Posts Tagged ‘Video’

Bundeswehr – Fallschirmjäger.

Posted: 21/11/2012 in WW2
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Bundeswehr – Fallschirmjäger.

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The Fallschirmjager qualification badge, WW2.

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I have just finished writing my third novel in the Devils with Wings series, Devils with Wings: Frozen Sun. The Fallschirmjager, after their successful battle taking Crete in only 10 days, are shipped to Poland to partake in Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of the Soviet Union.

Leaving temperatures in excess of forty degrees to be used, not in an airborne operation, but as a fire brigade, plugging gaps in the line around Leningrad, particularly along the banks of the River Neva. They were Army Group North’s strategic reserve.  They were quickly placed into the fray, fighting along the River Neva, where temperatures dropped to below -30 degrees, sometimes as low as -40. They were successful at plugging the gaps and preventing the Soviet Union from exploiting their bridgeheads over the River Neva, but at a price. Some units suffered up to 75% casualties. Many who had survived the assault on the Fortress Eben Emael, (Devils with Wings) and the fierce fighting on the Island of Crete (Devils with Wings: Silk Drop) met their fate in this bitter struggle with the atrocious weather and the never ending Soviet hordes.

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The Fallschirmjager’s distinctive WW2 parachute helmet.

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The Fallschirmjager were formed under the command of General Student before the start of the second world war.

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Junkers Ju-52, one of their modes of transport. Known affectionately as Tante Ju – Auntie June.

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The Fallschirmjager were reinstated after the end of the second world war, and during the Cold War Years were a key part of NATOs strategic assault force.


Paratroopers beret badge of the Bundeswehr Fallschirmjager. The present day German army paratroopers. 

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T.10. Round cap Parachute.

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Close up of a Fallschirmjager gliding with a round parachute.

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Paratroopers of the Division Spezielle Operationen – Special Operations Division, jumping off a CH-53.

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The German Fallschirmjager using modern canopies.

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Bundeswehr – Fallschirmjäger.

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Fallschirmjager of the 26th Air Assault Battalion at the Bastille Day military parade, 2007.

Back to the original Fallschirmjager, who conducted the first ever glider landing assault, when they attacked the impregnable fortress of  Eben Emael.

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An aerial photograph which shows Fort Eben Emael alongside the Canal west of Maastricht.

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A DFS-230, the type of assault glider used by the WW2 Fallschirmjager to land the 79 paratroopers on top of the fort.

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The main entrance of Fort Eben Emael as it stands today. Well worth a visit.

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One of the retractable turrets that were put out of action.

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One of the Maastricht casemates, that housed three, 75mm Guns.

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Re-enactors re-living the Fallschirmjager assault on the fort.

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The first novel in my Devils with Wings Series.

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The qualification phase to become a paratrooper consisted of 6 jumps. The first would be a t height of around 200 metres, the next two at 150 metres, but in a stick of six trainees. Their fourth jump would be from the same height, but at dusk or dawn and as part of a much larger stick, of perhaps 10 men. For the fifth jump they would be part of a Kette formation, a V-formation, a Chain of three Junkers JU-52. The final jump would be made under simulated combat conditions, up to nine aircraft flying at little over 125 metres in height.

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Fallschirmschutzenabzeichen, parachutist badge.

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Devils with Wings

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The Parachutist’s “Ten Commandments”

The Fallschirmjager had ten commandments that they lived by as elite soldiers.

Number 5.  The most precious thing in the presence of the foe is ammunition. He who shoots uselessly, merely to comfort himself, is a man of straw who merits not the title of Parachutist.

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Devils with Wings- Clip by Nick Britten

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My intention is not to portray a particular message, but just share some of my photographs and information with you and help set the scene for my series of novels.

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Blog is copyrighted to Harvey Black

 

The Cold War Years. Part 9.

Posted: 13/11/2012 in Cold War
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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The Cold War Years – Part 9.

I am halfway through writing the first novel of my new ‘Cold War’ series. There will be three books in total, covering the hypothetical invasion of West Germany, the Federal Republic of Germany, by the Warsaw Pact in the mid 1980′s. Book 1, ‘The Red Effect’, will encompass the intelligence build up leading to the Warsaw Pact strike against the NATO forces lined up against them. Due out in April 2013.

The Cold War era started very soon after the end of the second world war, when the communist east, led by the Soviet Union, and the Western world, led by the United States and its NATO allies, faced each across what became known as the ‘Iron Curtain’.

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The capital of Germany, Berlin, was divided into four Sectors. The consequence being, that the three Western Allied powers now controlled territory deep within the Soviet Union Zone of Germany.

Over time, the tensions between the four Allied powers increased, eventually resulting in the Berlin blockade in 1948, when the Soviets attempted to starve West Berlin into submission and force the other three Allied powers out. This failed and the Soviets eventually relented, but an ever-increasing number of East Germans fled to the West; between 150,000 and 300,000 a year during 1951-1953. As a consequence restrictions were placed on movement between the divided country. From 1961, the border was closed and Berlin completely encircled, first by barbed wire, then bricks and finally a concrete wall, along with the infamous ‘death strip’.

Access was now restricted between Berlin and the West. A wall, 124 mile miles in length, was placed around the three sectors of West Berlin, cutting off the city from the rest of the world.

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Section of the  Berlin Wall – 2011

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The Russians finally take Berlin towards the end of World War 2

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The four zones of Berlin – 1984

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I shall cover various aspects of the two opposing forces, providing the backdrop and background information in preparation for the release of my three novels. In the meantime, you could always read my WW2, Devils with Wings series. :)

“Today, West German imperialism is United States’ chief ally in Europe in aggravating world tension. West Germany is increasingly becoming the seat of the war danger, where revenge-seeking passions are running high… The policy pursued by the Federal Republic of Germany is being increasingly determined by the same monopolies that brought Hitler to power.

The Rhineland politicians fancy that once they get the atomic bomb, frontier posts will topple and they will be able to achieve their cherished desire of carving up the map of Europe again and taking revenge for defeat in the second world war.

One of the most ominous factors endangering peace is the bilateral military alliance that is taking shape between the ruling circles of the United States and the Federal Republic of Germany. This factor remains an objective of unflagging attention.”

Leonid Brezhnev

23rd Party Congress

March 1966

In 1984/85, the Warsaw Pact was already a significant force, the Soviet Union in particular. To counter this NATO, the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, assembled its own force of arms along the Iron Curtain. Not just as a show force against the communist ideals purported by the East, but because the likelihood of Warsaw Pact troops, led by the Soviet Union, crossing the Inner German Border was a real possibility.

This is just a supplementary post, building up a catalogue of equipment that would have been used in the event an invasion of the Federal Republic of Germany had gone ahead in the 1980′s

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The FV432, armoured personnel carrier, was a real battle taxi. Its main role was to move troops around the battlefield, but they would always have to dismount to fight.

The FV432 was the armoured personnel carrier variant of the British Army’s FV430 series of armoured fighting vehicles.

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Used for transporting troops on the 1980′s battlefield.

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Steel and composite armour.

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Weighed 15 tons 

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Generally, in the 80′s, it carried a British mechanised infantry section of ten men, inclusive of driver and section commander.

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Over 2,500 were in use at the time. A battlefield taxi.

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Torsion bar suspension with 5 road wheels.

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Powered by a Rolls-royce K60 multi-fuel 240 hp.

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Three smoke dischargers each side 

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Maximum of 12.7mm armour.

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Maximum speed of 32mph.

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Side hinged door at the rear for troops to exit.

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An NBC, Nuclear, Biological and Chemical filtration system gave the troops inside clean, safe air.

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Engine is at the front with the driving position on the right. Commander’s hatch is behind the drivers position and a large split-hatch opening in the passenger roof.

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FV434, recovery vehicle, operated by the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME).

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Crew of four.

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Can tow a layer for the L9 anti-tank Bar Mine, or can tow a Giant Viper mine-clearing system.

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Weighs 17,750 kg fully loaded.

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On the right hand side is an HIAB crane, a lifting capacity of 1,250 kg at 3.96m radius. Suspension can be locked when crane is being used.

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FV432 with General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG) turret.

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Only a few were upgraded to mount a 7.62mm GMPG turret.

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Powered by a diesel engine.

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FV432 with Rarden Turret.

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Urban camouflage, similar to that used for Berlin Brigade units.

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The L2A1A1 Rarden 30mm weapon and its associated turret were designed to be compatible with a range of of vehicle chassis, including Fox, CVR(T) and Warrior.

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The basic 432 chassis wasn’t really big enough to allow this weapons combination and carry all the men and equipment to carry out its Infantry Fighting Vehicle role.

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The rate of fire was limited by the use of ammunition in three round clips, rather than belts. The 30mm calibre also limited the projectile performance, particularly the High Explosive capacity.

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The present day Infantry Fighting Vehicle. FV510 Warrior. 25 tons, powered by a Perkins V-8 Condor Diesel 550 hp engine. Capable of 46mph.

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Main armament, a 30mm L21A1 Rarden cannon. Capable of destroying most modern APC’s at a maximum range of 1500 metres. Secondary armament is an L94A1 Coaxial 7.62mm chain gun.

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FV432′s on the move.

Future posts will cover the Warsaw Pact,  the Soviet likely strategy and the Airborne and Spetsnaz force.

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HarveyBlack-Red Effect150313

My intention is not to portray a particular message, but just share some of my research and experiences with you.  This is the first of my new ‘Cold War’ series, supporting the writing of my new ‘Cold War’ series of novels, covering the hypothetical invasion of West Germany by the Warsaw Pact in the 80′s. ‘The Red Effect’. so keep your eyes peeled.

The equipment Photographs and Blog are copyrighted to Harvey Black

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The Cold War Years. Part 8.

Posted: 10/10/2012 in Cold War
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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The Cold War Years – Part 8.

I am 30,000 words into the first novel of my new ‘Cold War’ series. There will be three books in total, covering the hypothetical invasion of West Germany, the Federal Republic of Germany, by the Warsaw Pact in the mid 1980′s. Book 1, ‘The Red Effect’, will encompass the intelligence build up leading to the Warsaw Pact strike against the NATO forces lined up against them. Due out in April 2013.

The Cold War era started very soon after the end of the second world war, when the communist east, led by the Soviet Union, and the Western world, led by the United States and its NATO allies, faced each across what became known as the ‘Iron Curtain’.

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The capital of Germany, Berlin, was divided into four Sectors. The consequence being, that the three Western Allied powers now controlled territory deep within the Soviet Union Zone of Germany.

Over time, the tensions between the four Allied powers increased, eventually resulting in the Berlin blockade in 1948, when the Soviets attempted to starve West Berlin into submission and force the other three Allied powers out. This failed and the Soviets eventually relented, but an ever-increasing number of East Germans fled to the West; between 150,000 and 300,000 a year during 1951-1953. As a consequence restrictions were placed on movement between the divided country. From 1961, the border was closed and Berlin completely encircled, first by barbed wire, then bricks and finally a concrete wall, along with the infamous ‘death strip’.

Access was now restricted between Berlin and the West. A wall, 124 mile miles in length, was placed around the three sectors of West Berlin, cutting off the city from the rest of the world.

Section of the Berlin Wall – October 2011.

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Section of the  Berlin Wall – 2011

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The Brandenburg Gate separated from West Berlin by the Berlin Wall – 1984

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Checkpoint Charlie,  between East and West Berlin – American Sector of West Berlin 1981

I shall cover various aspects of the two opposing forces, providing the backdrop and background information in preparation for the release of my three novels. In the meantime, you could always read my WW2, Devils with Wings series. :)

“Today, West German imperialism is United States’ chief ally in Europe in aggravating world tension. West Germany is increasingly becoming the seat of the war danger, where revenge-seeking passions are running high… The policy pursued by the Federal Republic of Germany is being increasingly determined by the same monopolies that brought Hitler to power.

The Rhineland politicians fancy that once they get the atomic bomb, frontier posts will topple and they will be able to achieve their cherished desire of carving up the map of Europe again and taking revenge for defeat in the second world war.

One of the most ominous factors endangering peace is the bilateral military alliance that is taking shape between the ruling circles of the United States and the Federal Republic of Germany. This factor remains an objective of unflagging attention.”

Leonid Brezhnev

23rd Party Congress

March 1966

In 1984/85, the Warsaw Pact was already a significant force, the Soviet Union in particular. To counter this NATO, the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, assembled its own force of arms along the Iron Curtain. Not just as a show force against the communist ideals purported by the East, but because the likelihood of Warsaw Pact troops, led by the Soviet Union, crossing the Inner German Border was a real possibility.

The Soviet, European Theatre forces during the early to mid 80′s were growing in size and power daily.

What were the likely forces that NATO would have been up against had the Warsaw Pact, led by the Soviet Union, attacked across the Inner German Border with the intention of defeating NATO and occupying western Europe?

The concentration of forces under Marshal Ogarkov’s High Command showed a huge build up during the period 1980-1984.  The High Command of the ‘Western Strategic Direction’, the ‘Western TVD’, was the most important of the Soviet Union’s four commands and contained the largest number of troops, tactical and medium-range surface to surface missiles and aircraft of any ‘Strategic Direction’.  He commanded all the Soviet military forces in Poland, East Germany, Czechoslovakia and Belorussia. The other Strategic Direction’s;  Northwestern, Southwestern and North Caucasus.

Western TVD:

Northern Group of Soviet Forces (Poland)

  • 20th Tank Division
  • 6th Guards Motor Rifle Division
  • SSM Brigade (18 x Scud B)
  • SAM Brigade (27 x SA-4)
  • Attack Helicopter Regiment (40 x Mi-24 (Hind) and 20 x Mi-8)

Central Group of Soviet Forces (Czechoslovakia)

4 Guards Army and CGSF assets

  • 1st Guards Tank Division
  • 51st Tank Division
  • 18th Guards Motor Rifle Division
  • 30th Guards Motor Rifle Division
  • 48th Motor Rifle Division
  • Attack Helicopter Regiment
  • 3 x SSM Brigade (54 x Scud B)
  • Artillery Brigade (96 x 2S5)
  • Artillery Brigade (24 x 2S7 and 24 x 2S5)
  • SAM Brigade
  • Air Assault Battalion (17 x BMD)
  • Spetsnaz Battalion (250+)
  • Tank Brigade (150+ x T-80)
  • Anti-Tank Regiment (36 x Anti-Tank Guns and 27 x BRDM-3)

Southern Group of Soviet Forces (Hungary)

9 Guards Army + SGSF assets

  • 2nd Guards Tank Division
  • 13th Guards Tank Division
  • 93rd Guards Motor Rifle Division
  • 253rd Motor Rifle Division
  • Attack Helicopter Regiment
  • Artillery Brigade (96 x 2S5)
  • 3 x SSM Brigade (18 x Scud B)
  • Rocket Regiment (54 x BM-21)
  • 2 x SAM Brigade
  • Air Assault Battalion (17 x BMD)
  • Spetsnaz Battalion
  • Anti-tank Regiment
  • Artillery Brigade (24 x 2S7 and s4 x 2S5)

Baltic Military District (HQ in Kaliningrad, Russia.)

Category B Division 30-50% readiness

Category C Division 5-10% readiness.

11th Guards Army (HQ in Kaliningrad, Russia.)

  • 15th Guards Tank Division (Cat B)
  • 40th Guards Tank Division (Cat B)
  • 1st Guards Motor Rifle Division (Cat B)
  • 3rd Guards Motor Rifle Division (Cat C)

14th Combined Arms Army (HQ in Kaunas, Lithuania)

  • 24th Guards Tank Division (Cat B)
  • 26th Guards Motor Rifle Division (Cat C)
  • 88th Motor Rifle Division (Cat C)
  • 107th Guards Motor Rifle Division

Baltic MD Assets

  • 7th Guards Airborne Division
  • 44th Guards Airborne Division (Training Unit)
  • Baltic Naval Infantry Brigade
  • 129th Artillery Division
  • 344th Artillery Division
  • Spetsnaz Naval Brigade
  • 32nd Air Assault Brigade

Belorussian Military District (HQ in Minsk, Belarus)

5th Guards Tank Army (HQ in Babrujsk, Belarus)

  • 6th Guards Tank Division (Cat B)
  • 8th Guards Tank Division
  • 22nd Tank Division (Cat B)
  • 29th Tank Division (Cat B)

7th Guards Tank Army (HQ in Barysau, belarus)

  • 3rd Guards Tank Division (Cat B)
  • 34th Guards tank Division (Cat B)
  • 37th Guards Tank Division (Cat B)
  • 47th Tank Division (Cat B)
  • 58th Guards Motor Rifle Division (Cat B)

28th Combined Arms Army HQ in Grodno, Belarus)

  • 8th Tank Division (Cat B)
  • 45th Guards Tank Division (Cat B)
  • 50th Guards Motor Rifle Division Cat B)
  • 120th Guards Motor Rifle Division

BMD Assets

  • 3 x Tank Brigades (150+ x T-64/T-80
  • Motor Rifle regiment
  • Artillery Brigade
  • Air Defence Regiment
  • Attack Helicopter Regiment
  • Reconnaissance Battalion
  • 103rd Airborne Division
  • 3rd Guards Artillery Division
  • 5th Artillery Division
  • 31st Air Assault Brigade

Carpathian Military District (HQ in L’vov, Ukraine)

2nd Guards Tank Army (HQ in Zhytomyr)

  • 23rd tank Division
  • 17th Motor Rifle Division (Cat C)
  • 66th Guards Motor Rifle Division (Cat B)
  • 117th Guards Tank Division (Cat C)

13th Combined Arms Army (HQ in Rovno, USSR)

  • 13th Tank Division (Cat B)
  • 15th Tank Division
  • 24th Motor Rifle Division (Cat B)
  • 97th Guards Motor Rifle Division (Cat C)

38th Combined Arms Army (HQ in Ivano-Frankovsk, Ukraine)

  • 30th Guards Tank Division (Cat B)
  • 61st Motor Rifle Division (Cat B)
  • 70th Guards Motor Rifle Division (Cat B)
  • 128th Guards Motor Rifle Division (Cat B)

CMD Assets

  • 3 x Tank Brigades (150+ x T-64/T-80)
  • Motor Rifle Regiment
  • Artillery Brigade
  • Air Defence Regiment
  • Attack Helicopter Regiment
  • Reconnaissance Battalion
  • 36th Artillery Division
  • 81st Artillery Division
  • 37th Air Assault Brigade

Group of Soviet Forces Germany (HQ in Magdeburg)

The main striking force was the Group of Soviet Forces Germany, GSFG, commanded by the man below, Army General Mikhail Zaitsev.

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Army General Mikhail Zaitsev – Commander of the Group of Soviet Forces Germany - at the Soviet War Memorial Tiergarten – 1982

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GSFG was a significant force consisting of:

8 Guards Army (HQ in Weimar – Nohra – German Democratic Republic, GDR.)

  • 79th Guards Tank Division
  • 27th Guards Motor Rifle Division
  • 39th Guards Motor Rifle Division
  • 57th Guards Motor Rifle Division

1 Guards Tank Army (HQ in Dresden, GDR)

  • 9th Tank Division
  • 11th Guards Tank Division
  • 20th Guards Motor Rifle Division

2 Guards Tank Army (HQ in Neubrandenburg, GDR)

  • 16th Guards Tank Division
  • 94th Guards Motor Rifle Division
  • 21st Motor Rifle Division
  • 207th Motor Rifle Division

20 Guards Tank Army (HQ in Eberswalde, GDR)

  • 32nd Tank Division
  • 25th Tank Division
  • 35th Motor Rifle Division
  • 6th Guards Motor Rifle Division

3 Shock Army (HQ in Magdeburg, GDR)

3rd Shock Army was the force that was most likely to have gone up against the Northern Army Group, in particular BAOR/I British Corps.

I shall show a more detailed breakdown of this particular Army.

  • 7th Guards Tank Division
  • 10th Guards Tank Division
  • A typical Tank Division would consist of: 10GTD

61 Guards Tank Regiment  (90+  x T-80, 40+ x BMP-2, 2S6, SA-13 and 18 x 2S1)

62 Guards Tank Regiment  (90+  x T-80, 40+ x BMP-2, 2S6, SA-13 and 18 x 2S1)

63 Guards Tank Regiment  (90+  x T-80, 40+ x BMP-2, 2S6, SA-13 and 18 x 2S1)

248 Guards Motor Rifle Regiment (40 x T-80, 142 x BMP-2, 2S6, SA-13, BRDM -3 and 18 x 2S1

744 Guards Artillery Regiment (48 x 2S3 and 18 x BM-21

SS-21 battalion (4 x SS-21)

359 Guards Air Defence Regiment (20 x SA-15 and 21 SA-7/14/16

112 Independent Reconnaissance Battalion (6 x T-80, 13 x BRDM 2, 13 x BMP-2 and BRM)

Helicopter Squadron (6 x Mi-24 (Hind), 6 x Mi-8 (Hip) and 6 x Mi-2 (Hoplite))

131 Independent Engineer Battalion (TMM, GSP, PMP, K-61, BTM, MTK and GMZ)

152 Independent Signals Battalion

127 Independent Chemical Protection Battalion

1072 Independent Supply Battalion

60 Independent Repair Battalion

188 Independent Medical and Sanitary Battalion.

  • 12th Guards Tank Division
  • 47th Guards Tank Division
  • 3rd Shock Attack Helicopter Regiment (40 x MI-24 Hind, 20 x MI-8 Hip)
  • 3rd Shock Air Assault Battalion (17 x BMD)
  • 3rd Shock Spetsnaz Battalion (25+ teams of approximately 10 men.)
  • 3o4th Artillery Brigade (3 x Battalions (24 x 2S5 each battalion)
  • 3rd Shock SSM Brigade (18 x ScudB surface to surface missiles.)
  • 3rd Shock Rocket Regiment (54 x BM-21. each capable of launching 40 x 122mm rockets)
  • 3rd Shock Engineer Brigade (TMM, MTU, PMP, GSP, K-61, BTM, GMZ and MTK)
  • 36th Pontoon Bridging Regiment (TMM, PMP, K-61 and BTM)
  • 3rd Shock Reconnaissance Battalion
  • 3rd Shock SAM Brigade (27 x SA-4 Ghecko)

Notes:

  1. All 10 of the Tank Divisions in East Germany were beefed up with an additional Tank Regiment – an addition of over 100 tanks each
  2. All 9 of the Motor Rifle Divisions had been given an additional tank battalion of over 40 tanks each.
  3.  2 Guards Tank Army, facing northern Germany and Schleswig-Holstein was given an additional 3 Independent Tank Regiments giving them a further 450 main battle tanks to wield at NATO.
  4. Each Division has 4 x Artillery Battalions (50% 152mm and 50% 122mm)

GSFG Assets

  • 34th Artillery Division (3 x Howitzer Brigades (72 x 2S3 each Brigade), 1 x Heavy Brigade (72 x 2S7 each), 1 x Heavy Brigade (24 x 2S7 + 24 x 2S5) and 1 x Missile Brigade (72 x BM-27).
  • 4 x Motor Rifle Battalions
  • 1 x Tank Battalion (40 x T-80′s)
  • 2 x SSM Brigade (18 x SS-23 each)
  • 35th Air Assault Brigade
  • Engineer Brigade
  • 2 x SAM (Surface to Air Missiles) Brigades (one with 27 x SA-4 and one with 27 x SA-5)
  • 1 x SAM Regiment (20 x SA-15)
  • 1 x Spetsnaz Brigade (Between 1500 and 2000 men. Split into teams of 50-150 special forces.)

Western TVD Assets:

  • 72 x SS-22 Surface to Surface missiles, range of 600+ miles, capable of carrying a tactical nuclear warhead. (Stationed in the GDR)
  • 36 x SS-22 Surface to Surface missiles, range of 600+ miles, capable of carrying a tactical nuclear warhead. (Stationed in the Czechoslovakia)
  • 90 x SS-23 Surface to Surface missiles, range of 300+ miles, capable of carrying a tactical nuclear warhead. (Stationed in the GDR)

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Below, some of the Warsaw Pact Equipment NATO would be up against.

Soviet T-72 Main Battle Tank. 125mm 2A46M smoothbore gun. Snorkel can be seen attached, allowing the tank to ford rivers.

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Weighs 41.5 tons.

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Steel and composite armour.

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It was far too expensive to equip the Soviet Divisions with the T-64, so a cheaper alternative was introduced. 

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Crew of 3. 25,000 were built.

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37mph with a range of 430 miles with fuel drums fitted on the back.

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Autoloader replaced one of the crew. Expected to load 8 rounds per minute.

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It had a comprehensive nuclear, biological and chemical (NBC) protection ystem.

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T-72

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T-72.

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The T-72 was short on room inside as a consequence of its very low profile.

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Torsion bar suspension.

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V-12 diesel 780 hp engine.

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On parade in East berlin in 1984.

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This is the East German, export version, T-72M.

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It was called the ‘monkey model’ and had thinner armour and downgraded weapons systems.

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T-72M, East Berlin 1984.

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Soviet ACRV M 1974(2).

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Artillery Command & Reconnaissance Vehicle.

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Designed and built to operate with the 2S3 and 2S5 122mm and 152mm self-propelled artillery systems.

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The hull is of all-welded steel armour construction, protecting the crew for small arms fire and shell splinters. It has three roof-mounted day periscopes and a roof mounted swivelling periscope.

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The commander and driver are seated at the front of the vehicle with to large windows which can be covered by armoured shutters.

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Single door in the rear of the hull.

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Powered by a diesel engine.

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ACRV’s on route to East Berlin – 1984.

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ACRV’s on parade in East Berlin – 1984

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ACRV on the move

Future posts will cover the Warsaw Pact,  the Soviet likely strategy and the Airborne and Spetsnaz force.

My intention is not to portray a particular message, but just share some of my research and experiences with you.  This is the first of my new ‘Cold War’ series, supporting the writing of my new ‘Cold War’ series of novels, covering the hypothetical invasion of West Germany by the Warsaw Pact in the 80′s. ‘The Red Effect’. so keep your eyes peeled.

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HarveyBlack-Red Effect150313

The equipment Photographs and Blog are copyrighted to Harvey Black

Fallschirmjager, Grüne Teufel, Green Devils. Part 4.

Posted: 03/10/2012 in WW2
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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Fallschirmjager, Grüne Teufel, Green Devils. Part 4.

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The Fallschirmjager qualification badge.

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I have just finished writing my third novel in the Devils with Wings series, Devils with Wings: Frozen Sun. The Fallschirmjager, after their successful battle taking Crete in only 10 days, are shipped to Poland to partake in Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of the Soviet Union.

Leaving temperatures in excess of forty degrees to be used, not in an airborne operation, but as a fire brigade, plugging gaps in the line around Leningrad, particularly along the banks of the River Neva. They were Army Group North’s strategic reserve.  They were quickly placed into the fray, fighting along the River Neva, where temperatures dropped to below -30 degrees, sometimes as low as -40. They were successful at plugging the gaps and preventing the Soviet Union from exploiting their bridgeheads over the River Neva, but at a price. Some units suffered up to 75% casualties. Many who had survived the assault on the Fortress Eben Emael, (Devils with Wings) and the fierce fighting on the Island of Crete (Devils with Wings: Silk Drop) met their fate in this bitter struggle with the atrocious weather and the never ending Soviet hordes.

The German Army, and the Fallschirmjager, were soon to experience the hostile Russian winters.

The airborne operation against Crete inflicted severe losses on the Fallschirmjager Division. At only a third of its original strength, there were far too few qualified troops available to conduct any large scale airborne operations at the outset of Operation Barbarossa. The Luftwaffe had also suffered considerable losses in transport aircraft and gliders. So, rather than initially being involved in Operation Barbarossa, 7th Flieger Division remained in Germany to rest and refit. But, they weren’t left out of it for long.

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Fallschirmjager helmet, M38 Model Fallschirmjagerhelm.

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The front cover of Hauptmann Piehl’s Ganze Manner, the 1943 first edition, with a foreword by General Kurt Student.

The German Fallschirmjager in WW2.

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On the 22nd June, 1941, Operation Barbarossa was launched, the German invasion of the Soviet Union. Nearly 4 million Axis troops invaded the USSR along a front that extended nearly 4,000 kilometres.

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Destroyed Russian ranks.

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The German Army deployed three Army Groups, North, Centre and South. Army Group North’s ultimate goal was Leningrad. The commander of Army Group North, Ritter von Leeb, had three armies at his disposal. 16th Army, 18th Army and the powerful 4th Panzer Army, fielding 29 Divisions between them.

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Initially progress was good.

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German troops advance quickly and deep into the Soviet Union.

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Although the Russians fielded the infamous T-34′s, they were unable to stop the German onslaught.

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The T-34′s came as a shock to the German Army, unaware of their existence until they met them in battle.

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The Russian airforce was no match for Army Group North’s Luftwaffe support provided by Luftlotte 1.

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On the first day, Panzer Group 4′s 600 tanks crossed the River Neman and penetrated up to 80 kilometres.

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Horse drawn supply wagons.

Although supposedly a mechanised army, the German forces were heavily dependant on horse drawn wagons for their supplies and very quickly ran out of fuel and ammunition. By the end of the 22nd June, the German armour had penetrated 80 kilometres in their drive towards Leningrad. On the 23rd June, near a town called Raseiniai, the Soviets counter attacked. It was here that the German panzers came across the KV heavy tanks for the first time. The Panzer 35(t)’s and anti-tank weapons were practically ineffective against them. The Pak 37, 37mm anti-tank gun earned the nickname of ‘door knocker’ because it couldn’t penetrate the thick armour.

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KV heavy tanks. The later Pak 40, 75mm anti-tank gun was given a priority as they were badly needed to stop these new tanks. One tank in Raseiniai held the advance up for 24 hours.

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The advance continued with thousands of Russian prisoners being taken.

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Long columns of Russian prisoners were marched to the rear, guarded by only a few german guards.

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The Russian troops were demoralised, badly led and beaten.

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But it didn’t all go the German Army’s way. By the end of September 1941, Army Group’s North, Centre and South, ground to a halt. The worsening mud of the Russian Rasputitsa and stiffening Russian resistance ground the German forces down. Although Army Group North had surrounded Leningrad to the south, east and west and the Finnish closed the ring to  north, they made little headway.

The Russian Army was desperate to penetrate the ring of steel that isolated them from the rest of the soviet Union and fought hard to break out. They managed to get two bridgeheads across the River Neva, the German army struggling to restrain them.

The only German Strategic reserve that could be thrown into battle to stem the flow, was the 7th Flieger Division.

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The 1st and 3rd battalions of the 1st Parachute, Fallschirmjager, Regiment and the 2nd battalion of the Luftlande-Sturmregiment were dispatched to the Leningrad to fight alongside 18th Army. They were to be the Army’s fire brigade.

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Deployed east of the city, along the River Neva.

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Fallschirmjager Granatwerfer, mortar team in action.

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In mid-October, just as the Russian winter was setting in, the 7th Flieger’s Divisional Headquarters arrived at the front.

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The Fallschirmjager now had much better support under the command of their own division rather than the Wehrmacht.

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The soviets battered the Fallschirmjager troops relentlessly, desperate to escape the trap, but to no avail. The Fallschirmjager, reinforced by the Parachute Engineer Battalion, held their ground. The troops held the Red Army soldiers from the Volkhov front back, some units suffering up to 75% casualties. The weather, dropping to lows of nearly -40 degrees, also took its toll on the paratroopers.

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Although the Fallschirmjager were heavily involved in the defence of the River Neva, they weren’t involved in any attacks on Russian military armoured trains. Bearing in mind my books are novels, i have included a section where my characters do just that. Some of the armoured trains they were involved in are shown below.

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MBV2 – Russian Armoured Cruiser. Details given in Devils with Wings: Frozen Sun

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MBV-2 Armoured Cruiser

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MBV-2 Armoured Cruiser. Some were built in Leningrad and were given names.

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Anti-Aircraft guns – 4 x interlinked, Vickers water cooled machine guns

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PL-37 artillery wagons. Information can be found in Devils with Wings: Frozen Sun.

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High explosive torpedo on a battery powered rail trolley.

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T-34.

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T-34.

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T-34.

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Fallschirmjager.

The qualification phase to become a paratrooper consisted of 6 jumps. The first would be a t height of around 200 metres, the next two at 150 metres, but in a stick of six trainees. Their fourth jump would be from the same height, but at dusk or dawn and as part of a much larger stick, of perhaps 10 men. For the fifth jump they would be part of a Kette formation, a V-formation, a Chain of three Junkers JU-52. The final jump would be made under simulated combat conditions, up to nine aircraft flying at little over 125 metres in height.

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Fallschirmschutzenabzeichen, parachutist badge.

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http://www.amazon.co.uk/Frozen-Sun-Devils-Wings-ebook/dp/B0099495E0/ref=pd_sim_kinc_1.

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http://www.amazon.co.uk/Frozen-Sun-Devils-Wings-ebook/dp/B0099495E0/ref=pd_sim_kinc_1

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Rein-actors at the Bovington Tank Museum Tankfest.

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Rein-actors at the Bovington Tank Museum Tankfest.

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Devils with Wings: Frozen Sun by Nick Britten

Devils with Wings: Silk Drop

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The Parachutist’s “Ten Commandments”

The Fallschirmjager had ten commandments that they lived by as elite soldiers.

Number 4.  Be calm and prudent, strong and resolute. Valour and enthusiasm of an offensive spirit will cause you to prevail in the attack.

My intention is not to portray a particular message, but just share some of my photographs and information with you and help set the scene for my forthcoming novel. The next post will cover the Fallschirmjager in Russia.

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http://www.amazon.co.uk/Frozen-Sun-Devils-Wings-ebook/dp/B0099495E0/ref=pd_sim_kinc_1

 

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 Blog is copyrighted to Harvey Black

 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Frozen-Sun-Devils-Wings-ebook/dp/B0099495E0/ref=pd_sim_kinc_1

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Third novel in the Devils with Wings series

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