SS Div REICH close combat report w. Soviet flame throwing tank Jelnja 1941, KV-1, Paul Hausser Pt 16

Here in part 16 of the series we continue with our author Kurt’s war diary collection looking at the first part of an article he saved which described the defensive battle at Jelnja at the end of July in 1941. I’ll cover another combat report involving a soviet flame throwing tank titled 8 tanks in 5 minutes. Using situational maps we’ll gain perspective and as usual I’ll add film footage to glue it all together. At the end of the video I’ll add the next part of a German training film describing the characteristics of the KV1. After the video you’ll see a QR code that will allow you to create a free account and see some example exclusive footage, so stick around, it’s worth it.

Das Heldenlied von Jelnja

SS Propagandakompanie. On the morning of July 22 the battle began. At 0500 hours the regimental leadership gathered together with those from division on a peek to the north east of Jenlja in order to receive orders for the day’s offensive. They stood around an unfolded map which showed the approximate starting positions of the division’s units with marked objectives for the days attack. The commanders had drawn up each of the regiments operational areas. It was expected that they would succeed in occupying the cliffs situated to the east and south east of Jelnja with a majority of the attacking strength focused on the heavily fortified Soviet positions. A preparatory artillery barrage for the attack which was scheduled to begin at 0900 hrs would not be provided.

Now let’s take a look at that combat report. This is the original German High Command War Atlas for Operation Barbarossa. The combat report we’re dealing with is from July 24, 1941 and is titled…

Erlebnisbericht der 2./Pz.Jg.Abt. REICH vom 24.7.1941
Acht Panzer in 5 Minuten

Combat report from the 2./ anti-tank detachment Reich from 24.7.1941
8 tanks in 5 minutes

A 5 cm anti-tank gun situated in a gully is ready to fire. It’s overlooking the road leading north to Dorogobusch where cliffs converge creating a ravine bottleneck. The gun chief is Sergeant Erich Rossner. Suddenly, 8 enemy tanks appear in the ravine and Rossner gives the order to let them come to within 50 meters. At that distance, hit the lead tank and then the last tank and then finish off the rest.

The lead tank is taken out with our first shot. From the second tank, a flame throwing tank, a jet of fire spurts towards our position. The tank’s hatch pops open and the crew climbs out and charges towards our position. We are able to fire the anti-tank gun a few more times and then, when the enemy is about 10 meters away, throwing hand grenades, firing pistols, and finally using shovels in hand-to-hand combat our gun crew manages to kill the attackers. We then go back to our anti-tank gun load, aim and continue firing until all the tanks are destroyed.

8 disabled and burning Soviet tanks lie motionless in front of our position. The situation was, as Sergeant Rossner explains it, taken care of within 5 minutes.