XV Grenadiers Hold at Bir Hacheim 6/16/41

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North Africa Bir Hacheim: 1800 Hours 6/16/1941

We have set up a defensive line out side Bir Hacheim. The Engineers have laid a light mine field in front of our position. We are set up in front of some small hills facing east into open desert. There is a slight sandstorm goining on. Should not have any effect on our line of sight tho. The british have to cross this field for maybe 3000 yards. Should make for one heck of a duck shoot.

We began to see there tanks at 1800 hours. No infantry sighted as yet. Must be at least 40 tanks out there. I have given strict orders to hold fire. Our 88s and the on call 150 are to open up at 1250 yards. The sig 150s have been told to hold until 1000 yards. Light tanks and APC can open up at 600 while the heavy tanks hold until 750 yards.

The 88s have already taken out 2 scout cars so far while most of there tanks have not reached our range yet. Dropped some 150 in on them 5 minutes ago no hits tho. The troops are to hold till 150 yards with all small arms as well. Dont think they have sighted us as yet. There has been no fire from there side at all. There big guns are still silent as well.

Dam it is hot today. Then at nite it freezes never know what to wear. Its a crazy country with the sand blowing around all the time. It gets into every thing causing a lot of trouble. Even your food tastes like sand nasty and gritty.

Commander XV Panzer Grenadier Group: Col Rak Rokert

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North Africa Bir Hacheim: 1825 Hours 6/16/1941

Its like I said this is a turkey shoot. Our 88s are takin out there tanks at 1500 yards. Even our sig 33s are havin a great turky shoot. In the first 25 minutes after they got in our range it has been one tank after another has gone up in flames. I would say that I can see at least 25 burning and blasted hulks of there tanks. There infantry is riding on there tanks and they are taking one heck of a pounding too. Our on call 150s are dropping there shells right in amongst there burning tanks. This is also catching a lot of there infantry out in the open.

Not one of there tanks has gotten into our mine field as yet. One brave tanker made it all the way to with in 50 yards of the first mine before he was ripped apart by an 88 shell.

There bombardment of our lines has had some effect on us as well. There guns have taken out 3 of our sig 33s. Couple of casualties as well have occured to the crews of our 88s. Some of there tanks have reached the range of our heavy tanks. Several of there tanks were caught by surpprise and have been dispatched by a withering fire from our side.

Had to jump Sgt Schlimmer and his section of PZII for his lack of control. His section opened up early on 3 tanks approching his front. The range was too long and the puny 20mm Shells just bounced off there tanks. The enemy tanks recovered and got further out of his range. Had to have Schlimmer pull back behind a small sand dune to save his ass. This left a gap in our lines there. Have rushed a plattoon of PZIII to plug the hole before the enemy tanks recover.

Unless the British have some kind of secret weapon they are waiting to use, this battle is ours. They have no chance with a frontal assault across that open space. This is not a close battle this is a massacre.

Commander XV Panzer Grenadier Group: Col Rak Rokert

[robot]

North Africa Bir Hacheim: 1905 Hours 6/16/1941

There are at least 60 burning and wrecked hulks out on the battle field that I can see and count with my Binolculers. Our 88s have been devastating on the enemy tanks. Cant say the same for our IIIe tanks tho. That puny little 37mm gun bounces off there armor like rain drops. A plattoon fired all there shots at a matilda that was not moving just sitting there. Each tank had 5 to 6 shots so that is some where around 25 or more trys to take it out. The shells where mostly just bouncing off its beaner. May have been some damage to there tracks and maybe a couple just went thru and thru. After all the noise died down that tank just turned around and left.

Think I will have to try and see if I can recommend a medal for that crew after what I just witnessed. They must have been scared stiff when the firing started but had to be laughing as they drove away.

All goes well for our side as was expected. Some infantry have showed up at last and are trying to get thru the wire. They will be delt with as there armor was a few minutes ago. One tank made it thru and got within 50 yards of a plattoon of Engineers holding our left flank. A squad of flame throwers roasted him real quick no loss of life on our side. Cant say the same for the tank crew tho. Lost a 250/1 to the artty a few minutes ago.

Commander XV Panzer Grenadier Group: Col Rak Rokert

[robot]

North Africa Bir Hacheim: 1925 Hours 6/16/1941

The battle raged for almost an hour and a half. It was very devastating to the British. They never really had a chance. Our 88s tore there tanks to smitherins and our sig 150s ate up there infantry. Once they got into the range of our medium and light tanks I had set, It was all over for there side. Our infantry really just sat around in there fox holes bull crapping and playing cards.

They lost 67 tanks and over 700 hundred troops to our withering fire. We lost maybe 11 armored pieces. Three sig 150s one 88 and a mmg were knocked out by mostly artty fire from there side. Our losses in men was below 100. One of these came from our side. He was playing cards and thought he was being cheated. So he pulled out his luger and shot the dealer. Needless to say he will be tried and shot after the court martial. The dealer will be awarded a medal and his folks notified of his sacrifice for the good of Germany.

We have been ordered to the rear for repairs and upgrades. Hope we get some more of the tanks with the 50 mm gun on them. These 37 mm pea shooters are good for next to nothing.

This war has been going on now for what seems forever. Hope we all get to go home soon. If we keep whipping the British as we did today. Maybe in the next year I will be in merry old England.

Commander XV Panzer Grenadier Group: Col Rak Rokert