...a group of intrepid collectors is working on a book about Iron cross award docs. Not just a photo reference but one that brings the docs to life.
I thought I would share this with you, it is in a rough, unedited form, but having recieved 2 cards that show the action last week, I thought it would be an interesting read...
The I.R 27 produced a number of excellent officers, two of who's Iron Cross documents are pictured here. Major Max Bayer and Hauptmann Hermann Burchardt were both members of the 27 IR at the outbreak of the war. The 27th was part of the Korps Emmich, a special army consisting of six brigades and three cavalry divisions.
The Korps Emmich was the vanguard of the Schlieffen plan, where a rapid march through Belgium was a neccessity. The Korps Emmich was to cross the border and take Lüttich and its fortresses, opening the door for the German armies following close behind
.
Unexpectedly strong Belgian resistance had slowed the Korps as they approached Lüttich. Franktireurs and Belgian Infantry threw themselves into the fray while Artillery rounds from the Forts exploded in the German Ranks. The Korps did not have the time or energy to take the forts, they passed through them heading directly for the town of Lüttich.
Originally the fall of Lüttich was planned for the 6th August, but thhis was not to be. On the northern and southern flanks the Germans had literally bitten on granite, the columns coming to a halt and pulling back after failing to pass through the circle of fortresses. The middle column however fared better. Ludendorff, still an unknown name at the time, had been following the columns as an observer. When General v. Wussow died, Ludendorff took command of the 14th Brigade and rallying the men (mostly soldiers of the I.R. 27) he led an attack that pushed its way forward through streets. while rifle and machine gun fire rattled from behind hedges and out of windows.
Ludendorff and his approximately 1500 men (including Bayer and Burkhardt) dissapeared into the town... they were swallowed up into the night. Munition had almost run out and communication to the rear was cut off. It was to be a nail biting night for the 14th brigade. The next Morning would decide not only the fate of the 14th Brigade, but also of the whole Shlieffen plan. Von Emmich acted descisively. He sent the 165 IR over the Maas bridge to reinforce the troops already in the town and Ludendorf at the head of the 27th rode in a car towards the Citadelle. Here the suprised Belgians surrenderd to the future Field Marschall and a handful of officers of the I.R.27. There are no records of who those officers were, but it is Probable that one of them was Major Bayer.
I thought I would share this with you, it is in a rough, unedited form, but having recieved 2 cards that show the action last week, I thought it would be an interesting read...
The I.R 27 produced a number of excellent officers, two of who's Iron Cross documents are pictured here. Major Max Bayer and Hauptmann Hermann Burchardt were both members of the 27 IR at the outbreak of the war. The 27th was part of the Korps Emmich, a special army consisting of six brigades and three cavalry divisions.
The Korps Emmich was the vanguard of the Schlieffen plan, where a rapid march through Belgium was a neccessity. The Korps Emmich was to cross the border and take Lüttich and its fortresses, opening the door for the German armies following close behind
.
Unexpectedly strong Belgian resistance had slowed the Korps as they approached Lüttich. Franktireurs and Belgian Infantry threw themselves into the fray while Artillery rounds from the Forts exploded in the German Ranks. The Korps did not have the time or energy to take the forts, they passed through them heading directly for the town of Lüttich.
Originally the fall of Lüttich was planned for the 6th August, but thhis was not to be. On the northern and southern flanks the Germans had literally bitten on granite, the columns coming to a halt and pulling back after failing to pass through the circle of fortresses. The middle column however fared better. Ludendorff, still an unknown name at the time, had been following the columns as an observer. When General v. Wussow died, Ludendorff took command of the 14th Brigade and rallying the men (mostly soldiers of the I.R. 27) he led an attack that pushed its way forward through streets. while rifle and machine gun fire rattled from behind hedges and out of windows.
Ludendorff and his approximately 1500 men (including Bayer and Burkhardt) dissapeared into the town... they were swallowed up into the night. Munition had almost run out and communication to the rear was cut off. It was to be a nail biting night for the 14th brigade. The next Morning would decide not only the fate of the 14th Brigade, but also of the whole Shlieffen plan. Von Emmich acted descisively. He sent the 165 IR over the Maas bridge to reinforce the troops already in the town and Ludendorf at the head of the 27th rode in a car towards the Citadelle. Here the suprised Belgians surrenderd to the future Field Marschall and a handful of officers of the I.R.27. There are no records of who those officers were, but it is Probable that one of them was Major Bayer.
Comment