Dörmann, Friedrich (Grenadier-Regiment 528)
- Date of birth:
- January 29th, 1905 (Gelsenkirchen/Westphalia, Germany)
- Date of death:
- June 5th, 1999 (Witzenhausen/Hesse, Germany)
- Nationality:
- German (1933-1945, Third Reich)
Biography
Friedrich Dörmann reached the rank of Major z.V.
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Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Awarded on:
- August 1942
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Overleutnant zur Verwendung
- Unit:
- Führer, III. Bataillon, Grenadier-Regiment 528, 299. Infanterie-Division, Heer
- Awarded on:
- May 28th, 1943
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Awarded on:
- 1943
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Hauptmann zur Verwendung
- Unit:
- Führer, II. Bataillon, Grenadier-Regiment 528
- Awarded on:
- December 23rd, 1943
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Hauptmann zur Verwendung
- Unit:
- Kommandeur, III. Bataillon, Grenadier-Regiment 528, 299. Infanterie-Division, Heer
- Awarded on:
- January 18th, 1944
On the 23.12.1943 a report from the OKW stated that: The II./Grenadier-Regiment 528 under the command of Hauptmann Dörmann has particularly distinguished itself in the heavy offensive and defensive battles southwest of Shlobin.
This excerpt referred to actions that took place earlier that month, as Soviet forces were trying to force a breakthrough between the Beresina and Dnieper rivers. Hauptmann Dörmann and 140 men of his Bataillon had occupied the strongpoint Helgoland, a commanding pair of hills located in the middle of a swamp.
On the early morning of the 14.12.1943 the Soviets attacked this hill in battalion strength, however they were bloodily repulsed by the German artillery and MGs. Then, at 08:00, the Soviets in turn pounded the hill with a truly devastating barrage of their own. This bombardment levelled trenches, destroyed most of the MGs and buried many of the defenders.
The Soviets proceeded to launch an infantry attack at 08:30. One regiment assaulted the southern hill of the strongpoint, while a battalion penetrated between the northern and southern hills. They succeeded in capturing the southern hill after bitter close combat and securing a foothold on the northern hill with an initial force of 200 men. In response Hauptmann Dörmann gathered up the messengers and clerks from his staff as well as a few Grenadiers (20 men altogether) and launched a counterattack against the Soviets. This succeeded in clearing them from the northern hill.
However the Soviets were not about to give up easily, as the fate of their offensive in this sector depended on controlling both hills. They attacked the northern hill from all sides with about 700 men against a defense consisting of Hauptmann Dörmann and only 35 combat-capable Grenadiers. Despite this the brave defenders fought off attack after attack, although by 11:00 only one operational MG still remained.
At 12:00 the Soviets gathered up all their forces once again and moved out for one final assault, supported by numerous artillery pieces of all calibers. However at this moment 2 squads of the regimental Pionier-Zug arrived at the hill as reinforcements. Hauptmann Dörmann immediately resolved to take advantage of the confusion that this caused among the enemy. He took the 2 reinforcement squads and launched a sally against the Soviet eastern group, which had about 200 men. He smashed this group and forced the survivors to retreat back into the swamp. Then he turned against the enemy forces that had broken-in from the south, striking them in their flank and likewise throwing them back. The loss of so many forces compelled the Soviets to ultimately break off this attack.
In total the Soviets lost over 500 dead, 55 prisoners, 9 artillery pieces, 45 MGs, 15 anti-tank rifles and numerous other weapons during this battle. Hauptmann Dörmann would subsequently receive the Knights Cross for managing to achieve a victory here under the most hopeless of circumstances.
This excerpt referred to actions that took place earlier that month, as Soviet forces were trying to force a breakthrough between the Beresina and Dnieper rivers. Hauptmann Dörmann and 140 men of his Bataillon had occupied the strongpoint Helgoland, a commanding pair of hills located in the middle of a swamp.
On the early morning of the 14.12.1943 the Soviets attacked this hill in battalion strength, however they were bloodily repulsed by the German artillery and MGs. Then, at 08:00, the Soviets in turn pounded the hill with a truly devastating barrage of their own. This bombardment levelled trenches, destroyed most of the MGs and buried many of the defenders.
The Soviets proceeded to launch an infantry attack at 08:30. One regiment assaulted the southern hill of the strongpoint, while a battalion penetrated between the northern and southern hills. They succeeded in capturing the southern hill after bitter close combat and securing a foothold on the northern hill with an initial force of 200 men. In response Hauptmann Dörmann gathered up the messengers and clerks from his staff as well as a few Grenadiers (20 men altogether) and launched a counterattack against the Soviets. This succeeded in clearing them from the northern hill.
However the Soviets were not about to give up easily, as the fate of their offensive in this sector depended on controlling both hills. They attacked the northern hill from all sides with about 700 men against a defense consisting of Hauptmann Dörmann and only 35 combat-capable Grenadiers. Despite this the brave defenders fought off attack after attack, although by 11:00 only one operational MG still remained.
At 12:00 the Soviets gathered up all their forces once again and moved out for one final assault, supported by numerous artillery pieces of all calibers. However at this moment 2 squads of the regimental Pionier-Zug arrived at the hill as reinforcements. Hauptmann Dörmann immediately resolved to take advantage of the confusion that this caused among the enemy. He took the 2 reinforcement squads and launched a sally against the Soviet eastern group, which had about 200 men. He smashed this group and forced the survivors to retreat back into the swamp. Then he turned against the enemy forces that had broken-in from the south, striking them in their flank and likewise throwing them back. The loss of so many forces compelled the Soviets to ultimately break off this attack.
In total the Soviets lost over 500 dead, 55 prisoners, 9 artillery pieces, 45 MGs, 15 anti-tank rifles and numerous other weapons during this battle. Hauptmann Dörmann would subsequently receive the Knights Cross for managing to achieve a victory here under the most hopeless of circumstances.
Sources
- Photo 1: Russ Nummer
- - FELLGIEBEL, W.P., Elite of theThird Reich, Helion & Company Limited, Solihull, 2003.
- PATZWALL, K. & SCHERZER, V., Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941-1945, Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall, Norderstedt, 2001.
- THOMAS, FRANZ & WEGMANN, GÜNTER, Die Ritterkreuzträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht 1939-1945, Biblio Verlag, Osnabrück, 1998.
Photo
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