Tuesday, September 27, 2022

New Orders - South of Leningrad, USSR, October 1941

(Source)
Fahnenjunker-Feldwebel Jürgen von Lüttwitz ran a hand across his face, the stubble of his beard was starting to annoy him. It had been a number of days since anyone had had the chance to shave, but he felt he should set an example, so he felt slovenly.

Commanding the platoon in Leutnant Acker's absence, von Lüttwitz had a small staff to help him. His platoon sergeant (Führer des Zugtrupps), Unterfeldwebel Georg Hansen, was also new to the job, his predecessor, Oberfeldwebel Friedrich Kleist, had been killed in action the day before Acker had been wounded. Hansen was sent down from battalion to take Kleist's place the same day the company commander had given von Lüttwitz the platoon.

His three runners (Meldern) and the horse holder (Pferdehalter - for the platoon's single horse and two small carts), made up the rest of the platoon headquarters. He also had his mortar section leader (Führer des Granatwerfertrupp) with his two mortarmen. At full strength the platoon had one officer, six noncommissioned officers, and forty-two men. After the encounter with the KV-1 outside Dubrovka, they were short four Landsers, one of whom had been killed the other three evacuated to the rear for wounds.

Of course, they were also short one officer. The last von Lüttwitz had heard of his lieutenant, his wounds, while requiring hospital treatment, weren't serious enough for Acker to be sent back to the Reich.

"I can get you water if you wish to shave, Chef." Oberschütze Otto Wandesleben said to von Lüttwitz.

"Can you get enough for the entire platoon?" von Lüttwitz asked, cocking an eyebrow at his senior Melder.

"Not really, no."

"Very well, if there isn't enough for all of the men, then I won't take advantage of it."

"Very good Chef. Did you still want to ..." Wandesleben was interrupted by the arrival of the company commander who had the battalion commander with him.

Von Lüttwitz and Wandesleben both stood as the two officers joined them. Both officers looked as grubby as everyone else.

"Wandesleben, von Lüttwitz." Major Kurt Hassel, a gruff man at the best of times, barked his greeting at the two soldiers.

"Herr Major." von Lüttwitz answered for both of them.

"Es ist saukalt, ja¹?"

Von Lüttwitz laughed and said, "So gentlemen, I take it this isn't a social call?"

"You did say he was perceptive, didn't you?" Hassel said as he looked at Busch.

Von Lüttwitz said, "Begging your pardon Sir, but one needn't be von Clausewitz to know we can't stay here, we need to advance and take Leningrad before the snow comes."

Hassel nodded, "Quite right. Problem is, regiment has no idea what is to our left flank, other than endless forest. Which my contact in the Luftwaffe tells me stretches all the way to the Gulf of Finland. Aerial reconnaissance indicates that no large, formed bodies of troops are in that area. Most of the Reds withdrew towards Leningrad to defend the approaches to that city."

Busch pulled out a map and spread it out on the ground. The major leaned in and studied it for a moment, "We are here, just north of Sorochkino. Our task is to get into the woods, then sweep north in a giant skirmish line. The hope is that the Russians have fled. If not, we will have artillery on call from division."

"Has the entire division arrived?" von Lüttwitz asked. He knew that his regiment was in place, and most of the logistical tail, but he had heard that the other two regiments were awaiting rail transport and were still at Pskov, along with the artillery.

"No, we're still short two regiments, but the artillery arrived late last night. Heeresgruppe Nord took over a number of trains which the SS were using to move civilians back to the Reich." Hassel answered.

"Civilians, why would ..." von Lüttwitz started to ask but was cut short by the battalion commander.

"It's better you don't ask such questions, Leutnant."

"Uh ..."

Hassel looked at Busch, "You haven't told him yet?"

"No Sir, I've been with you all day, since we got the word as a matter of fact."

"Sir?" von Lüttwitz was confused.

"Word came down from OKW, you've been promoted. You're now an officer, congratulations!"

Without another word, Major Hassel spun on his heel and headed back to the battalion command post.

Von Lüttwitz looked at his company commander, "He's not much for small talk, is he?"

Busch chuckled shook his head. "Get your men ready Jürgen, we step off at first light."




¹ It's freezing cold, yes? Saukalt is literally "pig cold." (German)

40 comments:

  1. Awesome as usual... minor grammar nit to pick: "Which my contacts in the Luftwaffe tells me..." seems off, in the far reaches of my memory I recall an obscure rule suggesting it would be either contacts tell or contact tells.

    Mike the EE

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, I was again changed thoughts in midstream, was going to have him knowing multiple people in the Luftwaffe, but that didn't make as much sense as knowing a single person. So grammar-wise, I dropped the ball at the goal line! (Fixed it.)

      Delete
  2. Oh, back East! And lots of German words. "The hope is that the Russians have fled"..........all of a sudden, the word forlorn springs to mind.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The action in the East heats up as the weather cools down. I do get carried away with the German, don't I?

      Delete
  3. Whenever one of my junior officers used the word "hope" in a briefing, I would remind them, "Hope is not a plan".

    ReplyDelete
  4. It is nice to see that the Germans have a counterpart to our "Major Payne". Major Hassel, indeed! ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Sarge - I admire how you use these small vignettes to reset the stage at intervals. Subtly and well done.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks.

      Bouncing back and forth between North Africa and the Leningrad front needs to be smooth, otherwise I confuse myself!

      Delete
    2. Smoothly done, Sarge! A number of important elements well combined. Unser Jurgen is now commissioned and Acker will be back to meet whatever fate awaits...oh and a lovely walk in the woods on the way to Leningrad. Might not be a bad thing to be close to the gulf though (amphib guys always look for a water option)
      Boat Guy

      Delete
    3. Germans didn't have much of an amphibious capability, but yeah, water options are good.

      Delete
    4. A characteristic of NSW is heading for water when things get scary. It's a mindset
      BG

      Delete
  6. Ol’ Heidelberg Cafe Huntsville alabama. The Schnitzel, german potatoe salad and spaetzle was superlative. Ranked with the Schnitzel shack in Rincon Ga(which unfortunately changed hands and was closed) - The Aerobracero

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. One of the many things I miss about living in Germany, the Schnitzel!

      Delete
    2. Hell, Sarge; schnitzel is easy, it's spatzle that's difficult. Least for me...
      BG

      Delete
    3. I have never had Schnitzel
      I believe that it is related to a breaded pork chop?

      Delete
    4. Scott, it can be made with pork or veal; pounded quite thinly then breaded lightly and fried (pan is best). "Related to" - more like "the epitome of"
      Boat Guy

      Delete
    5. BG - Yes, spätzle are not easy to make!

      Delete
    6. StB - What BG said. But, at least in my part of Germany, it was the sauces/toppings which really made the Schnitzel. Schnitzel mit Champignons (mushrooms), Jägerschnitzel, Zigeunerschnitzel, yum!

      Delete
    7. BG - Can't abide the veal variety.

      Delete
    8. Hey Sarge, it's "the other red meat"! I prefer schweine myself, though.
      BG

      Delete
    9. And yes, the sauces are wonderful!
      BG

      Delete
    10. Brat Kartofellen are the tricksy ones for me. To get them just like at the Forsthaus Mitteldick near Zeppelinheim, ah, I have never been able to achieve that. First real German restaurant experience there in the early 80's, unforgettable. Rahmschnitzel, another glorious German invention. Oh goodness, now I will just have to get some schweine filleten and make some Jaegerschnitzel!

      Delete
    11. That was Crusty Old TV Tech above, sheesh, had Schnitzel on the Brain!

      Delete
    12. Okay, you guys have me drooling and pining for the Restaurant Am Bolleberg in my adopted hometown of Waldfeucht.

      Delete
    13. Schnitzel on the brain, like that's a bad thing?

      Delete
    14. Crusty Old TV Tech here. There are worse things to have on the brain I guess! One more restaurant, the Ziguener Eiche in one of the Geraus (Gross- or Klein-, can't remember which). Very nice schnitzel there. Spent a lot of time around Rhein-Main AB and the Pfaltz on my AFCC-directed TDY's. Such terrible duty. Sauerbraten in Zweibruecken with a nice glass of Parkbrau, Rahmschnitzel in Zell with a nice Zeller Spatlese...Henninger Alt and Bratwurst at the Zeppelinheimer Eck Embiss...don't forget the senf!

      Delete
    15. SCOTTtheBADGER - I assume that you live in the Badger State, based upon some previous comments? If so, try the Essen Haus (and Come Back In) in Madtown or PJ Campbell's in Plymouth for good schnitzel, sauerbraten, rouladen, and spaetzle.

      Mike the EE

      Delete
    16. Crusty - I just drooled all over my keyboard, damn I miss good German grub!

      Delete
    17. Scott, you should do as Mike the EE suggests, you won't regret it!

      Delete
    18. The menu certainly looks interesting. At the resort where I work, I am one of the night auditors. The spare night audit that gives the rest of us our days off was in a motorcycle accident on Labor Day weekend. He had gone to church after work, and upon leaving church, was sideswiped by a pickup, and a second pickup hit him.

      I volunteered to work straight through, until Dave gets back, and have completed a month now, without a day off.
      Dave came out if his medically induced coma on Monday, and I may get a day off sometime in October. ( Sunday-Thursday I spend my nights reading, and watching movies, it is dead on weeknights in the off season. I am doing what I would be doing at home, but getting $25.00/hr to do it.) But, maybe I will celebrate his return, with an Essen Haus trip.

      I live in Baraboo, so it's only 45 miles one way.

      Delete
  7. von Lüttwitz made Lieutenant, that's a good one.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Now he has forty-eight men to take care of, not just nine! (Not counting himself of course.)

      Delete
    2. His Platoon Sergeant should be taking care of him; Mustang or no, that's his job
      BG

      Delete

Just be polite... that's all I ask. (For Buck)
Can't be nice, go somewhere else...

NOTE: Comments on posts over 5 days old go into moderation, automatically.