Section Leaders:
   Fionn Kelly & Madmatt  

RECOMMENDATIONS

Unit Citation: Lt. Jork's Platoon

Personal Decorations: Knight's Cross to Lt. Jork, Iron Cross 1st Class and Panzer Assault Badge to Unt. Lengsfeld, Iron Cross 2nd Class to rest of platoon (mostly posthumously).

CITATION TEXT

Layout of the Attack and Town Defense

The battle of Plomville hinged on the overwhelming American superiority in artillery. Lt. Jork's platoon was given the difficult mission of neutralizing this threat by clearing the American FOs from their OP on Hill 216. The successful accomplishment of this assignment resulted in no artillery at all falling on the main German positions and was instrumental to the overall success of German arms in this battle.

For this mission, Lt. Jork divided his platoon. He sent is squad of raw replacements forward as an OP over the draw in front of Hill 216. Once they reported the American route of advance on the German right, Jork led his most experienced troops in a dash past the wheat field, through the village NW of Plomville, and into the woods N of Hill 216. Their advance did not go unnoticed, however, and Jork's group began to take 60mm mortar fire as they reached the woods. Meanwhile, the squad at the OP in the draw was overrun and destroyed.

Despite the mortar fire, Jork quickly got his remaining troops on line and assaulted up the N slope of Hill 216, taking occasional bursts of small arms fire from the Americans below to the east. Undaunted although by now tired, Jork urged his men onwards. They overran an American infantry squad just below the summit and gained possession of the house on the crest. From this position they destroyed an FO unit and a .50 caliber machinegun and forced another FO unit to flee E down Hill 216.

Jork suspected more American units were in the woods on the S slope of Hill 216. He therefore detached his veteran squad to pursue the fleeing FO to the E and led Lengsfeld's squad S to sweep the woods. Unfortunately, as the veterans came into view on the forward slope of Hill 216, they were greeted with intense tank, mortar, and smallarms fire, and slain to a man. Their quarry thus escaped to a small patch of woods on the ridge between Hills 216 and 198, from which position it shortly attempted to exact vengeance on Jork.

By this time, more American tanks had entered the battle and had largely destroyed the West Wall fortifications with superior firepower from covered positions in the American rear. Despite the odds against him, Jork determined to attack these tanks with the 2 Panzerfaust of Lengsfeld's squad to take pressure off the pillboxes and buy time for German reinforcements to arrive. But as he led Lengsfeld down from the summit, 105mm shells began to burst in the trees above, together with main gun and MG fire from at least 2 tanks and an MG team. Heedless of mounting casualties, however, Jork pressed on with his vital mission and, inspired by his heroic example, Lengsfeld's troops followed. Their advance was nevertheless slowed due to having to take cover repeatedly. Still, they managed to reach the southernmost point of the pine forest within range of an M4A3(76)W. But before Lengsfeld's survivors could fire their single remaining Panzerfaust, the American tank fled east. This brought it into the sights of the Panther, which had just arrived, and resulted in the destruction of this tank.

Jork's platoon is therefore credited with an assist on this tank kill. In addition, their selfless sacrifice in drawing most of the remaining American heavy weapons fire onto themselves saved the German MLR from certain destruction before the reinforcements arrived.

But Jork and his 6 surviving men were not done yet. Their actions had so far only stabilized the situation, but at least 1 American tank and FO unit still remained in action and were potentially decisive. The latter was in sight on the ridge, however. Without hesitation, Jork and Lengsfeld charged across several hundred meters of open ground swept by MG fire to reach this position and destroy the FO unit.

This left the American tank, which was far on the American right rear supporting the infantry attack along the sunken road from a position out of sight of the Panther. Despite dwindling ammunition, numbers, and stamina, Jork again instantly decided to attack. He led Lengsfeld in a charge S and SW to the woods E of the crossroads in the American rear in an effort to locate the tank. On arrival, they destroyed American tank crewmen whom they discovered cowering in the bushes.

From his new position in the woods, Jork could see the American tank hiding behind the house S of the crossroads. He therefore urged his tired men to give 1 more effort; if the could reach the house at the crossroads, they could approach the tank hidden by the house to the south. Without complaint, Lengsfeld's men rushed forward once again.

This daring plan succeeded thanks solely to the indomitable spirit of Lengsfeld's men and the inspiring leadership of Jork. As they entered the 2nd house, the American tank detected them and fired a 75mm shell point blank into the house, killing 2 more of Lengsfeld's troops, and then tried to drive away. But having come so far, Lengsfeld's men were not to be denied. The 2 survivors jumped back up and, with Jork and his radio operator, forced the tank to button up while Lengsfeld grabbed the last Panzerfaust and, from a range of only 11m, destroyed the American tank. The surviving crewmen were gunned down, then Jork and his 4 remaining men collapsed in exhaustion. They made their way back to German lines after the defeat of the American attack.

Shorn of all its heavy supporting fires, the American infantry attack was repulsed with heavy casualties on the forward slopes of Hill 209. The reinforcing platoon, supported by the Panther, then counterattacked and regained the original German positions. This success was made possible only by the extreme valor displayed by Lt. Jork and the members of his platoon, especially Unt. Lengsfeld. Their actions were in the highest traditions of German arms and reflect great credit upon themselves and the Wehrmacht.

Given under my hand this 31st day of August, 1944

/s/ Oberst Geschosskopf (aka Bullethead)
Commanding, Plomville