11 april 1945,
To the Army High Command,
Major Banks.
66th Armor Regiment.
2nd Armored Division.
Due to your report application about the recent skirmish that occured near the town of Rittersdorf, and the casualties resulting in it, I'm writing this to explain to you the current situation in the town and the reason of our losses.
It was in the morning of april, 9th, our armored company, composed of veteran for the major part, was advancing in the german country with an astonishing speed, and with little resistance. However this day, it changed. We heard from our recce that german infantry supported by AT assets was defending the little town of Rittersdorf. Despite this (supposedly) weak opposition, we decided to continue our advance and assault this town. For this I had under my command 2 tanks platoons, my command platoon, armored rifles with halftracks and artillery support with M8.
We attacked just after the morning mist dispersed, on a terrain favorising large tank deployment.
We deployed in the muddy field, our objectives were between the woods (the burnt out tank) and on the hill.
My two tank platoons were ready to charge the left flank, and head for the forest objective.
Meanwhile the ARP and my command sherman supported by M8s would attack the right.
Facing us, an array of supposedly weak and unexperienced german troops.
As the weather started to darken, we started moving, advancing on the germans quietly, as if they were canon fodder. What a mistake...
Then a heavy rain appeared... it means "no air support lads..." ARP rolled on the right flank, hopping to reach the hill objective as fast as possible.
With the rain and the poor visibility resulting in it, the platoon leader stopped to appreciate the situation more conveniently...and this is were everything has gone to sh*t... The germans weren't rookies at all, and as my platoon leader stared at the camouflaged tunics the enemy was wearing, a shout echoed:
-" Sugar-Sugar! "
This codename was far too known by the US troops... SS soldiers...we just had in front of us a company of the most violent and fanatical animals of the Reich... F*ck!
But as I was lost in my thoughts about how to take up the problem, frightened call to help and support bursted out in my radio, and sounds more terrifying than any other started to whisper at my ears... the dreadful whistling of high velocity anti tank rounds!
PaKs started to fire at our tanks with poor accuracy due to the heavy rain...but it was just a question of time before they finished taking their aim!
-" Halten sie die Stellung soldaten! Das ist unser Land!"
The Armored Rifle Platoon, pushing hard on the right flank, soon arrived in sight of the objective! The battle will soon be over, what could go wrong?
I sent my second sherman platoon in a flanking movement, hoping for some cover behind the house...
While my 75mm shermans started to pound smoke, round after round, on the PaKs.
But then everything has gone to sh*t... They had a f*****g Tiger tank! Ambushing my second sherman platoon, it halted my flanking move!
-"Amerikanische Panzer, panzergranate geläden, Zweihundert Meter, Feuer wenn sie bereit!"
At the first 88mm barking, we all knew one of us would be dead. Then Brentson's turret flew off in the air, followed by a flame wreath.
Trying to avoid the Tiger's wrath, the sherman platoon turned right, hoping to outrun and outflank the fearsome machine.
In the meantime, M8's failed to hit their target...bad luck today...
A piece of hope showed up with the near victory of the ARP on the right...
While the first PaK was destroyed after a prolonged battle! I thought we could finally overcome the bad luck.
But an another sherman disappeared in a burst of fire and smoke, one of the numerous victims of the Tiger.
Adding pain to a situation already painful, the german reserves arrived in the form of a panzer 4 platoon!
"-Neu zu laden! Stoppen sie ihre angriff!"
The brave dogfaces dismounted to counter the incoming panzer platoon.
Reducing each time a little more the distance between them and the german metal beast, our tanks arrived at a mere dozen meters from the Tiger. It's our chance guys! Don't waste it!
The CO sherman managed to land smoke onto the Tiger hoping to hide his comrades from the heavy tank's wrath.
-"COME ON SOLDIERS! HOLD THE SHOCK! SHOW THEM YOU'VE GOT SOME!"
Emerging from the smoke cloud, the Tiger pointed out it's heavy turret, searching for a prey. What a beast...
After the initial shock and awe, the GI's were forced to fall back, before the threat of the german panzers.
The lone PaK carried on its job, causing death and destruction into the first platoon.
-"COME ON WILLIS, GET THIS BAST*RD IN ITS BACK!"
The panzers pushed hard into our right flank, crushing anyone who dared to face them... not good at all, the right flank desperatly need support!
The machineguns retained their fire, waiting for the escorting infantry.
One of the bazooka team managed to bail a panzer 4.
As well as the Tiger, the crew being forced to dismount by the numerous sherman rounds that the heavy tank took.
The last PaK is finally destroyed.
But the odds are getting desperate for us, as a panzergrenadier platoon arrived, following the panzers.
In the same time, having remounted their heavy tank, the panzerschutzen pointed their dreadful 88mm gun toward our remaining tanks. Gosh...
The Panzer 4s caused havoc amongst our ranks, and with the last bazooka team disappeared beneath their iron treads, we had nothing left to oppose them.
-"MAJOR! WE NEED SUPPORT NOW! WE ARE GETTING SHRED TO PIECES HERE!"
Following the panzers' death trail, the panzergrenadiers assaulted the ARP survivors, killing them without mercy. Damn SS troops!
At this point of the battle, I decided to fall back, and ordered a general retreat, covering the survivors of the ARP with my lasts shermans. The town was all but secured and our advance toward the heart of the cursed Reich came to a grinding halt. As I will soon be relieved of my duties, I hope my successor will take on this damn city, and that the war will soon be over for us. It's time to come back home...all of us.
Major Banks.
