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Episode 99
5 Part mini-series
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This nice footage shows a German machine gun position defending against an entrapped Soviet unit attempting to break out of a pocket. This is the 3rd video which covers an original combat report describing events which involved the 7th PzD, the 11 PzD and the 5. PzGr Wiking during the 3rd Battle of Kharkov which took place in 1943 shortly after the fall of Stalingrad. Fitting in nicely we’ll see beautiful footage of Regiment Nordland which, as part of Wiking, took part in the battle.
The 5. PzGr Div Wiking was made up of 3 volunteer motorized Regiments, Nordland had mostly Scandinavian volunteers, Westland which was Dutch and Flemish and Germania which was German. It also had a regiment of artillery. Felix Steiner was the divisional commander.
This is the third page of the report which is a translated document that was captured by elements of the 7th PzD at the Soviet field headquarters
To Group Commander General Leutnant Popow
After heavy artillery barrages, the enemy attacked with tanks, infantry and artillery on 18.2.1943 at 11:00 hrs, the northern sector of Krassnoarmejskoje. The focus of the enemy’s thrust came from the direction of Nowo-Ekonomitscheskoje, breaking through our resistance and forcing its way into the eastern and central sectors of the city.
After engaging in heavy combat, that resulted in suffering many casualties, our troops vacated the central and northern sections of the city.
This is extremely rare footage of Regiment Nordland operating in Russia. If you are a Patreon channel member you now have exclusive access to additional footage of the Finnish Volunteer Battalion that was part of Nordland. If you are not yet a member please consider becoming one to support the further development of this channel.
The 12th Guard Tank Brigade, defending the western sector of
Krassnoarmejskoje, has begun a counter attack and is moving towards the city center. There is little left remaining of the 14th. Guarde Tank Brigade and the 3rd Guard Motorized Infantry Brigade. The commander of the 14th Guard Tank Brigade, Lieutenant Colonel Schibenkow has been killed in action. Lieutenant Colonel Leonow, commander of the 3rd Guard Motorized Infantry Brigade has been seriously wounded. What remains of these two brigades is situated in the southern sector of the city.
This footage shows German units advancing during the counter attack of the 3rd Battle of Kharkov. Although considered an elite formation, Wiking had had considerable problems dealing with the armor-heavy Soviet formations in Mobile Group Popow. They were also understrength and exhausted due to the heavy fighting they had been engaged in just a few months earlier during the retreat from the last attempt at relieving Stalingrad in the Caucasus.
Arriving to the outskirts of Krassnoarmejskoje the Soviets were well dug in. After softening up the enemy with a heavy artillery bombardment, German units moved in close enough to use direct fire to take out the hardened defensive positions. Having concentrated their strength they enjoyed local numerical superiority and overwhelmed the defenders. With serious resistance broken the Germans assaulted the city.
The 7th Independent Ski Brigand and the 9th Independent Guard Tank
Brigade have cowardly retreated to Sowchos Schetschenko with their
commanders leading the way. They will all be sent back directly to the
battle.
After the battle in April, with the agreed upon 2-year service contract coming to an end, the Finnish authorities withdrew the volunteer battalion and on July 11, of 1943 the unit was disbanded.
When the Finns left, they were replaced by the Estonian Battalion Narwa; Regiment Nordland was removed from Wiking to create the nucleus of the newly formed SS Division Nordland.
This is an 9-page personal account from a Wehrmacht soldier who managed to escape from the Taman Peninsula over the Kertsch Straight written in February of 1943. At the time Air Fleet 4 was responsible for providing air support to all of Army Group South including those involved in the retreat from the Caucasus.
The situation there was made far worse by Hitler’s order to hold the beachhead on the Taman Peninsula for as long as possible. In order to supply German forces on the far bank provisions needed to be carried 6 km over the straight. A gondola system had been set up but that was only capable to transporting 100 tons per day which far less than was needed to sustain the troops.
Using this first hand report, official and private film material, maps and photographs I’ll create a series of videos which explains the situation on both a personal and macro level.
