Grossdeutschland Pt 4 - Targu Frumos - IS-2/JS-2 - 88 Flak - Manteuffel - Kubelwagen - Cherkassy

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This nice film, although from the period, misidentifies the Panzergrenadier Div. Grossdeutschland as a Panzer Division. The footage was taken in January and February of 1944 when elements of the division were sent north to take part in the operation to relieve 60k German soldiers trapped in the Cherkassy Pocket. The 5. SS PzD Wiking was one of the trapped divisions and much of the footage, including the panther tanks, is of them. It’s the rest of GD which remained in Moldova and then moved into Romania that we are focusing on here.

This is General Hasso van Manteuffel, Grossdeutschland’s commander who, by this time was a proven talented tactician in mobile warfare. In 1941 at the beginning of Barbarossa he was the commander of a Battalion in the 7th PzD which was part of Army Group Center. I’ve uploaded some really good covering that division.

This is periodical Nr. 8 from April of 1944 from the series Signal. It has this beautiful color photograph of a Panzergrenadier team in their armored personnel carrier and a nice description to go with it.

The Panzergrenadiere, the first to attack and the last break contact with the enemy when withdrawing. The speed, firepower and the range of their armored personnel carriers give this multifaceted weapon tremendous power. Combined with the troops advanced equipment and weaponry, the Panzergrenadier have extremely high combat effectiveness. Their leadership is on the cutting edge of tactical theory, utilizing the combination of power and speed. They are the modern cavalry.

In early March the Soviet launched a major attack on the north, central and southern flanks of Army Group South and on March 16th GD began moving west. By the end of March had crossed the Prut River and entered Romania.

This German footage that was captured by the Soviets supposedly shows them retreating and the last soldiers pulling back over the river. Plenty of preparation had gone into reinforcing this defensive line and this time the Romanians were determined to stand and fight.

Original Ukrainian commentary
Ausland Tonwoche Nr. 664

Coming back to our German war correspondent from part 3 in this series, at this time he was situated in the Romanian city of Stanca located on the River Pruth. Combat in this sector had been intense but the Germans and Romanians had been able to hold the line, at least temporarily.

This outstanding footage shows scores of destroyed Sherman tanks that the Soviets had received through the lend-lease program. The damage he’s filmed gives an idea of the intensity of the combat that had taken place. Imagine the bombardment that the soldiers in these trenches experienced. Obviously this type of footage would never have made it into any official news reel.

But the brunt of the Soviet thrust was headed in the direction of the Romanian city of Jassy. In two massive tank engagements which took place in April and May, known as the Battle of Targu Frumos, Grossdeutschland was prepared to meet it.