Updated by

Dr.Chuang

on 18/07/2021

Created by

Dr.Chuang

on 16/2/2020

Panzer Lehr's Panzergrenadier

Totenkopf's Panzergrenadier

SS Langemarck

Göring's kradschützen

SS KG Peiper

Panzer-Brigade 107

Panther on the Oder

38(t) Recon Tank in Hungary/Czech

6 February 1945, Repplin (Rzeplino in Poland at present), I. battalion/SS-Freiwilligen-Grenadier-Regiment 69 entered the village and almost at the same time Russian patrol (possible 75th Guards Infantry Division) also entered the village. The Wallonien Grenadiers wait until the Russian penetrated deeply into the village and then attacked them from all direction. The first contact saved the Wallonien Grenadiers another 48 hours (1).

8 February 1945, the 28. SS-Freiwilligen-Panzergrenadier-Division "Wallonien" deployed as follow: I. battalion under command of SS-Sturmbannführer Henri Derriks (aged 41)/SS-Freiwilligen-Grenadier-Regiment 69 around Repplin (Rzeplino in Poland at present), The II. battalion under command of SS-Hauptsturmführer Léon Lakaie/SS-Freiwilligen-Grenadier-Regiment 69 between Collin (Kolin in Poland at present) and Streblow (Strzebielewo in Poland at present), I. battalion under command of SS- Obersturmführer Robert Denie (aged 37)/SS-Freiwilligen-Grenadier-Regiment 70 between Schöneberg (Krąpiel in Poland at present) and Arnswalde (Choszczno in Poland at present). The II. battalion/SS-Freiwilligen-Grenadier-Regiment 70 was not yet built up and SS-Artillerie-Abteilung 28 was held in reserve (2, 3). There were also two companies of anti-tank gun and anti-aircraft gun and one reconnaissance company (4). The I. battalion/SS-Freiwilligen-Grenadier-Regiment 69 also had heavy combat with Russian at Reppline (Rzeplino in Poland at present) (3). Another contact happened at Müscherin (Moskorzyn in Poland at present) when a night patrol led by SS-Hauptsturmführer Jean Vermeire (aged 27) saved civilian under Russian prison (2, 3). Finally the reinforce (4. SS-Polizei-Panzergrenadier-Division) came and XXXIX Panzerkorps issued an order of counter-attack between Lake Madue (Lake Miedwie in Poland at present) and River Ihna (River Ina in Poland at present) to stablize the southern front of Stargard (Stargard in Poland at present) on 9 February 1945 (1, 3).

7 February 1945, Pyritz (Pyrzyce in Poland at present, south of Lake Miedwie), the members of Volkssturm and Hitlerjungen under the command of Oberst Albert Weiß (aged 38) repulsed repeated Russian attack (possible Russian 34th Guards Mechanized and 48th Guards Tank Brigades of the 12th Guards Tank Corps) with strong tank support (possible Panzer-Jagd- Brigade 104) (5).

8 February 1945 in the morning, Greifenhagen (Gryfino in Poland at present), the tank alarm was alerted because a Russian tank force (a small detachment possible from 12th Guards Tank Corps) was approaching. The intention of the Russian tank force was to pinch off Pyritz (Pyrzyce in Poland at present, south of Lake Miedwie) but the German response was swift and strong. The SS-Panzergrenadier Regiment 8 of the 4. SS-Polizei-Panzergrenadier-Division rushed from Stettin (Szczecin in Poland at present) and halted the Russian tank force on the Reichsstraße near Wartenberg (Parsów in Poland at present) and Isinger (Nieborowo in Poland at present). The Regiment then counterattacked and retook the town of Rackitt (Rokity in Poland at present) and Rohrsdorf (Parnica in Poland at present) after knocking out a dozen of Russian tanks and SPG (5). The intention of the Russian to pinch off Pyritz was released temporarily by the Regiment but the Russian intended to attack again on 9 February 1945. The first major clash between XXXIX Panzerkorps and 12th Guards Tank Corps was about to begin.

Reference:

1. Degrelle, Léon. Campaign in Russia: The Waffen SS on the Eastern Front, p281. Institute for Historical Review, 1985.

2. For more infomration about Wallonien officers please refer to Grégory Bouysse's Encyclopedia of the New Order - Special Issue - Wallonia (Part I)/Lulu.com.

3. Landwehr, Richard; Roba, Jean-Louis; Merriam, Ray. The "Wallonien": The History of the 5th SS-Sturmbrigade and 28th SS Volunteer Panzergrenadier Division, p35. Hoosick Falls, NY: Merriam Press Military, 2012.

4. Borowski, Tomasz. Last Blood on Pomerania: Leon Degrelle and the Walloon Waffen SS Volunteers, February-May 1945, part 3. Warwick: Helion and Company, 2016.

5. Urbanke, Axel. Endkempf: um das Reichsgebiet 1944/1945 Ostfront, p34. Bad Zwischenahn: Luftfahrtverlag- Start, 2017.

Member of

Associated with