Order in Chaos: The Memoirs of General of Panzer Troops Hermann Balck (Foreign Military Studies) by Hermann Balck

Author:Hermann Balck [Balck, Hermann]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3, pdf
Publisher: The University Press of Kentucky
Published: 2015-05-01T07:00:00+00:00

Between Battles

The 11th Panzer Division was finally pulled out of the line. It left the field as a battle-hardened unit that had not known failure, only victory. Our losses had been heavy because we were almost always on the defensive. But the division’s core held firm, and we received an unprecedented recognition. An after-action order of the Second Panzer Army read as follows:

Panzer High Command 2

The Commander in Chief

Army Headquarters, 9 September 1942

To the 11th Panzer Division:

After the victorious conclusion of the fighting in the Voronezh Sector the division had been attached to the Second Panzer Army to assume a special attack mission.

Faithful to the reputation that preceded it for outstanding combat accomplishments, gained in countless battles, the division once again has conducted itself in an outstanding manner. Committed in the most forward lines, it was the first to break through the strong and tenaciously defended enemy positions and it remained the pacesetter during the thrust toward the Zhizdra.

Likewise during the ensuing, heavy defensive engagements, the division despite high enemy numerical superiority and heavy losses managed time and again to prevent an enemy breakthrough by launching counterattacks under the most difficult conditions.

With the departure of the division from my command, I want to express my special thanks and full recognition to the officers, officials,32 noncommissioned officers, and enlisted soldiers for your outstanding accomplishments. I am convinced that in the future the division will accomplish all missions with the same energy and motivation. I wish you success and soldier’s luck.

Signed Schmidt33

Colonel General

Commander, Second Panzer Army

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