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Reims France
6/26/1940
1500 Hours

We have been ordered to Reims France to push back the french forces. We have had over a month off of just training and repair work. We are ready for this fight and are eager to proof our worth. It is beautiful in France this time of year. You can see for ever at least 1900 yards. Our big guns should be able to take out there armor at a safe distance for us. We have set up in a three company front spread clean across the map. We are moving from east to west on a north to south front. A company has a small forest to proceed thru maybe 1000 yards to there objective. B in the center will move about the same disrtance a straddle a road that runs thru the center of there objective which sits on a small hill dead center of the map. C in the north willl move maybe 100 yards shorter to there northern objective. B and C has a lot of open ground to cover but will have 3 platoons of tanks as there support. They will be stationed on some small rises to there rears as to give good forward cover as they move out.

During our stay in Berlin we were able to mech our ATG and sig33. They will have no trouble keeping up with the troops today. Once the front objectives have been taken all companys will move towards the rear one which is another 1000 yards behind the hill where the center one sits. The men are up for this today and are raring to jump off and get this battle started. I hear the big engines on the Pz IVd starting up now. Nothing like the smell of diesel to get your juices runnin.

Heard a rumor so dont quote me on this. Heard that Karl vogel and his X Panzer will be starting there big push on Dunkirk some time next month. I wish him all the success and a speedy victory. Maybe the war will be over next month we all hope. Its already June 1940 dam we have been fighting over a half a year already. This cant last much longer. Well the whistle has been blown this battle is on the way. We should make short work of these frogs and be able to enjoy the country and maybe drink alot of there wine. thats about the best thing i can say about them they make a hell of a wine.

Hq: XV Grenadiers
Col: Rak Rokerts

Reims France
6/26/1940
1525 Hours

We are moving well and have advanced to with in 600 yrads odf our objectives. Some French tanks came up over the hill in front of B company maybe 15 minutes. They were delt with quickly and decisivly. Have taken out at least five of there tanks so far. No loss of men or equipment on our side so far. Had some trouble getting A company into line due to the terrain they had to go thru. But this has been delt with and will be straighten out soon. B and C are moving well together and should soon have there targets captured and in our control. It is so clear today you can see a gnat at five hundred yards. This has given us a very distinct advantage over our enemy. Due to our excellent sighting equipment and the ability to hit at long range. This batlle will be very one sided in our favor im sure.

Have been recieving some 75 and 105 shells in our locations with no loss to us. Our 150 also did alittle counter battery fire about 10 minutes ago. Seems to have slowed there rate of fire down some. When I see the eagerness to fight of these men it fills me with pride in the German people.

Hq: XV Grenadiers
Col: Rak Rokerts

Reims France
6/26/1940
1555 Hours

This battle is moving along fairly well so far. The north advance has been steady and going great. They are with in 100 yards of there objective. No losses so far while taking out about 5 of the enemy tanks. So far all the fighting has been at long distance between there tanks and ours. With us coming out for the best. Thr enemy has run there tansk out in front of there infantry. As a matter of fact our troops have not recieved any small arms fire to speak of as yet. Dont think we have had any losses from small arm fire at all. we may have loss one foot soldier a few minutes ago to 105 fire not even sure of that.

The center comapany have moved to within 200 yards of there objective. They have had the bigest amount of activity from the enemey tanks. The enemy has lost at least 15 tanks here. The southern company still has the furtherest to go even tho there has been next to no resistence here. This is due to moving thru a small woods and not across a large clearing as the other troops have been moving. This is really the easiest battle we have been in so far even thru last year. Once the front objectives have been secured we will start our move on the rear one. That is maybe atleast 1000 yards to the rear. It is in a small vally behind at least 2 large hills. Should provide some very good over watch possibilities for our tanks. Had a couple of shells hit one of our PZ ATG with no damsage being inflicted to any one or the ATG.

It is very beautiful here in france and today is a beauty. It is as clear as a bell out and you can see a tank for almost a mile id say. Our gunners on our tanks are having a field day firing at long range. Had a small duel between 2 chars and 4 PZ IIIes a few minutes ago with our boys comein out on top. They hit the chars several times with those little 37 mm pea shooters they carry around that they call arttillery. Finally got side shots and split those chars wide apart.

Hq: XV Grenadiers
Col: Rak Rokerts

Reims France
6/26/1940
1630 Hours

All three forward objectives have been secured and we are moving towards the rear one. Have started bringing in the right and left flank so as to squeeze the enemy into the center pocket. We lost a PZ IIc 10 minutes ago. Those char biz type tanks are oned tough mother to knock out. Several of our tanks caught one a while back and opened up on it. We counted 32 hits and still it was firing back at us. Finally got a engineer squad up along side of it. It managed to get a satchel charge throwed at it. Blew the dam thing to kingdom come.

We stil have maybe 800 yards to cross before we reach the rear objective. But the French troops have no more will power to stand and fight. For all purposes this fight is over just cleaning up right now. I dont have all the figures as yet but i doubt if we have lost 100 men and only one tank. think another one lost a main gun and thats about it for our losses. From the reports im gettin from the line the French have lost close to 1000 men and maybe 50 tanks. It has been a masacere today. Just too much firepower from our side i guess. B in the center has lost more men then any other company. We are sure to start running into there ATG emplacements and there AA guns soon. Must keep control of our tanks and keep them behind the advancing line so as not to start losing a mess of them.
kept most of the slow moving units together today. Did have a couple of HMG get lost for awhile but they are catching up as we speak.
Let them load up on a couple of tanks and they caught up real fast.

This battle is ours there is no doubt. Maybe we will get to go back to berlin for another rest. If we continue to have such great success and the rest of the German force does as well this war could be over by the end of this year.

HQ: XV Grenadiers
Col: Rak Rokerts
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Reims France
6/26/1940
1705 Hours

We are still moving well not much to hinder us now. The Frencies moreale has been broken. They are retreating but still putting up some resistence to our advance. More like small pockets of resistence is it. These are overrun in a very short time. Our line looks like a large C right now . We are trying to close the back end and trap the men that are left with a hugh encirclement. Right and left flank keeps pinching in towards the rear of where they have set up some what of a defense around the rear objective.

Right flank caught 3 75 MM SPA few minutes ago. They were situated behind a small village on our right flank. Took them out with no loss of life. As a matter of fact we surpprised them so much they never even fired a shot our way no losses to us while three of them were sent to hell. Right flank is sweeping the village right now as I type this. it should be clear in about 10 minutes.

All the big guns have become usless to us. They ran out of ammo 10 minutes ago. Sure wish the french had this problem. 105 and 60 mm Brandt continue to rain down on us. Have not caused much damage to our side thank heaven. More of a dam nuciance then any thing. Have found and taken out 2 of the 60 MM mortars so far. Heard a heck of a roar from the men as the last one was sent to the devil. All of our sig 33 150 have run out of ammo. They sure dont carry much of the stuff with tham. They accounted for at least 20 tanks between them tho. Sure could use them right now against this mass of men we are pushing to the rear right now.

The battle is ours the french have been defeated for all intents and pourposes. Another major win for our forces has been scored here today. I want to recommend one of our squads from company A. Today they took out 2 tanks in frontal assaults. I believe they all should recieve some kind of decorations they lost 4 men during this fight. One brave corperal even after being hit twice refused to leave and helped right up till the last. You just dont see this kind of dedication and loyalty all the time.

Hq: XV Grenadiers
Col: Rak Rokerts

Reims France
6/26/1940
1835 Hours

The battle lasted for 2 hours 35 minutes of brutal fighting. The french never had a chance what with us being able to fire at long range. We lost one tank while we were able to take out 58 of theres. Several of these were taken out by our ground troops in frontal assaults. Also lost the main gun on one stug other then that we had some dings and scratches. WE managed to encircle the enemy force and then began the massacre. Like shooting fish in a barrel they never had a chance. What ever direction they ran to get away put them back in line with someone else to shoot at them.

We lost a total of 39 men most to the 105 bombardment. While at the same time we sent 2133 frenchies to there maker. Managed to find 14 of there 60mm Mortars and several 75mm guns which we prombtly blew up. All in all a very devastaing day for the French. This should really put a crimp in there battle plans for the rest of this war.

We are to report back to Berlin and start trainung for the invasion of North Africa. All our tanks and equipment must be repainted in desart camo before we embark by ship for there. Have changed all our 81 MM mortars for SP 81 MM mortars. The SP is able to carry a bigger load of ammo 60 to the 40 by the foot ones. This will help us maintian some kind of harrasment on the enemy longer. Had heard they were comin out with a bigger gun for the PZ IIIe an F series i believe. Hoped to get them upgraded to these before we left for Africa but no such luck. Dont believe our pea shooters will help much against the British Matildas. I guess we will find out soon enough next year. At least it will be hot there and not freezing as in Russia which i am afraid we will be invading next year if Hitler has his way.

All most a year my men and I have been going at this war. I still dont see where we are better off now then we were a year ago. Our economy has improved a lot but im not home enough to benifit from it tho. We have been told to prepare for a long long war this may go on for several more years. At least we will have the best commanders in our army in Africa. We understand Rommel will be in charge of the Africa corps. If any one can bring us victory there he is the General to do it,

Only time will tell what is to happen to the german people. We are but the tiny piece of a great jigzaw puzzle where the pieces fall into place as time goes by.

HQ; XV Grenadiers
Col: Rak Rokerts