I was only at Tolochino for a short time before setting off, at 18.15 hrs.. for the XLVI Panzer Corps at Shklov. The roads were bad but the essential bridges were in order again. I arrived at 21.30 hrs. Heavy artillery fire and repeated bombing attacks on 10th Panzer Division’s crossing-place had made the operation more difficult here than in XLVII Panzer Corp’s area. The bridges in SS-Das Reich’s sector had also been damaged by air attack. Nevertheless, the crossing had succeeded and advance elements got orders to push on to Gorki. I instructed the corps that it was necessary to continue their advance during the night in order to exploit the advantage of surprise which we had gained over the enemy. I then drove on to 10th Panzer Division in order to make sure that the advance guard was in movement. This visit turned out to be well worth while, since when I got there I found that the troops had not yet actually started.
After a difficult night drive I arrived back at Tolochino at 04.30 hrs. on the 12th.
On July 11th the divisions of my Panzer Group reached the following areas:
1st Cavalry Division, Shlobin-Rogachev; 4th Panzer Division and 10th (Motorised) Infantry Division, a bridgehead near and to the north of Starye Bychov, on the east bank of the Dnieper; 3rd Panzer Division, the area south of Mogilev, where it was acting as flank guard against the Russian bridgehead.
10th Panzer Division and Infantry Regiment Gross-Deutschland, south of Shklov; SS-Das Reich, a bridgehead, east of the Dnieper, in the Shklov area.
29th (Motorised) Infantry Division, a bridgehead over the Dnieper, east of Kopys; 18th Panzer Division, west of Kopys; 17th Panzer Division, south-west of Orsha.
Battlegroups Streich and Usinger were guarding the western and north-western approaches to the Russian bridgehead at Orsha.
The mass of the following infantry had reached a line east of Sluzk–east of Minsk, with advance units along the line of the Beresina. Hoth was near Vitebsk.
On July 12th the crossing continued. I flew on this day to XXIV Panzer Corps where I remained for eight hours. Later on I saw Schmundt.
Sketch Map 11
Crossing the Dnieper and Smolensk. Situation 11.7–16.7.41.
The OKH did not at this time have a clear picture as to whether the enemy was still capable of offering stubborn resistance to the panzer groups of Army Group Centre, or whether he would withdraw. In any event some sort of a defensive front was in process of being built up before Smolensk, and it was the desire of the OKH that the panzer groups should do their best to smash it and to destroy the enemy forces in the area. Apart from this it was proposed that elements of Hoth’s 3rd Panzer Group should swing north-east, and thus encircle and destroy the enemy forces that were opposing the advance of Sixteenth Army’s right wing.
Smolensk–Elnya–Roslavl
On July 13th I transferred my headquarters to Siachody, on the east bank of the Dnieper, some 4 miles to the south-east of Shklov. On the same day I visited 17th Panzer Division on the bank of the river; since the beginning of the campaign this brave division had destroyed 502 enemy tanks. I also watched elements of SS-Das Reich crossing the river and talked to Generals Hausser and von Vietinghoff. The advance of the SS troops in the direction of Monastirshtchino would have to be fast and would need careful reconnaissance since reports from the air force indicated that the Russians might attempt to break through to the Dnieper in the area south-west of Gorki.
The magnificently led 29th (Motorised) Infantry Division managed, during the course of the day, to reach a point only 11 miles from Smolensk.
Our new headquarters, which I reached at 17.00 hrs.,had the advantage of being very near the front. Lively fire from the south indicated heavy fighting on the part of Infantry Regiment Gross-Deutschland, which was covering our flank against Mogilev. During the night we received a cry for help: Gross-Deutschland had fired off all its ammunition. The regiment, unaccustomed as yet to the conditions of Russian warfare, wanted a fresh delivery. It did not get one, and with that the nervous firing stopped and we had some quiet.
This was the date on which the OKH first thought of swinging Panzer Group 2 in a south or south-easterly direction. The reason behind this idea was the recent developments in Army Group South, which had now reached the Dniester. On this same day the OKH was also preoccupied with the strategy of Rommel’s African Campaign and future operations in Libya: these were to be co-ordinated with an attack on the Suez Canal, through Turkey and Syria. Preliminary studies for an operation through the Caucasus, towards the Persian Gulf, were also started.
On July 14th I sent the XLVI Panzer Corps with SS-Das Reich towards Gorki and accompanied them myself. 10th Panzer Division reached Gorki and Mstislavl after bitter fighting and sadly heavy casualties, particularly to the artillery. The 29th (Motorised) Infantry Division was making good progress towards Smolensk: the 18th Panzer Division had crossed the Dnieper and was moving forward to protect the 29th (Motorised) Infantry Division’s left flank from Krasnyi to the north and north-west.
XXIV Panzer Corps had widened its bridgehead towards Volkovitchi and had moved the 1st Cavalry Division across the river at Starye Bychov.
On this day the OKH prepared its first staff study of the strength and organisation of the units that would be left behind in the East as occupation troops. The basic idea was to station for this purpose strong mobile forces in the principal industrial and communication centres: each group, besides its normal occupation duties, would be able to send out fast battle groups into the unoccupied hinterland to destroy any attempts at resistance before these could become dangerous. At the same time, a study was made of the future dispositions of the German Army in Europe after the conclusion of Operation Barbarossa, and of the consequent reorganisation and reduction in strength of the army.
Such trains of thought take a man far from reality. The primary task was to bring Operation Barbarossa to a speedy and successful end and to concentrate all efforts on this purpose.
Early on July 15th Field-Marshal von Kluge visited me at my headquarters. I then drove to Gorki, to XLVII Panzer Corps, and from there to XLVI Panzer Corps at Svierovitch, 8 miles to the south-west of Krasnyi. The 29th (Motorised) Infantry Division had reached the southern outskirts of Smolensk, the 18th Panzer Division, the Dnieper, north of Krasnyi. The Russians were withdrawing along the main road from Orsha to Smolensk in four or five columns abreast. On the east bank of the Dnieper 17th Panzer Division had captured the eastern and southern quarters of Orsha. At 17.00 hrs. I was with Nehring, whose 18th Panzer Division was engaged in heavy fighting about Grusino; he had just heard of heavy casualties to his supply units at Dobryn, 15 miles south-east of Orsha, where the encircled enemy was attempting to break through to the east. At 17.40 hrs. I drove off towards Smolensk. A bombing attack on my staff convoy produced no casualties. At 19.15 hrs. I had a conversation with the first general staff officer of the 29th (Motorised) Infantry Division, the excellent Major Franz, outside Smolensk; he reported that his division was making good progress in the Smolensk area but that they were suffering a perceptible number of casualties. Already justifiable requests for replacements, both in men and in equipment, were beginning to be heard.
At 23.00 hrs. I rejoined my advance headquarters, which had, meanwhile, arrived at Gorki.
On July 16th the 29th (Motorised) Infantry Division captured Smolensk. It was, therefore, the first of my divisions to reach its operational objective. It had given a splendid performance. Every member of the division, from the commander, General von Boltenstern, to the most humble private, had performed his duty as a brave soldier.
On July 16th my divisions were located as follows:
1st Cavalry Division, south-east of Starye Bychov; 4th Panzer Division, between Cherikov and Krichev; 3rd Panzer Division, between Chaussy and Moliatitchi; 10th (Motorised) Infantry Division, south of Mogilev.
10th Panzer Division, between Chislavitchi and Pochinok; SS-Das Reich, behind it; Infantry Regiment Gross-Deutschland, north of Mogilev.
29th (Motorised) Infan
try Division, Smolensk; 18th Panzer Division, area Krasnyi-Gusino; 17th Panzer Division, area Liady-Dubrovno.
Advance units of the infantry reached the Dnieper. These consisted of the reconnaissance battalions and the few motorised units of which the infantry disposed. Their combat strength was accordingly weak.
Since July 13th the Russians had been launching heavy counterattacks. Some twenty enemy divisions moved from the direction of Gomel against the right flank of my Panzer Group, while the Russians encircled in Mogilev and Orsha attempted simultaneously to break out, the former garrison in a south and south-easterly direction, the latter towards the south. All these operations were controlled by Marshal Timoshenko, with the obvious objective of belatedly frustrating our successful crossing of the Dnieper.
On July 16th further Russian reinforcements were observed moving up from Gomel and Klinzy, as well as heavy traffic to the east of Smolensk. So we had to reckon on a continuation of the Russians’ efforts. Despite the difficulties of the situation I held fast to my decision to reach the objectives assigned me as quickly as possible. The corps, therefore, continued to advance as before.
On July 17th I flew to XXIV Panzer Corps and visited 1st Cavalry Division which was engaged in bitter fighting against the Russians attacking on the east bank of the Dnieper.
On this day the following places were reached:
1st Cavalry Division, south of Starye Bychov; 10th (Motorised) Infantry Division, west of Cherikov; 4th Panzer Division, Krichev; 3rd Panzer Division, Lobkovitchi.
Sketch Map 12
Elnya. Situation 17.7–20.7.41.
10th Panzer Division, between Pochinok and Elnya; SS-Das Reich, Mstislavl; Infantry Regiment Gross-Deutschland, Rekotka.
29th (Motorised) Infantry Division, Smolensk; 18th Panzer Division, Katyn–Gusino.
17th Panzer Division, Liady-Dubrovno.
Strong enemy forces were committed around and to the east of Mogilev, east of Orsha, and north and south of Smolensk. The infantry following us spread out along the Dnieper.
Army Group South succeeded in establishing bridgeheads across the Dniester.
On this day I, together with Hoth and Richthofen, was decorated with the Oak Leaves to the Knight’s Cross. I was the fifth man in the army, and the twenty-fourth in all the armed forces, to receive this decoration.
I spent July 18th with my XLVII Panzer Corps. 17th Panzer Division was withdrawn from its position as flank guard, east of Orsha, and was moved to the area south of Smolensk, where it was committed against the Russian forces attacking northwards towards that city. During the battle which developed in this area the brave commander of the division, General Ritter von Weber, received severe wounds from which he subsequently died.
During the course of the next two days the XLVI Panzer Corps captured Elnya and the surrounding country in the teeth of fierce Russian resistance from fortified positions. The battles on the right flank and in the rear of the corps went on.
By July 20th the following points had been reached:
1st Cavalry Division, south-east of Starye Bychov; 10th (Motorised) Infantry Division, west of Cherikov; 4th Panzer Division, Cherikov–Krichev; 3rd Panzer Division, Lobkovitchi.
10th Panzer Division, Elnya; SS-Das Reich, Kusino; Infantry Regiment Gross-Deutschland, west of Chislavitchi.
17th Panzer Division, south of Smolensk; 29th (Motorised) Infantry Division, Smolensk; 18th Panzer Division, Gusino.
The Russian counter-attacks against XXIV Panzer Corps and Smolensk went on; fresh counter-attacks were developing in the Elnya area. The infantry following behind us crossed the Dnieper. Hoth was engaged in encircling strong enemy forces to the north-east of Smolensk. To succeed in this he required Panzer Group 2 to assist him by advancing from the south, towards Dorogobush. I was very anxious to help him and on July 21st I went to XLVI Panzer Corps to give the necessary orders for a movement in that direction. The southern and western portions of Smolensk were under enemy artillery fire so that I had to make a cross-country detour around the town. Towards noon I passed a regiment of the 17th Panzer Division, at Sloboda, which was covering the south-east flank. Twenty-seven miles to the south-east of Smolensk I found the headquarters of XLVI Panzer Corps at Kisselievka, where I was briefed on the corps situation. I then went on to visit the positions of Infantry Regiment Gross Deutschland, south of Vaskovo station and some 21 miles north of Roslavl, where they were opposed by a rather weak enemy but one who had considerable artillery. All units of XLVI Panzer Corps were at that time engaged with the enemy and, for the moment at least, committed. However, in the course of the next few days the presence of the 18th Panzer Division would no longer be required in the Dnieper bend near Gusino; I resolved that as soon as this happened I should send it to replace Infantry Regiment Gross-Deutschland; XLVI Panzer Corps would then be in a position to support Hoth in strength. I gave the necessary orders over the wireless from XLVI Panzer Corps headquarters. This corps was to switch all available force in the direction of Dorogobush; the commander of the close support planes was to be responsible for breaking up the Russian counter-attacks which were in the process of being mounted from the area Spas-Demiansk north-westwards towards Elnya. During the drive back I had a number of wireless communications from my staff: higher headquarters were urgently desirous that SS-Das Reich be switched towards Dorogobush. However, at the moment I could do nothing more than what I had already arranged with XLVI Panzer Corps. Even from XLVII Panzer Corps, whom I visited once again on my way back, nothing further could be expected for the time being. It all depended on withdrawing 18th Panzer Division quickly from its flank guard duties at Gusino and thus making available the strength necessary for an advance northwards. But precisely on this point Field-Marshal von Kluge, in his anxiety for the left flank of my Panzer Group along the Dnieper, saw fit to intervene personally and ordered 18th Panzer Division to stay where it was. As at Bialystok he did not inform me of this direct action on his part. As a result of this the force needed for the attack on Dorogobush was unfortunately not available.
That evening I drove through enemy artillery fire near Smolensk. My valiant motor-cycle despatch rider, Höllriegel, was thrown from his machine at one point, but luckily sustained no injuries, and at last we reached my group headquarters at Chochlovo, west of Smolensk.
The town of Smolensk had suffered little from the battles that had been fought around it. After capturing the old town, situated on the south bank of the Dnieper, the division had crossed the river and captured the industrial areas on the north side on July 17th in order to facilitate the establishment of contact with Hoth. During these days, while visiting the positions, I took the opportunity to examine the cathedral. It was undamaged. But on entering it the visitor was surprised to find that the entrance and the left half of the place of worship had been fitted up as an Atheistic Museum. At the door stood the figure of a beggar, carved in wax, asking for alms. Inside were life-size wax figures of the bourgeoisie, in exaggerated poses showing them engaged in maltreating and plundering the proletariat. It was not pretty. The right half of the church had been kept open for religious services. An attempt had been made to bury the silver altar decorations and candles before our arrival, but there had apparently not been time. In any case this considerable treasure lay piled in the middle of the floor. I ordered a Russian found whom I could make responsible for the safeguarding of these valuable objects. The sacristan was brought to me, an old man with a full white beard. Through an interpreter I told him to take these precious objects under his care and to remove them. The valuable gilded woodcarvings on the iconostasis were undamaged. What later happened to the church I do not know. At that time we took trouble to see it came to no harm.
On July 23rd, at Talashkino, I met General Ritter von Thoma, who had been appointed to succeed General Ritter von Weber as commander of the 17th Panzer Division. He was one of our most senior and experienced panzer officers; he had been famous for his icy calm and exceptional bravery both in the First
World War and in Spain, and was now to prove his ability once again. His division provided the link between the XLVI and XLVII Panzer Corps, and also covered the Dnieper against the attempted break-through which Fourth Army still expected the Russians to make southwards. The headquarters of XLVI Panzer Corps was in a wood 7 miles west of Elnya. General von Vietinghoff informed me about the Russian counter-attacks at Elnya: they were attacking from the south, east and north, with very heavy artillery support. On account of a shortage of ammunition, which was now making itself felt for the first time, the corps could only defend its most important positions. As soon as Infantry Regiment Gross-Deutschland was relieved by the 18th Panzer Division Vietinghoff wanted to attack towards Dorogobush in support of Hoth. Up to now all attempts to advance across the Usha, north-west of Elnya, towards Svirkolutchie had failed. The Glinka–Klimiatino road, which was marked ‘good’ on our maps, did not in fact exist. The roads that did lead north were swampy and impassable to motor vehicles. All movement had to be carried out on foot and was therefore both exhausting and time-consuming.
I then drove to 10th Panzer Division, where General Schaal gave me an impressive description of the fighting around Elnya. His troops had destroyed 50 enemy tanks in a single day but had then found themselves unable to capture the well-built Russian positions. He reckoned that he had lost one-third of his vehicles. Ammunition had to be fetched by road for a distance of 275 miles.
Finally, I went once again to SS-Das Reich, to the north of Elnya. On the previous day the division had taken 1,100 prisoners, but had been unable to move forward between Elnya and Dorogobush. Heavy bomber attacks had held up their advance. I visited the foremost unit, the motor-cyclists under command of the brave Hauptsturmführer (SS rank equivalent to captain) Klingenberg, as I wished to gain a personal impression of the terrain and the situation. This visit convinced me that the attack towards Dorogobush must be postponed until the arrival of Infantry Regiment Gross-Deutschland.
Panzer Leader Page 23
