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Maginot Line at War 1939-1940 |
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Unteroffizier Franz Netzsch |
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This webpage was made possible by Mr. S. Orchard who generously provided these images from
Franz Netzsch's photo album and Soldbuch. The 215th Infantry Division was formed on 26 August 1939 as a division of the 3rd wave. Its home station
was
Late in the French campaign, on 19 June 1940, the 215th Infantry Division attacked a weak section of the Maginot
Line in the The 215th Infantry Division was one of the few German divisions to successfully break through the Maginot Line. The attack began with a short artillery barrage followed by a combined infantry-engineer assault. The 380th Infantry Regiment quickly took two French blockhouses, but encountered stubborn resistance from the crews of two other blockhouses who held out until afternoon. By nightfall, six more blockhouses were captured. Meanwhile, the 435th Infantry Regiment quickly seized one casemate and two blockhouses in a frontal assault, followed by three adjacent casemates (including Blockhouse Verrerie pictures below). The regiment then widened its penetration by attacking nearby blockhouses from the rear. At day's end, the division had taken 22 casemates and blockhouses. French casualites were light, only about 15 killed. The next day, 20 June, the 215th Infantry Division exploited its breakthrough, advancing south to the city of Haguenau. Between 18 and 20 June, the 215th Infantry Division’s casualties were 31 killed and 108 wounded. The division took 1,460 French prisoners. The 215th Infantry Division spent the rest of 1940 and much of 1941 on occupation duty in
Blockhouse Verrerie
(Known to the Germans as Werk 685) This blockhouse
was taken by infantry of 435th Infantry Regiment supported by engineers from the 2nd and 3rd Companies of the
Pionier-Batallion 204 (Franz Netzsch’s unit). The blockhouse was armed with twin 7.5mm machine guns (one firing to each flank to form
interlocking fires with the adjacent blockhouses) and two heavy machine guns for anti-tank purposes. Mounted on top
of the blockhouse is an armored cupola for observation and close-in defense.
French Prisoners These French
soldiers are members the French 165th Fortress Infantry Regiment. Of interest is the NCO holding the MP34.
He is a WWI veteran, indicated by the ribbon bar he's wearing. On his left breast pocket is the Silesian Eagle
1st Class (a Freikorps award). Also, he is wearing WWI style puttees and not jackboots. Note the demolition charges
carried by the German engineer on the far right.
French Prisoners Maginot Line blockhouses and casemates typically had a crew size of between 20 and 30 soldiers. Most French
histories of the Maginot Line identify the soldiers seen in these photographs as the crew of Blockhouse
Verrerie.
French Prisoners The injuries
displayed by the French soldiers are head wounds and nose and ear bleeds. These are typical injuries resulting from the detonation of grenades
and explosives.
Stosstrupp from 3.\Pi.Bat. 204 This photograph was taken just after the battle. Franz Netzsch is kneeling in the foreground with an "X" above
his head. For his part in
the action, Netzsch was awarded the Iron Cross, 2nd Class on the 3rd July 1940. Of note are the NCOs equipped
with Austrian MP34s and the machine gunner with an MG13; not the "classic" MP40 and MG34. Clearly, the 215th Infantry
Division, which was formed in August 1939, was issued older weapons. Also of interest is how the assault
team dressed and what they took with them when assaulting the French blockhouses. Most of the soldiers are
not wearing equipment belts or equipment items like bread bags, water bottles, and gas masks. All they have are
weapons, lots of grenades, demolition charges, and pockets stuffed full of ammunition.
Fortress Hochwald, Block 6 Later that summer Netzsch and his comrades returned to the
Hochwald, Block 3 As one of the largest Maginot fortresses, many German units toured the fortress in the summer and fall of 1940.
For this reason, photographs of Hochwald are relatively common, although photographs of Block 3 are rare. This block
was built to provide defense against an infantry attack. It is armed with two 75mm cannons, two 50mm mortars, and two
twin 7.5mm machine guns. The embrasures for these weapons are visible behind the soldiers.
Wehrpass, Postings
Wehrpass,
Awards The left page
shows Netzsch’s promotions. The right page shows two of his awards with a note saying they continue on page 26. The page is signed by the kompanie chef of 2.\Geb.Pi.btl.
91 of the 6 Geb.Div. - 3 July 1940,
Iron Cross 2nd Class (EKII) - 3 March 1942, General
Assault Badge (Sturmabzeichen) It is important
to note that when 3./Pi.Btl.204 was transferred from the 215th Infantry Division to the 6th Mountain (Gebirgs) Division it
was re-designated the 2./ Gebirgs Pionier Btl.91.
26.8.39
– 7.1.1940 Defensive position on the upper Rhine |
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