687
Bericht Major Siegel, BA-MA RH 37/6609, Bl. 30-36; Anlage 3 zum Gen.Kdo. XI. A.K. Ia Nr. 19/44 g.Kdos, “72. Inf.-Div. Gefechtsbericht,” 23. 2.44, in Anlagen zum KTB PzAOK 1, T313, R72, F7310527-30.
688
Bericht Major Siegel, BA-MA RH 37/6609, Bl. 30-36.
689
Anlage 3 zum Gen.Kdo. XI. A.K. Ia Nr. 19/44 g.Kdos, “72. Inf.-Div. Gefechtsbericht,” 23.2.44, in Anlagen zum KTB PzAOK 1, T313, R72, F7310527-30; for more on the strength of the 72nd Division before and after the breakout, see Abschlußmeldung Gruppe Mattenklott, 2.3.44, in PzAOK 1 Ia Anlagen, T313, R72, F7310414 and Gen.Kdo XXXXII. A.K., 24.2.44, in Anlagen zum KTB PzAOK 1 Ia, T313, R72, F7310513. Note that given the number of soldiers who succeeded in breaking out, it seems that the reported strength of 72nd Division before the breakout, 4,000 men, is too low, or else it only refers to those who assembled among the combat units.
690
Bericht Feldwebel Peter Reisch, BA-MA RH 37/6609.
691
Bericht Feldwebel Peter Reisch, BA-MA RH 37/6609.
692
Bericht Feldwebel Peter Reisch, BA-MA RH 37/6609.
693
Bericht Feldwebel Peter Reisch, BA-MA RH 37/6609.
694
Bericht Feldwebel Peter Reisch, BA-MA RH 37/6609.
695
Bericht Feldwebel Peter Reisch, BA-MA RH 37/6609.
696
Bericht Feldwebel Peter Reisch, BA-MA RH 37/6609.
697
Bericht Feldwebel Peter Reisch, BA-MA RH 37/6609; 389. Inf.Div. Kommandeur, Ia Nr. 200/44 geh, 22.2.44, in Anlagen zu, KTB PzAOK 1 Ia, T313, R72, F7310553-6.
698
Korps-Abteilung B Ia Nr. 200/44 geh., 24.2.44, in Anlagen zum KTB PzAOK 1 Ia, T313, R72, F7310523-4.
699
Korps-Abteilung B Ia Nr. 200/44 geh., 24.2.44, in Anlagen zum KTB PzAOK 1 Ia, T313, R72, F7310524-5.
700
Korps-Abteilung B Ia Nr. 200/44 geh., 24.2.44, in Anlagen zum KTB PzAOK 1 Ia, T313, R72, F7310524-5.
701
Proschek papers, BA-MA MSg 2/5650.
702
Proschek papers, BA-MA MSg 2/5650.
703
Proschek papers, BA-MA MSg 2/5650.
704
Proschek papers, BA-MA MSg 2/5650; G. Tessin, Verbände und Truppen der deutschen Wehrmacht und Waffen-SS (Mittler & Sohn, Frankfurt am Main and Biblio Verlag, Osnabrück 1966–1975) Namensverbände, entry ”B.”
705
Gen.Kdo XXXXII. A.K., 24.2.44, in Anlagen zum KTB PzAOK 1 Ia, T313, R72, F7310513.
706
5. SS-Pz.Div. Wiking Ia, Anlage 10 zu PzAOK 1 Ia Nr. 158/44, 28.2.44, in Anlagen zum KTB PzAOK 1 Ia, T313, R72, F7310541-2.
707
Fritz Hahl, Mit “Westland” im Osten (Woltersdorf, Munin 2001), pp. 132–3.
708
5. SS-Pz.Div. Wiking Ia, Anlage 10 zu PzAOK 1 Ia Nr. 158/44, 28.2.44, in Anlagen zum KTB PzAOK 1 Ia, T313, R72, F7310541-2.
709
5. SS-Pz.Div. Wiking Ia, Anlage 10 zu PzAOK 1 Ia Nr. 158/44, 28.2.44, in Anlagen zum KTB PzAOK 1 Ia, T313, R72, F7310541-2; Hahl p. 133–4.
710
5. SS-Pz.Div. Wiking Ia, Anlage 10 zu PzAOK 1 Ia Nr. 158/44, 28.2.44, in Anlagen zum KTB PzAOK 1 Ia, T313, R72, F7310542-3; Hahl p. 133–4.
711
5. SS-Pz.Div. Wiking Ia, Anlage 10 zu PzAOK 1 Ia Nr. 158/44, 28.2.44, in Anlagen zum KTB PzAOK 1 Ia, T313, R72, F7310542-3; Hahl, Mit “Westland” im Osten, p. 133-4.
712
Hahl, Mit “Westland” im Osten, p. 134.
713
Hahl, Mit “Westland” im Osten, p. 134.
714
Günter Bernau, SS-Panzer-Artillerie–Regiment 5 in der Panzer–Division Wiking (Eigenverlag Kameradschaft ehem.Pz.Art Rgt. 5, Wuppertal 1990), s. 112.
715
88. Inf. Div. Ia, Nr. 1/44 geh., 23.2.44, in Anlagen zum KTB PzAOK 1 Ia, T313, R72, F7310545-7.
716
88. Inf.Div. Ia, Nr. 1/44 geh., 23.2.44, in Anlagen zum KTB PzAOK 1 Ia, T313, R72, F7310546-7.
717
88. Inf.Div. Ia, Nr. 1/44 geh., 23.2.44, in Anlagen zum KTB PzAOK 1 Ia, T313, R72, F7310546-7.
718
88. Inf.Div. Ia, Nr. 1/44 geh., 23.2.44, in Anlagen zum KTB PzAOK 1 Ia, T313, R72, F7310547-8.
719
Abschlußmeldung Gruppe Mattenklott, 2.3.44, in PzAOK 1 Ia Anlagen, T313, R72, F7310414-23.
720
57. Inf.Div. Ia, Nr. 1/44 geh. 22.2.44, in Anlagen zum KTB PzAOK 1 Ia, T313, R72, F7310549-51.
721
57. Inf.Div. Ia, Nr. 1/44 geh. 22.2.44, in Anlagen zum KTB PzAOK 1 Ia, T313, R72, F7310549-51.
722
57. Inf.Div. Ia, Nr. 1/44 geh. 22.2.44, in Anlagen zum KTB PzAOK 1 Ia, T313, R72, F7310549-51.
723
57. Inf.Div. Ia, Nr. 1/44 geh. 22.2.44, in Anlagen zum KTB PzAOK 1 Ia, T313, R72, F7310549-51.
724
57. Inf.Div. Ia, Nr. 1/44 geh. 22.2.44, in Anlagen zum KTB PzAOK 1 Ia, T313, R72, F7310549-51.
725
389. Inf.Div. Kommandeur, Ia Nr. 200/44 geh, 22.2.44, in Anlagen zu, KTB PzAOK 1 Ia, T313, R72, F7310553-6.
726
Meiser, Die Hölle von Tscherkassy, pp. 267–8.
727
Meiser, Die Hölle von Tscherkassy, pp. 268–9.
728
Meiser, Die Hölle von Tscherkassy, pp. 269–70.
729
Meiser, Die Hölle von Tscherkassy, pp. 270–1.
730
Ibid.
731
Meiser, Die Hölle von Tscherkassy, pp. 271–2.
732
Meiser, Die Hölle von Tscherkassy, pp. 272–3.
733
Meiser, Die Hölle von Tscherkassy, pp. 273–4.
734
Meiser, Die Hölle von Tscherkassy, pp. 274–5.
735
Proschek papers, BA-MA MSg 2/5650.
736
Proschek papers, BA-MA MSg 2/5650.
737
Proschek papers, BA-MA MSg 2/5650.
738
Proschek papers, BA-MA MSg 2/5650.
739
Proschek papers, BA-MA MSg 2/5650.
740
Abschlußmeldung Gruppe Mattenklott, 2.3.44, in Anlagen zum KTB PzAOK 1 Ia, T313, R72, F7310414.
741
The Documents are not entirely in agreement. An entry in the 8th Army war diary on 11 February states that Gruppe Stemmermann consisted of 56,000 men of all ranks. However, another entry, on 14 February, gives the figure 54,000 men. At first glance it could be assumed that the difference is caused by wounded soldiers flown out of the pocket. This is however unlikely, as the air evacuation had ceased during the period 11–14 February. It seems also quite unlikely that losses in killed and missing would be more than a few hundred men. Either the figure 56,000 refer to a date much earlier than 11 February, or else the figure 54,000 is the result of a more careful investigation. Another report (AOK 8/O.Qu Nr. 277/44 geh. 11.2.44, T312, R63, F7581371) confirms the latter figure and also show that 3,904 wounded and sick had been evacuated by air since 29 January. Thus the total would have been 58,000 when the pincers closed. However to this must be added soldiers killed or taken prisoner since the pocket was formed. We estimate that number to approximately 1,000. Hence we arrive at the figure 59,000.