Monument and mass grave for a total of 138 men of Jaegerregiment 54 that got killed in action on 28th July 1942. What happened there and where? Cheers, Torsten.
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close up of the monument -
At this period in time the 100th Jaeger Division were fighting towards and across the Don during the push to Stalingrad so it is possible that these men were casualties during one of the battles near the Don. Lexikon has the 100th Jaeger Division in the vicinity of Donbogen in July '42.Comment
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Hello
End of July beginning of August 1942 the fast advancing motiried and armoured divisions left a big gap between themsevles and the following infantry divisions cobined with open flanks. Many russian troops were able to escape east or build up a defense towards west again. Especially between the rivers Tschir and Don the russian resistance got stronger. Chaotic situations where nobody knew who is surrounding who came up frequently.
On 28th of July several stand alone battlegroups of the 100th light division were hit by strong enemy attacks supported by T-34 tanks.
IN the morning Jg.Rgt.54 started to attack west towards Majorowskij. THe supply train stayed in Werchnaja Businowka. The regiment is supported by the III./A.R.83.
As the most forward units - the III./54 on the right and the II./54 on the left - reached a valley and advanced down to the valley russian tanks and vehicles appeared on the other side of the valley.
There were 25 - 30 T-34 together with armoured vehicles towing "Ratschbumm" followed by massive russian infantry.
The 54, standing on a coverless hillside started to dig in. The tanks started to fire on the Jäger in their holes.
The few AT-guns of 16./54 were not able to penetrate the armour of the T-34. The guns were overrun and crapped. Those soldiers in their holes were not killed by the tanks were killed by the following infantry.
The positions of the regimental HQ with Radfahr-, Nachrichten-, and Reiterzug were wiped out. The fire positions of the 7th and 9th battery of A.R.83 were taken out. The russian attack pushed through the regiment and was stopped by elements of a Panzerdivision further east.
The KIA can be seen on the photo.. about twice as much were WIA. The III./54 took 3/4 of all casualties on this day.
hope this helps,
ChristophComment
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That's a good account of what happened, Christoph. 28 July was the bloodiest day in the history of 100.Jäg.Div... even worse than its first day in Stalingrad. According to my sources, 11 officers from the regiment were killed on this day:
Bocke, Unterarzt Dr. (Regiment Hilfsarzt)
Falter, Leutnant d.R. (Zugführer), 12./Jäg.Rgt.54
Fuisting, Leutnant d.R. (Zugführer), Stabskp./Jäg.Rgt.54
Hannasky, Oberleutnant d.R. (Kompanieführer), 15./Jäg.Rgt.54
Heckelmann, Oberleutnant d.R. (Kompanieführer), 16./Jäg.Rgt.54
Hocks, Oberarzt Dr. (Regimentsarzt)
Jungnickel, Oberleutnant Herbert (Kompanieschef), 13./Jäg.Rgt.54 (Jungnickel received the German Cross in Gold on 28.02.1942)
Kunkel, Leutnant d.R. (Zugführer), 12./Jäg.Rgt.54
Martschitsch, Leutnant d.R. (Zugführer), 14./Jäg.Rgt.54
Schoepe, Leutnant d.R. (Abteilung Ordonnanzsoffizier), III./Jäg.Rgt.54
Stieber, Leutnant d.R. (Kompanieführer), 11./Jäg.Rgt.54
The commander of III./Jäg.Rgt.54, Major Hyza, was heavily wounded. The Croatians of Inf.Rgt.369 - permanently attached to 100. Jäger-Division - also took a severe beating on this day.
Torsten, in your photo, their is a plaque lower left with some names on it. Can you show it enlarged?
All the best,
JasonComment
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Hi Mark,
only got to see your request now. I am afraid I no longer have the photo and cannot help with enlarger the other grave marker ... sorry. Cheers, Torsten.Comment
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Here the Volksbund entry for Dr. Adolf Hocks:
Nachname: Dr. Hocks
Vorname: Adolf
Dienstgrad: Oberarzt
Geburtsdatum: 07.02.1907
Geburtsort: Zeitz
Todes-/Vermisstendatum: 28.07.1942
Todes-/Vermisstenort: Swetschnikow
Adolf Dr. Hocks ruht auf der Kriegsgräberstätte in Rossoschka - Sammelfriedhof (Rußland) .
Endgrablage: Block 33 - Unter den Unbekannten - among the unknown
GerdanComment
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Also the Volksbund entry for Martschitsch shows that all have been KIA near Swetschnikow:
Nachname: Martschitsch
Vorname: Ferdinand
Dienstgrad: Leutnant
Geburtsdatum: 28.04.1917
Geburtsort: Graz
Todes-/Vermisstendatum: 28.07.1942
Todes-/Vermisstenort: 2 km südostw. Swetschnikow
Ferdinand Martschitsch ruht auf der Kriegsgräberstätte in Rossoschka - Sammelfriedhof (Rußland) .
Endgrablage: Block 33 - Unter den Unbekannten - among the unknown
GerdanComment
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