18th volksgrenadier division 18th volksgrenadier division

The original story, if there even was one, was told and retold and distorted until everyone and their brother claimed to know the guys that did it. of the Army, 1965. Ridgway answered, Bill, we can and we will. The withdrawal plan called for a general pullback west of the Salm River to an assembly area in the zone controlled by the 82nd Airborne Division in the vicinity of Lierneux. Volksgrenadier-Division. Jentz, Thomas. The only known witness to the supposed event, Captain Walter Henry Anstey, died on 26th October 2003 at the age of 90, taking the truth of the events that day to his grave. Under the command of Gnther Hoffmann-Schnborn, the new division absorbed elements of the 18th Luftwaffe Field Division. Rejection & Neglect available to buy on Payhip! General Jones wanted Hoge to use the infantry of his 27th AIB to seize the series of hills near Winterspelt while the 14th Tank Battalion was to remain west of the Our River for use as the situation developed. That eliminates this units Pzkw IV being the Tiger encountered by the Troop B M8 on Dec. 18th . Do you have more information about this person? Between these units, a place was found for the provisional company composed of the 424th Infantry stragglers. An assault on Thommen forced out the troops holding the town, and efforts to retake it failed. In this version the M8 is replaced by an M5 Stuart from the 17th Tank Battalion of the 7th Armored during the retreat from St. Vith, that somehow miraculously ended up behind a Tiger when they thought they were following a Sherman. By 2300 enemy patrols tested 27th AIBs new position and a night attack was thrown back with the help of D Troop, 89th Recon. Johnston, W. Wesley. 3. English PDF (15 MB) Jan B-513 German General Staff Officers, Casualties. VGD) was a volksgrenadier division of the German Army (Heer) during the Second World War, active from 1944 to 1945.. The lumbering heavy tank continued moving towards the American line before turning north towards the town of Hunningen, Belgium, passing the armored car. The 9th Armored Divisions position at the Our was no longer tenable. During the early hours of December 17, the Germans laid heavy mortar and artillery fire on the front-line positions of his regiment. At 0130 the 27th AIB was hit hard and the sector held by Company B, 9th Engineers was deeply penetrated, causing the armored infantry to fall back under the protective guns of Company A, 14th Tank Battalion. Since St. Vith should have been taken on December 16 or the 17th at the latest, he decided to leave his command post at Waxweiler and spend the night with the 18th Volksgrenadier Division at Schoenberg. During the assault, B Company suffered about 40 casualties including its commanding officer, Captain Henry D. Wirsig. . The circuitous march up one road and down another led to a new line just a few hundred yards to the west of the old one and was miraculously carried out while under attack without the loss of any men or equipment. The similarity in appearance between the Panzer IV and Tiger I is often cited as a reason to why there are so many claims made by soldiers during World War II of battling Tiger Is, despite Tiger Is being a fairly rare encounter. 19454 Combat Interviews of the 38th Armored Infantry Battalion, 7th Armored Division: The St. Vith Salient and Manhay, December 17-23, 1944. Since 7th Armoreds withdrawal meant that 9th Armoreds left flank would be in danger, the two generals agreed that Hoge would have to readjust part of his line to maintain contact with Clarkes new rearward position. Schneider, Wolfgang. Slayden, knowing that the nearest units of the 7th Armored Division were at least 60 miles away in the Netherlands, had serious doubts that a whole combat command could reach St. Vith on the 17th, much less by 0700 hours. 12th Volksgrenadier Division 89; 197; 487; 557; 650; 727. 4 Grosstraktor to Panzerbefehlswagen IV. Not long after Rodt fell to the Fhrer Escort Brigade, an attack came against the 7th Armored from the direction of Recht. For this mission, CCB consisted of the 14th Tank Battalion, the 27th Armored Infantry Battalion, the 16th Armored Field Artillery Battalion, and miscellaneous smaller units vital to any major command. German Division Nr. Late on December 17, General Manteuffel was concerned with the lack of progress in his attack beyond the Schnee Eifel toward St. Vith. The division was formed in Denmark, in September 1944, by redesignating 571.Volksgrenadier-Division.Under the command of Gnther Hoffmann-Schnborn, the new division absorbed elements of the 18th Luftwaffe Field . 13th Company, 28th Jager Regiment, 8th Jager Division 286. The move would also have to be done under the cover of darkness in severe wintry conditions. The town was also in Fifth Panzer Armys area of advance. Then there is the issue of the entrys ambiguity in regards to the Tiger tank that was knocked out. At about noon that day, the 62nd Volksgrenadier Divisions 190th Regiment had broken through north of the 424th Infantrys Cannon Company. While walking to avoid the traffic congestion, Manteuffel encountered his superior, Field Harshal Model. One would think that Lieutenant Colonel Boylan, or at the very least Troop A, would make some sort of mention of this fairly notable engagement. 120th Infantry Regiment (30th Infantry Division) 307th Airborne Engineer Battalion 319th Field Artillery Glider Battalion 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment German Units 3d Parachute Division 12th SS Panzer Division 18th Volksgrenadier Division 246th Volsgrenadier Division 884th March Battalion 905th Assault Gun Brigade Volksgrenadier-Division. Captain Ansteys version lacks supporting documentation. The reason for this comparative respite was due to the fact that the roads to the German rear were completely jammed. Hoge pointedly asked Ridgway how it could be done. On this day, CCB of the 9th Armored Division was still in its assembly area in the vicinity of Faymonville. The area being defended was beginning to take the form of a large horseshoe, its axis running approximately northeast to southeast. That cold snap that hit us has frozen the roads. Late in the day, the Germans launched three major attacks, each directed along a main road leading into the town. The formations started to peel backward in succession from opposite Neubruck to Maldingen. This German World War II article is a stub. The German plan for the attack through the Ardennes, an offensive that would forever be known as the Battle of the Bulge, was to be accomplished in the conventional manner. Similar events have happened more than once, though on the Eastern Front. By 1300 on the 21st, the entire line was ablaze with German artillery, rockets, tanks, and infantry. Also no Ferdinand/Elefant recorded to have seen combat on Western Front. The Commands main body was led by the 27th AIB with B Company in front, followed by Headquarters and C Company. Osprey Publishing, 2003. This one, however, most likely did not. Attacking the rear of a Tiger when you had no way of knowing if it was supported by one or more others is extremely unlikely. However, by noon on December 18 it was quite apparent to Hoge that the Germans infiltrating across the river were converging on the bridge in such numbers that it had to be blown. It would be unable to turn its full strength on St. Vith until the American surrender in that area. 6 Schwere Panzerkampfwagen DW to E-100. Elements of D Company, 89th Recon screened the flanks. 281st Security Division (281. Manteuffel had hoped for considerably more on the 19th. 2014. The 18th Volksgrenadier Division was to attack along the two roads from Schoenberg, with the Fhrer Escort Brigade assaulting from the north. He said that the fight took about ninety minutes and that they used almost all their ammunition. Soldiers of the 18th Volksgrenadier Division infiltrated the American lines at the villages of Roth, Weckerath, Kobscheid, and Auw before the artillery barrage began. Schiffer Publishing, 1997. The division fought in the Ardennes, inflicting on the 106th US Infantry Division the worst defeat suffered by U.S. forces in the ETO, when over 8,000 US soldiers surrendered to the volksgrenadiers. The ultimate objective was to open an escape route for the soldiers of the 424th. By dark, Lt. Col. Engeman and his two task forces were back in their assembly area in the vicinity of Breitfeld. Ninth Armored sent out billeting parties as it reached its new area. The situation on Reids left flank was unclear, and the Germans were attacking in considerable force against his right flank. Eventually retreating through Germany until the end of the war, when it surrendered. It was a race between the Germans who were desperately trying to bring their 88 mm gun to bear and the Americans who were trying to get as close as possible to the Tiger Is rear. Penguin Books, 2016. The platoon lost four men missing and two wounded in the ensuing engagement. Armour Plate Porforation [sic: Perforation] of Tank and Anti Tank Guns. Stackpole Books, 2015. General Hoge received his order to pull CCB, 9th Armored out at 0605 on December 23. Three of these Tiger IIs belonged to Schwere SS Panzer Abteilung 501 (Heavy SS Tank Battalion 501); Tiger 105 was abandoned in the town of Stavelot, Belgium after getting itself stuck in a building, Tiger 332 was abandoned near Coo, Belgium as a result of mechanical damage, and Tiger 008 was abandoned at a farmhouse near Trois Ponts, Belgium. The division, which was under the command of Gnther Hoffmann-Schnborn, absorbed . 1945. Unteroffizier Helmus of the 26th Volksgrenadier Division painted the situation when the advance began. Perrin told General Hoge, You can continue this attack on towards this back country, but you must be back on this side of the river by nightfall.. Combat Interviews of the 87th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron, 7th Armored Division: The St. Vith Salient, December 17-23, 1944. We made several probing attacks, and every time we went into your position, we encountered armor. Overall operational command for the offensive fell to Field Marshal Walther Model. Hoge departed Faymonville at approximately 1800, arriving at General Joness headquarters in the St. Josephs Kloster about a half hour later. Model informed Manteuffel that he would be given the Fhrer Escort Brigade, which was nearly equal in strength to an American light armored division, for the upcoming assault on St. Vith. Despite nearly a foot of snow, the ground underneath was still soft, and with the passage of only a few heavy vehicles it was soon churned into a morass of mud. Those men were a scrappy bunch. Initially, General Jones wanted Hoge to move his command into the Losheim Gap at Maderfeld and arrive there at dawn on December 17 to counterattack and erase the enemy penetrations that were threatening 106th Division positions on the Schnee Eifel. Schneider, Wolfgang. Boylan, Vincent L. After Action Report, Month of December, 1944. Clerks were running everywhere and junior staff officers were arguing among themselves; upstairs, however, Hoge found General Jones remarkably composed. Panzer Tracts, 2001. Then, four German antitank guns covering the Grufflingen-Maldange road were encountered. On February 5, 1945 General Walter Botsch took over command of the division. September 18th, 1944: Kdr. The German tank then stopped dead in its tracks and shuddered; there was a muffled explosion, followed by flames which billowed out of the turret and engine ports. In my opinion, the only definite conclusion that can be made from all this is that some American vehicle engaged something at St. Vith on the night of the 18th. In blinding snow and on slippery roads the tanks and infantry of CCB, 9th Armored headed for Bauvenn. Shortly thereafter, Hasbrouck called and asked, Bruce, do you think you can get out? Clarke answered, A miracle has happened, General! After 1200 hours on 17th December 1944, the 18th Volksgrenadier Division was reinforced by a mobile battalion. 4 Grosstraktor to Panzerbefehlswagen IV. He is being outflanked and is retiring west another 2,000 yards refusing both flanks. Rebuilding the blown bridge to get their assault guns across was their first priority. Given the unreliability of the American accounts of this supposed event and the lack of any supporting documentation from the Germans, it is safe to say that neither a Tiger I nor a Tiger II was knocked out by an M8 Greyhound on 18th December 1944 in or around the town of St. Vith. So, rather than spill blood needlessly to take meaningless ground, Hoge called off the attack on Winterspelt. EN RU CN DE ES. Johnston, W. Wesley. Germanys Tiger Tanks D.W. to Tiger I: Design, Production & Modifications. Hoge could not see much sense in making an attack, taking ground, and then turning right around and coming back, especially if the attack was successful. There are a few notable issues raised by this morning report and record of events entry, the most obvious one being that the M8 Greyhound is reported as being from Troop A of the 87th, not Troop B of the 87th, as it is in the contemporary story. Accordingly, that evening Sixth Panzer Army commander Dietrich issued orders to the 2nd SS Panzer Corps to move to the south so that parts of that corps could assist Manteuffel in taking St. Vith. Although the Germans were facing stiff resistance all along the American defensive line, they were determined to take St. Vith. Mines were laid. This break appeared to be only a dream, however, as it seemed every outfit wanted a piece of CCB, 9th Armored to help shore up its positions. It contained the 293., 294. and 295. grenadier regiments, Panzerjger-Bataillon 1818, Pionier-Bataillon 1818, Fsilier-Bataillon 1818 and Artillerie-Regiment 1818.[1]. A second attempt on the bridge, made by about 40 men four hours later, was also thrown back by machine-gun fire. If neither a Tiger I nor a Tiger II was killed on 18th December 1944 in or around the town of St. Vith by an M8 Greyhound, what was? At 0400 hours on 16th December, 1944, men of the German 18th Volksgrenadier Division began to leave their positions and make their way towards the American lines. The 18th Volksgrenadier Division (18. The 18th Volksgrenadier Division was a volksgrenadier division of the German Army during the Second World War, active from 1944 to 1945. Due to the lack of detail in Troop Es entry, it is impossible to tell which Tiger tank is the one being referred to in the account. At about 2130, General Clarke phoned General Hoge to tell him that the enemy was entering St. Vith from the north and that his forces were withdrawing to form a new line northwest of the city. At 0100 the 23rd, D Troop, 89th Recon lost an armored car and a jeep to antitank guns. Although the 62nd Volksgrenadier captured Winterspelt, its losses were high and its left regiment had made little headway in the Heckhuschied sector. With this contact, all units in the vicinity of St. Vith, including 9th Armored Division forces, passed to the command of Maj. Gen. Matthew B. Ridgways XVIII Airborne Corps. By mid-afternoon, General Hoge ordered his infantry to halt and dig in. The entire division was to follow shortly thereafter. On the morning of the December 20, three tank destroyers were placed in support of Company C, 27th AIB. Revised Edition, Arms and Armour Press, 1973. Jentz, Thomas, and Hilary Doyle. This version of the story, which is paraphrased in the introduction, will be referred to as the original version of the story. Osprey Publishing, 2013. Required fields are marked *. 8 Sturmgeschuetz s.Pak to Sturmmoerser. In light of these circumstances, General Hasbrouck felt compelled to write to Clarke that unless the withdrawal began soon the opportunity will be gone., During the night of December 22, a cold wind had begun to blow out of the east bringing what weathermen call a Russian high. Although both Clarke and Hoge noted it, they saw little hope that the ground might freeze in time to aid their withdrawal, but after receiving Hasbroucks message Clarke stepped out and tested the ground. Germanys Tiger Tanks D.W. to Tiger I: Design, Production & Modifications. Communications with division headquarters in St. Vith were limited to liaison officers running along a road now being shelled by the Germans. I am a huge M8 Greyhound fan, having built a model at age 13 and I now own a 1:6 scale one with 4-man crew. Add to cart. The German armored and infantry attacks were preceded by the shelling of the American positions with at least 657 light, medium, and heavy guns and howitzers and 340 multiple rocket launchers. Therefore, Montgomery ordered Ridgway to attack to the southeast until Vielsalm could be reached, ensuring an escape corridor for those trapped within the defense. Tiger. The tanks of the 14th Tank Battalion and the half-tracks of the 27th AIB paused to pick up the foot elements of the 424th RCT, 106th Infantry Division. An appropriate start for the investigation of this action is to identify contemporary American accounts. Contents 1 Allied Forces 1.1 12th Army Group 1.1.1 U.S. First Army 1.1.1.1 V Corps 1.1.1.2 VII Corps 1.1.1.3 XVIII Airborne Corps 1.1.2 U.S. Third Army 1.1.2.1 III Corps 1.1.2.2 VIII Corps 1.1.2.3 XII Corps The closest of the northern German armored thrust routes ran through Recht, about five miles northwest of St. Vith. Tigers In Combat I. Roadblocks were set up and manned. While on its way, the platoon was commandeered by a colonel from the 106th Division. Together they broke up the attack. Each attack was preceded by an intense artillery barrage lasting from 15 to 35 minutes. At the close of the first day of battle, General Lucht could look with some satisfaction at the days events, although his 62nd Volksgrenadier Division had yet to break through the American line. There are two likely candidates, the first being a Panzer IV. Ardennes 1944: Hitlers Last Gamble. Six paved or macadam roads converged at St. Vith, but none of these was considered by the Germans to be a major military trunk line. Boyer, Donald P. St. Vith The 7th Armored Division in the Battle of the Bulge 17-23 December 1944 A Narrative After Action Report. Lieutenant Olsons version of the story would be the most contradicting version yet. Within the Kloster, General Hoge found a division headquarters staff in a state of disarray and confusion.