Soldiers of Barbarossa P 3 - 18th Panzer w. submersible tanks opens the way to Minsk for the 3rd PzD

SUPPORT THE CHANNEL and get access to exclusive film footage
www.Patreon.com/Military1945
Episode 168

This footage shows a rare submersible tank from the 18th PzD. The division was formed in October of 1940 in order to take part in Operation Sea Lion, the planned invasion of the United Kingdom. In the Summer of 1941 instead of crossing the English Channel, the division as part of Army Group Center, advanced into the Soviet Union.

In Part 3 in the series covering letters and diary entries from this wonderful book we’ll follow the experiences of a young Lieutenant who served in the 18th PzD. Using rare film footage we’ll bring his story to life and with OKW situational maps we’ll add context. You can find the entries from today’s episode on pg. 37 & 38 of the book.

We are looking at the situational map for June 24th 1941 two days after Operation Barbarossa began. The 18th PzD, part of PzG 2 being lead by General Heinz Guderian, was thrusting to the north east in the direction of Minsk. Army Group North would make up the left pincer of this massive envelopment maneuver which would eventually create the Bialystock Minsk pocket.

The 18th Panzer Division, at the tip of the spearhead thrust was facing the brunt of desperate Soviet resistance and so clearing the way for the 3rd PzD to continue racing forwards.

At the end of this video we’ll take a look at the June 25th situational map, the second diary entry that we’ll cover today, to see how things have developed so stick around.

The triple crossed Y is the unit insignia of the 18th PzD and this signifies that it was part of PzR 18 that was made up of so-called Tauchpanzer, As fate would have it that operation was sidelined.

24.6.41: Leutnant Georg Kreuter (18 Panzer Division, 2 Panzer Group, Army Group Center)[1]

Um 22 Uhr wurde ich zum Gefechtsstand gerufen...
At 2200 hours, I am summoned to the division. I take another five motorcycle messengers with me. The road is blocked by vehicle columns and it takes a long time for me to get through. At the head of the column, I discover that the divisional command post is surrounded and decide to continue on alone. It is pretty dark, and now and then I come across one of our soldiers. Suddenly I have the impression that Russian tanks may be attacking and with a few hastily organized people we establish a hedgehog defensive position.

When a rifle company continues ahead, I join them. We meet the commander of the combat engineer battalion, Major Rahl. He seems to think that there are absolutely no Russians there at all and that we are simply shooting at each other. When I continue onward, I meet my chief, who is going to get help. I go with him to the divisional command post. We can’t go along the road and must take a long detour.

A crazy shoot-out [tolle Schiesserei] is underway and there’s nothing to be seen. Close to the location of the command post, we come across some Russians, who are lying ahead of us in the grass. . . It looks like everything has gone totally berserk at the command post. A Russian column coming from the west had thrust directly onto our march route. They probably wanted to get out of the cauldron. A few trucks were shot into flames by a tank that just happened to be standing by for repairs. The enemy dismounted from the rest and attacked.

It was a strange group of people. There were even a few German Communists among them. Most of them were in civilian clothes! Even women and children were there. They wore steel helmets, too, and shot at us. Everything around us was in flames. Russian trucks and German gasoline trucks! If only day would come so that we can get some help. The shooting is coming from everywhere!. . . My chief now has command here. The division commander isn’t here, he’s out with reconnaissance.

25.6.41: Leutnant Georg Kreuter (18 Panzer Division, 2 Panzer Group, Army Group Center)[1]

Even the longest night finally comes to an end! Now we can see clearly! Russians are still being pulled out of the trucks, some of them are hidden under the axles; there are even some in our [vehicles]. It is quite a considerable number coming together here. The woman who wailed so madly through the night has now become quieter. She has an infant with her. Her wailing made everyone nervous all night long; she must be mad, because she pounds away and talks as if making a grand speech.

Around 20 of the worst renegades and those who have passed themselves off as German soldiers are executed. And the woman is among them! I am pleased that this chapter is closed. If it is to go on like this, then we’ll have to receive fresh supplies of nerves!