17SS Panzer Grenadier Division
On 7 June 1944 17th SS Panzer Grenadier Division received orders to leave the marshalling area in Thouars and to move to the invasion front in Normandy. Everyone was in a good mood and eager to see action again, – happy that the pre-invasion spell of uncertainty and waiting had snapped at last.
On 7 June 1944 17th SS Panzer Grenadier Division received orders to leave the marshalling area in Thouars and to move to the invasion front in Normandy. Everyone was in a good mood and eager to see action again, – happy that the pre-invasion spell of uncertainty and waiting had snapped at last.
In some minds there was a gnawing doubt that perhaps this was only a repetition of the Dieppe raid in which the Allies would withdraw after a German show of force. Perhaps the Gotz von Berlichingen would even be too late to get into the scrap.
Our motorized columns were coiling along the roads towards the invasion beaches. Amidst this rumbling of motors and grinding of vehicle tracks the Panzer Grenadier was in his element again.
Our motorized columns were coiling along the roads towards the invasion beaches. Amidst this rumbling of motors and grinding of vehicle tracks the Panzer Grenadier was in his element again.
Then something happened that left us in a daze. Spouts of fire flicked along the column and splashes of dust staccatoed the road. Everyone was piling out of the vehicles and scuttling for the neighboring fields. Several vehicles were already in flames.
This attack ceased as suddenly as it had crashed upon us 15 minutes before. The men started drifting back to the column again, pale and shaky and wondering that they had survived this fiery rain of bullets. Had that been a sign of the things to come? This had been our first experience with the ‘Jabos’ (fighter bombers).
This attack ceased as suddenly as it had crashed upon us 15 minutes before. The men started drifting back to the column again, pale and shaky and wondering that they had survived this fiery rain of bullets. Had that been a sign of the things to come? This had been our first experience with the ‘Jabos’ (fighter bombers).
The march column was now completely disrupted and every man was on his own, to pull out of this blazing column the best he could. And it was none too soon, because an hour later the whole thing started all over again, only much worse this time. When this attack was over, the length of the road was strewn with splintered anti-tank guns (the pride of our division), flaming motors and charred implements of war.
It dawned on us that this opponent that had come to the beaches of Normandy was of a somewhat different format. The march was called off, and all the vehicles that were left were hidden in the dense bushes or in barns. No one dared show himself out in the open any more.
Now the men started looking at each other. The first words passed. This was different from what we thought it would be like. If things like this happened here, what would it be like up there at the front? No, this did not look like a feint attack upon our continent. It had been our first experience with our new foe – the American.
During the next few days we found out how seriously he was going about his business. Although now we only traveled at night and along secondary roads rimmed with hedges and bushes, we encountered innumerable wrecks giving toothless testimony that some motorist had not benefitted from the bitter experience we had had.
1 comment:
Juan this is a great story need more of the same thanks
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