Published in
„Siegrunen“ Magazine - Volume 8, Number 2, Whole Number 44, 1987
On 19 November 1942, a massive Red Army armored
offensive shattered the Don River Front to the north of Stalingrad, splintering
the Italian, Romanian and Hungarian defensive forces into panic-stricken
fragments. These German allies had the manpower but lacked the will and the
leadership to stand up to the resurgent Red Army. In addition, their own
armored forces and their anti-tank capabilities were antiquated and nearly
useless. One reforming German panzer division was in reserve behind the
crumbling Axis armies, but it alone was unable to stop the Soviet offensive.
Even then it has been stated that one more fully equipped German armored
regiment might have prevented the encirclement of the 6th Army in Stalingrad
that took place on this day. But such was not the case.
With
an enormous gaping hole in the southern part of the Eastern Front to fill and
the large German forces in the Caucasus region being threatened, something had
to be done fast. Improvisation was the order of the day, and any battle-worthy
contingent that could be spared for action was given consideration for use. The
Waffen-SS was not left out; it was requested to dig into its „reserve“ pool to
make a contribution. Unfortunately, its three major divisions (1st, 2nd and 3rd
SS Panzergrenadier), were being refurbished in France and had been tied down
there longer than anticipated due to the „Allied“ invasion of North Africa and
the resultant complications from that action. So they were not immediately
available. And nearly every other segment of the Waffen-SS was fully engaged
elsewhere on the Eastern Front. That meant that the training camps and homeland
garrisons had to be combed out for experienced troops.
In
early December a couple of Waffen-SS contingents had been zeroed in on. One was
the „Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler“ Guard Battalion in Berlin, which was
nominally listed as VII. Battalion/l.SS Pz.Gr.Div. „LSSAH“; its troops were all
front veterans. Another unit that was available was I./SS-Polizei Infanterie
Rgt.l from the 4.SS-Polizei Grenadier Div. that had been refitting in East
Prussia. It was a veteran element as well and nearly ready for action. The idea
was to combine these battalions into a regimental or brigade strength
battlegroup along with troops from assorted Waffen-SS specialty training
schools.
On
4 December 1942, authorization was granted to form this ad hoc „brigade,“ under
the command of SS- Standartenführer Hinrich „Kapt’n“ Schuldt (a former Navy
Captain). Schuldt was a natural selection for this role, as during the previous
winter he had directed a number of mixed emergency groups (based on his SS
Inf.Rgt.4), during a very critical situation in the central part of the Eastern
Front. His success at handling makeshift forces had clearly made him the top
candidate for his new position.
SS
Brigade „Schuldt,“ as it was called from the start, quickly assembled a staff
and staff company from reserve pools and replacement units. The VII./“LSSAH,“
with a staff, staff company and three rifle companies, became the first brigade
unit, though it was not at full strength. It had to leave the equivalent of a
full company behind in Berlin to continue the tradition of a „Leibstandarte“
guard troop in the German capital. The l./SS-Pol.Inf.Rgt.l was added on paper
to the brigade and it was commonly designated SS-Kampfgruppe „Dietrich“ after
its commander, Sturmbannführer Dietrich. This battalion would make its way
separately to the brigade assembly area in Russia.
On
6 December 1942, all of the brigade elements, including a new heavy weapons
company under Ostuf. Drescher which was assigned to VII./“LSSAH,“ were to begin
making their way by rail to the Eastern Front. The structure and command roster
for SS Brigade „Schuldt“ initially looked like this:
Commander: Staf.
Schuldt
Adjutant:
Hstuf. Molt
Ordnance
Officer: Ostuf. Vogel
Staff
Company containing the following elements:
Motorcycle
Messenger Platoon from the SS Motorcycle Replacement Bn. in Ellwangen
Anti-tank
Platoon from the staff troops of the Waffen-SS Commander-in-Chief for the
Netherlands Combat Engineer Platoon from the SS Engineer
Replacement
Bn. in Dresden Signals Platoon from the Field Command Staff of the Reichsführer-SS
(Himmler)
VII.
Bn./“LSSAH“:
Permanent
commander in Berlin: Stubaf. Ernst Mayer, who had been rendered unfit for
frontline service due to his severe battle wounds. He took over the guard company
left behind.
Commander
during transport: Hstuf. Beutler
Commander
after arrival in Russia: Hstuf. Ott
Commander
as of 31 December 1942: Hstuf. Lantscher
1st
Rifle Company: Hstuf. Ott, later Ostuf. Horvath
2nd
Rifle Company: Ostuf. Leiteritz; wounded during disembarkation in Russia and
replaced by Ostuf. Knoesel
3rd
Rifle Company: Ostuf. Blunck
4th
Heavy Weapons Company: Ostuf. Drescher; this company was assembled as follows:
infantry gun platoon from the staff troops W-SS C-in-C „Netherlands,“ anti-tank
platoon from the same place and combat engineer platoon from the SS Engineer
Replacement Bn. in Dresden.
I./SS-Pol.Inf.Rgt.l
(SS-KGr. „Dietrich“)
Commander:
Stubaf. Wilhelm Dietrich
Staff
Company: Ustuf. Kersten, then Oberjunker Schroeter
1st
Company (portion of it only): Ostuf. Tigge
2nd
Company (intact): Ostuf. Waldmann, then Ostuf. Drieske
3rd
Company (portion only): Ostuf. Schneider 4th Company (portion only): Hstuf.
Schwarting
The
first elements of SS-Bde. „Schuldt,“ consisting of the staff, staff company,
1./VII./“LSSAH“ and part of 4./VII./“LSSAH,“ arrived in the threatened city of
Millerovo on 16 December 1942. The formation was assigned to Army Detachment „Fretter-Pico“
and was given orders to assemble at Meschkoff and then dig-in in the hills
surrounding the town to block off a Soviet advance.
Just
before midnight on 17 December, the bulk of VII./“LSSAH“ reached the railroad
station in the southern part of Meschkoff. Due to the close proximity of the front
the unloading of men, vehicles and equipment had to proceed with utmost haste,
and this procedure was further hampered by the bitterly cold weather. To top it
off, a Soviet fighter-bomber attack interrupted the „Leibstandarte“
disembarkation and caused significant damage to the train station as well as
casualties to the troops. Both Ostuf. Leiteritz (CO of 2nd Co.) and Hstuf.
Beutler (Bn. CO) were wounded, and early on the next day, Hstuf. Ott took
charge of the unit.
SS-KGr.
„Dietrich“ (Polizei Div.) had a more chaotic journey to the brigade assembly
area. It had been sent by rail to Tschertkovo from where a truck convoy was to
take it to Meshkoff. However, before it had even arrived at Tschertkovo,
SS-KGr. „Dietrich“ had had some of its troops siphoned off for other emergency
duties. The bulk of the 1st and 4th Companies along with a portion of the
battalion staff had been re-routed to Zschertkovo to help stop an enemy armored
breakthrough in the sector of 19th Panzer Division. This contingent led by
Hstuf. Schwarting, would in fact never join the brigade but would instead link
up with the 1st SS Pz.Gr.Div. „Leibstandarte“ in early February 1943 near
Kharkov. Thus from SS-KGr. „Dietrich,“ SS-Bde. „Schuldt“ only received the
major portions of the battalion staff and 2nd Co. along with small contingents
from the 1st and 3rd Companies. Promised Flak and anti-tank troops were not
initially available.
During
the evening hours of 18 December, SS-KGr. „Dietrich“ reached the brigade and
was sent to Nasaroff, about 6 km to the west of Meschkoff. In the meantime,
V11./“LSSAH“ had already gone into action in the hills about 3 km to the
northwest of Meschkoff. This was a relief attack designed to save elements of
the 8th Italian Army which were in full retreat. After fighting a delaying
action, the battalion disengaged and fell back on the northern part of
Meschkoff at around midnight on the 18th. On the next, SS-KGr. „Dietrich“ was
inserted in the main defensive lines around Meschkoff.
At
noon on 19 December, a Russian armored force approached SS Brigade „Schuldt“
from the west, driving towards Nasaroff. A violent battle developed in which
the SS troops were able to destroy four enemy tanks. This caused the Reds to
break off the attack, but recce troops observed a massing of Soviet infantry,
transported in captured Italian trucks, to the southwest. In the night of 19/20
December the situation at Meschkoff grew more serious. A pair of Russian tanks
broke through the lines of Brigade „Schuldt“ and raised havoc in the rear area,
destroying three trucks filled with German wounded in the process. Enemy forces
were also reported in virtually all directions. Aware of the dangerous
predicament facing the brigade, Army Detachment „Fretter-Pico“ gave it the go
ahead to withdraw from Meschkoff.
Staf. Schuldt and Stubaf. Dietrich discuss the battlefield situation.
At
midnight, Brigade „Schuldt“ pulled out of Meschkoff and began withdrawing
towards Millerovo. But not far down the road a Soviet tank force put in a
surprise appearance and effectively split-up much of the SS task force. Part of
VII./“LSSAH,“ consisting of 1st Co., the bulk of 2nd Co. and part of 4th Co.,
fought its way to Millerovo under Ostuf. Dahl (ex-Polizei Division). These
troops were then attached to the 3rd Mountain Div. and reorganized into two
combat companies which were designated Kampfgruppe „Dahl.“ This force was then
caught up in the Soviet encirclement of Millerovo along with 4,000 German and
12,000 Italian troops. The SS men were generally held in reserve for use in
counterattacking enemy penetrations. The siege of Millerovo lasted until 15
January 1943 when a successful breakout was made. By 20 January, KGr. „Dahl“
had rejoined SS Bde. „Schuldt.“
While
Ostuf. Dahl and his men made their way to Millerovo, the other components of
Brigade „Schuldt“ began to regroup at Donskoj at 0400 on 20 December 1943. All
that now remained of VII./“LSSAH“ was the battalion staff, a part of 2nd Co.,
3rd Co., and engineer and heavy mortar platoons from 4th Company. After it had
reassembled the brigade continued on in a southeasterly direction, passing
through the Jablonovaja and Bolschoja sectors to Ssmolin on the Metschettka
Creek. Ssmolin was reached at 1430 on 20 December after some 70 km had been
covered in a motorized „march.“ Here the SS men were able to rest for the first
time since their frontline deployment.
On
21 December, most of the brigade, except for the supply troops, was sent west
to fortify the nearby village of Kijevsky. In the night of 21/22 December
positions on the west/southwest part of Kijevsky were fully occupied and
extended even further westward. At the same time the survivors from various
dispersed Army artillery and anti-tank units were incorporated into the brigade
and used to strengthen SS-KGr. „Dietrich.“ An entire emergency „march“
battalion was also latched on to.
In
the early afternoon of the 22nd, an enemy armored attack was brought to a
screeching halt through the destruction of four of the advancing tanks. But a
neighboring Italian unit was unnerved by the incident and began an unauthorized
withdrawal. As a result, SS-KGr. „Dietrich“ was ordered to extend its lines to
cover the gap left by the Italians. Only 80 men were available for this task
which really required the services of a full battalion!
On
23 December, Army Detachment „Fretter-Pico“ ordered SS Brigade „Schuldt“ to
sever the enemy supply route near Roshek, 10 kms to the south. To do this job
properly the town itself would have to be taken. In preparation for this
attempt, the brigade relocated to Metschettka, 7 kms to the south. SS-KGr. „Dietrich“
was deployed due north of Ssnetschinikovo, a village about 1 km west of Roshek,
while VI1./“LSSAH“ was placed to the north and east of Roshek. Staf. Schuldt
personally led the assault on the town on 24 December. In a swift, decisive
action, the SS troops seized Roshek, while knocking out two T-34 tanks in the
process. One T-34 was captured intact along with a number of prisoners.
Following
this success, Staf. Schuldt took stock of the troops still left under his
command and began reorganizing the brigade units „downward“ to reflect the
depletion of personnel. SS-KGr. „Dietrich“ became the new 1st Co., with the
remnants of V1I./“LSSAH“ becoming 2nd Co. and the Army March Bn. 179 being used
to constitute a 3rd Company. The remaining troops and heavy weapons elements
were simply attached directly to the „brigade“ staff. Now only battalion size
at best, Bde. „Schuldt“ was rechristened a „Group“ for operational purposes.
On
Christmas Day, Group „Schuldt“ found itself attached to the XXIX. Army Corps
Staff under Gen. Geier in Krassnojarovka, about 5 kms southeast of Roshek. At
midnight on the 25th, a powerful Soviet armored force attacked the town. The
foremost tanks were knocked out but the following ones broke into
Krassnojarovka and began rambling about at will. One T-34 smashed right through
a house wall and drove on into the building that housed the supply troop from
what had been 3./SS- Pol.Rgt.l (KGr. „Dietrich“), interrupting the preparations
for a Christmas feast. This action enraged Stubaf. Dietrich who was in the
building at the time. Without hesitation he clambered up on top of the tank,
flung open the turret hatch and shot all of the individual crew members with
his pistol! That was one way to capture a tank intact, but it probably would
never have happened if he had given it any forethought!
Fortunately,
the Red infantry failed to follow-up on the armored breakthrough and when the
tanks were forced to withdraw, the Germans still held the town. But
Krassnojarovka was now completely surrounded and orders soon arrived for the
trapped troops to break out and evacuate the town during the night of 25/26
December. There would be no more waiting around for another Stalingrad to
occur!
After
throwing back further Red armored onslaughts in the early morning hours of 26
December and destroying two more tanks, SS Group „Schuldt“ left Krassnojarovka
and began moving to the southeast; KGr. „Dietrich“ was still motorized but the „LSSAH“
troops had to march on foot. The withdrawal route led southeast through Vodjany
to Romanovsky, where the task force regrouped before marching south to
Pritschensky. Due to the deep enemy inroads all over the place, resupply had to
be carried out via air drops when possible. In order to secure supplies, units
had to set up agreed upon recognition signs (usually Swastika flags) that were
visible from the air.
SS
Group „Schuldt“ reached Pritschensky at around dusk on 26 December and found it
filled with milling Romanian and Italian troops from units that had largely
collapsed and evaporated. XXIX. Army Corps and Group „Schuldt“ was now told to
continue advancing towards the Skassyrrskaja bridgehead in the southwest where
a link-up with the neighboring Army Detachment „Hollidt“ needed to be made. SS
Group „Schuldt“ spent the entire morning of the 27th fighting off enemy attacks
and when things calmed down in the afternoon, Staf. Schuldt again regrouped his
dwindling command.
At
0300 on the 28th the march towards Skassyrskaja continued. During a rest break
a pair of armored recce cars suddenly appeared, sending the surprised SS troops
scurrying for cover. But the vehicles were revealed to be „friendlies“ from a
German Army unit, and the alarm was soon over. Staf. Schuldt appropriated them
for his use and they would later prove helpful in escaping through enemy
envelopments. By now the „brigade“ had only a few functional motor vehicles and
these were relegated to transporting the badly wounded and needed supplies; the
soldiers were left to make their way through the deep snow on foot.
When
SS Group „Schuldt“ reached Skassyrskaja on 29 December, Staf. Schuldt reported
that his „brigade“ was no longer battleworthy and he left for parts unknown. It
is thought that he visited the Führer HQ for new instructions, but his exact
whereabouts for the next several days were not recorded. In any event, command
of the „brigade“ now passed entirely over to Stubaf. Dietrich.
The
brigade was outfitted with ten new field kitchens and informed that it was to
proceed to a refitting area on the next day. On 30 December an advance commando
arrived at the designated refitting area at Alexejev with the objective of
lining up some more motor vehicles for the battle-group. The rest of the SS
troops arrived at dusk after a difficult 20 km foot march. They reported that
they had heard heavy gunfire emanating from the direction of Skassyrskaja
behind them.
After
a day of rest, the SS battle-group was attached to the 6th Panzer Div. under
Gen.Lt. Raus, which was part of XVll.Army Corps/Army Det. „Hollidt,“ on 1 January
1943. SS-Brigade „Schuldt“ was considered temporarily out of commission and the
entire task force adopted the interim title of SS-Kampfgruppe „Dietrich.“ To
confuse things even further, SS-KGr. „Dietrich“ would remain functioning even
after Brigade „Schuldt“ was reformed!
In
any event, Bde. „Schuldt“/KGr. „Dietrich“ was next ordered to relocate to Kamensk
and for this purpose it was given a 17 vehicle truck convoy to transport the
troops. But once Kamensk was reached on 3 January, the trucks were recalled to
XVII. Corps. On the 3rd, SS-KGr. „Dietrich“ reached its new reassembly area and
was quickly deployed in blocking positions in the sector that ran from Makjev
to Alexejev and thence to Kovylkin and Bakova. I./Pz.Gr.Rgt.l 14 was now
temporarily subordinated to the battle-group. In terms of other individual
units, SS-KGr. „Dietrich“ also contained the following:
Staff
l./SS-Pol.Inf.Rgt.l
2nd
Co./I./SS-Pol.Inf.Rgt.l
3rd
Co./I./SS-Pol.Inf.Rgt.l
Mixed
Improvised Rifle Co./VII./“LSSAH“
Engineer
Platoon/4.Co./VlI./“LSSAH“
Infantry
Gun Platoon/4.Co./VIl./“LSSAH“
Staff
Co. (portion only)/VII./“LSSAH“ (Hstuf. Lantcher)
Anti-tank
Detachment 518 (Oberleutnant Wilde)
In
the course of 3 January 1943, the battle-group’s sick and wounded were
evacuated and the resupply process was completed. The 6th Panzer Div. had been
given a two-pronged mission: 1. To restore a gap in the front north of
Tazinskaja left by fleeing Italian troops, the success of which operation would
cut off the line of retreat of the XXIV. Red „Guards“ Tank Corps under Gen.
Badanov. 2. Hold down the frontlines between Morosovskaja and Tazinskaja. The
first assignment was to be carried out by an armored task force based on the
armored recce detachment, while SS-KGr. „Dietrich“ and the remainder of the
division took care of the latter task. In conjunction with the above, 11th
Pz.Div. was to bag and destroy Soviet breakthrough forces near Tazinskaja. All
operations were to be carried out with „dash and precision.“
In
the meantime the portion of SS Bde. „Schuldt“ that had gotten separated from
the main force during the retreat from Meschkoff in the night of 19/20 December
1942 (i.e., KGr. „Dahl“), was having its own problems in the besieged town of
Millerovo. This contingent, two companies in strength, drawn from parts of
VII./“LSSAH“ and l./SS-Pol.Inf.Rgt.l, came under the control of Group „Kreysing“
of 3rd Mountain Div. in Millerovo.
At
0600 on 27 December 1942, the Soviets attacked the town from all sides with
substantial armored support. Numerous tanks broke through the lines, but each
was eliminated in close combat. Continuous fighting raged until 0800 on the
28th when it was finally broken off. At dusk on the 29th, the Reds again
assaulted Millerovo from the north, west and east, with extensive artillery
backing. SS-KGr. „Dahl“ was kept busy all night long battling off enemy attack
waves. It was now known that Millerovo was severed from the main German lines
by three Soviet Army Corps (note: a Soviet „Corps“ was equivalent to a German
division). The raging battle continued on through 30 December and an attempted
relief attack by 19th Pz.Div. from the north, was thwarted by a counterattack
launched by 3) Soviet divisions. On the 31st the fighting eased off but
Millerovo still remained surrounded.
On
1 January 1943, the remnant of SS-Brigade „Schuldt“ which was not attached to
SS-KGr. „Dietrich“ or encircled in Millerovo, reported in to the Army Brigade „Nagel“
in Donskoj. This consisted of the brigade staff company, part of 4th Co./VIl./“LSSAH,“
with two light infantry guns and six anti-tank guns, and a portion of the
Polizei Mortar Bn. 15, which had 12 heavy mortars and four anti-tank guns. This
was to be the nucleus for an entirely new Bde. „Schuldt,“ which was authorized
to begin forming on 5 January 1943, at about the same time that Staf. Schuldt
returned to the front.
„Kapt’n“
Schuldt had received a new assignment, perfectly suited to his improvisational
command skills: at 0000 on 7 January 1943 he was to take command of all
detached mobile combat groups attached to Army Group „Fretter-Pico“ and the
strongpoint at Donskoy Krassnovka. The „new“ SS-Brigade „Schuldt“ (which to add
to the confusion was also referred to as „Detachment Schuldt“!), was to be
headquartered at Tarassovo and take its orders directly from the Army Det. HQ,
except when it became necessary to assign it to the 304th Infantry Division.
SS
Brigade „Schuldt’s“ neighbor was to be the improvised Army Brigade „Nagel“ and
the boundary line between the two formations ran through the following towns:
Boundary
terminating in the Donez River, then proceeding through Jelan (occupied by Bde.
„Nagel“), Prognoy (Bde. „Nagel“), and Blagoschveschtschenka (Bde. „Schuldt“) to
Rognalik Creek. SS Brigade „Schuldt,“ as reconstituted, now contained the
following elements:
Staff,
Staff Company and Signals Platoon with communications assistance provided
through the Corps’ Signals officers. Attached to the staff was a Luftwaffe
Observation/Signals Troop under Lt. Schreiber.
Luftwaffe
Feld Bn. 100 (composed of mixed units)
4./Vll./“LSSAH“
One
company from Polizei Mortar Bn. 15
6th
Battery/Flak Det.43 („88“ guns)
4th
Battery/Flak Det. 100 (2 cm guns)
One
improvised heavy field howitzer battery
One
infantry battalion comprised of soldiers dispersed from their original units
Mobile
Kampfgruppe (composed of mixed units)
One
infantry battalion from 304th Inf.Div. with improvised motor transport
Panzer
Det. 138
Staff
and 3rd Battery/Luftwaffe Flak Det.100
The
„Führer“ Flak Detachment (whenever it arrived and reassembled)
In
addition to the above, other units would be added as the situation dictated.
On
9 January 1943, Army Det. „Fretter-Pico“ launched a relief attack towards
Millerovo along the main road from Tarasovo. SS Bde. „Schuldt“ spearheaded part
of the effort and drove the enemy out of his positions at the road curve about
2 km to the west of Turoveroff, which was in turn 6 km to the south of
Millerovo. Heavy casualties were inflicted upon the foe. On 11 January, SS Bde.
„Schuldt“ was ordered to secure and defend Matvejevka and then reconnoiter the
area to the southeast to see if a further advance was possible. Afterwards the
route of advance for a 360 man replacement battalion for 3rd Mnt.Div. had to be
scouted out and protected. On the next day, SS Bde. „Schuldt“ was able to
report that all objectives had been secured and that the key Hill 201.3 had
also been occupied.
With
this accomplished the brigade was ordered back to Tarassovo to carry out recce
duties around that town and from Donskoy to Kossnovka to make sure that no
enemy reinforcements got through. The fighting on 11 and 12 January 1943 had
not been easy and the list of casualties for SS Bde. „Schuldt“ reflected the
severity of the combat. Forty-two men had been killed including the following
four officers: Ostuf. Hemsiecke, 7./V11./ „LSSAH,“ Ustuf. Friedrichs, l./VII./“LSSAH“
and Obit’s Vorgel and Finster from ll./lnf.Rgt.575/304th Inf. Division. In
addition, 118 soldiers including four officers (one from the „LSSAH“), had been
wounded and 16 NCOs and men were listed as missing.
SS
Brigade „Schuldt“ was given several new missions on the extreme south flank of
the Army Detachment for 13 January. Its most important assignment was to secure
and keep open the river crossing at Oreschkin and occupy a string of villages
running from Djadin to Demischoff. Reconnaissance was to be conducted to the
south, east and northeast of those towns. At the same time contact was to be
maintained with the extreme right wing of 304th Inf.Div. near Ostaschkin. The
brigade’s supply and maintenance troops were to relocate to Kamensk and the
strongpoint of Donskoy was to be turned over to Bde. „Nagel“ at midnight on the
13th.
SS
Brigade „Schuldt“ spent the entire day moving its forces to the assigned area.
A sharp, violent clash with the Reds took place at Oreschkin, which ended with
the enemy forces being thoroughly routed. Thirty Soviet dead were left on the
battlefield while two prisoners and anti-tank gun were captured. Staf. Schuldt
subsequently moved his HQ up to Oreschkin and by 2030 hrs. had been able to
report the successful accomplishment of all the day’s assignments.
About
40 km to the south was the brigade’s old component part, SS-KGr. „Dietrich,“
which was holding down the extreme left wing of Army Detachment „Hollidt,“ but
it would be more than another month before the two forces linked up again. On
14 January, SS Bde. „Schuldt“ was ordered to hold and defend Kalitvenskaja and
Novy Jerochin in the Kalitvinez sector, as strong enemy attacks were expected
there. At this time the brigade lost the services of Polizei Mortar Co. 15
which was detached from the formation and sent to help defend the Donskoy
strongpoint. To the north a deep enemy penetration was made near Kamensk and
some of the supply troops from SS Bde. „Schuldt“ were sent there to reinforce
KGr. „Baer,“ effective 15 January.
January
15, 1943 also saw a successful breakout made from the Millerovo Pocket. Ostuf.
Dahl’s two SS companies helped to spearhead this effort along with troops from
3rd Mnt. Div. along with several broken Italian units. Despite the very cold
weather and savage fighting the Millerovo garrison was able to effect a link-up
with the main German lines. SS-KGr. „Dahl“ then took up new defensive positions
around Petrova (effective 21 January 1943), before rejoining SS Brigade „Schuldt“
on 23 January.
In
the meantime, SS Bde. „Schuldt“ had been placed in Army Detachment reserve and
saw little action for several days. On 23 January it was located in the south
part of the city of Vorosschilograd, where it received the following
reinforcements:
Anti-tank
Det.138
Führer
Flak Det. with one heavy, one medium and one light Flak batteries
I./SS-Pz.Gr.Rgt.4
„Der Führer“; stiffened by two batteries from SS Art.Rgt.2 „Das Reich,“ a
platoon from 16./“DF“ (engineers), 14./“DF“ and 3rd Battery/SS Flak
Det.2, all under the command of Hstuf. Hans Opificius
SS-KGr.
„Dahl“ under Ostuf. Dahl
The
newly refurbished SS Brigade „Schuldt“ was given an offensive assignment for 24
January: It was to advance to the northwest of Podgornoje and destroy any enemy
forces that had crossed the Donez in that direction and were moving southwards.
In addition the area around the towns of Sslavjanosserbsk,
Ssmelyj-Novo-Grigorjevka and the terrain towards Sheltoja and Dolgoje was to be
captured from weak enemy forces and held. Following all of this, combat
strength recce troops were to scout the line to locate good crossing points
over the Donez for motorized and armored forces.
The
attack by SS Bde. „Schuldt,“ which ran due north of Hill 168.1 to the northwest
of Podgornoje, met with only weak resistance. The foremost elements, I./“DF“
and Pz.Det.138, were able to achieve their objectives rapidly despite
encountering strong enemy artillery fire. Enemy flank attacks from Sheltoje and
Dolgoje were easily repulsed. By the end of the day, around 100 Soviets had
been killed and six of their heavy field pieces had been eliminated. Brigade
losses totaled one killed and six wounded. During the night of 24/25 January,
brigade HQ was established in Alexandrovka, and the attached units, including
I./“DF,“ were positioned in the nearby hills and villages.
Members of an entrapped SS-Polizei-Div. battle-group that fought their
way free.
This
night proved to be one of the coldest of the winter with strong, gusty winds
and temperatures dipping to -28° C. To make matters worse, most of the soldiers
had left their heavy winter clothing behind before the day’s action in a motor
vehicle park. The results were disastrous. What the communists had not
accomplished on the battlefield, „General Winter“ did. By morning fully 50% of
the troops belonging to l./“DF“ reported on sick call with frostbite!
Be
that as it may, the war went on and on the 25th, SS Bde. „Schuldt“ was ordered
to relinquish its positions and attack Soviet penetrations across the Don near
Skeltoje and Dolgoje. The llI./Gr.Rgt.682 was to be attached to the brigade for
this operation only. Afterwards, Bde. „Schuldt“ was supposed to regroup in the
southern part of Voroschilovgrad to remain again at the disposal of the Army
Detachment.
Actions
on this day fell somewhat short of the mark. SS Bde. „Schuldt“ was unable to
regain much territory and had to spend much of the day trying to retake the
high ground southeast of Sheltoje which had been seized by the Reds. For most
of 26 and 27 January, the brigade simply dug in where it stood and fought off a
number of Soviet attacks, which were mostly in company strength. On the 27th a
significant defensive success was achieved and the brigade was able to report
that another 80 enemy soldiers had been captured and more than 100 others had
been killed. Numerous Soviet heavy weapons, including ten anti-tank guns, were
also destroyed. The brigade was supplemented on this day by I./Art.Rgt.335 and
reported that it had 15 operational armored vehicles.
Staf.
Schuldt now sought to have all the parts of his brigade reunited (he was
thinking in particular of the still absent SS-KGr. „Dietrich“), but was
informed by Army Det. staff that the battlefield situation was still much too
fluid to enable that to take place. About 300 kms to the northeast of Bde. „Schuldt’s“
positions, the first contingents of the „Leibstandarte“ and „Das Reich“
Divisions had begun to arrive from France.
On
28 January 1943, SS Bde. „Schuldt“ was relieved by Grenadier Rgt. 684 and relocated
to Alexandrovka and Rodakovo to prepare for further operations. In addition,
111./Gr.Rgt.682 and l./AR 335 were removed from the brigade’s jurisdiction,
while Pz.Det.138 and two Flak platoons from the Führer Flak Det. were
subordinated directly to the Army Detachment. So instead of gaining strength as
Staf. Schuldt had hoped, the brigade was instead further truncated. SS Bde. „Schuldt“
was ordered to relocate to Voroschiloff on the 29th and make contact with 304th
Inf.Div. in preparation for an attack on Bolschoj Ssuchodol, where the enemy
had constructed a small bridgehead across the Donez. After arriving in
Voroschillof on 30 January, I./“DF“ was reinforced by the replacement battalion
of the 304th Inf.Div., less its staff and supply section.
The
planned attack on the bridgehead never developed due to an enemy breakthrough
and advance on Petrovka to the northwest. SS Brigade „Schuldt“ was ordered to
intercept this communist force near Shiroki while at the same time maintaining
the defense of Voroschiloff.
The
latter town was to be held by 3rd Co./“DF“ under Hstuf. Lex along with the
engineer platoon from 16./“DF,“ under Oberscharführer von Eberstein and SS-KGr.
„Dahl“ from VII./“LSSAH.“
On
1 February, the bulk of l./“Der Führer“ under Hstuf. Opficius made a desperate
attempt to block off the Soviets at Shiroki, but in the end the town had to be
abandoned. The focus of the fighting then shifted to Petrovka which was stoutly
defended by 1st Co./“DF,“ a platoon from 14./“DF“ and part of 3rd Bttry./SS
Flak Det. 2. All enemy attacks here were repulsed, and SS- Rottenführer Heider
was decorated with the Iron Cross, 1st Class on the spot for destroying five
Soviet tanks with his anti-tank gun. But due to another enemy penetration
farther to the north, the „Der Führer“ Battalion had to be withdrawn to
Vodjanoj.
On
the following day, 2 February, both the 304th Inf.Div. and SS Bde. „Schuldt“
were transferred to the XXXXV1II. Pz.Corps of the neighboring Army Detachment „Hollidt,“
and on the 3rd, the brigade was attached to 6th Pz.Div. and immediately saw
some heavy fighting. A full-scale enemy assault was launched against the German
positions, and I./“DF“ found itself fighting for its life. Hand-to-hand combat
raged in the Waffen-SS foxholes, trenches and in the nearby buildings. Only the
intervention of Stuka bombers and tanks from 6th Pz.Div. managed to save the
day and turn the tide. But severe losses had been sustained and a direct
artillery hit on the battalion HQ had killed the commander of 4./“DF,“ Hstuf.
Hocke.
SS
Brigade „Schuldt,“ along with Panzergrenadiers from 6th Pz.Div., advanced to
Popovka on 4 February and proceeded on to Voroschilloff on the following day.
Popovka was evacuated on 6/7 February, and a new security line, manned by part
of the brigade until 12 February was set up in the hills north of the town. The
12th saw a renewed Soviet offensive due south of Voroschilovgrad, and the
brigade, which was in the course of needed regrouping, had to be rushed to
304th Inf.Div. of XXI.Army Corps for emergency deployment. This caused the
reunion of the brigade with SS-KGr. „Dietrich“ to be postponed again.
SS
Brigade „Schuldt“ reassembled in Krassnoskij on 14 February, where it was at
the disposal of XXI.Army Corps. On the 15th it was sent towards Uspenka to
provide support for 22nd Pz. Division. Upon arriving in its new area, Bde. „Schuldt“
was deployed in the hills 2 km to the northwest of Lutogino, and for the next
few days defended this sector in fierce fighting. During this struggle,
individual positions frequently changed hands several times over. The area was
evacuated on 18 February and by the next day, Bde. „Schuldt“ was back under the
control of Army Det. „Fretter-Pico“ in the vicinity of Adrianopol. Here the
brigade was finally rejoined by SS-KGr. „Dietrich“ and a major restructuring
got underway using soldiers from the 1st, 2nd and 4th SS Divisions. The brigade
structure that resulted looked like this:
Commander:
Staf. Schuldt
Adjutant:
Hstuf. Molt
Staff/Staff
Company
SS
Batallion „Dietrich“
Commander:
Stubaf. Dietrich, replaced by Hstuf. Lex on 23 February
1st
Co. (Rifle Co./“DF“ Rgt.): Hstuf. Lex
2nd
Co. (formed from troops of VI1./“LSSAH“ and I./SS-Pol.Inf.Rgt.l): Ostuf.
Knoesel
3rd
Co. (same composition as 2nd Co.): Ostuf. Dahl
4th
Co. (Heavy Weapons Co./“DF“ Rgt.): Hstuf. Repplinger
2nd
Battery/SS-Art.Rgt.2 „DR“
3rd
Battery/SS-Flak Det.2 „DR“
A
portion of the „Führer“ Flak Detachment
It
is not clearly known whether or not some of the previously attached Army and
Flak troops remained with the brigade.
Regrouping
continued until 22 February when the brigade was put on alert. An enemy force
in battalion strength, with heavy weapons support, had secured and fortified a
ravine to the north of Utkino and the brigade was ordered to eliminate this
penetration. Preparations for this undertaking got underway by Bn. „Dietrich“
but they were brought to a halt when a new emergency arose. A stronger enemy
force had gotten a foothold in the Vassjukova Gorge near Baschtewitsch, and Bn.
„Dietrich“ was needed to dislodge it.
The
march to the new locale was a different one, hampered by heavy snow drifts and
clashes with dispersed enemy troops. However, on 23 February, Bn. „Dietrich“
began its attack towards an enemy-held destroyed village at the far end of the
gorge between Jelisavetovka and Schterovka. The SS troops were supported on
both flanks by Army units, and had good heavy weapons backing. In a brief but
violent clash the Reds were pushed out of the town and into the wild and rocky
ravine. In this type of terrain the fighting was particularly difficult and
both sides took high losses. Stubaf. Dietrich was wounded during the afternoon
but he stayed with his men until Staf. Schuldt ordered him to leave for medical
treatment that evening. Dietrich’s replacement was Hstuf. Lex from the „Der Führer“
Rgt., who had commanded the 1st Co. in Bn. „Dietrich.“
By
now, Stalingrad had gone under and the Soviets were able to concentrate on
driving westwards, so each day the pressure increased on the mixed and
scattered German forces that opposed them. On 24 February, Bn. „Dietrich“
reported observing strong enemy units advancing towards Vodino through the
Olchovka Valley. The brigade ordered the battalion to take up defensive
positions to the east of Baschtevitxch to block off this advance. In the course
of 24/25 February the SS troops of Bn. „Dietrich“ fought off a number of tank
supported enemy probing attacks with the backing of Stuka dive bombers. The
battalion was able to report the destruction of two of the three enemy tanks
involved in the fight.
On
25 February, SS Bde. „Schuldt“ was reinforced by a full regiment from the 62nd
Inf.Div. along with the assault gun detachment from the 19th Pz. Division. The
brigade was then given a major mission to carry out using these new components.
It was to seal off a gap in the lines near Jelisavetovka, with the aim of
securing the hills to the east of the town. The attack was to be carried out in
conjunction with an offensive operation by the now fully arrived SS Panzer
Corps.
The
carefully planned brigade assault began at 0700 on 26 February with a Stuka
bombardment of the enemy positions. Staf. Schuldt directed the operation from
the foremost element and as a result was lightly wounded at about 0900 and was
forced to return to his HQ in Nitovka. At 1015 he was visited by Gen.
Fretter-Pico, the commander of XXX.Army Corps, who gave him his best wishes and
congratulated him on the successful development of the attack. By noon all
objectives had been attained and the pursuit of fleeing Red soldiers had begun.
But any serious follow-up action had to be put aside, since the regiment from
62nd Inf.Div. was now immediately withdrawn from SS Bde. „Schuldt.“
In
the following days, the brigade relocated to the Debalzevo sector where it was
engaged until 7 March in maintaining the link-ups between XXX.Army Corps
(facing east) and III.Pz. Corps (facing north). Many small engagements were
fought during this time. On 7 March the „Das Reich“ and „Der Führer“ troops
that remained with the brigade were ordered to immediately return to the 2nd SS
Pz.Div. „Das Reich“ (which was in the vicinity of Kharkov), via Pavlograd. This
effectively reduced SS Bde. „Schuldt“ to a hollow shell, but it remained in
existence until 15 March 1943, when the survivors of V1I./“LSSAH“ and
I./SS-Pol.Inf.Rgt. 1 were sent by train back to the Debica SS training camp in
Poland for rest and refitting.
It
had been a supremely trying time and the members of the improvised SS Brigade „Schuldt“
had done all that was required of them, despite the terrible weather and the
chaotic battlefield conditions. Losses were so high that all of the original
intact units that comprised the brigade, ceased to exist as such and had to be
rebuilt as rapidly as possible. But the heroic sacrifices and achievements of
SS Brigade „Schuldt“ deserve an honorable mention in the pages of the history
of the Waffen-SS.
Grenadiers from the 4. SS-Polizei-Panzergrenadier Division.
Deployment area of SS-Krg. “Schuld” and SS-Kgr. „Dietrich”
December 1942 - February 1943
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