fritz kraemer_ i. ss corps in the west in 1944 [1948]

97
lI8RARY USA CGSC FT LEAVENWORTH teA . 0 1966 ACCESSION NO_----- ENGLISH COpy PO REGISTR ___-- I 11 CORPS IN THE IN 1944 Property or - ........ ' attice of the J Military CeDeral Reference WEST

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Landsberg, Aug/Sep 48.Office of the Chief of Military History Department of the Army, Washington D.C.

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Page 1: Fritz KRAEMER_ I. SS Corps in the West in 1944 [1948]

lI8RARY USA CGSC FT LEAVENWORTH teA .

M~Y? 0 1966

ACCESSION NO_----­ ENGLISH COpy PO REGISTR ___-­

I 11 CORPS IN THE

IN 1944

Property or -........' attice of the Ch1~

J Military Histo~ CeDeral Reference ~

WEST

Page 2: Fritz KRAEMER_ I. SS Corps in the West in 1944 [1948]

O. F1CE OF THE CHiEf Or lUi f;\f\Y HISTORY " P£PAI1TMENT OF THE ARMY

.... '"~Hl~\J!! ~5, '. C,

Page 3: Fritz KRAEMER_ I. SS Corps in the West in 1944 [1948]

liS # c-024 Landsberg, Aug/Sep 48

Fritz KRAFlJER

Generalmajor -.

Assigned to Warren SS

I 55 PZ CORPS IN .THE WEST IN 1944.

(to be continued)

Translator: A. ROSENWALD .

Page 4: Fritz KRAEMER_ I. SS Corps in the West in 1944 [1948]

.us /I 0-024 -1­

I SS pz Corps in th est

In 1943 activation ot I 58 Pm Corps with statt and corps troops was

started and during December 1943 and January of 1944 the organization mov

.tram Tyrol into the Brussel 'ar • At the time of this move roughly 80 per­

cent ot the activation had been completed. tatt assignments were.

COIIIDanding General, Gen W SS* Sepp Dietrich /

Chiet ot Stafts Oberst iG** Fritz fCl"a r~ assigned to the 1'1 SS

1 (;en statt Officer (Ia) l (J)stlt ss or nsing

2 Qen Statf Ofticer ( ) : Oberst 1'1 SS Walter ~Wert

" .3 (len Statt Otficer (Ie). Jlaj as Erich Maas

Artillery C<mnander (Arko 1) ***: Genmaj WSS Walter staudinger

*} wSS - aften SS

**) 1G - 1lIl Qeneralstab - ,1.e. General staff Corp. Officer

***} Gen Hq Art C nder

The following, troop Units were a signed:

Staff I SS pz CorPS! with one security cOJllP8ll1', on mU.ita17

polic company (Feldgendarmeriekompanie) .

101 sa PzSign8l Battalion; (statt, one radio COlIlpany, one tele­

phone company, one wire-laying COlllpany) .

Staff of Artillery CoImIIanderJ 101 SS Arty an (heavy). one battery

of 100 .. guns, two batteries of 175 guns .

Page 5: Fritz KRAEMER_ I. SS Corps in the West in 1944 [1948]

WI C...o24 -2­

SS Ps Battalion (heavy), three canpanies ot type VI

tanks (Tiger) (54 tanks) .

Missions tran P bruary ,to October 1944

Missions ot the Corps were,

l:i, . Commitment in the event ot enemy- air landings

b . Ccmmitme~t in the vent of surprise landing in the Antwerp-

Cherbourg sector

To carr,y out these missions it was necessary, as tar as possible, to estab­

lish contact, preferably by the CaDlDAnding General or Chief ot Statf, with

corps and divisions employed along the coast . It had not yet been decided

which divisions would be subordinate to the corps 1n the event Qt ccmnitaent .

Almost all the earmarked dirlsions were being rehabilitated . lost of th_ ,

had been tran terred from the eastern theater ot war at the end ot 1943 or

'ea.r17 1944 and n eded rest and training. The II SS pz COliS with 9 or 10

SS Ps DiviSions had been in the "at tor some tim and was fit for emp1oy­I

nt and its divisions were ' capable ot acting in close cooperation. AS

nearlY' as :i: can recall, this corps was transferred to the eastern tront

about ,ebruar,- or ch ot 1944.

For training we were assigned to Headquarters ot the General ot Panzer

Troops west with Oen Pa Geyr von Schweppenburg, Ccmmander :in Chief and. , Genmaj Ritter and Edler von Davane , Chiet of Starf. The follOwing units

we~ assigned to Corps for supervision ot training.

a . 12 SS Pz Div (Hitler-Jugend) J in the area ot Tournhout, Belgium

Div COIIldr: Genmaj W SS Witt

Page 6: Fritz KRAEMER_ I. SS Corps in the West in 1944 [1948]

· C-024 -3­

Thi.s diviR':'on had been unUr.rgo:.ng .tnit.ial orgal1ization since October 1943

and the bulk of ita c UilJD'H'i. ·'.nd 1<13, 13._ f3 at hand . ItG personnel

ineludeg. officers and ilCUI.> \'fho hCJ.d rec~ived 8:,' ros .!.or brav 1'1. battle-

tested soldiers from th, .erlstern front as "ell ad young sol<.1iors bet,'leen

17 8.nd. 20 o.rs of a"c . After the ar thoro ,ere tnany who bdlj avec! that

c pa.ct formatiohs of IIitIel... Youth Organization weI' mcor-pora.ted ~.nto

this di ision. l'his assumption is incorrect . Its p .rsonn.l consisted ot ,

soldier dra_t in the usual or by replae, 8nt e nnd agencies .

Naturally th mjority'\'ler memb.rs of the Hitler Youth Organization as

Almost every young man in Germany bolonged to that or anizai:;ion~ The 1:.1"0.111­

i of this ' division was cdnduetod in a. very thorough and enorgetic mn.nner .

Again and again it was gratifying and 3U!'pl"iSing fa sce the zeal Ellld ardor

with which thes youn men endeavoreu to attain the skill of soldiers .

b . ~ .t' Z i V (Army); in the area around Arra

Div. C r ; Genlt !''rhr v Luettwitz

Ia Obstlt iG ,eiz

This division was transferred fro the astern th tor or war to the \

trest

late :tn 1943 ar ear17 in 1944. eplac t of' Alen and .matar-lal arrived

as etded and a ubstantinl er of officers ~ld en re battle-trained.

It wason. of th oldest and ,DOst. rienc d panzer divisions of the

rmy.

L Mans .

Ia j Vi SS ...Dr......."*_---- ­.'

* Tii. DaM of thi .' jor can be a certa1ned tr records :vaUabl ift ~h!:9&!::on.

Page 7: Fritz KRAEMER_ I. SS Corps in the West in 1944 [1948]

......"'_11 w0urJ4e4 41J.~ng \b ".1... ~ .,1:.,1.1_ ...

u1J!l,m~01J~ t • 1Jl1.tfe1 (I~l t1 which h be«n lmpeded tv leek fit

Mttor ve lo~. llde. '1M 1 k It!I priae ....rs of all .e1 ht

ttl.Dlck tl" 1111 ttl: .. 1.1" •

Tbi. d v1 1•• was tra t.". fro tho ea. t.. t.be

oil 1'1l.4. Xt....a. s.m;t th6 ldll$t.e tk 12 IS b D"

..n\ t. tt\e Bimtr " \roop

1:f1.i_ h ~17 \tefta 111 the betu.

elaNt ..,.pl. 11 o0D8t.lbuted bt I'na

!' c ate tu 4· . , t.h4I Ji S f! 1)!!.1ft4 .....~~I:.::. ...

..a b7 raU tnt. .,..-r; u. 10 api,- fit -neat&! •

• 'beka 4I8C1l4U1J1it tho uta r, "~, .....nt tbil 1ft.!;

~ w1t.h«.l'b dU't14lA\,. , ttw tu. Rbed~.. J*!epate4

01_..8 ......peelol.

, . ~"111~4"" ....3

~ to. t».J~ tba til".,

w1 tot tbe .....

Tb1. 1lO••· 'eJR &lao -ttl .art'.\fJdout b7 I'&U

plao. At tn. ....

./

In th ;~1.

r.eNl t:d'f 1...

. .t1101 • .,

Page 8: Fritz KRAEMER_ I. SS Corps in the West in 1944 [1948]

operat! bid beco. $.Ml"ea.1nglJ "PP...n\ -1 the BqfJux-YalaUe-'ueJlCoa­

Parte-AId. .. an.. ' t1I1 atr at.tacu _~ part,1culerly nUllOrOU$ iAtht.

ar4&.,.. el&llJ asalnat th.rG'.lgh .tAtl ,l~ er qaimrt raillJoad j1.UlOtl •

..mt trid••, ...eU .t oa Genaan .\t011 dup •., $Upply depota.

he - otnUo.t had been ~klq in theM 1.tmat1.. rer ,eeoe aJId

• ..pt.. apl'1ta Ulldou'btedll l:uI4 le~ th.l~ exact I_aU••

4"41141 fit t.heU coDte-m.4t. 0_1* "pk'kdlJ baa pol.ted I out,. btgher

he$1q\lar\era the danger ·ef e!Cpl.,.,... Fftnob. worker" 1n'U1e.. "pota, 11..

1 • .uppl._. ar~ tJ-d.n1q w t. ht an"'1"•• pt.ptA pl.-. of tba '.87

a1Jo t ., wldoh w... ill tbe_ab ..... weathQ' pel'IIltted, cave 81lp8J1'o!O

OQIllCUUa oppol"tuc.1tt.. tor' .aaoutl......:;01••••

attic.".., bet t :08' with l1ttlae-..t a_bat exptd.•nce am t ...

who retWl'n«! dut:t aft,e7 \U'ldvolDl tn_ . • til p1tala, ..,.

,lw 1&lt6nd..,. t.r~ bJ __ - tactlcal rute , up ~. ..

Page 9: Fritz KRAEMER_ I. SS Corps in the West in 1944 [1948]

., c-Qa4 ....

wwH _ .. us ad.qute aupport. Iloubtt U \0 the eft1016u., of tho

l.tlt".atte eN ~aeed '1 ADd again, t.n~ b1 4.l1beftt1cu M totn.

_t fift ~-4t1 .!\plO1D~ of the pabOl' tUv110lllJ IU¥l w'-tber thaT should

.. l~ at a diD .. tr_ tNt CttaIJ\ e in thf> ~dlate .101m. fit Odt. ~ w.l1te 1D t •••'1! lola_ a-aUcmJ _,. 'that too t ..

\

ai-vial _". aYe-ilabl. t oOV$r the .ntift A<tlalttic trout an1 that

•• tr Gout posltiotlS to .. tront. to. aHl eft '.1.'0•• \hat a1 bt

..t~ h ould take llU.Oh tiM ••xt"_~ 0 'tq. '"ttl

\M " lat4tvtO,ln1tl' of toM coal' hIlA the atlv nt ., thllt 'thIt 41V1ad. as

to the plllOtl tit 0- 110ft 8~117 _ wit.h 1•••

apo t eMIq atr att.ack: But t. lvge ~ of patlMl'" or t.orl_

fmC)! ilspodU w.. 1lOt Aftll.ablfl.

XI -.uat. ·o.naan d.r euppatt W .eft A.aU.bl. it woW-d bav. bee

.... • ClO t.J.I'ate the p a. dt.'.l.. 1a U ' or thl1!e groups and toe -

Impl., th ft tho fift er .1xtb dq lm'ute ,. "pel the lana.d

t GUt ,thea lift I th.f.r -uppl:1 hue. ' anuih1late;lJ1 ene..,.

to, •• ttl. leht haw ~ to • 0t1r 6ft..

•tor lutwtlte did ....~rlaU... tbf tl.. !:lad pa!lsed ~.a 01

U*1 h 8~~..... lJu.b0r4lMted to ""f!l Germ.m

pdUS" dlYi 1_ .. when 1rt.:HJiS tlshwr aD4 ..bel" t.raafr1ou a.~Dea:NC

oq .. attftr \M7 _n ftque.te4 'b1 redl.. The Qoraul lot_aft•

... a.. peS on rIQllel'OU8 tl"ont. Nd ... t.1"1iae '0 d. ita ,.n lD "endt.na

the .. thutu of opv ~1....

AU thAt.. ., ..~ blcllMll J>le to ...aUt. --IV' ab l. 1Qp.

Q4IrID8D 4 .... upeow 'ha' l... . oalJ .u 1_31.• nuld 'a. plue

Page 10: Fritz KRAEMER_ I. SS Corps in the West in 1944 [1948]

• !he teet t.ht\t1.

I wt. 0 pl

id not be:' 11 ettor 6 1944

~ th mil Ce=aJ1d.

ail' 8UPI'OM01. 0 ld

tees aWed b1 ~\a 1 t.l\d.r dine" , tv A1'II%~Grt~'T.~11'Ul1'

raNItltS about ona7l'nr.

mazllWn:um polo,. tOO ao-called lin e1

prtrV~nt., or _ _net ndB!' dU'f1oul ,

tbe lutlonl nt10

10.1:1. either t !" 0' 1a • c

w. uoh trQ.

Y

a loel:q 1. we. la

1ll tlghtl fUth or

.b:t

"l"f) t • trelll1nc t t dirt8! ..

,be t!" of...ft-..,....., dltf1oultt•• It

t eft%' or eo..&Q,u.J"

];)«lI,aer 41vWone .Jq'tl. wut • $ Af, 1nt. b. tl. w1th .

o th•• and to t' tn.

uat

Page 11: Fritz KRAEMER_ I. SS Corps in the West in 1944 [1948]

for otor T~lc1e ,

'to • th. u

e. As the

Ollt.

C t" Ch1et St

late t

• IO~

Ba! ~{) , t di-.J. f~

D Je' •

" the Ohief

r •

1.t lepb

Page 12: Fritz KRAEMER_ I. SS Corps in the West in 1944 [1948]

0 +­" at orpo AI Me toe • f. tna a••rAil

., .. ad~ sat .. .tart .biIled1et t­

eUl'1. at w aatt" 1

hat. it ot

.,

Dtv

Ie al 11·

C en.

19U,

_0...

tr a

". ~1.

ruth....,

.11'\

laauM •

Page 13: Fritz KRAEMER_ I. SS Corps in the West in 1944 [1948]

,O~

el..rtM1 _ tt. t ...... c , 31 C naN mJ t;r:ro

about l6001ft t directien ._._ be .~.

""7'oI'Q~llII or the i!t dnng Uftit.a MNd t axtend o&i.;~••

ther6 z.-. ,srn1ng whloi.. 01 aU OY8l71'Oen .. .. toren were avail b).& tor det.. 81_

!w" "0' theae ..... a})la to t.tJltok:.. ou cart'7i1lg oat.

at GOle aDd it

V.hich_,

the!' J 01" heJ' -­

cmJo!'fJ<J that m•

• ... thta lrQ'

Us. bRI!.

~1 • C~ troepe am tb4t lid. lMIdJ ., th8 tat.· fM C6'Ma

t 1ft.., ela lu!d. bMtn W'd$'ttId ~.......bl. t•• t ....t about. to@ lo­

t,," Mr'\ ., 'al41..., '1'. prey_. 1_ ", ftlIaw.. ~\AiVt It, ...,t. d.:r'" t eep II' d.i& wdt. '"1.7 s.:u amfA,w....," had be~n

Page 14: Fritz KRAEMER_ I. SS Corps in the West in 1944 [1948]

la If .' to t.a .....,j.. d1~

oI~-tl~ "lr~o.t ~!lifftll' \thQ ... .

J~r:Rol.C:rIl 4. kllo­

~tl1 '\M .

~,s. 1)Q1'lu18

~~..M~t..i bdII... OUrallt __

11wlBftho1~.~ oI.~ ,. ....·tiba'

d._ft01~.

A'J..rW1J7

~

Page 15: Fritz KRAEMER_ I. SS Corps in the West in 1944 [1948]

PAR., ~:it)llt ,. '18 Pi_KtUII'

$~U_& /' 1a~~nN~kbe

1\

Page 16: Fritz KRAEMER_ I. SS Corps in the West in 1944 [1948]

a (I ~ Y) 'We

s (J C-G24

an~ ft~ ot t.te di-n.~ "411 ...~tted on hi l bank of tab

bad conkctod the emmJ1~ tM titm 'Wa. v~. -pr~W17 (7~

l'oady ~O~ a~tton~ 1he~ we ad~\fl.t wqu~1IQ ~........... ~L \- 1.\ P2.~.)

2. 'lbe 16.PSI PI lJ#;V wan on ' . JDU " I. QCJIlld not ~ it.

rival herO" noon on " ~ 1944. ~ it

into MWlf'tal ... :t, 11181 ~ ....

1nd1v!tiual ehftlw..

t Yic1nit,,. ot t at w • by.to c)1' teltiphon..

A.. 1'hcre wa. ,ol.ay in .DtA\bl1~ ~~ COl1~w;l\ti Iti'IPtJ! btLe u~.

" .-,.. ,.1I1g., 1ft .. \4.'~

-""~IA" 2l.OO COl'p' ~~Iftitd im~~

!!I!!I~!!a:..il'!:!T &ncl ftPO~ a,.Mnirmt.1:. ~ 01 09ft~ of at tat lUi!. alIo

as Dorm, as po 81'b~ I •

'\

Page 17: Fritz KRAEMER_ I. SS Corps in the West in 1944 [1948]

MS # C-024 -14­

ling a line ot resistance roughly fna Blainville (north) to railroad

Ca IJl-Deuvres. The divisional sector was opposed by British troops. ' The

en~ had pushed his beachhead inland tor bout seven or eight kilo­

meters.

Computation of time during the night of 6/7 June made it clear that

the most advanced elements of the 12 58 .,. Div l auld not arrive south of

Caen before early on 7 June. Their assembly eould not be completed before

the night ot 7/a June. e had to consider delays due to enemy air activi-

The mo t advanced elements ot the Pz Lehr Diy could be ~ected to

ar~ve at the bridge near Thury-Harcourt on the orning of 7 June.

A panzer division without supply troops required nine or ten hours

to pass a given point, 80 the assamb17 ot divisions could not be completed

before the evening ot 7 June. This was only possible if there were no

mishaps, an assumpt,ion that could not be depended upon . Corps considered

that the morning ot 8 June 8 the earliest it eould attack.

The only possibility of an earlier attack would have been by the commit­

ment of individual elements ot th division within sectors fixed on the

map, without awaiting the arrival of ar~illery and consequently without

artillery' support. This would have resulted in splitting up the division,

and it could never have been brought together again. The coamitted ele­

ents ot the division might have been exterminated by the advancing enemy

had it been called upon . to tight against artillery with .ere rinee and

maohine guns. EVen it the most favorable results were aehieved the division

-- would be tied up in such a manner as to daprive it of its chief advantage-"'i·

ability. ()J.r higher headquarters could have oom~ted this time as wen

Page 18: Fritz KRAEMER_ I. SS Corps in the West in 1944 [1948]

MS /I 0-024 -15­

ae we, but during the tel type conversation it became evident that they

.1ndulged in th desirable but ill-founded hope that th panzer corps

could move mountains.

In this vague situation it s 1mp rative not to lose our nerve;_ The

ending GenerAl, therefore, decided to prevent an extension ot tho beach­

h.ad b7 the combined efforts 01 the 21 pz niv and the atill active combat. ,

elements of the 716 IntDiv in order to launch e. compaot attack aft r th

apPJ'O&ch march and assembly ot the other d1Vision l'IaS completed.. During

the night ot 6/7 JUne 19/~4 the I as pz Corps lslSUoo the following 01"<1 1':

1 . e have to reckon nth the extension ot enemy beachbead during 7 June 1944.

2 . In ordf:r to prevent ext nsion of enemy b$achhead I 58 PIs Com~ which on 6 June 1944 assumed control or , the Orne sector, inclusive ot 716 Int~will assemble tor a.ttack' on 7 June 1944, and throw t he enemy back into the 8ea. Probable tilt- of attack on 8 June 1944.

& . The 2l pz Div will hold th lin hitherto 8eh d on' i ther s1ele of B'la!nvUl . El enta

ot 716 Int Div ployed there will be subordina.ted . ,

The reln.torceci pz rgt w.Ul conduct errenaive action with limit d objective, in order to sirnulate the presence ot strong pz forces . Ground gained has to be occupied

ediately. It is not essential to stab11sh a con­tinuousMLR.

Page 19: Fritz KRAEMER_ I. SS Corps in the West in 1944 [1948]

-16­

During the night ot 6/7 June, the e1 ments ot the divi~ sion which are not mployed on the right bank ot the Orne have to be moved to the 1 tt bank.

b. The 716 In! Div will hold its present strong­points and assemble its scattered elements north ot Gaen. Caen has to be prepared for tenacious defense. All for­mations of Army, Navy and Luftwaffe located t.here will be subordinated.

All lements, capable of combat, located in sector ot 21 pz Div will be subordin ted to this division.

c. The Corps Artillery Commander (Arko I) will move Corps Arty Bn to its firing position 80uth of Caen and will support 21 pz Div in resistance and attack•

.Artillery of 716 In! Div, 21 pz Div and other artillery formations employed at the coast will b incorporated into the plan of fire .

3. The 12 58 pz Div will go into its jump~ft position in the regional eaen (excl) - Verson-Fleury, '

The assembly ot div bas to be accomplished peedily.

Further orders will follow.

4. Pz IAhr Div, placed under control of I S8 pz Corps i1mnediately', Will secure crossing of div near Thury­Harecourt and asse ble in the area .around Evrecy.

FUrther orders w.Ul follow.

Page 20: Fritz KRAEMER_ I. SS Corps in the West in 1944 [1948]

u.s # 0-024 -17­

5. Heavy pz Bn I 58 pz Cor,ps will reach forest west of Brettevllle.

6. OP of 21 pz Div to b transferred immediately to the region of caen.

7. Corps OF will transfer into the May sur Orne ar • CoWs Sigpal Bn will establish radio contact vd.th Seventh Al!l, 84 Arty Comdr (AK) and with subordinate divisions . Telephone connections 1'dll be established according to verbal directions.

For Corps Headquarters Chief ot Staff

Signatur

During the night of 6/7 June, wo had not succeeded in clarifying the

situation in the combat area ot 716 lot Div and that of its adjacent units

on the right and l eft. Telephonic communication with A~ was poor, we were

not able to contact the adjacent corps by phone. Some of the telephone lines I

had been interrupted by the bombing a.ttacks . That night Corps dispatched U­

aison officers to adjacent corps . Radio encoding and decOding charts were not

deliver d by Corps Signal Offic r before afternoon on 7 June . A radio black-I

out was maintained by Corps to avoid d toction by enemy.

No contact had been established with pz Le~.r Div. Immedia.tely upon

arrival at the cOlIUJlB.nd post ot 21 pz Div, Corps dispa.tched an officer of

th! signal. battalion with encoiing and decoding charts tor pz Lehr Div

to the bridg at Thury-Harecourt, Where it was eupposed elements ot the

division 'Would pass. On ({ JUn 1944 at about 0500 hour , the Chiei' of

Staff found this officer d ad on the road . The driver of a truck, passing

in the darkness, had failed to see the officer or his motorcycle and had

hit Ma. The intended speedy xchange ot code charts had not taken place .

Th commander ot the pz Lehr Div did not- report to the corps command post

Page 21: Fritz KRAEMER_ I. SS Corps in the West in 1944 [1948]

-18­

untU late on the afternoon of 7 June .

False reports spread rapidly during tho march to the new commarid post

and during the following day. According to these reports, cacm had been ,

taken by the enemy, enemy tank spearheads werde driV:l.ng toward Palaise,

etc . Individual soldiers and members ot \rear services of divisions oommit­

ted at the coast including railway men, Organization Todt, and ration

supply workers were caught while "retiring ir the zone of danger" .

(Faint-hearted rabble who had grown unaccustomed to war during their stq

in the w at) .

The Corps immediately ordered that all approache to Falaise be sealed

oft along the northern outskirts of th town and the so-called stragglers

be detained there .

Although thase were all "fright reports" and had been so evaluated,

during the forenoon the Commanding General went to the command post or the

716 In! Diy at the western outskirts of Caen to gat intor.mation about the

situation and to examine the terrain.

~n ignoring these false reports, Corp expected an attack of en

motoriz d troops in conjunction wit h his air foroes and airborne troops,

at l east as far as th Falaise-Argentan area . With the help of caretul~

air observation the ' nemy was bound to notice that no considerable Garman , ,

forces were committed t the front and that the spearheads of German

motorized troops were only approaching th combat area . Countle s numbers

of enemy- airplanes 'Were in the air during the night of 6/7 June and also

early in the ~o~ on 7 June 1944. German mUltary agenciee could not

judge whether or not they delivered correct and adequat reports on th

Page 22: Fritz KRAEMER_ I. SS Corps in the West in 1944 [1948]

1.1 t.

!t, r~

cll·l'1)1.-1,. . ,

... t. 1... • v llll.

.. tllea ,., l ..,U.-.· Ntri

b" ar1Y1 .to 1&1•

....... ,_t....

La. . pa.Nd

.. \ . e.. _t, h.... 1t ft\.ll ....... bt.ift ••:!'tb .. luectJatf\ll..

,1ft pftMM ., tN_wad 1t "J>M'''1r ""' 4u .. 1 ......bt.ok ..... tM'

aUt,.". t,uk'(Atltt....atMtt1k:) dM,,",-ru.;v .u,ptr1 •

aeq ~

fit'1 ..... #!...........,. tu t.uhh ....M

Page 23: Fritz KRAEMER_ I. SS Corps in the West in 1944 [1948]

,

C

IS I C-024

tal7 P.-t '"" with_ sllbl~tmt1al a_bat. .tt1ei«ulOY q1 ~Clked

lutav oap...

:\\aUen, .U" PflIMInt part,s .r a PI D19 "~ .~ttm1 .. tM loft

'bh.~. Thwata. di:dJ.!" ... \1 up tIM <twld »ot be l~l.,..•

.. " _pan dlvla10ad t.l'IRtl _.

tb 1" .t tbe i';l _ Pil ni*'t late 1. tbo atte~

bl. 41v181. .,tiU ..... ·tJte' IlP}~ I\UCh. D..w.

ClQiagllfQ tho l»-id at T~ l'Q'~ .ui 1t bad t.. t. " ,,'6ired _nd

oapl_te botl' ••~bl.7 bwfo" ettVl,y _n JI 1944.

f 118 fI.~&I re,.rted that 1t. tona"l.. with.at tI:mlur • .a.d

pniaUl_b:13 ",eh the u"-bl1 U'e& •••t'dend. d~ 11UJ'}$.

tor .. .f b4tt.h ~ tbe·. dlvlfd•• lw4 , ,. (M'9'CU' Y817 1 d1nfl.DCO

\

not. _~ ,he ~~ til-.. ,ap Oft our left .. w&4\ tON a .ent 0 . . )

t.hoN. . 1\ ~ U

Sate t,h* "0.-.1..... t 21 P-. lit.,. w••t~//~ tbe "igt.tlU1

\

\\

Page 24: Fritz KRAEMER_ I. SS Corps in the West in 1944 [1948]

(}• lett afld 1ut a

ptecl o. l'fiM.

....&Jt.. c• & BrlU••

Bay.we:•

• t"I~A'fO!IWI"'. fit '1

? • ...raft to te

.",.,q;a.c. it bulaM

i'4tlNt-lJ liiIl'bll l.Qnw.rr_•

• •

Page 25: Fritz KRAEMER_ I. SS Corps in the West in 1944 [1948]

tbe1r.. bl¥ hoi.

howed that.

woul4 • t • area

Sit •

Tbere was • et er

he attac wm

Caeu, • • II.

)

graytt , • to

lett w 111 'rrwm pl ..mt.u t

epend1 en th. .it

1 f't .. 1Jt.

I I

Page 26: Fritz KRAEMER_ I. SS Corps in the West in 1944 [1948]

... - • __..v lOOO

1t

t

t

w•

• 'oj

8 tlat

1Jtte . 1 VNIl1M ClOlilo.lt

It .-t ,..1;

. .111 t.. f1 ~ ex Ue' 41. !pl1ne stUl

Page 27: Fritz KRAEMER_ I. SS Corps in the West in 1944 [1948]

10 24

UU:WO"L.a t tt raf:l1....UlaJlOa Le ttncsOClOQ. 10 with. dU .rent «1. on e __at aCUIQ~

wt c illeJ7." • ent. wu ­

to •

t

aU..

t.

ba t

Page 28: Fritz KRAEMER_ I. SS Corps in the West in 1944 [1948]

0-024

of tb..... tteries

aal onl.7 400 rOUflds t 17S unitt.n.Xt r quired ' 1. bt days to obtain

it! ll&l unit1 n b1ch had t. be brought, fr or ins

are Corps upply celUJD.DS..

T 11 whic had bee reache en th .veni et 8 lun.... in.

torced the toU_1Dg dq. .\Juri tha.t d

eat their tanka 1n the front 11 8; usual.l7 1t1 0

" flv to n1 tanka, to help 1 al ...ault. a

t. create a terce ebl to eel wit

ct!. at up t ••t

b)' 8."7 111017 f

•• at tn Ie on t pense1' re th 2. fa P1! put It; \ , fit

aoti • ter almost one and a halt days and a cr itical sltuatio. '~veleped

in thiS, soctior_ Direot d8llq ge fro. the boiabing attaok was Slig~ , but

at least ~ percent or the 60 tanks were rendered inoperative, in "~,8t . ,1\ " " I ' .

cases by ateclianioal damages arising fr•• the tanks being ~ln1,'l , • , t ~.f. .\\ '\:--.

B1 th~reven1ng of 9 June the remaining elements of 71{£~ Div \ . ~" no l.ngerf~·ero capable of combat and they were withdrawn kom the ac~iori;:>

t . , {'" 1 . \ ...

The divisi.n then oonsisted at the most or 200 men and it 'las entirely ~ ~. " ' \

disintegra.ted~ The men who had been in the advanced shelter&': or armored '\~'\\

c.amalld pe~t.' had been given up altogether, probably all were 'ekeD pri- \ , , \ ', \ \

. \

/l

I

Page 29: Fritz KRAEMER_ I. SS Corps in the West in 1944 [1948]

c

)IS # C-024 -26­

oners. There had been radio contact with some of them until 9 June, but no

cation by telephone. It was not known whether they oftered resistanc

until th very last m~~ntJ but it was assumed that further resistance be­

came impossible. The lack of vi6ibillty, of telephone and radio contact

with n ighbora and ~~th the rear service brings a feeling of helplessness

to a n in such a fortress J particularly if fighting ia going on in his

rear and there is no possibility for him to force his I\-ay out. Under such

conditions he ma.y become alarm and give up. Usually the enemy inche

ahead to the cnt.ranees and exits of shelters making eacape impossible. en

tiger, difficult to chase in its natural. freedo I is helpless when it 1

caged . Fortifications (in the style ot form r fortresses) are expensiv

installations in the modern era of air forces and artillery. They cannot be

he1d tor long in spite of the best intentions and will on th part of the

defender . This bec obvious to the command ot corps and divisions, both

in the w at ( aginot Line) and in th east (stalin Line) . Subsequent

fighting in the West Wall confirmed these experiences. The dug-in infantr,v

can ofter better d fens ot a MLR if the trenches are well adapted to th

t rrain and th l4LR is buUt with adequate depth and reinforce, with mines

for iMtance.

Generally the lin r ached by Corps s h ld . Sporadic nga cnts

took plac during the night of 9/10 June._

Two or th fresh divisions r needed to nable Corps to launch a

new attack as a panzer eorps~ i!I..()n 10 JUne 1944; to the delight of" rybody .~~,

concemed" C nder in Chief H Gr B. Field lLar8hal. 1, Who. had-b

made responsibl tor the ntir inva ion front, paid visit to Corps . For

Page 30: Fritz KRAEMER_ I. SS Corps in the West in 1944 [1948]

~27-

the first t' e since 6 June we re· a position to r port fully on the

conduct of battle and the en~ situation. As panzer divisions could not

be '4thdrav.n fr the front for a.n attack until we could expect infantrY

divisions Which were to be comnrl.tted for defense, it became apparent that ­

a continuous and rectilinear front cou~d never be established Neither the

terrain nor the enemy would allow i~ . Aa a result ,an-power requir ents f

increased to the extent tQat it appeared impossible to etabl1sh-close con­

tact with LXXXIV Corps, on the left. Corps reconnaissance as~aults to the

left disclosed no German formation or onlY very weak ones . The division,

which appear d on-map sketches of report on the situation as adjacent to'

the 716 Int Div on the left, evidently had been smash d or had existed onlY

on the sketches . Corps was cam.pll d to throw torces Of pz Lehr DiY further

to the left . This strained the front like an infl ted rubber ~ail, the t

hen it would burst was drawing nearer and nearer . Corps decided to po t ...

PQnB its planned attack in the direction of Bayeux unt~l further divisions

arrived. C...in-C of H Gr B agreed to this proposal, but demanded that I

strong attacks dth tanks be carried out toward Bayeux. It was still in­

comprehensible why tho en88l7' ex rted hilaselt with assaults in the direction

ot Caen and did not make a powerful driv to exploit the open ap on

either side south .of Bayeux. Th re could be only one explanation - this

place was approximat 11' the bounda17 lin bet en the British and Am riean

torces . As orten happens in war, tho forces ot these two parties apparently

• re not overlappi each other and the famous line of contact xisted

only on the map . ortunat l.y for the German Command, the line looked

diff rent on the terrain and there st have been a gap b tw en the British - t

Page 31: Fritz KRAEMER_ I. SS Corps in the West in 1944 [1948]

lIS ,COO{)24 -2$­

rican troops~ coyered occa ionally perhape ~th liaison scouting•

parties .

The C ander in Chief H GrB further informed Corps thatl

a. . 47 pz Corps with t;o pz dive would be committed.

left ' o! I S8 pz Cor~6

b. The command agency Gen~ra.l of pz TrooEs 'est , I ,

w1ll probably a sum control between th Om

and the Vire.

c . Support fro the Luftwaffe could not at be expected . , '

•Also at the top l&~el c d the opinion prevailed that the lack of the

a.r.an Luftwaffe ould render difficult or almost impossible every defen­

.iv operation, and 'Was a gr atar bar to e~ ry Inr e-scal offensive action• .

On th veiling of 10 June 1944, it b 'c e apparent "',hat Corps had be~n

forced to change over to ' daten and that an off nsive operation would be

conceivabl only after Corps h d been withdrawnfr the defensiv ,front I

which :me incessantly s pping th pow r of ~to comb t e1 cnts . En

attack grew in violence, casu ti and 1088 of terial became cons-I

picuous .

..

Page 32: Fritz KRAEMER_ I. SS Corps in the West in 1944 [1948]

.run. 191.4 the CQl'}la 1e1tlfldu, ~_ tf¥&' temp f'fI't!1 ......

dS-vila ... fix provlaio~.. hld t

1 r PO'.".

attao ~ Gm::eDl~ • a '1!1 U 1'i ult a k f ~

1th • .... It

c

Page 33: Fritz KRAEMER_ I. SS Corps in the West in 1944 [1948]

# C-024 -3

ngine r equipment fram depots eas~ ot th Rhine . In order to make full u

ot the few hours of darkness (from 2100 to 0500) vehicles moved with utmost

• This r suited in a large numb r of serious accidents~ The ritish

hay r peat dly claimed that the area nround Caen had been tran fonned into

a veritable fort~$. This was by no means the case. The reasons that

resistance could be offered for a comparatively long time vere:

• The troops eommitted there literally permitt d themselves to be

kill before they would \

give up ground.

• - he British High C d either deeided to attack too late or

d the attack with an inadequate number of troops.

a:r 11 June 1944 the three dlv1s1.onlS_ controlled by Corps had been

considerably- kened. At th tim of writing this report, deta~led

trengthe ot n and terial no 10 r can b i ven . In p rcentage th

loss"8 re as follows:

21 pz Div: kill d, wounded and Jdssing in aotion about 40 percent, put:

out of; actio J guns, about .30 percent} tanka, about 50 percent. \

The number of type IV and V tanks fit tor action, held by th division, (

was approximately 30 or 40. h tanks put out of action in th

a tew da18 previously had not been repair d .

12 SS P0 Div: killed, ounded or IIdssing in aetion, about 25 percent;

put out of' etion: guns" about 10 perc nt; tanks, bout 20 perc nt. bout

60 tanks t7P8 IV and V ere fit for"action.

pz Lehr Div: kUled" ounded or Bsing in action, about 25 percent;

put out of a.ctions guns, about 10 percent; tanks, about \

20 percent . About

60 tanks typ. IV and V re tit tor action• ..

Page 34: Fritz KRAEMER_ I. SS Corps in the West in 1944 [1948]

• us .# C-024 -{31­•

On 11 June 1944, 101 ss ~z Bq, a -heavy bat.talion, 'was attacked in a

small wood by an enemy bomber wing and lost about 50 percent of its offi­

cers and men. The majority of its Tiger tanks were incapacitated for ma­

ny days . Onl.y 15 Tiger tanks .'Vere capable of commitment .

ie could not expect a new supply of tan.'I{s or guns. The tank repair

shop.s of division worked day and night in o~er. to put the tanks tn work­. ina ordor again

,

. ' Continuous en~ attacks often prevented towing up or

recovering tanks put out of action ahe~ of the WI~ .

. a . . From the so-called officer $ f reserve (Fuehrerreserve) .. About ./

20 per cent of ~fficers and NCOs were ,r.Lthdrawn frOm all units into the' 80­

called uarchbataillon ., or personnel raplac ent transfer battalion.

b . From the replac ent battallon~ rhich, particularly for pan­

eer grenad:ters, \t'ere quartered in the rear area; .. . Corps had , ordered that the slightly injured and slightly sick be' heaJ.4td . .

in the surgical hospitals of divisions or corps and then returned to the

troops immediately.

During the whol. day strong enel!!l" torees attacked various points of

our front and for the first time the British committed strong armored " . l

lorces . These attackod the left wing of Pz Lehr Div toward 'l'ill- SUl.'-

Seulles, but were repelled in a counterattack by tanks of that division•

. Also the 12 SS pz Div was attacking the nemy who skillfully exploited the J.

terrain features . In~vidual points , such as sections of oods in the

Bretteville area, cbanged hands reP'tatedl7~ During the n1ght of U/12

Page 35: Fritz KRAEMER_ I. SS Corps in the West in 1944 [1948]

. lIS 11 0-024

,

-32­

June this division threw in the last of its reserves for a counterthrust . I

In general we succeeded in holding the front but the Corps would not have

b eijual t~ an attack !?y massed enemy forces . All ' three divisions war

in action and no reserves were available . Corps had ordered nch division

to ke p a reinforced batta1ion in res'rYe, to be used only with Corps con­

s nt . The gap betvleen us and the LXXXIV Inf Corps 'on our left, which had

grown bigger and bigger and was no longer a baby,. as our chief probl_ child

(Sorgenkind) . In order to have at loast a small res rYe group there,

five 1i er tanka were m.oved to th northern outskirts of Villers.aocage With •

. the masion of annihilating en8l17 tanks that might att pt to break through •

the". The Corps was unable to understand why'the enemy did not make the ......

most of this gap with a. breakthr<?Ugh . ..

Atter 10 June I upon ord.rs of Corps, the fire power ot the entire

artillery was co-ordinated. by being placed under the control of Arko I , ~d,

this fact was of' reat importance in our defense . fit ere able ,to direct

the fire quickl¥ and deftly to the .ost enda,lgered sectors , and, in addition

to BaTe- ition. The flak artillery was inclUded in this systera ot fir.

concentration. After II June two Luftwafte flak regim8pts ere ordered to

oooperate With Corps; Th Y' e;ra used tor ground combat as well as antialr-: r

craft det nse .

Signal c nications with SeVenth A!!l still were very poor. T.l~-

~ phone ca.lls could be made only thryugh a relay station Which us haridled.by

an Art/ItI' general statf officer . ~ th 8.ftemoon ot 11 June an enctll11' bomber

attack smashed th headqu~rters of pz Group West . which had as~ed control

on the previous day. Chief ot staff Ge j Ritter v Dawans ~ about 40.

Page 36: Fritz KRAEMER_ I. SS Corps in the West in 1944 [1948]

•• kUl • C

£1

.,1"il1'HHt

.lut· r ••

E4Jl£1?J!IUJ!G" • d1eous tho p $$1111.11.

:oa.nar at.t 111 th4 d1reot,1 ON~<'. oould 11 ' "'............ Oil. eup

t 1 ent.:1f' -fr the I' t

to t$il ­

Co:..~P&

_~~t r

ita 11 tl'UU. 1. ha4 40 10ul 17

clJ.na off'

wouldbt

ipd•• rrl

.tt1cient.l1 •

.t..:tt l' ai.t no•• nt17 entat fOl"P' . he •

. , jut,ilJ led ~ ler• (a

t.u w Ilt

u •

Page 37: Fritz KRAEMER_ I. SS Corps in the West in 1944 [1948]

1

12 J tn. • witb at' rapport.

the Ji til fa tia.x .. PI &elm all -~ tOO.J'ti ell h QVl 1.. fl8. T

w t to shte I.1P the lot wi .r tI ~ aix ha4 to

• I

t i ntlt auppol*tA4 bJ hi. attlUe17 IUiii dol" rotc•••

......"..~..~ ra~ r eel tank att k.

11 •

f till. d viii t.t1GC~IJ<iIU••ll. thtt ... t'Hormalu.nc.. ole

:u...I.V» eGllllitt. iJl t.b1. ., • ~d.nOWJ tftft'ain at fit 1:1111.

c ea('~tn'!N)tI ...,.,.~yltt 0 17 hour.

.. dn U6IITdIO.

Q US tor bell'

air el.LpJtoJ"t..

n n~.....

~ t • ur'll1lut fIl 12 J, t,

'l'( lpr), -b1 bee plao UJeQ nertt. ViUer aae 01....."._

Page 38: Fritz KRAEMER_ I. SS Corps in the West in 1944 [1948]

1.4001

• ~UI'~" 30 ANH'lI'I:I' t~ lth hi.

:)oJ'8OlIlal QotUIW(t: et

1r .ttack h

bl. r WIlg th entire e rpe fr:

" the ~JlfJIV ~ 1.' • favorable oJ}

01lTtQ'& • ., Nt b,11

.1CMm.e· ~ a~~~.. arrive 1

p. A le"~ tt,

e , ••hiGh

e1... t U.. Ui4 oW be ' pected in t.iIl,. rer c •

, Aft e:xperie. it, ... vic! nt.t. that h.

a I!J 1.-;, "bio Ana...., ave.ilable

driblet.. It a l .. ter .to the

act th 't, 1 waa ,Vi ••, etC • t. be ocmltt a Itt.

QI'I'aK:'!t.lU"~tQ elaO t

battall

tb "l"1 bei1._-­t t •

o • 1m

Page 39: Fritz KRAEMER_ I. SS Corps in the West in 1944 [1948]

••

f 0-024 up Wantr7 lv1alOl1l_~~

of all

t

" ~

• It

ott_

..p, " ut by hi;

tbllr

u .. rt biet ,

o

~,..b beld b1 tJw ~r 41ft,,. •

or "I" IU

all , •

- tight lob • all "'UIi.MniII~lI

• ris •

d ......• of

to 4

l_.ot

~

Diy.1tU_ ......._ ...111

1. hi, aV1"iiaGlia OIl

Page 40: Fritz KRAEMER_ I. SS Corps in the West in 1944 [1948]

bel ,1 11 up by In_._P-_____ prop" t

4er ~.j?) lDt.~orR! to ptuft lost ..:r"u........... '" attao wStk .

U objeot1,.. ol"ten1n& S­

ab~t rellnln

elallillh11i:11 ~ 21 Pa Plv. ·UliDtQ3 to npport ..... U:1l'.lted. at • b1 jt 1 . ,

tot •• olut.l1 . oe Gllry olthe · to

tWn"f'1U. to ,troY' it•

aw:

lrfOi11~.t

..... • ",. . ot ,.I.'CC 0 be - .~1nglJ

11 "I

2 1)1.. • r n

D1T.

.upp~ '" 11wl,.rt111er,'14 t'

..ir to o. aotb1.t¥ i*r't1O\U& .iWI,~'''' of 12 Dl•

4tba "'6 • ,J

w~41 . ... lJl11 1:11 *"tl. ~ II. •

1117 OiDanItGO nNI.I....e~- ~1MfI.'ii1" bt.lldI. .

u.l'l" t • ~ 1

In. II.POLmG. UaDiDa"t.

1~

oOll.J.CI.,..bly

1'M 1af't.1I'I.na tMbr Di.., .." [

c. 1 ,

"el' blot to ol14at. to.... of

Page 41: Fritz KRAEMER_ I. SS Corps in the West in 1944 [1948]

«aten't, .t. 01' Fa laT.

A - U

$. l.w7 tl.ro ~ 10

~OQl;lWlWl

•• ·oree., pal"t11o'U~­17 011 ~ lAhr Dlv II ,0 . 1'h4t

• IfI!' ••

tln .....t ~ur l'4larNa' •

In OM • • v b. t Ua

• ttallon of 12 .......'----­

tor a

For

DiT uenJIIB-----.,;;;;...;..........

~.. ~. or V raoa, 1I1'101w in .no• UCf"" tlh_

. dtJavorre~C '-PI &1...,. to ha". 1tt 0 P of

1 . dim .. -.rt tlle front .. ·.1bh• eo

t .. wry hN1, WithoUt -.0 , t.1' .. . ....­t ~1P&1_1 of tlla front. Alth I

C of b

rUi . tl"U

~I<l~...r

'bruella, 1D4J,.'V,l4ual1,

...__.-- 1 . "

o •

Page 42: Fritz KRAEMER_ I. SS Corps in the West in 1944 [1948]

I .p1 or..dio ottl0 or bJ mtot' c701e • ail" t.ctl..tty, C rpa 10.t only

o ptlrtonA atutaGtorl17 al11ta ~G(umJ.OI~

tht. Uel''' 00llDl1.l.. ~ra.ttlo to ... 'rca 1.

..Hr it can • oonM<l1H:Il't17 tItII t ...,. _

10 ... . \1....11'

d1.

f: 15th.»4 1& of J.. ~.. .,DmlIIU'IIot1_q uiot. ! d1vill

u.. o£ 1\7 - • ... to ".hu1~tl.

1cJj....... ,to .... .n~ of .1' .rri.~" 1 o\be.., bJ tbI ....1p.­

nil or ph~l 111' tit Uu tfO PII .

the ~':Xll

0., tr1'bh on17 .itch" 8_ .. e!!R!, attaok. JAlIIllOlItQ, •

.. lao tlwI. &t·'Il!&A:"

.Imu1aWc1 tM ....'

100-."4 ~... .

:tact. or_

at

• to ..

Page 43: Fritz KRAEMER_ I. SS Corps in the West in 1944 [1948]

......

" The ~ttankl und.rto.ke:l b)" ~T:i, I.of :0!l! on· the utel"ll bank of

-u. Om ahmr.d their eft.ct••• ].a •• 17 to 20 J\U1D. Tho fI..".-.(

loa.. 1nall), beOUIIiJ unbe rablt_

witb4ra-wn ~ te kUftI'IIc.l,-j""",,- at .(tvat" 1 pob.te .

pe 1n th' front .

f .n~ oo~rGd ourtr.. • lwretofore, the _ e rt rot ~ '11 att ck _. ll"Ctotvd gaix.'b

thif • at ~ . ,01 12 IS... f', DS:r, o111.tl,. on it, lott ins, ~ the

Lebr Il1·d.lon. • u. 4 t t t,. • <1 <' tt~d ono cor.,."- .."'!. 01\ or 0.' point., ' ell. ~ll1.ns Vivo inta:n.tr,. cU..,,111on lupport.d

by ~~ ADd artillery. $t~on 10Cll .Vb.eke t tly4.velopt! in

tl\lOt.t1ne; fl&htl:t:l& tOt' bl.dlvi4ual buUd~# 11 Q041, h111...n

oth.... tern..ln ••ott.... but t.dled 'bO Pl'0d~_ P trad.cma . by ftMJ

• lia't;e4 'Or ... ~ atthpti to ~ Its.. *ch in W (II" to

'WI.n &f' tor 4.plo~t of: ht. tOl'Q • ., dld not o_~r'Y& ., c

o.atn.t101'l of .t~.~ Corce. tor .. bl1lakthr()U~ w1~ .t~'t4Itg1o 01>­

jeo 1... <r w"'. nOli 1n .. poal-elO11 to ~ ...... intentions .

I'bapa un.xpoo_~\lo1 ,trq ~lJ1tan. 'by Ge1"DD11 t iblO81 toil.,4

.trort. tor .. bree.kt;!ll"Qusb. TerrAin D.ot ba'iO 'beG ,uitabltJ tor

lal"~.'" le l'lk a kit QI!l thia rs;ym..,.. t ' d tlW an ~ to <larry

out hi. attaOD ~l. b.- tb"nbl'lOit t1ma, TlItn.

a.rtl11eq

a tartt 'Wb1Qh oannot be .tN. ed, too ot"tft. ~lvs..l ~ rt ~

peJrt44ht.p loa•• of' 11".. tor 'bbt .~. 0UJ0 troop' 7 ht._ ten «

Page 44: Fritz KRAEMER_ I. SS Corps in the West in 1944 [1948]

o ~, .. a COt;f!. prior to 20 -Jurm hi. 1ce.. compr1.c<l 1 out 100 t'rll ­

.ra Q.d a.bol.\t ,00 .nka CUld oth r ore '\"CIhlolAt. ~ T . f ot that t"

.p.o•• b~ hU ttao indi4ltO

.uttoro4 l~. I. lIar11 t Q r_lnly could ba.itO b n _ •••­

t me artl1e.1

P.'rt.nc. tilt. 81t\.\&tion~. J1a tar ... it QOUJA be obflorved f .

the (left1U,1 aU.,. oooptJrati n n ,.11111 r'I u4 artl11@:t"/ £1701'••_

If,t r._4ta4 lleZ\t; <) oUT.e.

oP'lr&te4 \1mll.tlU'Wd b, th6 00

atvaUy our toroe

__'" • Con.~t 1.0 1. ttacb 1 1m h d oJ tho Ont cd 41!!dlt.1" coun'h .,.

..ttaOq \lmorte..iofl1 \>1 a'nI*Q t'OI" Qed. tM latWr to 4w1nc11., rap141,.

d

&1: ita dUpo. '1 only 4,

troope. .t . nu, th. avont. .t~th of .. 0 ~

It" At; 12 sa P. 1y tt.

u t t .... t f UJI

Olnl:_~r., ottlCtlt"Il,

Me k11la4 1nac,1 01'

Page 45: Fritz KRAEMER_ I. SS Corps in the West in 1944 [1948]

t r r.plA_­

JDml1l1l. r Np140e ta

t'1

,

• . l'l4 noun telopholW.

»'" h1&he.. , ..nez-.auo d t •

r'1 ivi.tOll" clawor1.Jl · tor-

h' it

... _ ~ lOll of ~pla

.ul"t -of.~. lJnerorauah 00 · ltl. _ only ' Ch1o.r

1. loa.l ",poXlAlb1litr tor

41v18 o ·

ton horae. 1"8 .:xhl~ua1.4 u n al"7i: 1.

.eat to 'Air

f

" 4i~<1

train. or tro

i1; .. ~~ OJ' " ...., • ." 1;0 ":

clhtrt uti . ,..

1ml

• aka r ..ul ­

I.d ilot I"OW.

Page 46: Fritz KRAEMER_ I. SS Corps in the West in 1944 [1948]

• faot t h6e_N_ 1v,,*1 1 4rl

on

t1,.,.., ,1.,. J!! • .. 1 a"a Qni

4 d t1 J"t'ain. It

to tollow ta.wr

j p-oft -'t­11..,. the"

• ft!*'l'!hbq

cotttaot U oqu.t.lnted. with . • ..oubla.

o r .uab olPoumlltlmo.,.

• •

tJ- opt.. tit! be

avoid" t .

d1.0Ul.L&,."'.

Page 47: Fritz KRAEMER_ I. SS Corps in the West in 1944 [1948]

lC JuMILVIl ~ Ocr 31 I i -

tlut P betoc ~.I ~_ ~ari! &l:I1 IfOXIv 1ut p0!f!* Th1e (to the

b r7 of t s C2!R!. 1 &'fusln. . ~.t) ­

t ..

to " .tabl11aM"

th. line. ba.d 01" Co

bai:llflNm 21 ,. ns... ,MIl '!J lIi

....1\ 01' .Pc. ,Lo)ut ot .1c1l_r 'Ii,.. ? ........

DOtI:I3.Gar:f llMtIt

-

-buS;

~lne.t •

.xoa"ln&17.U _re­ lint tq

t1 •

••otofo t

a~ta.

partia -..1,.

to-, .. 1:_ kUt:lr.:Wl'te.t~ to th eo'\l1ih.

c

Page 48: Fritz KRAEMER_ I. SS Corps in the West in 1944 [1948]

I e

III aplte of tht ....pon4Un

C~ .. a4..u _t • ~t' &G1)t.,. _-.t 4td..1or.te -N I.xl& .

b:fO~t up ... 4IiOu14 'be _~.4 Sa. r_ )'AI- b •• 41v1.1cma weft,

•• 16 1Alttw '1· nl.... tor ooaatU_1rEn nAf' eba filt.. 2t' 15. br~_

••ad iii f,

• 216 tat' »1. to "lie 1 P. D1Y. , • i r 1 .. __ _ ... f

_ 1 S PI: Dly.,r _

d. E'...;h C~.. with _.2_- ___..........--. 1)_,,_,-_._.,

til DUott ••:tab the amw.l or ... 4S.$I_ tmJ _te plaa tor

att&ok be ~.bd wlth all ....lk'b1e plUJhr lyul • Dw'1nC

• t

-t"~ of tea-ul. uI tbf la.lt. of Gt

to,... _ lt t • clet ...,n... .. ,... .. d b 1. emJ.ll, __.:u.n.& ... ...:nao.

intOrMtlo .. o tn. t • to

til a 1w 0

'1 a1Jr '-OOJlMUMIl • boa.»ria ft' ata • qt.

UI, tba· n. '0,. 12 s PI D1.,! , j - ••

Page 49: Fritz KRAEMER_ I. SS Corps in the West in 1944 [1948]

••

that D01J attaolta "e!"8 bpend1n.g ... to • . r\ at la.at on a2 J .... _"

~ witi\out to\U14atio.th Earll em the *>Jln1q t 2! JUD 'WOJl6 uem.y

PD..taU, fit -~ ab. to ...pel.,.l othlJf .. ttaoka. For the tint

i;iat ;1••,.].a, in ".un& 'boat. aw~ or tIw 0,.. 1"1'"'1", ,tytn

tM ••otor td tU nl lDt Di.... LatA 00 2.5 J . t ....09J"taw4 _t

the,... btl'b tm..y wna UF '1,. hi..

...t ot Ratto . Althoup \

b1 d ....0_7 umor.4 N<lOnna1ltanoe. 811l ta1dlll P~" &D _.tow

or ~2 8S ,. Dt.~ ana fa t.~ PlY. C ",. MwJI't::Ml••• M4 ,..intw

tbt trorl in orclv M tor _ ...141 .... Jar ...a.l4t

Page 50: Fritz KRAEMER_ I. SS Corps in the West in 1944 [1948]

:&'_t!!ISJI!t&1'I, ooopeJlatlon hl

ot.{ .t w1l1, tG the a~1tub tront . the left 1t1q

of fro :t welt otlla~\a. .0 t'att. . th,...~

111 .pite or "pt6to4 Pl'oteIt. bJ ~ It!' C()!l!1 o. lattall 01

21 Ps DiT • ""th4~ tt"om ....tern of Ortlt w. . 1'418

Diy- .. . ,.oM..,.., hI' .'t"1Ib~rdAi tall· r tlJ"lt •• me . out· "lout ,..

upply 01

ion aM 6: • 1l1nut. trQIport

-1 plaoe

.~ 1Jted in l*rtlo~l, 'Nlswftb." pobi . of .. tr . t .

".i't;y _re PI" . .... tr a . ..

al

tn lub. ~t1nl tntct17 trequaU7

&'bl. to "nrUa'_ t1ak wre •

111. tori"

HO:IOJ" ot . h . r..hr D1 ,. I , . • t.

Page 51: Fritz KRAEMER_ I. SS Corps in the West in 1944 [1948]

MS # 0-024

en~ succeeded in forcing a deep penetration on either side of Tilly

and Fontenay. His objective which became increasingly apparent was

to sain control of the road Caen - Viller ~ Bocage . By this action

a gap was tom open which no longer could be sealed off by our 0"'711 . ,

torces .

The ma~n body of the I SS pz Div was grounded in the st. Germain

area for lack of fuel, but one regiment could be moved up. This

regiment was committed in the sector of the 12 SS pz Div: because a.gain

and again ithlfd been order ed that Casn be held At a.ll costs . It had

not been decided as yet where _ I~ S8 pz CorES, 'Which was being moved _up,

would be committed . The, Commanding General of I SS pz COl'Es ther~fore "

decided , that ,one panzer group be formed f1'001 the 12 S3 -Pz Div· and pz Lehr I "

-Div for the purpose of "attacking and isolating, on 25 and 26 June, the "

en~ forces which had broken through . On the evening of 25 June the

eneDlY' himself halted his a.ttacks without fo11ovdn . up the' advantage "of

his success" either during the night or on, the morning of 26 June . '. '

Corps had noted that the British formations appeared to fight only to

their ordered objective vdthout advancing "farther or $xploi~ing their

advantage . In most instances this nabled Corps to take the necessary

countermeasures . Major night attacks were not conducted by the enem;y.

C,orps ,

expected powerful enemy attacks to be resumed on 26 (June . ~

From prieonerl' statements, documents found on the dead or oth~ise , .,

obtained and from. interoepted radio essages we had estimated that the

en~ had ' c~tted in Corps sector about three or four divisions and

about three anaored brigades as well as amy troops . Theae forces

Page 52: Fritz KRAEMER_ I. SS Corps in the West in 1944 [1948]

......,..._ by th. • a " I- 4i:d. 1.th abQ\111

1na4 te artU1M7 IUpport. Ii; _ not _~

posatol

b' ly wpporte by the 0 proJoct ~UIIJI of the flat t.f't11lel7

-.1.- 1 ntioJl8 It Wltl\out hl!'nrm:;Ln.a of 1'. o-p1nlon#

at tbe .r.etq to wh••l to at, tQll'a1'4 • ... 111 O\U" 01'1

o eould no l~r be

. lei', ". h to $4... hv 'tibl•

a. ' nt. 1d.o ... d 1n hi. e.t'f.1

..

•••ok t

e

Page 53: Fritz KRAEMER_ I. SS Corps in the West in 1944 [1948]

I b o&\lIe o.t "

1T tta • Very

o ft. of _ott

Oll • .tom k ot th On:8

1.w1 with 1'U1.- o.a. •

11 to

to

.";I8nitl6 01

00lll_t~ 1n

aJ"la .

abo too

.~. . ete .... .ut, of tier •• or it

Page 54: Fritz KRAEMER_ I. SS Corps in the West in 1944 [1948]

--U 8soribed only by tho.. who ook part in 1t . ,.

ro literally tl q inch of ,rod.

the opinion that tlvn ..c> ..... ur~ tho e d 1J ...•

.

hitter .inc. -1n:n1116 ot he :val on. A in

PI D1'9' •. .. -

4l-d.t alolw -t

of pmI.rt.,.t; 1"lr4f41le Iozolt;y of t • IS', Diy 000 W

.. jia ....

01' V....aon. Un ub 4' 1 aotin

1n battl,. Flnt or14 • te

that 11$ ~ before h~ the,. Oi6rlenaed au • cl artlll. . t1re.

rlt1eh ~ 414 uot 14\0 tlon. op tunltr

of politlof' obl'!"Yin&

or ."V t.U,\ar &rtll1ery, OnM

onaU.,..d _" 111_

u.ri115 t 1

.,1doxa ~.<i tor a,tUl. of 1w

.. ot 12 sa .PI D1.,t .octor. _ _I" J

OJ8 or

11

Page 55: Fritz KRAEMER_ I. SS Corps in the West in 1944 [1948]

Ii c...o2h

Dui"lns th tl&h:t:inS

bo t 12 how's tb. Corp. ep rawtnc. 'IA1 art! t.

1'lr • 1n t . aft n'toon it _ d into". 11 wo ..bout thr

::ll ter. 8CUth a t of' aaron. uch tre.n.rel" oan bo na4 eft.ot,..

tv.ly (JUly y.ihen pre rations,.... • 11 1n advanoo d 1. ~.

l.pho and

o r i tallatlona at up• oomaw.loa.tlon canhOt be "­

De . tor oOl.ul. M. •

of the 1r .._........

t ot Brett.vl1 - w••t V.rOll tOo Evrec1 ... '0

W1'~~'b tbI nl t or 961ft( J ...' .-

attemptto. to ....1 ltott .1

tl 11 1bht . 'J.'b C

Oft tot'

_tore .. t

to h

p.

oW 1: • front

tt .in \11"

on Z'( J

=11

w11h

_ u1

1ta r1

fro '

110 ( u ).

I'IOW........A P hAd 4.ve10 · 12 1)1"1 tehr Dtv ..----,

Page 56: Fritz KRAEMER_ I. SS Corps in the West in 1944 [1948]

'. ",;.,

Oorpa btU. cl an t'taot in thU dtr.ot5.on Wa tl» b t_y

.to tb.1t enuw out oft .1 1rbJ. _ . d~ed ... t 't' ~

to l"GIlGW h18 drive on

• art1Ue17 trmI~lAl=e•

t iDrO on for of'trftnu u. tl&htin on

rd.","_ of their _illy mix'O(1

al t ot 241~1 J • 00

12 d il Lmu- Di'w' I :." 1 II!" ,«

ti nl¥.1;bb

• 1121 It. to our V at lurpttl "the . Gn1 not at

• h trona t • ... lib. tm e. llIUi.,. bI

t

t tt

tot.,. l1ve11 la'l"lU

41A6l" '01.;­ ~"1 .. in repoUb& Itran

to _"'An~t't_

. tl..., but 11

Cor 0.1141

lao nt pLtchwork it .~ia ll~"" .» •..,.11. ta4k '0,- H'I. )PI c0rE-:.. PI could bo. 1 ott hWIJ and ~bD~ 07' tnt wboJ'cU1tation o£ Yl4<!'1f

1 battal~ .. ut _ t1.o, • f •

Page 57: Fritz KRAEMER_ I. SS Corps in the West in 1944 [1948]

S~th !![ im.'Ol"Dl4 "' hy

.t-taok ,,1 ~:t ~ .. P*, Corf!t.. 'but t

b7 0 •

aot t .,

d unUl 29 Jw:.. Zwo lUi lti &\18 Gr. lOlt durin

d hU t'ot'C$ . Frma 26, to fa 1'100, ttl 1ah it we nl&ht.

• 'I or

"1.he; lt 1411 b niGh

f , or lap htt attaolc until aOcOu. Thia

bad w reo but b$O \}8 hUolA, pro "1 onamwle •

fhe C

l" 4 C .. • _on . nt I 0 rwu• it wou14

Page 58: Fritz KRAEMER_ I. SS Corps in the West in 1944 [1948]

10 lty.

on the nir,ht of :J:(/26 JUne) our arb~e .... lenv _ 1Ahr l>1v - d 'C " . f II · I

...8s1

• rt drtv far" b o.eh. by.'1 Qf r~lA1&• •

On 2.0 J~O, OQ.. at- 1,."1 Chi r of Se th ~, Geno tOol JUl,

I ldlled 111 antS-on..

1 tr It

it attack, a.n nt

t

• On , or ea .:t1.UlO, e h

lhe.

:SlA~ll"" .t of

Onw on 1th

fho

oa17 • . UPt ...ai.tan •

l"ho attaok by _1"""1_______ QJ;" ,..d Eo," ~ une. It I

not earn out

oouztM O'f

Page 59: Fritz KRAEMER_ I. SS Corps in the West in 1944 [1948]

,.',

,

1ng on tho. r~t, ~ ' ,ntQ wet 1mpI.e :bIe terrtd.n fUld its~" 'Wl'It'a

' , x:~~sht to eo ato.ndst1.11 t\lr tb) t· b.l~. «) l.\~U\ek $hc"ld 'bo .. :;.-.

oppor1lm.lty to 100 ~

tho treq'lGntly- ttl. it fl"om !'t trl pl no.)

'l'"outh hi", a.1r rO(lon~ idS ft .. tie t!rf l"~cOh'ed adntnec int ...

t1. on 0 th. blpOXld 1r.g atta.ok by IT S .1'a eorp$. While In(iVi "1t; into tta _ b i 081.

9 PI fl1Y,. oOlnlldtted on the lett, and it .urr-.,..4 conal el"loble 108 • ... r I - q $ •

With its ?:P SS h,,~ o()1It:llttod on .." J"l,'bti;'th&~t. .. ~or.R!. uo ...

• 4 in Ul'11d.n& up ,,1 n1v ear V1 l'Ion, but • 11way etat10n

~ v. rt ~ne4 i.":. OD.emy ht.tt4 • Dtv n the rt, '1~ £ t!J R ,.'

luooeeded in 4Gvelopi~g 1e :fl~ dayat batt14JJ costly tor: both

side, • olQ.led "tain. nut in d.2' tD 4'0 th.:l xl (jfl~ had t!..-l

up two· ~ 1y,.1 h1e pat1:t (';-or tU..'f!_iona And denied tlltll:1t1'teil" PJ"optJl'

ta. aa .ttaak apllm.• •

In the .oct~ of the !.2.. SS Dir, _ tol1owr1n.& unitt baa weft 1 ttf1edt 1), rl:tifth J. 1)1. 4 Jilr"lGt't\c aM 1; 'u'ld l~

!!tt'antJ7 Dlv1.1orns . ,.~ u. oted tu:rth r ..~tacl:a ..,a.kot Ce.on to

place 1n the • O'tor or the . r1t18h ~ lnfal'ltry J)1vilion. !h Cor,.,

thereroz.., req ete4 ~a an, atArt1~ en !iO J to w1thd~" frc:1

ttl ..11 troops not .b.olu~11 11M d to prnWit t ~ beln · .

Page 60: Fritz KRAEMER_ I. SS Corps in the West in 1944 [1948]

air ttacka, &$ well t', the brldv 0 r the ox'na l\ r Caan ~.d OJ! !'®tor

v"hlol_ And tallk4. On 30 JUnc~I!. Sf. 00.r~. \"$drollOs@d tho twa 1Ih1oh

had be l" oh$ J ~ Er1tUh 'ttaok c\

Th Corps ~1"tetd w withdmw i'r':Hl C"tn. the-DO. lemont Which "e:t"0 nat

On th 8 d.a.to hI' Plv__J_._.....1~

Co ., llUPordbt a tQ :q../Il ta. 90l" ". The!.l ,PI, O~.f _ ~ pl&o9d

wUo the QO!lt.rQl .of : .. ,~~ _:a. Cor(!,.

On 1 JulYI I, HPJ CQr!! e llt1nl.l.~ it att...ck., but bl"Ought about

1" 1y ao_1mpl'Q~~ or it.- po 1t1OM. .ilttcQkt.I \mAel.~:t bl1a.r,.

y artl11ef7 t.. (J '1" ow:n

a:rtillary wt\s X'wt atlG to dleno ene ~, po.rt1ouhrly his bouvr

t;\. f' ti»rl- . lac. «a.mounition o.nd ho ""1 W'tl1l! rl'l oj: Xl

1 0 pioo()s ot lii!;h't a -tUl 1'1-' ..at" 1'1 a l' d $U It; r . 0: about

, . t 12 SS l't Dt .uecee ed in .pula2n

I I f U •

to Ilchi M, uoce • tilfJ Cor to.ur 1

NCQrtainad only

n 00 rved 1:7" t 0 o~t · 4 in f(}f"IIi td lin . Our

on 8Uf1 .itl0 r \It whl16 Ca

de VIC md to ~ot nGJI AttAclat th.r t all t1me re rdloe of MlJ'

1M" ...0 Ie me UX"oa we 5 t plan. S dona BritS. h _~ ho.e! o~tw

• d :ten and mtt#.rial" 81m. :s Jtm,e \:Jut h.e.d nw ~..ohe4 ita objeott_ -.

Page 61: Fritz KRAEMER_ I. SS Corps in the West in 1944 [1948]

c •

Ie

ull.. ad... ... .,VIIl..ru butt.nitlal.ly "IlIB1art1a

t t,; .. tar a. .. COXId.QOted

':i tour 01' flve lntanw, 1.,.,..1.., - I'd 45.••t

0"" brip.. bl no _it ta. 11 ooao mbc tbf

t CIO_"." ....11t.." d4 a1.r t _ I, llut til., -re

_nc to,...~ tJaD ., . 1. .•12. "1

, th. _dina' 1ft! ...

_._.. I---_.... •• pat,lbs..

...... lrtI. , tMt., 1., ,'•• CO!!!

• . tNa tbt tOlW.'biou ooroUH "" ~!.... ~. to

At ntoua",.

. lbltt to. tbe ',-PPlJ

late .. 0 5 .fulr. .... ,.. .~ -.hi ,UPJIDUIS tl~R'ulE)~

4l1't14ult1e. tot-.no 1 upp1¥ hU

tiNt... tIM b."lAJ b

......~t ul.bt. o'btaUl fUel

oe"l . \lpp~ .-.11 • .vrtRll .11l1U.~rJUltIJOQI17w1·

~""fl,;L,oal 1.

......, 10ntUN .laa

tbJto'up • el'ftC1 4UI'1 • 'fIfI _"_ 0 61..

.... .&!!:!. N

., 1

Page 62: Fritz KRAEMER_ I. SS Corps in the West in 1944 [1948]

_ ... oo-..ltt4. Oocul 3.1,. ',..:noD olvi~ 0.,.4 ~tot1lfh

l1nu into 4 Cf4"~ of .114..,.'...4.. uoope.

It of U. lntalWot1on ob1ab4 'by 't ... out tI tit.

D 1\'l.1 . ~'ba4

enft¥ ........ po•• t\lJ.. 0

• .11 • ..s.W:llf of ftvy__

........ ,ulokll.

tt. •

o in

OM"..&tulW 1I'l . aVCD& .-tl11el"f-- ... I • _ eMil.

".try 4. thaN ••,.. •• m 1_ ,1 • W. 'ftI .ittle

Of the....... bOId)J)I~~.

.xtl~l, ba", as.r a'UT"'-"'-

Jllt tn oe11&ft . ,...

fhenI DO lMUi>... ·&tlJ •

Page 63: Fritz KRAEMER_ I. SS Corps in the West in 1944 [1948]

PJ"\l'IiU.IArU 11_ tl _. ot ••o~,., Imrlftft:ahf!_. All ...alll"., Co..,. er l"8porU .~ ot 20 antU.l......

GllJlg of *"ppl, .em •. th •

trCIlUl:1 bltt...

tl'ol Qt 21 b D1Y( n • &­... i .•• fll

)

la •••

• t I_il_____

~ r.

12 fa mv. On J Ju17 ~ trCllt 8ti.~.,

- louvres , ...tat« lr ea.n •• .ouihw~

'Of 1)ht e_.,ir". Ol'M ul

-1148 abouI

.. hill (11 ). rtt..t or :tvreq. . ... to t

1.tt boutAtlary ot c~.. ItnldJJ& up w'th :: s • Po!!!_

batt of 'bhiI boll' .tll U.o.. that .... 11&ht

. , Corptt bo .,.,

011

(a u.w 1m1. lim a, ..

•1 'ill

Page 64: Fritz KRAEMER_ I. SS Corps in the West in 1944 [1948]

vel", th. U.n. to ~ be .. 13 ld.l til

4rdAtlont to .orth. ItOttJlIren gS. _It_ 11; be pOlIS.bl. t

wrl~t.tl ott ... loft .

• real }araQteZ' or

orcs.red t i; all ...

Ort.lt. ~ regen tw

1... talll

entia-. r~ .,,1. \

po1.J'.lW 0_ tat!n&­

U bltIt

a.. ft.. Ie tor ..eat of C , _,.. 1ih. ,0&1 ~pa...!ltll' .... C.. •

tnmi

in v. of 11 ........................... Cornlt (10 . Pl Diy). Ac'blon biN ••tJll!nl1r.- U;:t«J At ~,.in, h

,;... n. ",. .

o. tl'O • llth 1hUJ"1~.

Nor.. "' U'I bxUQatlcm ot a.oep.ratlon 0.... tt....,. .114

Brltllh anal...

I ••pit. of br.... n.t.t.a.no tn.,Qld.t.,.. t:tf Ul BS p* nl -..........- ,r. p

Page 65: Fritz KRAEMER_ I. SS Corps in the West in 1944 [1948]

about

.. . Of ca., WhlOh took pia. 6 Or' 7 .; 11 19Z.14 &.tter C\ tr~,.

tUt ",.Ute.uoe. M f' tbIt tt.ll at C it .... M I tthdNW

tbeI left w1n& 01 ~I :tat: C0!i!. ....t or tht 0tIM,

1 l"I . !I v. putentl,¥

Aa 'QIua1~ ·&U OIlGf.t .cD

7 Jul.., more • ot.\t oted o.hlt.t1y

£ . %1$t tht 16 L DiT', UWWiiOLl..tt.a I eew 4. provioualy on tlw

lcJtt.s.a, o£ tbl ~I.!=' C<!E!, 1 1n ...

••• ,.. hU'tt!. •ot i;he Om.. tV:th _ . . '

nul. to 1n tbIt t"Rin. Att.~ 7 Jul

1 1l1vOll 10ft. bo . t.rt l~ w1 _.. ..._--.­21 %)1...._ 0-­

~I sa P. C~ t 0,....•

• own d at

.ra lank t t OI'Dt a1 hllX. .1 •

Lo•• at•

Page 66: Fritz KRAEMER_ I. SS Corps in the West in 1944 [1948]

,en.,.,U,. did not oocn.lI". - 'the enomy id t pure. .pt with hie aooutln, partt...

1'1.. he • .tUfted with bit speciou.. lUGe." at aaen at''' he atarb­

1n~ tot1'lllr4 ln an at.tlioit~,. l:r bhro at tat'" h that ... 1t

'1. YI1th all btl auprlorlt11n Wf'lal. he ,.4 .edM al.llloR

foUt' tl 11& o"r to O.ptUN Cun, l)\lt c.im •• only" ball poln'b in

ths.. 0 :t .~otw " in ddlt1Ol'l" pob, 1I'h1Gb ooUli not btt put to &

uae. beoauN G$r.rra11 al"til1etl1 eet e-oe h_"1 1ntQ$17 ....pcma IttUl

4onUl2* e • 'Htire aJ,:,'&Ul 11' • ~ ~Jds; that tb. -uw d14 nO'b

1: <11. 17 __ the t ot bU auoo..... .. Nl1 ~na tot­

. . 18 ...re _ve,. cblrU'S.4 b)' C .• BWl'1 MII'. rt· Nlt 1'1_ 10....

tor tbt enemy "net o.t.t'ored c _ opporl;=l~ t10

•• ... dentt on, th1. oeoulon br e t'tlnG 1 S PI D19. - ... J • o f b '.

A.j t I" .. oould b. ~u4~d frMa •• .. ade br ritith prl.eon..

• 1"1 of _'"# 1t .. a••um1t4 on tbt '-7 .1. t ...1 torv... ha4

bea 'b itt S,n 1h8 wl'!"ain .outh at Cunl 'fIf1 lnnumtl't.bl. ~1'l..,

trap , wite _tang10lD1!ttl tlIS ~~ ob,tacl... It.. ritilh dld h&

.uob aonc.ptlonl 1.t .hou14 be po1n QUt he that b tlAtld £; rttti4..

at1cm1S, .1 r bad n ~etl built at all, OP, U .. ~ wi m.t.rJu,

.,. 0 11,11>1 not to d.,~ne the . • h 1*U*er ~t.r

!ntclt~ bo}'la tM br\mt 0 . batt,... 1"M,. .,..". I. ~ '1 the

Will '0 4.rtn • . 1n ot . b .tultl1me1J ot tb1t tuk. the1

wre ,uppol'tlN h1 oOoptJ'latlon t: all ~ 81.1I1IIf1_ 1Wh8D1V'9l" oC*mt •

The .10\U1&ttt~ aJ'lwr or a _t t1"UO. ~1D& tid,on, wbl t ~""T

.4 be ldstJUib' tr the In. '-JIM.. '.11; hi, . 131£ ~ on. GO . at a

Page 67: Fritz KRAEMER_ I. SS Corps in the West in 1944 [1948]

-. lin

o

t1~ .14. bl.U. 1;

Di.. 4 hla 4uty just ....11 d • """"­

bt . tqMn of m lnf D1v ~ _ .p. f

• at M • otten J1 &ht.ln,

- '\

Page 68: Fritz KRAEMER_ I. SS Corps in the West in 1944 [1948]

ta tl, ,lug 1n thia l.etoN

a. a Pc Dlv w1th about ,0 ro 1; r It. autho""." etroen • ' .1 f Iii.

or nnel al'ld about ,0 typI V fl1l t .. aotten. ..

tear '0",10

or fleer I me 0

1& liAt ' U. , ' at tbI btCmn of 8u1t.

tl • :I"Wl,~ of ttl. d1vi 5.

,aou14 b brou ,1» abo\.t't (jJ

r b ttaU,on WJd ' f oODnlll.nnw

ttallo • n

:I typt IVa

num ' r or artill ry

0'* ,0 ...aul\

Page 69: Fritz KRAEMER_ I. SS Corps in the West in 1944 [1948]

1 • 4iKpO armOl"ed pel"SOl!tl'el c 'rri.rt (SOhU.tl.fl~$ -.) 1f1

1;Qtal OQl"r.y1n oapaoity othQut ('.) Nlr4'oroed batta11 • <rr...~

treq,u r;t11' ded"· t d 1tte$. N"lOOr d per :mel _"1... &. timka .

d. t!,ll!Cll.,Y.l S Fa Dn, wiin u ' lS 1;ype VI (T1 er)

action.

.. 1(0 &Urlt' •

traUif 1.".-.4 to & • e Jt

• as. 1-' niT __ 1'. j:t

u14 not. t r . 1nlt1J.tl . a..t ••• enmq ail" .fOI'OO. ~

and a '" in J'l tiQ uti ot JAr e to tiont .

t C itn tU 11 July all ~1l!lV

o 1nta talltfd. • blitl1­

in • 'briomnc .. 4 in tb v1Ci.ld:t;,. of tbt tar "'1 'brld

in l"Opt\irht, • l'Ol.\d brtd{;(t ,1tua.ted n . A.p al~"l\ a bo~

it. 'l»t"ft n \&'Lit , 1mi1ar to tn. onea _ut1o$4.. ~l t ·ta pr~vto.).7.

, ''1 to •

\ ---­

Page 70: Fritz KRAEMER_ I. SS Corps in the West in 1944 [1948]

J!1¥ a ott, th ta.IIbI, rt. trequent 1n tn. I.e: Qr

0: ~l InF CO!!_ an4 h. *uQceod (1 1%1 PIIYO~ ae ~ penetre.tl na.

16 U 1$14 DiY, .111e previousll ntlc;we.I$c b f . ,

'.t'hore£ore, 't " Dir, d to hold

in order 'to no,.. net the 16 L\lftw 1a Ill" • J nF J It '" l I IS II! •

tlffeJ"1nct 1'9.

• •

»1.-J!l"O-lmd tOI' r •

at of Q__, "if%".r. -in atta.o. ab1.tlg 1r1

_____• • 1:111or a D1. U4 12 IS Fa :v' • k pi • lleti.,. ~io

ltlh 4lTlalon lQite

of thl,. dlvU10n 14

in

T loW_ t.x17 ... . u

o-~·...-,&&-

m 1>1y .. +--,...11, '.... II; 'f

.:'

LD.'Xn 1 .. C~• • 11) . ~

Page 71: Fritz KRAEMER_ I. SS Corps in the West in 1944 [1948]

. ! 0-024

m llSt D1v .. IUbor41nated to 1 am at ......,.., 4 _.------­

, Orne•

!nob t ~O • Aa the bulk or . rtti.th 1&1141 t .... opllQa

of Cae J •• no ...

a on Go I!l .1d.. Aa tar .. .... oCAll j .,

c te4 toncmra.tl , IiIl1"'

... .l lnt ... rl _ t1w

t1chtlng _ to

iT N atedly bt.d-tl)" in .tfort to '\lin. ...

a1de

• 0., rbloul 1,.

• •• I 1 pobtta,

.. • __lbolLl. •

act!Tlty of ~ ..~ tore • V

a g_t'&d to each ottill" 1 IU ... -.zm.r ..,." 1M.~ '1 alP 1"0 ..

r . ted1 hit be1 t 0 trco •

1 thftse ilJ'HbIlV

Page 72: Fritz KRAEMER_ I. SS Corps in the West in 1944 [1948]

had 10 t a hand. hal had to i',S.v~ up the comat14

• Ilu{Stt, wh .. tf1fl dQ.ya evioual

El'it . oh. ndett in Chief' ct PI Crt .Ift --. ?

18 July,

ina wetot ,>.,-1

Or • .

tJ . 1onall), Frtmcth '1"llbuts in 4 U8

1t'ltb .U.s..1 I, hM

:.­••tn. z-epo't" ;1 l1wly l'lX}'V$lTAttt no1l'th 010 71. Corpa did not kr.:.". t.fJ

cti...

tar .. it .... able 10 lt1n~ r 1t tor • t1 •

ltt.... Corp••" -lu .m. weat ... -11 ... 0 took It rOF .

to I SS

Page 73: Fritz KRAEMER_ I. SS Corps in the West in 1944 [1948]

-----

2 PI '01.. on about 22 July• ..............-~

116 Pi DiT on .. bout a. Jut· • -~.. lvi.1en. _n» place in,...d! •• u follows'

Div uorthea.t t • ylYain.

116 Pa . »1" wat of t. ybas.n. , .... e • D1.., 1'tCl" ~ Jl'ettevl1t. .. Leu., .. ,. • i

o tSnual oont 0\ .. _1n~4 with _. a ~ Div a"rld 2[i!. Tnt'WI. f ... ' . ' ,..,. $ I

D1'1-it . •

• .. kept wde.- f1,. ..t any tba. All mcma.m. ~ -11 oamoutl~ d. It

'ft. '\U"Prt.lna; t 'l'lftav ..ir taro.. & llot bmab the, *nMlsftd troope

"

• l'atU. plan •• t r the ?-,.,.. .. ~. :>t~, .. the lut uJ,t. tht

fl7: It\f Dl., ...ith..... 1t4; d til'll) taoUe. NIt t.tttaptlng to lutte -,

_,ion. ..tbt es.ermy 1 tx> • Pilat,. t ot' ~ • the1'e placK

b. ""dia....bod.

of le '* 1)1.,." .....'

eo .. ofU6 Diy. iii! b J

IIJ ~ e P& D1v. .Ii

'-- co • of 9 PI Diy • t

".' .~.' I

Page 74: Fritz KRAEMER_ I. SS Corps in the West in 1944 [1948]

I 0- 4

'1' re l'8 in aU about 9v piec.s £ l1(Jlt d ,0 pieceo of h "'''1

e.rtl11~r,y t,WlS .

ny othtr QOnni 11\ of t dlvl.1ona W" Vrob1b1tGd ~ ..wn 'who

c m:nit t.bIt 3. .Pz lin t)f 2 F .. Div .1th.cut first pbtc1ni;n. perm siol! !'rom '] I _it. ~.'r

1." but for th tit: o.u.~ it 'WaS Aot beUe'V d . Tn!"." j"renoh oivil­

1 • 1ndePftnd.ntly 0: -.00 at t' &l14 ..t dlli"e.1"eut ti • 011 &bout 26 July

'ha.Q broU&bt tlW 1Dt'uJ"mtlt ion tlult ~r1o..:tl t nb and ml,tod~.c for 'UOl'l1

. een diaa ru Nld. .e~m north of • O~ bu had &l-~ mOVQd

a1013& b roa4 (; . - B ~.~ and C en ... filly to tbt • .,rt. }i'or COI*pI

til »\O.t 1mpo riean a.nd £r1tbh

~ . • . rn dir-ootion buttrueport

,...'tnn. iua from

of naa 4roppsd by' Ger· n Ltlft"t' "'r~

11 ~re.poe in th. no.rtbern O;rno seotor

or tn

C e. • .. Corps no lon

e.-fIa7I fro bl.. lupply •• • Ge n d1:v1.f1.ona nUll lac.. d t the

• It .

Page 75: Fritz KRAEMER_ I. SS Corps in the West in 1944 [1948]

XD t~ nt!. .. ~ 1" crltlCJa;l lit_tie )ad Dveloptl4 .t

UK)'t1l•• point. taw Hpan. fro. St. 1,,0 ....... ~. -re u4 IlIOM a.laJ'Jl1ai.

Also at olal _" re 11-17 bl ow an. .8.tol'. tt ....... it

AIDlIIr';LD.&n h___­ .,. n_ goUt to "' ou1J 00­

Ol'dlDa'W _tiona. lUll I'l~ e_rd14 not toll_

III •••

lItt Ct..,. Motor hac! aoPllht-.l;lly,... ~ tlib' ottic5Atuo, of

tr12 IDt Db' 'Whl nQ to_or._ ab1Aa __ I'..·Uti.vorl . fIttJV ..~.... , ~

fM~t " 2. s ~ Dlv .. tel!polWlltwDonU__4 to Co,.,. . I'M ~

rat Vi... wi wi l"Uftl hom" t J'Q __ (11 • left wtn fit.. ~% C~!'l! Mja..a 011 rl •

!bf 9 I,. Oi..... ",lM )Jy •• t7l lat DiY. 4lMaut ,0 M,.• ' .. 11. -11 ' _' ,'_ •

dirMti ~ wuohtNl. I _ up

______l!_ D about ,0 #u.!.J'.

135 II niy about I .A....,.Ii • I ,..

1 · ,. Diy on a.bot$ 4 "1Ipt t_ •• f !

!be tol1_111& --~~­

I'l&h' ~.

!2 d bMa .obil4u1.t f, 4.~. bub •• DC air

attaok on _ ••n1~ ot 4 AUgUIt ... _.-_4 •• paw,....tl.to't' gr<M

Page 76: Fritz KRAEMER_ I. SS Corps in the West in 1944 [1948]

C 24 -73­

, 271 In! Div.

277 In! Div.

The 89 Inf Div" 1Nhich wa.s to relieve the 12 SS pz Div, was on the

approach rnarch. Allot these movements, as well as the transport­

ation of fuel, ~~tion, etc., ere considerably h~pered by enemy

air attaeks. In contrast to this" relief a.t the Cor frt)nt was carried

on almost without disturb~nce fro enemy air forces. This indicated

that enemy air and ground reconnaissance did not observe or report much.

and that our 0 ~ troops had made conaiderabl progress in camoufla ina

and rendering movements of troops noiseless .

It soon becru-e evident that the few tanks of 12 SS pz Div that wore

fit for action rere not sufficient to bolst r the infantry and a new time

or a.nxiety started for Corps . At that time Corps succeeded in getting,

a proxrdse for the delivery of 50 tanks nowly received from the factory .

These tanks arrived, however, shortly after the bre ,kthrough near alaise

and they' ~er distri~uted to other formations.

' Corps underwsnt som critic 1 days on the front north of Falaise.

Scouting parties disclosed ore motor.trnffic than usual ah ad of th

Corps front . There vmr occasional reports of officers with map m.a.terial'

at the for most ene~ positions . Guessing began gain on the riddle

of whether an enemy major attack was inlminent . Observation from the

air was out of the question as all the scarce German , reconnliiss nee i%"­

planes were committed in the s ctor of Seventh Argt, near 'Vire and in

other places .

On about 6 August (1), on the 271 Inf Div front, a map and notes

Page 77: Fritz KRAEMER_ I. SS Corps in the West in 1944 [1948]

c

• utln,s JIN"'b,. 'tho.-. l' .,pIotC1» that 'lb. ar»

lar~u. ott ·1" w1th .. 200 or ,00 , hiolud2n&

• 0 v.!., on a (*l).

An 1), ......, atta It obj lOti,..; -.r. 01 "'11' • ('1.'h Ohl.ot t:Jt Start or carpa,.o in 19S8 b.n .....In& With =tor~

1& uor troopl I $4 .t Ad. tbM 4ur1n, h1I ~bl& In t)e ,.

he. r

• AD .t1pulat1 '0 ¥ pa.rt1cula • rW.

- in n&1I 418tan08ll b. tw iaakl_rf PN14r1be4).

On 7 Al.l.I!iO'IoMI~ t. SS PI! CorJi! .1.1cIIt1n~ al'1. !'&Di~w$"

lah . bAp~

on • &ht

.80tol'. b 271-

f'cDly.1 ••

tol1G1r1n ,.. OPPOI

Abo

Abou

V tauka of ~ S~ Pta Dtr. t1 fb... uti •

out ~ .

• ut 70 pi .• 01.' rtU 't7 &UU (U&b .r1e14 b.tv.. .) A 30 pleou ot art!ll.,,,. :uaa (bMV fW h ttae", )

ftw eg tar »1.,. .hU o1ll1 ~ tte.J.cD. lJ.aht fie •• . - ~ J

J ala h ttallGnl of 15 ,Wb1 ,uttaw. t aDtlt:aak

Page 78: Fritz KRAEMER_ I. SS Corps in the West in 1944 [1948]

.t... it

-15­

... b.hbA *- un ..4

eou&b.!hose ba 4 a. 141t, bUt ~0Ie

thd, •

..till• .., .. a tn 00 S-t. ntJ!Ol Arm!

....... • t .. 8 utltankt . U • .,. IUd .till QOJII1tt.a 1n e~

_ttl. lone· __ .0 pro oWl" b~. h ..... atll1 at out" di.....

poea1 . .~t ... ntpla ... _H able btU1 i up.

Co tall_ in 1.... • fioobtf._ _ ... II. tw action.

C ."'_1 ., hi. 110.uthOli't7

••in ,.. tank. () bad 1'"o,.~ to It..1t tb1t ript t4

dJ..po 1 d ".'1" nee4 at Av~. t the .,t minute we

... able to 'b 0 ' rCJllt 12 .... t~ XV tro. 9 IS PI 01•• I Ii I 4 - r

!) in ... ,. 1lA1.. n1'tilna tot'

a 11, it .at tor t\l flO C PI QtaJ'tv­

.... t Ii ....r t~110Jl. • ~ me f,p t.1 lata. . • .. lao ••

'----"

Col?' 'f pho. u.. -'14 ....1 tJ\lbor' laW .. MftlN

e~. ~ baok 0 (b.

ttal _.. raDlot 1'1 QJ1".!M natl. or ...uboNtDa 1» Corpl . •..__• cI hb ttall hu ....

oapM . ..." but 1... del' n ~ltt (.10). •

,;1&4 cot • oo.1t. .. hi. ., . ,(tn. 1 72­

. thtr taDb ) bad a1Nt.4y .utt•..a tn. ... · .tl"

Page 79: Fritz KRAEMER_ I. SS Corps in the West in 1944 [1948]

OJ' ..

tJoaeJl: _"'f:§i'l

U.on

Han"",., hOUMIt FUtld .ue.Mlh6t .., . peraor41y ..,. u hiei' ot

. and_ • t" '" '" 1', "Ao001"41%1&

Ol"llOOn on 1 Au USf •

....,..._......c_o_I'P,::;,.._

I

• ,..-a · ~r __:"14

Ob1et of

.., • It

ou14 .n-t~ '1 t

...... ws.out o· ..it attao . • tt.. . n.1n

• ott

te •

Page 80: Fritz KRAEMER_ I. SS Corps in the West in 1944 [1948]

-77­

It•

(,zr B ' .or the •• 0. p1n1 on. lla~ OJS:1 in r..et ,",.le. thoush'b 1t

nUU'LU. tM .t_tt,02\ at tlle t .. 01..-11 I day l$ht, but tb

ol"d.1"tI 1.t it, 4 were 0 Ma ' by awn ' or lonS &£0 . Thu fl ple

'el"fta .. proof tba 1t"... 1& .atak. Aepri.w 11M llft4'*_-CU.a1'1

- 1.... " nd. at tN rrcmt ·at Wtatlve ewn 1n • of great-en

.ey_ (~7 tanka"'1" 11 J' itt.a in Ughttn,. aU G:!{C pi»

tank, wh1dl wiU b. •• la 1*. WA d&atJ!'Uot1oa.) ..

Cor .. wable to bu1 ' u .. 11.• f)t .. at.tt.noe ncrth o~ 1 lIl.

OJ" 11' .y other p1600 wh16h would laY' ."JV 't' atop a re ktt'.rouah.

:8 ......t.dctr ot 4oul* bu at .. h .. b....kt;hrou WO\ll

'bt oM. 11 e pc....,. 0. .".... about as. ... no ....

cur1ty c Corp' with .1% e.nt1tult

-75 1m;um ..,. anow4up ana .,1.a-a aorth of a ttw (at. y

'a~"', Cae). n. c leU J"th or ala • •

1.&

bile IlM

loll_in

appttOlIt te u.- <- 1.200,000>­

t, e . tron • 't.lVl

t. ylwk (.at) _1. ... 'bo &17 11M ,. ~l , Int ~~!1! ­t leU et"I no~ of lotI. 1" thr til ,.. 10 of 1'lIt~s.u.

• taUe .. IOU ftl of toM,t Cincl.l. - nOl1;be

~lC7 .. ou. ct IUU "1 (11.... k:U

.... lIT IS. to ~r tilt , ()!Ra. (,)

!h4J tollcM'll1go....t1ont _re QQJllau.lI~'

ton: , of Q 'Qt Dl'f' tro ' • .;t:... •

_l"I ....t ot Th~_l&. J:'IID

-c· •

Page 81: Fritz KRAEMER_ I. SS Corps in the West in 1944 [1948]

12 Dlv t t road .laS. c c up......._.......,;............ -271 t 1>1-. 1 •

d ,

As ht.d Q .,... tbt a.tt..ok of •

it! t(}",e • 1e .1~ th their I' . :.l& on

o d August 9h4 at 01 oura.

e.

1eqar4.d~

."tllleJ7' I

I- ut &ceo in. to r

"'1 108H'.

-··......1••

by. P • o'bjoo1;lw,

tai.ott 'i'ft'll"llHl.rft &l'1 .....u1\ },DJ'

loa...

f' at .t

,

Page 82: Fritz KRAEMER_ I. SS Corps in the West in 1944 [1948]

'

• • • •

1

inata22M to t SS h oor2,.- rAd ttl. 11 tt<)n ~ revel"fJod, weu1d

ha".. ,.to! toll_a'

t S t 0°0:1. .tAl""bini • 10 •• 11 oe.ptuI

SRG .010.. the:t&b • , ..~.... 'and tboD launch a breUthrQU!,h to (. Pa~l.) - iM"~.pectlve of DliGhborJa, Uldt. or. ,ea_ td.$1l t ~. It 1, ...ent 1 to ptul'O tho atone bridge near. 4 • •1&_" OIL .,-m It ••tNt au1 OTJ' my ..tte.ek.

(In ,UGh • DllW Oe1!llMl IIIII"".~ OArP. 0\$ ,*1,. aU"iAmI

$11"1 n b pl' in 01 ' ,... • Pull. ~ top ~1n& thKI"

!nltb:blve

,4i.... ionaloolllUlNlR.1"1 ).

au 9 btua a 8}:*01al 1" Group ... f; ..4 w1thin tM t~k

ot~:.~ , ~. una., tt. COlllll\U\ ct Go. R. , DetatQr. ­

C ' 1" In Chlttt ot PI GJl .~. t '~.I .. Ii

COJIIIDdb1 Mftl 01 ~. S. •rs*C~!!! ObIt ot • Kiatri

..... ... d .. a v in Cbt..r of PIt Or" ~1;1 'D1oh .. ~.W

!!tth Pa ,~!'!f.

app!'o:d;atlly .. toU•••

ld.l...,. ~u"*tt ot ' 1a_ Stlftlll - aill lhG - outheftl bank

of .... 1&lIoa I'beaa -1"O.d !hury4r.o\U1 • v •• ,-t~..... beawtofON •

• 'tW,Il14N ftth Mpra4-ou1J tbt ft, ln3 tail1i1& to .~ .. lil_ wi , hs.

!hia tb.t.uI4 \U1~11 17 Aupt (') wt& the brt6tldau'oqII

at '-lat,. "ok pt withlJl .one of %.. ,eo!,)!" 1D tJ:a t

an tat »1"•. L IS ­

Page 83: Fritz KRAEMER_ I. SS Corps in the West in 1944 [1948]

'fI1tb hll main e.rtol"t cO:lcontrato on b1a i"1&h;t winS, Oll .ithor.1 _

f • La.. II or CU1'" mtlUltl7 <ll'VlIiona ~twd oa ~o laft

t

tat",. to 0.' .., intention GUt ott ttooop_ Qt .!~!!f!fl.

tore t 10 d south or tae.. oem at't~ th. tta.Jor 1ll'1ttlh

CQ..".

wi t n4 fJ1l7 le,. Com;Il!QW .tn k to

ita order. to doto OVIII't'7 in ot ~ &1nnl1li

• It

On ou" llCQ):l of 17 ~'U t_ Con>& rooeiwd _ttl&: 4 1" 410 •

2'11 lilt' 1>1v re at t,1 "

lit ott. • l'

m q4 m'SDt Pi wall.. lGm.'11 JJi - - -- -, d .?

Page 84: Fritz KRAEMER_ I. SS Corps in the West in 1944 [1948]

-• 11 • .DT.I".llill"

"'ugI"", C JI Ncelw o · .., 1)7 ratio Wi 4l'a1r bohbd

1........ em liDt, \0 bullA up • t

w • •• ...~.. ...... to Corp.

_ ,t - polrd; M'dleJltltdot. qbtl lett a. lAQt nw l .tton.

Dwl"1 b .1Cht orftjea Itt.

__------C-Q-rAe~..·ln~l ...1; , • n.. c

( .,).' fbJr. _ . l1:nlatd

of Ga...1caa • ri~... ,.lAt.,

'. C!!1! •. •

(ab *<D"iCl 1;).

911

~..il, wlth _ .,..., OWl'll tlV4 to reate. t •

... .... Vi... utb 01 U~ (VlftllQ). 11...• lnd

u.,.

• fro .xtt.lr4

t.. •

b,n

Page 85: Fritz KRAEMER_ I. SS Corps in the West in 1944 [1948]

to builcl up • 00wri ' .0\l1IIb. with objttOt of ,eouriJl&

Haoh troo,. at ..11. A1lIlO.'b _ • ..,.,.. 1't ....~ 11t.t 1n.tm~

• tam •• ttl' o.h1n ebe. 1:'M 110" rwl1a:f,it. -7 to 'ran.­att 0 " 111 W..1tta ...~ ....lem. Ratt ott ...

.. yc)le (.,.....;,:: 1.1,). fbi.

. ...~ ... Ib1lt.d, h...,.., . tbf -.t.a ....... t tlh10b ••

w", fa.rab'- to 0. IS tl'OO. It " .W COJ1f4 .. 'tal cit·

oa .111Mr .s. .. of DM f, • _ • t_ \tN. 'rqueutl,.

to be .".", llid to 41v1d

1,. • .0 tor "pe l. A f'h...~I't.·

.. t - p.21atlon ""0 , ••1..

Q ~N.~

r "'..'Sota w1J no ...

'1r.a& of tbl

.....tb~•

• tn. were of ..

;_ ~ 4 el.OMn,u

4tllO e,... 10 artat 1hat ora"JI' I U"I1._4 too 1... 0' did aot

1M .,..~ or GIfU ,troop. •

• ' dr1..-1ai qui.".

au b' 1~ •

en

._ Tt'_"'_ troopa

., 11_. X -,..1,

Page 86: Fritz KRAEMER_ I. SS Corps in the West in 1944 [1948]

eNJ'lt p in -leI. •

ContlW7 to the1" 11_17

~lpoI..r1l1 beau. oomn..-.

.. laeano. plaua .... b.

-.,ula ba_ t'4'l

1n

• ot DHuX,Col"PI t_ tltat ~l~ aln..

01 t 1 in 11 AMr t 0opt •

'the caP 1_.1 00 ' n

.1...... tot'

o~ttA l.n'tiPIltld tor

.k* Al'.ri:n"

ot WUOOHCI ol"k.a 41'Yblonll to.. t'O'd

ila.tlou 11 ia'o;atl* .4 ta.. 1.

OA34J..u tI ••ISe ct' 'b1 ld.n$

_ ....... on e1~r .1 .tlU

• 11..b1••~

Page 87: Fritz KRAEMER_ I. SS Corps in the West in 1944 [1948]

l"IU, .. on t..-l..

~ br!4 .. old it d. DOt mow'what r any Ulflhla

• "lain, of 't11

* .11JadbIJ bl apol' , .ttI of·UQI~ll"Uad. 1M fISrJ¥ oaptU1'e4 lar ut,.nt __..

y to tltt eme .. tl.. lno~ed ••

Oro.at • not tuttlo~

to • 1~. th.tHa _ avq cle 10 t.JI171

.All a-vatla lAa te.... OPft'­

J"'tJ tull,.

Nt corp••tatt 411" OJ'Ot.bl.a or

tl t.J'r'1. *ou:th of R.o t}ut. opetatl0 U 0 1'ned

t • oath y.

s.u po.S:l 1n tbt ..ot r Par".. uth ot 8_., ut , tv ..

e.

to thl1 aNa.

.1nt ft_ -.t\U'llUy WI)'

,_ 0

.:.pt..,

uJ*'t1 ' ot tit -~J'D

••ot ... b4 I

Div. n.---------­•

... tiro

••ector .b\tt •

in

.1

ot 47 X Vi", •• • tUl

til bIlddNadf' am.. w ·

.. 11"71< r 1

I.;.ek of ~,iIIIoII;J _u....,..1b1. t~

25 tl~iC

u1 ... Ven» • 1.(f lnt Diy•

Page 88: Fritz KRAEMER_ I. SS Corps in the West in 1944 [1948]

e~,

t;W tt at apPJ'lO."hlng .J»ln;1 tore • • t'he 101 11 !l sa ~ ~,

tit '1'. tto •

rl_n to.... 'llb1. telt their y

8. • ~ tho 1.tU • Llv1 1

I .ri&nrtJ, t ••eotor eould '

.tat! car1;lhR.t of II ri..

,1; 1

1ll

~ hel .

.. (l~ ht-1ng

GenrNl to

.che4 O'l1'C it

1t! \

i

&..11 on • mlna ot29 tI.. tht..

~ba .-t ldnd ot t.rtllle17 .upport ~

.tt. tied Co~

Our lO.le•

ctor

••• em

loh ...

ettioltntl,. cU.reo "by Q~ rs in pllm_.

•• or ldll hl\d

apiA. , .M itl "inltt. t.DCMJa. t

0IIJllt1' '1 ~pm404

ou11 by ...-krtillevy, • Nt 1n . 11¥ artS.ll,eJ7 t

,

."'1" ati ca. .Al QQgb. oomlnUl:r.Lofti 111 t

1ntaS._a 'by' .1....1

hi . ,. tti · I wry dU'Elout.t t .~ 1 N 1&1'1 00

~a.nt OOrpl , Dutlmo.. 1 eb a1 ~ion t

Page 89: Fritz KRAEMER_ I. SS Corps in the West in 1944 [1948]

&",,1.,. toolato. t'lw... ot'tioel'" oou14 not te:plaoe tHreet oont:\o

'bM lete or .Wt.

op

... ....pilll

ed 11 by Ger

Tn I.e ... · tim tM t t &1.,-. tnsrough which .mrAY .oe in, ttt.••%lIS tank ap Mad. pen.w.. •

ttl u abiOet ll!lpQl.tb~ to tattw clttla)"ing ...s.tMae moth ....otoriMc1

fttt'atl • !bo' *nemy AlW •• btl.. troop' . 1011 atU1'$lly

tat' ~ fltelh ph,. I.e 111 11 lrite.ntJ'f wh10 11 ~" by 0 lta.id;

ttoh . t'}w1t.tt.t JlN.t.1 W' btl Dpt t.. ton tlilta.11oe ttQJIl tb

en 01" b.rtced. In tl_ '- 1:hI a.s.a. Cl4 W••

~IMt1a.d an« _%"$fore ooul4 11 h. con ltmpr

than h ~~ 'Whioh t~ or IltItw va 01. .. xhAu.tea by

_t"Cbo,.. • eaet11 __ pdlOrl r . In t ..n, the... never · •

an,.thin& at ., tJ'Ont h e. a~t1 nt.

111 t rI 29flO , 191&4 th« COf"J' t lI!b ba '* w1thdrtnftJ r. eDIt kll~ ~ 'tha'1s pt._~ .._1t _"ty .,. 0. ,1 A~. Clol"P1 t~ o~o(n)~l of tt. tw'G dld. toni in t.h*

"""' n .1th · .t ()t . ~b .. ~l, or' ~ I1F.?~ti! ( O'~"UlJ''''''6. . r'&1. (If'1l1 Inf Co.. d ws.~ to h ....

t at 1J.e uiA 0." 1e .• CJt lViftr 41,,_1 .... hI

ilhInoa. ~ ... o}allp on 2 S(t . Wh b .1te,..d.1 otS.tm

M' 4 CoJ'1ll to orde'l* tl 11 \1p.. d end..,. borm lJ1 arM>

• .iSe r Lt. t!apelle an t.f0l't to pro 1; 1"1

Page 90: Fritz KRAEMER_ I. SS Corps in the West in 1944 [1948]

-----"

With .1.t", I. '.01"..... ut: on. "g1' ,. L >.

hourG.

ff'G om a.

00144 llo~ _de. "4!1dt1 . I~in& 1. 'Ito....

-' pins tJeoOPlt in aarllne•• a out , ., n1R7. ~

..~ "run tor ~ U••u -.tIl let ••»po ht.n4 UMl

rlAt • •

wei fro 10eto. • 0 ~c bect.

dt1A1n't11t •• fr. taUin, in enamy h a.

- OrdeZ"l" ,. af'rivod G la_ .nd ,ta4 be o~led o. U%ldS,.

4nUmtY ptoQ,uture or d al,...,q bftnutlla'teby.. •

•••ct h.~ • .s.miw tQ took pta wlln

of bit 1Jm..l .. Burnt all

Page 91: Fritz KRAEMER_ I. SS Corps in the West in 1944 [1948]

.. ';.

.. , 0-024

On 1~ s.pt8Jllber19!~" Con- wu o..~~ to croat 'bbe *~O with •

...-irdJ1, ole.. ~ 12 sa PI. D1• .....blNi; ODe rre&s.nt - u4 iN araw­, t - - T· •

e4 perllcm.n.l CAJ't~o.r blt.taU.bU of 1 S~ .Pa niT, &:nd to eotAbl1. 11_

of t.J.

Page 92: Fritz KRAEMER_ I. SS Corps in the West in 1944 [1948]

.

f C..ae4

1 ~." Il

Put-in th~ n1$ht ot ~ s.,t "r 19L4# Corp. orQ.aed ~ ~_t\1_

Mar Ulvet cm.d ok o_r OQ~tl"ol ot tM aet)'tcH" 44a.t4tU'" ... Glv." .. r 1.

Fe.- thll mi8l!11on tt. f'oll~ to tiOIll "' fAlb rdtllA J

1-2 · 1't Illv .... StrtIlgth about an." , .... til!

l"6<1On:aS.llAJloa tattallon, ~er battallOn, ~. M"t1llAry bt.ttiAllaD

oub ~1&h'b ,uns t r lw tanka (PI IV). .

'.l'h1v1.1Q.t .tatt had USGb1e<l _4 1:'0I\11III8 00..!l4 O~l~ thO"

in11l& .1_lJUl

'loMllttl or 1 as 1'& Div .. O1Ilprili oce &ttal;<or.W1tb.r~oNd • • ; " 11!!1 *·1 <

rtCun 1 oarr.un,·, &n4 thft lntfult.-, &\Ul8.. 1h11 batia11ol'l _e _ Ib­

r'41nated to 12 SS 1>. 1)1y, I I • "'1

r "o~nnaU.a1'lOe battal.ion, «\gineer bat\';al1o.n.. one .n111ar;y t.t&lloa

wi'th .bout 10 gV.M, no ta!lb.

901"l! ~ro0l!" 101 ,~:2' ,.)

101 Rea:!" ZBn;, toUSl' Gun. II

N.~11YJ th~. to~o, l/8nl t«>t eurrici nt tor t.n3 ro••amblo

C Ibd . arliU..,

.. ' ' ':".;.o:.J,,~

Page 93: Fritz KRAEMER_ I. SS Corps in the West in 1944 [1948]

Thf tollOVli~ to~'t1ona _~ oontd."ted,

:?1 ~!l. ~, ~ ~ ... (eiGht 1'1,.1'" tall_) i~o.. ~roteetj.Q%1 or tn.

brl ~r Buy_

12 8S r. Diy ''''' in th•••ow ~ ..... n.t.nant .. 1 (·.f ¥ .f

~!,,"~rhl,t .Do~l~ .~tt:ali.Q~• .., CIllbeNt tNt!) 1ntI.ntrJ c~ni l Gi.ftt.

a Fa Dlv ... in the ••otor <Xiv" (HIll) ... r~J'. I_i . - la.'

lAt.. 911 Ci intantl7 41,,111011. (n~ ~.,.) •• MCl"tU.1&wcI

to eptpl weQOJDlttQ4 alQtl.i 1ft. u.u.. .:r.,.o=,U8p to lh~7.

Ail fir.' ~ PllUf dlc1Mtl a.tte.ok in . s....ebor.. 1th atl4On$

aoou1;bt puott..., M ....."_41)' 1.1, b1l ., ro~4 IlJ4 be~ aUl4 tbire

-.1M4 " ~t1nci (1Il tbe ••t.mbcmk, bUt th-. iliap,.and~. fte

(U.v1. ,~ \QIr. ao~ to &ot ~ld ct' __ IC6'tteNd .~tt.. 1D0I'4...

tb proVOJ$ tbt .'tJIIII41 t ... _ or"'itl& thJ u... ell ~t., in 1h~ Notor fit'

th. .. ... qui't* '. n\&Vbot" (If tb. ,t111 'bltina lQ&4e4 wi til valua'bl.

mll1taJ7 .uppU.~ ,- _to ~f'.n".d to ~ __..m bNlk.

i, Vvy lOOn, hawowr j tb•••U'f1t( tOt ~ 1391i1&n ,..rUlaI 114""

,. much lU11do.. All Oftr th4 ~. tbo,.. _~ 'ol'dltan.a, *0 wouJ4 .boot a~ .oldicrc ~!.vin or arohillC 1n4tv1.4aUy~,. in

.-11 oupe. It •• lrapolI.1bllJ ~ I.a! out ,j801..t .,1Q1;1.. ,1att

o1'1'lq_1"4 .1tbo\m '4JO\lr':S:by., .. in «m4 ..~.~.4 .0141_", _n.,

tQun4 _,.. tn.,. ha4 b..a 1~ in _lara by &uat'Ulaa. CutiWl& of

tel1Jphou UnM .... Mll;J QOc~. Vv, ~t_ ~ ro&4I 1MN

••awn ~t ... nai1t .u4. Sally _4e lNaoU.,. 1b.lch bored in .,

toM t1rea 01 il1Oto _loln. t"ASa «"tea 4fll." hU"ohN. Com;tw.J7

Page 94: Fritz KRAEMER_ I. SS Corps in the West in 1944 [1948]

to the tivlV of> tb •

iUt. Mraa,od tbJ Lt8:r:IIB.D. troop' to .. . 'I!'/f OQrl i4~'" .~Wllt.

101..1 . It 1. to

t6cl t 1hU li01 UIJ tl,ll'bhl" arr1 on by 1nnOC*1t looldng ot-l11­

1&=, ••up~ted and ~ ot d by '* 111.. It .• Dt-m- ob

Ie pte wo unit'o

to

retort to • On

..t . ni;1on

en 1 Septre r 19144, l3rlt!tb treo.- a.glin ..tte

• uth ot' ~. wb11.. t. '0 WI" or ! rc 111.! I

• t Wldor rt11~ tt.r • TbtI l&tt _> . t Ul'ber not

l<%lOllrn) bad ia:> ..epel

t it tro _. In ora to nfmt

4 to tollow tht. tI!tbba.wing me" t.

or ,s.pt4t ~ , .....1

.hiob ~ not b-. d

• t

ttalfon 00

cl

Page 95: Fritz KRAEMER_ I. SS Corps in the West in 1944 [1948]

. ill&. tot.bt t -11, to

• en 101' til'lJt time U. f11ghO~.•

t.ol:>j.~l..... Jm.Q'M.'l w tt. OO.·..l111~ ' ......loa I.n &O~ •

a.u '1eleS u.rlh&l ~1 hac .t" in Chler B 0:1" B.--.. fh1t

better ~h2& or.1 • Corp. Q th neoeU&17

&~ra.D&--~ 121 ti_ cl t.n 4!Not; ~b4"'_1. appropr_ ut.••

Oorp. 1~ w1~h1Jl toll q.ector. .. .6.~U.t. ..

_;if - .bun at,... (hlltt boundaq llDt) hi t.Ja7" Ltb~ ....

Sauer VeJley'" vtM4ta (rijbt boUlldar1' 1~) to * .au ~ l1wlth

l'lH,,&lt1 plao••, 00 a1n in the Bit ~ 1)/9 S.~btl' 1944..

Ltt ••, <tu

the. ~f'. and

lortb1amovcment 2. ........----­

01', U.....

r1&ht ( Xl lat trau ,. ~o. ....1........ ot

12 S ))1:9· ..... in ~rat. tn___ __...0-........-.2

thlt • £011 vo~ '1t.'1DC1YI .. ·· ot .tr aoout1ufS

1.. ,. repelH4 •..,.~. a1r fer", 11t.t:a.t

aoth1:ty. t Cor (2 ~ Diy )arrtWd lot 1

n1 t

... tbv ... 111 badJ', &",1 on 10 -pt__.. 19lt4.

ad'flU'l" 4. lettWiq at corp« (2 DS... ) :t...-,'---­t9 poalt1onl of w••t . • 11 on • 111," 10/11 H

- •• , \

Page 96: Fritz KRAEMER_ I. SS Corps in the West in 1944 [1948]

1 uot ptlH ., All '0141." Ne d wlth ., brea1ethr'o~ 11p to tht

P.hu. take plao. an., ttr.. 1h pia1;ul'od 'tp tbemOl. 0 bo

ina ad Jl$ing ,. ~ ttoopl-. o t;h'bing ... wld ...

• • Y • olv 11 t,...S R. lnl80vnt of .01'1

to

11 mole . ...kthro~ 4id oil

plao... tor bo opponeDta. perlo« nwum.Ul& t1gbt1J1., bt_n

1fh1oh • tht .t (''0$ ~ tendl1'1$ trGClpft hatl It&ftr.-.t opt

Page 97: Fritz KRAEMER_ I. SS Corps in the West in 1944 [1948]

illllilim~~U.~ooooi~illl 3 1695 00184 450 5