CHAPTER 5

The End

Konrad I

SS-Panzer-Regiment 3 started its advance along the Danube shore road at 2300 hours on 1 January 1945 and assembled in Szony. The advance was to begin at 0200 on the second, and the Tigers of 9. Kompanie were posted on point with the Panthers from I/SS-Panzer-Regiment 3 behind and II/SS-Panzer-Grenaider-Regiment 6 Eicke providing support. SS-Obersturmbannführer Wenke had to change Tigers because of difficulties with the radio equipment in Tiger 901.

As the lead Tiger approached the western edge of Dunaalmas, a dug-in T-34/85 tank fired one round at the Tiger, wounding Eric Lehmkuhl (radio operator). The shell severed his foot just below the ankle. Lehmkuhl was evacuated by motorcycle to the divisional field hospital in Komarom and later in Linz. Also immobilized by Russian defensive fire was the Tiger of SS-Unterscharführer Lachner, just to the west of Dunaalmas. From behind the damaged lead Tiger rolled the Befehlspanther I01 of SS-Sturmbannführer Meierdress, the commander of I/SS-Panzer-Regiment 3. His Panther now took point in the column. Behind Meierdress’s tank was Panther I02, commanded by SS-Obersturmbannführer Strobl, the Panther battalion adjutant. Meierdress ordered a halt. He dismounted and issued new orders. At around 0645, just as he moved out, a dug-in SU-85 self-propelled gun from the 1438th Self-Propelled Artillery Regiment, attached to the 170th Tank Brigade of the 18th Tank Corps, fired a single shot into the rear of the turret, killing Meierdress and the turret crew. Both the driver and radio operator were wounded. The stricken Panther rolled off the road in the center of the village and crashed into a nearby house next to the village church. Panther I03 from the headquarters company detected the SU-85 self-propelled gun and destroyed the vehicle with a single shot. SS-Obersturmbannführer Ernst now took command of the Panther battalion after leaving 7. Kompanie.

Later, Berge-Panther BW 1 was used to recover the stricken Panther. During the recovery operation, the Russians tried to hit this Berge-Panther four times with antitank gunfire. All four shots missed. Later, the Berge-Panther towed the Panther to Acs. Panther I01 was written off as a total loss on 5 February.

After the seizure of Dunaalmas, the tank regiment pushed onto Neszmely and Sutto, then south of the heights of Karva. By midafternoon, the Panther battalion shot up a Russian motorized column just outside Nyergesujfalu, which was captured. In Nyergesujfalu the forward elements of Totenkopf linked up with 96. Infanterie-Division, which was attacking from the north. During the approach march along the Danube shore road, the Tiger of SS-Oberscharführer Tonges was also shot up by Russian antitank gunfire, taking hits to the tracks and running gear. In Nyergesujfalu, the tank regiment regrouped, and II/SS-Panzer-Regiment 3 now took the lead along with 9. Kompanie. Seven Tigers had fallen out due to battle damage or mechanical failure, including the Tiger of SS-Oberscharführer Tassler.

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At 0100, the Tigers and Panzer IV’s pushed along the Nyergesujfalu–Bajot road, which led through a wood. Along the road the tank column was strafed by Il-2 Sturmoviks from the 10th Assault Air Corps from the 17th Air Army. One Panther was struck by a bomb during the air attack while another was damaged. The grenadiers from SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Regiment 6 Eicke attacked to the south of Bajot, overrunning a Russian antitank gun front. The tanks pushed through to Bajot. After Bajot, the tanks took on a new allocation of fuel and ammunition.

In Bajna the Panzer IV’s of 5. Kompanie needed the assistance of three Tigers from 9. Kompanie. Two Panthers had already turned off the road onto the open terrain in an effort to out flank the village. The lead Tiger was commanded by SS-Standartenoberjunker Blau, with SS-Obersturmbannführer Wenke in the rear. The Tigers were required to tackle some T-34/85’s that were causing problems for the Panzer IV’s. Blau drove up to a Panzer IV and asked, “Where is the music?” A crewman pointed in the direction of the village church, with a warning to be careful. But as Blau drove past the church, he took multiple hits from Russian tank fire—to the hull, turret, and running gear. The force of the hit to the turret threw Blau out of the turret into the air, killing him. He was promoted to SS-Untersturmführer posthumously on 30 January.

The second Tiger drove up to the church and was also hit and immobilized. The third Tiger, commanded by Wenke, called in air support and proceeded with care to survey the front. Before long Wenke fired and hit a Russian T-34/85. About ten minutes later, two Ju-88’s flew overhead and attacked the Russian positions. Covering the two stricken Tigers was a Panther. The two Panthers that had moved into the open terrain overcame a Russian antitank gun front.

Blau’s Tiger had to be towed away and transported to the Vienna Arsenal for factory repairs. On the fourth, the tanks began the advance on Szomor, but 1,500 meters southeast of Bajna, Russian tanks were reported in the woods. As the grenadiers formed up, the tanks started the advance toward Szomor. Throughout the day, the grenadiers and the tanks had to combat Russian tanks and antitank gunfire. There was heavy fighting for Gyarmat Psz and Epol. During the day, five Panzer IV’s from 7. Kompanie were knocked out. Two Tigers had to provide covering fire to the Panthers as they dealt with JS-2 Russian heavy tanks.

On the fifth, the attack on Szomor began from the northwest via Gyermely. The Panzergruppe was commanded by SS-Obersturmbannführer Laackmann. On the approach from Gyermely to Szomor, two Panthers were hit by Russian defensive fire, hitting the tracks, hull, and turret on both Panthers. Both quickly caught fire. III/SS-Panzer-Grenaider-Regiment 6 and II/SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Regiment 5 Totenkopf were tasked with attacking on both sides of Szomor to clear Russian antitank gun fronts. The Tigers had to repel a Russian counterattack with tanks and infantry from the direction of Somodor Psz, which was turned back. During the day, Laackmann was wounded. The tank regiment was commanded by SS-Sturmbannführer Krass, former commander of I/SS-Panzer-Artillerie-Regiment 3 (sfl). By the end of the day, the grenadiers from SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Regiment 6 Eicke managed to set up defensive positions between Hill 357 and Hill 289 east of Szomor with the support of the Panthers.

On the sixth, the advance on Zsambek began with III/SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Regiment 6 Eicke attacking Hill 317, while that regiment’s second battalion attacked to the east. The Tigers from 9. Kompanie advanced along the Szomor-Zsambek road, with two Tigers moving along in the open terrain just to the right side of the road. The Tigers were commanded by SS-Obersturmbannführer Wenke and SS-Untersturmführer Westerling. The Russians had an antitank gun front positioned near Felsoors Psz. At a range of fifty meters, the Russians opened fire, and both Tigers were quickly knocked out. Wenke’s Tiger was hit in the hull and turret. Inside the turret, the gunner, SS-Rottenführer Krippl, was wounded after his left arm was trapped between the deflector shield and the gun breach. Quickly, Wenke dismounted and ran to get medical assistance. He returned with the medical orderly from II/SS-Panzer-Regiment 3, who amputated the arm below the shoulder joint without anesthetic; all the while, the Russians were shelling the area with artillery fire. Krippl would later receive treatment in Salzburg. A third Tiger quickly moved up to provide covering fire. The Tiger of SS-Unterscharführer Privatski advanced just to the north of the Many-Zsambek road junction before it was hit by direct fire from 76mm anti-tank guns. The Tiger took hits to the right side of the hull and running gear and the front bow plate. The crew bailed out.

Also wounded during this action were SS-Untersturmführer Westerling, who was evacuated on the twenty-third; SS-Scharführer Duhmke (radio operator); Gustav Krause (loader); and SS-Rottenführer Ludwig Buss (radio operator). Wenke’s Tiger 901 was recovered and transported to the Vienna Arsenal for factory repairs, but Westerling’s Tiger was left behind in the open terrain halfway between Szomor and Zsambek. This Tiger would be later used as a command post by 3. Kavallerie-Brigade and abandoned on 28 February.

On the seventh, SS-Obersturmbannführer Neff returned from home leave and resumed command of 9. Kompanie. Wenke took command of 5. Kompanie of II/SS-Panzer-Regiment 3. On the same day, another attempt was made to seize Zsambek. At 0700 hours, SS-Panzer-Artillerie-Regiment 3 laid down an artillery barrage for an hour. This time, ten Panthers from I/SS-Panzer-Regiment 3, with escorting grenadiers, moved south of Szomor, trying to outflank the Russian positions. The Panthers managed to reach the Felsoors Psz–Enes–Many road junction only to come under fire from SU-100 self-propelled guns from the 382nd Guards Self-Propelled Artillery Regiment. This was the first combat commitment of the SU-100. The 382nd had some limited infantry support, which quickly ran away, forcing some of the crews from the SU-100s to dismount and fight as infantry. The 382nd also requested tank support, but the SU-100s managed to knock out one Panther and seriously damaged nine more. The 382nd lost eleven SU-100s destroyed or damaged. The tank platoon sent to support the regiment lost some T-34 tanks and one JS-type heavy self-propelled gun. During the action, SS-Sturmbannführer Krass in his Befehlspanther knocked out two Russian tanks, while SS-Panzer-Regiment 3 claimed a total of seventeen Russian tanks.

On the eighth, I/SS-Panzer-Regiment 35. Kompanie (Panzer IV’s) under the command of SS-Obersturmbannführer Wenke, and 9. Kompanie were placed in reserve in Szomor. 5. Kompanie would later take part in defensive actions repelling Russian attacks to the east of Szomor, while I and III/SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Regiment 6 Eicke, along with 6. and 7. Kompanie attacked Many and Zsambek. I/SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Regiment 6 Eicke managed to reach Hill 268 before coming under heavy Russian defensive fire. The III/SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Regiment 6 Eicke got into hand-to-hand fighting with Russian infantry near Many. Near Szomor, Regiment Eicke’s 2nd Battalion had to repel a Russian attack with the support of Panzer IV’s from 5. Kompanie.

On the ninth, the Russians tried another attack on Szomor from the direction of Felsoors Psz. It was beaten back; again the Tigers provided defensive support to the grenadiers. On the tenth, new replacement personnel arrived for SS-Panzer-Regiment 3; they were divided between the I and II battalions, but there were no new replacements for 9. Kompanie.

On thirteenth, the first elements of 3. Kavallerie-Brigade started changing positions with the Totenkopf, which was to withdraw and move back to Komarom for redeployment in the area of Berhida for another relief operation on Budapest. The new operation was to relieve Budapest from the south. SS-Panzer-Regiment 3 and other divisional tracked elements would have to move by road. Some elements were moved by rail, but with only two transports per day, there were insufficient flat cars to carry all the tracked vehicles. The route of approach was by road as follows: Nagyimand, Bana, and Gyorszabadhegy (rail station) via the Bakony Hills, Veszpremvarsany, Bakonyszentkiraly, Magyarszentkiraly, Bakony Oszlop, Cseteny, and Zirc, and then down to the assembly area of Berhida. Those elements transported by rail were unloaded in Veszprem.

SS-Obersturmbannführer Wenke, who served as the company commander from 24 December to 6 January while SS-Obersturmbannführer Neff was back in Germany on leave, recorded the following:

24 December    Company Christmas party. The regimental commander, SS-Obersturmbannführer Laackmann, arrives and says a few brief words to the men. During the celebrations, we receive an alarm that we should be ready to move.

25 December    Company moves to the rail station for loading.

26 December    Loading takes place in freezing cold weather. We have eleven Tigers operational.

30 December    Transport arrives in the evening and unloaded in Komarom. We drive to a Hungarian barracks and set up quarters. [The old Hungarian Royal Army Cavalry Barracks, where the Hussar regiments had trained. The barracks were housed at Fort Igmand, built between 1871 and 1877. The fort was used as an internment camp for Polish soldiers from 1939 to 1942, after which it was used as a Hungarian labor corps barracks.]

31 December    Battle readiness preparations—we take on fuel and ammunition, the Tigers are camouflaged. At midday the regimental commander issues ord ers. The advance is to begin at 2100 on 1 January; the Tiger company will be on point. We are to move along the Danube shore road heading west. The front line is to the west of Dunaalmas; we are to advance toward Nyergesufalu and link up with elements of 96. Infanterie-Division, where a bridgehead is to be formed.

1 January    The start of the attack is delayed due to operational difficulties. Radio silence is ordered. To hide the sound of our engines, the Luftwaffe fly over our location in the direction of Budapest. Around midnight the enemy is reported to be at the western edge of Dunaalmas, where we come under fire. The company commander’s Tiger comes under fire; the lead Tiger of SS-Oberscharführer Tassler (Tassler was lightly wounded during this action) is hit with damage to the main gun and tracks. The Russians have laid mines on the road, but we move off to the left and the advance continues without delay.

2 January    During the morning before marching on Neszmely, the fighting in Dunaalmas is still going on. Seven Tigers have fallen out due to battle damage or technical failure. We also have some wounded. By the afternoon, we link up with 96. Infanterie-Division in Nyergesufalu. Shortly the divisional commander appears on the scene, and I give a short report. It’s here that I learn that SS-Sturmbannführer Meierdress has been killed. Meierdress was a Knight’s Cross and Oak Leaves winner. We take on a new allocation of fuel and ammunition, and the company is again placed under the command of II/SS-Panzer-Regiment 3. The next objective is Bajot.

3 January    SS-Oberjunker Blau is killed while in Bajna. Blau had only recently joined the company. In Bajna there is heavy fighting around the church. We have to call in air support from the Luftwaffe, which blasts a passage for us to continue the advance.

4 January    Midmorning, enemy tanks are reported in the woods about 1,500 meters southeast of Bajna. We move out to meet them. The first Russian tank is hit and catches fire. The other Russian tanks quickly turn around and withdraw.

5 January    The company is ordered to attack Szomor and protect the flank on the left and repel any enemy attacks. During the advance, we suffer no losses, and later the company assumes security duty at the eastern edge of Szomor. In the evening the enemy attacks with tanks and infantry from the direction of Somodor Psz. One Russian tank is knocked out by a Tiger at a range of fifty meters. The remaining Russian force turns around and retreats. Later, the Russians pound our positions with heavy mortar fire.

6 January    Three Tigers operational. In the afternoon we advance toward Zsambek from Szomor. Moving across open rolling terrain, two Tigers are hit by Russian anti-tank gunfire. The company commander’s Tiger is hit on the right side of the turret, and the round pierces the turret interior, hitting the main gun mount. The gunner’s left arm (Gustav Krippl) is trapped between the deflector shield and the breech. We try to free his arm but with no luck. The Tiger is under constant Russian fire and cannot move, but we do have some limited cover due to the wet and misty weather. A medic is brought forward who quickly sizes up the situation and amputates the gunner’s arm on the spot. Later, the damaged Tigers are recovered.

Eric Lehmkuhl recalled:

By 2300 hours, we finally begin the attack along a road. As we approach a bend in the road, we came under heavy defensive fire. I feel a heavy impact on my left foot. We had been hit by a round that had penetrated the hull. My first thought was that I had lost my right foot. I opened the radio operator’s hatch and climbed out and slid down on to the snow. I noticed there were no footprints in the snow, which was not good.

I took cover in a ditch next to the road. I had my leg held against the clear sky, and I saw my foot was gone up to the Achilles heel. I still don’t know how everything went, but I was shouting at another tank that went past, but it was knocked out as well. I don’t know how long I was lying there, but the next thing I remember was a medic standing over me with a syringe and another man saying he was going to take me away on a motorcycle sidecar combination.

For this, I have to personally thank comrade Herbart Sachs, who rode all the way to come and collect me. I ended up at the divisional field hospital, which was located at the Hungarian Cavalry Barracks in Komarom. I was the first to be operated on. Afterward, I was visited by the company SpießHauptscharführer Beneke, who awarded me the Iron Cross, First Class, and gave me a small package with some chocolate in it.

Walter Weber of 5. Kompanie remembered:

At 2000 hours on 1 January, we attacked with the whole regiment. We were all thrilled that we were attacking as a whole unit again. The Tiger company leads, with the Panther battalion following behind. Later, our battalion takes the lead.

3 January    Bajna. Early in the morning, three Tigers were required to eliminate those annoying Russian tanks. The commander looks down at us from the cupola. He asked where the music was coming from. We pointed toward the church, and the Tigers drove off one behind the other. No sooner had the lead Tiger edged past the church than it was hit by direct fire. The Tiger commander (SS-Standartenoberjunker Blau) flies through the air. After this, almost in an instant, the second Tiger was hit in the tracks and running gear. It managed to pull back into cover and out of danger. Do not underestimate the T-34/85. Well, the third and last operational Tiger tried his luck—carefully, he edged his Tiger toward the church. Even before he could fire off a few shots, he was hit by Russian tank fire.

4 January    Then came the pride of the regiment, the Tiger company, with two TigersSS-Obersturmbannführer Wenke is behind the lead Tiger, and he was wearing a thick fur coat. After a short assessment of the situation, the Tigers open fire—lo and behold, there are columns of smoke—three Russian tanks are in flames. Bravo, Wenke. During this period, Wenke led the Tiger company.

Endelmann of 5. Kompanie reported for 5 January: “It is bright. The grenadiers move up and fight the Russian house to house. A Tiger tried to break through; it returned later with battle damage. A Panther tried the same a little later. SS-Obersturmbannführer Wenke came over to us and ask if we get on the radio and request air support.”

Wagner recalls Konrad I: “We attack in the direction of Budapest after driving through the night. Three Tigers were damaged and fell out. I had to find a map and drive to Esztergom. Neff is on leave and Wenke leads the company. The next day, Blau is killed. Also wounded were Lehmkuhl, August Krippl, and Gustav Krause.”

On the fourteenth, the 3. SS-Panzer-Division Totenkopf had handed over its former sector to 3. Kavallerie-Brigade. On the seventeenth, elements of SS-Panzer-Regiment 3 and SS-Panzerjäger-Abteilung 3 had arrived. The Tiger company had not turned up. During the night of 14–15 January, wheeled elements of Totenkopf passed through Zirc.

Wagner reported on the early phase of Konrad III:

The company has one more tank commanded by Tassler. The division returns to Komarom for redeployment via Veszprem for an attack on Szekesfehervar from Falubattyan. Neff returns from home leave. Tonges is slightly wounded after his Tiger was hit in the main gun. Dieter Thomas returned after completing an officer-cadet course, and Bernhardt also returned. The company support units move into Agard. We lose one Tiger, with Etmayer being killed. Another Tiger was lost, with Becker and his crew bailing out; the radio operator was killed.

On the seventeenth, IV. SS-Panzer-Korps reported the following units from 3. SS-Panzer-Division Totenkopf already in the new assembly area:

I/SS-Panzer-Artillerie-Regiment 3 (sfl)

II/SS-Panzer-Artillerie-Regiment 3, with 2 artillery pieces

SS-Panzer-Regiment 3, with 8 Panzer V’s, 5 Panzer IV’s, 11 StuGs, and to arrive on the eighteenth: 14 Panzer V’s (2 more in long-term repair), 16 Panzer IV’s, 11 Tigers (2 at the Vienna Arsenal), and 6 StuGs

SS-Panzerjäger-Abteilung 3, with 10 Jagdpanzer IV’s, 4 StuGs, and to arrive on the eighteenth: 5 Jagdpanzer IV’s, 6 StuG’s

On the eighteenth, IV. SS-Panzer-Korps had the following vehicles available for the start of the attack: 42 Tigers, 59 Panzer V’s, 22 Panzer IV’s, 58 StuG’s, 13 Jagdpanzer IV’s, and 194 SPW/Panzerspähwagen.

During September 1944, schwere Panzer-Abteilung 509 had been transferred from the Eastern Front to Sennelager, where it began conversion training on the Tiger II. From 5 December to 1 January, the battalion was equipped with forty-five Tiger II’s. The Flak platoon was formed on 11 October under Wehrkries IX and transported to Ohrdorf on the nineteenth for further training. On 12 December, the Flak platoon was transported to Sennelager for integration with schwere Panzer-Abteilung 509 and declared operational on the fifteenth, with eight Flak Panzer IV’s. The Berge-Panthers were issued as follows: the battalion still had one Berge-Panther on hand but had two new ones issued on 29 September; another was issued on 2 January. The transports carrying schwere Panzer-Abteilung 509 to Hungary unloaded in Hajmasker.

On 18 January, SS-Panzer-Regiment 3 advanced out of the area of Kungos with the attached schwere Panzer-Abteilung 509 (commanded by Major Burmeister) at 0500 hours. On the left in support was SS-Kampfgruppe Kleffner (SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Regiment 6 Eicke), commanded by SS-Obersturmbannführer KleffnerSS-Sturmbannführer Pitschellis led the assault in his Befehlspanther. The Russians reported some twenty tanks, including Tigers, attacking their forward positions. The first obstacle was a minefield, which had to be cleared by engineers. That took some time. Also encountered were electrically charged cables. Kampfgruppe Pitschellis had to turn north and then swung south of Hills 188 and 197 (south of Jeno) and attacked Sandorka, which was captured. The Russians launched a counterattack with tanks from the direction of Fule and were beaten back.

Kampfgruppe Pitschellis turned east and resumed the advance but encountered a strong Russian antitank front to the west of Polgardi. SS-Panzer-Artillerie-Abteilung 3 had to turn the antitank gun front’s flank before the attack could continue in the direction of Falubattyan. Kampfgruppe Kleffner advanced south of Felsosomylo and to the north of the Csillagmajorr-Falubattyan road (near Falubattyan, the Tiger of SS-Oberscharführer Tonges was hit again) with schwere Panzer-Abteilung 509. By midday, the 509’s Tiger II’s headed northwest of Szabadbattyan and tried to seize the bridge over the Marlom Canal, which was blown up as the Tigers got within fifty meters of the bridge. The Russians also used antitank gunfire and air strikes trying to defend the canal. Three Tiger II’s were immobilized and abandoned by their crews. These Tigers were blown up on the twenty-second by a demolition crew from the battalion’s Werkstatt company.

The tanks from Kampfgruppe Pitschellis had entered Szabadbattyan and tried to push onward in the direction of Seregelyes, but as two Panthers approached a bridge on the eastern edge of Szabadbattyan which spanned the new Sarviz Canal, the lead Panther was knocked out by antitank gunfire after it successfully crossed the bridge. This Panther was knocked out by an antitank gun from the Russian 10th Antitank Artillery Brigade. The second Panther started to drive across the bridge, but it collapsed under the weight of the Panther. After this, the day’s advance had come to a halt, and another crossing over the Sarviz Canal had to be found. The engineers from SS-Panzer-Pionier-Batallion 3 began repairs on the bridges over the Marlom Canal and the Sarviz Canal and started building a forty-ton bridge as well. Totenkopf had lost one Panzer IV, two Panthers, and one StuG. Tonges’s Tiger took a hit on the main gun, causing a slight wound to Tonges. Major Burmeister, commander of schwere Panzer-Abteilung 509 was wounded, and the 509 was taken over by Hauptmann Dr. Konig.

On the nineteenth, the bridge crossing the Sarviz Canal was ready for crossing. It had a forty-four-ton capacity, which allowed the PanthersPanzer IV’s, and StuG’s from SS-Panzer-Regiment 3 to cross, as well as the Tigers from 9. Kompanie. The Tigers from schwere Panzer-Abteilung 509 could not move. SS-Kampfgruppe Pitschellis attacked southeast in the direction of Foveny Puszta. Very quickly, a new crossing area had to be found. After a quick reconnaissance of the area, a shallow part of the Sarviz Canal was found next to the railway bridge near Szabadbattyan. The engineers from SS-Panzer-Pionier-Batallion 3 began placing wooden railway sleepers into the canal and slowly built up a temporary bridge that allowed the Tiger II’s of 509 to cross the Sarviz Canal.

After crossing the canal, SS-Panzer-Regiment 3, under the command of Pitschellis, advanced on Foveny Puszta, which was taken during midafternoon. Later, a further advance on Seregelyes was halted for the day because of bad weather conditions. On the morning of the twentieth, Kampfgruppe Pitschellis advanced on Seregelyes along with SS-Panzerjäger-Abteilung 3 and became involved in fighting in the northern part of the town, which was also being attacked by the 5. SS-Panzer-Division WikingSS-Panzerjäger-Abteilung 3, along with the grenadiers from I/SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Regiment 5 Totenkopf (gep), attacked the southern section of the town. 1. Kompanie of SS-Panzerjäger-Abteilung 3 lost two Jagdpanzer IV’s during the fighting.

By now Kampfgruppe Pitschellis had turned northeast and started to advance on Dinnyes, with schwere Panzer-Abteilung 509 advancing on Borgond airfield, but was struggling with supplies of fuel and ammunition. The tanks from SS-Panzer-Regiment 3 entered Dinnyes during the afternoon and carried on along the southern embankment road toward Kisvelencze with seven Panzerstanks and 120 supporting grenadiers, but Russian defensive fire damaged two tanks and forced the small Panzergruppe to turn back after one Russian antitank gun was knocked out. To the west of Kisvelencze, Totenkopf attacked the 63rd Cavalry Division and elements of the 69th Guards Rifle Division near Hill 103 at around 1800 hours. The Panzergruppe from SS-Panzer-Regiment 3 made four attacks against the Russian positions before falling back. That same day, SS-Sturmbannführer Anton Berlin assumed command of I/SS-Panzer-Regiment 3.

On the twenty-first, the Russians reported that some forty tanks and self-propelled guns were forming up near Gardonny during the early-morning hours, with at least one grenadier battalion in support. Kampfgruppe Pitschellis attacked from Dinnyes and headed toward Agard at around 0800 hours. The group captured Agard after breaking through a Russian antitank front. The advance continued across the open terrain south of Gardonny and proceeded to attack Kisvelencze and Kaplosnasnyek from the southeast. The Russians estimated that the group consisted of twenty-five tanks. SS-Sturmbannführer Pitschellis was again at point in his Befehlspanther. During the attack, Kampfgruppe Pitschellis came under murderous Russian antitank gunfire from the southeast. On the western edge of Kaplosnasnyek, the small group of six tanks attacked Kaplosnasnyek from the west, resulting in two Befehlspanthers and two Panthers of SS-Panzer-Regiment 3 being knocked out (these wrecks were not recovered until 1950 for scrap by the Hungarian authorities).

The main Panzergruppe, with fifteen tanks and mounted grenadiers, tried to break through from the direction of Kisvelencze. This was accomplished at 1700, and the group reached the western edge of Kaplosnasnyek and Hill 120. The Russians decided to move up the 1st Guards Mechanized Brigade to assist in the defense of Kaplosnasnyek; it arrived at about 1600 hours. The Germans noticed the presence of SU-100 self-propelled guns.

Forming up south of Kisvelencze were I and III/SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Regiment 6 Eicke, supported by I/Panzer-Regiment 24 (Panther’s). Their main task was to open up the Vali sector and establish a bridgehead after capturing Kaplosnasnyek. Also in support is schwere Panzer-Abteilung 509SS-Hauptsturmführer Leibel, commander of II/SS-Panzer-Regiment 3, was ordered by the divisional leadership to take command of the battalion and proceed to the area of Felsobesyno Puszta and then attack Baracska from the south. This caused a huge protest from the battalion’s leadership, especially on such short notice without proper reconnaissance.

During the march, six Tiger II’s fell out because of mechanical damage, and another two Tiger II’s collided during the night. During the attack on Kaplosnasnyek by SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Regiment 6 Eicke, which lasted over four hours, only a foothold in Kaplosnasnyek was gained before the unit was forced to withdraw. SS-Panzer-Regiment 3 lost four Panthers as total losses and one Tiger I damaged by Russian tank fire. I/Panzer-Regiment 24 lost nine Panthers. The Russians lost three T-34’s, two self-propelled guns, and twelve antitank guns. The Russians claimed eight tanks and one SPW on the twenty-first.

On the twenty-second, the damaged tanks from the previous day were recovered and sent for repairs. The remaining operational tanks were used for an attack on the northern edge of Kaplosnasnyek, which resulted in heavy combat. The attack was conducted in heavy snow drifts and was repelled by heavy Russian defensive fire. All the Tigers were hit and had to be recovered and sent for repairs. To the south, schwere Panzer-Abteilung 509, along with elements of SS-Panzer-Artillerie-Abteilung 3, attacked to the south of Baracska, trying to reach the Vali Canal, but the Russians had built up their defenses in this area and again managed to block any further German advance in this sector. The battalion had managed to reach Kishalom Puszta, but was forced to pull back as shortages of fuel and ammunition increased. During the day, SS-Panzerjäger-Abteilung 3 lost three Jagdpanzer IV’sSS-Scharführer Hugo Rise was killed near Agard; he was a truck driver in 9. Kompanie.

According to Dr. Konig, “During a snow storm, we heard that the Hauptsturmführer from the Waffen-SS (Leibel) was badly wounded. Of the twenty-six operational Tiger II’s from the twentieth, I have only twelve available. The other vehicles had fallen out either due to enemy action or technical problems. During the afternoon, we have a convoy of nine vehicles being towed back for repairs just before nightfall.”

At around 1100 on the twenty-third, Totenkopf made another assault on Kaplosnasnyek, with III/SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Regiment 6 Eicke in the lead. The attack was supported by fifteen tanks, but despite heavy fighting, the Russians managed to launch several counterattacks, which were repelled. I/Panzer-Regiment 24, with thirty-one operational Panthers, saw action in the area between Kaplosnasnyek and Velencze, knocking out four Russian tanks. By the end of the day, Kaplosnasnyek was finally captured by German forces. To the south, schwere Panzer-Abteilung 509 attempted another advance in the direction of Kishalom, but the battalion spent the day repelling Russian counterattacks before retiring back to Felsobesyno Puszta.

On the twenty-third, the commander of 509 submitted a written complaint about the deployment of the battalion. His main points were late issue of orders; attachment to a tank regiment as opposed to being put under operational control; unsatisfactory engineer support; choice of an incompetent leader; and employment in unsuitable terrain. The complaint was submitted to the General Inspector of Panzer Troops, Generaloberst Guderian.

On the twenty-fourth, after some reorganization, it was decided to try to clear the Russian troop concentrations to the north of Kaplosnasnyek. Three battle groups from SS-Panzer-Regiment 3I/Panzer-Regiment 24, and schwere Panzer-Abteilung 509 were formed into three Panzergruppen of ten to twelve tanks each. The attack was to be in the general direction of Baracska. 509 (nine operational Tiger II’s) was attached to Kampfgruppe Eckert (SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Regiment 5 Totenkopf) and was to try again to take Kishalom and Hill 157 and establish a bridgehead over the Vali Canal. The battalion started out in the morning from Felsobesyno and soon got involved in heavy fighting around Hill 157. In a twenty-minute period, the Tiger II’s had knocked out fifteen Russian tanks and a huge number of antitank guns.

Kampfgruppe Kleffner (SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Regiment 6 Eicke) was to attack from Kaplosnasnyek and take Baracska and establish a bridgehead. Attached to Kampfgruppe Kleffner was I/Panzer-Regiment 24, whose twenty-two operational Panthers would dwindle down to twelve at the start of the attack; by midnight, the number of operational vehicles would be five. Five Tiger II’s from 509 reported to SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Regiment 6 Eicke’s command post; by midnight, the number of operational Tiger II’s was two.

The Panzergruppe from 1. Panzer-Division was to strike north from Kaplosnasnyek. The attack began at 2200. The lead tanks from SS-Panzer-Regiment 3 came under Russian tank and antitank fire as they advanced along the road to Pettend. About 1.5 kilometers west of Pettend, the Tiger of SS-Unterscharführer Becker was hit by two 85mm rounds. One round hit the front bow plate near the driver’s position; another round hit the right side of the running gear and track. The crew bailed out and managed to escape back to German lines. The Russians examined this Tiger on 11 February and assigned it number 60 on their trophy list.

Going into the early hours of the twenty-fifth, Kampfgruppe Kleffner was involved in heavy fighting around Pettend. I/Panzer-Regiment 24 knocked out six Russian tanks. After Kampfgruppe Kleffner captured Adam Major, it pushed on to Baracska and, by late morning, had managed to approach the southern section of the village. Two Panthers from I/SS-Panzer-Regiment 3 tried to break through along the Pettend-Baracska road at around 1300. The Russians used air strikes in trying to halt the German attack. The 63rd Guards Cavalry Division was putting up fierce resistance as well.

To the south, schwere Panzer-Abteilung 509 and SS-Panzerjäger-Abteilung 3 were fending off strong Russian counterattacks in the area of Nagyhalom. SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Regiment 6 Eicke tried to press home the southern foothold it had in Baracska, but the Russians were launching strong counterattacks in the area of Pettend. The Panthers from I/Panzer-Regiment 24 and the tanks from 1. Panzer-Division knocked out seventeen Russian tanks. By the end of the day, Kampfgruppe Kleffner had to transition to defense, but Pettend had been captured by German forces. On the twenty-fourth, SS-Panzer-Regiment 3 and SS-Panzerjager-Abteilung lost the following: three Panzer IV’s, one Tiger, four StuG’s, and one Jagdpanzer IVSS-Panzer-Artillerie-Regiment 3 lost one Hummel, three Wespen, and one Panzerbeobachterswagen IV, while schwere Panzer-Abteilung 509 had a Tiger II knocked out one kilomter west of Pettend.

On the twenty-sixth, Kampfgruppe Pitschellis launched an attack from the area of Pettend in an effort to reopen the Val sector. Also attached to the Kampfgruppe were three Tiger II’s from schwere Panzer-Abteilung 509 and five Panthers from I/Panzer-Regiment 24. The direction of the attack was from Pettend, Baracska, and then Pazmand-Vereb. The attack began with an assault on Baracska, where the Tiger of SS-Hauptscharführer Berger was knocked out on the main road leading into the village. A 76mm round hit the turret on the left side, which also caused damage to the engine deck. Several other 76mm rounds hit the front bow plate as well, killing the radio operator, SS-Sturmmann Etmayer, and the driver, SS-Sturmmann Karl Dietz. The turret crew managed to bail out. SS-Hauptscharführer Berger was wounded by shrapnel to his back. He was evacuated back to Germany, and on 11 April, he was taken prisoner by British forces after he escaped from the Red Cross hospital at Bad Harzburg.

The Tiger was examined by the Russians on 23 February and given trophy number 135. Also knocked out on the northern edge of Baracska were two Tiger II’s from schwere Panzer-Abteilung 509 next to the Baracska-Pettend rail line. Here SS-Panzer-Regiment 3 regrouped. South of Baracska, Kampfgruppe Eckert (SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Regiment 5 Totenkopf) assembled in the Pettend area. Kampfgruppe Kleffner attacked to the north. Flank protection was provided by SS-Panzer-Artillerie-Abteilung 3 and SS-Panzerjäger-Abteilung 3. Attacking in the direction of Pazmand, in support from 1. Panzer Division, was Kampfgruppe Phillipp.

After the fighting in Baracska, Kampfgruppe Pitschellis marched north via Psz Pettend, where it came under Russian antitank gunfire. This caused some damage to several of the tanks. As the Kampfgruppe moved farther toward Vereb, SS-Sturmbannführer Pitschellis’s Befehlspanther was hit. He dismounted and tried to change Panthers. During the process he was badly wounded by shrapnel and died twenty minutes later. He was buried in Veszprem on the thirty-first. SS-Panzer-Regiment 3 was now temporarily led by SS-Obersturmbannführer Dr. Gerhard Adam, who at the time was serving in the headquarters of IV. SS-Panzer-Korps. Adam had led II/SS-Panzer-Regiment 3 from 1 November to 15 January before being assigned to the headquarters of the corps.

A bridgehead was formed over the Vali Canal between Val and Kajoszoszentpeter. Elements of Kampfgruppe Phillipp began to cross and push east about one kilometer before being recalled to assist in a new threat north of Pazmand as the Russian had brought new reinforcements and were soon committing large numbers of tanks. Here General Balck and SS-Obergruppenführer Gille got into a serious discussion about whether to continue the relief attack on Budapest or cancel it. In the end, General Balck ordered that the new threat of strong Russian forces to the north in the area of Lovasbereny posed a serious threat—hence the recall of Kampfgruppe Phillipp. During the night, the Russians tried to attack Vereb with about forty tanks, but the attack was repelled. During the day, SS-Panzer-Regiment 3 and SS-Panzerjäger-Abteilung 3 had lost one Tiger and one Jagdpanzer IVschwere Panzer-Abteilung 509 lost two Tiger II’s (one was hit nine times, with four the crew dead; the other was hit four times, with three of the crew dead).

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On the twenty-seventh, it was decided that Totenkopf would go over to the defense and start pulling back to a line of Baracska–Pettend–Kaplosnasnyek. Three Panthers and one Tiger from 9. Kompanie provided support to the withdrawing units of Kampfgruppe Kleffner who were moving along the Vereb-Pazmand road. The Russian XXIII Tank Corps committed one of its brigades, which attacked Psz Pettend. Here four Tigers II’s from 509, supported by I/SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Regiment Norge, defended against the Russian attack. The Tigers II’s managed to knock out forty-one Russian tanks—fifteen by Oberfeldwebel Neuhaus, who was nominated for the Knight’s Cross.

The Russians committed more forces, which forced the Germans to go over to defense later that evening. A new defensive line was formed running from Kaplosnasnyek to Puszta Aggszentpeter. SS-Panzer-Regiment 3 attempted a counterattack to the south of Baracska, reaching the southern edge of the village, but during the action, the regiment lost one Panzer IV, one Befehlspanther, and five StuG’s, along with a Tiger II from 509, which had been hit twice by large-caliber rounds.

The maintenance officer for Army Group Balck submitted a status report on the condition of the Werkstatt companies under the command of Army Group Balck. For SS-Panzer-Regiment 3, he reported that the Werkstatt company was one of the best he had visited and was especially pleased that the company had an officer assigned to inspect all damaged tanks before and after repairs. He stated that the regiment needed a new allocation of spare parts and at least eleven new engines for the Panther battalion. For schwere Panzer-Abteilung 509, he reported:

Some of the repairs to Tiger II’s have been carried out in Szekesfehervar; the forward operating workshop is located in Puszta Szabolcs. In Hajmasker one Tiger II requires rail transport and is ready for loading. The Werkstatt company has conducted eighty-two repairs due to mechanical damage and forty-one due to battle damage. Five Tiger II’s required major repairs due to hull penetration. Two need new gears. Most of the battle damage has been to the tracks, running gear, and main gun.

Toward the end of January 1945, SS-Unterscharführer Dieter Thomas returned to the company after completing an SS-Junkerschule course in Germany. SS-Rottenführer Ruediger Berndhardt would return to 9. Kompanie in March 1945.

On the twenty-eighth, schwere Panzer-Abteilung 509 was regrouped in Szekesfehervar and attached to III. Panzer-Korps. On the thirty-first, twelve Tiger II’s under the command of Hauptmann Tischendorf were sent along with a Kampfgruppe from 1. Panzer-Division to relieve the trapped Kampfgruppe Medicus of 3. Panzer-Division in the area of Dunapentele. The battalion lost three Tiger II’s during this action. One was hit by three bombs near Hill 188, northwest of Nagy Perkata. Ten kilometers northwest of Dunapentele during a Russian air strike, another Tiger II was knocked out after being struck by T-34/85 rounds, killing three of the crew. A Berge-Panther was lost in the same location after being knocked out by 76mm antitank rounds. The third Tiger II was knocked out by bombs dropped during another Russian air strike along the Nagy Perkata-Dunapentele road, 500 meters southeast of Galambos.

On the twenty-eighth, the Russians launched air strikes on Kaplosnasnyek and Gardonny using Il-2 Sturmoviks and A-20 bombers. Kampfgruppe Kleffner completd its withdrawal from Vereb as Totenkopf defended along the Pettend-Baracska road. The Russians were now attacking the German positions to the south of Baracska. By midday, the front line now ran from Kaplosnasnyek to Psz Pettend. An order to pull back from the Vali Canal was issued; the new boundary was Baracska between Totenkopf and WikingTotenkopf’s new front was to face northwest of Baracska.

On 29 January, to the north of Kaplosnasnyek, 9. Kompanie, along with some Panthers from I/SS-Panzer-Regiment 3, engaged in defensive actions. In Gardonny, a Tiger and a Panther from 1. Kompanie were assigned to help I/SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Regiment 6 Eicke. On the thirtieth, SS-Hauptsturmführer Berlin was promoted to Sturmbannführer. In Veszprem, SS-Obersturmbannführer Ernst assembled 210 men for a collection commando which was to return to Germany and collect new tanks for SS-Panzer-Regiment 3. The collection commando left Veszprem on 15 February and arrived at Sennelager on the eighteenth. This commando would not return and found itself incorporated into Panzer-Brigade Westfalen. The remnants of the group surrendered on 21 April in Suderode, near Wulperode in the Harz region in Germany.

On the thirtieth, elements of 9. Kompanie and I/SS-Panzer-Regiment 3 were still fighting in Kaplosnasnyek supporting II/SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Regiment 5 Totenkopf, under the command of SS-Hauptsturmführer Bachmann. Seven American Lend-Lease Shermans were knocked out during the fighting. To the south the Russians broke through the German lines between Nagyhalom and Puszta Szabolcs. Attacks on Kaplosnasnyek were repeated on the thirty-first, but this time in company strength. A Panther from 3. Kompanie was struck by several bombs during an air strike on Kaplosnasnyek. One of the crew was killed; the rest escaped unharmed. Throughout the day, all Russian attacks against Totenkopf were repelled. On 1 February, Kaplosnasnyek was given up, with two Tigers9. Kompanie, along with three Panthers from I/SS-Panzer-Regiment 3, pulled back into a new assembly area of Falubattyan.

February to March 1945

On 1 February, SS-Kampfgruppe Kleffner left the area around Falubattyan for redeployment and took up positions on the northern edge of Szekesfehervar. Attached to the battle group was I/Panzer-Regiment 24 and two Tigers from 9. Kompanie. To the north of Szekesfehervar in Sarkeresztur were elements of 23.Panzer-Division, with the attached schwere Panzer-Abteilung 503SS-Rottenführer Willy Birke from 9. Kompanie was wounded during the day. Kampfgruppe Kleffner advanced along the road to Zamoly. Still attached to IV. SS-Panzer-Korps was 1. Panzer-Division and the elements of 509.

Kampfgruppe Kleffner continued to attack along the Zamoly road until the third. On the fourth, Kampfgruppe Kleffner, with two Tigers from 9. Kompanie, was to advance as far as the western edge of Patka. The attack continued until the afternoon of the fourth. The Kampfgruppe’s front line ran from the northern edge of Szekesfehervar to Zamoly. On the fourth, IV. SS-Panzer-Korps released 1. Panzer-Division and those assigned elements from 509Kampfgruppe Kleffner fended off several Russian attacks. Also still on hand were two Tigers.

On the southern side of Szekesfehervar on the fourth, three Panthers from I/SS-Panzer-Regiment 3 were attached to SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Regiment 9 Germania, supporting the defenses around Csirib Puszta. On the fifth, the three Panthers from I/SS-Panzer-Regiment 3 left the control of SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Regiment 9 Germania and were attached to SS-Panzer-Regiment 5 and helped repel five Russian attacks along 5. SS-Panzer-Division Wiking’s front line. Returning to the company after completing the fourth SS-Panzer-Sonder-Lehrgang was SS-Untersturmführer Wolfgang Barth, who was placed in charge of the company’s Nachschub platoon.

On the sixth, four Tigers were attached to I/SS-Panzer-Regiment 5 under Kampfgruppe Flieder, which consisted of four Tigers, two Panzer IV’s, and one Panther, commanded by SS-Obersturmbannführer Bauer. Also on the sixth, SS-Oberscharführer Wimmer and his crew, along with company engine specialist SS-Oberscharführer Karl Frank, left Szekesfehervar for Vienna to collect a repaired Tiger from the arsenal. The Tiger was loaded on 4 March and returned on the fifth; the reason for the long delay was that rail transports passing through Vienna for Operation Spring Awakening (the last major German offensive in the East) had priority.

On the seventh, the three Panthers were next dispatched to 1. Panzer-Division and were fighting around Hill 130 and Janos Major. The Russian 521st Antitank Artillery Regiment lost all their 76mm guns in this area. The few remaining tanks from SS-Panzer-Regiment 3 remained in the area southwest of Dinnyes between the eighth and ninth in readiness for further Russian attacks. On the tenth, these tanks were used in local counterattacks around Janos Major and Hill 151.

On the twelfth, SS-Hauptsturmführer Ther assumed command of 9. Kompanie after taking over from SS-Obersturmbannführer Neff. Ther had entered the SS on 6 Augut 1937 and attended SS-Junkerschule Braunschweig for officer training from April to October 1939. He then served as a platoon leader at Braunschweig until being posted to the 7. Totenkopf Standarte Brunn on 4 January 1940. On 16 May, he was transferred to 16. Totenkopf Standarte as a platoon leader. On 3 March 1941, he was serving with SS-Infanterie-Regiment 3 in Totenkopf. He was wounded on 16 July 1941 during the opening phases of Operation Barbarossa. From July 1941 to May 1942, he served in various roles within the SS-FHA in Berlin, with a brief spell attached to Pz.A.O.K 1 from 10 October to 30 November 1942, after which he returned to Berlin to serve in the SS-FHA. He served as 2. Kompanie commander in schwere SS-Panzer-Abteilung 103 from 15 April to 19 November 1944, when he was transferred to SS-Panzer-Regiment 1. Ther’s time with Leibstandarte was not happy, and on 22 December, he was placed in the officer reserve with the SS-FHA. On 12 January, he was again transferred, this time to IV. SS-Panzer-Korps, serving there until 12 February, when he took over 9. Kompanie.

Within SS-Panzer-Regiment 3, several command changes took place. After being promoted to Sturmbannführer on 30 January, Anton Berlin assumed command of the tank regiment from SS-Obersturmbannführer Dr. Adam on 13 February. Adam returned to the headquarters of IV. SS-Panzer-KorpsI/SS-Panzer-Regiment 3 was now commanded by SS-Hauptsturmführer Martin, who had transferred from the Wehrmacht to the Waffen-SSII/SS-Panzer-Regiment 3 was commanded by SS-Hauptsturmführer Lubich after SS-Hauptsturmführer Leibel was wounded; Leibel resumed command of his battalion on 11 March, and Lubich was transferred to SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Regiment 5 Totenkopf. Leibel was killed on 18 March during a Russian attack on Moha. The remnants of II/SS-Panzer-Regiment 3 were led until the war’s end by SS-Obersturmbannführer Molleken, former adjutant for the battalion.

On 12 February, SS-Obersturmbannführer Neff was supposed to take command of 1. Kompanie of SS-Panzer-Regiment 3 after SS-Hauptsturmführer Balzer was transferred to the headquarters company, but it seems that Neff remained with 9. Kompanie. By the twenty-second, the bulk of Totenkopf had redeployed to the north of Szekesfehervar. The regiment’s headquarters had set up a command post in Mor, while I/SS-Panzer-Regiment 35. Kompanie (Panzer IV’s), and 9. Kompanie were quartered in Magyaralmas. A rest area was set up in Fehervarcsurgo. The company’s Berge platoon and maintenance section were located in Mor. The Nachschub platoon was based in Magyaralmas. The Werkstatt company had set up a forward workshop in Sored. The twenty-fourth was spent quietly, but on the twenty-fifth, the Russians launched an attack in regimental strength, made up of tanks and infantry, in the direction of Magyaralmas, but the attack was beaten back. Another Russian attack in the direction of Csakbereny was turned back by defensive fire from the 2nd Hungarian Tank Division.

On 1 March 1945, the Tiger company had the following vehicle inventory:

Kompanie Trupp—1 Kübelwagen for the company commander

Instand-Staffel—2 Zgkw

Nachschub Zug—1 Kübelwagen and 2 Maultier LKW

Waffenmeister—1 LKW (light truck)

Schirrmeister—1 LKW

Cook—1 LKW with trailer

Kradmelder—1 motorcycle

On 1 March, SS-Panzer-Regiment 3 received 120 new recruits who had further training and instruction in Fehervarcsurgo until the sixteenth.

On the sixth, Operation Spring Awakening started south of Lake Balaton. IV. SS-Panzer-Korps had the task of straightening out its front line opposite Zamoly and Lovasbereny, and the main forces involved were 3. SS-Panzer-Division Totenkopf5. SS-Panzer-Division Wiking6. Panzer-Division, and an armored group from the 2nd Hungarian Tank Division. Totenkopf had the task of advancing from the direction of Sarkeresztes toward Lovasbereny; the division was to shield the northern flank near Patka and the woods three killometers west of Patka. The Hungarian VIII Corps, along with the 2nd Hungarian Tank Division, was to cover the Vertis Hills and allow the Totenkopf to utilize most of its fighting components. 9. Kompanie posted two Tigers at Felso Puszta on security duty.

On the sixth as well, elements of 3. SS-Panzer-Division Totenkopf, along with elements of the 2nd Hungarian Tank Division, made limited attacks in the area of Csakbereny. The Russians reported some thirty tanks during this operation. On the seventh, another limited attack took place, this time with sixteen tanks and 120 grenadiers. They assembled near Felso Puszta and again attacked in the direction of Csakbereny. At least three Panthers from 3. Kompanie escorted the grenadiers. The two Tigers at Felso Puszta remained in position. On the eighth, crews without tanks were formed into infantry battle groups. A scheduled attack in the direction of Lovasbereny failed to materialize.

On the ninth, the day was very quiet, but three Panthers from 3. Kompanie were attached to 9. Kompanie for a limited advance in the direction of Csakbereny, which was soon shelled by Russian artillery. On the tenth, Totenkopf began another advance, but it had to repel a Russian counterattack along its front line. The Russian infantry were provided with covering fire from artillery. The three Panthers from 3. Kompanie positioned themselves along with the two Tigers.

On the eleventh, the two Tigers at Felso-Puszta remained on security duty. SS-Untersturmführer Barth visited the Tigers most days to make sure they had sufficient ammunition and fuel. In Mor, a rail transport brought replacement steel wheels for the Tigers and eleven new engine packs for I/SS-Panzer-Regiment 3. These engines had been requested on 27 January. But along the divisional front lines between Magyaralmas and Sarkeresztes, the Russians shelled the whole area with artillery fire from Sarkeresztes to Magyaralmas. During the night of the fourteenth and fifteenth, Russian scout troops conducted close reconnaissance on the positions around Magyaralmas and reported that the trench system in place was made up of slit trenches four deep. They also reported the presence of Panthers and Tigers in Magyaralmas.

Magyaralmas–Fehervarcsurgo, 16 March 1945

On 16 March 1945, the Red Army began its Vienna offensive. The 9th Guards Army began its assault on the front line of 3. SS-Panzer-Division Totenkopf in the late afternoon after a thirty-minute artillery barrage. 9. Kompanie was positioned as follows: two Tigers at Felso Puszta under the command of SS-Obersturmbannführer Neff and SS-Oberscharführer Bernhardt, two kilometers northeast of Magyaralmas. The remaining five Tigers were located in Magyaralmas under the command of the company commander, SS-Hauptsturmführer Ther. One other Tiger was still in long-term repair with the Werkstatt company in Hajmasker, and another was still at the arsenal in Vienna undergoing long-term repairs. The Nachschub platoon was stationed in Magyaralmas while the maintenance section and Berge platoon were placed in Mor.

Also located in Magyaralmas were I/SS-Panzer-Regiment 3 with ten Panthers5. Kompanie with seven Panzer IV’s, and I (gep)/SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Regiment 5 Totenkopf.

SS-Hauptsturmführer Ther had just sat down for lunch with the commander of I/SS-Panzer-Regiment 3 (Panther’s), SS-Hauptsturmführer Martin. The 9. Kompanie cook had just completed cooking the meal when the Russians opened fire with artillery. Ther remembered: “I looked down at my dinner, specially prepared by the company cook, and sighed. I looked at Martin and sighed again. I said, ‘Time to go to work.’ We both got up and left. That was the last time I saw Martin. I later learned that he was killed on the seventeenth during another Russian artillery barrage in Magyaralmas.”

The two Tigers located at Felso Puszta were quickly knocked out in the afternoon by SU-76 self-propelled guns from the 1523rd Self-Propelled Artillery Regiment (trophy numbers 205 and 208). SS-Oberscharführer Bernhardt did manage to knock out a Russian antitank, but his Tiger was hit. The other Tiger was commanded by SS-Obersturmbannführer Neff. Both crews bailed out and safely made it back to German lines. At the same time, the whole event was witnessed by SS-Untersturmführer Barth, observing from Hill 153, just to the north of Magyaralmas. SS-Sturmbannführer Berlin (SS-Panzer-Regiment 3 commander) ordered Ther to send two Tigers north in the direction of Mor. “When I received the order,” Ther recalled, “I was not happy. I said I needed all available Tigers in Magyaralmas, but SS-Sturmbannführer Berlin stated this was a clear order.”

Both Tigers set off toward Mor. This left three Tigers in Magyaralmas. One Tiger was positioned on the northern edge of Magyaralmas while two others were located in the southeastern part of the village, firing in the direction of Borbala Major at Russian infantry. Ther knocked out two Russian antitank guns. Later in the day, he ordered Barth to supervise the evacuation of the support units in Mor and return them to Magyaralmas.

In the afternoon, elements of I/SS-Panzer-Regiment 3, with four Panthers and three Panzer IV’s from 5. Kompanie, launched a counterattack in the direction of Borbala Puszta. The attack ground to a halt because of heavy Russian defensive fire. All seven tanks were lost about 1.5 kilometers southeast of Magyaralmas. According to Ther, “For some reason the Russians were concentrating on the Panthers and seemed to go after them really hard. The Russians left our Tigers alone, which seemed odd.” Somehow Ther managed to call back the two Tigers in Mor, which drove back to Magyaralmas, bringing the number of Tigers in Magyaralmas to five.

17 March 1945

During the early-morning hours, the Russians launch a huge air strike on Magyaralmas. The 9th Guards Army’s orders were clear: they had twenty-four hours to clear the German concentration in the village. The 98th Guards Rifle Division launched an assault with the 296th Guards Rifle Regiment. Inside Magyaralmas, five Panthers and I (gep)/SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Regiment 5 Totenkopf formed up and launched a counterattack, which aimed at the right flank of the 296th Guard Rifle Regiment. Like the previous day, the attack was beaten back by heavy defensive Russian fire. 9. Kompanie had one Tiger based at the northern edge of the village which came under assault from a Russian infantry squad carrying antitank mines.

The crew inside the Tiger heard a large explosion outside the vehicle. They pulled back into cover, and the crew got out to inspect for any damage. Instead, they found body parts from a Russian soldier who had been killed by his own mine because of its premature detonation. The Tiger crew had to clear up the mess and quickly return to their original position at the northern edge of the village. The other Tigers were positioned alongside three Panzer IV’s from 5. Kompanie. On the eastern edge of Magyaralmas, SS-Hauptsturmführer Ther advanced about 800 meters to engage the Russian infantry with high-explosive shells when his Tiger became bogged down. The rear of the hull was stuck in thick mud. Ther sent the driver to find a Berge-Panther. The driver quickly returned with the vehicle, but all efforts were in vain. The Russian infantry were almost upon the Berge-Panther and Tiger. This was when Ther gave the order to bail out. His Tiger would later be recovered by the Russians and left on the main road between Mor and Szekesfehervar, just near the turnoff leading to Magyaralmas, until 1950.

The crew of the Berge-Panther had to leave their vehicle behind as well. When Ther got to the northern edge of Magyaralmas, he instructed the Tiger positioned there to fire one round into the stricken tank. The Tiger fired one round, which, to everyone’s surprise, bounced off the Tiger. On the eastern edge of Magyaralmas, a Panzer IV was knocked out. Ther recalled: “I reported this event to the regimental commander, SS-Sturmbannführer Berlin, and his response was not a positive one, to say the least.”

By 1230 hours, the Russians were fighting at the eastern edge of Magyaralmas. The Tigers and Panzer IV’s were fighting in the central and northern part of the village. At noon, the Tigers had assembled under the command of SS-Obersturmbannführer Neff near the Catholic church. The few remaining Panthers were fighting in the southern half of the village. By 1238, the Russians had captured the northern section of the village, forcing five Tigers and three Panzer IV’s to withdraw back onto the main road between Szekesfehervar and Mor. The Tigers, along with Panzer IV’s, withdrew in the direction of Bodajk. The Panthers and I (gep)/SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Regiment 5 Totenkopf finally gave up the southern part of the village at 1800 hours that evening and withdrew back into Fehervarcsurgo. The remaining Tigers pulled back to Bodajk and were defending the crossroads and the rail station. The Nachschub platoon under SS-Untersturmführer Barth had also withdrawn from Magyaralmas into Fehervarcsurgo. These Tigers took up defensive positions on the outskirts of Bodajk; one Tiger was positioned next to the rail station.

In Mor, the maintenance section and the Berge platoon managed to evacuate their location, but as they pulled back to Bodajk, they came under heavy Russian fire from the direction of Sored. In Fehervarcsurgo, the Nachschub platoon’s vehicles were pressed into service by the divisional military police to transport the wounded from the divisional command post to a medical clearing station. Barth rejoined his platoon later that day. His Nachschub platoon had a Kübelwagen, two Maultier half-track trucks, and a motorcycle for the dispatch rider.

The fighting for Magyaralmas was costly for both sides. Totenkopf lost ten Panthers, three Tigers, four Panzer IV’s, thirteen SPW’s, and 239 men taken prisoner by the Russians. The 98th Guards Rifle Division had suffered 228 killed and 618 wounded.

18–31 March 1945

On 18 March, Fehervarcsurgo had to be given up after intense fighting. The Russians captured the village at 1520 hours. Totenkopf units in Fehervarcsurgo pulled back to Guttamasi and then eventually Isztimer. The village of Fehervarcsurgo originally had 298 houses. By the time the fighting was over, 208 houses had been totally destroyed or partially damaged. In Guttamasi, Totenkopf divisional headquarters had some of its sub-units based there. As the Russians pressed on with their advance, large parts of the divisional headquarters were captured by the attacking Russian forces. The Russians reported the following: 39 POWs, 384 killed German soldiers, 93 motor vehicles, 62 trucks, 7 field cars, 3 SPW’s, and 6 towed artillery pieces.

In Isztimer, 9. Kompanie’s Nachschub platoon’s Maultier vehicles were being used to tow six SPW’s from I (gep)/SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Regiment 5 Totenkopf that had become stuck while trying to move along the back country lanes heading north toward Balinka. During the day, SS-Sturmmann Karl Rettinger was killed along the Mor-Kisber road. SS-Rottenführer Paul Hoffmann was killed in Mor, and SS-Oberscharführer Karl Bauer, commander of the Berge platoon, was killed near Sarkeresztes.

During March 1945, SS-Schütze Walter Sablonty returned to the company and fought in an infantry Kampfgruppe. With SS-Hauptsturmführer Martin dead, SS-Obersturmbannführer Lummitsch took command of the remnants of I/SS-Panzer-Regiment 3.

To the north of Isztimer in Bodajk, the Tigers defending near the rail station had to pull back as the Russians had finally captured Sored and Mor. The Tigers withdrew from Bodajk and reached Balinka. During the move, some Panzer IV’s from II/SS-Panzer-Regiment 3 were knocked out between Bodajk and Balinka, losing a total of six Panzer IV’s.

On the twentieth, one Tiger was reported defending Mecser Puzta. The Tigers of 9. Kompanie basically withdrew along the road heading west to Zirc. During the twenty-first, elements of Totenkopf were fighting on the southern outskirts of Bakonycsernye. On the twenty-second, one Tiger from 9. Kompanie was defending the road east in the direction of Bakonycsernye in support of SS-Panzer-Pionier-Bataillon 3 and knocked out a Russian tank before pulling back in the direction of Bakonycsernye. In Hajmasker, the Tiger in long-term repair (awaiting new engine parts) with SS-Panzer-Werkstatt-Kompanie 3 had to be towed from Hajmasker via Papa and Marczalto, over the border between Hungary and Austria, between Kophaza and Deutsch Kreutz on the thirtieth. On the twenty-third, the same Tiger, still in support of the Pionier battalion, was reported by the Russians as defending the main road between Szapar and Csteny. Later, the same Tiger and a Panzer IV were defending the road 500 meters east of Nagyesztergar before pulling back and withdrawing to Zirc. The Tigers drove through Zirc and headed toward Penzeskut. The bulk of Totenkopf was located around Penzeskut and Lokut.

On the twenty-fourth, the Russians received intelligence that four Tigers from 9. Kompanie were in Bakonybel along with a large number of soldiers from Totenkopf. Bakonybel was the first assembly point for units of the division; the Russians had gained this information after the capture of a Hungarian officer from the 2nd Hungarian Tank Division. Totenkopf and elements of 12. SS-Panzer-Division Hitlerjugend were defending strongpoints southeast of Bakonybel and the high ground west of Borzavar. The company was by this time split into two parts—the combat elements and the support elements. The support units withdrew along the road from Papa to Marczalto-Beled and then north to Fertoszentmiklos, crossing the border between Sopron (Odenburg) and Klingenbach in Austria. The combat elements followed the infantry Kampfgruppen belonging to I and II/SS-Panzer-Regiment 3. Also following were the Werkstatt company and the Versorgungs-Kompanie for II/SS-Panzer-Regiment 3. On the twenty-fifth, Totenkopf had to withdraw from the area southwest of Marczalto under heavy Russian pressure. On the twenty-sixth, the division was forced back to the Marczal Canal, forming defensive points along the west bank.

On the twenty-sixth, one Tiger was in action in the village of Luka, but it was hit by Russian artillery fire, which caused damage to the running gear. The Tiger was successfully towed away. On the twenty-eighth, Totenkopf and elements of Hitlerjugend were fighting on the north bank of the Raab River and repelled several Russian attacks. The Tigers followed a secondary road to the border after Beled, which led to Cirak and then onto Csapod-Rojtokmuzsaj-Pinnye-Pereszteg-Nagycenk-Kophaza and crossing the border into Austria at Deutsch Kreutz on the thirtieth. During that same day, Totenkopf was tasked with defending the border near Lake Neusiedl See.

On the thirtieth, the Werkstatt company had set up a forward operating workshop in Ritzing, and a repaired Tiger drove from Ritzing and engaged the Russians near Neutal. Another Tiger was in action near Weppersdorf. Later the same day, the Tiger sustained mechanical damage again and had to be returned to the Werkstatt company. On the thirty-first, two Tigers were used in a counterattack on Horitschon in order to relieve the encircled Grenadier-Regiment 587. Infantry support was provided to III/SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Regiment 26 under the command of SS-Hauptsturmführer Reide. During the encounter, 587 was freed from Horitschon, and the Russians lost some seventeen tanks.

After the battle, the German forces, including the Tigers, withdrew to the north. The Tigers followed the road through Kirchschlag, Krumbach and headed toward Edlitz through the Pitten Valley. On 1 April, they entered Erlach. The Tiger that had fought in Neutal came to a halt in Ofenbach after sustaining more engine trouble. The Tiger—under Privatski—had to be abandoned after Russian forces descended on Ofenbach, forcing the crew to escape across the fields toward Frohsdorf. The tank was left on the side of the road leading to Lanzen Kirchen. The other two Tigers drove on toward Lanzen Kirchen. The Tiger in Ofenbach was later inspected by the local children, who managed to unload around twenty-five rounds of 88mm ammunition. When the Russians left the village, they tried to set the shells on fire, fortunately, without success.

The Totenkopf battle groups that passed through Lanzen Kirchen included the infantry groups from I and II/SS-Panzer-Regiment 3, the Versorgs-Kompanie from SS-Panzer-Regiment 3, and Werkstatt company, which, after leaving Ritzing, had moved through Schwarzenbach and followed the other units through the Pitten Valley. After Lanzen Kirchen, the Werkstatt company headed north to Wiener Neustadt. On the second, Totenkopf was assigned to II. SS-Panzer-Korps. The following day, the Werkstatt company got into a short firefight in St. Egyden in which two T-34 tanks were knocked out; one soldier from SS-Panzer-Regiment 3 was killed, and another four German soldiers died. The Werkstatt company then moved toward Baden and set up a temporary work place in Judenau. The 9. Kompanie’s support units moved to the west of Sankt Polten and set up quarters in Krems an der Donau. Official records for 9. Kompanie were no longer kept as of 4 April.

The two remaining Tigers (Wimmer’s and Tassler’s) also headed in the direction of Judenau via Wiener Neustadt, Bad Fischau, Baden, and Helenental, where both saw some limited action. After Helenental, both withdrew toward Mayerling, Alland, Klausen Leopoldsdorf, Pressbaum, Sieghartskirchen, and Judenau on the sixth; maintenance was carried out. On the seventh, both Tigers took up defensive positions around Judenau. One Tiger was situated on Burgstallberg Strasse on the road leading toward Gollarn, and the other was positioned on the northeastern edge of Judenau. In support were some Luftwaffe Flak units with 88mm Flak guns. On the eighth, both Tigers engaged SU-100s from the 912th Self-Propelled Artillery Regiment. The Tigers knocked out one SU-100 and disabled a second. The Flak guns destroyed four more Russian tanks. The Tigers withdrew toward Langenrohr in the afternoon and eventually drove into Tulln, crossed over the rail bridge, and headed toward Dross near Krems an der Donau. The bridge in Tulln was blown up later that evening. The Werkstatt company was ordered into Vienna to set up a facility in the area of Pressburg Gasse in the Floridsdorf District of the city.

Tigers in Vienna

The Tiger that had been in long-term repair and required new engine parts was finally returned to service on 7 April. It took up a position near the Vienna Arsenal, opposite the freight yards. Under the command of SS-Oberscharführer Tonges, it fought in the area of the Sud Bahnhof and the Schweizergarten, next to the Schloss Belvedere on the eighth. The next day, the Tiger had withdrawn in the direction of the Ring Strasse and the Inner City. On the tenth, the single Tiger was defending the area around the Marien Brucke in the Leopold Stadt district. On the eleventh, as the Russians approached the Reichs Bridge, Tonges’s Tiger was positioned next to the present-day Heiliger Franz Kirche in Mexiko Platz and fired at the advancing Russian forces that decided to give this area a wide berth. On the twelfth, the Tiger crossed the Reichs Brucke later in the day, and in the evening, it took up a position on the north bank.

The Tiger II collected from the arsenal on 2 April was commanded by SS-Unterscharführer van Kerkhom, but still required repairs. It was a rebuilt tank with a Porsche turret. It had a new two-piece gun mantlet, new tracks for the eighteen-tooth front sprocket, and track guards. On the thirteenth, the Tiger II was returned to service and joined Tonges’s Tiger. Both fired some rounds at the Russian XXth Guards Corps as it crossed the Danube and then withdrew from the northern suburbs of Vienna toward Stockerau and Korneuburg along with the last two remaining Panthers from I/SS-Panzer-Regiment 3.

On the thirteenth, Kampfgruppe Neff was formed. This included the three remaining Tiger I’s and two Panthers. Attached to SS-Panzer-Regiment 3 on the same date was Kampfgruppe Langanke; Langanke commanded 2. Kompanie (Panther’s) from SS-Panzer-Regiment 2. Kampfgruppe Langanke was composed of thirteen Panther’s, nine Panzer IV’s, four Berge-Panthers, and three Tiger II’s. A single Berge-Panther had to be given up on the twenty-seventh for redeployment to the Panzergruppe being sent into the area of Dresden, Germany. Kampfgruppe Langanke was located in Kirchberg am Wagram.

On the last day of the war, Totenkopf’s divisional Ia, SS-Obersturmbannführer Eberhardt, arrived by car and presented Langanke with a written order to blow up all his tanks. The Kampfgruppe then moved to Engelmanns Brunn and positioned itself in three different locations in the village, where they blew up their tanks.

Infantry Battle Group in Vienna

The twenty men collected by the company’s Spieß, Beneke, for infantry duty in Vienna arrived on the tenth and saw action in the area of Schwarzenberg Square, Mariahilfer Street, Schweden Platz, and Augarten Brucke.

Ludwig Lachner recalled the last days of 9. Kompanie:

Two years had passed since I had been home on leave, and we were struggling with the retreat through Hungary back into Austria. We crossed the border near Odenburg (Sopron). I saw my company commander, SS-Obersturmbannführer Neff, and I asked him if I could see my family as they did not live far from our present location. Neff said this was fine, but on my word of honor, I was to return to the company after twenty-four hours. I gave my guarantee. This was done on 31 March.

I hitched a ride to Klausen Leopoldsdorf, Helenental, and from there on to Sankt Polten. When I reached Sankt Polten, I immediately experienced a U.S. bombing raid. I had to take cover under a bridge. After the raid I walked through the town in the direction of the rail station. Everything was totally unrecognizable, and people were still taking cover inside their air raid shelters. I managed to hitch a ride to my family farm southwest of Sankt Polten. I stayed with my family until 2 April. On the third, I managed to get all the way to Krems, where the company support units were stationed.

I had been at the company no more than two hours when the SpießHauptscharführer Beneke, came around and collected twenty of us (mostly crews without Tigers) for infantry duty in Vienna. We were loaded onto a truck and driven through Langenlois, Tulln, and then over the Donau Brucke, St. Andra-Woerden, Kloster neuburg, and then unloaded at the Vienna west rail station. Once there, we were placed into the front line.

The Kampfgruppe saw action in the following places: Schwarzenberg Square, Mariahilfer Street, St. Stephens Church near Schweden Platz, Maria Brucke, and then along Augarten Street and Augarten Brucke. I was fighting along the Augarten Street near the Rossauer Barracks when I was wounded. A Russian hand grenade went off nearby, wounding me in the arm and foot. I was recovered by my comrades and taken by motorcycle to a medical clearing station in Stammersdorf, which came under air attack by Russian fighter-bombers. The next day, the eleventh, I was taken to Pisek am der Moldau. I spent six weeks in the hospital recovering. This hospital was under the control of the International Red Cross. On 3 May, U.S. troops and Czech paramilitary forces took over the hospital.

By the end of May, I was able to walk again and was discharged from the hospital. The Americans handed me over to the Russians, along with 300,000 other soldiers from Army Group Schorner.

I later learned that the battered company had been officially disbanded in Perg. This was done at the start of May. Parts ended up in Russian or American captivity. Luckily, some comrades managed to escape and make it home without being caught. Thus ended three years of our tank company’s operational life.

Sepp Glockl was taken prisoner in Perg and spent ten years in a camp in Siberia. Karl Kuster was captured in Enns by the Russians and spent eleven years in a Russian camp in the Ural Mountains. Eric Lehmkuhl was recovering from wounds in Linz when the Americans took him prisoner; he eventually recovered in a POW camp outside Wegscheicht near Linz. Gustl Krippl was being treated for his wounds in Salzburg. Barth was taken prisoner by the Americans and interned in Regensburg Camp in Germany. Tassler and Wimmer both tried to escape through the forests to Geiersburg near Reid but were caught and placed in a prison camp normally reserved for government officials in Glasenbach near Salzburg.

Fifteen men from the company were taken prisoner near Friestadt. Van Kerkhom’s crew was taken prisoner in Krems an der Donau. Privatski and his crew were caught along the road to Linz. Besides van Kerkhom’s crew, another five men were also captured in Kems by the Russians on the ninth. Tonges and his crew were taken prisoner near Pregarten.

Kuno Ther’s remembered of the last days of the war: “Morale was always very high until toward the end. Then the rumor was going around that Totenkopf was going to be turned around and sent to join the Americans and fight the Russians again.” On 13 April, Ther assumed command of II/SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Regiment 6 Eicke after the battalion commander, SS-Hauptsturmführer Endress, was wounded on the same day. Ther remained in command until 6 May and returned command of the battalion to Endress.

The last three Tigers remained in Krems an der Donau along with two Panthers until the last day of the war. The II. SS-Panzer-Korps instructed Totenkopf that it would cover the withdrawal of the corps to the West. Kampfgruppe Neff was to cover the approaches slightly to the north of Krems and hold their positions until 1700 hours. The two Panthers drove to Noehagen bei Krems. The Tigers drove to Gneixendorf and then headed north to Stratzing, where an Sd.Kfz. 7/1 was blown up. The Tigers turned west in the direction of Senftenberg and then along the road to Stixendorf. As the Tigers approached Weinzierl am Walde, one broke down next to a roadside shrine just short of Weinzierl am Walde; the other two made it into the center of the village before breaking down. Following behind them was an SPW, which was blown up next to the residence of the local vicar, nearly setting his house on fire; the local fire brigade was called out. The two Panthers were abandoned in and around Noehagen bei Krems. The Tiger II with the Porsche turret was abandoned on the southern edge of the Krems freight rail station; the crew, under the command of SS-Unterscharführer van Kerkhom, was taken prisoner the next day by the Russians after having one last night on the town.

The company personnel and support units left Krems an der Donau and headed along the Donau embankment road heading in the direction of Klein Pochlarn to assemble in Perg, where the company held a disbandment parade. The personnel then followed what was left of the tank regiment and tank destroyer battalion to the area around Mistlberg, where the divisional personnel assembled before proceeding into the area southeast of Pregarten. The Tiger crews from Kampfgruppe Neff made it to Freistadt, while the Panther crews, the Panther battalion support units, and SS-Obersturmbannführer Neff arrived in Neumarkt im Muhl Kries during the night of 8–9 May. They were taken into captivity on the ninth by the U.S. 11th Armored Division.

On the tenth, U.S. forces ordered Totenkopf to move to the area of Gallneukirchen. During the night of 12–13 May, the Americans turned over Totenkopf to the Russian forces. On the fourteenth, the U.S. 11th Armored Division reported that in a two-day period, it had turned over 34,125 soldiers of the II. SS-Panzer-Korps to the Russians, including moer than 18,000 in one day alone. Out of all this chaos, one of the former company officers, SS-Hauptsturmführer Ther, managed to escape and head north. He laid low for more than three years before returning home and slipping back into society to gain a place at a university and complete his law degree, which he had started before the war. He went on to practice law for forty-five years.

Ludwig Buss recalled the end of the war:

On 30 April, we still had some tanks. We received the news that Hitler had killed himself. Between 6 and 8 May, the Tigers belonging to Wimmer and Tassler were blown up. The fate of Tassler’s crew is not known to me, but Wimmer’s was composed of Wimmer, Horst Bottcher (gunner), Walter Rohr (loader, ex-Luftwaffe), Helmut Brieger (driver), and Ludwig Buss (radio operator). After blowing up our Tiger, we drove on toward Freistadt with a motorcycle with sidecar and an SPW. There we destroyed our pay books and insignia. At the end, we had three Tigers and fifteen men when we disbanded our company.

About Helmut Brieger—when he was setting the charges inside the Tiger in order to blow it up, he forgot to unscrew the detonation cap, so he went back and climbed up onto the Tiger and threw hand grenades inside the turret, but as he was climbing down, there was an almighty blast that threw Helmut in the air. Bottcher and I ran up to him and quickly put him in a Schwimmwagen with an Untersturmführer who drove to a military hospital in Melk.

Infantry Kampfgruppe Barth

Kampfgruppe Barth was formed on 28 March near Fertoszenmiklos after SS-Brigadeführer Becker (Totenkopf commander) ordered him to collect stragglers from the Tiger company and the Panzer regiment. SS-Untersturmführer Barth managed to assemble eighty-four men, who were then organized into three platoons. He had one SS-Unterscharführer and two SS-Rottenführer’s as platoon leaders. The vehicles of the Nachschub platoon from 9. Kompanie were placed under the leadership of SS-Hauptscharführer Beneke and proceded in the direction of Sopron. The Kampfgruppe withdrew along the main road heading in the direction of Sopron. It was somewhere near Fertoszentmiklos that Barth saw the Tiger of SS-Unterscharführer Sperner. They exchanged waves. Sperner’s Tiger would later be knocked out just outside Pereszteg on the thirtieth.

On the thirty-first, Kampfgruppe Barth reached Eisenstadt. The Kampfgruppe was positioned next to a Wehrmacht 88mm Flak battery, which knocked out a Russian tank.

On 1 April, Kampfgruppe Barth left Eisenstadt and, on the second, took up positions in Oggau, where they were reinforced by eighty Volksturm (inadequately trained civilians) from Tulln. The Kampfgruppe at this time was lightly armed with pistols, rifles, and about sixty Panzerfaust. In Oggau, the Kampfgruppe engaged Russian tanks, knocking out two of them with Panzerfaust, but were forced to withdraw in the direction of Donners Kirchen. The Volkssturm suffered five killed in action.

In Donners Kirchen, the Kampfgruppe fought a limited action before retreating north in the direction of Hof an Leithabirge on 3 April. The next day, the Kampfgruppe reached Mannersdorf am Leithagebirge and again fought a limited action and withdrew north toward Gotzendorf, meeting up with SS-Kampfgruppe Kuhn. In Gotzendorf, SS-Kampfgruppe Kuhn was supported by two Panthers from SS-Panzer-Regiment 3SS-Flak-Abteilung 3, and elements of SS-Panzer-Artillerie-Abteilung 3.

On the fifth, Kampfgruppe Barth was fighting in the area of Schwadorf and Schwechat airfield. On the sixth, it withdrew along the Simmering Road. At Lehmgasse, Barth found part of the divisional command and reported to an SS-Obersturmführer. Barth received orders to move to the Vienna Arsenal and collect a new issue of weapons and equipment and then take positions near the Vienna south rail station. On the seventh, Kampfgruppe Barth took up positions alongside a small Kampfgruppe from 1. SS-Panzer-Division Leibstandrte Adolf Hitler, which was commanded by an SS-Obersturmführer. On the seventh, SS-Untersturmführer Barth was wounded and evacuated to a general hospital in Linz, where he was eventually taken prisoner by U.S. forces. Between 28 March to 6 April, the Kampfgruppe suffered no casualties. The fate of the eighty-four other men is not known.

There were no Tigers from SS-Panzer-Regiment 3 in the area of Gotzendorf and Pischelsdorf. In the area west of Rauchenwarth-Himberg, there were Tigers from SS-Panzer-Regiment 2. On 1 April, six Tiger I’s were collected from the Vienna arsenal after being repaired and returned to service. On the fourth, two of these Tigers were deployed alongside the positions of the local Flak units dug in on the Koenigskogel near Rauchenwarth. Both fought a fighting withdrawal back to Himberg. After Himberg was captured, the Russians found two burnt-out Tigers on the northern edge of the village.

On the fifth, another Tiger I was knocked out near the brick factory just north of Oberlaa, and on the eighth, the two other Tiger I’s were knocked out in the freight yard opposite the Vienna arsenal. The sole surviving Tiger, under the command of SS-Hauptscharführer Warnick, was blown up in Melk on 8 May; this Tiger had the old-style commander’s cupola. Of the three Tiger II’s assigned to SS-Panzer-Regiment 2 and Kampfgruppe Langanke (2. Kompanie/SS-Panzer-Regiment 2). One Tiger II was taken over from schwere SS-Panzer-Abteilung 501 at the Vienna arsenal after completing repairs on 1 April. This vehicle stayed with Kampfgruppe Langanke until the war’s end and was blown up on 8 May in Engelmanns Brunn near Kirchberg am Wagram. The two other Tiger’s came from schwere Panzer-Abteilung 503 FHH and had been at the arsenal undergoing repairs since February 1945. The crews collected them on 2 April, and they saw action with Panzer-Ersatz-Abteilung 4 (tank replacement unit) in the area of Modling.

After serving with Panzer-Ersatz-Abteilung 4, they were assigned to SS-Panzer-Regiment 2 on 4 April. They saw service in the area of Laxenburg and Unterlaa. On the seventh, both Tigers were towed over the Floridsdorf Bridge to Stammersdorf for repairs. After completing repairs, both moved to Klosterneuburg and then Stockerau. Further repairs were carried out at Schloss Burg Kreuzenstein near Harmannsdorf. On the twentieth, both were assigned security duty on the edge of Krems an der Donau. On the twenty-first, both were ordered to move to Melk in readiness for a counterattack on St. Polten, but the forthcoming counterattack never materialized. The tanks drove to Pochlarn to await loading under the supervision of SS-Panzer-Regiment 2 on the twenty-seventh, but were left near the station at war’s end. Both crews were driven back to Kirchberg am Wagram and rejoined Kampfgruppe Langanke, which surrendered to American forces on 9 May.

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Lachner pictured with his family southwest of Sankt Polten on 1 April 1945. Lachner had received permission from SS-Obersturmführer Neff to visit his family with a twenty-four-hour pass. Permission was given on 31 March 1945, and Lachner returned in Langenlois on 2 April 1945.

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Photo 1 of 2: A Tiger I from 9. Kompanie receives serious repairs near Acs. Also undergoing repairs are some Panzer IV’s and StuG’s. The turret of the Tiger is mounted on a makeshift rig made of oil barrels and wooden beams. MIRKO BAYERL / HM-HIM

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Photo 2 of 2: A Tiger I from 9. Kompanie receives serious repairs near Acs. Also undergoing repairs are some Panzer IV’s and StuG’s. The turret of the Tiger is mounted on a makeshift rig made of oil barrels and wooden beams. MIRKO BAYERL / HM-HIM

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Tiger crossing a small stream on 2 January 1945 near Lábatlan, with grenadiers from II/SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Regiment 6 Eicke in support. MIRKO BAYERL

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Officer-cadet Wolfgang Barth. BARTH

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SS-Untersturmführer.d.Res. Barth awaiting rail transport for the return journey back to Hungary on 3 February 1945. BARTH

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The rear of Tiger 934 photographed by the Russian trophy team northwest of Many-Zsambek road junction. Tiger 934 was commanded by SS-Unterscharführer Privatski. All the crew escaped to safety. TSAMO

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The same Tiger but from the front. The photograph clearly shows where the Tiger was hit by a 76mm antitank round. TSAMO

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This Tiger (trophy number 60) was lost on 24 January 1945, west of Pettend. It was commanded by SS-Unterscharführer Becker and was examined on 11 February 1945 by the Russian trophy team. ASKM

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A collection site for German Panzer wrecks. All these vehicles came from 3. SS-Panzer-Division Totenkopf. The Panther is a Befehls.Wg. from the Stabs.Kp. / SS-Panzer-Regiment 3. In the background are a Panzer IV, StuG III, and the Tiger from Pettend. ASKM

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Another photograph of the same collection site, but with a clearer view of the Tiger knocked out west of Pettend. ASKM

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Tiger knocked out on 27 January 1945 on the northern edge of Baracska. Two of the crew were killed in action: the radio operator, Etmayer (transferred from the Luftwaffe); and the driver, SS-Sturmmann Karl Dietz. The turret crew managed to escape to safety. The Tiger was commanded by SS-Hauptscharführer Berger. The Russians gave this vehicle trophy number 135, and it was examined by their trophy team on 23 February 1945. ASKM

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A close-up of the same Tiger (trophy number 135) showing the entry hole of the 76mm round that penetrated the turret. The shell also caused damage to the engine deck. ASKM

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SS-Hauptsturmführer Ther giving his first address during a Kompanie parade on 12 February 1945 near Fehervarcsurgo. BARTH

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Another view of SS-Hauptsturmführer Ther at the same parade. Ther had been transferred on 22 December 1944 from SS-Panzer-Regiment 1, where he had served as the transport officer during the Ardennes offensive. Before being put in command of 9. Kompanie, Ther had served in the Stabs.Kp. of IV-SS-Panzer-Korps. BARTH

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SS-Obersturmführer Helmut Neff at the same parade.

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Tiger I from 9. Kompanie (trophy number 308a). Extensive research shows that this Tiger was lost on 17 March 1945. It had large amounts of mud on the wheels and tracks, suggesting that it was bogged down and the Russians pulled the vehicle out of the mud. The right side of the Tiger had been hit during an attempt to destroy it. It was commanded by SS-Hauptsturmführer Ther. ASKM

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9. Kompanie Tiger I (trophy number 208) lost on 16 March 1945. This time the Russians moved the Tiger to a collection site on the southern edge of Szekefehervar.

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Tiger I (trophy number 205) in the same collection site. This Tiger was one of two Tigers lost near Felso Major on 16 March 1945.

A series of modern photographs of the Ofenbach/LanzenKirchen, through which the Panzer Werkstatt Kompanie of SS-Panzer-Regiment 3 retreated on 1 April 1945.

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Looking east from Ofenbach. MARKUS REISNER

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Entrance to Ofenbach. The red car is parked where a Tiger I was abandoned due to engine trouble on 1 April 1945. MARKUS REISNER

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Looking west from Ofenbach toward Lanzenkirchen. It was down this road that elements of SS-Panzer-Regiment 3 retreated—mainly the infantry battle groups from I and II/SS-Panzer-Regiment 3 and the Pz.WerkSt.Kp. from SS-Panzer-Regiment 3. MARKUS REISNER

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The terrain facing north. Lanzenkirchen is on the left, Ofenbach on the right. MARKUS REISNER

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A track link from an abandoned Tiger I belonging to 9. Kompanie, in Wienzierl am Walde. A local farmer holds the link pin. DIETRICH WOLF

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The estate car shows the position of the first Tiger I to break down in Wienzierl am Walde, next to the church. DIETRICH WOLF

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The second Tiger also broke down due to technical damage and was abandoned by the crew on a side street in Wienzierl am Walde. DIETRICH WOLF

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This building is located on the south side of the Krems freight rail yard. It was here that SS-Unterscharfürer van Kerkhom and his crew abandoned the Tiger II and proceeded back into Krems on foot, 8 May 1945. DIETRICH WOLF

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Photo 1 of 20: This series shows 3. SS-Panzer-Division Totenkopf assembling on the last day of the war in the area between Burbach and Greisinghof, about four kilometers southeast of Pregarten. These stunning shots were taken by a member of the Pfahnl family, which owns the mill that can be seen in some of the photographs. The photos were kindly provided by Margarette Pfahnl via Herr Hollwirth, Pregarten.

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Photo 2 of 20: This series shows 3. SS-Panzer-Division Totenkopf assembling on the last day of the war in the area between Burbach and Greisinghof, about four kilometers southeast of Pregarten. These stunning shots were taken by a member of the Pfahnl family, which owns the mill that can be seen in some of the photographs. The photos were kindly provided by Margarette Pfahnl via Herr Hollwirth, Pregarten.

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Photo 3 of 20: This series shows 3. SS-Panzer-Division Totenkopf assembling on the last day of the war in the area between Burbach and Greisinghof, about four kilometers southeast of Pregarten. These stunning shots were taken by a member of the Pfahnl family, which owns the mill that can be seen in some of the photographs. The photos were kindly provided by Margarette Pfahnl via Herr Hollwirth, Pregarten.

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Photo 4 of 20: This series shows 3. SS-Panzer-Division Totenkopf assembling on the last day of the war in the area between Burbach and Greisinghof, about four kilometers southeast of Pregarten. These stunning shots were taken by a member of the Pfahnl family, which owns the mill that can be seen in some of the photographs. The photos were kindly provided by Margarette Pfahnl via Herr Hollwirth, Pregarten.

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Photo 5 of 20: This series shows 3. SS-Panzer-Division Totenkopf assembling on the last day of the war in the area between Burbach and Greisinghof, about four kilometers southeast of Pregarten. These stunning shots were taken by a member of the Pfahnl family, which owns the mill that can be seen in some of the photographs. The photos were kindly provided by Margarette Pfahnl via Herr Hollwirth, Pregarten.

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Photo 6 of 20: This series shows 3. SS-Panzer-Division Totenkopf assembling on the last day of the war in the area between Burbach and Greisinghof, about four kilometers southeast of Pregarten. These stunning shots were taken by a member of the Pfahnl family, which owns the mill that can be seen in some of the photographs. The photos were kindly provided by Margarette Pfahnl via Herr Hollwirth, Pregarten.

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Photo 7 of 20: This series shows 3. SS-Panzer-Division Totenkopf assembling on the last day of the war in the area between Burbach and Greisinghof, about four kilometers southeast of Pregarten. These stunning shots were taken by a member of the Pfahnl family, which owns the mill that can be seen in some of the photographs. The photos were kindly provided by Margarette Pfahnl via Herr Hollwirth, Pregarten.

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Photo 8 of 20: This series shows 3. SS-Panzer-Division Totenkopf assembling on the last day of the war in the area between Burbach and Greisinghof, about four kilometers southeast of Pregarten. These stunning shots were taken by a member of the Pfahnl family, which owns the mill that can be seen in some of the photographs. The photos were kindly provided by Margarette Pfahnl via Herr Hollwirth, Pregarten.

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Photo 9 of 20: This series shows 3. SS-Panzer-Division Totenkopf assembling on the last day of the war in the area between Burbach and Greisinghof, about four kilometers southeast of Pregarten. These stunning shots were taken by a member of the Pfahnl family, which owns the mill that can be seen in some of the photographs. The photos were kindly provided by Margarette Pfahnl via Herr Hollwirth, Pregarten.

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Photo 10 of 20: This series shows 3. SS-Panzer-Division Totenkopf assembling on the last day of the war in the area between Burbach and Greisinghof, about four kilometers southeast of Pregarten. These stunning shots were taken by a member of the Pfahnl family, which owns the mill that can be seen in some of the photographs. The photos were kindly provided by Margarette Pfahnl via Herr Hollwirth, Pregarten.

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Photo 11 of 20: This series shows 3. SS-Panzer-Division Totenkopf assembling on the last day of the war in the area between Burbach and Greisinghof, about four kilometers southeast of Pregarten. These stunning shots were taken by a member of the Pfahnl family, which owns the mill that can be seen in some of the photographs. The photos were kindly provided by Margarette Pfahnl via Herr Hollwirth, Pregarten.

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Photo 12 of 20: This series shows 3. SS-Panzer-Division Totenkopf assembling on the last day of the war in the area between Burbach and Greisinghof, about four kilometers southeast of Pregarten. These stunning shots were taken by a member of the Pfahnl family, which owns the mill that can be seen in some of the photographs. The photos were kindly provided by Margarette Pfahnl via Herr Hollwirth, Pregarten.

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Photo 13 of 20: This series shows 3. SS-Panzer-Division Totenkopf assembling on the last day of the war in the area between Burbach and Greisinghof, about four kilometers southeast of Pregarten. These stunning shots were taken by a member of the Pfahnl family, which owns the mill that can be seen in some of the photographs. The photos were kindly provided by Margarette Pfahnl via Herr Hollwirth, Pregarten.

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Photo 14 of 20: This series shows 3. SS-Panzer-Division Totenkopf assembling on the last day of the war in the area between Burbach and Greisinghof, about four kilometers southeast of Pregarten. These stunning shots were taken by a member of the Pfahnl family, which owns the mill that can be seen in some of the photographs. The photos were kindly provided by Margarette Pfahnl via Herr Hollwirth, Pregarten.

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Photo 15 of 20: This series shows 3. SS-Panzer-Division Totenkopf assembling on the last day of the war in the area between Burbach and Greisinghof, about four kilometers southeast of Pregarten. These stunning shots were taken by a member of the Pfahnl family, which owns the mill that can be seen in some of the photographs. The photos were kindly provided by Margarette Pfahnl via Herr Hollwirth, Pregarten.

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Photo 16 of 20: This series shows 3. SS-Panzer-Division Totenkopf assembling on the last day of the war in the area between Burbach and Greisinghof, about four kilometers southeast of Pregarten. These stunning shots were taken by a member of the Pfahnl family, which owns the mill that can be seen in some of the photographs. The photos were kindly provided by Margarette Pfahnl via Herr Hollwirth, Pregarten.

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Photo 17 of 20: This series shows 3. SS-Panzer-Division Totenkopf assembling on the last day of the war in the area between Burbach and Greisinghof, about four kilometers southeast of Pregarten. These stunning shots were taken by a member of the Pfahnl family, which owns the mill that can be seen in some of the photographs. The photos were kindly provided by Margarette Pfahnl via Herr Hollwirth, Pregarten.

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Photo 18 of 20: This series shows 3. SS-Panzer-Division Totenkopf assembling on the last day of the war in the area between Burbach and Greisinghof, about four kilometers southeast of Pregarten. These stunning shots were taken by a member of the Pfahnl family, which owns the mill that can be seen in some of the photographs. The photos were kindly provided by Margarette Pfahnl via Herr Hollwirth, Pregarten.

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Photo 19 of 20: This series shows 3. SS-Panzer-Division Totenkopf assembling on the last day of the war in the area between Burbach and Greisinghof, about four kilometers southeast of Pregarten. These stunning shots were taken by a member of the Pfahnl family, which owns the mill that can be seen in some of the photographs. The photos were kindly provided by Margarette Pfahnl via Herr Hollwirth, Pregarten.

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Photo 20 of 20: This series shows 3. SS-Panzer-Division Totenkopf assembling on the last day of the war in the area between Burbach and Greisinghof, about four kilometers southeast of Pregarten. These stunning shots were taken by a member of the Pfahnl family, which owns the mill that can be seen in some of the photographs. The photos were kindly provided by Margarette Pfahnl via Herr Hollwirth, Pregarten.

EPILOGUE

After the capitulation, Wolfgang Barth spent two years in an American POW camp in Regensburg. He had to rebuild his life and start all over again, but over the following years, he began to search out and find former members of 9. Kompanie. In fact, he found his first three former comrades in the Regensburg camp. He formed the company’s veterans association, which had its first meeting in 1959; sixteen veterans attended. The association met every two years until 1990, when it started meeting every year until 1995, when the last association meeting occurred. After that, many veterans had died, but the circle of friends still kept in touch with Barth, who remained at the center of contact. Barth had also assembled a vast collection of personal accounts and reports, which he kept in a sort of 9. Kompanie archive. It represents the sum total experience of over 250 men who fought in a war which caused much devastation.

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