German Schedule

German Schedule of all events during the Hammelburg Raid. The time data are based on actual details or on location-time estimation.
Date:	Day:	Time:	Unit/Outfit:	Location:

26 Mar 45	Monday	14:30 Hrs	PiBtl 46	Gemünden
The 1. Kompanie Pionierausbildungs- und Ersatzbataillon 46 arrives from Regensburg at Gemünden. Both platoons of the company prepare the road- and railroad bridge for demolition. Company headquarters is set up in the Huttenschloß.

26 Mar 45	Monday	16:00 Hrs	PzJgKp "Donau I"	Gemünden
The railroad transport of Panzerjägerkompanie "Donau I" from Linz/Austria, which is planned to reinforce Aschaffenurg, is stopped at Gemünden Railroad Station. When air raid alert is given, the soldiers seeking cover in the nearby town.

26 Mar 45	Monday	17:30 Hrs	PzJgKp "Donau I"	Gemünden
After the railroad transport of Panzerjägerkompanie "Donau I" was hit by bombs, the company was unloaded and moved to the Zollberg to spend the night there.

27 Mar 45	Tuesday	04:00 Hrs	CP 7. Armee	Heigenbrücken
After the hasty retreat from the river Rhine, the Command Post of the 7. Armee was set up at Heigenbrücken. The Commander in Chief General Felber was substituted by General von Obstfelder. The engine noise of the American columns can be heard down to Heigenbrücken. General von Obstfelder alerts Wehrkreis XIII at Nürnberg.

27 Mar 45	Tuesday	04:00 Hrs	Party Sub-District Command	Town Palace Lohr
In the town palace of Lohr, the NAZI Party Sub-District Leader Eduard Röß and the Combat Commander Oberstleutnant Trenk received a phone call, which informed them about the advancing US-Combat Force.

27 Mar 45	Tuesday	04:15 Hrs	HQ	Camp Hammelburg
Oberst Richard Hoppe, the Commander of Hammelburg Training Area receives a message about the American column heading to the East. He initiate tank alert.

27 Mar 45	Tuesday	05:30 Hrs	Party Sub-District Command	Town Palace Lohr
The NSDAP Party Sub-District Command receives incessantly telephone messages, warning for a US armored column heading for Lohr.

27 Mar 45	Tuesday	07:15 hrs	PzJgKp "Donau I"	Gemünden
The soldiers of Panzerjägerkompanie "Donau I" didn´t hear the approaching Americans, they are awaked by an explosion. The company commander orders to pull back over the Zollberg. 16 soldiers decide to remain there for fighting.

27 Mar 45	Tuesday	08:00 Hrs	Inf School Döberitz	Camp Grafenwöhr
Due to the military situation, the Infantry School at Döberitz was moved to Grafenwöhr Military Training Area. Hauptmann Franz Gehrig receives orders from Wehrkreiskommando XIII in Nürnberg to encounter the US-column. His force consist of about 100 officer cadets, Most of them were experienced NCOs of medium age, which changed into an officer career. They left Grafenwöhr with 4 buses.

27 Mar 45	Tuesday	09:00 Hrs	Mayor Clement	Town Hall Hammelburg
Mayor Clement orders the civilians with a loudspeaker system to abandon the town.

27 Mar 45	Tuesday	09:00 Hrs	PiBtl 46	Gemünden
Oberfeldwebel Eugen Zöller finds a map in a knocked out tank, which has marked the route to Hammelburg. He reports this to his company commander.

27 Mar 45	Tuesday	10:00 Hrs	KG Demmel	Railroad Station Waigolshausen
The railroad transport of Oberleutnant Demmel stopped at Railroad Station Waigolshausen, due to the lack of a locomotive. The unit consists of 3 companies (about 1,300 soldiers) and was assigned to Grenadier-Regiment 113. Major Eggemann orders the unload and transport to Hammelburg by truck, to give infantry cover to Panzerjägerabteilung 251.

27 Mar 45	Tuesday	10:30 Hrs	PzJgAbt 251	Railroad Station Hammelburg
The Railroad transport of Panzerjägerabteilung 251 arrives at Railroad Station Hammelburg. Hauptmann Heinrich Köhl gets his HETZER unload immediately and moves into an assembly area near the clay pit, north of Hammelburg.

27 Mar 45	Tuesday	11:00 Hrs	PiBtl 46	Gemünden
The Engineers repair the span of the Sinn-Saale-Bridge with wooden planks, the traffic can carry on.

27 Mar 45	Tuesday	11:00 Hrs	Nachr E u. A Abt 10	Railroad Station Hammelburg
Nachrichten Ersatz- und Ausbildungsabteilung 10 arrives at Railroad Station Hammelburg in a second railroad transport. They receive orders to defend the town together with the local Volkssturm.

27 Mar 45	Tuesday	13:00 Hrs	Party District Command	Würzburg
Major Eggemann has a phone call with Hauptmann Köhl at Hammelburg and request the immediate deployment of his tank destroyers. Hauptmann Köhl refuse to obey the orders, because he is directly assigned to the 7. Armee at Heigenbrücken. Major Eggemann calls Generalmajor von Gersdorff, Chief of Staff 7. Armee at Heigenbrücken. He explains the situation and requests assignment of Kampfgruppe Demmel and Panzerjägerabteilung 251.

27 Mar 45	Tuesday	14:00 Hrs	KG Gehrig	Galgenberg Barracks Würzburg
At the Post Headquarters, Hauptmann Gehrig is briefed about the situation. The enemy column is regarded to be somewhere near Burgsinn. Hauptmann Gehrig is ordered to march to Burgsinn, via Gemünden and destroy the enemy column.

27 Mar 45	Tuesday	14:20 Hrs	Observer Post Reussenburg	Ruin Reussenburg
Hauptmann Rose and a squad of soldiers from Eisenbahnpionierschule is employed as Forward Observer on the Ruin Reussenburg. He discovers the column and reports to Oberst Hoppe: "12 enemy tanks at the road from Aschenroth towards Obereschenbach."

27 Mar 45	Tuesday	16:00 Hrs	KG Gehrig	Burgsinn
Hauptmann Gehrig arrives at Burgsinn, the civilians tell him, that the Americans went through the town hours ago. He deploys recon to the West, because he believes the column to be the advance party of the main force. He also convinces a German Engineer Officer no to blow the bridge. A dispatch rider arrives with orders to follow the column towards Hammelburg. The recon is canceled, Kampfgruppe Gehrig continues towards Hammelburg.

27 Mar 45	Tuesday	16:30 Hrs	PzJgAbt 251	Hammelburg
The Americans do not cross the Saale River. They detail two tanks as guard. After the battle, the Panzerjägerabteilung moves to Euerdorf for resupply.

27 Mar 45	Tuesday	17:30 Hrs	General v. Goeckels Office	Camp Hammelburg
The Commander of the POW camps, Generalmajor Günther von Goeckel, request the Senior Serbian and American Officers for a conference. He explains the situation and wants Colonel Goode to get in contact with the Americans, to surrender the camp.

27 Mar 45	Tuesday	17:45 Hrs	KG Gehrig	Hainbuche / Reichsstraße 27
Hauptmann Gehrig reach the Hainbuche. When he hears the combat noise, he decides to turn to Höllrich and stay there. From Höllrich he want to get in contact with the Military Training Area to get a picture of the situation.

27 Mar 45	Tuesday	18:00 Hrs	FLAK Abteilung 482	FLAK Emplacement Ettleben
Leutnant Hans Bartmeier receives order by his Regiment Commander to move his Panzerjagdkommando (about 30 soldiers) by truck to Hammelburg.

27 Mar 45	Tuesday	18:00 Hrs	CP 7. Armee	Heigenbrücken
General von Obstfelder, wants General Weisenberger, Commander in Chief of Wehrkreis XIII in Nürnberg, to detail a General form his personnel reserve. Generalmajor Helmut Hipp receives orders to drive to Hammelburg and assume command of all German forces there.

27 Mar 45	Tuesday	18:00 Hrs	KG Gehrig	Höllrich
Kampfgruppe Gehrig reach Höllrich. Guards a deployed, a roadblock at the south end of the village is overtaken. The Command Post is set up in a barn. A dispatcher from Camp Hammelburg bring orders to intercept all way out from the Military Training Area.

27 Mar 45	Tuesday	21:00 Hrs	PzJgdKdo Bartmeier	Fuchsstadt
Leutnant Bartmeier arrives Fuchsstadt and reports to Panzerjägerabteilung 251.

27 Mar 45	Tuesday	22:00 Hrs	PzJgdKdo Bartmeier	Fuchsstadt
Leutnant Bartmeier divides his Panzerjagdkommando into 3 squads, for wide recon mission towards the camp.

27 Mar 45	Tuesday	24:00 Hrs	PzJgdKdo Bartmeier	Camp Hammelburg
Leutnant Bartmeier arrives at Camp Hammelburg with his 3 Squads without any incident.

28 Mar 45	Wednesday	00:10 Hrs	HQ	Camp Hammelburg
Leutnant Daudelt with the 1. Batterie Offiziernachwuchschule 17 arrives as reinforcement and reoccupy the camp.

28 Mar 45	Wednesday	00:45 Hrs	HQ	Camp Hammelburg
2. Batterie und Grantwerferkompanie Offiziernachwuchschule 17 arrive as reinforcements.

28 Mar 45	Wednesday	01:00 Hrs	PzJgdKdo Bartmeier	Military Training Area Hammelburg
Unteroffizier Große-Berkenbusch and his squad, follow 2 Sherman tanks in the Military Training Area. The squad is not able to fire a Panzerfaust upon them.

28 Mar 45	Wednesday	02:00 Hrs	HQ	Camp Hammelburg
Kampfgruppe Demmel arrives as reinforcement.

28 Mar 45	Wednesday	02:00 Hrs	KG Gehrig	Höllrich
The guards at the southern edge of the village hear engine noise near Hessdorf and alert the Command Post.

28 Mar 45	Wednesday	02:30 Hrs	KG Gehrig	Höllrich
Lieutenant Nutto's probe approaches from Hessdorf on the Reichsstraße 27. The first tank is hit and Gering's soldiers drive it in a garden. The second tank is destroyed by a Panzerfaust. The rest of the vehicles attempt to turn around and escape to the South. Two German Officer cadets follow the vehicles with a bicycle and knock out another tank between Höllrich and Hessdorf.

28 Mar 45	Wednesday	02:30 Hrs	PzJgdKdo Bartmeier	Fuchsstadt
The recon Squads of Leutnant Bartmeier assemble at Fuchsstadt.

28 Mar 45	Wednesday	03:00 Hrs	Party District Command	Würzburg
The Police station in Hessdorf calls and reports 3 tanks and 20 armored vehicles heading to the North.

28 Mar 45	Wednesday	03:30 Hrs	HQ	Camp Hammelburg
Oberst Hoppe moves his Headquarters to the South Camp.

28 Mar 45	Tuesday	04:00 Hrs	Observer Post Reussenburg	Ruin Reussenburg
Observer Post Reussenburg reports: "Noise of tanks from the south pass the Reussenberg."

28 Mar 45	Wednesday	05:00 Hrs	Party District Command	Würzburg
Major Eggemann, Stabsarzt Dr. Döller and Leutnant Gruber drive towards Hammelburg for a recon.

28 Mar 45	Wednesday	05:30 Hrs	Observer Post Reussenburg	Ruin Reussenburg
Observer Post Reussenburg reports: "10 tanks and 20 armored vehicles. Infantry guards the Reussenberg farm. Estimated strength about 120 men."

28 Mar 45	Wednesday	06:30 Hrs	PzJgdKdo Bartmeier	Lager Hammelburg
Leutnant Bartmeier reaches the camp by truck and is detailed for guarding.

28 Mar 45	Wednesday	07:00 Hrs	HQ	Camp Hammelburg
Major Eggemann, Stabsarzt Dr. Döller and Leutnant Gruber arrive, all quiet at the camp.

28 Mar 45	Wednesday	07:00 Hrs	CP Oberst Hoppe	South Camp Hammelburg
Company Commander of the Tank destroyer Company of Panzerjägerabteilung 251 reports for receiving orders.

28 Mar 45	Wednesday	07:00 Hrs	CP Oberst Hoppe	South Camp Hammelburg
Generalmajor Helmut Hipp from Wehrkreis XIII arrives.

28 Mar 45	Wednesday	07:00 Hrs	CP Oberst Hoppe	South Camp Hammelburg
Major Eggemann, Stabsarzt Dr. Döller and Leutnant Gruber arrive. Major Eggemann offers his leadership and assigns the Tank destroyer Company and Kampfgruppe Demmel under his command.

28 Mar 45	Wednesday	08:00 Hrs	CP Oberst Hoppe	South Camp Hammelburg
Hauptmann Köhl, Commander of Panzerjägerabteilung 251 reports for receiving orders.

28 Mar 45	Wednesday	08:00 Hrs	CP Maj Eggemann	Bonnland
Major Eggemann calls Hauptmann Rose at the Observer Post Reussenburg. He reports 6 tanks and 25 armored vehicles at the Reussenberg farm.

28 Mar 45	Wednesday	09:15 Hrs	Assembly Area	Michelsberg
The German troops finished their attack preparations behind the Michelsberg. The Tank destroyers could move in attack positions without any notice of the enemy. The Reussenberg farm is in a 1,500 meters distance. On a signal the Tank destroyers open up. The American are surprised, there is almost no resistance. Tank destroyers and infantry advance in a combined formation.

28 Mar 45	Wednesday	12:00 Hrs	CP Oberst Hoppe	South Camp Hammelburg
Major Eggemann returns from the mission and meets Generalmajor Helmut Hipp of Wehrkreis XIII. He reports the situation.

28 Mar 45	Wednesday	16:00 Hrs	CP 7. Armee	Heigenbrücken
Major Eggemann meets to Generalmajor von Gersdorff and reports about the divestiture of the enemy column. He also accuses Generalmajor Hipp, Oberst Hoppe and Hauptmann Köhl of being undetermined.

05 Apr 45	Thursday	02:00 Hrs	HQ	Camp Hammelburg
Oberst Hoppe moves his Headquarters to Grafenwöhr.

07 Apr 45	Saturday	23:00 Hrs	HQ	Camp Grafenwöhr
Oberst Richard Hoppe commits suicide.


To be continued