Battle for Arnhem.... (1 Viewer)
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panda1gen
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Re: battle for arnhem....
http://www.marketgarden.com/2010/UK/veterans/kwiatkowski.html
MY MEMORIES OF ARNHEM 1944
Name: Slawomir Kwiatkowski
Rank: Lance Corporal (Starszy Strzelec Podchorazy)
Unit: 3rd Batallion, 9th Company
Regiment: 1st Polish Independent Parachute Brigade Group I was in the 3rd Bn. 9th Company and jumped out off plane No. 68 carrying 19 paras on September 21. After the jump we were dispersed all over the dropping zone at Driel.
We assembled at the River Rijn and spent all night there under the fire of German machine-guns and mortars. The ferry by which British Airborne expected us to cross the river was sunk and there wasn't a trace of any boat.
In the early morning we withdrew to the village Driel to prepare the defense against expected Germans attack. My friend Bartek and I dug an anti tank slit for two of us in a sector pointed out, not very far from the church. During the day our section were on reconnaissance patrol and at dark we went again to the Rijn trying to cross the river, as British called us to come and strengthen their defense. Only a part of 7th Company did it with help of small rubber dinghies brought from the dropping zone. All the rest returned early morning to our positions at Driel. All time we were shelled and mortared by Germans from the Westerbouwing heights.
Next night from 23th to 24th Sept. Canadian boats arrived. They came very late, with no paddlers, and each boat able to take less people than it was announced before. That caused a mess and disorder. At dawn the crossing was stopped because losses were too heavy. Only about 200 men crossed the river that night. I was among them, Bartek and others returned again to Driel. From that moment we haven't seen each other till June next year.
I was with group of Poles who took over from British the defense of 5 houses in Eastern perimeter of Oosterbeek (me - Stationsweg 4). We stayed there till night from 25th to 26th. At night British Airborne Division began to withdraw for evacuation upon the riverbank. There was a distinct shortage of motor boats available and the evacuation proceeded at a very slow pace. It occurred on "no man land" area called after "the killing ground" because it was all covered by German fire.
The Poles were the far rearguard and our group arrived to the river bank almost at the break of the day. We saw the row of soldiers waiting and eventually no more boats to cross. Then a white flag came out and with the rest of waiting men I became a prisoner. I was a poor swimmer. From more than 300 Poles fighting in Oosterbeek perimeter only 160 crossed back. Bartek returned to Driel and spent these 3 more days under heavy shelling and mortaring. Then the rest of Polish Brigade went by foot to Nijmegen. They guarded a bridge there (there is a photo of the bridge guard, Bartek among some others) and an airfield near the Mose River. They went back to England by ships from Ostende only on the 10th Oct. 1944.
I was back in Scotland in the middle of May 1945. I found myself in the same place where our course for Officer Cadets was held - the Earlsferry House 4, don't remember when I got again in touch with Bartek. Any way I visited him eventually in Edinborough. He was a medical student then and rented a room in the town. I think I set out for Poland in May 1946 from a small port near Edinborough - called Leith.
Voice interviews:
The river crossing and afterwards (MP3 559KB),
Operation Berlin, the withdrawal (MP3 593KB)
Please note the link to the website this account came from - some toy soldier shots.............
A Polish para advances past a destroyed half track..........
a six pounder covers the infantry from advancing StuGs
http://www.marketgarden.com/2010/UK/veterans/kwiatkowski.html
MY MEMORIES OF ARNHEM 1944
Name: Slawomir Kwiatkowski
Rank: Lance Corporal (Starszy Strzelec Podchorazy)
Unit: 3rd Batallion, 9th Company
Regiment: 1st Polish Independent Parachute Brigade Group I was in the 3rd Bn. 9th Company and jumped out off plane No. 68 carrying 19 paras on September 21. After the jump we were dispersed all over the dropping zone at Driel.
We assembled at the River Rijn and spent all night there under the fire of German machine-guns and mortars. The ferry by which British Airborne expected us to cross the river was sunk and there wasn't a trace of any boat.
In the early morning we withdrew to the village Driel to prepare the defense against expected Germans attack. My friend Bartek and I dug an anti tank slit for two of us in a sector pointed out, not very far from the church. During the day our section were on reconnaissance patrol and at dark we went again to the Rijn trying to cross the river, as British called us to come and strengthen their defense. Only a part of 7th Company did it with help of small rubber dinghies brought from the dropping zone. All the rest returned early morning to our positions at Driel. All time we were shelled and mortared by Germans from the Westerbouwing heights.
Next night from 23th to 24th Sept. Canadian boats arrived. They came very late, with no paddlers, and each boat able to take less people than it was announced before. That caused a mess and disorder. At dawn the crossing was stopped because losses were too heavy. Only about 200 men crossed the river that night. I was among them, Bartek and others returned again to Driel. From that moment we haven't seen each other till June next year.
The Poles were the far rearguard and our group arrived to the river bank almost at the break of the day. We saw the row of soldiers waiting and eventually no more boats to cross. Then a white flag came out and with the rest of waiting men I became a prisoner. I was a poor swimmer. From more than 300 Poles fighting in Oosterbeek perimeter only 160 crossed back. Bartek returned to Driel and spent these 3 more days under heavy shelling and mortaring. Then the rest of Polish Brigade went by foot to Nijmegen. They guarded a bridge there (there is a photo of the bridge guard, Bartek among some others) and an airfield near the Mose River. They went back to England by ships from Ostende only on the 10th Oct. 1944.
I was back in Scotland in the middle of May 1945. I found myself in the same place where our course for Officer Cadets was held - the Earlsferry House 4, don't remember when I got again in touch with Bartek. Any way I visited him eventually in Edinborough. He was a medical student then and rented a room in the town. I think I set out for Poland in May 1946 from a small port near Edinborough - called Leith.
Voice interviews:
The river crossing and afterwards (MP3 559KB),
Operation Berlin, the withdrawal (MP3 593KB)
Please note the link to the website this account came from - some toy soldier shots.............
A Polish para advances past a destroyed half track..........
a six pounder covers the infantry from advancing StuGs
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panda1gen
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Re: battle for arnhem....
Thank you, but the link says it all. Reb and I discussed the 'diodrama' approach last summer, (thanks to Currahie Chris for the term) the scale of the battle in the ETO means that it is difficult to do any similar type of 'personality' type story that Rebs civil war series excels at - more than one figure for the same person for example. That is not currently possible here.
The links are to websites that contain these personal memories, some of which can be very moving.
The toy soldiers come as a bit of an afterthought in this context. Here are some 'oldies' - divisional 17pdr AT gun in ambush position, courtesy of Mountford for the gun and K&C for the crew......
Kevin as always your Knowledge of the Battle is amazeing. It is good to see you setting up and taken great pics.Keep up the Great work.
Thank you, but the link says it all. Reb and I discussed the 'diodrama' approach last summer, (thanks to Currahie Chris for the term) the scale of the battle in the ETO means that it is difficult to do any similar type of 'personality' type story that Rebs civil war series excels at - more than one figure for the same person for example. That is not currently possible here.
The links are to websites that contain these personal memories, some of which can be very moving.
The toy soldiers come as a bit of an afterthought in this context. Here are some 'oldies' - divisional 17pdr AT gun in ambush position, courtesy of Mountford for the gun and K&C for the crew......
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panda1gen
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Re: battle for arnhem....
The 10th SS Division was formed in early 1943 in France with its sister division the 9th SS Division 'Hohenstaufen'. They did not receive these names straight away but the 10th SS Division received the honoury title of 'Frundsberg' on the 4th of November 1943 and was also named as a panzer division: SS-Panzer Division 10 'Frundsberg'.
The division was trained in France in 1943 where specialist courses, training exercise and war games were conducted. It was even trained in Anti-airborne tactics which would come in handy in September 1944.
By March of 1944 the training was completed and, along with the SS-Panzer Division 9 'Hohenstafen', continued to be part of Headquarters 'West' strategic reserve.
However with the Russian Offensive in March 1944 which ripped open a huge hole in Army Group Centre, the two SS Divisions under the command of the II SS-Pz Korps was sent to the Russian Front. The SS-Panzer Division 10 'Frundsberg' was under command of SS-Brigadeführer Heinz Harmel who held this position until the last days of the war. Harmel's Division was sent to the Ukraine and operated in the Tarnopol sector. Here both divisions received their baptism of fire trying to relive the town of Tarnopol and their first attacks against the Russians occurred on the 4th April 1944.
The 'Frundsberg' Division continued to work in this sector of the Eastern Front until June 1944 when news of the landings in Normandy reached them. The II SS-Pz. Kp. was ordered to entrain with both divisions and head back to Normandy. Arriving in late June, the 10th SS-Panzer Division was thrown into the Battle. Over the next months the 'Frundsberg' Division fought around Caen, Hill 112, Aunay Sur Odon, Avranches and Falaise loosing many men and much equipment. After the collapse of the Western Front in August 1944, the divisional Kampfgruppen retreated through France, Belgium to be re-united in Holland, north of Arnhem. Here the 9th SS-Panzer Division was to hand over all heavy weapons and equipment to the 'Frundsberg' Division. This was due to the 'Frundsberg' being refitted locally and the 'Hohenstaufen' being refitted in Germany.
However both Divisions were committed to battle when the Allies landed in Holland including Arnhem. The 'Frundsberg' Division was committed to the south and was tasked with the defence of Nijmegen.
Only one unit of the 10th SS-Panzer Division fought in Arnhem and that was SS Panzer-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 10 under the command of SS-Sturmbannführer Heinrich Brinkmann which was in action at the Arnhem Bridge during the battle.
After Operation 'Market-Garden', the 10th SS-Pz Div. remained in the Arnhem-Nijmegen area for another month before being committed to the Linnich area. It was rested and refitted in the Aachen area before being committed back to Linnich and Geilenkirchen areas (NE of Aachen) in early 1945.
In February 1945 it was withdrawn from the Western Front and once again committed against the Russians on the Eastern Front. It was committed initially in Eastern Pomerania and then Saxony where it fought bravely against overwhelming odds.
The 10th SS-Pz. Div was encircled by the Russians in the Spremberg pocket with two other German Divisions. They were order to fight to the death and hold this pocket but Harmel refused the order and broke his Division out the the West. For this he was relived of command and sent elsewhere. The Division tried to escape fleeing Westwards but small groups were killed or captured by the Russians during the route. Some groups continued to fight the Russian right up until the end of May as they tried to march to the West but most of the division was captured. The Division (in name only) capitulated with the rest of the German Army on the 8th of May 1945.
The 10th SS Division was formed in early 1943 in France with its sister division the 9th SS Division 'Hohenstaufen'. They did not receive these names straight away but the 10th SS Division received the honoury title of 'Frundsberg' on the 4th of November 1943 and was also named as a panzer division: SS-Panzer Division 10 'Frundsberg'.
The division was trained in France in 1943 where specialist courses, training exercise and war games were conducted. It was even trained in Anti-airborne tactics which would come in handy in September 1944.
By March of 1944 the training was completed and, along with the SS-Panzer Division 9 'Hohenstafen', continued to be part of Headquarters 'West' strategic reserve.
However with the Russian Offensive in March 1944 which ripped open a huge hole in Army Group Centre, the two SS Divisions under the command of the II SS-Pz Korps was sent to the Russian Front. The SS-Panzer Division 10 'Frundsberg' was under command of SS-Brigadeführer Heinz Harmel who held this position until the last days of the war. Harmel's Division was sent to the Ukraine and operated in the Tarnopol sector. Here both divisions received their baptism of fire trying to relive the town of Tarnopol and their first attacks against the Russians occurred on the 4th April 1944.
The 'Frundsberg' Division continued to work in this sector of the Eastern Front until June 1944 when news of the landings in Normandy reached them. The II SS-Pz. Kp. was ordered to entrain with both divisions and head back to Normandy. Arriving in late June, the 10th SS-Panzer Division was thrown into the Battle. Over the next months the 'Frundsberg' Division fought around Caen, Hill 112, Aunay Sur Odon, Avranches and Falaise loosing many men and much equipment. After the collapse of the Western Front in August 1944, the divisional Kampfgruppen retreated through France, Belgium to be re-united in Holland, north of Arnhem. Here the 9th SS-Panzer Division was to hand over all heavy weapons and equipment to the 'Frundsberg' Division. This was due to the 'Frundsberg' being refitted locally and the 'Hohenstaufen' being refitted in Germany.
However both Divisions were committed to battle when the Allies landed in Holland including Arnhem. The 'Frundsberg' Division was committed to the south and was tasked with the defence of Nijmegen.
Only one unit of the 10th SS-Panzer Division fought in Arnhem and that was SS Panzer-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 10 under the command of SS-Sturmbannführer Heinrich Brinkmann which was in action at the Arnhem Bridge during the battle.
After Operation 'Market-Garden', the 10th SS-Pz Div. remained in the Arnhem-Nijmegen area for another month before being committed to the Linnich area. It was rested and refitted in the Aachen area before being committed back to Linnich and Geilenkirchen areas (NE of Aachen) in early 1945.
In February 1945 it was withdrawn from the Western Front and once again committed against the Russians on the Eastern Front. It was committed initially in Eastern Pomerania and then Saxony where it fought bravely against overwhelming odds.
The 10th SS-Pz. Div was encircled by the Russians in the Spremberg pocket with two other German Divisions. They were order to fight to the death and hold this pocket but Harmel refused the order and broke his Division out the the West. For this he was relived of command and sent elsewhere. The Division tried to escape fleeing Westwards but small groups were killed or captured by the Russians during the route. Some groups continued to fight the Russian right up until the end of May as they tried to march to the West but most of the division was captured. The Division (in name only) capitulated with the rest of the German Army on the 8th of May 1945.
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Lewey Gun Vick
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Re: battle for arnhem....
Very cool Kevin!
Best Regards, Vick
Very cool Kevin!
Best Regards, Vick
panda1gen
Major
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Re: battle for arnhem....
Thanks very much, appreciated and hope that you enjoy. US paras link with 30 Corps Brits to evacuate a casualty................
Very cool Kevin!
Best Regards, Vick
Thanks very much, appreciated and hope that you enjoy. US paras link with 30 Corps Brits to evacuate a casualty................
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panda1gen
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please see
http://www.defendingarnhem.com/
The German soldier on the Western Front could be forgiven for being extremely skeptical of its own Luftwaffe in the later months of 1944. The German armies in Normandy and during the retreat through France had received a beating by the Allied Air armada with little or no support by the own air force. Time and time again, ‘Jabos' would dive down and strafe German columns, trains and even individual motorcyclists leaving an unforgettable experience on the German soldier.
Just the sound of a plane coming in for the dive would send the less experienced soldier into the nearest ditch regardless if it was even their own side.
To quote one German soldier "If you see a white plane, it's American, if you see a black plane it's RAF. If you see no planes at all it's the Luftwaffe!”
The rocket firing RAF Typhoons were not the only interdiction aircraft making themselves unpopular, but they remain amongst the most iconic.......................
Operations over Holland would not prove to be the same as the fighter bomber heaven that was the Falaise pocket in Normandy, where the retreating German armies were pulverised by the RAF and USAAF.
It was said that the results of this carnage meant that one could walk long distances across the pocket stepping only on dead human and animal (horse) flesh, as even in 1944 the German Army was hugely dependant on horses for transport.
http://www.defendingarnhem.com/
The German soldier on the Western Front could be forgiven for being extremely skeptical of its own Luftwaffe in the later months of 1944. The German armies in Normandy and during the retreat through France had received a beating by the Allied Air armada with little or no support by the own air force. Time and time again, ‘Jabos' would dive down and strafe German columns, trains and even individual motorcyclists leaving an unforgettable experience on the German soldier.
Just the sound of a plane coming in for the dive would send the less experienced soldier into the nearest ditch regardless if it was even their own side.
To quote one German soldier "If you see a white plane, it's American, if you see a black plane it's RAF. If you see no planes at all it's the Luftwaffe!”
The rocket firing RAF Typhoons were not the only interdiction aircraft making themselves unpopular, but they remain amongst the most iconic.......................
Operations over Holland would not prove to be the same as the fighter bomber heaven that was the Falaise pocket in Normandy, where the retreating German armies were pulverised by the RAF and USAAF.
It was said that the results of this carnage meant that one could walk long distances across the pocket stepping only on dead human and animal (horse) flesh, as even in 1944 the German Army was hugely dependant on horses for transport.
panda1gen
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see http://www.defendingarnhem.com/Luftwaffe.htm
Even though the Allies had air supremacy, they did not underestimate the potential of havoc the Luftwaffe could still cause in the West in the later months of 1944. Most missions over German occupied territories still came with a powerful fighter escort for this specific reason. Some of the allied fighters were “long range” and could now provide protection for greater periods of time. For the planning of Operation ‘Market Garden', it was to be no different. All allied transports into the Arnhem area were to have fighter escorts were possible.
The German Luftwaffe still possessed some advantages over the allies in September 1944. From within the ‘Fortress' cities that they still controlled on the Coast of France as well as the occupied areas of Northwest Holland, the Germans could inform the Luftwaffe headquarters of impending allied formations flying East towards Germany. Based on this information, the Luftwaffe were able to scramble fighters to intercept the RAF and USAAF planes before reaching their objectives. This was exactly what occurred on the initial landings on the 17th September 1944. However, due to the effective allied fighter escort on the first day, the transport planes carrying the British Paratroops into Arnhem were not harassed by the Luftwaffe.
Even though the Allies had air supremacy, they did not underestimate the potential of havoc the Luftwaffe could still cause in the West in the later months of 1944. Most missions over German occupied territories still came with a powerful fighter escort for this specific reason. Some of the allied fighters were “long range” and could now provide protection for greater periods of time. For the planning of Operation ‘Market Garden', it was to be no different. All allied transports into the Arnhem area were to have fighter escorts were possible.
The German Luftwaffe still possessed some advantages over the allies in September 1944. From within the ‘Fortress' cities that they still controlled on the Coast of France as well as the occupied areas of Northwest Holland, the Germans could inform the Luftwaffe headquarters of impending allied formations flying East towards Germany. Based on this information, the Luftwaffe were able to scramble fighters to intercept the RAF and USAAF planes before reaching their objectives. This was exactly what occurred on the initial landings on the 17th September 1944. However, due to the effective allied fighter escort on the first day, the transport planes carrying the British Paratroops into Arnhem were not harassed by the Luftwaffe.
panda1gen
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http://www.defendingarnhem.com/Luftwaffe.htm
Thanks to LT for getting me started on this and providing such encouragement.............I have a bit to go to provide the same coverage as the Zulu wars!
From the above link.............
However the Germans were fortunate early in the battle to recover the Operational Plans for ‘Market Garden' off a dead officer whose Glider had crashed. Within the plans stated the locations of further drops, flight plans as well as the planned timings for these drops.
Whilst it is widely believed that the German ground forces saw these plans as a trick, the Luftwaffe took them rather seriously and a chance to hit the Allied Air force hard.
Effectively the Luftwaffe over the course of the battle would employ up to 10 different Jagdgeschwaders to intercept the reinforcements and supplies coming into the Arnhem Area as per the ‘Market Garden' plans.
During the Battle of Arnhem/Oosterbeek the Germans were able to effectively request air support through the Luftwaffe Liaison officers located within the IInd SS Pz Kps HQs during the whole operational period.
The Liaison officers requested air support not only for engaging allied transports over the drop zones but also for air cover for German troop movements as well as strafing runs on known British Strong points. Of course the Luftwaffe did not always hit the right target on the ground and the Germans did suffer casualties from their own planes during the operation.
During the period 17th – 26th September 1944, the Luftwaffe employed up to 10 different Jagdgeschwaders that flew from airfields such as Dortmund, Werl, Paderborn, Guetersloh, Stoermede, Achmer, Lippspringe and Plantluenne. T
hey were to score a total of 122 victories over this period with more than half of them coming from JG 11 and JG 26 combined. It was these two units during September 1944 that housed the famous Luftwaffe Aces or ‘Experten' such as Priller, Grislawski, Mietusch and Krupinski.
Thanks to LT for getting me started on this and providing such encouragement.............I have a bit to go to provide the same coverage as the Zulu wars!
From the above link.............
However the Germans were fortunate early in the battle to recover the Operational Plans for ‘Market Garden' off a dead officer whose Glider had crashed. Within the plans stated the locations of further drops, flight plans as well as the planned timings for these drops.
Whilst it is widely believed that the German ground forces saw these plans as a trick, the Luftwaffe took them rather seriously and a chance to hit the Allied Air force hard.
Effectively the Luftwaffe over the course of the battle would employ up to 10 different Jagdgeschwaders to intercept the reinforcements and supplies coming into the Arnhem Area as per the ‘Market Garden' plans.
During the Battle of Arnhem/Oosterbeek the Germans were able to effectively request air support through the Luftwaffe Liaison officers located within the IInd SS Pz Kps HQs during the whole operational period.
The Liaison officers requested air support not only for engaging allied transports over the drop zones but also for air cover for German troop movements as well as strafing runs on known British Strong points. Of course the Luftwaffe did not always hit the right target on the ground and the Germans did suffer casualties from their own planes during the operation.
During the period 17th – 26th September 1944, the Luftwaffe employed up to 10 different Jagdgeschwaders that flew from airfields such as Dortmund, Werl, Paderborn, Guetersloh, Stoermede, Achmer, Lippspringe and Plantluenne. T
hey were to score a total of 122 victories over this period with more than half of them coming from JG 11 and JG 26 combined. It was these two units during September 1944 that housed the famous Luftwaffe Aces or ‘Experten' such as Priller, Grislawski, Mietusch and Krupinski.
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panda1gen
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View attachment 3917530 Corps still fighting through Eindhoven.....................
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desk11desk12
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"Where does he get all of those wonderful toys?"
You have some cool stuff man, LOL.
I love the airfield. You were doing it before the latest K & C releases. I love the lighting. What do you have a "sun room" or something?
Carlos
You have some cool stuff man, LOL.
I love the airfield. You were doing it before the latest K & C releases. I love the lighting. What do you have a "sun room" or something?
Carlos
Beaufighter
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Re: battle for arnhem....
What company did the Lysander? Where did you and or Louis get this one? Great diorama photo-journalism as always!
Thanks,
Beaufighter
What company did the Lysander? Where did you and or Louis get this one? Great diorama photo-journalism as always!
Thanks,
Beaufighter
panda1gen
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Carlos and Marc (Beaufighter),
Thanks for the comments. I need to make it clear that probably most of the stuff I publish on here is not mine........unfortunately.
As for how I do it - I have some secrets but I do use natural light.
The Lysander was from http://scalecraft.com/ a few years back
Paras trying to stop 30 Corps in southern Holland................
Thanks for the comments. I need to make it clear that probably most of the stuff I publish on here is not mine........unfortunately.
As for how I do it - I have some secrets but I do use natural light.
The Lysander was from http://scalecraft.com/ a few years back
Paras trying to stop 30 Corps in southern Holland................
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The Lt.
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I along with many other members of the forum are glad you got started in providing us with many of your photos which have told many story's on their own over the pass few years.
Beaufighter
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Cheers!
Many thanks for the link as I now have the Lysander in my sights! As for "natural light" and photography-it sounds so simple but is far from it. You are without doubt an artist & photo journalist all in one. Thanks for sharing.
Tally Ho,
Beaufighter
panda1gen
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Glad you got one Marc, there are some reasonable prices here. $139 ?
