The Enemy Strikes

Click on the above link to view War Department film that contains captured German film that depicts actions and locales involving the 30th Divison.

Please use the counter running on film to locate the sections corresponding with the following descriptions.

4:10

Dec. 18, 1944 Monday afternoon...SS-Obersturmfuhrer Hans-Martin Leidreiter, commander of 3/Pz.AA1 (left) and
SS-Sturmbannfuhrer Gustav Knittel, commander of Kampfgruppe Knittel consult maps at the small hamlet of
La Vaux-Richard about one mile southeast of Stavelot.  Kampfgruppe Knittel, 1.SS-Panzer-Division's
reinforced reconnaissance battalion was supporting Kampfgruppe Peiper further to the west. 
(Note two SdKfz 251 armored personnel carriers, heavily camouflaged, behind.)


Another still-photo of same consultation


Map of Stavelot area with Vaulx-Richard underlined in yellow

4:13


I believe this features the Commander of the 5.Panzer-Armee
General Hasson Von Manteuffel (Bundesarchiv)

4:36

Kaiserbaracke Crossroads on the road from St. Vith to Malmedy, Dec. 18th.
German armored vehicle after traveling north is turning to the west toward Recht. During the January offensive to retake St. Vith by the 30th Division, there was a strong German roadblock at this location. 


Maps of the Kaiserbaracke Crossroads

4:41


Taken at the Kaiserbaracke Crossroads on Dec. 18th members of the 1.SS-Panzer-Division's reconnaissance unit
SS-Panzer-Aufklarungs-Abteilung.1, stop their Schwimmwagen to pose for the German filmmaker.

5:10


One of the most famous footage of the Ardennes Battle..seen in almost every documentary...Konigstiger No. 222 of schwere SS-Panzer-Abteilung 501 passes through the Kaiserbaracke Crossroads headed to north towards Ligneuville to catch up with the main body of Kampfgruppe Peiper.

5:15


At the Kaiserbaracke Crossroads a Steyr 1500A/02 towing a 12cm GrW 42 heavy mortar of
Kampfgruppe Hansen turns west towards Recht.

5:50 to 6:40
7:30 to 7:45
10:28 to 11:10


The three segments above all show elements of Kampfgruppe Hansen attacking along the road from Recht to Poteau.  The action takes place just a few hundred meters north of Poteau.  The time is December 18th in the morning.  The American vehicles are those of Task Force Hayes composed of elements of the 14th Calvary Group and 820th Tank Destroyer Battalion.  The vehicles have been abandoned when the Task Force was forced to retreat to Poteau.  In the January offensive to retake St. Vith the 30th fought directly through this area.  However, there was several feet of snow covering the area by then.

Map of area with Yellow arrow pointing to exact location.

7:11


Reverend Francois Ernes prays at the temporary grave of civilians killed by Kampfgruppe Peiper during the battle for Stavelot.  Many 30th soldiers found the slain civilians in and around Stavelot.  Little mercy could be shown to the Germans after these brutal murders and those of the Malmedy Massacre.