Updated by

Dr.Chuang

on 17/09/2024

Created by

Dr.Chuang

on 17/09/2017

Panzer Lehr's Panzergrenadier

Totenkopf's Panzergrenadier

SS Langemarck

Göring's kradschützen

SS KG Peiper

Panther on the Oder

Lindenberg

Cover Story: In Memory of Operation Market Garden 80 Years

21 September 1944, morning, Nuenen, Major Freiherr von Maltzahn moved his PB 107 through Gerwen and Stiphout to Helmond. Local civilians reported to 506 PIR German had left Nuenen. At 10:30AM tanks of British 23rd Hussars Regiment (23 HR) entered Nuenen and pursued PB 107. The vanguard of British 23 HR caught up the rearguard of PB 107 and they broke up into fierce fighting between tanks to tanks. Once again, PB 107 escaped from British tanks but it also lost 3 more Panthers. Major Freiherr von Maltzahn had lost 12 Panthers which equaled to one third of his Panthers after 2 days fighting (1).

21 September 1944, evening, Helmond, Major Freiherr von Maltzahn received order to Gemert, 8.7 kilometer north of Helmond, to join a new attack there. The PB 107 blew up the bridges over Zuid Willemsvaart after they crossed them in Helmond to Bakel (2) and head toward Gemert at night.

It happened here: the PB 107 withdrew from Nuenen, through Gerwen, Stiphout, Helmond, Bakel to Gemert.

21 September 1944, night, Gemert, Colonel Erich Walther, a veteran Fallschirmjäger commander (3), received order from Feldmarschall Walter Model to strike on the narrow corridor of Hell’s Highway at Veghel (4). Feldmarschall Walter Model planed a pincer attack at Veghel with Kampfgruppe Walter (KG Walther) from east and 59. Infanterie-Division (59 ID) from west (5), respectively. His KG Walther had engaged British at Neerpelt and Valkenswaard before and after Operation Market Garden, respectively (6). Now Colonel Erich Walther had his chance to pay back. The KG Walther consisted an SS-Alarm-Infanterie-Bataillon, an Ersatz-Bataillon, an Artillerie-Abteilung and a Heeres-Flak-Abteilung. They were further reinforced after the PB 107 arrived.

Colonel Erich Walther

Feldmarschall Walter Model

Reference:

1. Panzer Brigades in the West, 1944/Panzerworld

2. Panzer-Brigade 107/Lexikon der Wehrmacht

3. Walther, Erich/Lexikon der Wehrmacht

4. Market Garden/Panzerworld

5. Panzer-Brigade 107/Axis History

6. Kampfgruppe Walther at Neerpelt bridgehead 13-17 september 1944

For more battle field tour at Neunen/Nederland, please visit TracesOfWar.

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