T-34 Turret Toss, Hausser's DAS REICH StuG combat report - TYPHOON E29

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Episode 201

OOB 1941

Army Group Center - General Oberst F. von Bock

Panzer Group 2 - General Oberst Heinz Guderian

XXXXVIth Corps (Motorized) - Gen d PzTr H. von Vietinghoff

SS Div. Reich (Motorized) - SS-Gruf Paul Hauser

Kurz vor Erreichen der Autobahn, stellt sich der Russe nochmals…

Shortly before arriving to the highway the Russians once again entered the fight. At precisely that moment approximately 30 tanks from the 10th PzD arrive.

They immediately come to the aid of our infantry and repulse the enemy counter attack, and do it effectively. During these last few days, in our zone of operation and the one to our left where the SS-Regiment “Deutschland” is operating, a total of 152 Russian tanks have been destroyed. The highway had been reached.

In August of 1941 Lieutenant General Wolfgang Fischer took command of the 10. PzD.

For most of the division’s history, it was organized into three regiments: the 7th Panzer, and the 69th and 86th Panzergrenadier which were mechanized infantry. Other units included an artillery regiment and one each of motorcycle, reconnaissance, tank destroyer, engineer, and signal battalions.

The advance of the SS Div. Reich however didn’t stop at the highway on Oct 9. It continued North towards the strategically important city of Gshatsk. This is the entry that corporal Hümmer of the 3. Regiment Deutschland wrote in his diary on this day

Early in the morning we go over to the attack. We move forwards in the rain with snow flourishes under enemy fire. A number of planes strafe our ranks without much effect. In spite of the resistance, we manage to reach our objective, Gshatsk. Entering the area we secure our position.

In a large building we find an orderly canteen hall with large pots of rice with meat completely prepared for eating. Evidently we’ve disturbed the Soviets just as they were about to eat lunch and were forced flee. Plates found in a cupboard are passed out and we enjoy a wonderful meal that the Soviets have prepared for us.

The civilian population is friendly and the apartments that we quarter in are well equipped. A reconnoissance team is put together and sent out to reconnoiter the nearby area to judge the enemy’s presence.

They head through the woods crossing a wooden bridge to a nearby town and see fleeing Russians in all directions. At one point they actually have to hide in the brush as a large group of Soviets rush past just meters away. All the Russians seem to be retreating and aren’t stopping in the next town, they just continue moving on. Having completed their assignment the team returns and we enjoy a peaceful night’s rest.

The StuG “Lutzow” accompanies the II. Regiment Der Führer at 05.00 Hrs in the advance towards the village of Moltschanowa. The Russians fight ferociously at its entrance. With the support of the 6th company, Lützow pushes its way into the village and the enemy is forced back. With the defensive positions situated behind the village taken the focus of the attack now turns towards the village of Snoski. After a short but intense firefight the Russians abandon their positions. Suddenly up on hill appear two heavy Russian tanks and Lützow immediately engages one of them. After a number of direct hits the tanks turret is tossed high in the air - one down.

In the meantime the second tank comes up around Lützow’s side with the intention of ramming him. From another angle an enemy anti-tank gun begins firing. At this critical moment, the StuG’s gun jams. The two crew members Seargent Waller and gunner Rossbauer frantically get to work clearing the gun and shrapnel from a round that explodes nearby lightly injures the two of them. At the last possible moment the gun is again ready to fire and a round is sent at point blank range into the approaching enemy tank’s engine compartment. It bursts into flames and stops dead in its tracks. Lützow then spins to the side, and with a single round silences the anti-tank gun.

Many of our infantry men lie wounded in the first trench in front of the town. In spite of enemy fire, Lützow drives over and a number of them are loaded up on top of the StuG and driven back. Accomplishing this, Lützow turns around and returns for the rest of the wounded soldiers. 200 meters from the Russian positions Lützow comes to a halt. They’ve run out of fuel. The driver, Sergeant Rossbauer, inspite of heavy incoming enemy fire, gets out and heads back foot only to later return carrying two full canisters of fuel. Lützow then drives back to Moltschanowa.

Ludwig Adolf Wilhelm Freiherr von Lützow (18 May 1782 – 6 December 1834) was a Prussian general notable for his organization and command of the Lützow Freikorps of volunteers during the Napoleonic Wars.