[PanzerBob]

KG Griffon War Diary 24 Sept 1943

KG Griffon after the push on the Allied Beachhead was ordered to pull back in a series of fighting withdrawals. Upon reaching the area around Potenza, Division was ordered to set up a defensive position to prevent Canadian units joining up with the British and American Armies pushing north. We were given a sector east of Potenza along Hwy 94 defending the roads in to the valley behind us. We received 3 76mm ATG’s, a dozen or so MG’s, Barbwire and 1500 mines from Div. for job at hand. Plus since the last big engagement I’d stared converting my AT Guns into StuG’s, had attached a battery of 17cm guns and two batteries of 12cm mortars with ammo and transport.

A Work Bn assigned quickly emplaced the 76’s in small concrete bunkers on in each Kp sector; Several MG nests were set up looking down the roads in question. The emplacements were also wired along with a hasty minefield stretching from east to west, 100 to 200 meters wide.

We sat while improving our defence works, enemy patrols and probes told me the Canadians were coming, but when…………………………..

The morning of the 24th all hell broke lose as the Canadian Artillery started pounding us 15min after sunrise, followed by smoke mostly to my western AOR. I had dug my 3 Kp in up forward along with my Engineers, my Panzer spread equally in second line positions. (I was not getting caught with a mobile reserve trying to move under air attack again).

Initial advances by the enemy indicated an assault under the cover of the western smoke screen. My panzers began picking Shermans etc off through the smoke and I started to work my HUBZ around on the flanks to see what was coming. While in the smoke one HUBZ found the enemy and found himself in the sights of a Staghound right below him, the Staghound opened up and blew one of my eyes out of the air. As events would prove, they killed the wrong HUBZ.

Fighting continued on my west, and my other HUBZ carefully flew at rooftop level over the village on my east side. His caution paid off as the minor smoke cleared he spotted in least 2 Kps of Shermans headed towards the village. They were moving cross-country slowly either trying to flank me or come though the village. I shifted my 17 battery off CB duty ordered him to fire behind the village. Having been spotted the jig was up I guess and enemy artillery was redirected to an area rough between 2 & 3 Kps boundaries. The boys held up well despite the punishing fire.

See Map

My eye in the sky withdrew as soon as he confirmed armour in the village and the first 17cm shells crashing into them. As soon as the first explosions were reported from the minefield, I shifted my Mortar Batteries into the fray and readied my rocket battery for the event of a point assault between 2 & 3 Kps.



Despite my concentrated arty, the Canadians smashed into my defences where expected. The attack in the west became nothing more than few remnants harassing my troops. The maelstrom of fire was terrific as I poured in my artillery assets combined with the Canadian Artillery plus all the ground fire, mine strikes, smoke and panzer fire as I moved a few in to help the troops. After 20 minutes or so, it became clear we had kept the upper hand. The enemy’s armour had been crushed and most other units were in retreat.

Now came the hard part, irregardless of our success we were ordered to pull off this hard fought ground and head further north, no doubt with the Allies nipping at our heels. At least today we gave them a taste of what should be coming.

Obersturmbannführer PanzerBob



Excerpts From “In the Führer’s Service” Reichsfeldmarschall (RFM) PanzerBob 1955

On our way north I was called to Rome for a special briefing on the state of affairs within and outside the Reich. We were informed that the Russians did truly quit the war and had turned to internal matters, the way I understand it, the purges under way were making Stalin's look like a cakewalk although they were being driven against the Communists.

We were informed about two other events, which were to have a huge influence on the war. First off, Hitler had finally realised in August 1943 that his Doctor was a quack, (he was “retired”) and had stopped the regiment of drugs he was on, upon rising from the fog, he realised that he was running the war when he had not the expertise, he had since passed back the baton to the General Staff. The other event was the execution of Goering, for treason, for his failure to defend the Reich from the constant Bomber Raids and allowing the Allies to achieve air-superiority over Western Europe.

As for us men on the front, we were told the strategy for now was to trade ground for time. That if events in Russia worked to our advantage and the skies over the Fatherland were made clear we would come out punching.