The third battle occurred after finally receiving the halftracks Der Furher promised us. We were given the task of advancing to the Weichel River and securing two towns and a Chateau on the east side of the river. Plus and more importantly, securing and putting up a bridgehead on the wood bridge over the river in the south side of our AOR.
Corps assigned two Squadrons from the Luftwaffe in support of our operation. One Sqdn of Stukas and a Sqdn ME109’s. All soldiers in the KG now had SdKfz251’s for transport and protection, and our 10cm mortar Gp had SdKfz 8’s to move them. Our Recce AC’s were upgraded to SdKfz 232’s as well KG Recce now had a Kradschützen Zug. Now we were a force the Heer Lansers envied and they no longer laughed at our Camouflaged Smocks either as battle had now proven their value.
The Objectives were the two larger villages, a Chateau on a rise on the river between the two towns, plus the bridge. The Weichel River cut a meandering path across the battlespace, from the southeast in our AOR in an angle moving to the northwest into area thought to be under enemy control. This AOR was larger than our last couple battles and the terrain was for the most part again typically Polish only we had moved into to an area where there many more hamlets, farms and more minor roads. One area in enemies Zone of Control (ZOC) in the southwest was largely forested with a small hill looking over the bridge from the western of the river.
The plan was based on the thought that the Poles would come from the northwest on the east side of the river to the Northern Village with a strong attack on the bridge from the west out of the forest
A---Initially, the Luftwaffe and Artillery hit bridges and crossroads with little or no results, although several crew spotted enemy tanks heading for the bridge, confirming one assessment.
B---KG Recce split up with the Kradschützen Zug making for the North Village and the AC’s making for the bridge. The rest of the KG was split in three, KG HQ including the SPAA and the MG Gruppe headed off to occupy the Chateau and the rise. Two INF Zugs and 8 PzIII’s were sent to the North Village along with 3 PzIV’s. The remainder and the Pioneer Zug went to the bridge and the South Village near it.
Execution:
Initial occupation of the objectives when off with minor problems. Two AC’s bogged down on the west bridge approach due to the road being dug up and a HT crashed into a building in the North Village.
Several airstrikes against the armour in the south were effective and allowed the Pioneers to establish a bridgehead on the hill west of the bridge. Several PzIII’s joined them and one was lost when trying push out the bridgehead to the north. Interestingly, the Poles only sent tankettes and Lt Tanks to take the bridge. These were dealt with mostly by the Pioneers in close combat; the remainder were taken out by Panzer fire. This effectively ended the battle for the bridge.
The North Village turned into a massacre for the Poles. They attempted to cross to river in mass just north of the Village. While some of the tank support did mange to kill a few more of my panzers, the over all battle was a shooting gallery for my Infantry, Panzers and all other arms. Artillery and Airstrikes beat them down without let up, joined by my HT’s firing direct and indirectly. Near the end of this free for all, a Company of Polish Armoured Corps tanks finally put in an attack from the north but this was too little too late, as they died as well, some only 300m from the North Village. Again this tank force had no Infantry with them and was easy prey.
Looses in this engagement were minimal even in men lost, two PzIII’s and a PzIV plus some damage from various reasons, it was a Decisive Victory
Obersturmbannführer Bob
