Hitler's Defeat on the Eastern Front

by Ian Baxter

  Waffen-SS troops with a Nebelwerfer during a lull in the fighting. The electrical cable that led to the remote firing mechanism can be just seen running from the gun tube between the two wheels. The Nebelwerfer was mounted on the same carriage as that of the 3.7cm PaK35/36.

  Waffen-SS troops pose for the camera in front of an Sd.Kfz.25l armoured personnel carrier. As the winter of 1943/44 reared its head during October, a feeling of further despair and gloom prevailed across the Eastern Front.

  A Waffen-SS soldier wearing a winter reversible uniform in a fortified position in order to afford some protection from enemy fire. The MG34 machine gunner is firing on long range targets using the optical sight provided to heavy machine-guns.

  Waffen-SS troops in northern Russia are erecting a wooden shelter in preparation for the harsh winter conditions that are fast approaching in October 1943.

  An SS mortar crew in action in some wooded area. Although the SS were slowly being driven further west by overwhelming enemy superiority they were still fighting with fanatical determination on the battlefield.

  A photograph taken the moment a Wespe fires a projectile from its 10.5cm le.FH 18/2 L/28 gun. The crew inside the vehicle are protected by a light armoured superstructure mounted on a chassis of a Pz.Kpfw.II. The vehicle served in armoured artillery battalions but were lightly armoured, and as a result many of them were lost in battle.

  A Pz.Kpfw.IV passes a halftrack during operations in southern Russia during the last months of 1943. After the German defeat at Kursk, Army Group tried its best to hold onto vital areas of ground in order to contain the overly extended front.

  During the night a 15cm heavy field howitzer opens fire on a Russian target. As the projectile leaves the barrel it generates a massive flash that lights up the night sky.

  An MG34 heavy machine gun team move forward into action. The term light and heavy machine guns defined the role and not the weight of the gun. This machine gun is being fired from a sustained fire-mount.

  The crew of a 10.5cm heavy field howitzer are in a field during a lull in the fighting and waiting for the order to resume firing again. Ammunition can be stacked in special crates. Note the guns aiming stake is being temporarily used as a tent pole.

  Well camouflaged infantry in a forest clearing. They are wearing their waterproof zeitbahn to protect themselves from the harsh elements. Note that foliage has been attached to their steel helmets,

  SS officers relax in a field during a lull in the fighting. Slowly the Waffen-SS and their Wehrmacht counterparts were being pushed back across a bleak and hostile landscape, always outnumbered, constantly low on fuel, ammunition and other desperate supplies.

  Six photographs showing mortar crews in action during the last months of 1943. A mortar crew usually consisted of at least three members. The gunner controlled the deflection and elevation of the weapon. The assistant gunner loaded the round at the command of the gunner. The ammunition man prepared and handed over ammunition to the assistant gunner. One of the most impressive mortars used by the Germans on the Eastern Front was the 12cm Granatwerfer 378(r). The weapon consisted of a circular base plate, the tube and the supporting bipod, weighing 285kg. Because of its excessive weight, a two wheeled axle was utilised, enabling the mortar to be towed into action. The axle could then be quickly removed before firing. The weapon fired the Wurfgranate 42 round, which carried 3.1kg of explosives.

  A number of Wehrmacht troops plug their ears as the 15cm field howitzer is about to be fired. Note the trail spades dug into the ground. These were designed to help prevent the full impact of the howitzer’s recoil after firing and reduce the backward movement of the gun.

  A photograph showing a heavy MG42 machine gun position on a sustained-fire mount. In open terrain the MG42 machine gun squad would use their sustained fire-mount to protect the flanks of advancing rifle companies. However, in built-up areas the crews often had to operate forward with the rifle platoons and in light machine gun roles with bipods only. They were able to still sometimes take advantage of the situation and revert back to a heavy machine gun role.

  A group of soldiers on a specially designed flatbed railway car pose for the camera with their tracked vehicle. Even during the Wehrmacht’s retreat it was common for entire divisions to move its men and equipment by rail. This saved the division considerable time and wear and tear on its machines.

  A soldier in a defensive position with his heavy MG42 machine gun. Throughout the last months of 1943 the German Army was compelled to fight and defend its position to the bitter end. In spite of the mounting casualties Hitler still prohibited all voluntary withdrawals.

  A PaK crew rest with their weapon in late 1943. One of the most important defensive and offensive tactics for the Wehrmacht during the war, especially on the Eastern Front, was its ability to counter enemy armour on the battlefield. By 1943 as the Red Army increased its tank strength the Germans were needing more potent anti-tank guns that would be required on the battlefield to help prevent the growing might of the Russian tanks and its thick armour.

  One of the quickest forms of transportation across the vast expanses of Russia was on bicycle. Here in this photograph SS infantry have dismounted from their bicycles. Their personal kit can be seen attached to the handle-bars. They all appear to be armed with the Mauser bolt action rifle.

  Leibstandarte troops south of Kiev in November 1943. By November barely three months after departing, the Leibstandarte now completely rested, and reequipped with the latest tanks and assault guns returned to its old fighting ground in the East.

  An SS artillery crew rest. A halftrack prime mover can be seen towing a camouflaged 15cm s.IG33 gun. This particular infantry gun was a reliable and robust weapon and was used extensively by the Waffen-SS until the end of the war.

  An SS light MG34 machine gunner. In this photograph, the MG34 is about to fire his weapon on the bipod. Rifle groups generally had a light machine-gun with a bipod, along with one or two spare barrels. A heavy machine-gun group, however, had the bipod fitted machine gun, but additionally carried a tripod with optical sight.

  An SS artillery crew during a contact with an enemy position with their 7.5cm le.IG 18 artillery gun. This weapon could not only be fired quickly and accurately but also had an advantage on the battlefield by having a low profile design and splinter shield.

  Waffen-SS troops move a long a slit trench during operations somewhere on the Eastern Front in late 1943. By this period casualties were rising dramatically in the ranks of both the Wehrmacht and Waffen-SS with limited reserves to replace the high losses.

  A Waffen-SS heavy mortar team move through a forest somewhere in central Russia during the early autumn of 1943. Note that each man wears the camouflage smock commonly associated with SS troops.

  A Waffen-SS MG42 machine gunner and his team advance a long a typical muddy road in late 1943. When times and conditions allowed, machine gun crews invariably prepared a number of fall-back positions. They appreciated the full value of the MG42, and along these fall-back positions the machine gunners were able to setup advantageous defensive positions.

  During a lull in the fighting a group of Waffen-SS soldiers of the Totenkopf-Division cook some much needed food over a fire. This photograph was taken near Krivoi Rog where the SS division were attempting to hold vital ground against strong Russian forces.

  Two SS soldiers joke during operations in the East. Although after the battle of the Kursk the Waffen-SS never regained the strength it once possessed, it had received more replacements in both men and equipment.

  SS infantry carry a six-metre medium pneumatic boat. A number of heavy pieces of equipment could also be loaded on these boats, which included the 8cm mortar, 2cm antiaircraft gun and 7.5cm infantry gun.

  Troops, most of which are posing for the camera in their new winter reversible parkas which are being worn grey side out.

  Two Totenkopf officers converse with a soldier armed with a Mauser bolt action rifle in late 1943. During this
period the Totenkopf-Division dug-in near Krivoi Rog and prepared its units for another Russian assault.

  SS artillerymen can be seen in a field with a 7.5cm le IG light artillery gun. This weapon was one of the first post World War One guns to be issued to the Wehrmacht and later the SS. The gun was light and robust and employed a shotgun breech action.

  Two photographs showing Waffen-SS and Wehrmacht mortar crews with the standard German mortar was the 8cm Granatwerfer 34 or Gr.W.34 mortar. The mortars maximum range was 2.4km when it fired the standard Wurfgranate 34 round which carried 550g of explosives. The round could be set to detonate on impact or in an airburst. It could also fire the Wurfgranate 40, a larger round with an increased explosive charge of almost 5kg. However this decreased the maximum range to 950m.

  Wehrmacht troops armed with rifles and a flamethrower storm a burning Russian position during intensive fighting. The battles that continued until the end of 1943 clearly demonstrated that the Red Army was rapidly developing into a skilful army with enormous quantities of men and material.

  A photograph taken the moment a 10.5cm artillery crew fire at an enemy position. Various pieces of foliage have been covered over the trail spades and part of the splinter shield and wheels in order try and conceal the weapon from aerial observation.

  In a forward observation post a Waffen-SS officer can be seen standing next to a pair of scissor binoculars. From this position the men could send through details of enemy movements back to divisional headquarters.

  A group of SS troops rest during the late winter of 1943. By this stage of the war the SS and their Wehrmacht counterparts were not only fighting against numerically superior enemy forces but increased partisan activity as well to the rear of the main lines.

  Two photographs showing the Wehrmacht and Waffen-SS waiting for orders to fire their 10.5cm heavy field howitzer. Even during the withdrawal in the second half of 1943 combat experience soon showed that artillery support was of decisive importance in both defensive and offensive roles.

  A heavy MG34 machine gun crew with their commanding officer. The MG34 has been attached to a Lafette 34 sustained-fire mount with optical sight. The MG34 had tremendous staying power on the battlefield, and a well-deployed, well-supplied gun crew could easily hold a large area for some considerable time.

  Three Waffen-SS soldiers pose for the camera in a trench after receipt of their decorations earned for bravery in combat during the fighting in late 1943.

  Chapter Three

  Winter Warfare

  The military situation on the Eastern Front in January 1944 was dire for the German Army. It had entered the New Year with a dwindling number of soldiers to man the battle lines. The Red Army, however, was now even in greater strength than ever before and Hitler's reluctance to concede territory was still proving to be very problematic for commanders in the field. The persistent lack of strategic decision in the East was causing major trouble too. Nevertheless, in spite of the worsening condition of the German Army, the soldiers were compelled to fight on.

  In Army Group North, General George Kuechler's force had been for some weeks trying in vain to hold its positions along its northern defences against strong Russia forces. From the Volkhov River to the Gulf of Finland the front was covered with a string of trenches and shell holes, reminiscent of trench warfare during World War One. By 15 January 1944, the defences were finally attacked by three powerful Soviet fronts, the Leningrad, Volkhov and Second Baltic. The 18th Army, which bore the brunt of the main attacks, were outnumbered by at least 3:1 in divisions. As usual German troops were expected to hold the front, but overwhelming enemy fire power proved too much for Kuechler's Army Group and was compelled to fall back under a hurricane of enemy fire. Within four days of the attack the Russians had successfully breached Army Group North's defences in three places. This effectively wrenched open a huge corridor allowing the Red Army to pour through towards the besieged city of Leningrad. Troops of the German 18th Army were beginning to disintegrate. Already it had incurred 40,000 casualties trying to contain the Soviets. Fighting in the mud and freezing water, the men were totally exhausted and unable to hold back the enemy for any appreciable length of time. Hitler on the other hand still prohibited all voluntary withdrawals and reserved all decisions to withdraw himself. In a leadership conference held by the Führer the commanders were told to infuse determination in their men and to strengthen faith in ultimate victory. But in spite of Hitler's radical measures in trying to generate the will to fight until success was secured, the German Army were unable to stem the rout of the advancing Russian forces.

  In a defensive position and a machine gunner can be seen standing next to a MG34 heavy machine gun on the sustained-fire mount. Each infantry battalion contained an MG company, which fielded eight MG34 heavy machine-guns on the sustained-fire mount.

  Luftwaffe field division troops rest wearing the winter reversible smock white-side out. Initially on the Eastern Front the Luftwaffe field divisions were simply thrown into combat without proper training or leadership. However, by early 1944 the army finally took full command of these formations.

  By 26 January the city of Leningrad was liberated after nine hundred days of siege. The 18th Army was now split into three parts and struggled to hold any type of front forward of the Luga River. The entire German Northern Front was now beginning to crumble and Hitler openly blamed Kuechler for its failure. On 1 February 1944 the General was relieved of his command and temporarily replaced by Hitler's Eastern Front ‘trouble shooter’, General Walther Model. Model was a great improviser who was quite capable of changing the tactical situation in Army Group North. Almost immediately Model went to work by introducing his ‘Schild und Schwert’ (Shield and Sword) policy, which stated that no soldiers were to withdraw without express permission, only if it paved the way for a counterstroke later. Along the front both the 16th and 18th Armies, which were badly depleted with only the 12th Panzer and 58th Infantry Divisions intact were ordered to hold the line on the Luga River, east of a series of heavily constructed defences known as the Panther Line. Model, determined at all costs to prevent the front degenerating into a panic flight collected stragglers and sent them back to the line. He cancelled leaves, sent walking wounded to their units, and sent a number of the rear-echelon troops to the front. Without hesitation he requested more reinforcements, which included Waffen-SS replacements, naval coastal batteries and Luftwaffe troops.

  Anti-tank gunners with their lethal white washed 5cm PaK 38 out in the snow in January 1944. The PaK 38 was well liked among the crews that had the chance to use it in battle. Not only was the weapon effective in combat, but also easy to conceal.

  Throughout February moral was temporarily restored to the front line units as the German forces stepped back to defend the Panther Line they had slightly gained enough strength to hold back the Red Army. During March the Russians began exerting more pressure, especially against the 16th Army that was defending positions along the Baltic. But the spring thaw had arrived early and melting snow had turned the roads on which the Russians were travelling into a quagmire. The conditions were so bad that forward units from the 16th Army reported that Soviet tanks could be seen sinking up to their turrets in mud. It seemed the Panther Line was holding, with the weather playing a major part in containing the Red Army. Now it would not be until the early summer that the Red Army would resume its push. Thanks to Model, Army Group North was now established. Due to his energetic, innovative and courageous method of leadership he had prevented the wholesale collapse of the northern sector of the Eastern Front.

  A soldier appears to be trying to fix a part broken on a cart. By January 1944, the military situation on the Eastern Front was dire for the German Army. It had entered the New Year with dwindling numbers of soldiers to man the already over extended battle lines.

  Wehrmacht troops pose for the camera in a dug out in the early winter of 1944. The soldier's lack of winter clothing indicates the problems of supply in some are
as of the front, even by this period of the war.

  A mortar crew with their well dug-in 8cm sGrW 34 mortar. Life in the line for these soldiers was a continuous grind. There was little respite – if the Red Army let up for a brief period, the sub zero temperatures certainly did not.

  It shows a Waffen-SS machine gun crew going on the offensive with an MG34 machine gun mounted on a Dreifuss 34 anti-aircraft tripod mount. One of the most important factors in overwhelming the enemy was when Soviet forces faced a well supplied machine gun team with plenty of ammunition.

  Model's success in the north now earned him a new command in Army Group South. On 30 March 1944, less than a week before Army Group South was redesignated Army Group North Ukraine, Model replaced Manstein and was installed as Commander-in-Chief.