History of the Wehrmacht 46th Infantry Regiment (Motorized)

[Gunther]

46th Infantry Regimental History
A Wehrmacht Motorized Infantry Organization

Disclaimer: This is a fictional history based on a real unit that served on the Eastern Front during WWII. This document is used in conjunction with The Australian's Ein Volk, Ein Reich...RP.

***Please refrain from posting in this thread.***

1. Regimental Creation (This Post)
2. Operation Fall Weiss (This Post)
3. Operation Fall Gelb
4. Operation Barbarossa
5. Siege of Leningrad/Demjansk Pocket (Op Barbarossa Post)
6. Stapf's Coup (Op Barbarossa Post)
7. Operation Sea Lion
8. Battle of Canterbury (Op Sea Lion post)
9. Siege of London
10. Battle of Leeds

The Neumünster Infantry Regiment was created on 1 October 1934 in order to expand the Reichswehr into the Wehrmacht in former Military District II. The regimental headquarters was formed in Neumünster, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. The first battalion also formed in Neumünster after transferring from Infantry Regiment 6. The second battalion was formed out of half of the Second Battalion of Infantry Regiment 6 in Eutin. The third Battalion of the regiment was formed from Infantry Regiment 6 also in Neumünster. The regiment was part of the Reichswehr Hamburg Office installation.

On 15 October 1935 the regiment was renamed Infantry Regiment 46. Initially the 46th Infantry was assigned to the 20th Infantry Division. On 1 October 1936, the regiment was assigned to the 30th Infantry Division which was created on this date in Lübeck. In October 1937, the second battalion of the regiment was renamed to the 46th Regiment. Simultaneously, the first battalion of Infantry Regiment 26 was formed Rendsburg. The 26th Infantry would serve as a sister regiment to the 46th in the 30th Infantry Division.

On 31 March 1937, Oberst Heinrich Strack Aufstellung was appointed commander of the 46th Infantry Regiment (Mot.).

The 30th Infantry Division (Motorized) mobilized on 26 August 1939 for the upcoming invasion of Poland. At that time, it consisted of the usual German infantry division elements: three infantry regiments of three battalions each, one three-battalion regiment of light artillery, one battalion of heavy artillery (from a separate artillery regiment, but attached to the particular division), a Panzerjager (anti-tank) Battalion, a reconnaissance (Aufklärungs) Battalion, a Signals Battalion, a Pioneer (Engineer) Battalion, and divisional supply, medical, and administrative units.

30th Infantry Division Organization
6th Infantry Regiment (Mot.)
26th Infantry Regiment (Mot.)
46th Infantry Regiment (Mot.)

three battalions with:

three light MG companies

one heavy MG company

one PAK company (mot.)

one artillery company

one reconnaissance unit

30th Panzer battalion with

four companies each with PzKw IV tanks (Oct, 1941)

530th Heavy Panzer battalion with

four companies each with PzKw VI tanks (Feb, 1942 on)

30th Panzerjager battalion with:

three companies (each with twelve 37 mm guns)

30th Artillery Regiment (Light)

three battalions

three batteries

1 battery, 66th Artillery Regiment (Heavy)
30th pioneer battalion
130th Signals Company
530th field replacement battalion
Supply, medical, veterinary, mail, and police

Operation Fall Weiss
On1 September 1939, the 46th Infantry Regiment and the 30th Infantry Division (mot.) was assigned to General Wilhelm Ulex' X Corps under Colonel General Johannes Blaskowitz' 8th Army in Colonel General Gerd von Rundstedt's Army Group South. The Division began near the Polish border east of Trebnitz. The Division held the left flank of the Polish Poznan Army Front while the rest of X Corps and 8th Army pushed on toward Kalisz and Ozorkow. The X Corps began crossing the Warta River on the morning of day three. The 46th Infantry saw heavy fighting against Polish Infantry units near Jarocin for the first week. After the first week, the Polish units in the west knew they were slowly being surrounded. A mass exodus of Polish Infantry began fleeing toward Warsaw after the 7th of September. The 8th Army, including the 30th Infantry Division (mot.) was pushed east toward Warsaw and fought the Poznan Army west of Warsaw for the next ten days. It was bitter fighting and the Poles had the upper hand initially. The 30th Division was ambushed from the north at Ozorkow. The 46th Infantry Regiment saw extensive fighting over the next ten days near Ozorkow along the Bzura River.
After the Soviets invaded from the East with an 800,000 man army on the 17th of September, the Polish situation became hopeless. After the 19th of September, the situation around Ozorkow became quiet and on the 6th of October, the Polish government capitulated to the Germans and the Soviets.

On 1 October 1939, Oberst Ernst Sieler took command of the regiment and served until 1942

On 28 September 1939, the division was assigned to the 5th Army in Army Group C in East Prussia. They rested and refit until the 8th of October.

On 8 October, the division was reassigned to the XII Corps of the 4th Army in Army Group B and posted to Niederrhein along the Dutch border north of Dusseldorf.

On 23 October the division was assigned to the XXVII Corps of the 4th army remaining in Niederrhein, Germany.

On 26 October 1939, the division was assigned to the XXVI Corps of the 6th Army remaining in Niederrhein, Germany.

On 5 November 1939, the division was assigned to the XXII Corps of the 6th Army remaining in Niederrhein, Germany.


References:
History of the 46th Infantry Regiment; Lexicon-der-Wehrmacht
History of the 30th Infantry Division; Lexicon-der-Wehrmacht
German Order of Battle for Fall Weiss
Invasion of Poland

[Gunther]

Operation Fall Gelb
On 10 May, 1940, the 30th Infantry Division (Mot.) was assigned to the XI corps, 6th Army in Army Group B and attacked west across the Belgian border linking up with Falschirmjager units at Liege.

On 12 - 14 May 1940, the 30th Infantry participated in the Battle of Hannut, which was a German offensive operation focused on the Gembloux gap. Gembloux occupied a position in the Belgian plain; it was an unfortified, untrenched space in the main Belgian defensive line. The Gap stretched from the southern end of the Dyle line, from Wavre in the north, to Namur in the south, 20 kilometers (12 mi) to 30 kilometers (19 mi). After attacking out of the Maastricht bulge and defeating the Belgian defenses at Liege, which compelled the Belgian I Corps to retreat, the German 6th Army's XVI Panzer-Motorized Corps, under the command of General Erich Hoepner and containing the 3rd and 4th Panzer Divisions, launched an offensive in the area where the French mistakenly expected the main German thrust.

The Gembloux gap was defended by the French 1st Army, with six elite divisions including the 2nd (2e Division Légère Mécanique, or 2e DLM) and 3rd Light Mechanised Divisions. The Prioux Cavalry Corps, under the command of Rene-Jacques-Adolphe Prioux, was to advance 30 kilometers (19 mi) beyond the line (east) to provide a screen for the move. The French 1st and 2nd Armored Divisions were to be moved behind the French 1st Army to defend its main lines in depth. The Prioux Cavalry Corps was equal to a German Panzer Corps and was to occupy a screening line on the Tirlemont–Hannut–Huy axis. The operational plan called for the Corps to delay the German advance on Gembloux and Hannut until the main elements of the French 1st Army had reached Gembloux and dug in.
Hoepner's Panzer Corps and Prioux' Cavalry clashed head-on near Hannut, Belgium, on 12 May. Contrary to popular belief, the Germans did not outnumber the French. Frequently, figures of 623 German and 415 French tanks are given. The German 3rd and 4th Panzer Divisions numbered 280 and 343 respectively. The 2e DLM and 3e DLM numbered 176 Somuas and 239 Hotchkiss H35s. Added to this force were the considerable number of Renault AMR-ZT-63s in the Cavalry Corps. The R35 was equal or superior to the Panzer I and Panzer IIs in armament terms. This applies all the more to the 90 Panhard 178 armored cars of the French Army. Its 25mm main gun could penetrate the armor of the Panzer IV. In terms of tanks that were capable of engaging and surviving a tank-vs-tank action, the Germans possessed just 73 Panzer IIIs and 52 Panzer IVs. The French had 176 SOMUA and 239 Hotchkisses. German tank units also contained 486 Panzer I and IIs, which were of dubious combat value given their losses in the Polish Campaign.

The German forces were able to communicate by radio during the battle and they could shift the point of the main effort unexpectedly. The Germans also practiced combined arms tactics, while the French tactical deployment was a rigid and linear leftover from the First World War. French tanks did not possess radios and often the commanders had to dismount to issue orders. Despite the disadvantages experienced by the Germans in armor, they were able to gain the upper hand in the morning battle on 12 May, encircling several French battalions. The combat power of the French 2e DLM managed to defeat the German defences guarding the pockets and freeing the trapped units. Contrary to German reports, the French were victorious on that first day, preventing a Wehrmacht break-through to Gembloux or seizing Hannut. The result of the first day's battle was:

The effect on the German light tanks was catastrophic. Virtually every French weapon from 25mm upward penetrated the 7-13mm of the Panzer I. Although the Panzer II fared somewhat better, especially those that had been uparmored since the Polish Campaign, their losses were high. Such was the sheer frustration of the crews of these light Panzers in the face of heavier armored French machines that some resorted to desperate expedients. One account speaks of a German Panzer commander attempting to climb on a Hotchkiss H-35 with a hammer, presumably to smash the machine's periscopes, but falling off and being crushed by the tank's tracks. Certainly by day's end, Prioux had reason to claim that his tanks had come off best. The battlefield around Hannut was littered with knocked-out tanks–the bulk of which were German Panzers–with by far and away the bulk of them being Panzer Is and IIs.

The following day, 13 May, the French were undone by their poor tactical deployment. They strung their armor out in a thin line between Hannut and Huy, leaving no defense in depth, which was the point of sending the French armor to the Gembloux gap in the first place. This left Hoepner with a chance to mass against one of the French Light Divisions (the 3e DLM) and achieve a breakthrough in that sector. Moreover, with no reserves behind the front, the French denied themselves the chance of a counterattack. The victory saw the Panzer Corps outmaneuver the 2e DLM on its left flank. The Belgian III Corps, retreating from Liege, offered to support the French front held by the 3e DLM. This offer was rejected.

On 12 and 13 May, 2e DLM lost no AFVs, but the 3e DLM lost 30 SOMUAs and 75 Hotchkisses. The French had disabled 160 German tanks. But as the poor linear deployment had allowed the Germans the chance of breaking through in one spot, the entire battlefield had to be abandoned, the Germans repaired nearly three quarters of their tanks; 49 were destroyed and 111 were repaired. They had 60 men killed and another 80 wounded. In terms of battlefield casualties, the Hannut battle had resulted in the French knocking-out 160 German tanks, losing 105 themselves. Prioux had achieved his tactical mission and withdrew.

Hoepner now pursued the retreating French. Being impatient, he did not wait for his infantry divisions to catch up. Instead, he hoped to continue pushing the French back and not give them time to construct a coherent defense line. German formations pursued the enemy to Gembloux. The Panzer Corps ran into retreating French columns and inflicted heavy losses on them. The pursuit created severe problems for the French artillery. The combat was so closely fought that the danger of friendly fire incidents were very real. Nevertheless the French, setting up new anti-tank screens and Hoepner, lacking infantry support, caused the Germans to attack positions head-on. During the following Battle of Gembloux the two Panzer Divisions reported heavy losses during 14 May and were forced to slow their pursuit. The German attempts to capture Gembloux were repulsed.

Although suffering numerous tactical reverses, operationally the Germans diverted the Allied First Army Group from the lower Ardennes area. In the process his forces, along with the Luftwaffe depleted Prioux' Cavalry Corps. When news of the German breakthrough at Sedan reached Prioux, he withdrew from Gembloux. With the Gembloux gap breached, the German Panzer Corps, the 3rd and 4th Panzer Divisions, were no longer required by Army Group B and were handed over to Army Group A. Army Group B would continue its own offensive to force the collapse of the Meuse front. The Army Group was in a position to advance westward to Mons, outflank the B.E.F and Belgian Army protecting the Dyle–Brussels sector, or turn south to outflank the French 9th Army. German losses had been heavy at Hannut and Gembloux. The 4th Panzer Division was down to 137 tanks on 16 May, including just four Panzer IVs. The 3rd Panzer Division was down by 20–25 percent of its operational force, while the 4th Panzer Division 45–50 percent of its tanks were not combat ready. Damaged tanks were quickly repaired, but its strength was initially greatly weakened. The French 1st Army had also taken a battering and despite winning several tactical defensive victories it was forced to retreat on 15 May owing to developments elsewhere, leaving its tanks on the battlefield, while the Germans were free to recover theirs.

On 16 May 1940, the division passed the Dyle River on its pursuit toward the Channel coast.

On 18 May 1940, the division had crossed the north south canal near Ath, Belgium.

On 21 May 1940, the division crossed the canal near Avelgem and were facing British formations. The division participated in the German Army's pressure on the BEF at Dunkirk and their eventual evacuation prior to the 28th of May.

By 26 May 1940, the division had pushed to Tielt, Belgium and continued to place pressure on the BEF.

On 4 June 1940, the division was transferred to the IV Corps in the 9th Army and moved to France.

On 5 June 1940, the division was transferred to XXVIII Corps in the 6th Army in Army Group A.

On 12 June 1940, the division participated in the siege of Paris before acting as a northern flank for German forces along the Normandy coast.


References:
History of the 46th Infantry Regiment; Lexicon-der-Wehrmacht
History of the 30th Infantry Division; Lexicon-der-Wehrmacht
Battle of France
Battle of Belgium

[Gunther]

Operation Barbarossa
On 22 June 1940, Marshal Petain signed an armistice with Adolf Hitler giving France to the Germans.

In August, the division was tranferred to X Corps in the 9th Army in Army Group A.

In September, 1940, the division was transferred to V Corps in the 16th Army in Army Group A.

In May 1941, the division was transferred to XXIII Corps, 15th Army of Army Group D in France.

On 9 May 1941, the division was transferred to X Corps, 16th Army, Army Group North in Poland.

On 21 June 1941, the division participated in the Invasion of the USSR per Operation Barbarossa. As part of the 16th Army and Army Group north, the division fought through the Baltic States toward Leningrad in northern Russia.

By 9 July 1941, the division, assigned to the X Corps, 16th Army had bypassed the Latvian capital at Riga and was pushing north. They engaged the Soviet 22nd Army in extensive fighting in the Baltic states.

On 10 July 1941, the division entered Estonia and began the advance toward Leningrad.

On 1 August, the division was transferred to II Corps, 16th Army. At this time, the II Corps consisted of the 3rd SS-Division, 12th Infantry Division, 30th Infantry Division, 32nd Infantry Division, 123rd Infantry Division and 290th Infantry Division.

By 1 September, the Division was fighting in the outskirts of Novgorod.

October, 1941 The 30th Panzer Battalion (PzKw IV) is assigned to the Division.


Siege of Leningrad/Demjansk Pocket
By December, the division had pushed into a salient south of Lake Lagoda to begin the Siege of Leningrad.

In January, the Soviet 1st Army, 3rd Army and 34th Army encircled the German II Corps the town of Demjansk almost 200 kilometers south of Leningrad.

In February 1942, Germany and USSR agreed to an armistice ending hostilities on the Eastern Front.

February 1942, the 530th Heavy Panzer Battalion (PzKw VI) is assigned to the Division.


Stapf's Coup
In April 1942, The German Officer corps took control of the German Reich, executing all senior leadership during the Stapf coup. The coup last less than a month. The 30th Division as part of the 16th Army fought against the 3rd SS-Division at Vogelsdorf, east of Berlin. The two divisions were formerly joined in the German II Corps together. The 30th Division fought alongside the 12th and 32nd Infantry Divisions in II Corps, 16th Army under Generalfeldmarschall Ernst Busch.

28 April, the division is moved to Calais along with the rest of II Cops and Busch's 16th Army to await the invasion of Great Britain. Army Group Brittania, commanded by Field Marshal Günther "Hans" von Kluge.

References:
History of the 46th Infantry Regiment; Lexicon-der-Wehrmacht
History of the 30th Infantry Division; Lexicon-der-Wehrmacht
Operation Barbarossa
Demjansk Pocket

[Gunther]

Operation Sea Lion
On 6 May 1942, Germany began Operation Sea Lion, the cross channel invasion of Great Britain. The German 18th Army (Rommel), consisting of the I Army Corps (von Both), XXVI Army Corps (Grase), XXVIII Army Corps (von Graffen), L Corps (Lindemann), and LIV Army Corps (Wolff) would conduct the initial beach assaults with the XXVI Corps at Jupiter Beach (Brighton - Worthing); L Corps at Mars Beach (Eastbourne) and the I Corps at Merkur Beach (Hastings). The XXVIII and LIV Corps followed the first two corps once they were ashore and began pushing North and west.

German Order of Battle for day one of Sea Lion
Assaulted the beaches at 05.30 hours
I Army Corps (Merkur Beach)

11th Infantry Division

21st Infantry Division

L Corps (Mars Beach)

93rd Infantry Division
126th Infantry Division
218th Infantry Division

XXVI Corps (Jupiter Beach)

1st Infantry Division
61st Infantry Division
217th Infantry Division

Arrived on Jupiter beach at 15.00 hours:
XXVIII Army Corps

58th Infantry Division
291st Infantry Division

Arrived on Mars beach at 14.00 hours:
LIV Corps

50th Infantry Division
170th Infantry Division

On 7 May 1942, the division came ashore at Hastings where the Germans had landed the day before.

The 16th Army came ashore on day 2 following the 18th Army's beachhead the day before. The 16th Army (Busch) consisted of II Corps (von Brockdorff-Ahlefeldt), X Corps (Schopper) and XXXIX Corps (von Arnim)

II Corps

8th Panzer Division
12th Infantry Division
30th Infantry Division
32nd Infantry Division

X Corps

3rd Panzer Division
4th Panzer Division
78th Sturm Division (assault)
81st Infantry Division

XXXIX Corps

12th Panzer Division
20th Infantry Division
96th Infantry Division
254th Infantry Divisions

The Battle of Canterbury
On 12 May, the 30th Division participated in actions around Canterbury in Southeastern England.



I will add more detail to this one.




References:
From this point forward, most is fictional, but it is based on existing organizations that served on the Eastern front. The thought process is that those combat experienced units fighting on the Eastern Front would be transferred to Army Group Brittania.
History of the 30th Infantry Division; Lexicon-der-Wehrmacht
18th Army (Wehrmacht)
16th Army (Wehrmacht)

[Gunther]

Siege of London
From 16 - 31 May, the division participated in the siege of London. This is the order of battle for the Siege of London:

Sixth Army
Commander: General Friedrich von Paulus

Army Reserve

299th Infantry Division (Moser)

LV Corps (Virow)

9th Panzer Division (Hubicki)
168th Infantry Division (Mundt)
213th Infantry Division (de l'Homme)

XLIV Corps (Koch)

9th Infantry Division (von Schleinitz)
297th Infantry Division (Pfeffer)

XVII Corps (Kienitz)

14th Panzer Division (Kühn)
56th Infantry Divsion (von Oven)
62nd Infantry Division (Keiner)

Ninth Army
Commander: General Walter Model

Army reserves:

161st Infantry Division (Recke)

V Corps (Ruoff)

5th Infantry Division (Allmendinger)
35th Infantry Division (Fischer)
106th Infantry Division (Dehner)
129th Infantry Division (Rittau)

VII Corps (Fahrmbacher)

8th Infantry Division (Höhne)
28th Infantry Division (Sinnhuber)
87th Infantry Division (von Studnitz)

XXIII Corps (Schubert)

102nd Infantry Division (Ansat)
206th Infantry Division (Höfl)
251st Infantry Division (Burdach)
256th Infantry Division (Kauffmann)

XXVII Corps (Wäger)

86th Infantry Division (Witthöft)
162nd Infantry Division (Franke)
255th Infantry Division (Wetzel)

15th Army
Commander: General Heinrich von Vietenghoff

Army Reserve:

711th Infantry Division (Haverkamp)

II Parachute Corps (Meindl)

3rd Falschirmjager Division (Barenthin)
5th Falschirmjager Division (Wilke)
6th Falschirmjager Division (von Heyking)

LX Corps (Koch-Erpach)

21st Panzer Division (von Bismark)
83rd Infantry Division (Seyffardt)
216th Infantry Division (von Gilsa)
319th Infantry Division (Müller)

XXXII Corps (Richter)

116th Panzer Division (Müller)
225th Infantry Division (von Tippelskirch)
302nd Infantry Division (von Kamp)
332nd Infantry Division (Kessel)
336th Infantry Division (Ansat)

16th Army (Busch)

II Corps

8th Panzer Division
12th Infantry Division
30th Infantry Division
32nd Infantry Division

X Corps

3rd Panzer Division
4th Panzer Division
78th Sturm Division (assault)
81st Infantry Division

XXXIX Corps

12th Panzer Division
20th Infantry Division
96th Infantry Division
254th Infantry Divisions

18th Army (Rommel)

I Army Corps

11th Infantry Division
21st Infantry Division

L Corps

93rd Infantry Division
126th Infantry Division
218th Infantry Division

XXVI Corps

1st Infantry Division
61st Infantry Division
217th Infantry Division

XXVIII Army Corps

58th Infantry Division
291st Infantry Division

LIV Corps

50th Infantry Division
170th Infantry Division

17 May 1942 the 46th Regiment along with the 30th Division is following the 32nd Infantry Division during the initial advance toward London. The 32nd ID advances to within 15 Kilometers of the city stopping just north of Orpington.



19 May 1942, the 46th Infantry Regiment conducts a passage of lines with the 4th Infantry Regiment, 32nd Infantry Division north of Orpington and followed the A208 North. The II Battalion received a company of Pzkw VI Tigers in support for their advance through the built up areas at Chiselhurst. The next two days Kampfgruppe-Abteilung SEILER slugs it out with British Motorized and armored forces in deadly house to house fighting. The II Battalion is task organized as follows:

No. 1 Company/530th Hvy Pzr Bn

One Tiger platoon (5 vehicles)

One rifle platoon

One HMG Platoon

No. 5 Company

Four rifle platoons

One Tiger platoon (5 vehicles)

One Pioneer squad

One HMG Platoon

No. 6 Company

Two rifle platoons

One Tiger platoon (5 vehicles)

One HMG Platoon

No. 7 Company

Two rifle platoons

One Tiger platoon (5 vehicles)

One Pioneer squad

AT Rifle section

One HMG Platoon

20 May 1942 No. 5 Company, the Battalion Main Effort with one tiger platoon, one pioneer squad and one Heavy machine Gun platoon attached advances along the A208 toward Mottingham. The company kampfgruppe is forced to ground during the fight. Although the panzers eliminate eleven M4A3 Shermans in the first four hours of fighting, they also lost two Tigers and at least a squad's worth of soldiers.



21 May 1942, the II battalion push the British Infantry Armor north of Mottingham and the I Battalion secures the railroad yard at Downham. The division is now 10 Kilometers from London.

22 May 1942, the 32nd Infantry Division's 96th Infantry Regiment conducts a passage of lines with the 46th Infantry and resumes the advance in the lead for the 30th Division. The 46th Regiment will remain in reserve for the next three days.

25 May 1942, the 46th Infantry Division conducts a passage of lines with the 94th Infantry Regiment, 32nd Infantry Division at Brockley. The III Battalion, 46th Infantry supported by the 30th Pzr Battalion assumes the lead for the Regiment. The I and II Battalions follow abreast in support of the III Battalion.

26 May 1942, the II Battalion bypasses the III Battalion with a Company of Tigers attached at Southfields and resumes the attack toward London. Artillery is intense and flattens most of the landscape in front of the soldiers of the 30th Infantry Division.

27 May 1942, the 46th Regiment advances along the Old Kent Rd. to Albany Rd. at Walworth.

28 May 942, the II Battalion, 46th Regiment suffers more casualties fighting through the city into Waterloo. The 30th Division secures the ground all along the south side of the Thames River. The 32nd Infantry and 8th Panzer Divisions prepare for the assault across the Thames River. The 3rd Falschirmjager Battalion has been fighting along the north side of the Thames River, but have stopped at Barking, about 8 kilometers from London center.

29 May 1942, the 94th Regiment and the 4th Regiment attempt a daylight River assault across the Thames River, but are decimated in the water and on the bridges. The 4th Infantry Regiment suffers 40% casualties and the 94th Infantry suffers 25% losses. The two regiments are pulled back toward Hastings for rest and refit.

30 May 1942, the 95th Regiment, 32nd Infantry Division supported by the 28th Panzer Grenadier Regiment and the 10th Panzer Regiment of the 8th Panzer Division attempt a river crossing of the Thames along a five kilometer front. Three divisions worth of artillery provide fires and smoke to obscure the crossings at night. The 43rd Tank Destroyer Battalion and the 8th Panzer Grenadier Regiment of the 8th Panzer Division link up with the 3rd Falschirmjager Regiment on the north side of the river. The 95th Regiment and the 8th Pzr Div secure a bridgehead on the north side of the river and tie their forces in all the way to Barking.

31 May 1942, the 46th and 26th Infantry Regiments supported by the 30th Panzer Battalion and the 530th Heavy Panzer Battalion make a final push through the 95th Infantry Regiment lines and link up with 6th Army units pushing south into the city. The siege of London ends. Parliament, the Prime Minister and the Royal Family had fled to Edinburgh two weeks prior.


With von Paulus' 6th Army
On 4 June 1942, the 30th Infantry Division is transferred to General Koch's XLIV Corps in von Paulus' 6th Army.

On 5 June 1942, Oberst Ernst Sieler, 46th Infantry Regimental Commander is killed during a bombing raid on his Regimental Command post near St. Albans, north of London. Oberstleutnant Dr. Maximilian Roßkopf took command of the regiment after Oberst Sieler was killed in action near St. Albans, United Kingdom.

June 1942, The German 6th Army with its LV and XVII slog across country north along the M1. They fight through Northampton, Leicester, Nottingham and Sheffield. There advance is rapid and find no significant opposition until they hit Leeds. Model's 9th Army attacks west toward Birmingham, Wales and Liverpool. The 15th Army cleans up Southern England while the 18th Army moves along the East coast keeping pace with the 6th Army in the center.

On 30 June 1942, the 30th Infantry Division Commander is suffers a heart attack and dies at his Division Command Post. Generalleutnant Kurt von Tippelskirch was only 52 years old at the time of his death. Generalleutnant Paul Winter replaces the von Tippelskirch as 30th Infantry Division Commander.


Sixth Army
Commander: General Friedrich von Paulus

Army Reserve

299th Infantry Division (Moser)

LV Corps (Virow)

9th Panzer Division (Hubicki)
168th Infantry Division (Mundt)
213th Infantry Division (de l'Homme)

XLIV Corps (Koch)

9th Infantry Division (von Schleinitz)
30th Infantry Division (Winter)
297th Infantry Division (Pfeffer)

XVII Corps (Kienitz)

14th Panzer Division (Kühn)
56th Infantry Divsion (von Oven)
62nd Infantry Division (Keiner)

References:
History of the 30th Infantry Division; Lexicon-der-Wehrmacht
18th Army (Wehrmacht)
16th Army (Wehrmacht)
9th Army (Wehrmacht)
15th Army (Wehrmacht)
6th Army
32nd Infantry Division (Wehrmacht)
8th Panzer Division

[Gunther]

The Battle of Leeds
1 - 15 July 1942, the Battle of Leeds involving the 46th Infantry Regiment which loses 2/3rds of its compliment. The Regiment was removed to Nottingham to rest and refit. Remained in England for occupation duty through 1943.



1 June, 1942, the 46th Infantry Regiment has been refitted to 100% strength and is leading the 30th Division with the 530th Heavy Panzer in support along M1 towards Leeds.

By 2 July1942, the 46th Infantry Regiment is 5 Kilometers from Leeds, but the British are prepared in strength to resist all across the front from Liverpool to Manchester to Leeds to York and the coast. The II Battalion, 46th Regiment is task organized as before with a Platoon of Tigers in each company, the No. 5 company is weighted with four rifle platoons and a Heavy machinegun platoon and pioneer squad.



On 4 July 1942, the No. 5 company rushed across the M1 with fire support coming from Tigers and Heavy Machine guns. A Heavy Machinegun squad consisted of a squad leader (Unterfeldwebel), who carried an MP-40 submachinegun, Machine Gunner (Panzerobergrenadier) MG 42 and Pistol, Assistant Gunner (Panzergrenadier) Pistol , Three Riflemen (Panzergrenadieren) Kar-98k and a Horse leader for the horse and cart that carried the Machinegun. The Horse leader was a Panzergrenadier who also carried a Karabiner-98k.


MG42 Machinegun mounted on a tripod with a Traverse and Elevating Mechanism attached to the rear.

The far side of the M1 was prepped with Howitzer fire from the Regimental Artillery Battery as well as fire from one of the three Divisional battalions. Finally, the four platoons consolidated their 50mm mortar squads and fired those into dead space before the Company conducted their assault.

The No. 5 made four assaults across the road before they cleared the British from the far side. The enemy was heavily entrenched and determined to stop the Germans from succeeding. They had Anti-Tank guns and Sherman Firefly tanks interspersed in their line.

During this assault, Unteroffizier Günter Lang, the assistant squad leader for 3rd squad, 3rd platoon grabbed a Panzerfaust 30 from one of his dead comrades and go within twenty five meters of an enemy panzer. He fired the Panzerfaust at the tank, which caused the gasoline engine to burst into flames. The crewmen scrambled out of the hatches in an attempt to flee. Corporal Lang then rallied his flagging squad, down to six men and pushed into an adjacent concrete building where they engaged in hand to hand fighting with eight enemy soldiers. Both sides had bayonets fixed. When the dust settled, only Unteroffizier Günter Lang stood standing. He would eventually receive the Iron Cross, 2nd Class for his actions south of Leeds.

By taking out the panzer, rallying his squad and eliminating an enemy position, he formed a breach where the rest of the company was able to push through. This penetration gave the II Battalion, the ability to exploit this penetration by sending a Tiger platoon and Infantry beyond the breach to clear both the left and right flanks of the breaching point.

By the 8th of July, the II Bn, 46th Infantry held Middleton and Bell Isle, but could not advance beyond the South Leeds Golf Course. It would be another three days before they were prepared to continue the advance.



On 10 July 1942, the British Yorkshire Regiment, supported by the Royal Scots Dragoons Guards Armor Regiment attempted to breach the German Line. As proven many times before, the Sherman was no match to the Tiger tanks. The British Infantry did manage to secure a foothold in the German lines, but they failed to exploit it. The soldiers stranded in the breach were taken prisoner.

On 12 July 1942, the 46th was up to 90% combat strength and resumed the attack. No. 5 Company, supported by the tanks of the 530th Heavy Panzers pushed the left flank toward the A62 (Gelderd Road). No. 6 Company supported by 30th Panzer tanks pushed the right flank and secured a foothold across the M621 in South Leeds. The No. 7 Company remained in support and secured Beeston, south of the highway.



By the 13th of July, the 46th had cleared north to the River Aire. The River is actually two parallel bodies of water, including a canal. This is kown locally as the Aire and Calder Navigation. By the close of the day, the 46th Regiment was at 35% combat strength. The 6th Regiment and 26th Regiment were both hovering around 50% combat strength. The 503rd Heavy Panzers was at roughly 75% strength and the 30th Panzers were at 55%. The 30th Infantry Division was pulled out of the line on the 14th allowing Pfeffer's 297th Infantry Division to take up the attack on the 14th and 15th into Leeds proper.

On 15 July, the 30th Division was relocated to Nottingham for rest and refit. Also, on this day surviving British troops pulled out of the line near Leeds and displaced north.

On 16 July 1942, General Walter Model, Commander of 9th Army is promoted to Generalfeldmarschal and given command of Army Group Brittania. Field Marshal von Kluge is called back to Berlin to take a post in the German Reich.



On 17 July 1942 the German 15th and 16th Armies passed through Model's 9th Army in the west, von Paulus' 6th army in the center and von Küchler's 18th Army in the east. It would take another month or more before the German 18th Army reached Edinburgh, Scotland. The 30th Infantry Division would not see combat during the rest of operations in Great Britain.

28 August 1942, Great Britain surrendered to Germany

In August 1942, the United Kingdom capitulated to Germany and became part of the the new Reich.

August, 1942 to January 1944, the 46th Infantry Regiment is assigned to Garrison duty in Manchester, England during occupation duty. There is the occasional fighting between small groups of resisters, but by the time, the 46th Infantry is displaced to France, the resistance movement has ended.

4 January 1944, the Regiment is posted to Bordeaux with the II Battalion stationed near Ville de St-Jean, 42km outside Bordeaux, along the River Garonne.


References:
History of the 30th Infantry Division; Lexicon-der-Wehrmacht
18th Army (Wehrmacht)
16th Army (Wehrmacht)
9th Army (Wehrmacht)
15th Army (Wehrmacht)
6th Army
32nd Infantry Division (Wehrmacht)
MG42 Machinegun

Changes: Updated each page with references which I primarily used to identify units who could have possibly been in the situations created herein. Most are based on the actual history of the Wehrmacht. The tactical actions of the companies in the II Bn, 46 IN (Mot) are my creation based on my experiences either in the Infantry Officer Advanced Course, Ft. Benning, GA (US Army) or as a Battalion and Brigade Staff Officer. I have also been reading military history since I was 10 years old (~38 years).