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Marinestoßkompanie "Westerplatte"
(Map of the Westerplatte)
On 24.August 1939 the 1.Minensuchflottille picks up the Marinestoßkompanie (cdr. Olt.Henningsen) with six boats at Memel. Two T-boats provide anti-submarine protection. Around 20:00 the MSK is transferred to the cruiser "Schleswig Holstein".
On the 25.August 1939 the "Schleswig Holstein" ("SX") takes position at Neufahrwasser with the MSK hidden under deck. During the day several official ceremonies take place on board. In the afternoon Gen.Maj. Eberhard comes onboard and gives order to attack the Westerplatte after preparation fire from "SX".
On 31.August Kleikamp and Henningsen decide how to attack the Westerplatte on the next day. The MSK should be in position for the attack about 1 1/2 hours before "Fall Weiß" north of the fortress Weichselmünde, about the height of the Möwenschanze. A machinegun platoon with crewmembers of "SX" under the command of Lt.Hartwig provides fire support from the south side of the canal and two machineguns C/30 of Danzig Police get into position north of it. A heavy machinegun of Danzig police is in reserve on the western edge of Neufahrwasser pier. The police units involved in the engagement are commanded by Major Winter of the Danzig police. At 18:35 the order for "Fall Weiß" arrives at "SX" All commanders are informed and get their orders for the attack.
23:30 - 01:45 the MSK disambarks from "SX" and the ship prepares for battle. 04:43 Kleikamp announces that "SX" will proceed to attack the Westerplatte and so open the war against poland. 04:47 "SX" fires the first rounds against the polish fortifications on the Westerplatte. Between 04:47 and 04:55 8 28cm, 59 15cm, 600 2cm are fired mainly on the outer wall to make gaps for the attacking MSK. The wooden buildings of the harbor-maintainance buildings are hit and explode because of the stored fuel.
The supporting machinguns take position with one sMG 08 and a MG34 at the white silo in the east. One sMG08 and a MG34 in a new building in the middle with Lt. Hartwig with radio contact to "SX". Two MG34 in the red silo in the West.
As the "SX" shot several gaps into the outer wall Hartwig ordered his machineguns to stop firing because of the MSK attack. At 04:56 starts attacking through the gaps in the wall. The "Verbandplatz" for wounded soldiers is at the Beach coffee shop 100m behind the starting position of the MSK. First platoon is on the left, the Pionier-platoon in the middle and the 2. platoon on the right side. A MG C/30 follows for support. The Pionier platoon blows up the railway-gate while the two infantry platoons advance through the destroyed wall sections. This first attack encounters heavy resistance after about 500m while the Pionier platoon has to stop after 25 meters. Heavy defensive fire supported by a 7,5cm gun is concentrated on the Pionier platoon. The 2. platoon is advancing along the wall but is halted by burning buildings. Just one group makes it through the wall and the polish defenders aim the 7,5 gun on them. After Henningsen recognizes that his company suffers high losses he asks for an additional medic from "SX".
As Hartwig sees that the MSK is stuck he starts firing again to help. At 06:00 the 7,5 gun fires at the left and right machinegun position. The right machinegun has to give up its position and changes to the store-house behind the distillery. The left machinegun stayed in the same building just one floor down. One sailor is slightly injured. At 06:22 the MSK reports that they have to withdraw because of heavy losses and ask for stretcher bearers and ambulances. At 07:20 the MSK reports that the terrain is searched for wounded comrades and that the new attack can start in about half an hour but after artillery preparation fire by "SX".
07:40 - 08:15 the first artillery attack goes down on the Westerplatte followed by the second from 08:29 - 08:55 with 90x 28cm, 407x 15cm, 366x 8,8cm, 3000x 2cm rounds. During the artillery fire three men are injured as the lock of a 15cm gun explodes. Around 07:50 the polish 7,5cm gun fires on "SX" threatening the artillery directing section. Some 8,8cm HP rounds with timer fuze knock out the enemy gun.
In the meantime the MSK is reinfrices by 60 men of the SS-Heimwehr. SS-platoon on the far right, then the 1.platoon, Pionier-platoon (21 men) in the middle and the 2. platoon (18 men) on the left. The advance is delayed by wire-obstacles, mines and trees cut by artillery fire. At 10:08 MSK reports heavy enemy defensive fire and that the main force is now in the commanders building. At the first barracks building enemy snipers on trees cause high losses. The liason officer Korv.Kpt.Davidson arrives on the scene and asks Kleikamp if he needs reinforcements. Kleikamp demands another SS-platoon and aditional artillery because the polish positions can not be seen from "SX" now. 11:40 the MSK reports heavy enemy fire and the loss of all machineguns. The SS platoon has already withdrawn. Around 12:30 Olt. Henningsen is severly wounded (dies next day) and Olt. Schug takes command of the MSK. As the polish forces try to encircle the german attackers the MSK withdraws. At 13:00 Olt.Schug reports that is is impossible to take the Westerplatte without reinforcements.Kleikamp orders to take position against the Westerplatte together with three AT guns of the SS-Heimwehr. After replaced by Police units the MSK recovers near the fortress Weichselmünde.
Eberhard wants to attack the Westerplatte again on the 2.September against the will of Kleikamp. At 01:45 the securing police units fire on polish soldiers which try to occupate the lost territory again. In the evening the supporting machineguns are withdrawn onboard of "SX" again. Losses of the MSK on 1.Sept.39: 13 dead, 58 seriously wounded (4 die in the next days), 40 wounded 29 of them still ready for combat. The MSK has 143 men left.
After Kleikamp sees that the second attack also failed he reports to Gen.Adm.Albrecht that he cannot attack the polish positions because he has no line of sight. During the night and the morning of the 2.Sept. the High command discussed wether to attack on the 2. or not, with or without air support and so on. Between 18:05 - 18:45 60 a/c of 2. and 3 group of St.G.2 attack polish instalations on the Westerplatte.
On the 3.Sept.1939 Oberst Krappe with 2 police Btl., a Pionier Kompanie, a Haubitzen-Abt. and several heavy machineguns arrive on the Westerplatte to support the next attack.
4.Sept.1939 T94 and the Begleitboot of 1.Minenräumflottille "v.d.Gröben" bombard the Westerplatte without obvious success.
5.Sept.1939 Danzig Heimwehr units bombard enemy instalations on the Westerplatte. The MSK buries the dead soldiers from the 1.Sept. Before the forces start the attack again they want to have exact informations about the polish positions. All attempts to burn down the trees concealing the bunkers failed because the wood was too wet. SS-Heimwehr is firing with mine-throwers.
7.Sept.1939 At 03:00 the MSK assembles again for an armed recon attack. The machineguns of the "SX" take positions against. At 04:26 "SX" opens fire on several targets on the Westerplatte. Around 06:20 the MSK advances in three waves. First wave 2 platoons Pioniere, second wave pionier-platoon and one platoon of MSK, third wave 2 platoons of MSK. At 07:15 the MSK withdraws again failing again to set the trees on fire.
At 09:45 the Polish fortress shows the white flag. Henke signs the surrender document and talks to the polish commander Major Sucharski. He says that the Stuka attack on the second and the artillery fire today demoralized them so much that they had to surrender today. The polish defenders lost 15 - 20 dead, 9 wounded, 5 officers, 27 NCO´s and 158 men are captured.
Source: Jörg Benz, Deutsche Marineinfanterie 1939-1945
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21-12-2007, 08:07
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