Panzer Lehr Division

MS # A 945 (16 June 1950)

ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS ON ARDENNES OFFENSIVE

Alfred Zerbel

Königstein, 16 August 1950

Index for MS #A 945

ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS ON THE ARDENNES OFFENSIVE

(Signed)

(Alfred Zerbel)

Index for MS # A 945

American
Attack, enveloping from both sides	286–7
Attack
American, enveloping from both sides	286–7
Envelopment
From both sides, by attack	286–7

Generalleutnant Bayerlein

Oberursel, 23 February 1946

Frmer Commander, Panzer Lehr Division

Additional Questions on the Ardennes Offensive

Translated by Frederick Steinhardt

MS # A–945

Additional Questions on the Ardennes Offensive

Description of operations from 11–20 January near Houffalize, which provides evidence of the development of American pressure from the north.

In the course of the major withdrawal from the St. Hubert area, which had been ordered from on high, the Division was committed in defense during the night of 13/14 January, with one Kampfgruppe (Panzergrenadier-Lehr-Regiment 901[tr.-Kampfgruppe von Hauser]) in the Ortho area, and with the other (elements of Panzergrenadier-Lehr-Regiment 902 [tr.-Kampfgruppe von Poschinger]) with individual tanks and one battery of artillery north of the Ourthe [river] in the Nadrin–Filly area. Commitment north of the Ourthe was necessary because the 116th Panzer Division was so weak that it could not on its own hold its entire sector north of the Ourthe. When Kampfgruppe 902 arrived in the area of Nadrin there were no more elements of the 116th Panzer Division to be found there. It was known that the U.S. 84th Infantry Division was attacking in that sector. On 14 January Kampfgruppe 902 came under surprise attack, not only frontally, but by strong infantry and armoured forces [tr.–1st Battalion, U.S. Infantry Regiment 334] in an enveloping attack from the northeast, from the Nibrin [Wibrin?] area. The enveloping attack came because the 116th Panzer Division had already fallen back before the attack, thereby exposing the flank of Kampfgruppe 902. The enemy captured Nadrin by noon and Filly during the evening. Kampfgruppe 902 thereby lost a large number of personnel captured since they could no longer break out of the envelopment. In the evening of 14 January the stream sector near Aschouffe [Achouffe] was held by Kampfgruppe 902. Panzeraufklärungs-Lehr-Abteilung 130 (about 150 men with a few tanks) was shifted to the area north of Houffalize, but not yet committed, since it was the only available Division reserve.

On 15 January Panzer Lehr received orders to hold Houffalize at all costs. A Kampfkommandant [A Kampfkommandant was an officer specifically assigned to hold a specified location, with special powers to employ any and all troops within that location. He was not permitted to give up or evacuate the specified location unless ordered to do so.] was to be assigned and was, at all costs, to prevent the enemy from penetrating into Houffalize. Houffalize was not to be surrendered. The Aufklärungs Abteilung was thereby committed to immediate security of Houffalize, while elements of the 116th Panzer Division still held a large bridgehead near Taverneux. This bridgehead was eliminated on 15 January. Elements of Panzeraufklärungs-Lehr-Abteilung 130 held the heights directly west of the Ourthe, north and east of [the bridgehead]. The heights south of Houffalize were held by strong elements of Panzer Lehr (Panzergrenadier-Lehr-Regiment 901 with Panzerjäger) to prevent an enemy advance from Noville–Maprompré [Mabompré] and junction of the enemy northern and southern group in Houffalize. That day strong U.S. forces (infantry and armour) advanced in a fast-moving attack via Maprompre [Mabompré]–Wicourt, reaching the woods northeast of Maprompre [Mabompré] early in the afternoon.

At about noon on 16 January U.S. forces broke into Houffalize from the north. The southern attack made further progress in the morning hours, attaining the south edge of the city.

The U.S. northern and southern groups thereby joined up in Houffalize, establishing contact.

On 16 January the Panzer Lehr line ran along the Ourthe from Bourjeusel to the mouth of the Cowan Stream, then along that stream to the woods east of Neuf Moulin. Enemy pressure on the front let up markedly on 17 January.

Enemy units identified on the Panzer Lehr sector of the front in the Houffalize area were: North of the Ourthe: Elements of the U.S. 2nd Armored Division, the 84th Infantry Division; South of the Ourthe: Elements of the English 53rd Infantry Division, and, attacking Houffalize from the south, the U.S. 11th Armored Division.

See sketch maps for details and positions of Panzer Lehr during the period from 11 to 20 January.

Signed BAYERLEIN

4.	Pioneer Battalion
	Panzer-Pionier-Bataillon 130
	U.S. Attacks stopped in hard forest-fighting north of the St. Hubert–Pirompré road from 1 to 1 to 11 January.
	German counterattacks on 2 January 1945.
5.	Kampfgruppe Neumann
	Piompré–Bonnerue
	All U.S. Attacks against Priompré were repulsed. Hard fighting continued from 1 to 11 January 1945. Priompré remained in German hands.
	Bonnerue was lost [to U.S. Forces] on 10 January but was retaken in the morning of 11 January 1945.
	Counterattack on 11 January
	Command post of Kampfgruppe Neumann

	————-xx —————xx ——————	Boundary between Panzer Lehr Division 130 and Kampfgruppe Remer effective 3 January 1945.
	Alfred Zerbel	Koenigstein 16 May 50