Graebner Attack at Arnhem

[airborne medic]

I'm sure many people are aware of this 'attack' on 18th September 1944...quite a major scene in ABTF......so here is a photo of the view going across the bridge south to north.....regretfully I was in a WW2 Dodge at the time rather than whatever Graebner was in.....

[airborne medic]

Than another a bit closer to the hump...as you can see not a very good view of the 'Britsh side' of the bridge yet.....

[britman]

Here's a pic from my trip in 2006.

[Paul Pariso]

Nice pics fellas! Do you think Graebner's "Gung Ho" attitude had anything to do with the fact that he had recently been awarded the Knights Cross or was he just "that sort of soldier"?

[Wolfy]

Graebner's attitude was most likely due to his prior successes against the English using the same bold armored recon company tactics. In fact, he was awarded the Knight's Cross for doing the same sort of thing previously. He figured that it would work again..

[Paul Pariso]

Originally Posted by Wolfy

Graebner's attitude was most likely due to his prior successes against the English using the same bold armored recon company tactics. In fact, he was awarded the Knight's Cross for doing the same sort of thing previously against the Paras. He figured that it would work again..

Thanks for that mate! I guess he chanced his arm once too often!

[Ruimteaapje]

Originally Posted by Wolfy

Graebner's attitude was most likely due to his prior successes against the English using the same bold armored recon company tactics. In fact, he was awarded the Knight's Cross for doing the same sort of thing previously against the Paras. He figured that it would work again..

When did that supposedly happen and against which Paras? Gräbner was awarded the Knights Cross on August 23, 1944 for his conduct during the Mortain battles (a full month before the Arnhem battle started).

[Wolfy]

Originally Posted by Ruimteaapje

When did that supposedly happen and against which Paras? Gräbner was awarded the Knights Cross on August 23, 1944 for his conduct during the Mortain battles (a full month before the Arnhem battle started).

My typo. He made a surprise counterattack against the British at Noyers Bocage with his fast unit and overran them.

At Arnhem, he made a similar judgement call. But this time it sealed his fate.

[Ruimteaapje]

Originally Posted by Paul Pariso

Do you think Graebner's "Gung Ho" attitude had anything to do with the fact that he had recently been awarded the Knights Cross or was he just "that sort of soldier"?

Nope, he simply wasn't aware that the British paras had already reached and secured the bridge. Wilfried Schwarz was Ic of 9.SS Panzer Division Hohenstaufen and Ia of 2.SS Panzer Korps and as such the person who gave Gräbner his orders: cross the bridge before the British paras reached it and form a defensive line west of the bridge.

[Ruimteaapje]

Originally Posted by Wolfy

At Arnhem, he made a similar judgement call. But this time it sealed his fate.

No judgement call, he had his orders to cross and secure the bridge. He simply did not know that the paras were already there.