Gefreiter Willi Pfau - 16. Panzer-Division
On August 23, 1942, led by elements of Panzer-Regiment 2 and Panzer-Pionier-Bataillon 16, 16. Panzer-Division reached the River Volga. They were the first German troops to reach Stalingrad and its environs.
The division had been formed in November 1940 from elements of 16. Infanterie-Division, following its role in the defeat of France earlier in the year. For Operation Barbarossa, 16. Panzer-Division was attached to Panzergruppe 1/1. Panzerarmee and Army Group South for the invasion of the southern Ukraine and southern Russia. Among the troops fighting with the division at the time was a Gefreiter by the name of Willi Pfau of Panzer-Grenadier-Regiment 79.
By August 1942, 16. Panzer-Division was transferred to 6. Armee, right around the time it fought its way across the River Don and reached the Volga. Throughout the Battle of Stalingrad (the German attempt to take the city itself), 16. Panzer-Division was positioned north of the city where it fought off Red Army attacks against the army’s left flank as well as attempted landings on the western bank of the Volga at Vinnovka. By the end of October 1942, the division was even credited with the sinking of numerous combat and freight vessels on the river itself. In November, the division was tasked with dislodging the Soviets from positions at Rynok and engaged in vicious battles for the village and its surroundings. Rynok remained in Red Army hands, however, and the Germans were ultimately removed from the fighting for the village. The military situation in the area called for a change in position as German intelligence anticipated a Soviet advance to surround 6. Armee’s position at Stalingrad. While some elements of 16. Panzer-Division remained entangled with Red Army troops in the area, much of the division began moving west to form blocking positions to the north and northwest.
On November 19, 1942, the Red Army released its great offensive aimed at encircling 6. Armee. Soviet tanks poured in from the north, crushing the army’s flank which primarily consisted of weaker German allies (Italian but, primarily, Romanian formations). As the Red Army pushed south and southeast, combat groups form 16. Panzer-Division were among the troops organized and sent to offset the Soviet drive. A combination of superior Soviet forces as well as disorganization amongst German commanders - and in some cases a lack of urgency - the Germans were unable to contain the offensive. By November 22nd, the Soviets advanced on Kalach, on the Don Bend, where they ultimately linked up with the Soviets pushing up from the south. With that, the Germans in Stalingrad and its surroundings were surrounded.
The troops of 16. Panzer-Division counterattacked the following day but were ultimately pushed back and forced into defensive positions. On November 25th, they began moving back to their previous positions to the north of the city. They assumed the western half of the defensive sector north of Stalingrad, between 94. Infanterie-Division and 60. Infanterie-Division (mot.) It was here that they held their positions against repeated Red Army attacks through Christmas. Despite their deployment in the general area weeks and months earlier, they did not enjoy the benefits of previously constructed bunkers and shelter. Most of these positions were now occupied by the Soviets. From December 6th through December 8th, the Red Army launched nonstop attacks against 16. Panzer-Division with tanks and mounted infantry with the intention of wearing down the German defense to the north and northwest of the city. Losses were heavy on both sides and the German line was temporarily broken, only to be patched by desperate counterattack. On December 10th, the Soviets attacked again, mainly in the sector of Panzer-Grenadier Regiment 79. More vicious fighting ensued, with tremendous losses on both sides. 16. Panzer-Division suffered tremendous casualties, including the wounding of Pfau. He was one of approximately 107 soldiers of the division to suffer a wound that day, but was luckily flown out of the pocket days later. Although it is unclear as to the extent of his suffering, his wound ultimately saved his life as he escaped the encirclement and the fate that that awaited many of his comrades.
Evidence suggests that all soldiers wounded and evacuated from the encirclement at Stalingrad were eligible for the Iron Cross Second Class (if they had not been previously awarded). For many of the troops whose parent unit was completely destroyed, their award was rendered by the Ersatzheer (Replacement Army). In this case, the awards could be bestowed for one wound, where only a Black Wound Badge was awarded. Pfau received his Wound Badge in Black on February 4, 1943 at a hospital in Schleswig. Just over two months later, on April 19, 1943, Pfau’s Iron Cross Second Class was processed by the Replacement Army in Berlin. It was awarded using a unit specific citation that includes the pre-printed signature of Generaloberst Friedrich Fromm as Der Chef der Heeresrüstung und Befehlshaber des Ersatzheeres. It also includes the signature of a Major with the Erzatzheer staff, who signed Für die Richtigkeit.
16. Panzer-Division was reformed in France in the spring of 1943. It was organized using a cadre of division veterans and Stalingrad survivors and was commanded by Oberst Rudolf Sieckenius, a regimental commander identified as a specialist and flown out of the pocket in January. Pfau was among the veterans assigned to the new division and served with 5. Kompanie, Panzergrenadier-Regiment 64. The division fought in Italy in 1943 and returned to the Eastern Front by 1944. During the fighting in southern Poland and in the area of the Vistula River, Pfau was awarded the Panzer Assault Badge in Bronze on November 16, 1944. He appears to have survived the war.
The division had been formed in November 1940 from elements of 16. Infanterie-Division, following its role in the defeat of France earlier in the year. For Operation Barbarossa, 16. Panzer-Division was attached to Panzergruppe 1/1. Panzerarmee and Army Group South for the invasion of the southern Ukraine and southern Russia. Among the troops fighting with the division at the time was a Gefreiter by the name of Willi Pfau of Panzer-Grenadier-Regiment 79.
By August 1942, 16. Panzer-Division was transferred to 6. Armee, right around the time it fought its way across the River Don and reached the Volga. Throughout the Battle of Stalingrad (the German attempt to take the city itself), 16. Panzer-Division was positioned north of the city where it fought off Red Army attacks against the army’s left flank as well as attempted landings on the western bank of the Volga at Vinnovka. By the end of October 1942, the division was even credited with the sinking of numerous combat and freight vessels on the river itself. In November, the division was tasked with dislodging the Soviets from positions at Rynok and engaged in vicious battles for the village and its surroundings. Rynok remained in Red Army hands, however, and the Germans were ultimately removed from the fighting for the village. The military situation in the area called for a change in position as German intelligence anticipated a Soviet advance to surround 6. Armee’s position at Stalingrad. While some elements of 16. Panzer-Division remained entangled with Red Army troops in the area, much of the division began moving west to form blocking positions to the north and northwest.
On November 19, 1942, the Red Army released its great offensive aimed at encircling 6. Armee. Soviet tanks poured in from the north, crushing the army’s flank which primarily consisted of weaker German allies (Italian but, primarily, Romanian formations). As the Red Army pushed south and southeast, combat groups form 16. Panzer-Division were among the troops organized and sent to offset the Soviet drive. A combination of superior Soviet forces as well as disorganization amongst German commanders - and in some cases a lack of urgency - the Germans were unable to contain the offensive. By November 22nd, the Soviets advanced on Kalach, on the Don Bend, where they ultimately linked up with the Soviets pushing up from the south. With that, the Germans in Stalingrad and its surroundings were surrounded.
The troops of 16. Panzer-Division counterattacked the following day but were ultimately pushed back and forced into defensive positions. On November 25th, they began moving back to their previous positions to the north of the city. They assumed the western half of the defensive sector north of Stalingrad, between 94. Infanterie-Division and 60. Infanterie-Division (mot.) It was here that they held their positions against repeated Red Army attacks through Christmas. Despite their deployment in the general area weeks and months earlier, they did not enjoy the benefits of previously constructed bunkers and shelter. Most of these positions were now occupied by the Soviets. From December 6th through December 8th, the Red Army launched nonstop attacks against 16. Panzer-Division with tanks and mounted infantry with the intention of wearing down the German defense to the north and northwest of the city. Losses were heavy on both sides and the German line was temporarily broken, only to be patched by desperate counterattack. On December 10th, the Soviets attacked again, mainly in the sector of Panzer-Grenadier Regiment 79. More vicious fighting ensued, with tremendous losses on both sides. 16. Panzer-Division suffered tremendous casualties, including the wounding of Pfau. He was one of approximately 107 soldiers of the division to suffer a wound that day, but was luckily flown out of the pocket days later. Although it is unclear as to the extent of his suffering, his wound ultimately saved his life as he escaped the encirclement and the fate that that awaited many of his comrades.
Evidence suggests that all soldiers wounded and evacuated from the encirclement at Stalingrad were eligible for the Iron Cross Second Class (if they had not been previously awarded). For many of the troops whose parent unit was completely destroyed, their award was rendered by the Ersatzheer (Replacement Army). In this case, the awards could be bestowed for one wound, where only a Black Wound Badge was awarded. Pfau received his Wound Badge in Black on February 4, 1943 at a hospital in Schleswig. Just over two months later, on April 19, 1943, Pfau’s Iron Cross Second Class was processed by the Replacement Army in Berlin. It was awarded using a unit specific citation that includes the pre-printed signature of Generaloberst Friedrich Fromm as Der Chef der Heeresrüstung und Befehlshaber des Ersatzheeres. It also includes the signature of a Major with the Erzatzheer staff, who signed Für die Richtigkeit.
16. Panzer-Division was reformed in France in the spring of 1943. It was organized using a cadre of division veterans and Stalingrad survivors and was commanded by Oberst Rudolf Sieckenius, a regimental commander identified as a specialist and flown out of the pocket in January. Pfau was among the veterans assigned to the new division and served with 5. Kompanie, Panzergrenadier-Regiment 64. The division fought in Italy in 1943 and returned to the Eastern Front by 1944. During the fighting in southern Poland and in the area of the Vistula River, Pfau was awarded the Panzer Assault Badge in Bronze on November 16, 1944. He appears to have survived the war.
Sources:
MacLean, French L. Stalingrad, The Death of the German Sixth Army on the Volga, 1942-1943 Atglen: Schiffer Publishing Ltd 2013
Mitcham Jr., Samuel W. German Order of Battle, Volume Three, Panzer, Panzer Grenadier, and Waffen SS Divisions in World War II, Mechanicsburg: Stackpole Books 2007
Walsh, Stephen Stalingrad 1942-1943, The Infernal Cauldron New York: Thomas Dunne Books, St. Martins Press 2000
Lexicon der Wehrmacht http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/inhaltsverzeichnis1.htm
MacLean, French L. Stalingrad, The Death of the German Sixth Army on the Volga, 1942-1943 Atglen: Schiffer Publishing Ltd 2013
Mitcham Jr., Samuel W. German Order of Battle, Volume Three, Panzer, Panzer Grenadier, and Waffen SS Divisions in World War II, Mechanicsburg: Stackpole Books 2007
Walsh, Stephen Stalingrad 1942-1943, The Infernal Cauldron New York: Thomas Dunne Books, St. Martins Press 2000
Lexicon der Wehrmacht http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/inhaltsverzeichnis1.htm