Grenadiers Delay Bir Hacheim 6/14/1941

[robot]

Bir Hacheim Libya
6/14/1941
1200 Hours

We are to stop the British from getting into Tobruk and relief the belegured garrison there. We have set up a delaying action here at Bir Hacheim. We have not been able to really get any of the new upgrades. As Hitler feels we are a second front and do not need all the new toys to fight against the British. After all didnt we chase them out of Dunkirk with the equipment available at the time.

Our men are up to the challange anyways so I have no fear that today will be another glourious victory. It is noon here in the desert and it is hotter then hades. The sweat rolls off like a water fall which at times impedes your eye sight and makes it hard to aim your weapon.

Looks like this will be a tough fight as we can hear the roar of many engines as they prepare to advance against our lines. We have set up in a 2 mile front from north to south in some of the worst landscape I have ever seen. Vis is 1200 yards which should give our gunners some good shooting today. It is clear today with not one cloud in the sky.

HQ: XV Grenadiers
Col: Karl Mueller Commanding

[robot]

Bir Hacheim Libya
6/14/1941
1245 Hours
 
45 minutes into the battle and all goes well for us. We have suffered a few losses. Lost a stug to artty and a couple spaa units as well. Plus a ATG was taken out by one of there tanks. But we are giving more then we get thats for sure. In the last ten minutes have taken out 15 of there tanks. I think our troop losses so far is below 50 men while theres have to be near a thousand. Our heavy guns are right on target and continue to rain death down on there infantry.
 
Our men are holding under very intense bombardment from there artty. Lots of 4.5 and 25mm shells have been coming our way ever since this battle began. They have taken out our 88s by making them dig deeper into there holes. They wont even get up and load there guns let alone fire them. Have sent my adjutant over to see what he can do. I told him to shoot a couple of them if he thinks this will get them fireing again. Before they went down deeper into there holes they had taken out 4 tanks in the first 15 minutes of battle at long range. At least 1200 yards as far as they could see.
 
We are holding our own and can only see a victory here today for our side. We are inflicting heavy losses to the British and I dont see this battle going on much longer. Rommel has sent word to hold and continue to hurt the enemy as much as we can.
 
HQ: XV Grenadiers
Col: karl Mueller Commanding

[robot]

Bir Hacheim Libya
6/14/1941
1305 Hours
 
Once again the British have given up and ran from the battlefield. It seems our equipmnet has proven to be once again superior. The only bad thing is we lost 93 men to there neverendng artty bombardment. Also 5 of our tanks was lost as well as one recon car. The enemy lost 1112 men along with 65 of there so called super tanks.
 
I made a big mistake and did not have my infantry close enough to the mine field so they never really got into the fight. Also my tanks were too far away and took some time getting them into firing range of the enemy tanks. Once they reached firing range tho they were taking them out a lot of the time with one shot at the most three. Our Pz IVe tanks with there 75s had not trouble busting the front armor on almost all there tanks except for the Matilda II had to try more for a side shot to take them out or use the 88s on them.
 
All in all our men performed remarkably well. Had an awful lot of enemy shells falling on us non stop it seemed. No one broke and ran all stayed in there holes and continued to be ready.
 
Rommel has sent a company citation for our unit. And has said we are the unit he plans to use for any and all tough missions from now on. We are to move up to near Tobruk and stop any push by the British to relieve there forces there. We have over a month to move and set up our defense for what is expected to be a major push there.
 
      HQ: XV Grenadiers
      Col: Karl Mueller Commanding