A trap for “Greater Germany”: how the best Wehrmacht division failed

"Greater Germany" is preparing to save the Reich

One of the “fire brigades” hastily deployed to restore communications with Army Group North was the Grossdeutschland division, commanded by Lieutenant General Hasso von Manteuffel. By the standards of August 1944, the division was an impressive force: by the beginning of the offensive, it had 10 Pz. Kpfw. IV, 70 "Panthers", 27 "Tigers" and 19 self-propelled guns. Another seven “Panthers” and six “Tigers” were listed as short-term repairs and could strengthen “Greater Germany” in the coming days.

It is interesting that a prisoner captured on August 9 from the 11th company of the division's grenadier regiment reported similar numbers, but, as they say, he placed the emphasis differently. According to his testimony, the Greater Germany tank regiment had 70 Tigers, 50 Panthers, 30 Pz. Kpfw. IV, as well as 30 self-propelled guns with 88 mm caliber guns.

"Tigers" of the "Gross Germany" division during transport by rail

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The immediate task for the division was the Lithuanian town of Vilkaviskis. As you can see, even the Lithuanian name is consonant with the word “wolf”, and until 1917 this city was quite officially called Volkovyshki on maps of the Russian Empire, and then on Soviet maps. The city was only recently taken by Soviet units of the 33rd Army, operating in conjunction with the 2nd Guards Tank Corps (Gv.tk). The Germans could, not without reason, hope that the Russians did not have time to create a strong defense in this sector, and hastily dug in rifle units, even supported by a certain number of “thirty-fours,” would not pose a serious problem for the “Tigers” and “Panthers” divisions.

Sleeve ribbons

The most noticeable insignia of most elite units was the sleeve bands. They first appeared in June 1939: along a dark green rayon stripe was the inscription “Großdeutschland” machine-embroidered with aluminum thread. The font of the inscription was Gothic; Along the edges of the ribbon were borders embroidered with the same aluminum thread. The ribbon was supposed to be worn on the right sleeve, 15 cm from the bottom edge. In the summer of 1940, a second sample tape appeared, with the difficult-to-read inscription “Inf. Regt. Großdeutschland". There are no known photographs confirming the wearing of such a ribbon, but several copies of the ribbons have survived to this day. Structurally, these ribbons were the same as the first version: green, made of artificial silk (viscose), with text and borders embroidered with aluminum thread.

The third, most common version, also appeared in 1939. It returned to the word “Großdeutschland” alone, but began to embroider it by hand with aluminum thread, using the old German “handwritten Gothic” font; The color of the ribbon changed from green to black. Instead of artificial silk, the fabric was replaced with fine wool, “suede-like.” The edges became double, with a narrow black gap. Ribbons of this type are often considered “officer”, but in fact they were worn by military personnel of all ranks. Although the first type of ribbon was almost completely replaced by the new, “handwritten” ones by the end of 1940, photographic sources show that veterans of the first “Gross Deutschland” regiment continued to wear them until the end of the war.

Around mid-1944, in order to save money, it was ordered to standardize the production of sleeve ribbons. "Großdeutschland" ribbons issued after this featured a woven silver-gray lettering on a black wool base with straight single borders. Finally, in November 1944, an order followed that limited the length of the tape to 25 cm - now it could not be sewn around the entire sleeve, but a noticeable saving in material was achieved: the tape was still not visible on the inside of the sleeve. Photographic sources confirm the wearing of such ribbons, but their rarity indicates that before the end of the war, sufficient stocks of sleeve ribbons of “normal” length had accumulated, which in most cases were worn.

The latest version of the “Großdeutschland” sleeve tape appeared in 1944. These tapes had a machine-embroidered inscription that imitated a calligraphic handwritten font. Since this pattern was introduced after the orders for the standardization of ribbons, it was woven on black woolen fabric with silver-gray thread. True, several hand-embroidered ribbons with “calligraphic” font are known; they were probably made to order.

You know that I know...

The concentration of the German group did not go unnoticed at the headquarters of the 3rd Belorussian Front. Moreover, the front commander, Army General I. D. Chernyakhovsky, was able to determine the most likely direction of the German counterattack. The order from the front commander received in the 33rd Army looked like this:

"1. Keep the troops in full combat readiness, check the trouble-free operation of communications equipment and the organization of anti-tank defense.

2. By the morning of 08/09/44, mine the approaches to the city of Volkovyshki and in tank-hazardous directions.

3. Attach to the 222nd Infantry Regiment the rifle regiment of this division, located on the defensive at the junction of the 70th and 49th Infantry Divisions, and position the regiment in the Ruda, Gizhe area.

4. By the morning of 08/09/44, withdraw two tank brigades of the 2nd Guards. TC to the Suwalki area (4 km east of Volkovyshki) and prepare them to repel tank attacks and counterattacks on Volkovyshki, Lukshishki, Antupe. Prepare the entire 2nd Guards for action. tk.

5. Check the readiness for action of the sap and iptap of the 47th brigade, bury the guns in the ground and carefully camouflage them.

6. By the morning of 08/09/44, the 153rd Tank Brigade and the 343rd Sap (from the front reserve) arrive in the forest 4 km west of Mariampol with the task of preventing enemy attacks in the direction of Mariampol.

7. Organize continuous reconnaissance and surveillance.

8. Bury the infantry and artillery in the ground.

9. At the first sign of the enemy’s preparation for an offensive, carry out counter-preparations by calling in aviation.”

The Germans, in turn, also stated with displeasure: “According to intelligence data, the enemy knew about the preparation of the offensive from his agents in our rear.” In this case, Soviet intelligence fully fulfilled its tasks and “clearly reported” the proposed German offensive. Now it was up to others to break the German plans.

Anti-tank crews

As can be seen from the text of the above order, General Chernyakhovsky quite objectively assessed the “anti-tank” capabilities of the units of the 19th Rifle Corps (sk), the 222nd Rifle Division (SD) of Colonel G. P. Savchuk ( as of August 4, 4,728 people and another 200 people of undistributed replenishment) and the 157th Infantry Division of Colonel V. A. Katyushin (as of August 4, 5,006 people and another 100 people of undistributed replenishment), and the brigades of the 2nd Guards. TK, which on the evening of August 8 included 57 Thirty-Fours, 10 SU-85s and three SU-76s. In addition, the 401st Guards Self-Propelled Artillery Regiment (Guards SAP) attached to it had 10 SU-85s, but the 1500th SAP did not have standard materiel in the form of the SU-76 at all.

The jaws of the “wolf trap” for German armored cats were to become the anti-tank artillery regiments (iptabr) of two anti-tank artillery brigades (iptabr) of the RGK: the 43rd iptabr of Colonel I.I. Kiy and the 47th iptabr of Colonel D.L. Margulis, which were armed with both the 76-mm ZiS-3 and the 57-mm ZiS-2. The brigade commanders’ combat experience was also fine - for example, David Margulis received the title of Hero of the Soviet Union back in January 1940 for distinction during the Soviet-Finnish war.

Hasso von Manteuffel with Grossdeutschland officers

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Units of the 43rd iptabr began to be transferred to the Vilkaviskis area in early August. So, on August 6, the 1964th iptap took up open firing positions on the southern outskirts of the city, and the 1965th and 1966th iptap, advanced to the Vilkaviskis area earlier, continued to dig into the ground. It is difficult to establish the exact number of guns in the 43rd iptabr at the beginning of the German offensive - the brigade had already been in battle for some time and suffered losses. In particular, on this day, one ZiS-3 cannon and a Lend-Lease Studebaker with a supply of shells were destroyed by enemy artillery fire - judging by the list, the Germans managed to cover the cannon with ammunition at the time of transportation.

The next day the Germans launched a counterattack, apparently trying to gauge the strength of the defenders before the Grossdeutschland offensive. By mid-day, the 1st and 5th batteries of the 1966 Iptap were left without infantry cover, surrounded on three sides. By evening, the Germans nevertheless retreated to their original positions. However, by this time not much remained of the batteries that had fought with the tanks - one 76-mm and one 57-mm gun were completely destroyed, another four 57-mm and one 76-mm were recorded as “broken and out of action.” More than 400 57mm shells alone were fired during the day.

"Tiger" and panzergrenadiers of "Great Germany" next to captured Soviet ZiS-3 guns

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At night, to replace the broken batteries of the 1966th regiment, three batteries of the 1965th iptap were transferred to its defense sector. However, this hot battle was, in fact, a force reconnaissance before the main enemy attack.

Hot August '44

On August 8, there were no serious battles in the 33rd Army zone. Soviet units dug into the ground, prepared anti-tank defense units, and laid mines. There was no need for additional orders or shouts from the commanders - the roar of engines from the other side of the front served as a much better incentive. The scouts reported that more than 200 tanks and self-propelled guns, as well as vehicles with infantry, were approaching the front line.

The German offensive began at 05:30 (according to other sources, at 06:00) with a powerful artillery barrage. Separately, in the documents of the Soviet units that came under German attack, the massive use of “nebelwerfers” was noted. It is interesting that at the same time, in the report of the artillery headquarters of the 33rd Army, and further, that “the enemy did not fire artillery fire, with the exception of shots from tanks and self-propelled guns.” It is possible that the Germans used shelling in some areas as part of a diversionary maneuver, diverting attention from the direction of the main attack. At the very least, their memoirs indicate that von Manteuffel led his division on the offensive without firing a single artillery shot.

Panzergrenadiers of "Greater Germany", armed with faustpatrons

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The dawn fog covered the future battlefield - German tanks could be distinguished no further than 500-600 meters. Units of “Greater Germany” operated in two battle groups - panzergrenadiers, supported by self-propelled guns, attacked the city from the south, a tank regiment and fusiliers initially moved to the southeast.

The batteries of the 873rd and 578th iptap were the first to enter the battle. The fourth battery of the 873rd regiment opened fire from 500 meters. A short oncoming battle cost the anti-tankers three guns destroyed by shells, two tractors and 10 people killed and wounded. At the same time, the battery reported three damaged and three destroyed tanks. Trying to bypass the positions of the 4th battery, the Germans reached the 3rd battery. This time the distance was even shorter, and the German tanks went straight towards the guns at high speed. Two guns were destroyed by shells, one was crushed by tracks, but the artillerymen also reported five damaged tanks.

According to the report of the headquarters of the 19th sk and 578th iptap, the first German attack was repulsed. It was possible to crush the positions of the 222nd Infantry Division of “Great Germany” only with a repeated attack at 07:20. Reports from other units do not mention this. Perhaps not everyone was able to repel the first German attack, or for the fighting soldiers the day merged into one heavy, bloody battle.

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For the batteries of the 578th iptap, which occupied positions southeast of the town, in the area of ​​the Krauzhmorgi and Znachki farms, the repeated attack was decisive. According to the report, in this attack, up to 80 tanks and self-propelled guns approached the regiment’s positions from both sides. The regiment could no longer withstand such an attack. The final tally of the 578th Iptap was 28 tanks and five self-propelled guns (according to other sources, 20 tanks, five self-propelled guns, three armored vehicles, one anti-tank gun, one mortar, one machine gun and about 400 soldiers and officers). In this case, 22 57-mm guns and 20 vehicles were lost.

Having broken through the defenses of the 222nd Rifle Division, the Germans reached the Vilkaviskis-Mariampol highway. After an attempt to overcome the anti-tank barrier, supported by brigades of the 2nd Guards, hastily transferred to this area. maybe, most of the German tanks turned west, to the outskirts of Vilkaviskis, trying to help the grenadiers and self-propelled guns “collapse” the defense of the 157th Infantry Division.

Special form

The military personnel of “Greater Germany,” the only one of all the elite units, were entitled to a uniform of a specific cut. It was developed and officially adopted in 1939, but was never widely used. It was intended that this uniform should become the standard uniform of the unit after the final victory over the enemy. Special uniforms included a uniform (Wafferrock) and an overcoat; the headdress and trousers were standard.

The uniform was made of dull greenish-gray fabric and had a dark green collar and cuff trim. Buttonholes (Litzeri) were of a special type - much longer and wider than usual, without a backing of applied color. Non-commissioned officers were given only one “coil” of buttonhole on each side of the collar, privates were given two, located one above the other. The need to make non-commissioned officer buttonholes narrower was explained simply: due to the lining of the collar with a strip of galun (Tresse), there was no place to place a wide buttonhole. Along the outer edge of the stand-up collar there was a white “infantry” piping. The “French” cuffs were noticeably different from the general army ones. In addition to the usual dark green cuff, they had three-arm cuff flaps; both the cuffs and flaps also had white edges. Three lapel “reels” with an aluminum button on each were sewn onto the cuff flap. Such a uniform was supposed to be worn with a sleeve ribbon of the first type (green, with the name of the regiment embroidered with aluminum thread - Gothic font). Shoulder straps are encrypted “GD”. There were no pockets on the uniform. The uniform was single-breasted and fastened with eight silver-plated aluminum buttons. There was white piping along the front side of the uniform.

This uniform included an overcoat, which differed from the standard model by white piping along the edge of the dark green collar and cuff cuffs.

Stormtroopers in the sky

Already after the first reports, when it became clear at the front headquarters that “the Germans have gone,” units of the 1st Air Army were sent to the Vilkaviskis area. The main role was assigned to the assault units of the 3rd Assault Aviation Corps (Shak) and the 1st Guards Assault Aviation Division (Guards Shad) - they were required to make the Germans’ actions as difficult as possible and help the ground units withstand the blow. At the same time, 70% of the bomb load should have been PTABs. At 09:20, Il-2 attack aircraft, under the cover of fighters of the 2nd Fighter Aviation Corps (IAC), “began work” on a tip from the radio stations of air army headquarters officers who had gone to the front line.

By 12:00, units of the 1st Air Army had carried out 234 combat sorties, of which 127 were for assault operations. By 19:00, army headquarters reported 696 sorties, of which 461 were assault operations. According to crew reports, up to 70 tanks, two self-propelled guns, up to 200 vehicles, and six armored personnel carriers were destroyed and damaged on the ground. The intensity of the attacks is evidenced by the fact that on August 9 the attack aircraft dropped 16,480 PTABs on the advancing Germans.

A damaged Tiger abandoned near Vilkaviskis

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Also, based on the results of 41 air battles, the pilots of the 1st Air Army announced 42 downed German aircraft, and not only fighters were aimed at enemy aircraft, but also Ilya, which posed a serious threat to the Junkers Ju 87 - on The attack aircraft accounted for 14 enemy aircraft. Soviet losses amounted to 21 aircraft, including nine Yak-9 fighters and 12 Il-2 attack aircraft.

Unfortunately, there was some friendly fire. Thus, from the 26th Guards Tank Brigade (Gv.tbr) they reported: “friendly fire” resulted in two killed and seven wounded, as well as a broken 76-mm anti-tank gun. The neighboring 4th Guards Motorized Rifle Brigade (Gv.msbr) reported that “our attack and fighter aircraft are constantly bombing and firing machine guns at enemy tanks and infantry,” but the brigade itself also suffered: its mortar division came under “friendly fire,” in which the chief of staff died and the commander was seriously wounded.

A Soviet artilleryman inspects a destroyed German 88-mm anti-tank gun

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It was difficult for the Germans not to notice the activity of Soviet aviation. The operational report from the headquarters of the 3rd Panzer Army stated: “All actions of the [Gross Germany] division were significantly hampered by massive attacks by enemy attack aircraft, as a result of which our troops suffered heavy losses.”

But still, the fate of the battle was decided not in the air, but on the ground. The front headquarters had already begun to pull reinforcements to the site of the attack - the 277th Infantry Division of the 5th Army, as well as the 31st and 83rd Guards, were deployed to assist the units of the 19th Infantry Division. SD 11th Guards Army. If the Germans had broken through further, there would have been someone to meet them.

Rudolf Salvermoser - Memoirs of a veteran of the Grossdeutschland division

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Salvermoser Rudolf

Memoirs of a veteran of the 'Grossdeutschland' division

Salvermoser Rudolf

Memoirs of a veteran of the Grossdeutschland division

Rudolf Salvermoser in 1942 After finishing school, I, a member of the Hitler Youth, volunteered for the Wehrmacht because I wanted to fight for my homeland in the great war. I decided to become a tank driver and was enrolled in a tank school in Bamberg, my military training there lasting almost six months from April to October 1942. The training was divided into two separate semesters, each of which lasted approximately three months. The first semester can be considered a version of the American camp for recruits or the basic training course for soldiers, with mainly infantrymen. The second semester was devoted to special tank training. Despite the fact that we had completed our "labor duty" during our stay in Bamberg, we were sent to a village in the north where we were supposed to help with the harvest. This assignment lasted one to two weeks, and then we returned to our regiment to continue our training.

Training in the Wehrmacht was very difficult, rigidly organized and disciplined, it lasted for long hours, and there was very little rest time, if any. We were given no leave for the first six months, and then leave was only given if we passed our first salute test. Naturally, they didn't want us to go into town and represent the army if we couldn't properly greet our seniors. Another reason, and perhaps the main one, was to limit the number of people going into the city, but of course we didn't think about that at the time.

I really wanted to go to dismissal, but when it was my turn to salute, the angle at which my outstretched arm was in relation to the top of my head was several degrees less than required. Therefore, I spent the weekend near the barracks.

Sometimes we were given cigarettes, alcohol and the like, but only in very limited quantities. If it was alcohol, then we were allowed to drink in our barracks and (we might not even mention this) no one was allowed to go on leave when we were given alcohol. I was lucky to have a very good platoon sergeant, Oberfeldwebel (senior sergeant), who did me the honor of choosing me as a servant. Do not take my statement as a joke, at that moment it was truly an honor for me, as well as for others, to be chosen for this particular task. Despite the fact that I was already quite concerned about making sure that my uniform was always ironed and immaculately clean, and that my shoes were shiny, and I also had to do all this for him, this meant that he had a high opinion of me ( like a good soldier).

Division "Grossdeutschland"

In December 1942, a certain major from the elite SS division “Grossdeutschland” (“Greater Germany”) arrived in Bamberg. We were not told what his mission was, but all our companies, one after another, were to appear before him on the parade ground. The Major was accompanied by our company commanders, and then our sergeants told some of us that we were to report to a certain room that evening, but later. When we arrived as ordered, we were told to enter one at a time.

When I entered, I saw the major sitting here at the table. He asked me my name, what part of Germany I was from, how long I had been serving, and what I thought about the war and the Fuhrer. My answers apparently met with his approval, because the next day I was informed that I was one of the lucky ones to be accepted into Grossdeutschland.

I was appointed leader of a group of six people who were selected from the Bamberg regiment. We were ordered to report first to Berlin, then to Cottbus, where the bulk of the Grossdeutschland was located, and then to Königsberg in East Prussia. From here we were taken by truck at night to some town in the central part of East Prussia. Upon arrival we were placed in empty barracks. None of us knew what was happening, and we didn't even know where we were at that moment. The atmosphere of mystery was further aggravated by the fact that no one was allowed to leave the territory, with the exception of the hall for mass, and then we had to return directly to the barracks. This went on for several days, with more soldiers arriving every day. Naturally, in such a situation, many rumors and questions arose, but none of us was able to shed light on the situation in which we found ourselves. When there were so many of us that it was possible to form a company out of us, they lined us up and said that we were now members of the Grossdeutschland division, that it was an honor for us to be accepted, and that in a short time we would be transferred to another place. As promised, one evening we were put into closed trucks and sent on our way. We didn’t know where we were going and what we would do when we got there, the trucks slowed down and we heard someone shout “Halt!” in a commanding voice. Obviously, we arrived at the checkpoint gate, because a few minutes later we were unloaded in front of some primitive-looking wooden barracks. When we asked a senior member of Grossdeutschland where we were, he turned and said: “You will soon find out!”

And we really found out, because we were soon told that we now belonged to the Fuhrerbegleitbataillon (Fuhrer Escort Battalion), which guards Hitler and his headquarters. Instead of feeling excited and honored, all I thought was: I'm here, still in Germany, and instead of fighting at the front, I'll just be a guard. I understood that someone had to do it, but why don't they choose someone who cannot do his duty at the front? It was a mixed feeling because I knew it was an honor to be chosen for such a task, but at the same time I was disappointed. However, we were soon assured that we would also serve at the front, that it was in this battalion that we would serve for some time at the Fuhrer’s headquarters, and then we would be transferred to the battle zone. As it turned out, the Fuhrerbegleitbataillon actually consisted of two battalions, one serving at the front (usually on the Eastern Front), and the second guarding Hitler and his headquarters. The battalion that was in battle reported directly to Hitler. He determined where to send this battalion, and that’s where we were sent. If a critical situation arose, he sent us there to resolve it, because he knew that wherever we were sent, we succeeded. It seemed that no matter where we were assigned to on the Eastern Front, we were always facing the elite Soviet Red Guard and not any other Russian units. Where Hitler sent “his” battalion, Stalin sent “his” as if the two leaders were playing toy soldiers!

PzKf-III SS division "Grossdeutschland" near Rastenburg.

Promotions in the Fuhrerbegleitbataillon were rare due to the fact that casualties among soldiers were lower. Naturally, if someone was sent to a unit that remained at the front and managed to survive, then he had a much better chance of promotion. In a unit like ours, constant rotation and therefore fewer casualties hampered our progress. During my service in the Wehrmacht from April 1942 to May 1945, I only managed to achieve the rank of non-commissioned officer. If I could get into officer school, I would become an officer. However, my friends who also had college degrees advanced at the same speed as me.

My military specialty was servicing tank guns. Again, during training, we were taught to be not only gunners, loaders, drivers, radio operators or tank commanders. Each was trained in one and, to a lesser extent, four other specialties. Naturally, the recruit could not expect to immediately become a tank commander, but he was trained in command duties so that he could cope with them if necessary. If a soldier demonstrated certain abilities, for example: marksmanship, good understanding of Morse code, special driving abilities or an inclination towards mechanics, then he was given this particular specialty.

I have demonstrated a special ability for artillery, but not just for aiming and shooting. You had to determine the type of projectile required to hit the target (high explosive, armor piercing, etc.), estimate the distance to the target, get ahead of the target to match the speed and direction, and all this required some sort of analytical mind . Most artillerymen were selected for their potential to become commanders. I'm not bragging, but I was good enough to be chosen by the tank commanders, who had the right to choose the gunner. Of course, if you were already assigned to a commander and his tank, you usually stayed with him, except when he or you were wounded or killed.

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Face to face

By the morning of August 9, the 384th and 633rd rifle regiments of the 157th Infantry Division were occupying defenses southwest of Vilkaviskis. Another regiment of the division - the 716th Regiment - on the night of August 9, surrendered its defense sector to units of the 344th Infantry Division and stood on the eastern outskirts of the city with a front to the east. According to infantry reports, German tanks broke through to the city at 11:00, and already at 14:00 the battalions of the 716th rifle regiment were pushed north, and the 384th and 633rd regiments, along with anti-tank troops, were surrounded. According to reports from Iptapov, one of the reasons was the transfer to another section of the battery of a separate anti-tank artillery division of the 157th Infantry Division, which covered the Vilkaviskis-Mariampol highway from the city. The commander of the 1964 Iptap did not know about the removal of this battery.

It was along this highway that at dawn on August 9, 1944, German tanks and motorized infantry broke into the city. By 12:00 the city of Vilkaviskis is completely surrounded. One can try to imagine what happened on the streets of the city to those who watched the Soviet film series “Battalions Ask for Fire!”

A German armored personnel carrier with an anti-aircraft gun that became a victim of attacks by Soviet attack aircraft

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The first battery of the 1966 iptap received an order to go to the city, to the aid of the 1964 regiment, whose commander, Lieutenant Colonel P. R. Saenko, became a Hero of the Soviet Union for this battle. Upon entering the city, the artillerymen encountered German tanks, literally running into a column of enemy armored vehicles, and immediately entered into battle. The first gun was almost immediately crushed by a self-propelled gun, called “Ferdinand” in the report - it was immediately knocked out by the second gun, which managed to turn around, but the battle for the anti-tank crews was just beginning. The battery fought for more than two hours, destroying 13 enemy vehicles and losing all its guns to broken or crushed tanks. The surviving artillerymen fought their way to the headquarters of the very 1964 IPTAP they were going to help.

Another battery that tried to break into Vilkaviskis was the 4th battery of the 1965th iptap, but only the battery commander’s car managed to enter the city, and even then not far. The truck was destroyed by a direct hit from a shell, almost the entire crew was killed along with the gun. Only one private and the battery commander managed to escape, and the driver pulled him out at the cost of his life.

The 1964th iptap fought in the morning, and from noon - completely surrounded. Having received a message about the approach of tanks to the city, the regiment commander removed the 4th battery and two guns of the 3rd battery from their occupied firing positions and sent the 4th battery and two guns of the 3rd battery to the southeastern outskirts with the task of preventing enemy tanks from entering the city. But time was lost, the batteries immediately entered into battle with the tanks that had already broken through. In the battle, the commander of the 3rd battery, Lieutenant V. S. Vasiliev, was killed, the commander of the 4th battery, Captain L. G. Kolosov, was seriously wounded. The crews managed to knock out nine tanks and four armored personnel carriers.

The batteries fought both tanks and infantry that broke through to their positions. The personnel left without guns took up defensive positions at a height near the city cemetery. To the north, in the area of ​​the church, the regimental headquarters also fought in complete encirclement, and during the battle the headquarters guards repulsed a group of prisoners whom the Germans were leading along a nearby street.

Motorized Division "Grossdeutschland"

Composition (end of 1944): tank regiment "Grossdeutschland", motorized regiment "Grossdeutschland", fusilier regiment "Grossdeutschland", artillery regiment "Grossdeutschland", tank reconnaissance battalion "Grossdeutschland", tank destroyer division "Grossdeutschland", tank engineer battalion "Grossdeutschland" ", tank communications battalion "Grossdeutschland", army anti-aircraft artillery division "Grossdeutschland" and self-propelled artillery division "Grossdeutschland".

Place of permanent deployment: Berlin (III Military District).

Contrary to popular belief, the Grossdeutschland division was neither an SS division nor a panzer division. At various stages of its existence it was a motorized Wehrmacht regiment and a motorized division. However, in composition it was a tank division, as a result of which many classify it as a tank division, and therefore it is discussed in this book. However, it never bore the official name “tank division”, and the reasons for this are unknown to the author.

The history of the division can be traced back to June 21, 1921, when the Berlin Security Regiment was formed. Every day at exactly noon, one of the regiment's companies, accompanied by a military band, marched through the Brandenburg Gate and along Unterden-Linden. However, in June 1922, the regiment was transformed into a Berlin security detachment with an actual strength of about a battalion. It received the name “Grossdeutschland” (literally “Great Germany”) only in June 1939, when it was deployed into a full-fledged regiment consisting of four motorized battalions.

"Grossdeutschland" was sent to the Grafenwoehr training ground for training in operations as a motorized unit. He received his baptism of fire as part of Guderian's XIX Corps during the invasion of France, where he took part in the crossing of the Meuse, in the decisive battle of Sedan and in the offensive towards the English Channel coast. He later took part in breaking through the Weygand Line, crossing the Seine and pursuing the collapsing French army. On June 19, the regiment entered Lyon.

In July 1940, the regiment received the 17th Motorcycle Battalion and was sent to Alsace, where it trained for the landings in Great Britain. Subsequently, reinforced by artillery and anti-aircraft units, the Grossdeutschland regiment took part in the invasion of Yugoslavia, where it also captured the Belgrade radio station. After a hasty transfer to the north, the regiment took part in the invasion of the USSR, crossing the Bug along with the 7th Panzer Division. He fought near Bialystok and Minsk (June 24-July 6), pursued Soviet troops retreating to the Dnieper (July 7-10) and participated in the breakthrough of Soviet defenses along the Dnieper, where the fighting was especially fierce and often reached hand-to-hand combat (11-10). the 14 th of July). The Grossdeutschland regiment also took part in the battles near Smolensk (July 14–20) and in the assault on positions on the Desna (July 18–23). He fought defensive battles near Yelnya (July 24 - August 22) and on the Desna (August 18-30), after which he took part in the battles near Kiev and the subsequent pursuit of Soviet troops (September 1941). The Grossdeutschland regiment then took part in battles east of the city of Romny (September 26–October 3), in a double encirclement battle near Vyazma and Bryansk (October 10–20) and in the subsequent attempt to attack Moscow. He fought stubborn battles in the Tula region from October 21 to December 5. When the Soviet winter offensive began on December 6, the elite regiment suffered heavy losses, and its motorcycle battalion was practically exterminated near Tula, in the Kolodeznaya area. On 6 January 1942, Grossdeutschland's losses in the East were 900 killed, 3,056 wounded and 114 missing, more than half its strength. However, the regiment remained at the front and suffered such heavy losses in the battles near Orel that its II Battalion had to be disbanded.

In the meantime, several more Grossdeutschland battalions were formed and the decision was made to expand the Grossdeutschland motorized regiment into a full-fledged motorized division. The new division was formed on March 3, 1942 at the Wandern training ground near Berlin. The division's soldiers and officers had to be in excellent health (for example, division personnel were not allowed to wear glasses), be in excellent physical shape, have no criminal record, and be politically reliable. Like its predecessors, the division was staffed by selected volunteers from all over Germany. Unofficially, the division was called “the guard of the German people.” Until the very end of the war, the Grossdeutschland division performed well in battle. Meanwhile, in April 1942, the old Grossdeutschland regiment was withdrawn from the front and joined the rest of the division on the Dnieper, in Rechitsa.

On May 21, 1942, the division included: 1st Infantry Regiment "Grossdeutschland" (three battalions from the former motorized regiment "Grossdeutschland"), the newly formed 2nd Infantry (later Fusilier) Regiment "Grossdeutschland" (three battalions), tank battalion "Grossdeutschland" (formerly 1st battalion of the 100th tank regiment), newly formed motorcycle battalion "Grossdeutschland", tank destroyer division "Grossdeutschland" (formerly 643rd tank destroyer division), tank artillery regiment "Grossdeutschland" (three divisions) , army anti-aircraft artillery division "Grossdeutschland" (formerly 285th army anti-aircraft artillery division), self-propelled artillery division "Grossdeutschland" (former 192nd self-propelled artillery division), tank engineer battalion "Grossdeutschland" (former 43rd engineer battalion) and the Grossdeutschland tank communications battalion (formerly the 309th communications battalion).

Appearing first as part of the 4th Tank Army on the southern axis of the Eastern Front in June 1942, the division was soon transferred to the north, where it participated in several defensive battles near Rzhev (September 10 - January 10, 1943). At the end of November, she was practically surrounded in the Luchesa Valley east of Rzhev by several Soviet tank units and lost more than 10 thousand people before she managed to get out. Nevertheless, the division remained at the front until January. After a hasty transfer to the south, the division fought near Kharkov (January 19 - March 31, 1943) and helped recapture the city, after which it was withdrawn to reserve in Smolensk. Here the division received reinforcements and, among other things, the headquarters of the Grossdeutschland Tank Regiment (formerly the headquarters of the 203rd Tank Regiment) and the II Battalion of the Grossdeutschland Tank Regiment (formerly the II Battalion of the 203rd Tank Regiment). Its motorcycle battalion was reorganized into a tank reconnaissance battalion. In addition, the division received the IV artillery division, and the Grossdeutschland tank battalion became the 1st battalion of the Grossdeutschland tank regiment. On July 1, 1943, the division included a battalion of "tigers", which became the III battalion of the Grossdeutschland tank regiment, and the division became a tank division in all respects except name. In fact, it had 300 tanks and was significantly stronger than the medium tank division of 1943.

After rest and replenishment, from the end of March to July 5, 1943, the Grossdeutschland division as part of the 4th Panzer Army participated in Operation Citadel. The Grossdeutschland division fought near Kursk (July 5–12), defended Kharkov, defended Orel and Bryansk (July 18–August 5), fought defensive battles west of Kharkov (August 6–September 14) and took part in the retreat beyond the Dnieper (15 –September 28). The fighting was so stubborn that by September 29, only one combat-ready tank remained in the division. The division spent the rest of the year mainly on the defensive in the Dnieper section near Kremenchug.

1944 did not bring rest to the battered division. She fought near Kirovograd (January 5–16), in the lower reaches of the Dnieper (January 19–March 6), north of Nikolaev and during the retreat to the Bug (March 7–27). In the meantime, the division was reinforced with a completely new 26th Tank Regiment, fully equipped with new Pz-V Panther tanks. However, most of them were destined for a short life, since the regiment was seriously battered in the February battles near Cherkassy. The 26th Tank Regiment was sent to reorganize in France, became embroiled in the fighting in Normandy, and only rejoined the division in October. Fortunately for the Grossdeutschland Division, its own tank regiment also received reinforcements. Now it consisted of the 1st battalion (five companies on the “Panthers”), the 2nd Battalion (five companies on the Pz-IV) and the 3rd Battalion (four companies on the “Tigers”). However, the main reinforcement of the division was the 1029th reinforced motorized regiment "Grossdeutschland", formed from the division's reserves. It consisted of two motorized battalions, an artillery battalion and two anti-tank batteries.

By the end of March, the Grossdeutschland division was driven out of USSR territory into Romania. She fought in the north of Bessarabia and in the Carpathian region (March 27 - April 25), fought defensive battles in the north of Moldova (April 26 - late May) and participated in counterattacks north of Iasi (June 2-6).

During the May lull, the Grossdeutschland Fusilier Regiment was withdrawn to the rear and returned to Germany for a time, where it was fully equipped with half-track armored personnel carriers. However, both this regiment and the Grossdeutschland motorized regiment suffered such losses that the fourth battalions in them had to be disbanded. The Fusilier Regiment returned to the front just in time for the start of the counter-offensive near Iasi, where it suffered huge losses, as a result of which the 1st Battalion had to be disbanded. Soon after this, the 1029th Grossdeutschland Regiment was disbanded, and the remnants of its personnel were used to restore the 1st Battalion of the Fusilier Regiment. After Iasi, the Grossdeutschland tank sapper battalion was strengthened almost to regimental level.

In August, the division was again sent to the most important direction of the Eastern Front - near Gumbinnen (East Prussia). Army Group North was surrounded in the Baltics, and the Grossdeutschland Division was one of the formations tasked with breaking through the encirclement. The division managed to complete the task by August 25. Then there was a lull on the East Prussia-Lithuania-Latvia front, which lasted more than a month. However, Hitler did not take this opportunity to withdraw the 16th and 18th armies. On October 5, Soviet troops launched a massive offensive, as a result of which Army Group North was again blocked in Courland. The Grossdeutschland division was pushed back to the Memel bridgehead, from which it was evacuated to East Prussia by the German fleet at the end of 1944.

The remnants of the once proud motorized division "Grossdeutschland" were reorganized in the area of ​​Willenberg (East Prussia) in January 1945. On the 15th of the same month, the division again had to engage in battle, when the forces of two Soviet fronts rushed towards Königsberg. After stubborn defensive battles in February, the Grossdeutschland division launched a surprise attack in early March, restoring communications between the capital of East Prussia and Ermland. However, the enemy was too strong, and the division had to retreat through the Frisches Haff from Ermland to Samland. After a two-week lull, she was again forced to fight during the retreat through Samland (including near Pilau) and in the defense of the Frische-Nerung spit (April 12–30, 1945). On the day of Hitler's suicide, the division continued to hold the line. During the period from January 15 to April 22, 1945, the division lost 16,988 people. Only 4,000 people remained in the ranks. These remnants were evacuated by the German fleet and put ashore in Schleswig-Holstein, where they surrendered to British troops.

The regiment (later the division) "Grossdeutschland" was commanded by: Colonel (Major General) Wilhelm-Hunold von Stockhausen (took command on June 1, 1939), Colonel (Major General, Lieutenant General) Walter Hernlein (April 1, 1941), Lieutenant General Baron Hasso von Manteuffel (February 1, 1944) and Colonel (Major General) Karl Lorenz (September 1, 1944). Among those acting as commander was Lieutenant General Hermann Balck (April 3 - June 30, 1943).

Commanders

The Westphalian WILHELM-HUNOLD von STOCKHAUSEN (b. 1891) enlisted in the 80th Fusilier Regiment as Vöhnrich in 1911. He directed the non-commissioned officer school in Potsdam (1936–1939), and in 1939 took the post of commander of the Grossdeutschland motorized regiment. He subsequently commanded the 1st Motorized Brigade (1941–1942) and the 281st Security Division (1942–July 1944). After this, he did not hold any position for five months, probably due to injury. By this time, he had been promoted to major general (April 1, 1942) and lieutenant general (1944). At the end of 1944, he took command of a battle group in East Prussia and commanded it until the surrender. The Soviet authorities extradited him to Yugoslavia, where he was imprisoned until 1952. After his release he settled in Koblenz.

WALTER HERNLEIN (b. 1893) - officer whose name is most often associated with the Grossdeutschland division. He enlisted in the Kaiser's Army in 1912 and alternately commanded the 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry Regiment (1936–1939), the 80th Infantry Regiment (1939–1941), and the Grossdeutschland Motorized Regiment (1941–1942). gg.), Division "Grossdeutschland" (1942-1944), LXXXII Corps (1944-1945), II Military District (1945) and XXVII Corps (1945). He was promoted to major general on April 1, 1942, became a lieutenant general on January 1, 1943, and was promoted to general of infantry on November 1, 1944. During the war he was awarded the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves. After the war he settled in Cologne, where he died in 1961.

A brief description of the military career of HASSO von MANTEUFFEL is given in the chapter "7th Panzer Division". A description of BALK's military career is given in the chapter "11th Panzer Division".

KARL LORENZ (b. 1904) at the beginning of World War II commanded only a company (1st company of the 18th engineer battalion). He quickly advanced through the ranks, mainly in the Grossdeutschland division, commanding the 290th Engineer Battalion (1940–1942), the Grossdeutschland Engineer Battalion (1942), the Grossdeutschland Motorized Regiment (1942–1944) and, finally, the division itself. He was promoted to major general on September 1, 1944. Died in 1964.

Notes:

During the fighting in France, the division was assigned the 43rd engineer battalion and the 640th self-propelled artillery division (six Sturmgeschütz-III self-propelled guns).

The headquarters of the Grossdeutschland tank artillery regiment was formed in the spring of 1942 on the basis of the headquarters of the 622nd artillery regiment. Its three divisions were the 400th Artillery Battalion, the I Division of the 109th Artillery Regiment, and the 646th Artillery Regiment.

The last major reorganization of the Grossdeutschland division took place in December 1944. Its tank and motorized regiments were reduced to two battalions each, the artillery regiment was reduced to three battalions, and the self-propelled artillery division was transferred to the Brandenburg Division as the II Battalion of the Brandenburg Panzer Regiment. The 3rd battalion of the Grossdeutschland tank regiment became the heavy tank battalion Grossdeutschland, was withdrawn from the division and became part of the corps subordination in the Grossdeutschland corps. The same happened with the other battalions that the division lost that month, with the exception of the self-propelled artillery battalion.

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Table of correspondence of military ranks

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