by Ian Baxter
First published in Great Britain in 2009 by
PEN & SWORD MILITARY
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Copyright © Ian Baxter, 2009
ISBN 978 1 84415 977 2
eISBN 978 1 84468 880 7
PRC ISBN 978 1 84468 881 4
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Contents
Introduction
Photographic Acknowledgements
The Author
Chapter One
Kursk
Chapter Two
Fighting Withdrawal
Chapter Three
Winter Warfare
Chapter Four
Bagration and Aftermath
Chapter Five
Last Battles
Appendices
Appendix One
Waffen-SS Weapons and Equipment
Appendix Two
Infantry Division 1944
The Panzergrenadier Division 1944
Panzer/Panzergrenadier Brigade July 1944
Wehrmacht Division HQ
Appendix Three
Combat Uniforms of the Waffen-SS 1943–1945
Appendix Four
Combat Uniforms of the Wehrmacht 1943–1945
Ranks
Introduction
Hitler's defeat on the Eastern Front is a unique insight into the last two years of the Wehrmacht and Waffen-SS at war. It describes how Hitler's once vaunted force played a decisive role in trying to stem the might of the Russian Army following its defeat at Kursk in the summer of 1943. Drawing on some 250 rare and previously unpublished photographs accompanied by in-depth captions and accompanying text, the book describes how the Wehrmacht and Waffen-SS franticly fought a desperate battle in the face of overwhelming enemy firepower. Despite the adverse situation in which the German Army was placed, soldiers continued to fight to the death in a bitter and frantic struggle to prevent the Red Army from reaching the frontiers of the Reich. Deluged by an armada of tanks, mass infantry assaults, and the constant hammer blows of Russian artillery the German Army along with its fanatic SS counterparts fought a series of vicious battles through the Baltic States, Byelorussia, and then built up new defences along the Vistula in Poland. But as the final months of the war were played out on the Eastern Front, the German Army, with diminishing resources, withdrew across a scarred and devastated Reich to frantically fight out the last battles around the devastated capital of Berlin.
Photographic Acknowledgements
It is with the greatest pleasure that I use this opportunity on concluding this book to thank those who helped make this volume possible. My expression of gratitude first goes to my photographic collector Michael Cremin. He has been an unfailing source; supplying me with a number of photographs that were obtained from numerous private sources.
In Poland I am also extremely grateful to Marcin Kaludow, my Polish photographic specialist, who supplied me with a variety of photographs that he sought from private photographic collections in Poland.
Finally, I wish to display my kindness and appreciation to my American photographic collector, Richard White, who supplied me with a number of rare unpublished photographs.
The Author
Ian Baxter is a military historian who specialises in German twentieth century military history. He has written more than twenty books including ‘Wolf’ Hitler's Wartime Headquarters, Poland – The Eighteen Day Victory March, Panzers In North Africa, The Ardennes Offensive, The Western Campaign, The 12th SS Panzer-Division Hitlerjugend, The Waffen-SS on the Western Front, The Waffen-SS on the Eastern Front, The Red Army At Stalingrad, Elite German Forces of World War II, Armoured Warfare, German Tanks of War, Blitzkrieg, Panzer-Divisions At War, Hitler's Panzers, German Armoured Vehicles of World War Two, Last Two Years of the Waffen-SS At War, German Soldier Uniforms and Insignia, German Guns of the Third Reich, Defeat to Retreat: The Last Years of the German Army At War 1943-1945, Biography of Rudolf Hoss, Operation Bagration – the destruction of Army Group Centre, and most recently The Afrika-Korps. He has written over one hundred journals including ‘ Last days of Hitler, Wolf's Lair, Story of the VI and V2 Rocket Programme, Secret Aircraft of World War Two, Rommel At Tobruk, Hitler's War With His Generals, Secret British Plans To Assassinate Hitler, SS At Arnhem, Hitlerjugend, Battle Of Caen I944, Gebirgsjäger At War, Panzer Crews, Hitlerjugend Guerrillas, Last Battles in the East, Battle of Berlin, and many more. He has also reviewed numerous military studies for publication and supplied thousands of photographs and important documents to various publishers and film Production Companyies worldwide.
Chapter One
Kursk
On 5 July 1943, both the Wehrmacht and their Waffen-SS counterparts stood poised ready to go into action, the pre-dawn light was shattered by a massive German bombardment. The artillery barrage was so intense that in no less than one hour German gunners had hurled more shells than they had used in both Poland and the Western campaigns put together. Despite this violent bombardment, Soviet artillery responded with equal ferocity that soon confirmed what all Germans feared: the attack was not a surprise. All over the front, Soviet artillery crews fired at known German artillery positions that caught the German gunners in the open.
Within hours of the artillery bombardment, three Waffen-SS divisions were engaged in the opening stages of the greatest armoured clash in history. The task of the SS.Panzer-Korps was to advance via Beresov and Sadeynoye, and breaking through the first defensive belt. Between Lutchki and Jakovlevo was the second line of Russian defensive positions, and when these were destroyed the advance would follow in a general northeastern direction. For this operation the l67. Infanterie-Division would form part of the SS Korps and would guard the left flank.
The ‘Leibstandarte's’ first attack went well, and their armour soon encircled enemy units that were destroyed with supporting grenadiers. The 9.Kompanie of the ‘Leibstandarte's’ 2.SS.Panzergrenadier-Regiment captured two hills west of Byelgorod and took five fortified positions with explosive charges. The soldiers of the ‘Totenkopf’ division too wasted no time and smashed onto a series of strong Soviet defence lines. At the same time the ‘Das Reich’ division made considerable progress, and infiltrated enemy lines in front of them.
By evening of the first day of the attack ‘Totenkopf’, with its new Tiger tanks leading the advance had reached the second Russian defensive belt and mana
ged to capture the village of Yakhontovo and taken an important command post of the Soviet 69th Army. Both the ‘Leibstandarte’ and ‘Das Reich’ had done equally as well. With their Tigers and Panzer.IV's they had penetrated some 13 miles into the Russian defences.
By 7 July, the advance of the Wehrmacht and Waffen-SS seemed more promising than ever. German forces had managed to smash its way through more than 30 miles of Russian line, whilst in some areas they were equally successful despite enduring bitter fighting. German battle reports confirmed that given the amount of Soviet prisoners taken and the damage inflicted on their lines, it appeared that the Germans were poised on the edge of victory. However, they had not even yet encountered the main enemy positions. The fact that they had advanced at such speed had enabled the Russians to take full advantage of attacking the German flanks.
Two photographs showing a halftrack Sd.Kfz.25l carrying Waffen-SS troops to the front during the opening stages of the Kursk offensive, ‘Operation Citadel’ in early July 1943. In front of the Soviet defensive fortress at Kursk stood the cream of all the German combat formations.
The initial phase of the Soviet defensive action at Kursk was often crude, messy and costly, but in a tactical and operational sense it achieved its objectives. During the days that followed the Red Army, despite continuing to incur huge losses in both men and weaponry, deprived the Germans of even tactical superiority. Against the Wehrmacht and Waffen-SS they constantly strengthened their defences through reinforcement, skilfully deploying mobile armour and anti-tank reserves to compensate for the high losses. Within days the Russians had managed to ground down many of the Wehrmacht units, including those in the SS.Panzer-Korps, and threw its offensive timetable completely off schedule. It was here on the blood-soaked plains at Kursk that for the first time in the war the Red Army had savagely contested every foot of ground and was finally on an equal footing. Through sheer weight of Soviet strength and stubborn combat along an everextending front, the German mobile units were finally being forced to a standstill.
Waffen-SS machine-gun squad in a trench during ‘Citadel’. These troops belong to the II.SS Panzer-Korps which comprised of three premier Waffen-SS divisions, l.SS.Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler Division, the 2.SS Das Reich Division and the 3.SS Totenkopf Division.
Waffen-SS MG 42 machine gunners in a Russian farmstead during the battle at Kursk. At their starting positions, the three SS divisions covered a sector that was 12-miles wide. The Totenkopf occupied the left flank of the advance, the Leibstandarte was in the centre and Das Reich held the right.
On 9 July, the SS.Panzer-Korps renewed their offensive against very strong enemy forces. In the vicious battle that ensued, the SS received a series of sustained attacks, but fanatically held their ground. Although they were in danger of being cut-off and encircled, they received orders to push forward and attack Soviet troops northeast of Beregovoy. During the advance, ‘Das Reich’ guarded the eastern flank of ‘Totenkopf’ and Leibstandarte. En route it became embroiled in thick bitter fighting in a huge tank battle in the hills around Prokhorovka on 12 July. Here the Soviet 5th Guard and 5th Guard Tank Armies clashed with the powerful armoured SS units consequently resulting in the climax of operation ‘Zitadelle’. Throughout the attack the professionalism and technical ability of the SS was second to none. During the heavy fighting SS troops were often able to turn the balance even when the Russians had overwhelming superiority in numbers. In spite of the losses the units were imbued with optimism and continued to deliver to the enemy heavy blows.
During the climax of the battle both the ‘Totenkopf’ and ‘Leibstandarte’ attacked, whilst ‘Das Reich’ remained on the defensive, repelling a number of armour and infantry attacks. Although Russian losses in both men and equipment far exceeded the German, their losses could be replaced. German losses, however, except where armour could be recovered, were total. Within less than a week of Zitadelle being unleashed both sides had lost several hundred tanks and thousands of troops. While the Red Army was able to repair and replace its losses, the SS divisions had to struggle on with what they had left at their disposal. Constantly, the soldiers were being slowly ground down in a battle of attrition. The Russians had committed no less than seven corps, with more than 850 tanks and SU-85 assault guns. Wave upon wave of Russian T-34 tanks poured a storm of fire onto the SS positions. When the Soviet tanks ran out of ammunition, the crews often physically rammed the German tanks. Dismounted tanks crews then set about destroying the Panzers on foot using all weapons at their disposal, including grenades and mines.
Heavy battles of attrition were fought along many parts of the front, but it was the elite Waffen-SS soldiers that were taking the brunt of the fighting. Everywhere enemy troops charged Wehrmacht and SS positions, turning these once mighty soldiers from attackers to desperate defenders. Whole German regiments had no sooner attacked and captured an important position, when it was repeatedly struck by waves of Russian tanks and mounted infantry and compelled to go over to the defensive.
A Waffen-SS radio man during Kursk. By 7 July the advance of the SS.Panzer-Koprs seemed more promising than ever. Totenkopf had managed to smash its way through more than 30 miles of Russian line, whilst the Leibstandarte and Das Reich were equally successful despite enduring bitter fighting.
By 13 July, the Germans were unable to make any further progress, and poor ground conditions were hampering its re-supply efforts. As a consequence Russian forces managed to drive back the 3.Panzer- Division in the area of the Rakovo-Kruglik road and recaptured hill 247, and the town of Berezovka. The following day, ‘Totenkopf’ was forced out of its bridgehead on the northern bank of the Psel River, while further east ‘Das Reich’ had made limited progress, capturing the town of Belenichino. The ‘Grossdeutschland’ Division was ordered to attack westwards, in order to recapture the ground lost by the 3.Panzer Division. Following another day of bitter fighting the division finally managed to link up with 3.Panzer at Berezovka, but it was unable to dislodge Russian forces from Hill 247.
On 15 July, ‘Das Reich’ made contact with the 7.Panzer-Division. However the Russian offensive to the north of the salient was now threatening the 9.Armee rear and it was forced to begin a planned withdrawal westwards to avoid encirclement. Following its withdrawal, almost all-offensive action around Prokhorovka ceased and German forces in the area went over to the defensive.
By 17 July, a further series of Russian offensives opened along the entire Eastern Front. The II.SS.Panzer-Korps and the ‘Grossdeutschland’ Division were withdrawn from 4. Panzer-Army, and the operation cancelled. By 23 July the 4.Panzer-Army had withdrawn to its start line.
Operation Zitadelle was a catastrophe for the German forces on the Eastern Front. Hitler had chosen an objective that was far too ambitious. The attack had also been continually delayed, allowing Russian forces additional time to prepare their defensive positions in the salient. Despite German efforts to batter their way through, they had neither the strength nor resources to do so. The cream of the German panzer force, so carefully concentrated prior to the operation, was exhausted and the Russian's had undeniably gained the initiative in the East. The campaign in Russia would now consist of a series of German withdrawals with the Wehrmacht and Waffen-SS fanatically contesting every foot of the way.
A Waffen-SS soldier can be seen in a four wheeled armoured car during a reconnaissance mission along the front lines. Within a few days of the battle reports confirmed that given the amount of Soviet prisoners taken and the damage inflicted on their lines, it appeared that the SS was poised on the edge of victory.
An SS soldier armed with a stick grenade moves forward during an attack against a Russian position. The initial phase of the fighting at Kursk had been very costly to the Russians, but in a tactical and operational sense it achieved its objectives. During the days that followed the Red Army began to deprive the SS of even tactical superiority.
Many German commanders openly blamed the second front in Italy for draini
ng German forces on the Eastern Front, and believed that they failed when Kursk was within their grasp. However, it is true that the second front did drain vital resources from Russia, but it would not have markedly improved its chances even if the second front had not begun, especially against an enemy of unrivalled strength. The Soviets at Kursk had undoubtedly delivered the Wehrmacht and Waffen-SS divisions a severe battering from which the German war effort was never to recover. The Germans had lost some thirty divisions, including seven Panzer divisions. According to official Soviet sources, as many as 49,822 German troops were killed or missing and had lost 1,614 tanks and self-propelled guns that were committed to action. As for the SS divisions, the ‘Leibstandarte’, ‘Das Reich’ and ‘Totenkopf’ had lost more than half its vehicles and taken massive casualties. Red Army troops, however, suffered much higher losses with some 177,847 being killed and injured. They also lost a staggering 2,586 tanks and self-propelled guns during the battle.
Operation ‘Zitadelle’ had finally ended the myth of the German invincibility and was the first time that the blitzkrieg concept had failed. The tide of victory in the East had finally been turned. But even as ‘Zitadelle’ was drawing to a bloody conclusion, the II.SS.Panzer-Korps was not there to see the end of the battle: the remnants of their exhausted and battered units had already been hurriedly ordered to pull out of the Kursk area to the relative calm and quiet of Kharkov to wait for new orders. Before the Leibstandarte departed for Italy it turned over all of its remaining armoured fighting vehicles to ‘Das Reich’. Both ‘Totenkopf’ and ‘Das Reich’ were detached from the ‘Leibstandarte’ and redeployed in the Donetz Basin on 25 July 1943. As for the ‘Leibstandarte’, the division was withdrawn on 3 August. A strong, tough and reliable SS division had been needed in Italy to prevent the whole peninsula from falling into Allied hands. For the next three months the ‘Leibstandarte’ spent its duration as Occupation Forces engaging periodically in anti-partisan operations in northern Italy and in Slovenia.
