Battle of the Odon by Georges Bernage

Author:Georges Bernage [Bernage, Georges]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
Tags: HISTORY / Military / World War II
ISBN: 9781473858596
Publisher: Pen and Sword
Published: 2017-09-29T22:00:00+00:00

1. SS-Ustuf. Herbert Höfler was the leader of 1st section, 8./12. Hans Siegel entrusted him with command of the action that took place in the Rauray sector. (Heimdal)

2. Positions of the four Panzer IVs from Hans Siegel’s 8./12 on the Salbey. (L.K. Heimdal)

3. The field where Hans Siegel positioned his four Panzer IVs, pointing north (towards Cheux), on the right. (Heimdal)

4. One of the Panzer IV’s position, hidden in the hedge, looking towards Cheux. (Heimdal)

Hans Siegel returned to his own panzer back on the road, and was joined by the reconnaissance patrol he had sent to reconnoitre the left flank. They told him they had come across elements from SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 26 on a hill, 500 meters away. It was covering the division’s left flank and had been hit by the British offensive, but was unable to link up with the four Panzer IVs because it did not have enough men. Hans Siegel then noted, ‘We were thus in the front line, without any contact with the left or right flank. The enemy pulled back, probably to the southern edge of Cheux. The breach was plugged and our mission fulfilled.’ It was now 7 pm and Siegel decided that he would make contact himself with the elements from Regiment 26, which were a few hundred meters away on the left. He followed a hedge and arrived at an earth covered-bunker, identical to that where the artillerymen were. It was the battalion CP of Bernhard Siebken’s II./26. He then returned to his panzers and night began to fall. The torrential rain penetrated everything and the men were soon soaked through. Siegel had no radio contact with anyone and the night was as black as ink. Suddenly, a VW-Kübelwagen stopped near the Salbey and brought a canteen with food for the twenty soldiers. A man from each panzer went to fetch supplies for himself and his four comrades, while Siegel took the opportunity to write a quick message to the regimental CP, pointing out that his mission had been accomplished and that he was holding his position. A quarter of an hour later (about 11 pm), another Kübelwagen arrived and came down the road between the trees, towards Siegel’s panzer. It brought with it SS-Sturmbannführer Schöps (whose coat Siegel had found in the abandoned vehicle), the artillery commander for the entire area. He spoke with Siegel and they decided to move the howitzers at around 1 am, but with no tractors, and using one of the Panzer IVs instead. The Kübelwagen was about 35 metres behind Siegel’s panzer and was unable to turn around on the treelined road. With a ‘Hau Ruck!’, in four manoeuvrers the vehicle was carried at arm’s length, turned 180°, and put back facing the right direction (facing south, towards Grainville-sur-Odon). Suddenly, someone shouted ‘Hands up!’ as several silhouettes emerged from the bushes. They moved towards the group, which quickly split up and sought the shelter of Hans Siegel’s panzer, and in an instant, Siegel found himself alone in the middle of the road.

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