REQ information about NORDWIND and the Battle of Herrlisheim

jagdiv · Post by **jagdiv** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 8:44 pm

1,Need Battle Orders of these Units(including every division's strength and tank types)from 1.1.45-1.31.45
SS XIII Corps
LXXXIX Coprs
XC Corps

SS XIV Coprs
SS XVIII Coprs
LXIV Corps
LXIII Corps

Karl Decker's XXXIX Panzer Corps
21st Panzer and 25th Panzergrenadier divisions

6.SS Moutian Division
10.SS Pz Division
2nd Moutian DivisIon
7th Para Division
384th and 667th Assault Gun brigades

2,About the battle of Herrlishiem
Need photos and maps about Erwin Bachmann's strike (From German's View)
and photos of 43th Tank Battalion & 23rd Tank Battalion destroyed tanks on 1.16.45(near Steinwald) and 1.18.45(Herrlisheim)

Also need photos of Lt Col Novosell(43th Tank Battalion)and Major Logen(17th Armor Infantry Battalion)

3,How about the American forces strength during OP Nordwind from 1.1.45-1.31.45

Units:
15th Corps
6th Corps

12th Armor Division
14th Armor Division

Tom Houlihan · Post by **Tom Houlihan** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 8:52 pm

Any chance you can get your hands on When the Odds Were Even, by Keith Bonn, or Final Crisis, by Richard Engler? Either of those books would help you out a lot.

Seven Days in January by Wolf T. Zoepf goes into great detail on Nord's battle in Wingen-sur-Moder.

jagdiv · Post by **jagdiv** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 9:46 pm

Tom:
I cant get those books in 4 or 6 weeks ,and I'm in need of immediate help.

Tom Houlihan · Post by **Tom Houlihan** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 10:02 pm

This might be of some assistance. I haven't looked through the whole thing, so I can't guarantee anything.

http://www.axishistory.com/index.php?id=628

Also, check your PMs

Shadow · Post by **Shadow** » Wed Apr 27, 2005 5:06 am

Greetings “jagdiv” -

As well as the site indicated by Tom, above, for further research I suggest you take a look at:

http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/inh ... chnis1.htm

http://www.diedeutschewehrmacht.de/

http://feldgrau.com/

But, to start you off on the Korps, using the information from “31 Dec.1944 – The Ardennes aftermath”, at the site Tom supplied above, as a jumping off point:

***31 December 1944:
* XIII SS-K
[under AOK 1]
347 Inf.Div.
19 VG.Div.
* LXXXIX AK (Group Hoehne)
[under AOK 1]
361 VG.Div.
245 Inf.Div.
256 VG.Div.
* XC AK
[in transit from AOK 19 to AOK 1]
* XIV SS-K
[Stab forming under OB Oberrhein]
* XVIII SS-K
[Stab forming under OB Oberrhein]
* LXIV AK
[under AOK 19]
708 VG.Div. + 716 Inf.Div. (most)
198 Inf.Div.
189 Inf.Div.
106 Pz.Bde.
16 VG.Div.
* LXIII AK
[under AOK 19]
159 Inf.Div.
269 Inf.Div.
338 Inf.Div.
* XXXIX PzK
[under PzAOK 5]
3 PzGR.Div.
26 VG.Div.
1 SS-Pz.Div. “LAH”

***21 January 1945:
* XIII SS-K
[under AOK 1]
19 VG.Div.
17 SS-Pz.Div. “Gotz v.B.”
559 VG.Div.
* LXXXIX AK
[under AOK 1]
245 Inf.Div.
Div.”Raessler”
21 Pz.Div.
25 PzGR.Div.
47 VG.Div.
* XC AK
[under AOK 1]
257 VG.Div.
6 SS-Geb.Div. “Nord”
256 VG.Div.
36 VG.Div.
* XIV SS-K
[under OB Oberrhein]
Div.”Hueter”
553 VG.Div.
Div.Nr.405
* XVIII SS-K
[under OB Oberrhein]
Div.”Breisach”
Stab 48 VG.Div.
* LXIV AK
[under AOK 19]
106 Pz.Bde.
198 Inf.Div.
708 VG.Div.
189 Inf.Div.
16 VG.Div.
* LXIII AK
[under AOK 19]
338 Inf.Div.
159 Inf.Div.
716 Inf.Div. (KGrp)
* XXXIX PzK
[under OB Oberrhein]
7 Fschjag.Div.
10 SS-Pz.Div. “Frund”

***26 January 1945:
* XIII SS-K
[under AOK 1]
19 VG.Div.
17 SS-PzGR.Div. “Gotz v.B.”
559 VG.div.
* LXXXIX AK
[under AOK 1]
47 VG.Div.
25 PzGR.Div.
245 Inf.Div.
Div.”Raessler”
* XC AK
[under AOK 1]
257 VG.Div.
256 VG.Div.
6 SS-Geb.Div. “Nord”
36 VG.Div.
* XIV SS-K
[Stab forming new X SS-K]
* XVIII SS-K
[under OB Oberrhein]
805 z.b.V.Div.
Stab 48 VG.Div.
* LXIV AK
[under AOK 19]
198 Inf.Div.
708 VG.Div.
189 Inf.Div.
16 VG.Div.
* LXIII AK
[under AOK 19]
338 Inf.Div.
159 Inf.Div.
716 Inf.Div. (KGrp)
106 Pz.Bde.
* XXXIX PzK
[OB Oberrhein reserve]
7 Fschjag.Div.
905 z.b.V.Div.
10 SS-Pz.Div. “Frund”
553 VG.Div.
21 Pz.Div.

Hope this is of some assistance.
Best regards -

jagdiv · Post by **jagdiv** » Wed Apr 27, 2005 6:46 am

Thanks a lot ,Shadow

But who can tell me "Bachmann's story"about Herrlisheim?

Christian · Post by **Christian** » Wed Apr 27, 2005 7:20 am

Here are a few links for the start which I believe will be of interest:

http://historynet.com/wwii/blHerrlisheim/index.html
http://www.12tharmoredmuseum.org/DACC.asp
http://www.acu.edu/academics/history/12 ... waszak.htm

http://www.2iemeguerre.com/jemesouviens/herrlisheim.htm
Hereis a quick translation of the French text (Note that I corrected a mistake in the original text with the description of the attack / Photo 3 & 4).

"SS-Obersturmführer Bachmann Account:
I advance on Sauerwein’s sidecar motorbike to the entrance of Herrlisheim where I spotted two Panthers of 3. Kompanie, under command of SS-Oberscharführer Mühlradt and SS-Unterscharführer Heinz Burger. Mühlradt informs me that American tanks are in the village and I decide to check things out. The two tanks are ordered to provide protection and follow me. (Photo #1). I advance on the motorbike to the intersection (Photo #2). I order everybody to stop and I assign a street to each tank in order to provide fire cover. I follow the street to the right on foot in and pursue my reconnaissance. About 50 meters down the street, as I reach a turn, a Sherman tank opens fire. I hurry back to the motorbike, grab a Panzerfaust and return to a house from where I can now overlook the main road. I see two Sherman tanks. I fire on one of the tanks about 30 meters ahead and return quickly to the two Panthers and prepare a plan of attack.
I give short instructions to both tank commanders: Panther #2 shall continue to provide fire cover for the right hand side street while moving up to the turn (Photo #4). There the tank will open fire as Panther #1 shall advance. Panther #1 under command of Mühlradt will move straight ahead (Photo #3) with the turret turned to a 3 o’clock firing position and with orders to fire as soon as the intersection is reached and the perpendicular road is in its sight. Everything goes as planned. The two Panther crews execute the plan to perfection. Panther #2 opens fire and Panther #1 moves ahead to the intersection and destroys a first Sherman. Our tanks fire round after round while maneuvering towards the main road. Several Sherman tanks are hit. All of a sudden a white flag appears and I give the order to hold fire. An American officer offers to surrender and I order him to have his tank crews drop their weapons right in front of me. (Photo #5). After 60 US soldiers drop their weapons and 20 German POWs are handed over, I ask whether the US soldiers who surrendered were those of the destroyed tanks. The officer responds that these are the crews of the tanks that have not been hit and he points out four Shermans in a courtyard, their barrels pointed towards the road. The others are just a little further. This is a major surprise for us and I really need to control my nerves now. I have to act quickly. I call out all the American tank drivers, assign them each an armed German ex-POW and order them to move with their tanks to Offendorf. Once the column of tanks moves out I feel better. In inform the until in Offendorf of these cat poured Shermans and ask for a tank reinforcement as well as a assistance with the 48 US POWs. Twelve Sherman tanks (Photo #6) and 60 US prisoners are the result of a stroke of luck. I order my two Panthers to the village exit to Drusenheim for defense and they destroy another two Shermans which were on there way to Herrlisheim. The total number of kills of my tow tanks thus reaches 9 enemy tanks."

I have both books When the Odds Were Even and Final Crisis in case you want me to look up anything further.

Cheers,

Christian

jagdiv · Post by **jagdiv** » Wed Apr 27, 2005 8:53 am

Very nice!THANKS!

But can you help me for this:
Photos of Erwin Bachmann & 2 panther crews during their fight of after the fight on Herrlisheim

photos of 43th Tank Battalion & 23rd Tank Battalion destroyed tanks on 1.16.45(near Steinwald) and 1.18.45(Herrlisheim)

photos of Lt Col Novosell(43th Tank Battalion commander)and Major Logen(17th Armor Infantry Battalion Commander)

3,How about the American forces strength during OP Nordwind from 1.1.45-1.31.45

Units:
15th Corps
6th Corps

12th Armor Division
14th Armor Division

Christian · Post by **Christian** » Wed Apr 27, 2005 11:14 am

Here is a link to a picture of Erwin Bachmann taken after receiving his Ritterkreuz:

http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Per ... annE-R.htm

Cheers,

Christian

Christian · Post by **Christian** » Wed Apr 27, 2005 12:28 pm

jagdiv · Post by **jagdiv** » Wed Apr 27, 2005 7:15 pm

These photos are great,but they didnt note the photo are 43th Tank Battalion's destoryed tank(where,when,which unit are all unknown),and why most of the tanks are all upside-down?^^

I think I need more photos about these tanks wreck.

Christian · Post by **Christian** » Wed Apr 27, 2005 7:24 pm

I am afraid that the level of detail that you are looking for will be extremely difficult, if not impossible to find.

Good luck with your further research.

Christian

jagdiv · Post by **jagdiv** » Wed Apr 27, 2005 8:34 pm

oh ,I understand.
Thanks for your help and adivice.

kowalski · Post by **kowalski** » Sat May 14, 2005 7:39 am

On US 15th & 6th Corps:

for further details on each units you should check this site:
http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/documents/ET ... OB-TOC.htm

Both corps were part of 7th Army.

7th Army reserve: French 2nd Armored Div.

15th Corps
--44th ID
--100th ID
--103rd ID
--Task Force Harris (63rd ID)

6th Corps
--45th ID
--79th ID
--Task Force Hudelson
--Task Force Herren (70th ID)
--Task Force Linden (42nd ID)

6th Corps reserve:
14th Armored Div
12th Armored Div
36th ID

Also French 1st Army was defending Strasbourg with mainly 3rd DIA being involved in Op. Nordwind.