Here is more on the activities of this unit on January 8, 1945 (from the divisional history by Meyer). The Begleitkompanie was attacking Hill 501 near Magaret, in the neighborhood of Bastogne
"The Divisionsbegleitkompanie attacked together with 2. Pionierkompanie. Its diary stated:
The Kompanie was only able to advance 400-500 meters before it was forced to a halt by overwhelming enemy fire from heavy machine guns and tanks. Enemy tanks were moving in. The Kompanie suffered some losses. The I. Zug, under the command of Untersturmfuehrer Horstmann, was sent into action as a reserve Zug by the Kompanie commander, Untersturmfuehrer Stier. Based on the situation, the Zug had to by-pass the Kompanie, swinging left, in order to support the attack on the flank. It ended up in a hollow which was dominated by strong fire from heavy machine guns and tanks, and suffered high losses. On orders from Haupsturnfuehrer Taubert, the Kompanie was to pull back unnoticed. However, since the terrain was completely open and easily observed, and since the newly fallen snow offered no chance of camouflage, the enemy spotted the move to disengage. The men crawling back came under heavy fire from sharpshooters, tank machine guns and heavy machine guns which, again, caused many losses. At approximately 11.00 hours, the Kompanie reached the village exit from Magaret again. Our own panzers had knocked out seven enemy tanks."
"The Divisionsbegleitkompanie attacked together with 2. Pionierkompanie. Its diary stated:
The Kompanie was only able to advance 400-500 meters before it was forced to a halt by overwhelming enemy fire from heavy machine guns and tanks. Enemy tanks were moving in. The Kompanie suffered some losses. The I. Zug, under the command of Untersturmfuehrer Horstmann, was sent into action as a reserve Zug by the Kompanie commander, Untersturmfuehrer Stier. Based on the situation, the Zug had to by-pass the Kompanie, swinging left, in order to support the attack on the flank. It ended up in a hollow which was dominated by strong fire from heavy machine guns and tanks, and suffered high losses. On orders from Haupsturnfuehrer Taubert, the Kompanie was to pull back unnoticed. However, since the terrain was completely open and easily observed, and since the newly fallen snow offered no chance of camouflage, the enemy spotted the move to disengage. The men crawling back came under heavy fire from sharpshooters, tank machine guns and heavy machine guns which, again, caused many losses. At approximately 11.00 hours, the Kompanie reached the village exit from Magaret again. Our own panzers had knocked out seven enemy tanks."
I wish I could have more of them.
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