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Krakow Poland
9/3/39
2200 Hours

I have been givin the task of commanding the finest force in the world. I have been placed in charge of the Tenth SS Panzer group. The officers and non coms have been given the best of schooling. Most are made up from regular army personal. It is a force to be reckoned with.

3 companys of SS infantry made up with the following.
3 platoons of infantry
1 platoon of Engineers
2 sec HMG
2 sec 37mm ATG
2 sec 150mm Sig33
1 Sec 81mm Mortar
1 Forward observer
1 sec Skd 6/2 AA

2 companys of tanks made up of 3 platoons of 5 tanks each.
1st company of support tanks each platoon as follows:
3 Pzk IIc
2 Pzk IVc
2nd company medium tanks each platoon as follows:
5 Pzk IIIe

We have begun our move up to the staging areas. Our jump off time is 0700 hours in the morning. There will be a short barrage from our artillery support. Mostly fire on the bridges and cross roads in the rear area of the enemy. The weather is supposed to be clear tomorrow and visability will be some where around 3000 yards. No air support as the fly boys will be busy around Lodz. Should be good for the long range guns we have.

Spirits are good and morale is high as we prepare to go to war. I have heard the Poles are tenacious and fight to the last man. We shall see! We shall see!

HQ: X SS Panzer
Col: Karl Vogel

PS: These reports may reach you late. We have been having a heck of a problem with the partisans cutting our line of communication.

Krakow Poland
9/04/39
0700 Hours

We have set up our advance in 3 sectors of the map. Roads run all over the map. All heading towards Krakow. That is our intention to be in there this month. The big 150s will be starting there barrage any minute. Hope they slow the enemy down for us. There main targets are the bridges and cross roads. As soon as we hear the explosions all 3 companys will begin there advance.

Co A has been given the center road on the map. The road runs west to east to a bridge across a small stream. Beyond the bridge is a hill that runs NW to SE maybe 600 yards. Road actually crosses this hill in the north. On the other side maybe 100 yards behind the hill lies the objective sitting dead center of the far side. This is like 150 yards south of the road. Once they reach the west side they are to deploy south along the west slope of the hill. Once in formation they are then to take the summit and then down the other side to the objective.

Co B will have the right flank in the south. Two roads run parallel to each other here. They are to proceed east using both roads. At the widest place the roads are only 300 yards apart and narrower in some spots. It is 2500 yards to a hill that runs NW to SE 800 yards long. North part of hill is coveered in a small forest while south part is very sparse with trees. The objective sits on the east slope on north end of the hill.

Co C has the left flank in the north part of the map. They too will travel a road to there target. The road bends south 250 yards then north 400 yards around a large lake. Makes a run east for 600 yards bends SE for 350 yards. Again turns east at this point for another 400 yards to there objective. It actually sits 100 yards off the road to the north.

The rear objective sits 1000 yards to the rear of Company A target. Its about 150 yards SE from the corner of the town. Lots of roads sort of center on the town. A lot of the barrage this morning will be dropped on these cross roads in the center of town. We are hoping to catch the Poles flat footed this morning.

It is almost time to begin our advance. I have visited every company early this morning. I have stressed the importance of speed but tempered with caution. If all goes well we will be in Krakow before the months end.

HQ: X SS Panzer
Col: Karl Vogel

Krakow Poland
9/04/39
0725 Hours

The barrage opened up at 0700 Hours. Only lasted for 5 minutes. Where they landed was far to the east of us. Heard the shells passing over our heads. Was glad they were our guns and not the enemys. The guns havent stopped for the last 25 minutes but only one battery or two firing at a time. Searching for targets I assume. Our recon have spotted enemy movement and have been calling down artty on them. Maybe this constant harrasment will slow the enemy down some, so we can reach our deployment sectors.

All companys have been moving well with few problems. C co in the south had some confusion with the two roads crossing each other before heading out straight east. Had to rush some police down there. They got the traffic jam sorted out quickly with only a slight delay. The lead units have all made at least 1000 yards so far. It would not hurt if we were all mech but then they would be all flying around like nuts. This way they seem to stay together more.

A Co has gotten 2 squads across the bridge in there front so far. 150 more yards then they will turn SE along the western slope of the hill. They must then take this high ground and move down the eastern slopes to there target. It is mostly open ground then all the way to the town.
Hope to get my Sig33 on top of this hill. They should then be able to shoot the incoming enemy like fish in a barrel.

Have sent 2 platoons of tanks north along the western side of the lake. Recon found a small unguarded bridge at the very northern edge of the map to cross the river. They have moved east all the way to the western slopes of a small hill. Once they crest this hill they will have a clear line of fire on the northern objectives. They will be about 500 yards to the north and maybe 150 yards to there rear. Have also turned a sec of atg and sig33 to the north along this same route. They are in trucks so will take longer to reach the hill. This force consists of 1 platoon of Pz IIIe and 1 platoon of the support tanks. I figure I will lose some of these good men as they will be in the fore front. But this should help B Co take ther objective quicker then they are to move south to help A CO in the center.

All in all things are moving as planned. Men are up and rarin to engage the enemy. No enemy guns have been heard as yet. The Poles have been sighted but there still way off in the distance.

HQ: X SS Panzer
Col: Karl Vogel

Krakow Poland
9/04/39
0820 Hours

The 2 platoons of tanks have reached the northern edges of the town. They now hold the roads north out of town. Have been moving on the rear flanks of the enemy. They are taking a heavy toll of there infantry. This has not been without some losses on our side tho. The platoon of support tanks that came down on the far Eastern road ran into some trouble. Just as they got near town some hidden ATGs opened up on them. Couldnt see where they where firing from. The tanks opened fire on the area but was unable to dislodge them or even see them. Some 50 shots were exchanged with us takin the licking. Lost a Pz IIc and a Pz IVc also A Pz IVc disabled sitting and smoking. The other 2 Pz IIc made a rapid withdrawel from the spot. Never did see the sucker dont know even if more then one gun was there.

B co in the south has moved down the other side of the hill and now control 3 bridge on the other side. There objective is secure and have begun the move NE towards the center. They are pushing the enemy in front of them north towards the town.

C Co has taken the west side of there target and will soon begin to push the enemy SE towards the center.

The center has moved over the hill and closed to within 200 yards of taking there area as well. They faced the stiffest challange of all 3 companys. At least 2 full companys of enemy troops can be seen out in front of them towards the town outskirts. Have brought all the 150s i have left with ammo to bear on them. The end is in sight for the Poles today. Our losses have not been what we estimated they would be. Evidently there big guns where in low supply or the ammo was real short. This may be due to our air supremecy in taking out there factories. Mostly 81 mortars where used on us today. There was sparodic hits by 100mm shells with little or no damage. Mostly due to the speed of our advancing units.

HQ: X SS Panzer
Col: Karl Vogel

Krakow Poland
9/04/39
0905 Hours

The enemy has given up the battle field to us. Almost got them surrounded but could not close the back door. Some managed to get away to the east. Blitxkreig worked and did the job we expected. This was a fast paced battle today. Little over an hour to smash them and send them running. Our tanks managed to get in there backfield and wreck havoc. As our right and left flank began to fold into the middle it drove them into one large knot. Then our tanks used there mounted mgs to cut swaths thru the massed men. There losse are stagering in comparison to ours.

Wr lost 54 men to there 1963. 3 tanks of ours to 25 for them. they also lost 7 artty we had 1 truck destroyed. Never did find the dam guns that took the tanks out. Guess they ran after taking out the 3 tanks.

We have been pulled out of the front lines to another staging area. Have been told we will have near a month to repair and replace our losses. We are to train and relax. Just enjoy the time for now. I have two weeks and am leaving by train tonite to Berlin. Will have to report to HQ to explain our tactics and give my feelings on how the Polish army fights. But should still have a week to enjoy the sights and delights of Berlin.

We are into this war up to our necks now. I hope with the invasion of Poland, Hitler will be satisfied for awhile. If Poland is all he wants then this war will end before the year is out.

HQ: X SS Panzer
Col: Karl Vogel