Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
D
739
.F6713
UNCLASSIFIED
no U&ARMYMILITAiY HISTORY INSTITUTt
.A-871
Fgn MS
ENGLISH COPY
HISTORICAL DIVISION
HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES ARMY, EUROPE
FOREIGN MILITARY STUDIES BRANC
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED
MS # A-871
Historical Division
HEADQUARTERS
UNITED STATES ABMY, EUBOPE
UNCLASSIFIED
MS # A-871
UNCLASSIFIED
Report on the Engagements of the 21st Panzer Division
against American Troops in France and Germany.
UNCLASSIFIED
MS # A-871 -3-
found in the salvage dumps of the campaign in the west 1940. Only the
tanks for the Panzer Begiment were supplied. All weapons were allotted
from German stocks, but we had to build the installations (self-propelled)
and the towing mediums ourselves. Even after 6 June 1944 the division
had no replacements for vehicles, but had to build up everything even in
the most difficult situations. As the only division or the German
Western Army the division had to go on fighting continuously at the
most difficult points. On the first day of the invasion it was
employed at Caen as first reserve division, and at the beginning of
UNCLASSIFIED
MS # A-S71
G 2: Capt Vorster.
self-propelled carriage.
First Battalion;
(long)
Second Battalion;
(long)
US # A-871 -5-
Second Battalion;
4., 5. batteries \/ith each six light field Howitzers type "18"
carriage (cal 8)
guns.
Technical Services.
Service Troops.
Administration company.
Bakery company.
Butcher company,.
On 10 August the division had its first contact here with American
forces. At that time the division was still involved in engagements
Company on the northward road, north of St. Mans, and was in this vray
constantly aware of the position of the American armored speaipoiots. .
Only with small units was the division engaged in fights with the
Americans in the pocket south of Falaise. Under the leadership of the
First SS Corps the "bulk of the division fought its way tack to Dimontier
and the Tocruet sector.
17.30 hours orders came from the Second SS Corps that the division had to
MS # A-371 ~9-
division aside, and had the terrain to the north of La Hage and a
wood north of it occupied.
The task assigned to me fey Lt Gen Kuntzen early on the morning of
opposite "bank of the Seine. On S3 August the weather i/as unfavorable for
the air force, but it could not be utilized for the crossing of the
Seine by the numerous German infantry end armored divisions as no bridges
were available, and consequently the crossing could only teke place by
ferry. The third company of my engineer battalion had orders to build
a bridge at Houen. On 24 August the bridge was finished, but the weather
changed for the better, and two hours after having been set into working
order the bridge was attacked by bombing planes and destroyed. The
Until the 2y August the weak forces of the division managed to keep the
enemy away from the Seine. This was an enormous success for the German
crossing of the Seine. Although an immense amount of material especially
of the infantry divisions was taken by the enemy, owing to the gain
in time it was still possible to tske at lerst double the amount
(especially material of the motorized divisions) to the opnosite
bank. A successful break-through of the American forces to the Seine be
degree that they vere unable to put up any resistance at the 1/estwall:
MS # A-371 -11-
the Army (Heer), 1., 2., 9., 10., 12., 17., SS Panzer Divisions, and
to Rouen which led to the Seine. The weather having changed for the
better some "bombing raids took place; they caused heavy losses, but I was
surprised that the losses were not still heavier considering the immense
mass of material.
vehicles of the division to the opposite bank. The ferrying site was
not attacked by the air force, probably because it v/as not discovered.
On 26 August the division with all units which had crossed the
Seine was ordered to march to the vicinity of Creil (north of Paris) for
the division to move first cf all to Helms, and then to the vicinity of
Vesone the same evening x-ras rescinded, and a combat group was also
crossing of the Seine on 28/29 August the combat group or the division
after the crossing of the Seine, the group was led into the new area
of combat.
On my march to Epernay on 28 August at 01.00 I was engaged by
American armored reconnaissance vehicles at St. Grilles south of Fismes.
MS # A-871 -12-
In the meantime the First Army had made further changes of position;
the new situation made an immediate change of the route of msrch
necessary, which x;as much impeded by the fact that the division was
only able to inarch in small groups, and was spread all over the road
from Reims to Rouen.
According to a new order of the Army Group "G" to which the division
was now subordinate, Molsheim - Schirmeck was chosen to serve as a new
concentration area. Ihe movements of the division into the new area
were now led through Uancy. About the 6 September the first units
arrived in the new area. The units which had crossed the Seine on
29 August also arrived in the area of Molsheim by 9 and 10 September.
A new phase of combat started when the division came to Alsace. At
the outset it was subordinate to the Army Group "G" (Gen Blaskowitz) in
Gerardiner, and e.s of 8 September to the 66th Corps under Lt Gen Lucht
in Bainles Bains. The first task \ms to occupy blocking positions on
the Moselle north of iflpinal using a combat group consisting of: Staff
of the 192d Panzer Grenadier Regiment under Col Rauch, the first
battalion of the 192d Panzer Grenadier Regiment, the second battalion
of the 125th Panzer Grenadier Regiment, 200th replacement Training
Battalion, 220th Panzer Engineer Battalion and 155th Panzer Artillery
Regiment. Command post of the division was at Grandriller and as of
10 September at Peuconcourt. After having arrived in the area of Mols
heim the units were as fsr as possible equipped there, and by 10 Sept
marched into the sector with a company strength of about bO men. At
MS # A-871 -13-
move to the area west of Epinal, and in co-operation with the newly
constituted 113d Panzer Brigade commanded "by Col v. Usedom, carry out
a relief attack for the benifit of the sorely pressed and almost quite
encircled 16th Infantry Division commanded "by Maj Gen Heckel in the
v. Luck took over the leadership of the combat group of the division,
nearly all its Panthers necessary for employment, while the battalion
equipped with tanks type "IV" lost about 30$. The first battalion of
the 192th Panzer Grenadier Begiment had also to endure a heavy air raid
the American forces were too strong and the 16th Division was already
group available for employment, ny own division was engaged vest and
north of Epinal, the greater part of the division (about 6000 - 7000 men)
was placed in the vicinity of iHoleheim and was not ready for action
owing to the lack of the most important weapons, ?.s for instance rifles,
machine guns, guns of all sorts, spades etc. The G 4 of the division
was located in the area of Holsheim, and was ordered to eo.uip company
after company and to send off at once to the combat group equipped
new companies came up, and on 28 Sept the whole division v/ss employed once
again. The Panzer Regiment, of which the second battalion was in Grafen
woehr for reconversion of armament and retraining, \-/as, with its first
battalion, pieced in the vicinity of Xaiserslautera, and was e.t the
Panzer strong point, waiting for new tanks of type "I?". But time
passed, and not until about 10 Oct did the battalion come bsck to the
the valuable material had "been given to the old division from the outset,
the division was subordinate to the XLVII Panzer Corps commanded "by
Lt G-en Frhr. v. Funck; as of 15 Sept by Lt Gen Frhr. v. Luettwitz.
Command post of the corps until 14 September was in Bain les Bains, as
on that place, a.nd to establish contact with the portions of the 16th
post of the 16th Infantry Division (Kaj G-en Heckel) was in that place.
positions west of Epinpl by the troops just arrived, and during the
night of 17/18 September made ready for a new task in the area south of
and 112th Panzer Brigades were subordinated to the corps, and my combat
I was ordered to keep the combat group ready on the road Rarabervillers -
might follow the llltH rnd llc^Panzer brigades on the roads Baccarat -
the division. At 10.30 I xms there informed, that the 111*^ Panzer
.Brigade had met with resistance on the road alon£j the river Meurthe and
from the Hondon wood, end that the brigade had been compelled to envelop
and attack nortn ol" the Hondon wood. My combat group was orderd to
attack Luneville through the Montpgne sector. At 11.00 I fell in, the
first resistance i/as made at Fontenoy. From there the group had to fight
Luneville through Xerminil, and by 18.00 tne combat group had taken the
MS # A-8Y1 -17-
Montagne sector and the Meurthe sector south of Luneville. The fact
that the western part of the ixiontagne sector was occupied and that the
enemy grew ever more lively, made the situation difficult. Consequently
the sector had to remain occupied in order to prevent the enemy from
advancing eastward through the tontagne sector, and in this way split
the combat group and overpower the shattered portions. For the task
which they had to perform the combat group was fax too weak, but despite
this orders came to continue the attack on the southern edge of Luneville.
The resistance increased every hour, the Montagne sector was under heavy
strength of about 100 men in the vicinity of Xerxaminil, the 220th Engineer
Battalion with a fighting strength of about 200 men in the vicinity of
Gerbiviller, the second battalion of the 125th Panzer Grenadier Reginent,
fighting strength about 140 men, near Koyen: south of Luneville I placed
the 112th Panzer Brigade, the vehicles of which \.rere placed in the woods
panzer Artillery Eegiment had been emplaced so rapidly that from the
center of the sector they could command the ground in all directions with
KS # A-tf71 -18-
their fire. She command post of the 135th Panzer Grenadier Regiment
was in Gerbiviller, that of the 112th Panzer Brigade in Xerxaznil.
At the outset the command post of the division was placed in Moyen,
the river lieurthe had been destroyed. At once I had the 220th Engineer
Bsttalion build &n emergency bridge across the Meurthe near Frambois.
In this way all troops which might hsve been cut off managed to pass
across the river during the night of 19/20 September. The 112th
Panzer Brigade lost part of their vehicles in the woods south of
Luneville. The engagements both south of Luneville snd in the Montagne
sector developed in such a vay during the afternoon and the night of
that the battalions were gradually withdrawn to the Meurthe and during
the night of 19/20 September to the hills west of Fontenoy. The command
post of the division remained in Fontenoy, on the 20 September it was
it was rendered po- sible to keep the enemy away from the "bank of the
so the division group had to fight nearly on all sides, but after the
capture of the Vesonze sector Domjgvin became the point of contact with
the 15th Panzer Grenadier Division. During the days following the
Brigade was united with the 21st Panzer Division. The units of the
the district of fc©olsheim and these come to the division for employment.
The division had to hold the following front; Domjevin - St. Martin
While the right sector across the Meurthe south of Fontenoy and
•
the vicinity of Xaferviller were engaged from the outset, the situation
developed only gradually in the vicinity of Rambervillers end in the
Kontagne valley south of Rambervillers, and v;hen the positions were
occupied as of 25 - 28 September no contact wfes established with the
enemy UD till then. For the mission the division was subordinated to the
combat commander of Baccarat (Lt Col Brueckner) and the combat Conmrnder
MS # A_371 ..jgi..
vith about 150 men from a former signal regiment (Luftwaffe), conraanded
by Col Oelker and forming part of the Ottenbacher combat group. These
portions csrried 0n delaying tactics in the wood of Padoux and south
of it. Their withdrawal behind the Montagne resulted in the advance
on Rambervillers.
For the combat mission the division MU.S organized in the following
way.
nights already very chilly, and much rain fell, for months the fighting
troops had had no roof over their heads and only opportunities for the
extended ever more eastward. The daily tattles south of the road
Jeamleit - La Jalle - later on, the "battles of this road cleAned our
utmost efforts confronted as we were with a very superior enemy. Hie
situation was rendered extremely difficult "by the circumstance that the
division had to fight with its left wing unprotected. Hew makeshifts
had to "be devised day lay day and reserves arrived a platoon at a time.
Troops of all arms had constantly to be constituted into single
the 41st Panzer Corps was transferred to the Lover Ehine, the 89th
Corps £oming from Holland and under command of Lt Gen v. Gilsa
took over the command, only to "be relieved by the 64th Corps under
Lt Gen f humm on the 31 October.
In October the right wing of the battalion had to endure two
extremely heavy attacks, The first one was clearly revealed in time
by means of the eneny©s extended adjustment fire, increased patrol
activity, and a great noise of vehicles and voices in the night and
measures could be takent so that no success at all v?as achieved^
whereas the methods of the enemy in the second one on 31 October were
quite different. The division disposed of very good reconnaissance
patrols which every nigfct reconnoitered far into the terrain of the
enemy, and through them and their prisoners the division was at
least to a certain degree rather well informed as to the intentions
of the enemy. On the 31 October ab about 08.15 an excellent
reconnaissance.patrol, which had been in the wood of Hondon and at the
Meurthe river, returned and reported that no changes had taken place
in the enemy forces. At OB.30 artillery fire started surprisingly, and
increased in intensity in the course of a very short time. Owing to
the artillery fire no other noises could be noticed, The Second Free
French Tank Division took advantage of the noise and occupied the
nearest jump-off position without being heard. After the barrage
had died down the enemy moved in concentrated attack and rushed through
the foremost line o © sentries. Only the fifth and seventh companies
MS # A-871 -29-
of the 135th Panzer Grenadier Regiment, with a few heavy weapons "belonging
to the eighth and ninth companies, were placed in the attack sector and
the headquarters company which was employed as reserve with a few tanks.
For support the fourth, fifth, and sixth "batteries of the 155th
Artillery Hegiment were also in position in the sector. Apprt from one
antitank gun (cal 8.8) only Bussian antiaircraft guns were available as
replacements for antiaircraft combat troops. The guns, however, had
a dispersion of several hundreds of meters and were quite unsuitable for
the task set. Consequently they did not put one single tank out of
action. The combined efforts of the antitank defense, of the tank
fighting weapons, and the artillery, in directed fire and in addition
to that, the four available tanks of type "I?" had been successful,
however, in bringing the enemy attack to a standstill shortly after it
had got started, knocking out more than 40 enemy tanks very speedily.
The attack did not pass the line Merviller - Migneville - Ancerville.
Our own losses were small.In the evening of the same day I moved the
command post of the 125th Panzer Grenadier Eegiment to Fenneviller. The
-| company to the west of Baccarat was over-run, on the SI October
Baccarat was t&ken by American and French troops. On the next day and
the day after (1 and 2 November) a new line was built on the right
wing. It led through Domeore west of Ancerviller - Vacgneville -
Bertrichamps, St. Barte La Bourgence - Foret de Montagne. We were not
allowed to occupy the Meurthe position further back as this position was
not to "be improved. Instead of that some special oonvic*. field
MS # A-871 -30-
insufficiently armed. Each of the three companies had six machine guns
type "08". They did their best, but were not equal to the task.
Originally they had been intended to occupy the West Wall, a task which
would have been more suitable for them. Very shortly only shattered
the weak combat group of Oelker which fought on a broad front south
of Eambervillers had withdrawn to the eastern bank of the Montagne
river, and in this way Bambervillers was taken from the south. The
weapons was not able to resist the American tank attack. The result
of the fall of Eambervillers \ ras that the security battalion, weak
and completely without combat experience, x/as put in a very herd
pressed situation in the area of Doncienes - Eoville - Anglemont. On
MS # A-871 -31-
about 3 November the security units were expelled and pressed back to
the area of Nossoncourt - Henil, bat the advancing American troops
(French divisions) were repelled by the security detachments of the
I92d Panzer Grenadier Regiment employed in this area. On the following
morning the 192d Panzer Grenadier Regiment carried out a counter
attack with two weak battalions (reinforced, witn the 15th Panzer
Grenadier Division) ana recaptured the area west of Hossoncourt <-
Anglemont, which was necessary for the defense. It was possible to
hold the entire sector nearly the whole of October. At the beginning of
October the pressure of the enemy grew strongest in the area north of
Bru - St. Benor and gradually in the Poret de St. Barbe. Not until
the beginning of November did the enemy succeed in passing through the
Toret ae St. Barbe. For some days the iiith company of the 19<jd Panzer
Grenadier Begiment delayed the attack west or Tnierville until orders
came to occupy tne Meurthe position on the 4 November. The defense of
the whole sector was carried out by the second oattalion of the 192d
Panzer Grenadier Begioent and an alarm company from 28 September »
4 November. Tne average fighting strength of the battalion was about
150 men, that of tne alarm company about 60 - 80 men. The
200th Panzer Engineer Battalion was the right adjoining battalion
in the area east of Menarmont - Barien. Or heavy weapons the
combat group of the 192d Panzer Grenadier Begiment had the first
battalion of the 155th Artillery Begiment with two light batteries
and one heavy one, one platoon with antitank guns cal 8.8 cm,
one assault gun company with tour - six guns ready for action. The
MS # A-871 -32-
f irst "battalion of the 192d Panzer G-renadier Regiment and the sixth
company of the second battalion were assigned to the two adjoining
divisions.
With the capture of the Meurthe position on 4 November 1944, one
phase of the "battle had come to.an end since we, by delaying tactics,
succeeded in detaining the enemy as long as t>ossi©ble. It v/as the
intention of the higher leadership to gain as much time as possible in
order to build up the important rearward positions, of which the
Meurthe position was the first in this sector, and make them as strong
as possible. In different conferences with the commander of the army
groups, the Commander-in-Chief of the 19th Aray to whom the division
ned. again been subordinated on about 12 October efter the extraction of
the 5th Panzer Army, and those corps, to which the division vas
subordinate, I gave expression to the main troubles of ray sector, the
northern one, and my apprehensions of new attacks through Badonviller -
Element auf Zabern - Strassburg. I pronounced my opinion thct it would
be a dangerous mistake to relieve the Panzer divisions just now and
employ instead of them an infantry division without much combat
experience, and v;hich, moreover, would not be able to keep its reserves
so mobile that even the weakest might be employed at different points
of main effort, on critical days and at decisive moments. In addition
to excellent morale in the Panzergrenadiers, and artillery easily
moved, this was of decisive importance for successful defense in such
situations.
MS # A-871 -33-
But perhaps such, reports would "be of no reel interest , and I should not
After the capture of tne Meurthe position the sector of the division
553d Division was north of Ancervillcr, and the left one to-the 716th
Division "by this time east of Etival. On the 3 November the command
post of the division was moved to Celles, to the same place es those
posts of the 155th Panzer Regiment, the 200th Signal Battalion and the
SOOth Engineer Battalion. The Command post of the 125th Panzer
of good fighting quality remained in contact with the enemy with the
the river, which had risen due to high water, and even tanks were
The comraand post of the 13th SS Corps was moved on the afternoon
of the 11 November to the garden-city in the vicinity of the Falken-
berg mine, the command post of the 21st Panzer Division was moved to
Elvange.
The strengths of the divisions had not been changed. The promised
freshening-up did not take place, and thus everything remained as it
They were there unloaded oh the transportation trains when the penetration
by assault against Strassbourg took place, and were taken by the enemy.
obstacle before the old Maginot line, in order to occupy the Maginot
line in advance of the withdrawing German troops and by implication
get a spring-board for the attack on the West Wall. At that moment
the American leadership did not succeed in carrying out its intention,
I think, but, conversely that, it no doubt succeeded in carrying out
its main intention, which was to attack the German positions on as
not "be carried out after the arrival of the division, "because the
enemy, as I have already mentioned, had crossed the Hied at Ham and
the division, being most jeopardized, got the 125th Panzer Grenadier
Division, which had come first and the first "battalion of which could
occupy the western and southern edges of the wood of Hemilly. Contact
eastward and for the time "beingnone of our own troops had contact. By
means©; of the use of numerous assault troops and a few tanks the enemy
could be deceived as to our weakness for some time, until the division
even on tne 12 Hoveiaber I nad to have the 192d Panzer Grenadier Regiment
extend already its left wing and in the course of the 12 and 13 Hovember
occupy tne southern edge of the wood of Heniltz up to the railway line
the 220th Engineer Battalion took over the northern sector. South of
the 17th S3 Panzer Grenadier Division fixed for the 13 and 14 Eoverober
MS # A-871 -39-
and which were to take place north of the sector of the division were
unsuccessful.
The 21st Panzer Division succeeded in containing the enemy. Snail
enemy groups which penetrated into the wood of Remilly were repulsed.
On the 15 November the situation of the left adjacent units grew
ever more critical. The enemy had succeeded in advancing from Many
eastward and in taking Thiecourt«*Mainvillers. A further extension
of the southern flank had been necessary. Due to this, portions of the
engineer battalion had to be employed as infantry on the south wing.
Tne pressure of the enemy increased more and more, fhe artillery fire
of the enemy covered the positions and villages unceasingly behind the
front. Likewise, the rearward roaas were constantly under artillery
fire. As soon as the weather cleared up there was strong fighter
2
bomber activity, ou^ own aircraft did not appear. The command post
of the division in Elvinge was hit by artillery fire several times.
On the 16 November the positions were withdrawn to Viller - Stoncourt -
Chanville and later on to the road Chanville - Arcience. The enemy, who
outflanked both our flanks more and more and penetrated into the wood
of Remilly, Aad to be evaded on the 17 November so that a connected line
again could be established, but in doing so our weak forces were still more
and unnecessarily split up. The plateau west of the German Nied was
occupied on the 17 November and in this way a new, firm line was
established. The movement of the rear guards were not carried out until
the 18 November, the change of position of the artillery to the area east
MS # A-871 -40-
of the German Hied was carried out during the night of the 17 - 18 Novem
ber. On the 18 November the command post of the division was moved to
the former command post of the corps in the vicinity of the Falkenberg
mine. The instruction of the corps were to the effect that we had to
withdraw slowly to the Maginot line using delaying tacties. This was not,
the 82d Corps (Lt Gen Hoernlein). According to instructions the command
After the relief during the. night of the 18 November the march was
weather the m?rch was carried out without incident, we managed to take
the whole division to the new sector, ready for action by the 19 Novem
ber in the afternoon. Of course the forces grew ever weaker because
division. The situation of the 82d Corps was such that the 19th
Infantry Division and the 25th Panzer Grenadier Division were engaged
Tank Division employed to support the attack could not enable to gain
The 192d Panzer Grenadier Regiment took over the sector Oberlehken -
battalion, took over the rest of the divisional sector. The 21st
Reconnaissance Battalion and the Division Escort Company, divisional
reserve, end command post of the 125th Panzer Grenadier Regiment were
all in Zorwig.
on Wallerfangen (in the Valley of the Saar) and since 14.00 hrs
St. Barbara was in the possession of the Americajis. This meant that
the enemy controlled the plateau there and with it the Valley of the
the enemy there. The attack succeeded, at 16.00 hrs St. Barbara was
this was a real success, which enabled the division to enjoy a breathing-
space. After their arrival, the other portions of the division vere
command post in Wallerfangen, was employed in the area of Wall erf angen -
St. Barbara, and the rest of the 192d Panzer Grenadier Eegiment, with
a
its command post in Farm Ober Loenberg, was employed in the v/ooded
district north of St. Barbara - Wallerfangen. The artillery was
placed east of the Sas.r.( Divisional command post in the pelace of
Wallerfangen). Eight adjoining division was the 19th and left adjoining
division the 559th Division. As of the 29 November the road-net in
and about fallerfangen - Saarlautern and the bridge Dillingen -
Wallerfangen were under very heavy American fire.
MS # A-871 -48-
Th.ou.gh the Vest ©.Jell positions were situated east of the Ssn.r river,
in the occupation was not attained. Some pillboxes were occupied, but
and best constructed ones, but most of them were not occupied at all.
To us the whole meaning of the combe, t was to be that every day gained
west of the West Wall relieved the situation, contained the enemy, and
contrary was the case, & fact which was again and again stressed by
between the pillboxes either. But the troops which leter on had to
occupy the \/est VJa.ll were so badly mauled that they were not able to
occupy it, and it also often happened that the enemy was already in
the pillboxes of the 1/est tfell before our troops arrived. The
were made at crossing the river. In the meantime the situation south
was again subordinated to the 82d Corps (Lt Gen Hahm), the sector of
West Wall was not yet allowed in order not to lose contact with other
corps Of the First Army, which in part was still engagend in the
vicinity of the Maginot line, I was instructed on the 2 December at
18.00 hrs to advance, with a combet- group as strong as possible, from
the patch of woodland south-west of vlaldga.ssen on Lisdorf - Saarlautern
and thus intercept the attack of the enemy against Saarlautern. Inis
that was available: The Staff of the I92d Panzer Grenadier Begiment
with the First and tne Second Battalions, each with a fignting strength
of about 150 men, the Eeconnaissance Battalion with a fighting strength
of about 100 raen, the First Engineer Company with about 60 men. An
artillery staff was placed with the combat group, the artillery regained
in its positions as it had to do justice to both the missions assigned
MS # JU871
the division. Contact was established with the 341st Division (Kaj Gen
Trierenberg), which was engaged in the sector, the artillery of this
division was employed as support for the attack. Eight tanks type "IV"
of the 22d Panzer Regiment were available for the mission. On the
2 December the division was informed that a company of the Second
Battalion of the 22d Panzer Regiment, which was still in Orafenwoehr
for reconversion of armament, had arrived at Kaiserslautern and it would
immediately be started off to the division with 17 tanks of type "V",
Bat the company unfortunately, was not able to be employed on the
3 December.
OB the 3 December at 06.30 hrs the combat preparation of forces
was finished. She division command post with <S 3 sector for the mission
had been transferred to the vicinity of Bass. Reconnaissance showed
that the northwestern part of the large wood west of Waldgassen was
already occupied by the enemy and the presence of tanks could also be
ascertained. The plateau whieh completely controlled the Valley of the
Saar was occupied by the enemy, defensive weapons of all sorts were in
position there. An attack on the valley with the weak group meant certain
death to the detachment and the impossibility of reaching the goal set.
As all reconnaissance results were missing more exact reconnaissance had
to be carried out. The preliminary condition for an attack was the
possession of the wood of Waldgassen and the possibility of neutralizing
the enemy on the adjacent plateau, and these task had first of all to
be accomplished. In attacks parts of the wood were cleared, but it was
MS # A-871 -52-
not possible also to take the northwestern edge as the tanks type "IVn
could not make their way through the deep soil of the wood but had to
be towed out with great effort. All visible targets outside the
wood in the direction of northwest were immediately raked with very
heavy artillery fire. An attack by day was consequently impossible.
Under such circumstances I did not order an attack carried out but
postponed it until that night. It was ordered that the attack was to take
place at 05.00 nrs along narrow strips and our own minefields nad
particularly to be considered. The attack t/as not carried out. At
19.00 hrs orders carae that the division was to occupy Sas.rlautern on
the 4 December with sll available forces and prevent the town from being
tpken by the enemy. The former task was cancelled.
The following forces were employed in the defense of Saarlautern:
the Staff of the 192d Panzer Grenadier Regiment, the Second Battalion
of the 125d Panzer Grenadier Regiment, the First Battalion of the 192d
Panzer Grenadier Regiment, the 21st Reconnaissance Battalion with the
Third and Pourth Co©rapanies and eight tanks type "IV" of the 22d Panzer
Regiment. The Panther tank company, which had been started off, had not
yet arrived. The total strength of the companies was et the most 50 men.
The Second Battalion of the 192d Panzer Grenadier Regiment h&d suffered
so severely in the preceding engagements that it was to have some hours
rest, and needed reorganization. Consequently, it could not be
employed until two days later. The Third Battalion of the Artillery
Regiment was able to support the attack, advance observers of all
MS # A-8V1 -53-
"battalions were placed with the foremost defense troops. The 125th
Panzer Grenadier Regiment hed occupied,with its first "battalion and
regimental units, the Vest Wall positions Dillingen up to Saarlautera
exclusive.
Command posts: Of the division, in Piesbach, of the 125thPanzer
Grenadier Regiment, in Dieffeln, of the I92d Panzer Grenadier Regiment,
northeast of Saarlautern, of the Artillery Regiment, in Piesbach.
At 06.00 hrs the battalions were gathered together southeast of
Saarlautern and moved forward at 07.00 hrs to occupy the lines of
pillboxes. Just "behind the first of the "blasted "bridges over the Saar
river the First Battalion of the 192d Panzer Grenadier Regiment was
encountered ©by the enemy, and it was ascertained that rather large
American forces had penetrated into Saarlautern, which the German
leadership did not know of till then. Further advance was now very
difficult as a num"ber of pillboxes were occupied and being defended
"by the enemy and some tanks were already in Saarlautern. By
reconnaissance patrols and from prisoners it was ascertained that the
so-called suspension "bridge had fallen into the hands of the enemy
undamaged on the 3 December at noon and that forces were led across
it into the city.
This was the start of days of battle, they were extremely hard,
and called for the utmost efforts of leadership and of men. The
higher leadership ordered us to clear Saarlautern by assault, but made
no trooris available. Street-fighting, fend in addition to that,
MS # A-871 -54-
fulfilled es the enemy had already crossed the Saar river 18 hours
prior to the arrival of the division on the 4 December.
As of the b December the combat activity in the area of Dillingen
increased day "by day. In the sector of the right adjoining division
(the 19th Division) the enemy had already crossed the Saer river
about the 4 or 5 December. The American units had already worked
their way up through the wooded terrain east of the Saar "between
Beckingen and Dillingen end were threatening the -unprotected north
flank of the division. Toward off the danger new reserves hsd to "be
made available. Alarm units had once more to be formed. This time
they were taken from the 305th Antiaircraft Battalion of the Army
(Heeres) and the 200th Antitank Battalion for the supnort of the weak
groups of the 135th Panzer Grenadier Begiment. A few armored patrol
cars end three tanks were supplied. With this reinforcement an
attack was launched through Dieffel into the wooded district northwest
of the Pachener Hills. The enemy, who had advanced in the direction
of epst and south, was pushed "beck to the Pachener Hills, and weak
portions of the First Battalion of the 125th Panzer Grenadier Begiment
sealed off the Pachener Hills from the south. The 19th Division
launched an attack from north and northeast on the 9 December "but
neither vas successful. On the 10 December the ? Infantry Division
nad arrived. They attacked the position on hills from the east but
it was not successful either.
MS # A-871 -57-
These engagements were not supported by the German Air Force. The
combat activity of the Allied Air Force depended likewise on the weather.
On the 11 December at 18.00 hrs orders came that the division had to
march out of the area Dillingen - Sa&rlautern on the 12 December, portions
and the Panzer Eegiment, which only disposed of 20 tanks ready for
14 December.
The artillery positions were taken over by the division artillery
of the engineers, just arrived, and by two battalions of a Volks-
Zleinbach. Support was necessary for the 245th Division because the
division was fighting in scattered groups, yrithout contact \;ith other
21st Panzer Division, and the staff of the 245th Division employed as
245th Division and the portions arriving of the 31st Panzer Division
employed any more. On the 13 December the division took over the
command post in Ueiler, and the corps v;as transferred to Otterbach. The
left adjoining division was the 356th, (It Gen Franz), which was slowly
attack drove him from the hills north of Rott; there were heavy battles
surprise had been made impossible for the enemy. The defense of the
city of "I©/eissenburg was carried out in such a way that the city remained
undamaged.
MS # A-871 -60-
On the 14 December orders came from the corps that the division had
to disengage itself from the enemy during the night end occupy the
sector of the V/est Wall from Bunderthal to Nieder Ottenbach on the
15 December. Strong rear guards were to remain in contact with the
enemy and to delay his following up. The rear guards were veak, otherwise
the division should not have been able to occupy the sector assigned. !The
divisional comr.iand post WPS transferred to Birkenhoerdt on the 15 Decem
ber. On that day the 125th Panzer Grenadier Hegiment and the best
portions of the division -arrived in the new sector from the Saar sector.
The organization was carried out as follows! on the right flank
the S45th Division, in the center the 192d Panzer Grenadier Regiment,
on the left flank the 125th Panzer Grenadier Regiment. ©The artillery
was placed with one battalion in the vicinity of Birkenhoerdt, two
battalions east of Bergzabern, and the artillery of the 245th Division
in the area of Busenberg - Vord. Weidenthal. The tanks were x>ut in
rea.diness behind the left flank. The positions of the ©,/est t/all having
been occupied, the division commend stand was transferred to Gleis-
rellen (G 3 section) on the 1? December. In the divisional sector of
the West !7all two Panzer Grenadier Replacement Training Battalions
were already enroloyed. These two battalions were assigned to the division,
and in this way its strength was enhanced. The Replacement Training
Battalion of the division, which vras in Kaiser si autern at the time,
had been brought up to a strength of 600 men by means of replacements.
During the following days battles around individual pillboxes and at
MS # A-8V1 -61-
Nieder Schlettenbach took place. Tne city VIES not occupied by the
combat group of the 245th Division "but "by American troot>s. As,
additionnally, three pillboxes along the rosd Hieder Schlettenbach -
Bobentp-1 vere occupied "by the enen^, these had to "be taken, too,
hed to "be put off owing to the fact that an American attach had "been
started in the wood of Bien at the same time, and to the fact that
the trnks of the Panzer Reginent and the 125th Panzer Grenadier
Eegiment were already employed. The attack ns.s repulsed "by the
256th Division, "but PS a new one uas expected the tanks hs.d to stay
was not carried out at ell in the end "because on the 23 Decenber
orders came to give up all positions to the 245th Division, which had
type "7" arrived on the <J3 December. The tanks were speedily repaired
or rebuilt, so that the situation with regsrd to tanks of the regiment
MS # A-371 -62-
The antitank battalion was to get 20 tanks ty.pe "IV". But they
did not come to the division until the 8 January 1945. On the 27 Decem
ber at 23.00 hrs a special missions officer of the Army Group came
21st Panzer Division get its 20 tanks type "IV". On the 2 January the
diverted Panther tenk company returned to the division with only four
tanks out of 17. Until the 5 January the division regained in its
position of rep dine ss. On the 2 and. 3 January, after the failure of
the 17th SS Division, the leadership hoped to "be able to launch the
during the night, and, on the 6 January, was to push forward through
two groups. To the rights One group consisting of the 192d Panzer
Grenadier Regiment, 21. Reconnaissance Battalion, these already
moving ahead, the First Engineer Company, the First Battalion of the
125th Panzer Grenadier Regiment, the First Battalion of the 22d Panzer
Regiment vith a"bout 14 tanks type "V11 and 20 tanks tyr?e "IV", the
Engineer Bettglion \rithout its First Company, antitank units of the
First and Second Battalions of the 155th Panzer Artillery Regiment. Path
of advance to the right: I/eissenburg - Siedsetz - Sulz - V/oerth -
Gundershoffen etc., to the left: Ober Seebach - Hofen - Honweiler -
Surbach - Gimstett - Griesbach etc. Maps of the Maginot line were not
available to the company, and higher instances declared them a mere
trifle. On the 6 January the division was subordinated to the newly
arrived 34th Panzer Corps (Lt Gen Decker). Despite the reports on the
resistance being offered the carrying out of the task was ordered.
after heavy battles, r-nd a bridge rs.s built in the night of the 6 -
7 January. The cemetery situated a few hundred meters south of the
MS I A-871 .66-
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engaged.
Clear combat reports with regard to each day with precise figures
for numbers, modes of employment, and strengths are "beyond asy pov;er to
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