The Battle Report of the 24th Luftwaffen Fortress Battalion
Part Two
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17.30 hour
Enemy attack is pushed back.
17.35 hour
Message comes in from pillbox 5/6.-- Firing apertures are destroyed.-- We can hardly breathe.
18.00 hour
Enemy shoots with phosphorus at the firing apertures of pillbox 5 / 6.-- Several men are burned already.
18.00 hour
Lt. Deinert is relieved and gets under command of the Regiment.
Lt. Lehmann and Lt. Deinert are counterattacking at pillbox 5 / 6 strength: 2 / 19 /44.
Oberleutnant Ferdinant must get out of there at all costs.-- This must be done immediately.
The unit on the right side is coming in at the defensive positions of the Company Deinert.
Ferdinand is with 10 men inside of the pillbox.-- some of them are wounded.
Lt. Lehmann takes over one Infantry man (?) operator and 10 men are coming
from the Reserve.
18.35 hour
Message comes from pillbox 103:--- Pillbox 103 is still there.Onderwerp: Battle Report XXIV LFB - page 8
18.35 hour
Leutnant Deinert is leaving to start the attack at pillbox 5 / 6.
19.00 hour
Oberleutnant Wahl and St. Oloffson have replaced Hauptmann Rene.
19.35 hour
Leutnant Deinert still hasn't arrived at pillbox 113.-- Message comes from pillbox 103:-- "We can't talk loud anymore".
Artillery is aiming their guns on pillbox 103.-- Enemy is digging in at the road-fork (spot 471), and south of the main road.
Pillbox 1 04 has placed securing forces to the west and the east.
20.30 hour
Company Deinert has arrived at pillbox 113.-- It is planned to start the attack at 21.20 hour, but it is decided to wait.
22.50 hour
The Americans have placed some lights (spots) at pillbox 104, at pillbox 300, and north of pillbox 5/6.
We ask for mortar and artillery fire, which is directed into this area.
15.10.1944
1.00 hour
Regimental order is coming in:-- The men of pillbox 104 are to retreat to pillbox 105. The men of pillbox 106, 107 and 108 are to retreat to pillbox 110.
New defense-line:-- Pillbox 110, the height 485,3 northeast of pillbox 113 and P 2. The men of pillbox 5 / 6 are to be relieved and to retreat to pillbox iii, 112 and 115. Battalions order:-- Same as Regimental order, including:- The men of pillbox 105 are staying until the men of pillbox 104 are in.-- After the order of Oberleutnant 24-11-99 '
Ferdinand "Tor", the men of pillbox 105 are to retreat by way of pillbox 106,107,108, to pillbox 110.
Several telephone-wires are to be destroyed before leaving the pillbox.
Oberleutnant Ferdinand will wait until Company Deinert has broken through the enemy forces that are surrounding the pillbox 5 16.
Than he will destroy the telephone wires and leave the pillbox to retreat with Company Deinert by way of pillbox 110, to the pillboxes 111,112 and 115 Firebreak is mined.- Retreat on the west side of it.
1.15 hour
Order to artillery and Staff Company:-- Prepare to fire at pillbox 5 I 6.
Order to Leutnant Deinert:-- The Company is to attack after the impacts of the mortar and artillery fire, with one Platoon to the right, and one Platoon to the left of pillbox 516. - They are to break through the ring of enemy and relieve the men of pillbox 5 / 6. Oberleutnant Ferdinand is in command for the retreat.
1.25 hour
Impact of our artillery and mortars.
1.35 hour
Lots of noise:-- Company Deinert has contact with the enemy.
2.45 hour
2 men from inside pillbox are calling -"Deinert"!-- : Deinert answers.
2.55 hour
No message comes from pillbox 5 /6 anymore.-- Hauptmann Rene still isn't arrived at pillbox 105.
2.58 hour
Pillbox 105 receives order to destroy the telephone wires and to retreat.
3.15 hour
Order to the men of the communications:-- Cut the wire to Bullrogge -- (pillbox 105).
..
3.45 hour
No fighting anymore since 3.35 hour.
6.50 hour
Message comes from pillbox 113.--Hauptmann Rene, Oberleutnant Ferdinand and Leutnant Stule arrived at 5.30 hour at pillbox 113.
11.45 hour
Heavy rifle fire from the direction of pillbox IG 3 and P 2 We can hear the tanks on the main road.
11.45 hour
Company Lt. Kraus is reinforced by one NCO and 7 men and the connection with pillbox P 2 is restored again
12.15 hour
Another 8 men to the Company Lt Kraus.-- (1st Company).
13.30 hour
Strong enemy attack:-- Our mortar and artillery fire is on target and supports us a lot with the defense.
14.05 hour
Americans broke through on our right side:-- We ask for artillery and mortar fire.-- The breakthrough is about 200 meters on our right side.
Onderwerp: Battle Report XXIV LFB - page 9
14.10 hour
Our Reserve troops are coming in to counterattack.
14.12 hour
Our mortar fire in Deinert's sector was right on target.- Enemy is retreating slowly from pillbox 22 and IG3..
14.15 hour
First enemy attack could be pushed back.
14.35 hour
We are suspecting that the enemy is preparing for an attack because of the mortar fire.-- 2nd preparing for an attack.- Pillbox IG3 is receiving strong Infantry fire:- The men are getting out of their foxholes.- 2nd enemy attack starts.
14.45 hour
Enemy attack is pushed back.
14.50 hour
The enemy breakthrough on our right side is restored by the men in the sector next to us.
14.55 hour
Lieutenant Buchholz is not to retreat slowly, but is to secure and make a turn to the left.
14.55 hour
Pillbox IG 3 and 22,- everything alright:- Lieutenant Deinert is lightly wounded by a shot in the head. .
Strong enemy artillery and mortar fire at our Battalion command post.
14.45 till 14.55 hour
3rd enemy attack in our right sector is pushed back.
15.55 hour
Heavy fighting on our right side. Enemy artillery and mortar fire is coming in during the night, and both sides send in strong recon forces.
16.10.1944
11.30 hour
Enemy broke through between pillbox 110 and height 485,3 in Oberleutnant Freitag's sector.-- Message is send on to Regiment Heavy fighting.
11.35 hour
We ask for our artillery.
11 .45 hour
Enemy attack at pillbox 22 and IG 3. 11.50 hour
Our own mortar fire is coming in at pillbox 22 and IG 3.
11.50 hour
Artillery fire is coming in between pillbox 110 and 113.
11.50 hour
Our "Fat Brother" (21 em) is firing into the open part of the woods.
11.55 hour
"Fat Brother" again.
12.05 hour
Fighting at pillbox 113.
12.07 hour
Enemy is pushed back from pillbox 108, and from the firebreak that is leading to pillbox 110. Pillbox 110 is almost completely surrounded by the enemy. They are positioned between pillbox 110 and 111.
12.15 hour 24-11-99
Our artillery fire is ordered 100 to 110 meters north/north/west of pillbox 110 Than the impacts are getting closer to the direction of the pillbox.
12.25 hour
Message goes to Regiment-- Pillbox 110 is almost completely surrounded.-- Enemy is coming from the direction of pillbox 108.-- We order artillery fire into that area.
12.40 hour
Gefreiter Simonait does some valuable observation:-- We must shoot at a bit shorter distance and this makes it possible to push back the enemy attack.
12.50 hour
We order mortar fire north of the firebreak at the foresters lodge.
13.05 hour
Message comes in from pillbox 113.- Oberleutnant Wahl is killed by a shot in the heart, and Oberleutnant Schindken is killed also.-- We can get their bodies out of there.
13.25 hour
Everything is quiet in the sector of pillbox 110. 13.50 hour
Enemy has retreated to pillbox 108.-- They are digging in from the north/east to the north/west.
Distance to pillbox 110 is about 70 or 80 meters.-- We can only reach our pillboxes from the south.
Losses 1 man killed, 3 men wounded and 20 men missing.-- All our men are defending the pillboxes now.
Runner has to find out if the pillbox is completely surrounded.-- When this is the case, he is to retreat to pillbox 113.
13.55 hour
Message is send on to Regimental Staff.
14.20 hour
Our Engineers are ordered to place mines at the firebreak at the foresters lodge.
24-11-99
Onderwerp: Battle Report XXIV LFB - page 10
14.50 hour
Enemy tank is driving at the firebreak from pillbox 108 to 110.
15.00 hour
Enemy tank is driving in front of pillbox IG 3 We order artillery fire.
15.05 hour
Enemy tank is standing at the firebreak from pillbox IG 2 to IG 3 and is firing at pillbox IG 3. - We can't make out the results of this. .
15.07 hour
Americans are attacking in our Battalion sector.-- Infantry fire.
15.10 hour
Firebreak from pillbox IG 2 to IG 3 is covered with our own mortar fire. -- (impacts are on target)- Rifle fire lessened.
15.15 hour
Message comes in from pillbox IG 3.--impacts are on target.-- Enemy attack at the Battalion command post is pushed back.-- Enemy tank moves to the direction of pillbox 22, and drives on in the direction of the crossroad. .
15.40 hour
Runner couldn't come through to pillbox 110.- (Oberleutnant Freitag) 17.00 hour
Enemy mortar and artillery fire at Battalion command post.
18.25 hour 25-11-99
Observation of the unloading of a enemy truck about 80 meters to the north.- We cover that area with mortar fire.
20.40 hour
We send a strong recon group to pillbox 110.
21.00 hour
Order to Oberleutnant Freitag:-- We retreat from pillbox 110 and the height 485,3.-- New defense line in running from pillbox 113 to 111.-- This new line is to be hold at all costs.- Retreat against Fuhrer's orders will be punished by death!
We get the men of pillbox 110 out during the night.
Enemy artillery and mortar fire.
17.10.1944
3.25 hour
Everything ready!
3.45 hour
Our artillery and mortars are ordered to fire.
5.10 hour
Message comes in from the attacking group:-- Strong enemy forces at pillbox 110.-- It wasn't possible to reach the pillbox.-- Message from "Szlojal" says that the enemy is inside pillbox 110.
6.30 hour
Recon group goes from pillbox 112 to 110 Enemy has dug in with 200 men in front of pillbox 110.
Pillbox 110 is not occupied by our men anymore.
7.10 hour
We hear the sound of tanks, coming from the north.-- Enemy tank is driving from pillbox IG 2 to the direction of pillbox P 2.
9.45 hour
Enemy at the firebreak, about 100 meters from pillbox 111.-- Enemy is digging in.
10.30 hour
We send recon forces to pillbox 111 and to the road in the direction of the road to Simonskall and the Kall-valley.-- Enemy was not encountered.- (Simonait)
The equipment that was unloaded by the enemy yesterday is brought by small groups to the road to Germeter.
Enemy mortar fire on Battalion command post.
12.55 hour
We cover the area where the truck was unloaded with mortar fire.
15.50 hour
Americans attack at pillbox 111 and 112.
15.55 hour
Our mortar fire hits the enemy attack and stopped it.-- Enemy attack can be pushed back.
16.00 hour
Enemy broke through at our right sector.
16.15 hour
We counterattack.
16.45 hour
Feldwebel Garg, 2 NCO and 43 men are attacking.- Enemy is pushed back.-- The old defense line and the connection to the group "Jaumerer" is to be restored.
Onderwerp: Battle Report XXIV LFB - page 11
16.50 hour
Our own mortar fire is covering the area north/east of Raffelsbrand.
17.30 hour
NCO Schutte from pillbox P 2 is severely wounded.
19.30 hour
Luftwaffen Fortress Battalion XXIV is relieved from the sector.- 2nd and 3rd Company under command of Oberleutnant Krahlik had their quarter at Simonskall. .
The Staff- and the other Company will stay for the time being.-- Train is at Zerkali. Artillery fire and recon during the night.
18.10.1944
4.45 hour
2nd and 3rd Company have their quarters at Simonskall and will be ready to march within 10 minutes.
11.00 hour
The sector of Raffelsbrand is under enemy artillery and mortar fire.
11.15 hour
Our own mortars are firing at a truck.
18.00 hour
2nd and 3rd Company are going into defensive positions at the sector of Hauptmann Kesse.
19.00 hour
1 st Company and the Staff are relieved and go to rest at Simonskall NCO Potrun and
15 men will stay in the sector of Hauptmann Kohlrab.-- Artillery and mortar fire during the night.
19.10.1944
8.00 hour
The 1 st and the Staff have their quarter at Simonskall:-- They can rest for a day.
16.00 hour
Company Krahlik has pushed back an enemy attack at the sector of Hauptmann Kesse.
20.10.1944
The 1st and the Staff are marching into the sector of Hauptmann Kesse.
The Battalion has a fighting strength of 3,13,164 and the strength of the day is: 3(1), 33,186.-- 1st Battalion-Reserve is not included (1/28) Our strength at the start was
640 men.
22.00 hour
Divisionskampfschule (Divisional fighting "school") is relieved by the 1st Company.
21.10.1944
6.30 hour
The Reserve is working at the bunkers and trenches.
14.15 hour
Suddenly there is heavy fighting at the sector of the 3rd Company.
14.30 hour
We can push back the enemy attack with the support of our mortars.
16.00 hour
We push back a enemy recon group.-- We burned a disabled tank at the firebreak at the frontline with a shot of a Panzerfaust.-- We disturbed enemy movements with our artillery and mortar fire west of the road at the forest areas 70/69.
16.30 hour
Quiet Strong recon during the night.
22.10.1944
We send in 3 recon groups in the night from 21 to 22.10.1944 They heard the sound of troops that were digging in on the opposite side of the firebreak at spot 43, and west of the main road to Germeter, on the opposite side of the open area.
8.0Q hour
We fire with our mortars at enemy snipers in the trees.
9.00 hour
We fire our mortars at enemy trucks on the road to Germeter.
10.30 hour
Heavy enemy mortar fire on our defensive positions.
14.00 hour
Enemy mortar and artillery fire.
15.00 hour
All is quiet:- Barbed wire is placed.
23.10.1944
The night was quiet.-- we send a recon group to the enemy lines.
12.00 hour
The morning was quiet.
14.30 hour
Enemy mortar fire at our frontline.
15.00 hour
Heavy enemy mortar attack at one of our trucks.
15.15 hourInfantry fire at our left sector.-- Fire is moving to the south.
16.00 hour
Our own mortars fire at enemy truck.-- For the rest is all quiet.-- Some more barbed wire is laid.
24.10.1944
During the night artillery and mortar fire.--For the rest is all quiet.
8.00 hour
Heavy enemy mortar fire at our frontline.
11.30 hour.
Our own mortars fire at enemy frontline.-- Some rifle and machine gun fire.
17.00 hour
. All quiet in the sector.
19.30 hour
Oberleutnant Krahlik is wounded by shrapnel!.
25.10.1944
The night was pretty quiet except for some artillery and mortar fire. Our own recon groups that were send in to get some prisoners had no success.
7.30 hour
Enemy mortar attacks at our left sector and center.
15.45 hour
We fire our mortars at the enemy that is positioned at the left and right side of firebreak 433.
16.00 hour
except for some enemy mortar fire it is pretty quiet We had 3 wounded during the placing of mines in the following night.
26.10.1944
Enemy mortar and artillery fire during the night.
11.00 hour
Our own mortars are aiming their fire.
14.45 hour
Enemy mortar attack at our command post and surrounding area.
15.05 hour
Enemy group at woods line is recognized by our F.O.
15.30 hour
Attack of 2 or 3 batteries of our artillery and mortars at the recognized enemy positions in the area of firebreak 433.
17.00 hour
All quiet in the sector.
19.00 hour.
Enemy recon group is recognized The attacking group that we send in is unsuccessful because they are recognized too soon by the enemy.
It is pretty quiet during the night except for sounds of artillery and mortar fire.
27.10.1944
7.30 hour
Enemy mortars fire at our frontline.
8.30 hour
Enemy artillery fire in the direction of Simonskall.
11.00 hour
Own mortar-attacks at recognized enemy positions.
13.30 hour
We hear the sound of engines at the supply-firebreak west of the road to Germeter.-- (These are probably trucks.-- Our own mortars fire into this area)
15.00 hour
Heavy enemy artillery and mortar fire at our defensive positions.
16.30
Again we hear the sound of engines at the supply firebreak.-- During the night we send some recon to try to bring in some prisoners.- (without success), and to find out about the enemy mortar positions.
28.10.1944
The night was quiet, except for some enemy artillery and mortar fire We send in 4 recon groups.
8.30 hour
Attack of 2 of our medium mortar-groups at enemy mortar position, which was observed by the recon group 500 meters west of the road, in the direction .of the firebreak at spot 433,0.
9.30 hour
We hear the sound of engines at the supply-firebreak.
11.30 hour
Destroying of a enemy forward observation position in the area of spot 445,0 by a direct hit of our mortars.
Destroying was observed by our FO.
t 1.45 hour
Mortar attack at a suspected enemy mortar position west of Richelskaul.
13.30 till 14.00 hour
Our mortars are firing at the road to Germeter and we check the impact areas.
15.45 hour
Destroying of a enemy log-bunker by a direct hit of our mortars.
15.50 hour
Enemy mortar fire is coming in at our sector During the night we place more mines at our main defense line and we had 2 wounded during the placing of the mines.
29.10.1944
7.30 hour
Explosion of a pile of ammunition on the American side Except for some artillery and mortar fire it is quiet in our sector during the night.
8.30 hour
Own mortars attack at recognized enemy mortar position.
9.10 till 9.40 hour
Our own mortars attack at enemy mortar position, which was discovered by our recon group during the night.
13.30 hour
Our medium mortars attack enemy MG-position, 80 meters south of spot 446,6.
15.00 hour
Enemy artillery fire at our right sector.
16.30 hour
Heavy enemy artillery fire in the Vossenack-area and at our Battalion command post.
30.10.1944
18.30 hour
Enemy mortar and artillery fire at our Battalion command post.
14.10 till 14.35 hour
Heavy enemy artillery and mortar attack at the area of our Battalion command post and north/east of it.
20.15 hour
Heavy artillery fire at the Vossenack area Compared to the last few days, there was a
lot of enemy artillery and mortar fire until 4 o'clock in the night. --- All quiet in during the Morning Around 11 o'clock our medium mortars fire at enemy mortar position at the crossing of the firebreaks 100 meters north/west of the forest-number 69From time to time, the enemy is covering our sector with mortar and artillery fire since 10.45 hour in the morning.
Onderwerp: Battle Report XXIV LFB - page 14
7.00 hour
Enemy is using loudspeakers at our left Battalion-sector We fire our mortars at the suspected area.
Except for some artillery and mortar fire, it was pretty quiet during the night.
7.20 hour
We hear a lot of enemy engines in the direction of Richelskaul.-- It probably will be at the supply-firebreak We order our artillery and mortar fire into that area.
11.00 till 11.20 hour
We recognize the enemy when he is digging at spot 446,6 and we fire our mortars into that area.
13.10 hour
Strong enemy artillery attack at the Vossenack area.
15.10 hour
Fighting at our left sector.
24.00 hour
Start of the relieve of the Battalion Checking of the area by the new Battalion commander.-- Enemy artillery and mortar fire during the night Recon groups were send in.- We prepare to get relieved. "
01.11.1944
Mortar and artillery fire on both sides.-- The sound of engines at the supply-firebreak.--- Digging of trenches in our sector to strengthen the defense.
22.00 hour
Start of the relieve by the XI Luftwaffen Fortress Battalion.
02.11.1944
The Luftwaffen Fortress Battalion XXIV is relieved at 2.30 hour, and is signed off by Lieutenant Baumann at the 983 Infantry Regiment. (Oberst Schmitz.)
7.30 hour
The rest of the Battalion is reaching Zerkall without any guides The 2nd and 3rd Company receive a direct hit from the artillery at the paper-mill of Zerkall.- (5 dead and 32 wounded). After this we march to Vettweiss and together we prepare for our transportation.
03.11.1944
18. 00 hour
Driving to Vettweiss,- (enemy planes attack)- by way of Neuss, Wesel, Borken, to . Winterswijk in Holland.
The rest of the Battalion is getting under command of the II Fallschirmkorps. (Paratrooper Corps).
This troop is to be saved for a special occasion.--(German para-jump during the Bulge).-- The Battalion ceased to exist The rest of the Battalion stayed at Winterswijk in Holland until! 29.11.1944.-- During the month of November, some parts were integrated into the Paratrooper Unit.
The order to cease the existence of the XXIV Luftwaffen Fortress Battalion came in on 29.11.1944.