Franz Kurowski Translated by David Johnston By Franz Kurowski Translated by David Johnston Published by J.J. Fedorowicz Publishing, Inc. 104 Browning Boulevard Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada R3K0L7 Cover photographs: Front: Panther "801" of the II./SS-Panzer-Regiment 5 "Wiking" preparing for action. Nicolussi-Leck can be seen in the commander's hatch. (Jean Restayn) Rear: The six "Panzer Aces" of this book. Copyright © 2000 The material in this book is copyright by J.J. Fedorowicz Publishing, Inc., and no part of it may be reproduced in any form — electronic, printed or otherwise —without the written consent of the publisher. Printed in Canada ISBN 0 - 921991 - 49 - 5 Printed by Friesens Printers Altona, Manitoba, Canada Publishers' Acknowledgements Special thanks to Shawn Biettner for fact checking the text. Through his tireless efforts, we avoided many possible mistakes in the final version of this book. We are also grateful to the indefatigable Jean Restayn for providing the many photographs which enriched the text entries immeasureably. Mark Menge also provided valuable input by reviewing the text for its "readability." As always, his comments were inciteful and to the point. Matt Lukes also deserves credit for another excellently ren- dered signing box. We also wish to thank you, the reader, for purchasing this book and all of you who have written us with kind words of praise and encouragement. It gives us the impetus to continue translating the best available German-language books and produce original titles. Our catalog of books is listed on the following pages and can be viewed on our web site at www.jjfpub.mb.ca. We have also listed titles which are near production and can be expected in the near future. Many of these are due to your helpful proposals. We look forward to your continued comments and construc- tive criticism. John Fedorowicz, Mike Olive and Bob Edwards Other Titles by J.J. Fedorowicz Publishing The Leibstandarte (1. SS-Panzer-Division): Volumes I, II, III, IV/1 and IV/2 European Volunteers (5. SS-Panzer-Division) Das Reich (2. SS-Panzer-Division): Volumes I and II The History of Panzer-Korps "Großdeutschland": Volumes I and II Otto Weidinger Otto Kumm Manhay, The Ardennes: Christmas 1944 Armor Battles of the Waffen-SS, 1943-1945 Tiger: The History of a Legendary Weapon, 1942-1945 Hitler Moves East Tigers in the Mud Panzer Aces Footsteps of the Hunter History of the 12. SS-Panzer-Division "Hitlerjugend" Grenadiers, the Autobiography of Kurt Meyer Field Uniforms of German Army Panzer Forces in World War 2 Tigers in Combat, Volumes I and II Infanterie Aces Freineaux and Lamormenil—The Ardennes The Caucasus and the Oil East Front Drama—1944 The History of the Fallschirm-Panzer-Korps "Hermann Goring" Michael Wittmann and the Tiger Commanders of the Leibstandarte The Western Front 1944: Memoirs of a Panzer Lehr Officer Luftwaffe Aces Quiet Flows the Rhine Decision in the Ukraine: Summer 1943 Combat History of the Schwere Panzer-Jäger-Abteilung 653 The Brandenburgers—Global Mission Field Uniforms of Germany's Panzer Elite Soldiers of the Waffen-SS: Many Nations, One Motto In the Firestorm of the Last Years of the War The Meuse First and Then Antwerp Jochen Peiper: Commander, Panzer-Regiment "Leibstandarte" Sturmgeschütze vor! Assault Guns to the Front! Karl Baur: A Pilot's Pilot Kharkov Panzertaktik — German Armor Tactics of World War II Panzer Aces 2 In Preparation: The History of Panzer-Korps "Großdeutschland": Volume III The History of Panzer-Regiment "Großdeutschland" The Battle of Kursk: A Photographic Record Funklenkpanzer — German Radio-Controlled Armor of World War II The Combat History of Schwere Panzer-Jäger-Abteilung 654 J.J. Fedorowicz Publishing Signing Box by Matt Lukes Table of Contents Sepp Brandner ...................................................... 1 Fritz Fegmann ..................................................... 79 Kurt Knispel. ..................................................... 159 Johannes Kummel. ................................................. 243 Karl Nicolussi-Leck ................................................ 335 Hermann von Oppeln-Bronikowski .................................... 493 Hauptmann Josef"Sepp" Brandner at Courland. Brandner Sepp "Leutnant Brandner reporting as ordered!" "Thank you, Brandner, stand at ease." Hauptmann Handrick, bat- tery commander of the 202nd Assault Gun Battalion, shook hands with his technical officer. "Brandner, you know that Leutnant Bohm was severely wounded in the assault on Yelnya and is out of action. Would you take over the 1st Platoon in his place?" At first Sepp Brandner thought he had heard wrong. He was being offered what he had been striving for since beginning the Russian cam- paign as a gun commander. "I would like to very much, Herr Hauptmann." "Good. I have already informed the battalion commander. He agrees, because Leutnant Narbutt can replace you as technical officer. Come, we'll go to your platoon." The two assault guns of the 1st Platoon were parked close togeth- er. Feldwebel Preinlinger, commander of the second vehicle, reported. Speaking quickly, Hauptmann Preinlinger informed him that they had received a new platoon leader. No further explanation was required, for it had been Leutnant Brandner who had gone into the minefield with the 18-ton prime mover to rescue the two assault guns during the first breakthrough attempt near Yelnya. That had been on 18 July 1941. Now they were stuck in the Yelnya salient. Before them were nine Russian rifle divisions and two tank units arrayed in a broad arc. The battalion itself was under the command of the 10th Panzer Division. To the north was the SS division "Das Reich." The 10th Panzer Division had destroyed 50 enemy tanks in one day. The 202nd Assault Gun Battalion, which General Schaal had deployed at the hot spots, played a part in this success. Yelnya was taken. But then the division became stalled in front of the well-forti- fied Russian positions. One-third of the division's vehicles were put out of action. Ammunition had to be brought in over a 450-kilometer land route. The SS division "Das Reich" was stalled north of Yelnya, between the city and Dorogobush. That was the situation in July 1941. ** "Russian counterattack. Enemy has reached the main line of resist- ance and has driven our troops in the trenches back to the windmill and Hill 16.7. The assault gun battalion is to attack the enemy forces which 1
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