Boyer, Donald P. St. Vith The 7th Armored Division in the Battle of the Bulge 17-23 December 1944 A Narrative After Action Report. The hardest hit, though, were the armored infantrymen of the 27th AIB with nearly 300 battle casualties. After putting down a heavy concentration of artillery fire, the Germans moved their infantry across the river east of the position held by the 2nd platoon of D Troop, 89th Recon. Beevor, Antony. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. In addition, elements of the 116th Panzer Division and the 560th Volksgrenadier Division were moving against the weakly held southern flank of St. Vith defended by remnants of the 424th Infantry Regiment of the 106th Infantry Division and the 112th Infantry Regiment of the 28th Infantry Division. General Jones and his staff had pulled out of St. Vith on the morning of the 18th for Vielsalm. I wanted to focus on the M8 vs Tiger story, I already noticed the Ferdinand claim, but decided not to mention it. The commanders were at the center of the Foret Domaniale du Grand Bois. Task Force Jones and the 112th Infantry eventually found their way into 82nd Airborne Division lines during the night of the 24th, but not before the units suffered heavy losses. The fight ended when he slammed the M8 (he called it a Greyhound) into the rear of Tiger and the gun crew fired three rapid fire rounds into the engine compartment. Although the 62nd Volksgrenadier Division drove the American defenders from Winterspelt, all was not going well for the Germans. Perrin told General Hoge, You can continue this attack on towards this back country, but you must be back on this side of the river by nightfall.. Dragon 1629 1/16th Feldwebel 352nd Volksgrenadier Division R 275.00. Unteroffizier Helmus of the 26th Volksgrenadier Division painted the situation when the advance began. Rather than reaching the Meuse and driving on to Antwerp, the offensive stalled and eventually was turned back. First Edition, Stackpole Books, 2004. Given that the rear hull armor of a Tiger II is 80 mm of RHA angled at 30 degrees, it is essentially impossible for the M8 Greyhounds 37 mm M6 gun to penetrate the rear hull armor of the Tiger II. Zaloga, Steven. An M8 Greyhound armored car of Troop B, 87th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron was lying in a concealed position just northeast of the vitally important crossroads town of St. Vith, Belgium. Panzertruppen Volume 2 The Complete Guide to the Creation & Combat Deployment of The German Tank Forces 1943-1945. While on its way, the platoon was commandeered by a colonel from the 106th Division. Elements of the 62nd Volksgrenadier had taken the eastern half of Winterspelt during the night, and at daybreak reinforcements finally drove Colonel Reids 1st Battalion from the village. No one knew what was happening. The rounded portion of the horseshoe was composed of Colonel Dwight Rosebaums CCA, 7th Armored between Poteau and Rodt and General Clarkes CCB, 7th Armored in the very center protecting St. Vith. The troops were exhausted and spread out. Clarke asked, Why in the world when I had only 2,500 men available to my command on December 17, did you not just execute a powerful frontal assault and overrun me?. He is being outflanked and is retiring west another 2,000 yards refusing both flanks. An attack to the east by the 7th Armored Division could then relieve the two surrounded regiments of the 106th. Jones explained to Hoge that his division was being attacked along its entire front and that two of his three regiments, the 422nd and the 423rd, had been partly surrounded in the Schnee Eifel area just east of Schoenberg. The Americans knew that their only hope in doing any sort of damage to this beast was to get as close as possible to it and shoot its weaker rear armor. Roadblocks were set up and manned. This German World War II article is a stub. The 18th Volksgrenadier Division was to attack along the two roads from Schoenberg, with the Fhrer Escort Brigade assaulting from the north. EN. Under the command of Gnther Hoffmann-Schnborn, the new division absorbed elements of the 18th Luftwaffe Field Division. Add to cart. 1940. It is a classic David versus Goliath tale straight out of World War II that features American heroism. General Jones wanted Hoge to use the infantry of his 27th AIB to seize the series of hills near Winterspelt while the 14th Tank Battalion was to remain west of the Our River for use as the situation developed. Add to cart. At 0600 Im going to start to move.. Division 4. History. The division was formed in Denmark, in September 1944, by redesignating the 571st Volksgrenadier Division. Schiffer Publishing, 1996. The move would also have to be done under the cover of darkness in severe wintry conditions. Anderson, Thomas. Field Marshal Montgomery, believing that Ridgways Corps could not attack successfully toward Vielsalm and that the American forces within the goose egg could better be used in support of other forces committed to the northern shoulder defense, decided upon a general withdrawal. English PDF (15 MB) Jan B-513 German General Staff Officers, Casualties. At about 1330, three German self-propelled guns and 19 or 20 horse-drawn artillery pieces went into position on the high ground 800 yards to the southeast of Steinebruck. VGD) was a volksgrenadierdivision of the German Army(Heer) during the Second World War, active from 1944 to 1945. The second task force consisted of B Company of the 811th Tank Destroyers. In my opinion, the only definite conclusion that can be made from all this is that some American vehicle engaged something at St. Vith on the night of the 18th. He could not believe it. As each unit joined the rear of the column, it took its turn being the rear guard. The staff officer wanted to know if 9th Armored could spare some desperately needed help. It appeared now that the fate of his two northern regiments was sealed. Thus, the job of rescuing the two trapped infantry regiments on the Schnee Eifel passed from the 9th to the 7th Armored Division. Attacking the rear of a Tiger when you had no way of knowing if it was supported by one or more others is extremely unlikely. On December 21, 18. CCB, 9th Armored was linked on its left with CCB, 7th Armored and what was left of the 424th Infantry Regiment on its right. Volksgrenadier-Division; 18. Olson states that, on the 18th of December 1944, one of the armored cars opened fire with its 37 mm gun on a German tank at range of 800 yards [732 meters]. In blinding snow and on slippery roads the tanks and infantry of CCB, 9th Armored headed for Bauvenn. Operation Nordwind 1945 Hitlers last offensive in the West. Third Printing, US Army Armored School, 1966. Ardennes 1944: Hitlers Last Gamble. Unable to advance, it pulled back to the nearest high ground and dug in. The only known witness to the supposed event, Captain Walter Henry Anstey, died on 26th October 2003 at the age of 90, taking the truth of the events that day to his grave. Johnston, W. Wesley. Both B and C Companies pulled back to the vicinity of Neidingen, near the battalion command post, while the 14th Tank Battalion established a perimeter defense around its assembly area near Breitfeld about halfway between the Our and St. Vith. The Fifth and Sixth Panzer Armies were to advance abreast, cross the Meuse River, and then drive for the Belgian port city of Antwerp, a major staging and supply center for the Allied armies in western Europe. A Company moved south under the protection of the high river bank, while C Company deployed along the left side of the road as the enveloping company. In minutes, a platoon of medium tanks from A Company of the 14th rolled across the bridge at Steinebruck and placed high explosive and heavy machine-gun fire on the enemys position in the woods and along the draw. During his meeting with Hoge, General Ridgway became convinced that defending this area any further would be futile. Since 7th Armoreds withdrawal meant that 9th Armoreds left flank would be in danger, the two generals agreed that Hoge would have to readjust part of his line to maintain contact with Clarkes new rearward position. The formations started to peel backward in succession from opposite Neubruck to Maldingen. The defense of St. Vith was now achieving some kind of order in contrast to the chaos that had reigned during the previous three days. By noon, the 27th AIB, with the help of Company A, 14th Tank Battalion, had retaken that first stretch of high ground. It was to cross the Meuse on both sides of Liege before advancing on to Antwerp. Operation Nordwind 1945 Hitlers last offensive in the West. Hoge and Ridgway had been on the West Point football team together when Ridgway had been the teams manager. 1945. It would be unable to turn its full strength on St. Vith until the American surrender in that area. Osprey Publishing, 2010. 301 sentences with 'poor shape'. Jentz, Thomas, and Hilary Doyle. Although both men agreed that a withdrawal at this stage was the wiser decision, Hoge was skeptical that, given the weather and ground conditions, the defenders would be able to get out. By midnight on the 19th, the horseshoe- shaped defense of St. Vith had taken form. The two commanders agreed that even without the mud to contend with the withdrawal would have to be delayed simply because of heavy enemy pressure. Having failed to find a soft spot to the north, the Germans then moved against Hoges 9th Armored command in the south; however, even before this attack got going three German tanks were knocked out and the rest of the probing force withdrew. Out of the 1,467 tanks the Germans brought with them to the Battle of the Bulge on the 16th of December, 1944, 52 of them were Tiger IIs and 14 of them were Tiger Is. Although it was beaten off, the attacking Germans were identified as new to the area, soldiers of the 9th SS Panzer Division, a cause for considerable concern at this point in the battle. However, there is one major issue with this explanation, Panzer IVs were not attacking Troop B. Developed in the 1930s, the Panzer IV was one of the mainstay German armored fighting vehicles of the Second World War as well as Germanys most-produced tank of the war, with over 8,500 produced. Volksgrenadier-Division; 18. Troop D, 89th Recon had positioned its troop headquarters and first platoon to cover the bridge over the Our. The silhouettes of the Panzer IV and the Tiger I are quite similar, especially due to their rectangular shapes and rounded turret (rounded through the later use of a curved armor plate around the otherwise angular turret). At 0130 the 27th AIB was hit hard and the sector held by Company B, 9th Engineers was deeply penetrated, causing the armored infantry to fall back under the protective guns of Company A, 14th Tank Battalion. In the early afternoon of the 22nd, he arrived at General Hasbroucks headquarters in Vielsalm to plan the withdrawal. According to two combat interviews given by men of the 87th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron, the 87th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadrons After Action Report for the month of December 1944, and Lieutenant Colonel Boylans 1946 letter, on 18th December 1944, the Germans attacked the 87th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron (minus Troop B) with infantry and tanks. By this time the Germans had essentially closed the trap on the two infantry regiments on the Schnee Eifel. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. None of these Tiger IIs were lost at St. Vith and from photographic evidence at least three are recorded to have no burn damage and/or holes in the rear. Were any of these Tiger Is and or Tiger IIs knocked out on the 18th of December, 1944? The 18th Volksgrenadier Division (18th VGD) was a volksgrenadier division of the German Army (Heer) during the Second World War, active from 1944 to 1945.. Three of these Tiger IIs belonged to Schwere SS Panzer Abteilung 501 (Heavy SS Tank Battalion 501); Tiger 105 was abandoned in the town of Stavelot, Belgium after getting itself stuck in a building, Tiger 332 was abandoned near Coo, Belgium as a result of mechanical damage, and Tiger 008 was abandoned at a farmhouse near Trois Ponts, Belgium. At approximately 0100 on December 18, a German force of about 30 men tried to cross the Our at Steinebruck after a brief artillery barrage. The 18th Volksgrenadier Division (18th VGD) was a volksgrenadier division of the German Army ( Heer) during the Second World War, active from 1944 to 1945. Established in 1941, the unit was deployed in German-occupied areas of the Soviet Union, in the Army Group North Rear Area. In addition, the massive road jam caused by the inability to pass through St. Vith was creating acute shortages of gasoline and ammunition well to the west of St. Vith. VGD led by Heinz Kokott, Heinrich Himmler's brother-in-law. Before departing, however, Hoge gave orders to Lt. Col. Leonard E. Engeman, commander of the 14th Tank Battalion, to get a strong force ready to move out to assist 7th Armored should it become necessary. The event that Lieutenant Olson recounts does bare a resemblance to the M8 Greyhound versus Tiger story, with both events taking place at or near St. Vith on the 18th of December 1944 and involving an American armored car from the 87th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron knocking out a German tank by shooting it in the rear. As the offensive steam came to an end in the Ardennes, the division went on the defensive, and there they would stay. This article already explains ballistics and mentions that while Panther was vulnerable to lower-caliber AT guns, the Tigers were almost immune to them. Combat Interviews of the 87th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron, 7th Armored Division: The St. Vith Salient, December 17-23, 1944. Zaloga, Steven, and Tony Bryan. which, in principle, is comparable to the 37 mm American gun. Gen. Bruce C. Clarke, commander of CCB, 7th Armored Division, arrived at General Joness command post in St. Vith at approximately 1030. With the unexplained disappearance of D Troop from the 89th Reconnaissance Platoon, Company B, 27th AIB became the leading element. At CCB, 9th Armored Divisions headquarters in Faymonville, General Hoge was just finishing up his briefing for his commands move to the Losheim Gap and Manderfeld when the call came through from General Jones informing him of 9th Armoreds new Winterspelt mission. All in all, the only things that the American claims concerning the famed M8 Greyhound versus Tiger engagement can agree on are that on the 18th of December 1944 an M8 Greyhound from some unit of the 87th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron killed some sort of German tank in or around the town of St. Vith. Late on December 17, General Manteuffel was concerned with the lack of progress in his attack beyond the Schnee Eifel toward St. Vith. VGD. At 0400 hours on 16th December, 1944, men of the German 18th Volksgrenadier Division began to leave their positions and make their way towards the American lines. Manteuffel met near Wallerode with Model and Lucht that day. 18th Artillery Division 651. Staff Sergeant Frank Mykalo knocked out a German machine-gun position, enabling the men in the lead half-tracks to dismount and deploy along the side of the road. Revised Edition, Arms and Armour Press, 1973. Also no Ferdinand/Elefant recorded to have seen combat on Western Front. Zaloga, Steven. Volksgrenadier-Division; 18. Ministry of Supply, 1945. Jones had been counting on this when he sent Hoges 9th Armored Command to Winterspelt rather than Schoenberg. The 424th Infantry had its back to the Our River, and if the Germans seized the bridge at Steinebruck and spread along the far bank his regiment would be hard pressed to effectively withdraw. Zaloga, Steven. Maurice Delaval Papers Collection of the Military History Institute in Carlisle, PA. Those factors dictated that at least another 24 hours would be needed before a major assault on St. Vith could begin. This was no place to conduct a mobile defense with armor-heavy forces. 16 Dec 2022 08:28:00 Ninth Armored sent out billeting parties as it reached its new area. The sector now defended by CCB, 9th Armored extended across five miles of rugged terrain that was primarily held by the three infantry companies making up the 27th AIB. Jentz, Thomas, and Hilary Doyle. Furthermore, General Clarke had no idea when his command would arrive. The fall of Rodt effectively split 7th Armoreds CCA from General Clarkes CCB. Although the 7th Armored Division was finally arriving, General Jones had been led to believe that the whole division would arrive in St. Vith starting at 0700. It was a clear disappointment to Jones when Clarke told him that he, his operations officer, his aide, and his driver were the only representatives of the 7th Armored Division to have reached St. Vith at that time. All but five troopers of 2nd Platoon were lost to enemy action. 1/18th Scale Cars; 1/24th Scale Assembly Kits; 1/24th Scale Cars; 1/43rd Scale Cars; . St. Vith is built on a low hill surrounded on all sides by slightly higher rises. VGD led by Heinz Kokott, Heinrich Himmler's brother-in-law. Josef Theissen, the fifteen-year-old who had seen the Germans arrive on Sunday, December 17, watched the soldiers every move with the fascination for things military . of the Army, 1965. On 18 January 1945, the final alignment became (XVIII Corps, U. S. First Army, 12th Army Group) -- the alignment in the hierarchy given here. If neither a Tiger I nor a Tiger II was killed on 18th December 1944 in or around the town of St. Vith by an M8 Greyhound, what was? The other, the 62nd Volksgrenadier Division, bore the number of an infantry division destroyed on the Eastern Front, which had been reconstituted. Ridgways plan was premised on the assumption that that the American forces in this goose egg-shaped defense could be supplied by air; however, whoever drew up the plan was thinking in terms of supply requirements for the lighter airborne divisions, not for fuel-hungry and shell-reliant armored forces. It is possible (if unlikely) that this event was completely unrelated to the M8 Greyhound versus Tiger story. The stubborn defenders of St. Vith played a major role in defeating the final German offensive of World War II in Western Europe. Armour Plate Porforation [sic: Perforation] of Tank and Anti Tank Guns. Overall operational command for the offensive fell to Field Marshal Walther Model. The division's intelligence officer, Lieutenant Colonel Robert P. Stout, noted that the division faced two known enemy divisions, the 18th Volksgrenadier Division and the 26th Volksgrenadier Division. Armored Champion, The Top Tanks of World War II. Fifth Panzer was to attack from Prum in the north down to Bitburg and Bastogne in the south. Although the Germans were facing stiff resistance all along the American defensive line, they were determined to take St. Vith. Volksgrenadier Division 5. December, 1944 By Greg Moore gregpanzerblitz.com December, 2008 Battalion I x 5 x 4 x 1 x 2 x 12 293rd Volks- . Inform us! The U.S. 9th Armored Division arrived in the European Theater of Operations in late October 1944 as a reserve for Maj. Gen. In the 27th AIBs move to take the high ground, B Company advanced along the center of the road. Orders for CCB, 9th Armored to move to a new defensive position were issued at 1600. The event simply was not that notable. For faster navigation, this Iframe is preloading the Wikiwand page for 18th Volksgrenadier Division. Good Tank, Poor Deployment | T-34-76 and T-34-85 in Yugoslav Partisan Service. The 18th Volksgrenadier Division (18th VGD) was a volksgrenadier division of the German Army (Heer) during the Second World War, active from 1944 to 1945. Fire from the 16th Field Artillery broke up other enemy formations trying to assemble on the high ground to the south. Since General Hoge was supposed to be under Joness command and did not understand the overall situation around St. Vith, he decided to find out exactly what was going on. On December 9, 1944, Brig. Join historians and history buffs alike with our Unlimited Digital Access pass to every military history article ever published (over 3,000 articles) in Sovereigns military history magazines.