I am perplexed. Attached is Intell document for 52nd Lowland Division, etc. Date of 5th April, 45. On there is noted 60 SS from Viking SS to be reported holding Br at Dreierwalde, Germany. I thought the Viking Division was on the Eastern Front to eventually surrender to the Americans in Austria. My father was captured just on the outskirts of Dreierwalde. He was in the 1st Bn Glasgow Highlanders, 7 Pl, "A" Coy. He said that they took a couple of farms to dig in before Dreierwalde coming from Dortmund Ems Canal and the village of Rheine. They took a sentry at the gate of the 2nd farm prisoner thinking that was strange, but realised that he was guarding a Panzer Division situated on the other side. They opened up on them and the Highlanders had to surrender when they run out of ammunition. So if anyone is able to enlighten me on this, as I would like to discern who fought and captured this platoon. Cheers....Nick
Not much help, but it came up when I was idly searching... THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORTH-WEST EUROPE 1944-45 | Imperial War Museums A disabled German Panzer IV/70 (V) ("Jagdpanzer IV") tank destroyer half-submerged in the canal at Dreierwalde, 6 - 8 April 1945. British vehicles pass over a Bailey bridge in the background
Ek1 Trager The "History of the Panzerkorps Großdeutschland" by Spaeter, Helmuth cites a report written on April 17th by Hauptmann Erdmann, the battalion commander of II./Regiment Poeschmann : In the morning of 6. April 1945 at 1030hrs: The enemy began with an artillery barrage from the direction of Dreierwalde (SW) toward the church, into the center of the entire section of the battalion. At the same time 1st Battalion, observed the enemy attempting a flanking move on the road from Dreierwalde. The armoured force totalled approximately 6 tanks, rolling up from direction of Dreierwalde against the southwest exit of Hopsten. After the initial artillery fire, the enemy charged the front lines on the right wing of the battalion. Despite covering fire from 2 Shermans this attack was completely cut off and petered out. Thereupon the enemy separated. However after 3/4 hour attacked later with more adequate infantry and under the protection of a tank machinegun attempted to hit again at the right wing, clearly recognising the joint between I. and II. Battalion. This attack was also beaten off, however, with substantial losses suffered by 5.Kompanie due to massed artillery and tank machine gun fire. With these losses, the right wing of the 5th became substantially weakened, so that a renewed enemy attack finally reached their lines. Under the protection of the enemy tanks the infantry at the right wing of the company penetrated into 5 Kompanie lines and took 2 prisoners. At this point our artillery seized the situation and blanketed the hostile tanks under well placed fire, which compelled the infantry to retreat to the south. Second lieutenant Järschke used this instant, along with 2 men with a cry of "Hurra" to counterattack at this threatened wing, encouraging his men on, who had expended their ammunition and were courageously still in their (fox)holes singing "Wacht am Rhein" at this point, to move forward and into the breach settled into close combat. The counterattack was successful, restabilising the frontlines and accounted for 42 enemy dead left behind
Thanx Stolpi, Would be very interested in those pages, esp from 5th April, 45 in lead up to action to attack Dreierwalde, as 5th was day my Dad's Platoon was overrun. Also entire Dreierwalde action would be fantastic. I only have 1 Bn Glasgow Highlanders War Diaries and your contribution would be greatly appreciated. Nick
Cheers Dave, Pic and info greatly appreciated and is most helpful. In that book does it mention any action west of Dreirewalde towards Rheine on 5th April, 45 as that was when my Dad's platoon was overrun in the morning sometime? Also was that book vol. 2 or 3? Thanx again. Nick
