Wiking Horde WTO (id:#63032)

(Special Ops # 7 ID: O14)   [next]   [previous]

Ricklingen, Germany 1945-04-08 (13 others)

Overview:

In early April 1945, SS-Hauptsturmfiihrer Karl Nicolussi-Leck and 150 men of SS-Panzer-Division 5 "Wiking" were sent from Hungary to pick up new tanks at the Paderbom factory. Along the way they were re-routed to Bückeburg, where they were informed of several armored vehicles in a nearby Wehrmacht vehicle depot. Here they collected 13 halftracks and proceeded to Hanover for orders. That city's commandant, Generalmajor Paul Löhning, instructed Nicolussi-Leck to take up defensive positions northwest of Stacken in anticipation of an attack there by the U.S. 84th Infantry Division. A worker at the Hanomag factory informed Nicolussi-Leck of several brand new tanks in the factory yard of the MHN facility. He assembled crews and rushed to the factory to find seven Jagdpanthers and a Bergepanther, missing a few vital parts and fuel. Trucks were sent to acquire the necessary supplies while the Jagdpanthers' guns were calibrated and test-fired. The next day, Nicolussi-Leck's Kampfgruppe took up its assigned positions. He also decided to move to Ricklingen and take up positions there to withstand any American attempt to seize the Leine bridge.

Defender: German (SS) (SS-Panzer-Division 5 "Wiking" and garrison units)  

Errata (source)