THE “TURKEY SHOOTING” (?) DECEMBER 10, 1943.
Cold, frost. Ground fog, 300 m view. Roads frozen, easy to drive.
At 04:30, the gep.Gruppe and SS-Pz.Gren.Rgt. 2 set out from Mezhyrichka (Межирічка), intend to capture Velyka Racha (Велика Рача). However, the Soviets launch three waves of attacks from south, southwest and west from battalion to regiment strength against the town of Mezhyrichka during the morning. The attacks are all repelled. Since 15:00 the Soviets attack again from Velyka Racha in regiment strength to Mezhyrichka, supported by strong artillery fires from the eastern shore of Teteriv River. By interrogating prisoners taken in the southeastern area of Malin, the Soviet 13th and 14th Gd.Tk.Brig of the IVth Gd.Tk.Korps were identified. [1]
The day for the reinforced SS-Pz.Gren.Rgt. 1, securing the section on either side of the road from Gluchoff I (Глухів Перший) to Radomyschl with its positions east of Gluchoff I, pass without any special events except for harassing fire from Soviet artillery. In the meantime, however, the SS-Pz.Gren.Rgt. 2 and gep.Gruppe held Mezhyrichka against in total five waves of enemy attacks, launched from Height 154.2 from Velyka Racha and Krassnoborka (Краснобірка) in regiment strength, partly led by the tanks. All attacks are repelled. [2]
Enemy loss for 12/9/1943: [3]
1 Gun 7.62 cm
2 AT-guns 4.7 cm
32 AT-guns 7.62 cm
16 AT-rifles
43 Machine guns
41 Submachine guns
117 Rifles
368 Dead
30 POWs
THE NEXT DAY. DECEMBER 11, 1943.
During the night of December 10/11, the section of SS-Pz.Gren.Rgt. 1 passes overall quietly except for harassing fire. Although the Soviet artillery carries out destructive firework in all calibers against SS-Pz.Gren.Rgt. 2 positions of Mezhyrichka between 21:00 and 22:00, the grenadiers set themselves in the gutter northwest of Mezhyrichka, ready to attack Krassnoborka. [4]
At 12:00, after the bombardment in a coordination of the Leibstandarte and 1. Pz.Div. against Krassnoborka with all guns and smoke-mortars, the attack against Krassnoborka and Velyka Racha started.
At 12:50, the SS-Pz.Gren.Rgt. 2 and gep.Gruppe broke through Krassnoborka from southwest.
At 13:00, hard fight takes place on Height 170.2, southeast of Krassnoborka. The Height is taken eventually and 18 Paks reportedly destroyed.
At 14:00, after a short pause, the attack against Velyka Racha started along the creek (which is supposed to penetrate the northern part of the village).
At 15:15, the Germans break in north edge of Velyka Racha, of which western edge was considerably fortified by Soviet Pak. The Soviet troops abandoned Velyka Racha, leaving their Pakfront behind. [5][6]
At 17:30, the Ia of Leibstandarte reports the enemy is completely surprised by the direction of attack. The booty is numerous – 21 s.Pak are logged so far. [7]
On the other side, the Soviet 38th Army acknowledges that by complete data for December 9, and incomplete data for December 10, the army troops destroy 70 enemy soldiers and officers, 2 AT-guns, 7 vehicles, 2 bunkers, 6 shelters, 2 105 mm howitzers, 2 machine guns… etc. [8]
Later on, the 38th Army reports that by complete date for December 10, and incomplete data for December 11, the army troops destroy 15 enemy soldiers and officers, 4 vehicles, 3 medium tanks destroyed in the district of Yosypivka (Йосиповка), 2 machine guns, 2 shelters… etc. [9]
In the meantime, the Soviet 60th Army is conducting counterattacks against left wing of the XXXXVIII. Pz.K. in the area between Meleni and Malin, over 35 km north of Radomyschl. [10][11]
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THE STATUS OF SS-PZ.RGT. 1 DURING…
12/1/1943: 176 tanks in total. [12]
12/20/1943: 172 tanks in total. [13]
12/27/1943: The first 8 new tanks are issued to regiment but would’t arrive until 1/4/1944. [14]
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Jens Westemeier wrote:
“On December 10, 1943, Peiper’s style of command hit rock bottom, directly under the eyes of his patron and Leibstandarte commander Teddy Wisch. In the Radomyschl region, advancing in the general direction of the south, after crossing a ridge, Peiper’s armoured group faced a Soviet defensive position. Without taking care of the tactical situation and the strength of the defensive fire Peiper pushed his forces forward. Observing the ‘TURKEY SHOOTING’ of his own troops, the Division commander stopped the attack. Several hours later the headstrong Peiper attempted a frontal attack again. Moving forward, at once his troopers were under heavy fire. Burning and exploding armored vehicles and tanks lay crippled on the plain. Again, a furious division commander had to stop the attack and ordered Peiper back. Deeply disappointed about the qualities of his friend Peiper, he left the scene. Arriving at the divisional command post, Wisch issued an order on the correct tactical use of armed forces!”
See J. Westemeier (2007). Joachim Peiper: A Biography of Himmler’s SS Commander.
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NOTES:
[1] NARA T-314 R-1173 / 172. Tagesmeldung to Pz.A.O.K.4., announced 19:30, 12/10/1943.
[2] NARA T-314 R-1173 / 174. Ia-Tagesmeldung, issued 17:45, 12/10/1943.
[3] NARA T-314 R-1173 / 174. Ia-Tagesmeldung, issued 17:45, 12/10/1943.
[4] NARA T-314 R-1173 / 177. Morgenmeldung, recorded 04:00, 12/11/1943.
[5] NARA T-314 R-1173 / 190. Ia-Tagesmeldung, issued at 17:30, 12/11/1943.
[6] NARA T-314 R-1173 / 188. Tagesmeldung to Pz.A.O.K. 4., announced 19:00, 12/11/1943.
[7] NARA T-314 R-1173 / 190. Ia-Tagesmeldung, issued at 17:30, 12/11/1943.
[8] TsAMO, Fund 236, Inv 2673, Case 67, Sht 92. Military Report № 341. 20:30, 12/10/1943.
[9] TsAMO, Fund 236, Inv 2673, Case 67, Sht 93. Military Report № 342. 20:15, 12/11/1943.
[10] TsAMO, Fund 417, Inv 10564, Case 315, Sht 169. Military Report № 00718. 10:00, 12/10/1943.
[11] TsAMO, Fund 417, Inv 10564, Case 315, Sht 170. Military Report № 00718. 12/11/1943.
[12] NARA T-314 R-1173 / 174.
[13] NARA T-314 R-1173 / 209.
[14] BA-MA Freiburg i. Br. (Bestand RH 10). Records of the Gen.Insp.d.Pz.Tr.
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