3rd Battle of Kharkov Pt 5 - 5th SS PzGr Wiking, 1st SS LAAH, 3rd SS Totenkopf, 2nd SS Das Reich

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Episode 101

This nice combat footage is of the Finnish Volunteer Battalion which was part of Rgt Nordland in the 5. SS PzGr Div Wiking. In addition to more from this reel, we’ll continue with the original German combat report that was written by a member of the 7th PzD at the completion of the 3rd Battle of Kharkov in early 1943. We’ll touch on the Grischino Massacre and see some excellent footage of Felix Steiner, Division Wiking’s commander. Finally I’ll show a 1943 parade of a German tank tank in Norway so stick around. This is part 5 in this series covering the battle. You’ll find links to the other parts at the end of this video

Page 1 of the report explains the combat operations of three German divisions, the 7th and the 11th PzDs, and the 5. SS Wiking. It’s covered in part 1 of this series. Page two and three of the report are translated Soviet communications describing the strenuous situation that the powerful Mobile Group Popov found itself in. The content of these pages can be found in Part 2, 3 and 4. The series contains plenty of rare Waffen SS footage that you almost certainly have never seen.

This is exquisite early footage of the Rgt. Nordland in Russia. We have the patreon supporters to thank for having access to footage like this and originals like the one we are looking at today. If you are not yet a supporter please consider becoming one. As a token of appreciation supporters get exclusive access to film material that can’t be shown here. Open a free account on Military1945.com and take a look at an example clip.

Page 4 of the report begins with the Soviet officer’s final communication to his superiors made on February 19 before being overrun. After that is a concluding detailed list of combat losses inflicted on the enemy written by a German officer.

All preparations have been made to regain control of the situation around Krassnoarmejskoje.

The Commander of the 4th Gard Tank Corps
Guard Major General of Armor Polubojarew

Chief of Staff of the 4th Guard Tank Corps
Guard Colonel Nagaibakow

-- GERMAN REPORT CONTINUES --

In the time period from 7.1. until and including the 27.2.1943
the following has been captured or destroyed by the 7th Pz.Div.

4 Airplanes
144 Cannons (3 of them rocket launchers)
276 Anti-tank guns
354 Tanks
414 Vehicles
70 Mortars
317 Machineguns
114 Anti-tank rifles
a large quantity of small arms
1 Russian field hospital with 8 doctors

2902 soldiers were captured

During the 3rd Battle of Kharkov the Soviet losses amounted to 45,000 killed in action and around 41,000 wounded. In comparison the Germans lost 4,500 killed and about 700 wounded.

In addition, the following German equipment was retaken

Locomotives
Transport train
Communications train
Tank repair garage
German tanks
Tank destroyers

46 German, Italian and Romanian soldiers and civilians were freed by the division from Soviet captivity.

This German report includes documents supposedly captured from the field headquarters of the 4th Guard Tank Corps which had allegedly been responsible for the Grischino Massacre. That the Germans freed 46 soldiers and civilians shows that the 4th Guard Tank Corps had evidently not killed everyone. It’s also odd that this intelligence report written by those who arrived first to scene, doesn’t mention the massacre at all. I would have expected that. We’ll certainly be covering the specific war crimes in depth in future videos.

Here we see 5th PzGr Div. Wiking’s commander, Felix Steiner, awarding medals to members of the Regiment Nordland. I believe that it is the Finnish Volunteer Btl. You can see he is wearing the Order of the Cross of Liberty that is a Finnish medal that he was awarded in June of 1942.

Steiner was a capable leader who was well liked by his troops. After having the charges against him dropped at Nuremberg, in 1953 he was recruited by the CIA.