1. 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
2. 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
3. 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
4. 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
5. 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
6. 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 Soviet
soldiers broke through the line near Grenowo. They were finally stopped by the last divisional
reserve of one NCO, 9 soldiers, one machine gun and some stragglers from IR 470. The position
was now seen as serious enough for the order to be given for the division to evacuate their positions
on 27 January 1942. The losses suffered by the division at this time is shown by the fact that the
actual 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.
7. 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
8. 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.
9. 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.