehicles) and as of evening of Jan 15th 1945 (40 operational vehicles). Did it have any Panthers ? Do you have any combat reports from German side?
Many thanks in advance !
Best Regards from Russia,