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Into Battle - with 'Der Windhund!'Throughout the year the Group takes part in 'battle re-enactments', some privately arranged, some as part of a public show, such as those held at the War & Peace Show, the Victory Show, the Bovington Tank Museum 'Tankfest' show and most recently the 'Operation Market Garden' event held at Spanhoe airfield in 2008. Here are a selection of pictures from a variety of those events that our group has been involved in over the last few seasons and many are courtesy of Nick Halling and Stuart Gould. If you think it looks like fun, it is! If you want to know more and get involved in this great pastime, then go straight to the Recruitment page to find out what to do next!
" With considerable delays due to shortage of fuel, most of the Division mounted the attack on the objective, Noiseux. The attack was behind the advance battalion, which was already far ahead, but to avoid potentially great losses in the battle in Houffalize, the attacking elements turned off the intended march route southward towards Mabompré - Bretogne - Ortho - La Roche. They along with the advance battalion, followed by Kampfgruppe Bayer, had to move forward further west via Gives-Givrolle due to the demolished bridge north of the Bretogne. Against heavy enemy resistance, during this move, the advance battalion gained the partially destroyed Wiomport bridge, and this morning, the intact Ortheuville bridge. Since the repair of the bridge at Wiomport would require too much time, since the report about the capture of the bridge at Ortheuville arrived too late, and since Houffalize was deemed free of the enemy, this morning, corps staff ordered the Division to do the following: Turn to the north bank of the Ourthe via Houffalize and press on from there, via the bridge at La Roche or any other crossing that would have to be captured to push towards the old objective, Noiseux. By all these movements, the Americans are completely surprised and are in substantial turmoil. Long columns of prisoners march towards the east, many tanks were destroyed or captured. Our 'Landsers' are loaded with cigarettes, chocolates and canned food, and are smiling from ear to ear! The combat units were able to fill the gaps caused by missing vehicles in their convoys with captured ones. Along the roads are immense piles of artillery ammunition. Along the Helzingen via Trotten (Luxembourg) road up to here alone, I estimate the captured amount to be 25,000 rounds. How wonderful that this blessing will not fall on our heads! Sometimes, complete American motorised convoys with all their crew roll past us. The faces of the prisoners are full of disbelief and amazement." Major Franz Vogelsang, Division Adjutant, 20th December 1944.
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