Table Of ContentFranz Kurowski
Translated by David Johnston
By Franz Kurowski
Translated by David Johnston
Published by
J.J. Fedorowicz Publishing, Inc.
104 Browning Boulevard
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Canada R3K0L7
Cover photographs:
Front: Panther "801" of the II./SS-Panzer-Regiment 5 "Wiking" preparing for action.
Nicolussi-Leck can be seen in the commander's hatch. (Jean Restayn)
Rear: The six "Panzer Aces" of this book.
Copyright © 2000
The material in this book is copyright by J.J. Fedorowicz Publishing, Inc.,
and no part of it may be reproduced in any form — electronic, printed or
otherwise —without the written consent of the publisher.
Printed in Canada
ISBN 0 - 921991 - 49 - 5
Printed by
Friesens Printers
Altona, Manitoba, Canada
Publishers' Acknowledgements
Special thanks to Shawn Biettner for fact checking the text.
Through his tireless efforts, we avoided many possible mistakes
in the final version of this book.
We are also grateful to the indefatigable Jean Restayn for
providing the many photographs which enriched the text entries
immeasureably.
Mark Menge also provided valuable input by reviewing the
text for its "readability." As always, his comments were inciteful
and to the point.
Matt Lukes also deserves credit for another excellently ren-
dered signing box.
We also wish to thank you, the reader, for purchasing this book
and all of you who have written us with kind words of praise and
encouragement. It gives us the impetus to continue translating the
best available German-language books and produce original titles.
Our catalog of books is listed on the following pages and can be
viewed on our web site at www.jjfpub.mb.ca. We have also listed
titles which are near production and can be expected in the near
future. Many of these are due to your helpful proposals.
We look forward to your continued comments and construc-
tive criticism.
John Fedorowicz, Mike Olive and Bob Edwards
Other Titles
by
J.J. Fedorowicz Publishing
The Leibstandarte (1. SS-Panzer-Division):
Volumes I, II, III, IV/1 and IV/2
European Volunteers (5. SS-Panzer-Division)
Das Reich (2. SS-Panzer-Division): Volumes I and II
The History of Panzer-Korps "Großdeutschland":
Volumes I and II
Otto Weidinger
Otto Kumm
Manhay, The Ardennes: Christmas 1944
Armor Battles of the Waffen-SS, 1943-1945
Tiger: The History of a Legendary Weapon, 1942-1945
Hitler Moves East
Tigers in the Mud
Panzer Aces
Footsteps of the Hunter
History of the 12. SS-Panzer-Division "Hitlerjugend"
Grenadiers, the Autobiography of Kurt Meyer
Field Uniforms of German Army Panzer Forces
in World War 2
Tigers in Combat, Volumes I and II
Infanterie Aces
Freineaux and Lamormenil—The Ardennes
The Caucasus and the Oil
East Front Drama—1944
The History of the Fallschirm-Panzer-Korps
"Hermann Goring"
Michael Wittmann and the Tiger Commanders
of the Leibstandarte
The Western Front 1944: Memoirs of a Panzer Lehr Officer
Luftwaffe Aces
Quiet Flows the Rhine
Decision in the Ukraine: Summer 1943
Combat History of the Schwere Panzer-Jäger-Abteilung 653
The Brandenburgers—Global Mission
Field Uniforms of Germany's Panzer Elite
Soldiers of the Waffen-SS: Many Nations, One Motto
In the Firestorm of the Last Years of the War
The Meuse First and Then Antwerp
Jochen Peiper: Commander, Panzer-Regiment "Leibstandarte"
Sturmgeschütze vor! Assault Guns to the Front!
Karl Baur: A Pilot's Pilot
Kharkov
Panzertaktik — German Armor Tactics of World War II
Panzer Aces 2
In Preparation:
The History of Panzer-Korps "Großdeutschland": Volume III
The History of Panzer-Regiment "Großdeutschland"
The Battle of Kursk: A Photographic Record
Funklenkpanzer — German Radio-Controlled
Armor of World War II
The Combat History of Schwere Panzer-Jäger-Abteilung 654
J.J. Fedorowicz Publishing
Signing Box by Matt Lukes
Table of Contents
Sepp Brandner ...................................................... 1
Fritz Fegmann ..................................................... 79
Kurt Knispel. ..................................................... 159
Johannes Kummel. ................................................. 243
Karl Nicolussi-Leck ................................................ 335
Hermann von Oppeln-Bronikowski .................................... 493
Hauptmann Josef"Sepp" Brandner at Courland.
Brandner
Sepp
"Leutnant Brandner reporting as ordered!"
"Thank you, Brandner, stand at ease." Hauptmann Handrick, bat-
tery commander of the 202nd Assault Gun Battalion, shook hands
with his technical officer. "Brandner, you know that Leutnant Bohm
was severely wounded in the assault on Yelnya and is out of action.
Would you take over the 1st Platoon in his place?"
At first Sepp Brandner thought he had heard wrong. He was being
offered what he had been striving for since beginning the Russian cam-
paign as a gun commander.
"I would like to very much, Herr Hauptmann."
"Good. I have already informed the battalion commander. He
agrees, because Leutnant Narbutt can replace you as technical officer.
Come, we'll go to your platoon."
The two assault guns of the 1st Platoon were parked close togeth-
er. Feldwebel Preinlinger, commander of the second vehicle, reported.
Speaking quickly, Hauptmann Preinlinger informed him that they had
received a new platoon leader. No further explanation was required, for
it had been Leutnant Brandner who had gone into the minefield with
the 18-ton prime mover to rescue the two assault guns during the first
breakthrough attempt near Yelnya. That had been on 18 July 1941.
Now they were stuck in the Yelnya salient. Before them were nine
Russian rifle divisions and two tank units arrayed in a broad arc. The
battalion itself was under the command of the 10th Panzer Division.
To the north was the SS division "Das Reich."
The 10th Panzer Division had destroyed 50 enemy tanks in one
day. The 202nd Assault Gun Battalion, which General Schaal had
deployed at the hot spots, played a part in this success. Yelnya was
taken. But then the division became stalled in front of the well-forti-
fied Russian positions. One-third of the division's vehicles were put out
of action. Ammunition had to be brought in over a 450-kilometer land
route. The SS division "Das Reich" was stalled north of Yelnya, between
the city and Dorogobush. That was the situation in July 1941.
**
"Russian counterattack. Enemy has reached the main line of resist-
ance and has driven our troops in the trenches back to the windmill and
Hill 16.7. The assault gun battalion is to attack the enemy forces which
1
