Phil Evans Posted 27 October , 2014 Share Posted 27 October , 2014 Egbert, Thank you for yet another excellent tour. I think the photography on this one has even surpassed your previous stunning efforts. Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egbert Posted 19 February , 2015 Author Share Posted 19 February , 2015 ......meanwhile the chamois have crossed from this territory here to the battle-worn slopes of HWK Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dragon Posted 19 February , 2015 Share Posted 19 February , 2015 There's even more of them than in your thread about the converted bunker. How wonderful. What a privilege to be on a snowy Hartmannswillerkopf in the first place and then see these secretive creatures. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andalucia Posted 13 May , 2015 Share Posted 13 May , 2015 I Just love going back over this thread. So interesting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egbert Posted 6 June , 2015 Author Share Posted 6 June , 2015 Today: another successful day close to HWK has come to an end....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fattyowls Posted 6 June , 2015 Share Posted 6 June , 2015 Good sunset Egbert, looking forward to seeing some more of your latest trip. Pete. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dragon Posted 9 June , 2015 Share Posted 9 June , 2015 Where were you? I was in the Vosges then too! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ph0ebus Posted 29 June , 2015 Share Posted 29 June , 2015 Egbert, all: Moments ago, I discovered a family connection to Hartmannswillerkopf: I am downloading his files from the ICRC as we speak! -Daniel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egbert Posted 29 June , 2015 Author Share Posted 29 June , 2015 Incredible, I know exactly the location where JB14 fought. It is also shown and explained in this thread. I have pictures from 4 more expeditions to the HWK , the places where your relative fought but decided not to post anymore, 1. because there is absolutely no interest for the HWK in this forum , and 2. because this picture thread has been castrated by the fact that "classics" has been eliminated and even by tagging "HWK" you cannot find this thread anymore (I am glad you did). Anyway nuff rattling. If you are interested in the 21 Dec 1915 chronic, here it is . The 21st was the day of one the most bloody campaingns on, around and at the HWK: 21. Dezember Von der Abhörstelle Wetterstation unterhalb des Aussichtsfelsen wird um 10: 10h Alarm ausgelöst. Die Beschießung des HK beginnt in 5 Minuten. Morgens 10:15 Feuerüberfall der französischen Artillerie, Schloss Ollweiler bekommt die ersten Treffer aus einer 37-cm-Kanone, die oberhalb von Goldbach steht, und wird anschließend zusammengeschossen. Auf allen Bergen, Höhen, Orten und Strassen liegt französisches Artilleriefeuer. Es beginnt die Weihnachtsoffensive der 66. Division unter General Serret mit seinem altbewehrtem Alpen-Jägerbataillon und dem Leib-Regiment von General Joffre, den 15.2er. MMW I fällt durch Rohrkrepierer aus. Ein Minenwerfer weniger der Sturmabwehrfeuer schießen sollte. Kurz darauf fällt Minenwerfer III durch Rohrkrepierer aus. Somit sind alle MMW der Minenwerferkompanie 325 ausgefallen. Der SMW-Koob feuert noch. Seine Schussgeschwindigkeit ist jedoch zu langsam. Auf deutscher Seite ist man sich nicht im Klaren, wo der Haupangriff kommen wird. Die Reserven sind kümmerlich. Zwei Züge Pioniere XIV an der Kurve zwei, 5. und 7. Kompanie des IR 73 und dazu zwei Züge der 1. Kompanie des RJB 8 auf dem Sandgrubenkopf. Fünf Minuten vor dem Infanterieangriff wird der Angriffbeginn abgehört 3: 15h. Der Alarmruf erfolgt zu spät. Angriff der Franzosen am Nachmittag und Wegnahme des Hartmannsweilerkopfs und des Hirzstein. Nach einer französischen Artillerievorbereitung werden das JB 14, RIR 78 und das LIR 99 von dem 27e und 28e BCA angegriffen. Der Hirzstein wird erstürmt von der 6e Jägerbrigade unter der Führung von Lt.Col. Hennequin. Am Unter Rehfelsen scheitert das 23e RI und das 15 BCP. Das 15.2 RI nimmt die Feste Rohrburg, Großherzog und den Aussichtsfelsen und stoßen bis Kurve 6 vor. Das 5e BCP stößt mit Teilen über den Bischofshut zur Kurve sieben, hinunter zur Schlummerklippe bis zum 700 Meterweg. Das JB 14 ist geschlagen. Was nicht gefallen ist, geht in Gefangenschaft. Auf deutscher Seite werden das RJgBtl 8, LIR 40 und 56 alarmiert und an den HK herangeführt. Zwei Züge der 1. Kompanie des RJB 8 steigen ausgeschwärmt zum Sandgrubenkopf empor. In Jungholz setzen sich die 5. und 7. Kompanie des RIR 73 in Marsch. Aus Sulz kommen 2 Züge der 1. LwPKomp. XIV zur Kurve zwei. 24 Tragtierführer stehen an der Kurve sechs zur Verfügung, das ist die gesamte Deutsche Reserve. Der 6. französischen Jägerbrigade steht gegenüber das II. Bataillon RIR Nr. 78 unter Major Dietlein mit vier Kompanien. Am Unter-Rehfelsen kämpft die 8. Kompanie, es folgen talwärts die 7., 6. und 5. Kompanie. Der Hirzstein und die Wattweiler Stellungen werden vom III. Bataillon. RIR Nr. 78 verteidigt. Stand: 26.04.2012 53 Auf dem Kopf werden die letzten Verteidiger des 1. und 4./Jäg. 14 überrannt. Oberleutnant Kasper und Leutnant Reber haben noch bis 18: 00h Telefonverbindung, dann verstummt das Telefon. Auch die 6. Kompanie des 1. Armierungs-Bataillons 23 kehrt nicht zurück. Die 12. Kompanie des Reserve Infanterie Regiments 78 hat am Hirzstein aufgehört zu existieren. Die nördlich der Kuppe liegenden 14er Jäger und Res. IR Nr.78 werden auf den 700 Meterweg abgedrängt. Das L.I.R 99 wehrt sich am Jägerfriedhof verzweifelt und hält. Das 5./RIR Nr.73 erhält den Befehl, die Reservestellung am Ulanenfriedhof zu beziehen. Das LIR 40 wird alarmiert. Der Abmarsch zum Hartmannsweilerkopf erfolgt am Abend. Das I.-Bataillon trifft im Sandgrubenkopf ein. Der Divisionspfarrer Kreutz besucht die Truppen und bleibt auf der Seilbahn hängen. Ein Armierungssoldat befreit ihn aus 10 Meter Höhe. In einem Unterstand wartet er das Trommelfeuer bis 3 Uhr Nachmittag ab. 21. Dezember Abschnitt Jägertanne Nord 10:15 beginnt hier die schwere Beschießung. In der rechten Hälfte der Jägertannenstellung hat sich alles, was ein Gewehr tragen kann, unter Hauptmann Freiherr von Schenk zu Schweinsberg in der dritten und letzten Linie eingefunden. Leutnant Bornefeld, der Nahkampfmitteloffizier bereitet letzen Widerstand vor. Major Schüler, Kampfgruppenkommandeur vom IV LIR 99 zieht die 13. und zwei Züge der 14. Kompanie vor zum Tanzplatz. Linker Abschnitt übernimmt Zug Löhner vom IR 78. Schwere Verluste erleidet die Landwehr. Die mit Holz ausgekleideten Gräben und Stützpunkte fangen Feuer. Das Leopoldswerk brennt lichterloh. Die 15. LIR 99 wird vorgezogen zur 13. Kompanie. Die 78er werden eingedrückt, die 13. LIR 99 eilen zur Hilfe und der rasante Angriff der französischen Jäger 5e wird von der 15.LIR 99 abgefangen. Die restlichen stürmenden Alpenjäger werden von dem 14. und 16. LIR 99 aufgehalten und halten die Linie vom Jägerfriedhof, Felseneck bis Schlummerklippe. In den Morgenstunden trifft die 2. Kompanie Landwehr Pionier XIV und eine Patrouille des RJB 8 zur Verstärkung ein. 21. Dezember deutscher Gefechtsstand Major Kachel RJB 8, Oberleutnant Mühe Adjutant, Oberjäger Tillmann treffen im Gefechtsstand der 82. Brigade in Sulz ein. General Rudolph ist die Lage am Berg noch nicht bekannt. Kradmelder wurden ausgeschickt. Major Kachel bekommt freie Hand für den Gegenangriff mit seinen Jägern. Die 4 Kompanien Jäger werden sofort zu Kurve Zwei befohlen. Kachel begibt sich mit Tillmann und Mühe zur Kurve Zwei und übernimmt das Kommando. Über diese Begebenheit besteht eine Tonaufzeichnung in der Tillmann das Geschehen genau schildert, im Online Shop erhältlich. Noch am Abend des 21.12. erreichen die vier Kompanien ohne Verluste die Kurve Zwei. 22. Dezember Rückeroberung des Hartmannsweilerkopfs durch die in der Nacht herangeführten deutschen Truppen……………. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dragon Posted 29 June , 2015 Share Posted 29 June , 2015 How interesting! Daniel, Egbert is the expert on HWK but if you find that there is a grave or memorial for Leopold in the Alsace region, I will be very happy to take photos for you. I will be back there soon, all being well. I'm unsure what the implications of the last handwritten sentence are: do you know? Egbert, thanks for the extract. I'm afraid I had to resort to Google Translate but I got the gist. (I wrote something somewhere about the centenary of the previous terrible Christmas on HWK but everyone was too interested in chocolate to be bothered with real events.) I would be interested to see some photos of the location where Daniel's family member fought. Gwyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egbert Posted 29 June , 2015 Author Share Posted 29 June , 2015 Gwyn, most of my pictures in the thread refer to places where the 14 JB fought on 21 Dec 15. It was a large scale French attack across the flanks to the top and beyond into the Northern descending slope. I have some 20 pages of accounts from 21 Dec. Very dramatic accounts. I could findthe 1. Kompanie 14.JB engaged at AUSSICHTSFELSEN, the 2.Kompanie at BISCHOFSHUT and 700m TRAIL, also elements of the 14 JB defended the ZIEGELRÜCKEN. Later the day the 4.Kompanie was engaged at AUSSICHTSFELSEN and HIMMELPFORTE, also surrounded at OBERREHFELSEN. All mentioned locations are to be found in this picture thread. Basicly at the end of the day the 14.JB was innihilated and non existing anymore. The Bn was gone! .....When Maj Kachel reached the 14JB HQ he asked the commander "Where is your Battalion Sir? The commander shivered and stuttered. Tears rolled over his face: "My whole Battalion is completely destroyed"....... One telephone still existed to sub-section B, Lt Hoffmann in his gallery deep in AUSSICHTSFELSEN. I managed to contact him and he reported the French composition and strength and that the French are about to overrun his position. At this moment he reported that the French found his HQ and are taking it. Hoffmann replied "They are taking my HQ, good-bye to all of you good men...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ph0ebus Posted 29 June , 2015 Share Posted 29 June , 2015 This is all quite stunning. Egbert and Gwyn, it may please you to know that poor Leopold survived the slaughter! He was taken as a prisoner of war and little did I know, moved to Queens New York where he lived out his life not 30 miles from me! I cannot in words express how immensely frustrating it has been to have learned of all these relations like Leopold who lived so close to me growing up and that I never knew. I am at work at the moment so cannot post much in the way of an update on what I found about Leopold but will add material tonight when I have access to my computer and files. Egbert, I will be rereading this thread in its entirety and hope that you will not let this amazing thread wither on the vine, so to speak. It's absolutely priceless. -Daniel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ph0ebus Posted 29 June , 2015 Share Posted 29 June , 2015 How interesting! Daniel, Egbert is the expert on HWK but if you find that there is a grave or memorial for Leopold in the Alsace region, I will be very happy to take photos for you. I will be back there soon, all being well. I'm unsure what the implications of the last handwritten sentence are: do you know? Gwyn Hi Gwyn, I have not found anything near Alsace relating to Leopold per se but if there is a memorial to the men of his unit that died there I would love a photo of that, if one exists. In regards to the last sentence, that ties in with his entry on one of the POW rosters associated with one of his cards. I believe it is suggesting (and this is a guess on my part) he was sent to a POW Camp in Chartres-Romorantin? At the top of the manifest he appears in it says "ETAT de Sous Officiers et soldats prisonniers arrives a la date du 5/I/16 au Depot du MANS. (Captures le 21/12/15 a l'Hartmannswillerkopf" (apologies for the lack of proper accents). There was another thread on the GWF that suggested that Du Mans was possibly a POW Camp but I don't think anyone found anything definitive about that. -Daniel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dragon Posted 30 June , 2015 Share Posted 30 June , 2015 I have not found anything near Alsace relating to Leopold per se but if there is a memorial to the men of his unit that died there I would love a photo of that, if one exists. Egbert, do you know of one? (Daniel, I'm pleased he survived.) Where were his colleagues who died at HWK taken for burial? The remarks by the commanders (#1086) are heartwrenching. What happened to Lt Hoffmann? I endorse Daniel's enthusiasm for the thread. Gwyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ph0ebus Posted 30 June , 2015 Share Posted 30 June , 2015 Here's just one page of the list of captured from Leopold's regiment: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egbert Posted 30 June , 2015 Author Share Posted 30 June , 2015 Daniel, here in this magnificant camcopter aerial you can see all the HWK places where the 14 th Jägerbataillon fought, died and was annihilated. All of these places are also captured in my picture thread. @Gwyn- for the time being I have no answers to your questions Will try to rumble my archive Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dragon Posted 30 June , 2015 Share Posted 30 June , 2015 The aerial film is stunning. Wonderful. Thank you. (It's easy to see why we got lost at dusk that time.) I've shared it in a separate post - I hope that's ok. Gwyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin Feledziak Posted 30 June , 2015 Share Posted 30 June , 2015 The Drone - Cam Copter video is - top quality. you certainly get a feel for the terrain. Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveMarsdin Posted 30 June , 2015 Share Posted 30 June , 2015 Thanks Egbert (and Gwyn for posting a further link). It really brings home how impressive the works were (are) and how the mountain commands the plain to the west. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fattyowls Posted 30 June , 2015 Share Posted 30 June , 2015 Thanks Egbert, the drone footage is stunning, almost as good as being there. I've really enjoyed the voyage of discovery that Daniel has been on, that's been fascinating too. Pete. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egbert Posted 1 July , 2015 Author Share Posted 1 July , 2015 I have just received informations about Jägerbataillon 14 and their fate around 21.12.1915. Thanks to my friend Louis, also Sigi and Francois. I need to sift through the wealth of information- will take some time- and report back. I have seen already information where 3.Kompanie exactly was positioned. The quantity of information is by far too big to translate all the accounts and results. For the time being you could formulate your specific questions which I shall trace in the documents. Also for Gwyn -I think I have all the cemeteries now identified where the fallen of JB 14 were buried..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egbert Posted 1 July , 2015 Author Share Posted 1 July , 2015 The following map snippet depicts the positions and the retreat route of 3. Kompanie Jägerbataillon 14 as of 21.12.1915 the so called Christmas offensive. The position was called Unterabschnitt IIa (subsection) and was located on the summit of HWK. 3.Kompanie was engaged between Dora trench and Moss-sap Leopold Levy's platoon leader was Lt Freiherr von Thüna. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egbert Posted 1 July , 2015 Author Share Posted 1 July , 2015 21.12.1915, 3. Kompanie Jägerbataillon 14 10:15 French Christmas Offensive on HWK begins with heavy bombardment by artillery, cal 38-7.5cm and trench mortars Abschnitt IIa (section) As the night before was calm, unfortunately all JB14 troops were employed in front line trench works, so got surprised without protective measures and without having reserves in the rear. The Battalion chronic says that they used every available shelter and cover in the front line trench on the summit. Disconnected from the rear lines by the bombardment they could not call for support. Most Jäger were killed by trench mortar fire in the front line trenches which were completely destroyed. 15:15 begins French infantry attack Unterabschnitt A, Dora trench, Moss Sappe received some less fire from artillery , that’s why more men survived the initial bombardment . When the attack started a couple of surviving 14er engaged with the French 152er regiment from the collapsed trenches. 15:30 overrun at Dora Kompanieführer (coy leader) 3./JB14, Lt Freiherr von Thüna, evaded surrounding by retreating through section-hopping to the next rear-ward sections. First he resisted with 3./ In Bischofshut fortress for 30 minutes defensive combat until the last MG was destroyed and the French almost surrounded them. From there they retreated back to Bastion fortress held the position for 45 minutes and were forced to retreat back to 3rd line downhill and below slightly left of Bastion. Here they managed to build up a line of resistance; grew up to some 70-80 men, gathered and composed of the few stragglers that survived the summit position artillery bombardment. They received the first reinforcements at 18:30. The Bn was almost obliterated and was taken out of the lines on 22.12.1915. The majority of the JB14 dead are now buried at Guebweiler German war cemetery. Total losses on 21.12.1915: DEAD: 7 officers and 76 Jäger WOUNDED: 6 officers and 51 Jäger MISSING: 2 officers , 53 Jäger PRISONER OF WAR: 13 officers/NCOs and 606 Jäger, one of them Leopold Levy And what was it good for? The next day the German reserves attacked and regained all the positions that have been lost the day before, the French casualties run in the thousands on 22.12.1915. That' a fine example why this Hartmansweilerkopf mountain is still called today "The man-eater mountain" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egbert Posted 1 July , 2015 Author Share Posted 1 July , 2015 Addition for Gwyn: I have the complete lists and plot no.s of buried Jäger from the 4 cemeteries as pdf file. As I mentioned after the Bn was released on 22.12. they buried their dead in Guebweiler war cemetery, which is still existent. Jäger were searched for and found until months after Christmas 1915 in various stages of decomposition they were either buried in Guebweiler or on HWK cemeteries "Ehrenfriedhof Wünheimer Weg", "Friedhof Kurve 7" (cemetery curve no. 7) "Pionierdorf" The 3 latter cemeteries do not exist anymore Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roel22 Posted 1 July , 2015 Share Posted 1 July , 2015 Loved the aerial footage: top quality! Roel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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