WN 62, Omaha beach viewd from the German side

[Nicholas Link]

Hi
Nicholas thanks for posting the map very interesting and everybody who has contributed to this thread, enclose photo from Vince Milanos book Invasion and the spot where Hein Severlohs MG position was can anybody tell me where the position is with recent visits to Omaha is??

Robert

Thank you, Robert.

Does anyone know anything specific about the amphibious engineers that were part of the assault? Did the 37th. Combat Engineer Battalion assault the beach en mass, or were they broken up piecemeal, with a squad or platoon going in here, and others going in there, and still others going in someplace else?

Were these amphibious engineers strictly US Army personnel, or were they a joint Army-Navy unit?

I'm curious, because the uncle that acquired the map that I posted, was a member of "C" Company, 37th. Engineers.

[peleliuexplorer]

Thank you, Robert.

Does anyone know anything specific about the amphibious engineers that were part of the assault? Did the 37th. Combat Engineer Battalion assault the beach en mass, or were they broken up piecemeal, with a squad or platoon going in here, and others going in there, and still others going in someplace else?

Were these amphibious engineers strictly US Army personnel, or were they a joint Army-Navy unit?

I'm curious, because the uncle that acquired the map that I posted, was a member of "C" Company, 37th. Engineers.

I'm sure, like any invasion under intense enemy fire, they came in the beach in piecemeal w/confusion the theme of the day. No doubt they, like all the assault units, were all scattered and formed up once on the beach. Your uncle could have found the map in a bunker, wish his story could be told but now it's lost to history. You should visit the archives in College Park, MD and view the official action report for the 37th Eng. Unit. Would tell you everything you need to know about C Company and the rest of the battalion.

-Eric

[Larry deZeng]

You should visit the archives in College Park, MD and view the official action report for the 37th Eng. Unit. Would tell you everything you need to know about C Company and the rest of the battalion.

And don't forget the U.S. Army Military History Institute at Carlisle Barracks, near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. That's where you will find the first person accounts, and in this case, they undoubtedly include some for the 37th on D-Day. If you call first and tell them the circumstances, they can probably tell you exactly what they have for the unit.

--Larry

[peleliuexplorer]

And don't forget the U.S. Army Military History Institute at Carlisle Barracks, near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. That's where you will find the first person accounts, and in this case, they undoubtedly include some for the 37th on D-Day. If you call first and tell them the circumstances, they can probably tell you exactly what they have for the unit.

--Larry

Larry,

Good advise, can't believe I forgot to mention Carlisle Barracks! That is an excellent source and thanks for pointing it out.

-Eric

[Nicholas Link]

Thanks for the good advice. I'll ask a couple more questions, and then I'll leave this thread to people who obviously know a great deal more than I do about this matter.

Am I way off the mark here, or is it possible that either Lt. Frerking, or his adjutant Meyer, drew the map that I posted? Would a battery commander or his adjutant be the ones responsable to make a map like that? Or would the responsability fall to a forward observer or a fire direction controll officer? What do you all think?

[regular122]

Sorry for the delay in reply Nicholas.

The 37th Combat Engineer Battalion was attached to the 16th Infantry Regiment of the 1st Infantry Division. This was the regiment that landed in front of WN 62 as well along th`e F1 to E1 draws.

In the initial assault, the first wave consisted of two companies of the 741st Tank Battalion. Most were swamped but a few made shore and nearly all were destroyed. Behind or mixed in with them were Companies L, I, F, & E of the 16th Regiment. Behind them were the first engineers to land on Omaha, the 299th Engineer Battalion. They formed what was called the Special Engineer Task Force and landed immediately behind the initial assualt companies.

As the left flank companies were from the 3rd Battalion of the 16th and the right flank companies were from the 2nd Battalion, 16th Rgt, the remainder of these battalions made the second wave. They, too were led by the DD Tanks, this time the remainder of the 741st Battalion. Some of these survived.

Behind the 3rd and 2nd Battalions of the 16th Rgt were special attached units which included the 37th Combat Engineer Battalion. Behind the attached engineer units was the 1st Battalion of the 16th Regiment. This was the third wave of the initial assault regiment. It looked like this:

First Regimental Assault wave - 16th Regiment

First Wave
Co C, 741st Tank / Co B, 741st Tank
Co L, Co I, Co F, Co E
299th Eng

Second Wave
Co A, 741st Tank
Co K, Co G
Co M, Co H

Third Wave
16th Regimental attached Engineers (includes the 37th) and other attached units
Co A, Co B
Co D
Co C

Next Regimental Assualt wave - 18th Regiment
Last regimental Assualt wave - 26th Regiment

Hope this helps put the 37th in context. The 37th Engineers earned a Presidential Unit Citation for their heroic actions that morning. Steve

[Nicholas Link]

Sorry for the dealy in reply Nicholas.

The 37th Combat Engineer Battalion was attached to the 16th Infantry Regiment of the 1st Infantry Division. This was the regiment that landed in front of WN 62 as well along th`e F1 to E1 draws.

...


16th Regimental attached Engineers (includes the 37th) and other attached units
Co A, Co B
Co D
Co C

Next Regimental Assualt wave - 18th Regiment
Last regimental Assualt wave - 26th Regiment

Hope this helps put the 37th in context. The 37th Engineers earned a Presidential Unit Citation for their heroic actions that morning. Steve

Thank you very much! Your narration did an excellent job of putting the 37th. Engineers into perspective.

My uncle never talked to me about his experiences that day, but he did talk to my dad. He mentioned that some of the people in his platoon were killed while trying to seek cover behind a tank. Apparantly my uncle yelled at these people to get away from the tank, because that was what the Germans were almost certainly going to try to destroy. Well, they didn't listen to him, and when the tank was destroyed, they were in fact killed.

I remember thinking at the time that the story about the tank was just that - a story. I did not know that there was such a large armor presence on the beach so early on. I guess there's no fool like a young fool.

Anyway, thanks again.

Best Regards,

Nick Link
Grafton, ND

[PerMilitaria]

Where can I find the documentary about Hein Severloh?
"Path of Forgiveness - A Long Way Back to Omaha Beach"

[florian_geyer72]

Bernhard Frerking

Hello,

I was in Normandy last week and i've visited the grave of the Oblt. Bernhard Frerking in La Cambe.

He was the Hein Severloh's lieutenant in the WN62 and he was killed shortly just after he left him for his retreat.

Best regards.

F.

[Jean-Loup]

Did you by any chance take the guided tour with Mr Von Keusgen, the man who helped Severloh write the book?

JL

[florian_geyer72]

Hello Jean-Loup,

I didn't made this tour. But i've always with me the book about Omaha beach , written by Georges Bernage , ed. Heimdal. Very good book and with this one you can find easily all the famous and interesting places of the beach.

Best regards.

F.

[BPA-Paul]

Would love a copy in english !! i was in this area last year,wow amazing this pic might give you guys a better idea of area WN62 overlooking Omaha beach.
WN62.JPG

Collector of Salty, Service Worn Headgear **SSWH**

[BPA-Paul]

Hello Jean-Loup, are there any good documentry/films on this area or any WN positions at omaha beach ??? thank you


Collector of Salty, Service Worn Headgear **SSWH**

[TJ Suter]

Here is a link to an article on Severloh:

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk...rs-731147.html

And one on Franz Gockel with some interesting photographs:

http://www.digitaljournalist.org/iss...k_tald0408.htm

Both seem to be a bit sensational, which is typical for reporters.

[Jean-Loup]

"Hello Jean-Loup, are there any good documentry/films on this area or any WN positions at omaha beach ??? thank you"

Sorry, but I really dont know. I just read the book. I am not a huge Omaha beach fan, and perfer to learn about less publicised battles instead of always reading about the same one day battle.
JL