Wehrpass and document group to Obergefreiter Wilhelm Schuly

260.Infanterie Division 'Hornle'

Served with the Aufklarungs Abteiling, Panzer Jager Abteilung 260 of the 260. Infanterie Division as a Panzer Jager and Kradmelder from 24 September 1940 until 21 March 1943.Serving predominately on the Eastern Front during Operation Barbarossa, Obergefreiter

Wilhelm Schuly was awarded the General Assault Badge, Iron Cross 2nd Class and the Winter in the East Medal 1941/1942. He was killed in action on 21 March 1943 near Werchowje, 80km

Southwest of Wjasma.

Wilhelm Schuly was born in Kurzell, a small town on the edge of the Black Forest on the 8 June 1910, and was the son of Karl and Karolina Schuly. After completing Volkschule, he went on to follow in his fathers footsteps and served a 3 year apprenticeship to become a butcher with E. Fritz Metzgerie (Butchers) in Friesenheim from 1 April 1925 to 1 April 1928. On completion of his training he passed his final exam on 1 October 1928 before working for Jean Willenbacher Metzgerie in Kaiserslautern from 20 September 1929 to 20 November 1931. After a brief spell of unemployment he started with Rudolf Hubler Metzgerie on the 23 May 1932 where he stayed for the next 5 years and 5 months.

On 13 April 1937, whilst still working for R. Hubler, Wilhelm was called for registration as a conscript and undertook his first medical, under the authority of Wehrbezirkskommando Kaiserslautern. He was classed as 'Tauglich' – Fit for service, 'F.D.R' - For the reserve and as such was not formally called up. This would have been the day that the original Wehrpass would have been opened and authorised, but this Wehrpass was to be destroyed on 5 February 1942 due to enemy action, as recorded in this ' Zweitschrift' (second issue) Wehrpass.

Wilhelm returned to his employment with R. Hubler for the next six months until the 23 October 1937 when his employment is recorded as ending and this was the last entry in the Arbeitsbuch. This was most likely to have been to start his compulsory R.A.D labour service, but the Zweitschrift Wehrpass does not record this.

Wilhelm was to be called to report for registration on two more occasions, firstly on 19 August 1939 where again he was found fit for service and classed as 'Ersatzreserve 1' and therefore not called up. On the second occasion, around one year later, on 13 August 1940 he reported to W.B.K Offenburg and this time his medical assessment classed him as K.V or 'Kreigsverwundungsfahig' – Fit for combat service and 'Ersatzreserve 1'. Sometime over the next month the decision was made to formally call up Wilhelm and he entered service on 24 September 1940 having been assigned to his training unit, Panzer.Jager Ersatz.Kompanie.260 (Pz.Jg.Ers.Komp.260) in Rastatt. This was the training and replacement unit for Panzer Abwehr Abteilung 260, the Anti Tank Battalion of the 260. Infanterie Division which at this time was commanded by General Der Infanterie Hans Schmidt (Knights Cross 22 September 1941) who had recently been promoted to Generalleutnant on 1 September 1940, after commanding the division during the invasion of France and the Low Countries.

On the date Wilhelm joined his training unit, the 260.Infanterie Division was still based in France in the area around Le Creusot – Autun with it's HQ at the Chateau de la Verrerie, securing the demarcation line and serving as occupation troops whilst training and resting. The division was

subordinate to XXVII Army Corps, 1st Army of Army Group C.

Wilhelm underwent another medical examination on 26 September 1940 with Pz.Jag.Ers.Komp. 260 and was once again found to be 'fit for combat service'. He was then officially sworn in on 12 October 1940 and remained with this unit whilst completing basic military training and specialist training as an Anti Tank Gunner using the 3.7cm PAK until 12 December 1940.

One day later, on 13 December 1940, Wilhelm joined his first operational unit, Kavallerie.Panzer.Jager.Zug/ Aufklarungs Abteilung 260, the Cavalry Anti Tank platoon of Reconnaissance Battalion 260. Wilhelm was now officially part of the 'Hornle' Division.

Moved under the command of Army Group D, 260 Infanterie Division remained in the area of Le Creusot – Autun as part of the the occupation force, refitting and carrying out continuous training to prepare for future operations. These operations were soon to come, as with a ban on all leave imposed on the 4 May 1941, the men of 260. Infanterie Division would soon be leaving behind the pleasures of Southern France. Germany was preparing to embark on the fateful invasion of the Soviet Union – 'Operation Barbarossa'.

In the last few weeks leading up to the start of the invasion, the Division remained safely in France continuing their training and, on 1 June 1941, Wilhelm received his first promotion to Oberreiter, or Senior cavalry man. He was also to complete specialist training as a Kradmelder or dispatch rider whilst in France and was employed in this role within the Reconnaissance Battalion.

Dispatch riders of 260. Infanterie Division moving to the front, 1941.

On the 22 June 1941, the day that Operation Barbarossa began, the Division received their orders from 1st Army Command deploying them to the Eastern front and over the next 8 days they prepared themselves and their equipment for the move to the East. They were to hand over their sector and duties as occupation troops to the men of the 215 Infanterie Division, and from 30 June to 3 July the 260 ID moved out of the area of Le Creusot. Leaving via rail road transport, the units were transferred from France, through Germany and into Poland where they were unloaded at Mordy, a town close to the city of Siedlce. Once the division was reassembled, a march towards the Russian border, to the North of Brest – Litowsk was completed.

With the Division now subordinate to 2nd Army, XXXV Army Corps, Army Group Centre they joined the assault towards the Beresina river. In the heat and dust of the Russian summer, they carried out fast marches of 50 to 70 kilometres per day, moving via Baranowitschi to an area west of Bobruisk. After being moved under the command of XXXIII Army Corps on the 13 July 1941, the Division was engaged in defensive fighting from 15 July, before being pushed into the attack for Southern Bobruisk, with elements, including 3 Komp/ Infanterie Regiment 470 being deployed to

fight Partisans near Lubany. 260 Infanterie Division, now the connecting unit between Army group Centre and Army Group South, remained engaged in heavy fighting south of Bobruisk throughout the period from 19 July to 8 August 1941.

During the tough and bloody battles around Romanischtsche and Ugly on the 24 July 1941, the Division came under heavy Soviet counter-attack, and with the Panzer Jager units at the front of the defence, 51 of 60 attacking Russian tanks were destroyed. However the successful defence came at a cost, the Division suffered 92 men killed and 510 wounded.

On 9 August 1941, the battle for Kritschew and Gomel started with the Division advancing to and crossing the Beresina river to the south of Bobruisk. Here engineers had built pontoon bridges and once the units were across they pushed on towards Slobin. From 12 to 18 August 1941, when the Divison was subordinated to XIII Army Corps, 2nd Army, the Division stood with 267 Infanterie Division on their left, and the 134 Infanterie Division following and engaged in the battle for Slobin. Fierce fighting followed as they fought to establish a bridgehead over the river Dnjepr and once across, they fought pursuit battles with the retreating Soviets as they pushed them back towards the town of Gomel. Being mostly built of wooden houses, Gomel was completely destroyed during the fighting, and the Division entered the remains of the town on the 22 August 1941.

On 24 August the attack southwards by three Divisions of XIII Army Corps began as part of the battle for Kiev. More pursuit battles followed until the end of August as the Division attacked via Gorodna – Tschernisch to Kisselwka near the River Desna.

On the 1 September 1941, Lieutenant General Schmidt ordered a crossing of the Desna on both sides of Kisselwka, so that the Division could push on Tschernigow. Infanterie Regt 470, which was to be later reinforced by parts of Infanterie Regt 480, fought to establish a bridgehead around Wibli. Fighting here was intense, and losses were heavy on both sides, but a foothold was gained on the opposite bank by 1700. September 02 began with the bridgehead at Wibli receiving heavy Russian artillery fire, and once again fierce fighting erupted. Soviet forces attacked the defenders of the bridgehead 15 times and had to withdraw 15 times as the men of I.R 470 and I.R 480 held the line despite suffering heavy casualties. The situation had stabilised by September 03, and two days later, the forces of the Soviet 05 Army pulled back. Whilst this action had been in progress, other elements of 260 ID, including parts of I.R 470 had forced another bridgehead at Tschernigow, where fighting continued until 08 September. General Schmidt was to be awarded the Knights Cross of the Iron Cross on 22 September 1941 for his command of the 260 ID in the securing of these two bridgeheads over the river Desna.

Over the next few days, 260 ID was involved in pursuit battles with retreating Soviet units as their command and control was lost under the constant German pressure to close the gap in the encirclement of Kiev. This was achieved on 14 September and what was to become a classic pocket battle of World War 2 began. The battle for Kiev.

However, the involvement of 260 ID in this battle was to end on 12 September when as part of 2nd

Army they were transferred on orders from OKH from the south to the middle of Army Group Centre. 260 ID regrouped and marched via Tschernigow and Starodub into an area south-east of Roslawl, a move which was complete by the 27 September. On arriving in this area, they were immediately involved in defensive fighting at Jelna and Smolensk whilst also preparing for the breakthrough of the Stalin Line.

Now a veteran of 4 months of operations since the start of Operation Barbarossa, Wilhelm was promoted from Obereiter to Gefreiter on the 01 October 1941, the day before the start of Operation

Typhoon, the German assault on Moscow. On this day, 260 ID broke through the upper Dessna positions of the Stalin Line creating a bridgehead near Star Chotirowka, playing a part in the double battle for Wjasma and Smolensk. Advancing quickly over the Bolwa and Ugra they reached the airfield at Worotynsk by 11 October, but their progress was now being hampered by the Rasputitsa – the Russian phenomenon of the arrival of early snows which came on the 7 October which then rapidly thawed. This turned the roads into vast stretches of mud, which greatly slowed the German advance in this area.

On the 12 October the Division became engaged in the battle of Kaluga. Here the 17 Infanterie Division had been fighting for several days, and after attacking from the west, had entered the city on 12 October. 260 ID joined the attack, pushing from the south and IR 470 eventually gained a foothold across the Oka after being pushed back twice in 24 hours. Parts of IR 470 met with 7./Komp IR21 on a bridge crossing the Oka at the southern edge of Kaluga on 13 October 1941.

With the weather constantly turning against them, the German advance on Moscow continued with the Division moving via Asnashuja – Ssaschkino – Petrischtschewa before turning south-east pushing the Soviets back across the Oka at Aleksin and Tarussa. Parts of the Division were then relieved by elements of 52 ID, however, this relief was not to be a rest for these men as they immediately marched to relieve men of the 17 ID in the area around Gosteschewo. This was to be their assembly area in order to attack over the Protwa river, and the march of the Infantry Man was to be tormenting. Weapons and equipment had to be dragged through thick mud. Vehicles could not move and horses had to be fed straw from the roofs of houses as supplies could not be transported.

The Division stood with 52 ID on their right and 137 ID on their left, holding an area of front from Aleksin in the south, running along the Oka river to Tarussa and across to Kremenki on the banks of the river Protwa in the north.

Elements of the Division began building a bridgehead across the Protwa on both sides of Kremenki at the end of October 1941, as the Russian winter started to arrive in force. The German soldier now had to battle with the cold as well as the enemy. With temperatures dropping to -20 at the beginning of November, vehicles could once again move with ease as the ground hardened. Whilst this brought relief from the mud, it created more problems. German forces were ill prepared for the Russian winter with only an average of 1 in 5 German soldiers being issued with adequate winter clothing.

In the freezing temperatures, the fighting in the Kremenki bridgehead continued with the clearing and destruction of Russian trenches in the bridgehead, followed by pushing into the Browna sector before attacking and capturing Browna itself on 3 November 1941. With momentum on their side, soldiers of the Division prepared for the attack on Pawlowka. However, tragedy struck when a five minute preparatory barrage fell short causing substantial losses in the assembly area. Nevertheless the attack carried on with the Division attacking Pawlowka to Baritschi – just 15 miles west of Sserpuchow. Here, around the 13/14 November1941, just 90 Kilometres from Moscow the advance of the 260 ID ended.

Elsewhere, parts of Army Group Centre still pushed on Moscow, but 260 ID, still part of XIII Corps, but now under the command of Feld Marschall Von Kluges 4 Army, was now on the defensive. Heavy enemy attacks rendered 4 Army immobile and this hit General der Infanterie Felbers XIII Corps, and in turn 260 ID particularly hard. The Corps was in crisis and had to be supported by combat groups of XII corps to relieve the pressure. Only when the situation stabilised could the 4 Army advance continue. But whilst XX and LVIII Army Corps were involved in attacks across the Avarn towards Naro-Fominsk, XIII Corps and 260 ID remained on the defensive. Now

operating in temperatures averaging -38 degrees Celsius, these attacks penetrated into the city, but could go no further. Only 258 ID reached the Yushkovo, just 44 Kilometres from Moscow. This was to be the end of the advance for 4 Army and 4 Panzer Army. Von Kluge suspended further attacks and withdrew all advanced units back to their departure lines behind the Nara. The frontal attack had failed decisively.

Elsewhere, Generaloberst Guderian 2nd Panzer Armies repeated attacks on Tula had failed against a solid Soviet defence and heavy counter attacks. In early December they received the order to ‘Halt! Defend!’. Whilst the 62nd Engineer Battalion of the 2nd Panzer Division, XL Mot Army Corps, 4 Panzer Group advanced to Khimki a suburb of Moscow, just 16 Kilometres from Red Square. This was to be the furthest point of the German advance – as Field Marshall von Bock wrote, ‘the attack now appears to make no sense and have no purpose. The time is fast approaching when the strength of the troops will be completely exhausted’.

The Red Army counter attack with 3 Army Groups was launched on 5 December 1941. Army Group Centre fell back in disarray under the weight of the Soviet assault, with only 4th Army temporarily holding in its favourable positions behind the Nara. 260 ID was engaged in the defensive battles near Moscow as part of XIII Corps, 4th Army, being assigned along the Protwa River with 268 ID on the left and 52 ID on their right. Fighting was particularly heavy in the Kreminki Bridgehead and in the areas south of the river - Troitzkoje – Goteschewo and on the 16/17 December constant pressure forced the division to withdraw westward before then moving south on the divisional width. After suffering continued heavy losses, all regiments of the division received 150 replacements on the 17 December, although only parts of these were equipped with weapons.

On the morning of 18 December the division was hit by a heavy Soviet armoured attack in which 12 T 34’s and heavy ‘Stalin’ tanks broke through their front line. All were eventually destroyed but the division was now continually on the defensive and parts were forced to withdraw in the areas Aulowo –Walkowo.

Pak 3.7cm crew in action during Operation Barbarossa 1941.

Continually weakened by the Soviet attacks and the temperatures reaching -48 Degrees below freezing, the divisions front broke in late December and 3/Kompanie IR 470 was temporarily surrounded until relieved by 2/Kompanie IR 470 and 1/Kompanie SS Regiment 4. However the relief was short lived. Strong Russian forces broke through the divisions lines near Tschausoso and Altuchowo and quickly encircled the division. Immediate attempts were made by 268 ID to

breakout the surrounded division by forcing a path southward towards Nedeloje. A breach was eventually forced and parts of the division began to fight their way out in the Nedeloje area with further evasion battles taking place from Frolowo – Kondrowo to Ostroshnoje. In the midst of the division fighting for its survival, Lieutenant General Schimidt was promoted to General der Infanterie on the 31 October 1941,becoming commanding General of IX Corps. His replacement, Colonel Walther Hahm took command of the division as they fought on both sides of Ostroshnoje having escaped their encirclement and were heavily attacked by Soviet forces on a daily basis throughout January 1942.

260. Infanterie Division's new commander Colonel Walther Hahm, pictured with his batman Gefreiter Korn, pictured far right

Once again the pressure on the men of the division took its toll and on January 26 around 30 Sovietsoldiers broke through the line near Grenowo. They were finally stopped by the last divisionalreserve of one NCO, 9 soldiers, one machine gun and some stragglers from IR 470. The positionwas now seen as serious enough for the order to be given for the division to evacuate their positionson 27 January 1942. The losses suffered by the division at this time is shown by the fact that theactual strength of IR 460 on 27 January consisted of 105 men – it’s strength should have been around 2800 men

From the 28 January 1942 the division were engaged in battle near Juchnow and defensive fighting along the Ugra River in the area around Kolychmanowo. It was during this heavy defensive fighting that Wilhelm's first issue Wehrpass was reported as being ‘destroyed by enemy action’ on the 3 February 1942. Over the next month the division prepared fixed winter defensive positions to be known as the ‘Ressa – Ugra Stellung’ on both sides of Rayaki and along the highway to Juchnow and gradually occupied the positions as they were constructed.

With most of the division in position in early March 1942 and after holding them against heavy Soviet assaults, the Russian offensive push subsided and static trench warfare began. Gefreiter Wilhelm Schuly was now one of the veterans in 260 ID and on 27 March 1942 was awarded the Allgemeine Sturmabziechen (General Assault Badge). Perhaps as a result of the more static warfare at this time, Wilhelm was moved from Kav.Pz.Jag.Zug/A.A. 260 the reconnaissance unit to 3./Pz.Jag.Abt.260 a general anti-tank company on 14 March 1942.

Anti tank gun position of 4.Pz. Jg. Abt. 260 in the Ressa-Stellung.

As the front of Army Group Centre stabilised, Colonel Walther Hahm received promotion to Major General on the 01 April 1942 for his control of the division since January. Over the next few months, the Division remained static and time was spent strengthening the Ressa – Ugra Stellung and mounting continuous reconnaissance patrols and skirmishing with the Russians. However, despite the relative calm on the front line, large units of partisans were operating in the divisional area and the Division suffered continuous losses, particularly in support areas as they fought running battles to remove them. Involved in continuous operations in the Ressa- Ugra Stellung, Wilhelm was decorated for his actions on the 16 April 1942 with the award of the Iron Cross 2nd

Class. He was to be moved again on the 10 May 1942, being transferred back to 3./Pz Jag.u.Aufkl.Abt 260. Two months later, on the 26 July 1942, Wilhelm was decorated once again with the award of the ‘Ostmedaille 41/42’ and award bought in to recognise the hardships suffered by the Wehrmacht during the first winter in Russia in 1941 to 1942, and nicknamed ‘the frozen meat medal’ by the troops due to the large amount of frostbite cases suffered during this first winter.

Transferred once more to 2./Pz.Jag.u.Aufkl.Abt.260 on the 10 August 1942, which was renamed 6 days later to 2./Schnelle.Abt.260, Wilhelm remained with the Division in their fixed positions as the focus of the German efforts changed from Army Group Centre to Army Group South and the push for Stalingrad.

Although the pace of operations here was slower than elsewhere in Army Group Centre, the men of the Division were still engaged in combat regularly and continued to suffer casualties. Wilhelm was now a veteran of 16 months of combat on the Eastern Front and as such was promoted to Obergefreiter on the 1 November 1942 as the men of the Division started to feel the effects of their second winter in Russia.

November 25 bought heavy fighting for the divisions of Army Group Centre at the tip of the Rzhev salient as the Soviet ‘ Kalinia Front’ attack started with an enormous air and artillery barrage in an assault to cut off Rhzev and encircle the 9th Army. This battle raged into December ending with a strong German counter-attack in snow 40cm deep that encircled, compressed and destroyed the Soviets south of Beliy. In 6 days the Soviets lost 1847 tanks, 279 guns and 353 anti-tank guns. Two rifle divisions, 7 motorised and 6 tank brigades were lost.

As the winter continued and the men of the Division held out in the Ressa – Ugra Stellung, the New Year came and bought promotion to Lieutenant General for their commander Walther Hahm. February 1943 however bought the collapse of Army Group South as the battle of Stalingrad was lost and the Soviets realised the possibility of rolling up Army Group Centre from the south. The

Soviets launched attacks on the right wing of Army Group Centre either side of Orel to try and collapse the salient and even the entire Army. In the fierce battles that ensued the German Lines held despite the continued Soviet assaults and by March they turned the emphasis of their operations to the north.

Whilst the south of Army Group Centre around the Orel salient held, the Rhzev salient had to be evacuated. Hitler had decided to close threatening gaps in February and Field Marshall von Kluge was given the task of re ordering the 530km front of the Rhzev salient. The heavily fought over corner of Army Group Centre was to be evacuated under the code name ‘ Operation Buffalo’.

Plans for this had already been made by General Oberst Model under the designation ‘Bueffelbewegung’. In an operation that took only seven weeks, a 100km front called ‘Bueffelstellung’ that ran from Dukhovchina and Spas Demensk had been constructed. Using a force of some 29000 engineers, construction workers and Hilfswilligen, he had organised the construction of 200km of new roads, 600km of field tracks, laid 1000km of rail track 1300km of wire and 450km of field cable in 10 days. All of this was completed without discovery by the enemy and at the end of February rear area troops such as hospital staff and logistics support started to withdraw from the Rhzev salient, along with 60000 civilians.

On the 1 March 1943 at 1900 hours, the forward troops began to evacuate their positions. Conducting the withdrawal slowly they maintained the main combat line in case of pursuit by the enemy. However, the Soviets did not initially recognise the withdrawal due to the German rear guard companies imitating full occupation of the positions with heavy fire. Rhzev was evacuated on the night of the 3 March 1943 and as the Germans pulled back their engineers destroyed their positions with explosives.

With the Soviets now having realised the withdrawal was taking place, 260 ID abandoned the front they had held for over a year on the 7 March 1943 and withdrew in contact with the enemy. Carrying out this fighting withdrawal, heavy losses were suffered on both sides as the Soviets applied direct aggressive pressure. Operation Buffalo ended on the 18 March for 260 ID as they occupied the pre constructed ‘Buffalo Position’ after a withdrawal of 125km.

Their new front ran from Kamenka – Wesjelucha – Sslusna – Chotilowka – Taschtschilowo – Lasinki and over the following days the Division were engaged in heavy fighting as the Soviets tried to dislodge them from their new positions. It was during this heavy defensive fighting that Obergefreiter Wilhelm Schuly was killed in action on the 21 March 1943 after 1 year and 9 months front line service on the Eastern Front. He was buried in the Divisions ‘Bueffelstellung’ cemetery at Shadanowo, 80km southwest of Wjasma.

.260 Infanterie Division Cemetary at Shadanowo where

Obergefreiter Wilhelm Schuly was buried.

Iron Cross 2nd Class, Winter in the East Medal 41/42

and General Assault Badge awarded to Obergefreiter Wilhelm Schuly.

Many thanks to Thomas Korn, Grandson of Gefr. Korn, Assistant to Major General Walther Hahm for his help with this research.