The breakthrough. 11th of December 1943, Zhytomyr Oblast, Ukraine. 🇺🇦

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Gratitude for the interpretation efforts, by courtesy of Dmitry Benzar (Дмитрий Бензар).

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The frozen soil covered with snow. Right above it the overcast clouds hung with a height of six hundred to eight hundred meters while the wind steady blew in southeastern direction. The visibility was perfect: ten kilometers. Another good news for the Soviet artillery observers was the Luftwaffe would not show up in the course of coming day. [1]

 

In the late morning hours, the barrage began. But it was from the opposite side. Apparently after previous fruitless attempts to remove the Soviet bridgehead on the west bank of Teterev River, Standartenführer Wisch wanted his division to carry out next assault with more proper fire support than running “naked” through the open grounds under the cross-fires of the Soviet Paks fortified in the frontline and the heavy artillery installed along the raised east bank of the Teterev, he brought the artillery forces from his neighbor to the north, the 1. Panzer-Division, along with his own artillery units to conduct coordinated barrage against known targets around the village of Krassnoborka (Краснобірка).

 

When the barrage stopped at 1200 hours sharp, along with the Kampfgruppe Peiper (bulk of the SS-Panzerregiment 1), the Kampfgruppe Kraas (bulk of the SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 2) jumped out from their LOD hiding in the gutter northwest of Mezhyrichka (Межирічка), pushing southwest in direction on Krassnoborka, penetrated the village by 1250 hours and then turn to southeastern direction, took the Hill 170.2 at 1300 hours after destroyed eighteen Paks there. At 1515 hours, the Kampfgruppen broke into the north edge of the village of Velyka Racha (Велика Рача), whose western edge was considerably fortified by Soviet Paks, which was supposed to stop the advance of Kampfgruppe Frey (bulk of the SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 1). [2] During the drive over Hill 170.2 towards Velyka Racha, Untersturmführer Kalinowsky’s Tiger was hit and he was wounded in the face and nose by splinters. [3]

 

The 1st Guards Army reported the battle formations of the 271st Rifle Division was crushed as enemy penetrated into its defense line [4] and its 864th and 867th Rifle Regiment were retreating into the areas of Hill 179.6 and 170.2. [5]

 

The 107sth Rifle Corps later claimed it was attacked by at least fifty enemy tanks and two infantry battalions at 1430 hours. [6] In the contrast, at 1745 hours of 10th of December the Leibstandarte reported that fourteen tanks were serviceable under disposal of the Kampfgruppe Peiper who had as many as one hundred and fifty-six tanks under repair as a result of uninterrupted actions during previous days. [7]

 

By 18:00 hours, despite the success of the 328th Rifle Division who yet again repelled all the attacks against the southwestern areas of Radomyshl, securing village of Hlukhiv Pershyi (Глухов 1-й) and Hill 187.1 (north-west of Radomyshl), its right flank was already threatened as the 271st Rifle Division had withdrew to the line of Chudyn (Чудин), where the command posts of the 271st and 30th Rifle Divisions were located. [8][9]

 

Against Balck’s wishes, Wisch did not force his exhausted troops to execute another attack against Chudyn which reportedly was heavy occupied by the enemy. The Leibstandarte later submitted a booty report [10] of forty-two s.Paks, although the exact losses of its opponents on 11th of December was unclear so far. Since the next day, the Leibstandarte started to evacuate its damaged tanks to the repair shops in the rear. Inferring from the daily report [11] submitted by the Ia (Chief of Staff) on 12th of December, the total losses the enemy inflicted upon the Kampfgruppe Peiper on 11th of December should be three Panzer IV’s.

 

To this day, the counterattack of Balck’s XXXXVIII. Panzerkorps ceased in general and soon his troops would be transferred to the area of Meleni where the new challenges will be expecting them.

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The hot zone on 11th of December 1943.

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Citations:

[1] TsAMO, Fund 236, Inv 0002673, Case 0084, Pg 7. Operational Summary of the 1st Guards Army, issued at 2300 on 11.12.43.

[2] NARA T314 R1173 F188. Tagesmeldung an Pz.A.O.K. 4., announced at 1900 on 11.12.43.

[3] Patrick Agte (2006), Michael Wittmann Volume One, p. 206.

[4] TsAMO, Fund 236, Inv 0002673, Case 0084, Pg 7. Operational Summary of the 1st Guards Army, issued at 2300 on 11.12.43.

[5] TsAMO, Fund 999, Inv 1, Case 1, Pg 13. Journal of military action of the 107th Rifle Corps for December 1943.

[6] TsAMO, Fund 999, Inv 1, Case 1, Pg 14. Journal of military action of the 107th Rifle Corps for December 1943.

[7] NARA T314 R1173 F174. Ia-Tagesmeldung, announced at 1745 on 10.12.43.

[8] TsAMO, Fund 236, Inv 0002673, Case 0084, Pg 7. Operational Summary of the 1st Guards Army, issued at 2300 on 11.12.43.

[9] TsAMO, Fund 999, Inv 1, Case 1, Pg 14. Journal of military action of the 107th Rifle Corps for December 1943.

[10] NARA T314 R1173 F192. Morgenmeldung der Divisionen, recorded at 0405 on 12.12.43

[11] NARA T314 R1173 F209. Ia-Tagesmeldung, announced at 1800 on 12.12.43.

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The Death Dash. 8th of December 1943, Zhytomyr Oblast, Ukraine. 🇺🇦

“The village of Ljachowaja was still burning. Large flecks showed up in the night, visible form a long way off. They shot up into a bright red when collapsing roof timbers sent a rain of sparks into the dark, dying out only slowly, and then finally vanishing as morning arrived.” Paul Kurbjuhn, the war correspondent accompanying the Kampfgruppe Peiper, wrote. [1]

The way to the east is still dark and gloomy. Even though their former opponents, such as the 148th, 322nd and 121st Rifle Divisions, were either routed or surrounded, the newly introduced troops – mostly the 107th Rifle Corps of 1st Guards Army – had already entrenched in the area along the west bank of Teterev River, waiting to grant them another reception.

At about 2100 hours on 7th of December 1943, the attack on the village of Chodory (Khodory Ходори) began. It did not go well at the outset. According to Rotenführer Walter Kühn’s account, the armored column set a suspicious village [very likely to be Horodchyn] on the half left side alight on its way towards Chodory. There was no return fire. But when the column silhouetted against the glow from the village to the left behind it, the bursts of antitank fire suddenly hit the column from another village [allegedly to be Chodory] emerged from the half right side in front of the column. A leading Panther of the 1./SS-Panzer-Regiment 1 took a direct hit, killed three of its crewmen, before Kühn’s SPW of the 14. (Pionier)/SS-Panzer-Regiment 1 suffered the same fate, leaving all its four crewmen badly wounded.

The column was only able to withdraw from out of the light of the destroyed tanks, burning like torches, before enemy’s antitank fire inflicts more damage on it, thanks to the rearguard action of Obersturmführer Hans Stübing, commander of the 2./SS-Panzer-Regiment 1 and the decisively fire support of the 4./SS-Panzer-Regiment 1 from the right flank. After a Panther initially followed him was hit, Stübing commanded his Panther to lure the enemy’s antitank fire, covering the withdrawal of other vehicles. He and Obersturmführer Ernst Otto, commander of the 4./SS-Panzer-Regiment 1 were both recommended for award of the German Cross in Gold by battalion commander, Strumbannführer Kuhlmann.

At 0345 hours on 8th of December 1943, the village of Chodory was eventually taken [2] and Hans Stübing’s company allegedly destroyed fifteen heavy antitank guns, five trucks, twenty antitank rifles, fourteen heavy machine guns, and some one hundred and fifty enemy soldiers. [3]

At 0815 hours, the Kampfgruppe Peiper resumed attack from Chodory towards south against Sabolot (Zabolot’) and took the town from the troops of the 271st Rifle Division at 1015 hours. [4][5]

The attack was allegedly led by Peiper himself. The Panthers provided covering fire, while the Panzer-IV’s attacked from the right in a broad wedge formation. The antitank fire was so violent that Peiper, who attacked with only a few tanks, had to race into the village at top speed to avoid its fire. On the other hands, Hans Stübing, once again took the initiative, tore forward with his company and broke into Sabolot, before his Panther was hit three times by antitank fire and burst into flames. The Russians fled. Their antitank guns stand abandoned or lay with burst barrels amidst their dead crews, who had fired up to the last second. The commander of the 7./SS-Panzer-Regiment 1, Obersturmführer Herbert Sprunk, was killed in action, along with the commander of the 5./SS-Panzer-Regiment 1, Obersturmführer Gerhard Scharke, who stood upright, exposing his upper body out of the turret all the way down to his belt during the attack. Hans Stübing was severely burned, but still managed to save his badly wounded gunner when he bailed out of his burning Panther. [6] One of confirmed knockouts was Unterscharführer Erich Langanger’s Tiger, which was hit at Sabolot and immobilized, when Russians mounted the tank, the Unterscharführer shot himself. He was buried by the church of Sabolot. [7]

The heavy lifting of the house-to-house combats had been carried by the Panzergrenadiers of the III. (gep.)/SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 2 during these days. For Chodory on 7th of December and Sabolot on 8th of December, Rottenführer Werner Kindler of the 14. (s.gep.)/SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 2 received the grant of his 44th and 45th confirmed Close-combat Days respectively. [8]

At 1400 hours, after regrouping from the exhausted night march, the Kampfgruppe Kraas, consisting of the bulk of the SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 2 attacked the village of Kotowka (Kotivka). The village fell by 1445 hours and the leading elements of the II./2 continued its movement towards Sabolot in order to clear the way for Peiper’s supplies to come through. [9]

Meanwhile, the Kampfgruppe Frey, consisting the bulk of the SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 1 also launched attack towards southeast after taking Ljachowaja [10] and forced the 328th Rifle Division to retreat by 1600 hours. [11][12]

The 1 Guards Army estimated it was attacked by up to two hundred tanks during this day. [13] The 1105th Rifle Regiment [of the 328th Rifle Division] allegedly suffered the greatest losses during the combat, but the 107th Rifle Corps claimed that it destroyed twenty-one enemy tanks and eliminated four hundred enemy soldiers and officers during the combat. [14]

On the other hands, the Leibstandarte claimed that from Chodory to Sabolot it captured or destroyed one T-34, eight field guns, one 4.5cm antitank gun, sixty-one 7.62cm antitank guns, twenty-one light antitank guns, fifty-five MGs and five lorries. Nine hundred and thirty Soviet soldiers were killed, only three were taken prisoners. [15][16] Aforesaid figures should consist of the scores of Hans Stübing’s company in Chodory.

Another booty report announced on the next morning: Fifty-four s.Pak, one m.Pak, two pieces of artillery, four antitank rifles, seven mortars, nine trucks about five hundred and eighty enemy dead…, etc. [17]

As for the relative few figure of the prisoners of war, we can only speculate the reasons through the memories of Paul Kurbjuhn: “There still might be a number of Red Army stragglers crouched in the snow behind a wall, each one desperately wondering if he should fire the last round out of his machine pistol into someone’s back or surrender. Every shadow was still an enemy to us, and no one wanted to try guess what as in an armed enemy’s mind…”

The speculated routes taken by the Kampfgruppe Peiper to approach village of Chodory (Khodory) during the night of 7/8th of December 1943. Due to difficult terrain and enemy resistance, Kampfgruppe Kraas did not take the village of Kotowka (Kotivka) until the noon of 8th of December, causing a certain extent of difficulty on resupply the Kampfgruppe Peiper. The Kampfgruppe Frey was actually operating in the further south area out of this map.

The speculated location where the encounter took place at the night of 7/8th of December 1943. The armored column approached while the 1. (Werner Pötschke) and 2. (Hans Stübing) Kompanien took point while the 4. (Ernst Otto) Kompanie covering their right flank. The armored column was hit (explode icon) when it was leaving the burning village of Horodchyn, exposed its silhouette to the enemy entrenched in Chodory. The commander of the I. Abteilung (Herbert Kuhlmann) witnessed the whole event.

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Citations:

[1] Paul Kurbjuhn, Die eisernen Särge (The Iron Coffins) in Das Schwarze Korps, excerpt from Patrick Agte (1999), Jochen Peiper.

[2] NARA T-314, Roll-1173, Frame-134. Tagesmeldung an Pz.A.O.K. 4., announced at 1900 on 8.12.43

[3] Patrick Agte (1999), Jochen Peiper, pp. 258-259.

[4] NARA T-314, Roll-1173, Frame-134. Tagesmeldung an Pz.A.O.K. 4., announced at 1900 on 8.12.43

[5] TsAMO, Fund 456, Inv 6850, Case 226, Sht 36. Military Report of the 107th Rifle Corps, Doc. No 064 issued at 1600, 8.12.43.

[6] Patrick Agte (1999), Jochen Peiper, pp. 258-259.

[7] Wolfgang Schneider (2005), Tigers in Combat 2, Kindle, 1417-1420.

[8] Werner Kindler (2014), Obedient Unto Death, p. 116.

[9] NARA T-314, Roll-1173, Frame-134. Tagesmeldung an Pz.A.O.K. 4., announced at 1900 on 8.12.43.

[10] Allegedly located on the southwest of Kotowka and three kilometers west of Sabolot, but the name “Ljachowaja” is unable to be identified nowadays.

[11] Rudolf Lehmann (1990), The Leibstandarte III, p. 353.

[12] TsAMO, Fund 456, Inv 6850, Case 226, Sht 36. Military Report of the 107th Rifle. Corps, Doc. No 064 issued at 1600, 8.12.43.

[13] TsAMO, Fund 236, Inv 0002673, Case 0084, Sht 4. Operational Summary of the 1st Guards Army, Doc. No 0552, issued at 2330, 8.12.43.

[14] TsAMO, Fund 456, Inv 6850, Case 226, Sht 36. Military Report of the 107th Rifle Corps, Doc. No 064 issued at 1600, 8.12.43.

[15] Werner Kindler (2014), Obedient Unto Death, p. 115.

[16] Patrick Agte (2006), Michael Wittmann volume one, p. 183.

[17] NARA T-314 R-1173, Frame 143. Morgenmeldungen der Divisionen, recorded at 0400 on 9.12.43.

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The advance continued. 7th of December 1943, Ukraine.

It was the night before the dawn of 7th of December 1943. Rudolf Lehmann stood with Sturmbannführer Peiper in a hut on the eastern edge of the village of Torchyn, observing the attack terrain. A clever driver had set up a Wehrmacht radio receiver in the hut. Out of it, the voice of Herbert Ernst Groh provided an accompaniment to the heavy Soviet artillery and mortar.

 

“Friends, life is worth living!” intoned Peiper. [1]

 

By dawn, the advance continued. The Soviet 322nd Rifle Division reported the enemy continued his advance along the main highway on the village of Zanky (Заньки) and by the morning took possession of Zanky and Teklyanivka (Теклянівка). [2] Under pressure, the 1085th Regiment of 322nd Rifle Division retreated from the village of Teklyanivka (Теклянівка) [3] to Hryshkivka (Гришківка), while the 1087th Regiment was smashed with great losses by fifty tanks from the west in the village of Potiivka (Потіївка). The attackers, moving along the highway T0607 nowadays, reached the village of Oblitky (Облітки) while the remains of the 1087th Regiment trying to regroup at the village of Men’kivka (Меньківка). By 1100 hours, the third regiment of the 322nd Rifle Division, 1089th, was located at the town of Chaikivka (Чайківка), and the divisional command post was at the mill one kilometer east of Hryshkivka. [4]

 

The town of Chaikivka, which is claimed to be reached by the reconnaissance units of the Kampfgruppe Peiper at 1900 hours on 6th of December [5], was already under attack of the II./SS-Panzergrenadier Regiment 2 (under Sturmbannführer Sandig), which had moved up in the night, by 1015 hours, but the first assault came under heavy defensive fire from the hills north of Torchyn. And the second assault reinforced by the Kampfgruppe Peiper, which was only able to resume its action after receiving resupplies at 1230 hours, also got stymied in the heavy anti-tank fire from the hills south of Chaikivka. [6][7]

 

The defender of the town – 1089th Regiment – claimed an enemy force up to fifteen tanks along with an infantry battalion repeatedly trying the attack the town of Chaikivka from the south but the regiment managed to hold its ground and knock out two enemy tanks. [8]

 

At 1400 hours, the 4th Battery of the 1336th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment surprisedly found enemy tanks and troopers burst into the village of Khodory (Ходори) and cut the road of Krasnobirka-Mircha. The Battery, ordered to retreat to the village of Vyshevychi (Вишевичі) on the left bank of Teterev along with the rest of three Batteries, had four guns and two Studebaker trucks. Due to the heavy load of trucks, one gun was left on the spot one kilometer away from the village of Khodory on the road to Mircha (Мірча), waiting to be picked up on the second ride, the enemy tanks, approaching, noticed the gun and opened fire on it. The gun fired thirty armor-piercing shells on the tanks, but an enemy tank ran on the gun and crushed it. Taking the advantage of darkness, the gun crews removed the still usable parts from the gun and delivered them to the trucks hiding in the forest west of village of Mircha. Eventually, the 1336th Regiment reported arriving Vyshevychi at 0600 hours on 8th of December. [9]

 

Also at 1400 hours, the II./2 was ordered to surround and attack the town of Chaikivka while the Kampfgruppe Peiper moved around the town and launched an attack to the northeast. At 1900 hours, the II./2 broke into the town. [10]

 

Later, since the enemy had bypassed the right flank of the Division, seizing the villages of Osychky (Осички) and Rusanivka (Русанівка) on its rear, and the connections with its left neighbor, 336th Rifle Division, had already lost since the morning, the main forces of the 322nd Rifle Division was ordered to further retreat to Mala Racha and Hlukhiv Pershyi. The 1087th Regiment also made a further retreat through Vorsivka to Fedorivka.

 

By the morning of 8th of December 1943, all units of 332nd Rifle Division claimed occupied new positions, [11] while the Kampfgruppe Peiper was already engaging strong Pak front located at Hill 179.5, four kilometers southeastern of Zabolot’ by 2115 hours of last night. [12] Considering he was outflanked from the northwestern section of Mala Racha and from the hills to the north, Peiper decided to set up an all-around defense for the night. At 2130 hours, the leading elements of Sturmbannführer Sandig caught up him while the fighting of Chaikivka had been officially drawn to an end… [13]

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Lehmann and Peiper’s observation post (blue circle). By the morning of 7th of December 1943, the Soviet 1087th Rifle Regiment was scattered and retreated to Men’kivka (at the top of the map). But the initial attack against Chaikivka was in vain (red circle).

By the evening of 7th of December 1943, the town of Chaikivka (red circle) was detoured and eventually taken. Kampfgruppe Peiper deeply penetrated to the rear area of the 322nd Rifle Division and approached Zabolot’. The Soviet 1336th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment, meanwhile, was encountered by unexpected enemy tanks at the further north area (red gun).

 

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[1] Rudolf Lehmann (1990), The Leibstandarte III, page 351.

[2] TsAMO, Fund 1635, Inv 1, Case 55, Sheet 671. The final combat report of 332nd Rifle Division from 6 to 11 December 1943.

[3] TsAMO, Fund 1635, Inv 1, Case 55, Sheet 670. The final combat report of 332nd Rifle Division from 6 to 11 December 1943

[4] TsAMO, Fund 1635, Inv 1, Case 55, Sheet 671. The final combat report of 332nd Rifle Division from 6 to 11 December 1943

[5] NARA T 314, Roll 1173, Frame 88. Morgenmeldung an Pz. A.O.K. 4. announced at 05:30 on 7th of December 1943.

[6] Rudolf Lehmann (1990), The Leibstandarte III, page 352.

[7] NARA T-314, Roll-1173, Frame 113. Tagesmeldung an Pz.A.O.K. 4. announced at 19:00 on 7th of December 1943.

[8] TsAMO, Fund 1635, Inv 1, Case 55, Sheet 671. The final combat report of 332nd Rifle Division from 6 to 11 December 1943

[9] TsAMO, Fund 14629, Inv 0214959c, Case 0004, Sheet 156-157. The hostilities report issued on 10th of December 1943.

[10] Rudolf Lehmann (1990), The Leibstandarte III, page 352.

[11] TsAMO, Fund 1635, Inv 1, Case 55, Sheet 671. The final combat report of 332nd Rifle Division from 6 to 11 December 1943

[12] NARA T-314, Roll-1173, Frame 118. Morgenmeldungen der Divisionen recorded at 03:45 on 8th of December 1943.

[13] Rudolf Lehmann (1990), The Leibstandarte III, page 352

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The “Turkey Shooting” (?) December 10, 1943.

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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