20. Richter’s Diary. 29 and 30 Nov 41 and 1 Dec 41.
21. Von Bock’s Diary. 1 Dec 41. p376–377 and Halder’s Diary 1 Dec 41. p575.
22. Kampfbericht vom Einsatz des 2. Zuges der 2/Pz. Jäg. Abt. 38 in der Friedhofsiedlung. Katjuschki, sudostwarts Putschki ca. 20 km vor Moskau. D. Strauss p102–104. Also Richter’s Diary 2 Dec 41.
23. Zwischen Gehorsam und Gewissen. M. Graf von Nayhauss. p192, 201–202.
24. Richter’s Diary 3 Dec 41 and interview from Der Verdammte Krieg. ZDF German TV 1991.
25. Von Bock’s Diary 2 Dec 41 p378.
26. Richter’s Diary 5 Dec 41 and Soviet Feldpost letter 4 Dec 41. p47.
Chapter 16: The devil loose before Moscow
The Soviet counter–offensive
1. Moscow to Stalingrad. E, Ziemke and M. Bauer p60 and 67.
2. J. Hoffman Freiburg p910, W. Paul Schlacht um Moskau p312, Zhukov Greatest Battles and Ziemke and Bauer assessments.
3. Zhukov Greatest Battles. p82 and Ziemke and Bauer p62.
4. Von Bock’s Diary 3 Dec 41 p379, 5 Dec 41. p381.
5. W. Paul. Die Schlacht um Moskau. p318–319.
6. W. Paul. Brennpunkte. p175–176.
7. Interviews G. Knopp Der Verdammte Krieg. p218 and ZDF TV series 1991.
8. Interviews ibid. p218 and 213.
9. Ibid p232.
10. Moscow Tram Stop. p212 and 214.
11. Interview G. Knopp p234.
12. Stets zu Erschiessen … H. Heer. p46 and 47.
13. Interview G. Knopp p234.
14. Ibid p206.
The German soldier does not go ‘Kaputt!’ … The crisis of confidence
1. Von Bock’s Diary 7 Dec 41. p384. Kriegstagebuch Heeresgruppe Mitte 8–9 Dec 41. Guderian Panzer Leader p260–261.
2. Panzer Leader, Ibid.
3. See Chapter Two.
4. Halder Diary. 3 Nov. p552, 22 Nov. p561, 1 Dec p573 and 9 Dec 41. p585.
5. Letter 6 Dec 41. H. Dollinger Kain, Wo ist dein Bruder? p111.
6. Die Schlacht um Moskau. W. Paul p316.
7. Letter 7 Dec 41. Feldpostbriefe p90.
8. Interview Die Deutschen im ZweitenWeltkrieg. SWF German TV. 1985.
The German Army in retreat
1. Richter’s Diary: 8 Dec, 13 Dec, 16 Dec, and 17 Dec 41.
2. Orlov and Stamm interviews Die Deutschen im ZweitenWeltkrieg. SWF German TV. 1985.
3. Pz. AOK 3. Gefechtsbericht Russland 1941–42. 22 Dec. Also Richter’s Diary 17 Dec 41.
4. Beurteilung der Feindlage 17 Jan 41. OKH. Gen Std H. Chief des Generalstabes Nr. 10/42, and Richter’s Diary 17 Dec 41.
5. Manteuffel p252–253.
6. Ibid p256.
7. Hitze, Frost und Pulverdampf. R. Hinze. p101.
8. Interview Die Deutschen …’ SWF TV. 1985.
9. Soviet General Staff Study Battle for Moscow 1942. Ed. M. Parrish. p44.
10. Greatest Battles. Zhukov p88.
11. Moscow Tram Stop. p284.
12. Letter 19 Dec 41. KGS p223–225. Pott was later killed at Orel in Mar 43.
13. Stets zu Erschiessen … J. Heer. p47–48.
14. Moscow Tram Stop. p286.
15. KGS. Letters 1–3 Dec, 7 Dec, 13 Dec and 21 Dec 41. p86–90.
16. Helmut von Harneck was killed at Orchowka Russia on 21 Jan 42. KGS Letter 27 Dec 41. p91–92.
17. Interviews Christians and Ossipow. G. Knopp. p245 and p241.
18. Will Thomas was killed on 26 Jan 42 near Rzhev. Letter 26 Dec 41. KGS p98–99.
19. Interview. G. Knopp p194.
20. Diary entry 26 Dec 41. Kain, Wo ist dein Bruder? H. Dollinger. p114.
21. IchWundere mich … Kohl p78 and Stets zu Erschiessen … H. Heer p45.
22. A. de Zayas. DieWehrmacht – Untersuchungstelle. p308–317.
23. Ibid p325.
24. Zwischen Gehorsam und Gewissen. M. Graf von Nayhauss. Inf. Regt 9. p210.
25. Testimony 7 Apr. 78. A. de Zayas p421–422.
26. Moscow Tram Stop. p328.
27. Interview G. Knopp p211.
28. ‘Weisungen Barbarossa. OKW. Abt. L an H. Gr. Mitte. 18 Dec 41.’ Quoted Kriegsgeschichtliche Beispiele. Forschungsamt. Freiburg p53.
29. ‘The Fatal Decisions’. Moscow G. Blumentritt. p65–66.
Chapter 17: The order of the frozen flesh
‘Not one single step back’—The Hold Order
1. Kampf und Ende. 98 Inf Div. was part of Panzergruppe 4 subordinated to Fourth Army. M. Gareis. p173–174.
2. Zwischen Gerhorsam und Gewissen. M. Graf von Nayhauss. p212.
3. M. Gareis. p174.
4. Interview Der Verdammte Krieg. ZDF German TV. 1991.
5. H. Spaeter. History of the Panzerkorps Grossdeutschland. Vol 1. p281.
6. Becker was released from hospital in May 1942 after which he achieved his first leave in two years away from home. Zwischen Gehorsam und Gewissen. M. Graf von Nayhauss. p212–222.
7. Die 7. Panzer Division … Manteuffel p259–60.
8. Das Heer 1933–45 Vol 3. p31. Burkhart Müller – Hillebrand.
Frozen flesh
1. Interview Der Verdammte Krieg. ZDF German TV 1991.
2. Zeiser op cit p87.
3. Diary entry 28 Jan 42. The Outermost Frontier. p48–49 and 51.
4. Kriegstagebuch. Ia. 167 I.D. Anlagen. 4 Jan 42.
5. Diary 9 Jan and 20 Jan 1942. Kriegsgeschichtliche Beispiele – Verteidigung. p83. Freiburg.
6. The Outermost Frontier. p48.
7. Diary 17 Dec and 20 Dec 41. Kriegsgeschichtliche … p84. Freiburg.
8. KTB 296 Inf. Div. Anlagen. 17 Dec 41. Ibid p85.
9. Interview Der Verdammte Krieg ZDF German TV. 1991.
10. Moscow Tram Stop. p304.
11. Meldungen. Nr 248 5 Jan 42 p3120.
12. Interview. Thames TV. The World at War.
13. WarWives. C. and E. Townsend. p303–304.
14. Meldungen. Nr 248 5 Jan 42. p3120 and 3124. Nr 249 8 Jan 42. p3133. Nr 250 12 Jan 42. p3151.
15. Interview. Thames TV. The World at War.
16. Letter 23 Dec 41. KGS. p315–316.
17. Interview Der Verdammte Krieg ZDF German TV. 1991.
18. The World at War. Thames TV.
19. Interview. Der Unvergessene Krieg. Eickhoff, Pagels and Reschl. p67.
20. Interviews G. Knopp p243 and p206.
21. Friedens und Kriegserlebnisse einer Generation. F. Strauss. p106.
22. G. Knopp. p206.
Postscript – ‘Barbarossa’
1. Halder’s Diary. 11 Aug 41. p506.
2. Diary 18 Nov 41. Robert Rupp was killed near Kaschira during a fighting retreat on 4 Dec 41. Sehr Selten habe ich geweint. Ed. I. Hammer & S. zur Nieden. p260.
3. Manteuffel. p278.
Appendices
1. German casualties, Operation ‘Barbarossa’ 1941–2
Notes
Note the comparison to French campaign figures.
Includes entire Ostfront (ie Army Groups North, Centre and South).
Figures in brackets are officers.
January figures are 1 Jan–10 Feb inclusive.
February figures are 10 Feb–10 Mar inclusive.
Source: Kriegstagebuch des OKW. 1940-41 (II) P. 1120-21 and 1942 (I) P. 298 and 306.
2. German casualties reflected in Division manning equivalents
Figures are numbers of Divisions
Notes
Figures based on an Infantry Division: 518 Officers, 2,573 NCOs, 13,667 men and 102 Beamte (ie Officials/Clerks). Panzer Divisions were less men: 471 officers and 13,255 other ranks.
June figures are for 10 days.
Fall of casualties from November onwards reflect the impact of weather on the scale and intensity of fighting.
NCO casualties rise as they take over officer appointments.
Calculated from OKW monthly casualty returns. (See Appendix 1)
3. The fighting elements within a German Division
; THE INFANTRY DIVISION
TOTAL PERSONNEL 518 Officers.
2,573 NCOs.
13,667 Men.
102 Beamte.
An average total of 16,860 men.
‘Teeth’ (ie combat element)
Three Infantry Regiments each of: 75 Officers.
493 NCOs.
2,474 Men.
7 Beamte
In addition staff, intelligence platoon, cavalry platoon, engineer platoon and anti-tank company.
Totalling 9,147 Officers and men.
Reconnaissance Battalion 623 Officers and men.
Anti-Tank Battalion 550 Officers and men.
Engineer Battalion 520 Officers and men.
Between the front line and rear.
Artillery Regiment 2,872 Officers and men.
Light Infantry ‘Column’ 30 Men.
Signals Bn 474 Officers and men.
‘Tail’ (ie rear area logistic and other support) Rückwärtige Dienste
Supply Services (Versorgungsdienste) – Rations platoon, baker company, Butcher platoon,
Military Police and Feldpost platoon:..............226 Officers and men.
Logistics column/Train – 6 Columns (3 mot and 3 horse-drawn): .....................................................................180 Officers and men.
POL (Petrol, Oil and Lubricants) Column: ..35 Officers and men.
Workshop Company: ....................................102 Officers and men.
Transport Company: .....................................245 Officers and men.
Medical Services – 2 Medical Companies, 1 Field hospital and 2 medical transport platoons: ........................................................616 Officers and men.
One Veterinary Company ..............................235 Officers and men, 890 horses.
In an Infantry Division there are about 10,840 ‘fighters’ or combat elements able to close with the enemy. This represents 64% of the Division.
Source: based on an evaluation of figures taken from Alex Bucher: Das Handbuch Der Deutschen Infanterie. 1939-45.
THE PANZER DIVISION
Variable in size but generally: .........................471 Officers and 13,255 other ranks.
2,685 different vehicles including 357 armoured, mainly tracked, fighting vehicles.
‘Teeth’/fighting element
Headquarters..................................................32 Officers and 109 men.
Panzer Regiment with 3 Panzer Bns .............69 Officers and 1,592 men.
Infantry Brigade and 2,197 men each ...........2 Regiments and 1 Armoured Inf Regt of 61 Officers.
Assault Gun Battalion ....................................20 Officers and 861 men.
Reconnaissance Battalion ...............................24 Officers and 861 men.
Engineer Battalion .........................................26 Officers and 958 men.
Between ‘Teeth’ and ‘Tail’
Artillery Regiment of 3 battalions .................69 Officers and 1,580 men each.
Anti-Aircraft Battalion ...................................22 Officers and 742 men.
Signals Battalion ............................................16 Officers and 742 men.
‘Tail’/Logistics and supporting services
Division Services ...........................................64 Officers and 1,821 men.
In a Panzer Division just under 50% of the officers and men, on average, actually close with the enemy.
Source: D. Crow: Armoured Fighting Vehicles of Germany.
4. A snapshot of Soviet battle casualties
Average daily losses 1941
Against German Army Group North:
Against Army Group Centre:
Against Army Group South:
Source: Ed. Col-Gen G. F. Krivosheev: Soviet Casualties and Combat Losses in the Twentieth Century; pp. 101, 110-121 and 260-261.
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