war diary 15th pzgr div april-may 45

8/9/2019 WAR DIARY 15th PzGr Div April-May 45

1/16

Included in this month’s diary is a copy of 15 Panzer Grenadier’s War Diary. The Battalion

is mentioned once or twice The attac! on "#$D%&' ( attac! on WI$T"DT).

WAR DIARY

15 PANZER GRENADIER DIVISION

9 April 1945 - 7 May 1945

9 April

"nemy’s pressure increases constantly.

* +,-,DI,- ,&%/&"D DI0I$I%- adance from #,T2"- a3out 4 !m $outh of

P,P"-B/&G) -orth and -orth "ast.

*6 DI0I$I%- supported 3y one ,rmd Bde attac!s -orth and -orth "ast from area $outh

West of +#%PP"-B/&G.

51 2) DI0I$I%- adance from area #%2-" ( 0"+2T,.6 I-',-T&7 DI0I$I%- captures B,$$/ and continues adance -orth.

, small 3attle 8roup seems to 3e already $outh of WI#D"2,/$"-.

15 Pz Gr Di without one reinforced 3n I9115 which was sent in adance on : ,pr)) moes

from area +#%PP"-B/&G into the area $outh West of B&""- to counter(attac! and stop

the enemy’s adance $outh West of B&""-. ,;is of this moement is ,-


2/16

11 April

The day passes with only li8ht infantry actiity. The enemy does not pro3e the new line of

defence= and contact is made with 3rid8ehead at B&""- $$ Tr8 Bn). The picture of the

enemy’s positions is 8ained 3y a) own recce and patrols= and 3) wireless intercept. The

results are as followsA(

a) "nemy stron8 points are in the area WI#D"$2,/$"- ( 2,&P$T"DT ( $7


3/16

,ccordin8 to Prisoner of War reports 54 DI0I$I%- is supposed to reliee parts of

,&%/&"D DI0I$I%- in the area &I"D" 3etween 16 and 1* ,pril. It is said that parts of

the armoured troops hae already moed $outh "ast from &I"D". We presum 54 DI0I$I%-

is in the area 3etween &I"D" ( B&/+22,/$"- ( 0I#$"-.

"nemy recce patrols increase on our own front from the area WI#D"$2,/$"- to the -orth

and -orth "ast= and also a8ainst left flan! of 1* PG&. 'rom wireless intercept we learn of

the enemy’s intentions in time= and place our troops accordin8ly.

,s 51 2) DI0I$I%- has 3een 3rou8ht into the area WI#D"$2,/$"- ( 2,&P$T"DT we

e;pect the main thrust of the enemy’s attac! from this area. 115 PG& is 3ein8 withdraw from

the Diision left flan! and is 3ein8 put in resere on the ri8ht flan! for a counter(attac!

a8ainst WI#D"$2,/$"-.

14 April

115 PG&’s counter(attac! a8ainst WI#D"$2,/$"- penetrates to the railway line on the

West ed8e of the town and to the road @unction -orth of it= 3ut cannot penetrate farther owin8

to stron8 concentrated artillery and ,nti(Tan! fire. 51 2) DI0I$I%- is identified in this area

3y Prisoners of War= with one 3attalion in the woods east of WI#D"$2,/$"- and another

3attalion to the $outh "ast. Prisoner of War reports that one company position is at the "ast

entrance to WI#D"$2,/$"-= with a third company in the town itself= and a fourth

company on the $outhern ed8e.

%n the rest of the Diision front= only stron8 recce patrols without success.

15 April

$tron8 recce patrols in company stren8th= supported 3y a few tan!s= are pushin8 -orth "ast

from WI#D"$2,/$"- and -orth from 2,&P$T"DT. These hae 3een repulsed. %ur own

wireless intercept wor!s ery well a8ain today. We !now enemy intentions= times of comin8

attac!s and artillery tar8ets.

Durin8 the afternoon= the enemy succeeds in capturin8 a road @unction -orth of

WI#D"$2,/$"- 3y outflan!in8 it and usin8 well planned and intense artillery fire. "nemy

pressure in this area is e;tremely heay.

Durin8 the ni8ht= 15 Pz Gr Di withdraw accordin8 to orders leain8 3ehind small rear8uards

on the line D%T#I-G"- ( /2#2%&- ( 2"-G$T"&2%#E ( ,-"- ( G&%$$(

,+


4/16

reluctantly with li8ht recce elements. We !now 3y wireless intercept and Prisoner of War

reports that two 3ri8ades of 51 2) DI0I$I%- are in the line= and presume that the third

3ri8ade is in resere. We succeed= 3y well carried out rear8uards manoeures= in ma!in8 the

enemy 3eliee the whole line of defence is occupied= and we repulse li8ht infantry recce

patrols. ,lthou8h these rear8uards are completely on their own= their fi8htin8 morale still proes to 3e e;cellent.

17 April

-ew enemy reinforcements arrie in area WI#D"$2,/$"-. We shell enemy reseres in

area IPP"-"& ( 2"I#IG"-&%D".

Today a8ain= all enemy attac!s on the whole of the Diision front area made in 3attalion

stren8th with armoured support= 3ut are !nown 3eforehand form wireless intercept which

ena3les us to counter(measure them 3y manoeurin8 with our reseres. The enemy succeeds

therefore only in penetratin8 locally.

Durin8 the day we 8et numerous reports from our wireless intercept a3out the enemy order of

3attle= mainly recce units 3ut also a3out the results of aerial recce on our own and

nei8h3ourin8 fronts.

We succeed in holdin8 the front line 3y manoeurin8 constantly with our reseres= ,nti(Tan!

weapons and units.

'rom documents 3elon8in8 to a dead Prisoner of War we learn that B +ompany of 54

DI0I$I%- &ecce is in W"&D"&.

1! April

Today we e;pect ery early attac!s as enemy wireless actiity increases. Pressure in the area

of WI#D"$2,/$"- continues durin8 the mornin8= and the enemy succeeds= after a heay

3attle= in penetratin8 into D%T#I-G"- and T2&,2" and to occupy the crossroads near the

railway stations at D%T#I-G"-.

The enemy attac! from the area of IPP"-"& towards ,D"#2"ID" starts at 16 and they

succeed= after heay artillery preparation= in penetratin8 into G&%$$(,+


5/16


6/16

+ommand. The only units remainin8 in the old sector are Gr &e8t :5= which is under our

command= and a 2eay ,nti(Tan! Battery. ,s no new units can 3e 3rou8ht up to the sector it

can only 3e held wea!ly one 3attalion).

The Diision succeeds in disen8a8in8 and arries in the new area accordin8 to plan withoutlosses or without 3ein8 shelled heaily on the way.

We learn= 3y wireless intercept= that 51 2IG2#,-D DI0I$I%- is preparin8= in area $outh

of D"#"-2%&$T= to attac! and adance ia D"#"-2%&$T to the W"$"&.

20 April

-ew Diision 2.. ( DIP$2%&- $outh West of E"0"-).

54 Diision "n8ineers identified 3y Prisoner of War near D,-"#$"-.

+aptured enemy map ta!en from medical Prisoner of War from G/,&D$ ,&%/&"D

DI0I$I%- shows the followin8 enemy %rder of Battle and intentionsA(

51 2IG2#,-D DI0I$I%- in area $outh of D"#"-2%&$T ( a;is of adance is

D"#"-2%&$T towards W"$"&.

6 B&ITI$2 DI0I$I%- in area B&I-


7/16


8/16

attac!s in the area $outh West of G72/ and West of B&/TT"-D%&'. %rdered o3@ecties

of these attac!s areA(

The line "#$D%&' ( '&,-


9/16

enemy. Tou8h fi8htin8 continues till ni8htfall. We hae to 8ie up the town and withdraw to a

line of defence on the ed8e of the wood 4 !ms West of E"0"-. WI$T"DT is also 8ien up.

We succeed in stoppin8 the enemy adance on the 8eneral line B&ITT"-D%&' (

%#D"-D%&' ( B&,/"# with I Bn 115 PG& which was put in durin8 the ni8ht.

25 April

The main attac! on B&""- is e;pected after stron8 artillery preparation. The enemy

penetrate into the outs!irts of the town.

%n our own front the enemy attac!s from ,BB"-D%&' towards 2"$"#D%&' and

penetrates into the illa8e after heay fi8htin8= supported 3y stron8 artillery fire and 8round

staffin8. %ur own troops ma!e a fi8htin8 withdrawal to the railway line West of the illa8e

and prepare their new line of defence.

Wireless intercept tells us that G72/ and B%+


10/16

and B,D"-/2#"-= 3ut B,D"-$T"DT falls into enemy hands after little resistance.

$ome of our tan!s succeed in holdin8 out "ast of %$T"&TIthe enemy will hae new 3rid8e ready at 16

hours).

Today 3rin8s a crisis for the Diision.

It is only due to super3 wor! of our own wireless intercept that we are a3le to preent a

3rea!throu8h at seeral points= and to 3uild up a8ain and a8ain new centres of resistance

whereer the enemy tries to 3rea! throu8h our lines.

The Diision sends enoys to arran8e for the hand(oer of the W"$T"&TI


11/16

,&%/&"D DI0I$I%- "ast of &ier W"$T"&= $outh "ast of B&""-

54 DI0I$I%- ,+2I area

*6 DI0I$I%- $outh of 2"##W"G"

G/,&D$ ,&%/&"D DI0I$I%- -orth and -orth "ast of E"0"-

,&%/&"D DI0I$I%- $outh of B/HT"2/D"5: DI0I$I%- "ast of B/+22%#E.

27 April

"nemy enters B&""- and penetrates into the -orthern outs!irts of the town. 15 Pz Gr Di

re8roups durin8 the ni8ht and forms new line of defence in depth '%&W"&< ( B/#$T"DT

(


12/16

direction of B&""&0%&D".

Wireless intercept reports stron8 amoured and motorised traffic on roads 0"&D"- (

&%T"-B/&G and -orth "ast.

We must presume that ,&%/&"D DI0I$I%-= ,&%/&"D B&IG,D" z30)= :

I-',-T&7 DI0I$I%-= *6 DI0I$I%- and : ,&%/&"D DI0I$I%- are adancin8 to the

-orth "ast.

,ccordin8 to wireless intercept 51 2IG2#,-D DI0I$I%- is now in area B,$$/ (

&%T"-B/&G. Parts of this Diision were already intercepted two days a8o.

29 April

15 Pz Gr Di re8roups durin8 the ni8ht. 1* PG& is ta!en out of the line on the ri8ht flan! of

the Diision to stren8then our left flan! althou8h this means our ri8ht flan! 3etween

T,&$T"DT and 2,$T"DT is therefore dan8erously wea!ened.

Parts of this &e8iment are !ept as Diisional resere.

-o enemy actiity e;cept few small recce patrols. We presum enemy is re8roupin8 for attac!

oer the 2," ( %$T" +anal.

"nemy’s main thrust for the ne;t few days is thou8ht to 3e in area of B&""&0%&D". 2ecan concentrate all his artillery there for decisie attac! and 3rea!throu8h towards

W"$"&/-D" or +/H2,0"-.

The marshes on enemy side of 2," ( %$T" +anal ma!es 3i88er attac!s impossi3le. The

Diision= therefore= proposed to +orps that the B&""&0%&D" area is handed oer

immediately to the Diision so that we can prepare our own ,nti(Tan! defence. ,s +orps

considers the dan8er not immediate and as they they that the arine Troops which are in

B&""&0%&D"& sector are hi8h(Fuality fi8hters= they re@ect this su88estion. We therefore

send one 3attalion into the G#I-D" area to protect our own flan!. We contact +ommander of

the B&""&0%&D" Garrison and our Pz "n8 Bn 66 prepare demolitions on 3oth sides of

the town. %ne "n8. Platoon is sent into the town itself to erect tan! o3stacles.

30 April

We want to hand oer Prisoner of War +amp in $,-DB%$T"# to the enemy= 3ut a8ain

%fficers sent as enoys are retained as Prisoners of War. "nemy is sendin8 escaped Prisoners

of War 3ac! into our lines with orders to recce our stren8ths and positions and to come 3ac!

to report these.

,fter renewed artillery preparation the enemy succeeds in forcin8 a crossin8 oer the %$T"


13/16

near $,-DB%$T"# and to adance to the +amp. We succeed in sealin8 off this penetration.

%ur Diision issues orders to the effect that no3ody must fire in the direction of the Prisoner

of War +amp as each shot into the oercrowded camp would mean murder. %nly if there is

no dou3t that the enemy intends to adance from the Prisoner of War +amp will the Diision

lift that order.

The enemy succeeds in penetratin8 into T,&$T"DT from the $outh usin8 tan!s. We hae

to 8ie up this place.

15 Pz Gr Di ma!es a fi8htin8 withdrawal durin8 dus! to the 2," ( %$T" +anal and

leaes small rear8uards 3ehind. , new defence line is esta3lished 3ehind the +anal.

The enemy tries to hinder us in this manoeure 3y attac!in8 -orth from the &ier

W/"& and 3y cuttin8 the road T,&$T"DT ( &2,D". 51 2IG2#,-D DI0I$I%-

appears a8ain on our front and it seems that G/,&D$ ,&%/&"D DI0I$I%- has 3een

switched to the "ast.

51 2IG2#,-D DI0I$I%-= since ,'&I+,= is !nown to 3e one of the 3est British Diisions.

2eay fi8htin8 lies ahead of us.

1 May

The Diision is prepared for the defence. ,danced posts are on the line 2/TT"-B/$+2 (

G#/-$T"DT ( ,/G/$T"-D%&' ( %B"&


14/16

3 May

51 2IG2#,-D DI0I$I%- identified 3y wireless intercept) attac!s B&""&0%&D" in

the early mornin8 after heay artillery pro8ramme. The units which were supposed to hold

B&""&0%&D" offer only sli8ht or in some cases= no resistance at all. 115 PG& istherefore sent immediately into the area of "PP"&D%&' ( #I-D%&' to stop further

penetration to the -orth. The enemy occupies B&""&0%&D". 115 PG& succeeds in

stoppin8 the enemy on the a3oe line 3y fi8htin8 re8ardless of losses. 115 &ecce Bn with one

,nti(Tan! Troop under command seals off the enemy’s adance to the West and $outh West

on the line %"&"# ( B,&+2"#. The left flan! of 1* PG& is 3ent 3ac! and the

B&""&0%&D" penetration stopped on the line ',2&"-D,2# ( B,&+2"# (

"B"&$D%&'. ,fter Fuic! re8roupin8 the enemy attac!s a8ain and succeeds in enterin8

B,&+2"#= %"&"# and "B"&$D%&'. ,nother armoured 3attle 8roup adances to the West

and attac!s 2IP$T"DT without opposition. To preent the enemy from 3rea!in8 throu8h our

line to the -orth 115 PG& is withdrawn durin8 the ni8ht 6rd9*th ia G&%$$"-2"I (

&I-G$T"DT into the area of '&"#$D%&'.


15/16

2IG2#,-D DI0I$I%- a8ain identified 3y Prisoner of War.

The hi8her +ommand considers the withdrawal of +orps "$ to the outlyin8 defences of

W"$"&/-D" 'ortress or to the B""$T" ( "DD +anal in case our last defence line

should 3e 3ro!en.

The defensie positions we are holdin8 now are the stron8est we hae eer had since crossin8

the &2I-". 'ie 3attalions in resere= one ortar &e8iment with 1= rounds of

ammunition= four artillery and three ,nti(,ircraft Batteries with enou8h ammunition= and last

3ut not least the well(seasoned 66 "n8 Battalion with plenty of mines and with ery hi8h

fi8htin8 spirit. ,ll this support and the super3 fi8htin8 spirit and Fualities of the troops under

our command 8uarantees that the enemy attac! could only succeed after e;tremely heay

casualties on 3oth sides.

But there can 3e no dou3t that the enemy would neertheless succeed also in this attac! after

3rin8in8 up all his heay artillery and Typhoons as we hae no such weapons. It must 3e

remar!ed that all the enemy attac!s in the last wee!s and months hae succeeded for the

followin8 main reasonsA(

a) "ery sin8le detail of the attac! was thorou8hly prepared and well(planned especially

,rmy and ,ir 'orce co(operation.

3) %erwhelmin8 amount of material.

c ) Better trained men= especially as indiidual fi8hters.

The German 2i8h +ommand could not counter these facts with improisation.

Improisations could only delay the final decision 3ut not aert it. They carry the core of

decline and fall especially if they are not the e;ception 3ut the rule.

5 May

%ur Diision= which has freFuently 3een mentioned in British Bulletins as the last German

Diision which can still offer or8anised resistance= receies an enoy from 51 2IG2#,-D

DI0I$I%-. 'rom that moment on there e;ists an armistice 3etween 51 2IG2#,-D

DI0I$I%- and 15 Pz Gr Diision which stood up a8ainst each other in honoura3le fi8htin8

for nearly two years.

This is a memora3le hour in the history of these two Diisions.

The War &ecord of 15 PG& ends on the 7 May 1945 with the >unconditional surrender?= and

we hae to hand oer our weapons in a few days to 51 2IG2#,-D DI0I$I%- without

incident. The Diision is to 3e concentrated in the area T,&$T"DT #ower "#B") and to

prepare for demo3ilisation.


16/16

+oncluded and $i8ned

&%DT= #ieutenant General

15 Pz Gr Diision

war diary 15th pzgr div april-may 45

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