German Newsreel- Combined Arms attack over a open field trench system

I've watched quite a few German newsreels, but none of them (even the Kursk one) is as well shot as the German assault on Kerch 1942. It really brings you into the battlefield and gives a lucid impression of "blitzkrieg".

YouTube - German troops Assault Kerch (part 1 of 2)

YouTube - German troops Assault Kerch (part 2 of 2)

 

I like the recoil of the 8.8 but those Stuka dives are awesome. Excellent find Wolfy

 

It's well directed, and to summarize:

1. Flak batteries softening enemy targets with direct fire. Assault infantry creep and wait.

2. Assault infantry advance with Assault guns and clear trench obstacles and minefields. Heavy weapons are driven into the breech. Artillery and Flak is firing on enemy defenses.

3. Stuka support arrives and attacks Soviet defenses. Von Manstein and von R watch. The infantry advance through the open field supported by assault guns and halfracks and fire at Soviet defense.

4. Soviet line of defense collapses under the weight of firepower and Soviet troops surrender in droves.

5. Bicycle troops, horse trains, and armored halftracks move into the breech. Tank columns appear and move through.

6. Masses of German troops, vehicle columns, and equipment pass the Soviet rear area- abandoned artillery guns and hull down tanks are found.

7. Stukas and medium bombers attack the next target (presumably the soviet defended town/city).

8. German assault infantry supported by self propelled flak guns, flak artillery, A/T guns, assault guns, and tanks attack the Soviets in house to house street fighting.

9. Soviet troops defending the town/city surrender.

 

I like how you were actually feel involved with the soldiers,like ,you're part of the action ,up close and personal.
Also,did you see a german smoking an English pipe,lol.

 

Couldnt have said it better myself

 

I'm not possitive, but I believe that those two newsreels were included in that set of DVDs I got from Netflix on the subject of Nazi newsreels. They look familiar at any rate. That was a great set of DVDs as well. One of the few I watched more than one time through.

Thanks for posting them Wolfy.

 

I read Glantz's account of this operation and it was quite a stunning success for the Manstein.

The Soviet defenders at Kerch numbered some 240,000 men. They had almost three times more tanks and artillery (and twice as many men as the Germans).

The Germans under von Manstein had 1 panzer, 4 infantry, and 3 Romanian divisions. All the Axis units were worn out but were lucky to have first rate leadership. They were supported by von Richthofen's air group which had 600 aircraft.

With the support of the Luftwaffe's air supremacy (which flew 2,000 sorties a day), a single German Panzer brigade cut through the Soviet defense like butter and stormed into the rear, destroying the Soviet armor (350 tanks) before they could get ready. German infantry engulfed Soviet defenses with heavy support from artillery, rocket, and flak batteries.

But the most decisive factor (besides the Panzer brigade) was the Stuka and medium bombers which drove the Soviet troops into disarray and shock. The Soviet defense was incoherent.

The loss of Kerch city cost the Soviets 170,000 POWs compared to the German loss of only 7,500 casualties.

 

it is official propaganda from the Deutsche Wochenschau newsreels that were shown to the folks back home weekly.

the newsreels were translated after war obviously and sold in the US of A years ago through IHF out of Chicago, Illinois. was called Through Enemy Eyes. the translated into English films were hi-jacked and are now sold on-line through several dealerships calling them of course lost and found originals...............ha !

did you know that Deutsche Wochenschau, un-edited is still made available through their own copyrighted web-site in Germany ??

hopeful this explains a bit .........

 

what website is that, Erich?

 

Wochenschau-Archiv

German Wartime Newsreels (Die Deutsche Wochenschau)

 

Thank you, this is very excellent

 

Here is a link to the Netflix offering I was thinking of, it is one of three DVDs on the subject:

Netflix Online Movie Rentals - Rent DVDs, Classic Films to DVD New Releases

They aren't available on the "Watch Instantly" section of Netflix, or I would watch them again.