Attention Major @Mehlsack !!
Midnight, JULY 14, 1944
Weather: light rain, damp ground conditions
The situation is serious - the front on both our flanks has collapsed.
We are once again in danger of being outflanked by enemy mobile units bypassing us to the SW.
Army Group is abandoning Minsk and 12th Panzer Division has been ordered to cover the southern flank of the retreat.
Your orders are to urgently move across the only remaining wooden bridges across the Vydzenskaya River in our divisional area at the town of Uzda and proceed through the town to deployment along our deep southern flank. One bridge has already been destroyed by Russian bombers, but Pioniere have managed to build an extra temporary bridge as well.
There is a traffic jam at the bridges of retreating supply and Corps/Army artillery convoys and the town is under intense Russian harassing artillery fire from long range 122mm guns -- which gives you an idea just how close the enemy has pushed our covering forces during day.
You are to post a senior officer of your Kampfgruppe at the bridge traffic control point and have authority from Korps command to clear all traffic out the way and get your Kampfgruppe across the river and to the withdrawal zone as quickly as possible.
In addition, have a senior officer of your Kampfgruppe make contact with a heavy tank destroyer unit which is reported to resupplying in the far end of the town and take their vehicles under your command and order them to the withdrawal point as well.
They will only move once they have been contacted by yourself or an officer from your Kampfgruppe.
Your HQ command group has arrived at Uzda ahead of the rest of your Kampfgruppe which should follow you as quickly as they can -- the rapid night march has stretched the column somewhat.
Once again, speed is of the essence -- we wish you good luck in this operation commander, and hope your units come through this without significant personnel casualties or loss of vehicles.
Midnight, JULY 14, 1944
Weather: light rain, damp ground conditions
The situation is serious - the front on both our flanks has collapsed.
We are once again in danger of being outflanked by enemy mobile units bypassing us to the SW.
Army Group is abandoning Minsk and 12th Panzer Division has been ordered to cover the southern flank of the retreat.
Your orders are to urgently move across the only remaining wooden bridges across the Vydzenskaya River in our divisional area at the town of Uzda and proceed through the town to deployment along our deep southern flank. One bridge has already been destroyed by Russian bombers, but Pioniere have managed to build an extra temporary bridge as well.
There is a traffic jam at the bridges of retreating supply and Corps/Army artillery convoys and the town is under intense Russian harassing artillery fire from long range 122mm guns -- which gives you an idea just how close the enemy has pushed our covering forces during day.
You are to post a senior officer of your Kampfgruppe at the bridge traffic control point and have authority from Korps command to clear all traffic out the way and get your Kampfgruppe across the river and to the withdrawal zone as quickly as possible.
In addition, have a senior officer of your Kampfgruppe make contact with a heavy tank destroyer unit which is reported to resupplying in the far end of the town and take their vehicles under your command and order them to the withdrawal point as well.
They will only move once they have been contacted by yourself or an officer from your Kampfgruppe.
Your HQ command group has arrived at Uzda ahead of the rest of your Kampfgruppe which should follow you as quickly as they can -- the rapid night march has stretched the column somewhat.
Once again, speed is of the essence -- we wish you good luck in this operation commander, and hope your units come through this without significant personnel casualties or loss of vehicles.
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