May 4 1940 X SS Panzer ordered to Belgium

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Western Front Brussels: 0800 Hours 5/4/1940

We have been ordered to advance on Brussels against the Belgium Army. We have gotten our replacements and a few upgrades to some of our tanks. We hope within the next few months to mechanize most of our group. We will be a strike force that can move fast and be deadly as well.

We have on call five Batterys of 150s and have been told we have the services of the Luftwaffte. The weather is clear and vis is 2000 yards. This should benifit us more then the Belgins.

The terrain is mostly flat with a couple of hills. One is in the south sector with a road that runs over the top. I have a large tank force and 2 plattoons of engineers strung out along this road. The hill sits about 200 yards from south map edge and about 200 yards in front of this force. They are to move out along this road take the hill then move 150 yards west and secure 2 bridges. This hill runs north west with the VH sitting at the far north west. Once secure my sig 150s and 88 ATG will be able to cover the hill north of there.

My main force of troops and support tanks sit on the road north of south one. They are to move out and secure the north hill and center VH. After this has been done they then will move north west to the town and secure that and the north VH. The rear VH is about 700 yards to the rear of this town.

If the southern tank force has the time they will move west and take another town that is about 1000 yards from the rear map edge.

Commander X SS Panzer Force: Col Karl Vogel

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Western Front Brussels: 0825 Hours 5/4/1940

Blitzkreig has worked for us again. We have taken all forward objectives and the first town is in our posession. We are moving on the rear VH and are about 800 yards from it. Have run into heavy resistance. Also spotted maybe 8 tanks coming up the road at us south of the VH. We have already smashed three tanks so far on this road.

My 88s and 150s are set up on the hill east of the first town. This hill sits almost dead center of map maybe 800 yards behind our front lines. They are raining death down on anything that moves. We have caught a heck of a lot of Belgiums out in the open. I dont think they expected us to be this far so fast. Our support batterys of 150 are tearing hugh gaps in there lines.

The tank force has taken there VH and the hill i had assigned them. They have moved west and taken all the bridges as well. They are sitting south east of a swamp and picking off any thing they can see. Several of the enemys tanks tried to sneak along the very south edge of the map. I had a plattoon of mixed PZIII and PZ38 sitting there. In a 15 minute battle they destroyed five of there tanks as they came over a small hill. We lost one PZ38 in this fight.

3 sections of recon Rad 6 and Rad 8 cars are holding a small bridge 150 yards north of there. They have lost a kuebelwagon and one Rad 6 so far. The enemy has a large force of infantry about 200 yards north west of there. A plattoon of PZIII and PZ38 sit about 200 yards north east of them holding there right flank.

Commander X SS Panzer Division: Col Karl Vogel

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Western Front Brussels: 9845 Hours 5/4/1940

The south tank force is within 300 yards of the most western town. They are lined from the south edge of the town south to the swamp and hold a bridge there. A plattoon of mixed medium tanks has moved around the south of this swamp and holds a bridge there. The road that runs across this bridge goes north west from there to run slightly west of the rear of the town. They are being held at bay by near two companys of dug in infantry.

The main force in the north are at the gates to the city. They have to go over a small ridge that is about 150 yards from the first house. The enemy is dug in behind this ridge and in the town. They also hold a small clump of woods 150 yards north of town. Another group of near company size is dug in here. We hold two flags of the rear VH right now. I have held off taking the other two. Want to see if we can capture the town first.

Our battery of 150 has just about exhausted there supply of ammo. Have been shelling the two places where the enemy has congregated for the last 20 minutes. Still have ammo for another 20 minutes maybe for the 81 mortars. Have been dropping them just over the ridge as we prepare to go over the top. Our troops have been popping up to the top and taking pot shots and ducking back down.

I am sure once we go into the town it will be all house to house fighting. I am weighing this fact into my decision not to take the other VH flags and end this right now. We can deal a major blow to the enemy if we can surround this force and eliminate them.

I had two plattons of engineers get seperated from our advance. They are coming up the road now headed to the south east part of the town. As soon as they are engaged in the town i will see how tough the going is. If all goes well then we will take the town before the VH are taken.

Commander X SS Panzer Division: Col Karl Vogel

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Western Front Brussels: 0905 Hours 5/4/1940

The mixed medium tank platton has secured the bridge and the south west entrance to the town. I have moved a plattoon of engineers over to them and they have taken the first two houses so far. The tank plattoon has moved to the south west side of the town. They are catching a lot of the enemy running from the town and mowing them down with there MMG. Hope they dont run out of ammo before this is over.

My infantry has secured the first row of houses facing east. A section of light tanks and a section of support tanks has moved about 50 yards into the town along the east west road which runs thru the center of town.

My right flank has moved 300 yards past the rear VH and will start to move south east towards the north sector of the town. They incountered four of there tanks with this move. They were delt with in a very short time. No losses on our side except for one squad losing four men. I have a section of recon sitting waiting to pounce on the last flag to be captured. Just in case this town fighting gets too ugly. It is house to house fighting every step of the way.

We have found and destroyed at least six 50MM mortars. They still have at least two 60MM mortars i can not locate and those dam 77MM guns. Next to no damage from them but a heck of lot of suppression.

Commander X SS Panzer Division: Col Karl Vogel

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Western Front Brussels: 0940 Hours 5/4/1940

The Belgium force was all but anilhilated by our brave troops. Our losses were so minor i only mention them so we get replacements. We lost 37 men to there 2879 men. We also lost one truck and 2 recon cars. While they lost 19 tanks and 39 artty composed of mostly 50 MM mortars. They were no match for German superioity and know how. Our tactics were superb and worked almost too well.

Our south tank force was able to get in the rear of the town. Once our main force began to push them from the town it was a turkey shoot from then on. Our machine gunners on the tanks ripped them apart as they ran out from the houses. Hell i even got one of them with my Luger.

We have been ordered to a repo depot for repairs and upgrades. We understand we are to go completely mechanized as soon as we can. Then we are to entrain and leave as early as next month for France. We have heard the XV Grenadiers has also been ordered to France. Mabe well get to see each other in Paris OOOH La La in the summer. Great city for a soldier on leave.

Our recon cars have been upgraded to SDK 250/1 and the FO cars to SDK 253 Beobs. We got a section of Stug Ausf B for section of PZK IBs. All Sig 150 MM were changed to Sig 33 AUF PZ-I which makes them more mobile now. Got a sec towed 37MM ATG changed to PZJG-IB mech ATG. We will be even faster now in getting to our objectives.

Commander X SS Panzer Division: Col Karl Vogel