73,613
edits
Changes
m
→Life
* 14 April 1939 Appointed [[adjutant]] of the II. Battalion/Panzer-Regiment 8
* 14 September 1939 Wounded near Brest-Litovsk
** On the evening of 10 September 1939, the II. Battalion of Panzer Regiment 8 was positioned outside Bransk. Against strong enemy resistance, the regimental staff, along with the II. Battalion, reached Bielsk on 11 September 1939. [...] On 13 September 1939, the regimental staff and the II. Battalion conducted reconnaissance in the direction of Brest-Litovsk, as the order to attack had already come from the corps. During the night of 13 to 14 September 1939, the II. Battalion was approximately 30 kilometers from Brest. The reconnaissance patrol, which the regimental commander, [[Botho Elster|Colonel Botho Elster]], had organized with the company commanders of the 2nd Battalion, found the front line only lightly manned. First Lieutenant Schefold, adjutant of the 2nd Battalion, continued reconnaissance in the direction of the citadel, joined by First Lieutenant Jahns, the regimental adjutant. They realize that the field fortifications in front of Fort II are also still unoccupied. Dismounting, the reconnaissance party storms through the rear gate and finds the fort unoccupied. The regimental commander then requests an order for the regiment to advance against the fortress. Upon receiving the order, the regiment rolls forward at high speed toward the fort at 2:30 p.m. Passing Fort II, the lead tanks reach the airfield, where a plane ready for takeoff is destroyed. The companies attack in a wedge formation toward the railway station, where a train is attempting to escape eastward at full steam. However, eight shots from a 2 cm KwK 30 tank gun find their mark in the center of the encirclement. After crossing the railway line at 3:39 p.m., fierce Polish resistance begins, with the Poles having concentrated steadily increasing artillery forces around the citadel. The 5th and 6th Companies destroyed 6 tanks and 9 guns, while the 7th Company destroyed 4 four enemy tanks. Despite the now increasing enemy resistance, the 2nd Battalion reached the Bug River crossings, where the bridges were still intact. No sooner had the first tank crossed the bridge than it was blown up. The 2nd Battalion continued its advance into the city, suffering further deadly losses from snipers and artillery fire. At nightfall, the enemy withdrew from the city to the citadel. Fires had broken out in many parts of the city, illuminating the scene.<ref>[https://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gliederungen/Panzerregimenter/PR8.htm Panzer-Regiment 8]</ref>
** May to June 1940 [[Western Campaign]]; On the afternoon of 9 May 1940, the Panzer-Regiment 8 was alerted and prepared for marching and deployment. During the night from 9 to 10 May 1940, the regiment marched via Bernkastel, Hetzerath, Ehrang, and Welschbillig toward [[Luxembourg]]. The division was to break through the border fortifications in a rapid advance through Luxembourg and southern [[Belgium]], with the canal as the objective. At 11:00 a.m. on 10 May 1940, the regiment crossed the border near Echternach and advanced via Reuland, Mersch, and Saeul toward the area of Habay-la-Neuve and Etalle. Roadblocks were cleared or bypassed, and the advance was not impeded. A rest stop was made at Hachy "Nasser Busch" before the advance into Belgium continued. During the night of from 10 to 11 May 1940, the regiment crossed the Belgian border north of Arlon. East of Etalle, the regiment was prepared for the breakthrough of the fortifications in southern Belgium. [...] At noon on 21 June 1940, after German victory, the march back began via Macon to Autun, from where it continued on 22 June 1940, via Saulieu and Avallon to the area around Sens. From there, the regiment marched westward via Coutenay, Montargis, and Bellegarde towards Orléans, making brief technical stops. On 24 June 1940, the regiment reached Orléans, where it learned of the [[armistice]]. Regardless, on 25 June 1940, it marched along the north bank of the Loire, downstream via Blois to Tours. On the northern edge of Tours, the regiment reached the Château-Renault area. The march towards Parthenay was halted at Chinon on 26 June 1940. The regiment remained in the area northeast of Tours until 3 July 1940. On 3 July 1940, the order arrived for the regiment's transfer to Arpajon, south of [[Paris]]. The march, which began on 4 July 1940, led to the suburbs of Paris, to Montlhéry, and then to Lagny-sur-Mer. In preparation for a parade that was ultimately canceled, the division's vehicles were repainted and marked with tactical markings. Many members of the regiment had the opportunity to visit the French capital. In the regiment's barracks, the integration of replacements began, along with further repairs to equipment and vehicles. Exercises were also conducted in preparation for [[Operation Sea Lion]].
* 31 December 1940 Military hospital (it is not known, if ill or wounded again)
