Panzer Aces [01] Panzer Aces: German Tank Commanders of WWII by Franz Kurowski

Author:Franz Kurowski [Kurowski, Franz]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: World War 2, Biographies & Memoirs, Leaders, Battles, Campaigns
ISBN: 9780811731737
Amazon: B008ML7DEK
Publisher: Stackpole Books
Published: 2004-08-20T04:00:00+00:00

At 0600 hours the following day, two of the Tigers carried out an attack on Soviet-held positions directly in front of Hill 343. Captain Wollschläger, who had temporarily taken command of the battalion following the wounding of Major Marker, climbed into the command tank. Major Scultetus, a recovery specialist and the designer of special recovery equipment for the Tiger, went along in the second Tiger. He had been attached to the battalion to observe the Tiger under operational conditions.

The two steel giants moved through the snow up to Hill 343. Their mission was to engage enemy bunkers and infantry positions with direct fire. Both Tigers began to round the enemy positions. The bunkers were eliminated one after another. The exploding rounds tore away camouflage material, and beams and sheet metal whirled high into the air. Exploding ammunition tore up the ground. Soviet soldiers ran for their lives and disappeared into foxholes and trenches in an effort to escape the deadly fire of the German tanks. The barrage resulted in total confusion on the Russian side.

The Tigers were almost out of ammunition, when Russian artillery began to answer. Rounds of every caliber began to fall on the hill. Chunks of frozen earth showered down on the two Tigers. Round fragments smacked against the tank’s armored sides. “We’re heading back!” ordered Captain Wollschläger. The two Tigers turned and began to withdraw, pursued by bursting rounds and showered with dirt and ice. The grenadiers in their positions suddenly saw the command tank brake harshly. In the midst of the artillery fire, the hatches flew open. Smoke billowed out, but none of the five crewmembers emerged. Luckily, the snow that had begun to fall in the meantime intensified and the Russian artillery fell silent. Major Scultetus ordered his driver to move on a bit farther and then halt.

“Radio operator, gunner and loader stay in the tank! Driver, come with me!”

The Major jumped down from the tank and called over a pair of grenadiers. They hurried over to the stationary Tiger on skis. When they reached the tank, they were met by a grisly scene. All five crewmembers had been badly wounded. Signals Sergeant Major Orth was recovered first. He had lost both eyes. Senior Ensign Sepp Schmeißer’s injuries were so severe that he died the next day. Captain Wollschläger, who had managed to swing himself out of the Tiger, lay in the snow with serious head injuries.

Summoned by radio, the battalion surgeon, Captain Dr. Blatt, hurried to the scene and directed the evacuation of the seriously wounded men. What had happened? An inspection might show what had caused the explosion within the tank. Or had the Tiger been hit by the Russian artillery? Statements by the grenadiers did not suggest the latter.

“We’ll recover the tank after darkness falls and inspect it in the maintenance facility,” said Major Scultetus. It was later discovered that one of the Tiger’s own high-explosive rounds had detonated in the ammunition rack.

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