"Getting Rolling" (Narrative 1/4)
0800, 6 August 1944, 116. Panzerdivision HQ, W of Sourdeval
"Heil Hitler! Oberstleutnant Dieter von Magsburg, reporting for duty!"
Von Magsburg snapped a crisp Sieg Heil to the Major General standing by a large
table across the room. The Major General sighed and replied with the army salute.
Von Magsburg grinned and replied with an army salute of his own.
Now smiling slightly, the Major General shook von Magsburg's hand. "Good to meet
you, Oberstleutnant. Generalmajor Hans von Nordheim. No trouble with the Jabos
on your way in, I take it?" The lieutenant colonel shook his head. Von Nordheim
gestured to the table. "I'm afraid your holiday in that hospital bed has come to
and end."
Von Magsburg stiffened a little as the pair walked toward the table. "It was no
holiday hearing that my son was killed by the Russians."
"Yes, I heard about your boy, I'm sorry." The pair arrived at the table.
"Unfortunately, fighting the Amis is just as hard as fighting the Russians,
and we've got a lot of work to do." He pointed to a series of arrows drawn
on the map. Von Magsburg quickly focused on the line emanating from the 116.
Panzerdivision, starting at Sourdeval and ending at Saint-Pois. "Seventh Army
is in full retreat after the major Allied offensive that broke through our
positions at Saint-Lo last month. OKW has ordered us to counterattack towards
Avranches in concert with the SS Panzer divisions holding down our southern flank.
You will lead our Kampfgruppe in our division's vanguard."
"Very well, sir. When does the attack start?"
Von Nordheim cast an apologetic look at his newest subordinate. "Midnight."
Von Magsburg stared at his division commander in disbelief. "Tonight?"
Von Nordheim nodded and replied sternly, "I'm sorry, but the officer who was
supposed to lead the attack was killed yesterday while reconnoitering the route.
The good news is that his executive officer, Major Klein, is very thorough,
and all of their planning and preparations should help you pick up where he left off."
"I'll get it done, sir," replied von Magsburg resolutely.
"Good." Von Nordheim walked von Magsburg over to the wall, where the division's
unit structure was laid out. "You're in command of what's left of I. Battalion,
Panzergrenadier-Regiment 156. Your Kampfgruppe consist of two motorized Panzergrenadier
companies, supported by the battalion weapons company, a Panther platoon and a
Panzer IV platoon. You'll be reinforced by divisional reconnaissance assets and
artillery as available."
"Are they at full strength?" asked von Magsburg, knowing full well that the division's
units had been chewed up by the constant fighting against the British.
Von Nordheim cast a knowing glanceat von Magsburg. "They are now," he replied grimly.
"We gutted the survivors of 3. Kompanie to get 1., 2., and 4. Kompanies to
full strength. The tank companies are in even worse shape; you're getting 5
of the 28 Panthers left in the division, and 5 of the 22 remaining Panzer IVs."
"Well, they'll have to do. What's my Kampfgruppe's role in this attack?"
"You'll be spearheading the division's drive for the first phase of the attack.
It'll be your job to punch through the American front and hold the crossroads
at Chérencé-le-Roussel open for the rest of our division. Once we're past their
first line of defense the armored boys in the Panzergrenadier-Regiment 60
Kampfgruppen will handle the exploitation." Von Nordheim looked at his watch.
"I'm afraid I need to go to a conference with General von Funck. Major Klein
will fill you in on everything else." The two exchanged salutes.
"Dismissed."
***
|