20th (mot.) ID Part 3 - Smolensk - Dr. Maus - 12th PzD - 18th (mot.) ID - Field Medical Training

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That’s nice footage of the 12 PzD that was operating in close proximity to the 20. (Mot) ID from August of 1941. This is part 3 of raw footage that was taken by a Propaganda Kompanie corespondent embedded with the 20. covering from the fall of Smolensk until the unit’s repositioning to Army Group North to take part in the siege of Leningrad. After weeks of heavy combat, this was a time of recuperation for the 20. Finally we’ll take a look at footage of medical training for doctors in field conditions.

In the center sector of the Eastern Front the motorized divisions under the command of Feldmarschal von Bock penetrated to the north and south of Bialystok and then advanced on Minsk creating two huge pockets of trapped Soviet armies that would be destroyed. The 20. (mot) ID was part of the northern thrust.

Rather than staying to finish off the trapped enemy troops the 20. and other faster moving German units continued their advance to the East all the way up to the Stalin-line which was then quickly breached. Around Smolensk the retreat of large Soviet formations was again cut off. Non motorized infantry secured the motorized units’ flanks and completed the encirclement of the enemy. After 4 weeks of intense combat the Soviet pocket was eliminated.

Here we’re looking at soldiers from the 20. repairing a small bridge that the Soviets destroyed during their retreat.

With the battle of encirclement around Smolensk finished on August 5, the 20. was ordered to remain just to the east of Smolensk for occupation duty which gave them time for some badly needed rest, replenishment and vehicle maintenance. Although no longer in combat operations, the division was ordered to remain on high alert and if necessary capable of marching within a short 2 hour window.

On August 11 at 15.30 hours a meeting was held at the divisional field headquarters in a forest near Meshniki. Here we see the divisional commander Zorn inspecting the trenches for security beforehand.

The main subjects of the meeting were battlefield experience, troop training and recuperation. There was plenty of work to be done keeping the division’s vehicles in operational condition. It was often necessary to use parts from knocked out vehicles to piece together those that could be repaired.

Late that evening 500 badly replacements from Hannover arrived. Of them 100 were passed on to the 12. PzD. In addition a number of Funkers, drivers and other specialists were given.

This is a photo that was taken at the meeting. General Zorn is the standing to the left.

At the end of the meeting Dr. Wilhelm Mauss is awarded the EK1.

This is the situational map for Army Group Center from August 12, 1941. We can see that the 20. is positioned in Smolensk with the 12. PzD and 18. (mot.) ID situated just to their north. The next video I’ll produce includes rare private color footage of the 20th PzD. At the end of this video I’ll show a sample clip from that material.

In addition, you can find material posted that follows the 7. PzD. the 29. (mot.) ID and the 51. Nebelwerfer Regiment associated to these campaign maps which give an accurate macro view of what was happening in chronological order and how it all fit together.

On Aug 15 at 2300 hours the order came in that these three divisions would be be heading north to become part of Army Group North.

This is the Cathedral in Smolensk. These pictures and a well documented history of the 20. can be found in a wonderful 5 book collection that I’ll leave a link to in the description.

Here we are looking at the outskirts of the city where much of the combat took place.

This is a shot of some of the cameraman’s equipment. PK stands for Propaganda Kompanie. I guess that it’s film.

Here we see an officer with a few men positioning a large fabric cross for a plane to make a airdrop. He’s carrying a signal flare.

Early in the morning on August 19 the Div began its transfer to Army Group North covering 140 km and going from Smolensk .- Rudnja - Witebsk.

This private footage was taken in 1939 and shows the training of German field medics. It’s part of one reel in a 4 reel collection that shows the medical training and then active duty first during the campaign in the West and then on the Eastern front. It has a total runtime of 76 min. Let me know if you are interested in seeing more.

Dr. Maus and the medics that he was responsible for with the 20. Mot. ID were certainly busy. In the period between June 22 and August 12 division losses were

Fallen - 19 officers, 356 soldiers

Wounded - 63 officers, 1149 soldiers, 4 bureaucrats

And now, here is an example of some exquisite footage that we’ll be looking at next week of the 20. PzD. Remember to subscribe so that you don’t miss it. Thanks for watching.