After Action Report

Camden, Ohio

April 30-Mai 01 1999

Invasion front:

    Once again all our dreams of rest and home leave were put on hold. The situation was critical and the L.A.H. was once again called out as a Fire Brigade to stem the allied advance. The L.A.H. was camped in a thick forest which gave us some rest from the accursed allied aircraft. Friday saw the arrival of the 1st Kp. under SS-Ostuf. Grossardt and 2nd Kp. under SS-Ostuf. Pemberton. These 2 Kompanies were to comprise our strikeforce under SS-Hastuf. Taylor. The Regimental Stab Kp. under SS-Hastuf. Smith had previously arrived and had begun planning our mission. The Motor Grüppe under SS- Ostuf. Graebe had performed another miracle. We were once again to be an "armored" unit.
    The 251 had arrived along with a kettenkrad,motorcycles, kübels and a
schwimmer. Although we only had enough transport to carry about 1/2 of
the kampfgrüppe, careful planning insured no one would be left behind. During the late afternoon, a reconnaissance mission was undertaken by the Rgt. Kommandeur. After crossing a large lake, valuable information was obtained about the allied positions. As SS-Hastuf. Smith and SS-Ostubaf. Poddig were returning across the lake, The sky seemed to suddenly be filled with Jabos! I told SS-Hastuf. Smith to hurry as the middle of a lake is no where to try to hide from an air attack. To my embarrassment, the good Hastuf. laughed and suggested that I wipe the spray from my driving goggles. When I did, I noticed that the Jabos were only a flock of geese!

    When we returned to our camp, SS-Hastuf. Taylor had organized some of the men into a night patrol to keep the allies off balance. After a brief but intense action, our patrol returned with their mission accomplished. 

    After the usual morning routine in camp, the 2nd Kp. along with Bataillonführer Taylor moved out to our first objective. The 1st. Kp. and Rgt. stab Kp. with Regimentalführer Poddig boarded the vehicles and protected the flank of 2 Kp.. After about an hour without enemy contact by the L.A.H., new orders were received. We were to locate and destroy an American mortar battery which had become quite troublesome to a Fallschirmjäger unit which was guarding a vital bridge. We would use the classical pincer movement which had served us well in Russia. 1st and part of 2nd Kp. with SS-Hastuf. Taylor would attack the battery from the protection of the forest. The Rgt. Stab Kp. along with part of the 2Kp. moved out in the vehicles to flank the enemy. As the column moved down the road, It came under fire from a reconnaissance unit of the U.S. 4th Armored division. The men of the L.A.H. dismounted and made short work of the G.I.s. One of the prisoners, a Lt. stated to me, " We were doing fine while the column was moving but when your men started to pour out of the vehicles, I felt like we had disturbed a nest of German hornets!". So it was seen from the enemies eyes. As we neared the mortar battery, they shifted there fire onto our column. As the 251 moved forward SS-Usha. Montgomery poured devastating fire onto the enemy position from his MG 34. SS-Ustuf. Fraker led his zug in a flanking movement and cut off the allies route of retreat. With the full might of the L.A.H. brought to bear, The battery was overrun and the threat eliminated.
    Once again, just as we thought we might get a short rest, new orders arrived. This time SS-Hastuf. Taylor led his Battalion down the road toward the reported American headquarters. The motorized column moved across the fields to bypass suspected roadblocks. The motorized column reached the allied headquarters but only had to fight a small rearguard squad. The bulk of the retreating allied headquarters ran headlong into SS-Hastuf. Taylors Btn.. There was a furious battle but once again, the veterans of the L.A.H. had no problem in completing their mission. We received orders to return to our own lines.

    With our unit so deep behind the enemies lines, I was reluctant to give up what we had gained but It must be something important for Division to pull us back. When we arrived back at camp we found out why. A Kreigsberichter unit was sent by OKW to get photos of our Rgt.!!! It seems that that Reichsführer Himmler   2nd cousin, SS-Usha. G. Montgomery was due a decoration and that was what caused all the fuss!!! At the awards formation, many of the men received their richly deserved decorations and accolades. Along with SS-Usha. G. Montgomery's 20th year faithful service award, I was
privileged to present our cufftitle to 2 new L.A.H. men.

    With the formation dismissed, meals were prepared, weapons and vehicles were prepared for the next action. At this time, the Regimental Kommandeur,
true to tradition, personally served the men of the Regiment Jagermeister, the official drink of our Rgt.. The rest of the evening was spent in Kamraderie.

RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED Fur Die L.A.H.

SS-Obersturmbannführer Poddig,

Rgt. Kommandeur