In combat with the 14th Cavalry Group - Battle of the Bulge | 16-18 December 1944

In this video we will take a closer look at the actions of the American 14th Cavalry Group during the opening three days of the Ardennes Offensive. Most of us know about the Poteau ambush or have, at least, seen some of the iconic photographs taken afterwards. In this video we will follow the unit from the start of the offensive to the ambush at Poteau itself. Enjoy! Don’t forget to like and subscribe if you would like to see more!
INFO:
Cole, H. M. (2011). The Ardennes. Macmillan Publishers.
Judge, D. J. (z.d.). CRIBA Home - Cavalry in the gap. CRIBA. Geraadpleegd op 15 januari 2021, van www.criba.be/fr...
DiMarco, L. A. (1981). The US Army’s Mechanized Cavalry Doctrine in World War II. US Military Academy, West Point. apps.dtic.mil/...
FOOTAGE:
My own maps
The enemy strikes 1945 US Army World War II Battle of the Bulge
American 1st Army - Aachen to the Roer River 1946
The True Glory
MUSIC:
All music is from the KZbin audio library: www.youtube.co...
Falling Rain
Dark Forest
Bittersweet
Omonia

[@oldesertguy9616]

I've read a lot about the Battle of the Bulge, but it really helps to see the moving maps to see how the units moved and the general layout in order to properly understand it. Good video.

[@rcgunner7086]

And I love the maps! They look good and it's really great seeing the regimental/divisional insignia present to identify units rather than just numbers. Even your NATO icons look great!

[@TheGreatest1974]

Does anyone know which German unit made it to Bihain in the Ardennes? I have a white camouflaged German helmet from Bihain farm? Thanks.

[@TheGreatest1974]

@Mock Harris Thankyou so much. I’ve read some good books about the battle, my dad was on the northern end with the British xxx corps royal artillery. I had suspected that it was the 2nd ss as they looped close to the south of bihain. Didn’t know about the volksgrenadiers though. It’s an m35 helmet that was once white camo’d. I often wonder if it was brought over from the eastern front with the German troops when they amassed before the battle began. Thanks for the info, you’re the only one who has bothered!👍

[@TheGreatest1974]

@Mock Harris yeah I bought it from s well known militaria dealer a few years ago. He actually went to the Ardennes in 1981 and he said there were still tanks lying in ditches since the battle even then. He was at bihain to metal detect and look for anything he could get from the battle. The farmer had taken an m35 helmet and riveted it onto a metal pole and was using it to ladle water out of ditches or something like that. He’d had it all that time and gave me photos and provenance of his trip in 1981. Obviously the brits didn’t have a big part in the battle but my dad was there on the northern shoulder and went through the Ardennes into Germany and down to the Elbe. They stopped there for a time to make sure the Russians didn’t come over. So I just wanted a helmet that was there during the battle. What stories it could tell. Thanks 👍

[@wunderkind56]

Providing this detailed background to iconic film footage is a brilliant approach. I would definitely appreciate more of this type of content to illuminate all that canned footage I have watched over the years.

[@jasonharryphotog]

Agree entirely Seen this footage and now at last have a better knowledge of the real events around it

[@tdavies5932]

My father was a corporal in the 14th Cavalry Group, 18th Reconn. Squadron, Troop C. He was located in Krewinkel when the Ardennes offensive began Dec. 16th. A friend of his, radio operator, was situated in Afst, the village just north of Krewinkel on the map. (This friend was in the front of the column that was ambushed coming north out of Poteau on Dec. 18th.) I was able to travel to the battle area in April 2003 with my father and his fellow trooper. We met many locals who invited us in to their homes. We went to the farmhouse in Krewinkel were my dad was located the morning of the 16th. The family that owned it during the war still owned it in 2003. I attended a reunion of the 14th in Green Bay, Wisconsin in the mid 90s and had the privilege to interview multiple members. There were probably 80-90 in attendance. Sadly they are mostly to a man no longer with us. My dad died in 2012. I have hours of tape of the reunion and my travels to Belgium. The morning of the Dec. 16, the 18th Reconn. Squadron of the 14th Cav. was 800-1000 men strung across an extended front, located in the multiple small villages. This front should have been defended by a division. Periodically you may read that the 14th Cav. fled. That is untrue bullshit. These guys were outmanned and out gunned. They had no armor. They were a mechanized cavalry reconn. squadron. CRS were not designed to do what dug in infantry and armor do. These guys fought a 72 hour delaying action as 7th Armored came from Holland. Many in the 14th thought Hasbrouck took his sweet time doing so. The 14th suffered significant casualties. They were overwhelmed in numbers but fought a bitter fight and inflicted damage on the invading forces.

[@majorbloodnok6659]

Thank you, the pictures are so familiar but I knew nothing of the story behind them.

[@rcgunner7086]

Ditto! I've seen this footage from the Battle of the Bulge for most of my life, but I had no clue about what the context was. Thanks for sharing that interesting tidbit.

[@JaM-R2TR4]

incredible stuff.. considering how weak those M8s were.. they fought off Panzergrenadier battalions with much heavier weaponry.. imagine you have to face german tanks and stugs with 37mm gun in an armored car...

[@readhistory2023]

That they held on for so long is a miracle.

[@F2000-q2z]

It seems that they mostly fought against the 18th Volksgrenadier division before the ambush by Kampfgruppe Hansen of the 1st LSSAH. Volksgrenadier divisions were not good units. They were only formed in August of 1944. Most of the personnel were either teenagers, very old men or excess men from the Kriegsmarine and Luftwaffe. They lacked training and experience for infantry combat.

[@dynamo3590]

Agree､Indeed.…

[@Osterreich3]

Well-researched again. Ace's narration is superb.. Thank-you for your work.

[@danielhammersley2869]

Good stuff once again in the opening days of the Ardennes offensive, young man! Superb content, and excellent visuals! Slainte! 🍻👍👍

[@ColinH1973]

Excellent presentation and use of clear graphics. Your work just gets better and better, Ace!

[@RickJZ1973]

Awesome video! Really enjoyed the background info to the iconic historical images.

[@jasonharryphotog]

The German camera men working in quite forward positions, you can feel it

[@rcgunner7086]

Great video. Why don't you do a follow up on this one that covers the capture of the 422nd and 423rd Infantry Regiments which happened to the south. The fight between the 18th VGD and 106th Infantry over Bleialf was pretty wicked. That village changed hands several times and its fall partially settled the fate of the two soon to be cut off regiment.

[@robertbenson9797]

Great video showing the bravery of the American GI. My dad was in the 394th Regiment of the 99th Infantry Division. The 394th was at the very southern end of the 99th Division’s deployment. The 14th Calvary group was on the right of the 394th Regiment. In fairness to the 106th Division, they had literally just gone on line a few hours before the start of the Bulge. The 99th, while new to the ETO in October, had at least been able to do some patrols and establish fighting positions. The surrender of the 106th Division was the largest US surrender in the ETO during WWII. It was second only to the Bataan surrender in the Philippines. The movie, Battle of the Bulge was not very accurate. However, Robert Shaw, as the German leader of the attack, had a great line. Loosely based on Joachim Peiper, when asked why his advance was behind schedule, Shaw replies, “The Americans are learning how to retreat!” The 14th Calvary group epitomizes the bravery and adaptability of the American soldier. All along the front of the German attack, American soldiers fought back to hold the line and delay the German advance. The British under Bernard Montgomery, did pivot to the south and relieve pressure on US units in the northern shoulder. Later, Monty would claim that he won The Battle of The Bulge. It took Winston Churchill to make a speech in The House of Commons, giving the US the credit of winning the Bulge.

[@WarblesOnALot]

G'day, Yay Team ! Outstanding..., well done. The shots of the Contrails in the Sky, and Aircraft apparently coming down to bomb & strafe...; they must've been shot after the Bulge all went wrong for the Reich (?), because as I understand it the major reason for what success the German advance enjoyed - was due to the Weather at the outset being far too bad for the Allied Tactical Air Forces to be able to do anything at all to support the Allied Ground Troops... But I understand the need to pad out the available footage with something other than a monochrome View of the bottom of a Freezing Foggy Snowcloud (Cumulo-Bassalt...; Clouds which are stuffed full of Rocks !). Such is life, Stay safe... ;-p Ciao !

[@sontungle2641]

Did the 820th Tank Destroyer Battalion still not equip with the M10 or M36 Jackson right ??.

[@georgedoolittle7574]

"General Patton had the intelligence but more importantly the will to prepare his forces to act upon such intelligence and thus be ready to launch a full scale counteroffensive once ahem *everyone else* ahem (including the Germans) realized what a fantastical blunder this was by the German Wehrmacht thus easily making General George S. Patton the best Allied General in the Western Theater in World War 2 period. Once assaulted from the left flank all that was left was "Death ride for the German Luftwaffe"(Operation Baddenplatte). Amazingly enough Germany still refused to surrender even after this catastrophe leaving open the possibility of total annihilation as one of the possibilities for Germany in 1945 with the interesting backstory being of course the luck of Germany becoming a divided State with a divided Capital instead. Maybe try doing a story on reality next time, dude..

[@asmodeus0454]

Very interesting. You do good work, AceDestroyer. Keep up the good work.

[@nateweter4012]

Thank you for doing this! These are some of the most iconic photos of the war and its great for people to know the story behind them. I had the pleasure of visiting the Poteau ambush site in 2007. To this day, we still haven’t been able to name for certain, the German mg-42 gunner in that very popular photo. Lots of research and opinions, but nothing definitive.

[@tomritter493]

Jack lane an old friend of mine seen these pictures in his kids school book .and said to him I think I was in that jeep .lol and he was .it was amazing .I went to school with Harry . It was great to find this

[@68RatVette]

Thank you for making this Video. My last service was with the 14th Cavalry at Ft Lewis, WA. USA including a combat tour to NW part of IQ. SUIVES MOI is the unit motto!

[@jamesgrcevich8307]

what troop? I was in B Troop. Did 2 tours in Iraq and the last tour in Afghanistan. Bronco troop forever. And working with 5-20 was awesome.

[@leewood331]

Why are you playing music during narration? Its not needed, and distracts.

[@pimhonee2034]

I have been in poteau at that location many times. There whas a small museum there but it sadly closed down a few years ago. If you walk around the area and look close enough you can still find small relics of the fighting that went on there

[@jeffsmith-bf4tz]

Simply Brillant Presentation! Well

[@pancakes3250]

It was difficult for me to understand the scale of the struggle. I dont know how strong a cavalry group is relative to an infantry division. It sounded like a bunch of light vehicles, greatly outnumbered and outgun, held off the German spearhead for a few days. How tough is it to take a standard infantry division?

[@TheAceDestroyer]

The Cavalry group was about the same size as a regiment. In the initial phase of the attack, it was only the one squadron (18) that was in the front line. An American cavalry squadron was about the same size as a battalion. They were up against at least two German regiments in the southern flank, supported by armour. Up north the same Squadron was faced with parts of the 3rd Paratroop Division - again supported by armour. To give you an idea regarding the strength of the cavalry group compared to an Infantry Division. As we have established by now, the 14th Cavalry Group was about the same size as a normal regiment. The German 18. Volksgrenadier Division had three regiments at its disposal, along with an additional Artillery Regiment. That would put the 1 US Cavaly Group against 3 German Infantry Regiments. I would also like to add, that the Cavalrymen weren't properly trained for defensive missions of this magnitude. I hope this cleared it out a bit.

[@pancakes3250]

@@TheAceDestroyer Wow. I will let it go thank you. To me this means either Germans were bad, or defending is a great advantage. Why French, Russians, British or Chinese, couldn't do the same? You dont have to answer that. You worked hard enough. Maybe others will. Thank you :)

[@billd.iniowa2263]

@@TheAceDestroyer I'm having trouble following the place names as well as trying to follow the units you are talking about. If you could toggle the units more and for longer than one second it would help immensely. Can you highlight the towns as you mention them? Toggling in bold face for several second or something like that? You do a great job of narration. Its just that it is so fast it can be difficult to following the graphics unless one is already familiar with the geography. Thankyou for your work. It is much appreciated.

[@TheAceDestroyer]

Of course, I'll try to take this into account for my future videos. Thanks!

[@billd.iniowa2263]

@@TheAceDestroyer Thank you so much! I'm sure I'm not alone. :-)

[@fordmustang5054]

Ace, can you do a video like this on the 28th infantry division during the bulge?

[@TheAceDestroyer]

It's not on my current to-do list. But, I'm sure I'll make one someday. Perhaps if we are allowed to travel again and I'm that area so I can shoot some footage myself.

[@Xenophon1]

Scouts Out!!

[@oveidasinclair982]

Good presentation, thanks again Ace

[@abhilashyadav2274]

Wow new video. Nice stock footage. Hey Ace are you doing something related to Operation Strachwitz?? Would love to hear about it from You.

[@TheAceDestroyer]

I have briefly featured the actions of Count Strachwitz in one of my Narva 1944 episodes, I think it was the one about the Krivassoo bridgehead, but I'm not sure. You can find the entire Narva 1944 series under the video section.

[@knightowl3577]

A masterful presentation, as usual, made easy to follow by the use of clear maps. Thank you for all your hard work.

[@TheAceDestroyer]

My pleasure! I'm very happy to see that you enjoyed it!

[@laurentfranco8075]

The grenadiers who ambushed the American column were from the 1st SS. However it was a luftwaffe unit attached to kampfgruppe Peiper whose flakwagons shot up the entire column (LEICHTE FLAKSTURM ABTEILUNG 84).

[@tonetriv]

AceDestroyer, this is the clearest explanation of the actions of the 14th Cavalry from 16-18 December. I even traveled multiple times to the Ardennes, over 10,000 kilometers from my home country. Last January, 2018 I drove repeatedly up and down the roads between Schonberg, Andler and Lanzerath, without much detailed knowledge of the actions here. I have read A Time for Trumpets, Beevor, the US Army 'green book' on the Bulge, and many other books, but your video is the clearest narrative. And it really is a narrative. I am now subscribed to your channel. Thank you for this. I wish now that I will be able to return to the Schnee Eifel for one last visit to the area, now with the knowledge you have shared.

[@chasemurraychristopherdola7108]

Can you do a video on the attack of the the Canadian Black Watch at Verrieres ridge on July 25th 1944 and the battle was a German defensive victory and during the attack the Canadian black watch which started the battle with 325 soldiers Lost 315 killed wounded and captured and the attack was the costliest single day for a Canadian battalion since the 1942 Dieppe Raid and the attack on Verrieres Ridge has become one of the most contentious and critically analyzed events in Canadian history and I would love to see a video on the Attack of the Canadian black watch because I play the base drum in a pipe and drum band that is named after the famous famous brave and mighty black watch which is a British Canadian and Scottish infantry regiment and its currently the 3rd battalion of the royal regiment of Scotland but even though the attack was a German defensive victory the attack helped to tie down powerful German panzer divisions from counter attacking the successful operation Cobra

[@TheAceDestroyer]

I'm afraid such a video will have to wait. I'm currently working on some other projects at the moment. I did manage to identify the grave of an unknown WW1 (British) Black Watch soldier last month.

[@philipryan25]

Thank you

[@miguelb.655]

I remember another German Ambush on Ardennes don't remember location but it involved more tanks.

[@steveswitzer4353]

greatt as always did a tour of the sites in a czech hanomage back in 2004 from the poteau museum only cost 12 quid

[@ockenburg]

Thanks again Ace. Perfect explanation of a not well known phase in Wacht am Rhein

[@stanfoltz2339]

Excellent as usual. I always look forward to watching your vids.

[@jasonharryphotog]

Thanks for this Always interesting

[@visi8760]

Nice One! Enlightening and Intriguing as usual expect nothing less. Cheers

[@alanmoffat4454]

THANKS FOR THE FILLER STORYS THESE MAKE THE DIFFERENCE ABOUT FULL STORY.

[@WARdROBEPlaysWWII]

Fantastic - I struggle to find the pics and videos like this. Any tips?

[@TheAceDestroyer]

I got most of the WW2 footage from public domain channels before they were shut down by KZbin. I do think you can find a lot of pictures about the Poteau Ambush on Google Images.

[@MakeMeThinkAgain]

This was excellent. You covered most of the equipment on the USA side but didn't mention what the Tank Destroyer units were equipped with. Was it all M-10s or had they received any of the newer vehicles?

[@TheAceDestroyer]

These were the towed 3-Inch 76mm anti tank guns. The battalion only received the M18 Tank Destroyers in early 1945.

[@preclovis]

Could you make a video about the battle of Krinkelt-Rocherath. I had a very good friend who fought in that battle. Thanks

[@TheAceDestroyer]

For a Krinkelt-Rocherath video, I first want to go there myself so I can shoot some present-day footage before I start making a video about the battle.

[@eamo106]

Great assessment, I am sure correct, but static maps without animation devalues the video and makes the audio impossible to be followed and and video impossible to follow ? Or is it just me?

[@TheAceDestroyer]

There should be several animations. Normally you should be able to see arrows appear, units move from one side to another, see units disappear, or see them wiggle a bit. Of course, it depends on the size of the screen you're watching. I can image smaller screens making it a bit more difficult to see the small animations.

[@carius007]

Great work Ace! Happy New Year to you and your family! 🍻🇨🇦

[@TheAceDestroyer]

Thank you very much! Happy New Year to you and yours as well!

[@russelder9743]

as always excellent

[@simonrooney7942]

Happy New Year Ace - Great to see another small unit story- thank U

[@TheAceDestroyer]

Thanks! Happy New Year to you and yours as well!

[@JPKelly-xr7tr]

Outstanding Content!

[@stephenhunt2806]

Very informative and I love the maps....great stuff! Is Cole's book well illustrated?

[@TheAceDestroyer]

I think Cole's book is regarded as the official history of the Battle of the Bulge. It has some very good maps and some occasional pictures too. You can find it online here: www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USA/USA-E-Ardennes/index.html but I prefer a real paperback.

[@stephenhunt2806]

@@TheAceDestroyer Thanks for sharing this, it's very kind of you. I agree though, I much prefer the hard copy to digital. Cheers!

[@RonaldBelanger]

Thank you Ace for another most excellent video of the Battle of the Bulge. Question, how many hours of labour do you put into a video like todays? I truly appreciate the culmination of all your work. GREAT maps!!!

[@TheAceDestroyer]

My pleasure! I'm happy to see that you enjoyed it! This particular video took a few evenings and an entire afternoon to finish, so I reckon about 20 hours.

[@jasonharryphotog]

Twenty hours well spent

[@viagra4x4]

nice museum in Poteau run by a Dutch gentleman.He has a operational halftrack and some tanks which he uses for local battlefield trips.Nice presentation as always acedestroyer.thank you

[@phillipsmith4814]

Ace, it was during the battle of the bulge that Eisenhower authorized the first use of proximity fuses for the allied artillery. In your research for this video did you find that artillery, in particular artillery using the new fuses, was significant?

[@TheAceDestroyer]

This video was more about the 14th Cavalry Group itself. I went over the actions of this unit, equipped with M8 Light Armoured Cars, M5 stuart Light Tank and M8 GMC. To be honest, I didn't go into detail in the artillery. As my research was based around the 14th Cavalry Group itself, I didn't focus on the artillery so I am not able to provide you with a meaningful answer. Hopefully someone else knows more because I'm keen to know.

[@michaeldunne338]

I was under the impression that proximity fuses were used originally on the northern shoulder, around Elsenborn Ridge (including near towns I can't pronounce). One reason the northern shoulder held, and the 6th Panzer Army had three of its five routes blocked by the Americans.

[@benwilson6145]

Would love to see a time line video of the commands and actions of the Battle of the Bulge of, the orders given, actions taken by the taken by the major players Eisenhower, Bradley , Hodges, Paton and Montgomery and the Major Allied units 12th Army Group, 1st and 7th US Army 21st Army group. I find a fog of War creeps down over this period and your excellent graphics and research would be very interesting.

[@TheAceDestroyer]

Well, I tend to stick more to smaller unit actions like this one.

[@benwilson6145]

@@TheAceDestroyer Thanks I like your work

[@benwilson6145]

This is to me an interesting and generally missed topic that would show how the invasion of Germany went. While reading the history of the 51st Highland Division I found this gem of alternative warfare. After bombarding and capturing the German village of Badbergen the1st Black Watch had a visit from the Burgomeister of the village Dinklage who wished to surrender as the people were weary of the shelling. This lead to a new tactic where the 154th Brigade who would get a German speaking officer to phone the next village and demand the surrender of the village, failure would result in the village being shelled then attacked by the Crocodile flame throwers. This proved to be very successful and saved many British and German lives. A smaller but important part of the battle.

[@ardenneslingshot4248]

Are the pictures/photos or videos from the field of St vith ? Or these are only to illustrate the situation ? Thanks for this video!

[@TheAceDestroyer]

The beginning and end (the ambush) scenes are all from Poteau itself. The other footage is either Battle of the Bulge 1944 or Cavalry in Germany 1944 - 1945.

[@ardenneslingshot4248]

@@TheAceDestroyer Thanks for the answer. I m searching on the videos the grand farher of my girl friend. He was 16 old and on the Ardenne front,but I dont know where exactly. For the archive videos, it could be interessting to note the possible localisation of the video. Thanks!

[@HangnJudge]

Always the best and still the best documentary narrator in the business.

[@ThomasSchick]

👍🏻

[@xxANTIFA]

Nen anderen Belg in de 20 met evenveel interesse (maar meer kennis ) over de oorlogen als ik. Waarom ontdek ik u nu pas?

[@TheAceDestroyer]

Haha! Weet ik niet! In elk geval, welkom op mijn kanaal!

[@__jack________________2225]

A new subscriber here.Great work!

[@TheAceDestroyer]

Thank you very much! And, welcome to the channel!

[@omkaruplap144]

It's Deeply Studied Ardences Offensive Great Video , But Ace Destroyer Plz Can U Continued The Operation Barbarossa Stug Tank Battle . Thank U

[@TheAceDestroyer]

Well, I'm afraid I consider the StuG Abt 226 video as finished. I cannot find any extra information on the subject regarding their later battles.

[@the_hate_inside1085]

Why do you type like that? It is deeply disturbing.

[@omkaruplap144]

@@TheAceDestroyer Ok but any Other Tank Destroyer Battles ( Eastern Front/Western Front Jagdtiger , St.Emil , Jagpanther etc )Video or Ur Research on video will be also Consider

[@TheAceDestroyer]

Not at the moment. I'm currently working on some Normandy videos, as well as some more Ardennes ones, but none of these videos will be about German tank destroyers.

[@omkaruplap144]

@@TheAceDestroyer Ok Thank U Sir U Gave me time & Reply it's really Pleasure for me & Exciting for next Normandy video & other 👍

[@mena4928]

I feel ashamed as Anglo Saxon we fought the Germans instead of the commies

[@timoruimteaapje4384]

Good stuff, perhaps a very small addition you might like: the SS-Untersturmführer seen at 19:51 is Siegfried Stiewe. He was born in the Pomeranian town of Damerkow (today Dąbrówka in Poland) on the 13th of January 1924 and joined the Waffen-SS on the 1st of May 1942. After basic training he was assigned to the 3. (le.SPW) Kompanie of company commander SS-Hauptsturmführer Knittel and was promoted to SS-Sturmmann on the 1st of January 1943. He attended the SS Junkerschule in Braunschweig and graduated in October 1944. He then returned to the SS-PzAA1 and served as Knittel's aide in the Ardennes which is why he ended up in the newsreel footage and photos of SS war reporters Schäfer and Büschel. Stiewe is listed as missing near the Hungarian city of Komárom since March 1945. In 2005, the late Walter Herrmann from 2./SS-PzAA1 - told me what happened: "After we had walked quite a distance we came across a road. Two Russians walked towards us from the other side of the road. We took cover and let them pass. We then crossed the road ‘im Sprung auf marsch, marsch’ (get up, on the double). The two Russians were alarmed by the noise this made and opened fire. Of all people, Sturmmann Fischer, who earlier had fallen asleep in his foxhole, was shot through a knee. Of course we had to drag him along. One arm around Stiewe, the other around me. Since Stiewe was 1.80m tall and I was just 1.64m short, Fischer hung around his neck whereas I had to cope with his full weight. It did not take long before I collapsed and I was replaced by Unterscharführer Warnke. He was about the same height as Stiewe which meant the wounded man was able to hobble along on his good leg. We approached a forest and hoped to be safe. Shortly before the forest someone shouted: ‘Eu Stotterkoj’ (stojte kto - halt, who goes there). Stiewe replied: ‘Verwundete’ (wounded men). On the other side the response was: ‘Nemetzkis, Nemetzkis!’ (Germans, Germans!) and then they opened fire like I had never experienced before or since. Like all comrades I immediately hit the dirt. At the barracks yard we had been drilled to turn on our belt buckles. I then crawled away. When I got the chance to look up I saw my comrades run. I also jumped up and followed them. When I noticed rifles, machine guns and overcoats laying around, I realised why my comrades were faster than me. While running I threw off my dispatch case, got out of my overcoat and then I also managed to run faster. The comrades lay in a small swale. We were totally exhausted. Fortunately the Russians did not follow. The wounded Fischer was there but Stiewe and Warnke were nowhere to be seen. I asked him, didn’t they carry you? They had collapsed the moment the shooting had started. He had turned around and just ran until someone supported him. That was Rottenführer Prosdewitz, but he also had not seen the two. We then asked Unterscharführer Erwin Viergutz […] He suggested I should take command. I then told the others that I would walk in the direction of the battle noises. Those who wanted to join me should do so, otherwise I would go on my own. All along we had heard the sound of tank guns as background music and Stiewe believed this to be the sound of our Tiger and Panther tanks. He refused to believe that this was the sound of T-34’s. It was clear to me that in the direction of these battle noises lay our only chance to find our lines. With the wounded in the middle we walked on. Somewhere we reached a river which we followed. We then reached a road which crossed the river. Russian tanks, jeeps and other combat vehicles moved from right to left, ambulances from left to right. We carried the wounded on our shoulders as we waded into the river on the other side of the road. At some distance from the bridge the clambered out of the water. After some time we reached a village were we found marks of SPW tracks in the sand. Two of us sneaked into the village. They met a man who stated he was German and who told them that the last German soldiers had left the village for the neighbouring village the previous evening. He accompanied them to our hideout and showed us the way to the neighbouring village. As we approached that village we spotted an 8.8cm ‘Flak’ gun. A soldier shouted ‘Sie kommen’ (they’re coming), threw his rifle away and fled. The gun crew came forth and we identified ourselves as Germans. With that we had really made it back to our lines. Our wounded were carried to an aid station and we moved on. Meanwhile it was 5.00hrs." SS-Unterscharführer Hermann Warnke (Ribnitz, Mecklenburg, the 28th of May 1923) is also missing since March 1945, their graves are not listed by the Volksbund Deutsche Kriegsgräbersfürsorge e.V. Walter Herrmann explained to me that none of the members of the group considered recovering the bodies of Stiewe and Warnke: “in our hopeless situation all we could think about was survival”. He continued: “late November 1945 I was released from American captivity. Approx. 1954/55 Stiewe’s father - Oberstleutnant Josef Stiewe - paid me a visit. I had found the names of Stiewe and Warnke in the missing-persons lists and had provided the corresponding missing-in-action statements. That’s how the father got my address. I gently informed him that he should not count on the safe return of his son. I spared him the specifics."

[@TheAceDestroyer]

Thank you very much for this 'small' addition! Very interesting!

[@tokencivilian8507]

Great stuff Ace. Agree with the other commenter about doing more video and detail background on iconic "stock" footage. I can't tell you how many times I've seen that film of the Germans walking past that burning column of GI equipment. Great to hear the history behind that, to get the full story. Keep up the great work.