Many thanks to the continuing efforts of John Pridige of the UK, who has checked and crossed referenced much of the existing info with new data. John has made many corrections and additions, and is responsible for the rapid growth and accuracy of this list. This page last edited May 25, 2014 |
| September 1944 By order of the Reichsführer SS, the date of the initial employment of the A-4 was set for September 5, 1944. Two officers are provided with the necessary authority to bring the two groups North and South into action. Leader of Group North is Major Mertin. Leader of Group South is Major Schulz. Shortage of time and the problems of bringing a new weapon into action, as well as the uncertainty of activities at the front, will hinder these plans. The staff of the supply platoon was divided. Oberst zum Eschenhoff remains in Group North, Major Jester is transferred to Group South for the supply task. Group South receives a greater number of vehicles, for the transport platoon 899. In another meeting Major Mertin is charged with the task to determine the transfer of the units of the former Harko 191 and Gen.Kdo. LXV. A.K. to the A-4 troop. On Saturday, September 2, Battery 444 traveled to Euskirchen with orders to proceed south to attack Paris. On Sunday, September 3, Batt. 485 moves into Den Haag (The Hague) to set up operations against London. The influential suburb of Wassenaar is chosen as the first launching location.
Wednesday Sept. 06, (09.00 hours) - Battery 444, St. Vith, 18 km southeast of Malmedy (Belgium), rocket misfire. Sept. 06, (09.40 hours) - Battery 444, St. Vith, 18 km southeast of Malmedy (Belgium), rocket misfire. Both rockets came up to full power, lifted a few feet and then set back down on firing table, still vertical, when engines cut off. The intended target for each rocket was Paris. Battery 444 also suffered its first combat losses this same day when the unit was attacked by partisans. On Thursday,
September 7, Battery 444 moves to a new
Site (17 miles southeast of former Site) near
Houffalize (Belgium). It was a place between
Baraque de Fraiture et Houffalize, in an area
(very little village, only a few houses) called
Petites Tailles. This is about 3 km south of
Barraque de Fraiture.
Meanwhile, Batt.
2./485 in Wassenaar
experienced a storm that uprooted trees (one tree fell on the
test tent). Also problems with the new ground
equipment delayed the launches. The launches on September 8 from Wassenaar lifted off simutaniously and were performed using the I-Gerät. However, confusing radio signals were transmitted during the launches and the reactions of the enemy observed. On Saturday,
September 9, the RAF located the first
launching Sites in Wassenaar and attacked. A heated
battle ensued with anti-aircraft batteries. Later
that night, troops of Batt. 1./485 set up operations in the
Wassenaar area near The Hague. Group North
is reorganized: Major
Mertin is charged with special
tasks. Major von Ploetz now
is leader of Group North. Oberst
Hohmann is again leader of Battalion 485. Also on this
day Battery
444 leaves Houffalize
and started moving towards city
park in Middelburg (Walcheren). At this time
the unit was also designated now as a part
of Gruppe Nord. On its way
to Walcheren, first stop of
Battery 444
is Reichswald
south of Kleve/Cleves on September 11. There
Major Paschmeyer examines the route to
Walcheren and determines the launch sites. Command post of
Generalleutnant Kammler is set up at Berg
en Dal near Nijmegen. Transfer
of weapons and equipment
from Versorgungsführer I
to new troop
Art.Ers.Abt.271 in
Schneidemühl
The first
elements of Battery 444 and
3./Techn.Art.Abt.(mot)91 arrive at Bergen op
Zoom. Preliminary
troops proceed to Walcheren during the night
to establish the launch site
ahead of the main force.
Intensive
enemy air activities in Group North,
especially against traffic junctions. 150 aircraft bomb near a
launch site north of Den Haag,
without causing any damage to the
rocket troops. Bulk
of Battery 444
moved to Walcheren during the night. From
there the distance to
the center of London is
265 km. Meanwhile, Group South received
clearance for targets Tourcoing and Lille.
General Kammler had traveled to Walcheren and
was present when the first launches were
performed against London. However, the
preparations for the next round of launches were
hampered by intensive air activities of the
enemy. The supply line was interrupted for 12 or
more hours due to the bombings of the road
Bergen op Zoom/Middelburg between 19.00 and
20.00 hours. Just after noon on September 17, 1944, 12 Spitfires of No. 229 Squadron RAF took off from their base at Coltishall. Their mission was to scan a stretch of the Dutch coast looking for evidence of rocket activity. While patrolling at 12,000 feet over North Holland, they witnessed a V-2 rising in the distance at terrific speed. The rocket impacted several minutes later in greater London at Coulsdon. The Spitfires were too far away to discern the exact location from which the rocket had been fired. They could only report the general location, which was near the coast, possibly The Hague. Battery 444 launched their final rocket of the day that evening, which came down at Adelaide Road, Brockley, Lewisham, killing 14 people and injuring another 41.—T Dungan, V-2: A Combat History of the First Ballistic Missile, 2005 Later that evening, 27 Lancaster bombers and 5 Mosquito's, acting on a tip from the Dutch underground, attacked the surrounding area near Beukenhorst between Raaphorstlaan and Eikenhorstlaan. The attack took place between 18.38 hrs and 18.48 hrs. 169 tons of Brisant high explosive bombs and twenty-four 250-pound marker-bombs were dropped. Sighted visually, the target was well marked and the attack was concentrated with many bombs falling directly on target. These heavily wooded areas southeast of Wassenaar were suspected as V-2 supply depots but in fact were not.—Bomber Command; info supplied by Bert Koopman Very
intensive enemy air activity around
Nijmegen and Arnhem
during the start of Operation Market
Garden. Allied paratrooper
landings near the
command post of SB.2 near Nijmegen. After September 18-19 there were no V-2 troops near The Hague. Because of the Allied invasion of Operation "Market Garden," both the 1./485 and 2./485 moved to positions in the area Burgsteinfurt –Münster-Coesfeld with the new target area Belgian and northern French industrial area, while Battery 444 moved overnight to Dordrecht and supply site Blasig to east of Utrecht, then to Rijs in Gaasterland. Command post of SB.2 and Group North move to Darfeld. On September 22 General Kammler and General Dornberger were both concerned about the low amount of liquid oxygen, only 200 cubic meter a day, which could be used for only 24 rockets. On this day Batt. 3./836, moved to Hachenburg in Westerwald (Germany) to reopen operations. Targets would be: Lille, Tourcoing, Arras, Cambrai, Hasselt, Mons and Maastricht, with an average of 4 rockets fired per day.
On
September 29 Batt.
2./836, moves to Merzig (30 km south of
At Rijsterbos (Rijsterforest), because of the
explosion, the Mirnserleane (Mirnser road) was no
longer suitable for launches so they went to the
Middenleane (Midden road), and continued there. |
October 1944
Sunday
Batt. 2./485
moved from Burgsteinfurt and returned for
operations in The Hague. Batt. 3./836 joins Batt. 2./836 in Merzig, starting on Oct. 05. Between Oct. 4-12, 1./485 reports to have launched 10 times on Luttich from Burgsteinfurt. In total 27 impacted in the surroundings of Luttich.
On October 9-10 Batt. SS 500 arrives in Burgsteinfurt to begin operations near Heek and Darfeld.
On Oct. 18, at 08.15 hours, an air attack took place on Ockenburgh and Bloemendaal in Den Haag. 6 dive-bombers dropped their bombs.
During Oct. 21-22, elements of Battery 444 were moving from Rijs to Den Haag on these days. Batt. 3//485 opened fire against Antwerp on Oct. 21 from sites in Burgsteinfurt. Already operating in Burgsteinfurt since Oct. 10 was Batt. SS 500 During
the previous three weeks in Den Haag /
Wassenaar, usually one or two rockets were
launched on a day. But now with the Battery 444 troops from
Gaasterland, no less then 6 rockets were
launched per day. The new launch Site was the
Rijswijkse Bos, several meters away from a
monument to peace made in 1697.
On Oct. 24, there were 6 rockets fired from Sites at Wassenaar and Rijswijk. On Oct. 26, a new launch record was achieved by Battery 444 - a total of nine (9) rockets were fired this day from Wassenaar and Rijswijk, of which three within 45 minutes.
On
October 27 Batt. 836 begins
operations against
|
November 1944 Wednesay Nov. 01, (02.10 hours) - Battery 444, Scheveningen (Site 69), V-2 rocket fired, impacted Woolwich. 7 Dead, 11 seriously injured. 6 Houses demolished. (*JP) Nov. 01, (03.06 hours) - Battery 444, Scheveningen (Site 69), V-2 rocket fired, impacted Camberwell. 24 Dead, 17 seriously injured. 6 Houses demolished. (*JP) Nov. 01, (10.04 hours) - Batt. 1./836, (site unknown), V-2 rocket fired (impact unknown). (*JP) Nov. 01, (11.17 hours) - Batt. 2./836, (Site 202), V-2 rocket fired (impact unknown). (*JP) Nov. 01, (11.24 hours) - Batt. 1./836, (Site 324), V-2 rocket fired (impact unknown). (*JP) Nov. 01, (11.43 hours) - Batt. 1./836, (Site 324), V-2 rocket fired, possible impact Merksem. (*JP Nov. 01, (11.47 hours) - Batt. 2./836, (Site 202), V-2 rocket fired, possible impact either Merksem or Broechem. (*JP) Nov. 01, (12.40 hours) - Batt. 3./836, (Site 204), V-2 rocket fired, impacted SW of Sint-Truiden. Rocket disintegrated before impact. Debris fell on the areas of Velm and Attenhoven. 4 Persons seriously injured. Serious damage to 15 houses. (*JP-RD) Nov. 01, (13.54 hours) - Batt. 1./836, (site unknown), V-2 rocket fired. There is evidence that this rocket impacted in the Antwerp area, although exact location unknown. (*JP) Nov. 01, (14.25 hours) - Batt. 3./485, (Site 135), V-2 rocket fired, impacted SW of Brasschaat. (*JP) Nov. 01, (15.16 hours) - Batt. 2./836, (Site 202), V-2 rocket fired. Possible impact Moffenhoeve, Wommelgem, otherwise impact unknown. (*JP) Nov. 01, (15.18 hours) - Batt. 1./485, (Site 152), V-2 rocket fired. Possible impact Moffenhoeve, Wommelgem, otherwise impact unknown. (*JP) Nov. 01, (15.40 hours) - Batt. SS 500, Burgsteinfurt, Site 117 (Strönfeld), V-2 rocket fired. Probable impact De Bosschaertstraat, Antwerp. 2 Dead. 58 Properties seriously damaged. (*JP) Nov. 01, (15.45 hours) - Batt. 3./485, (Site 135), V-2 rocket fired. Possible impact Antwerp (see previous entry) otherwise impact unknown. (*JP) Nov. 01, (15.47 hours) - Batt. SS 500, Burgsteinfurt, Site 117 (Strönfeld), V-2 rocket fired (impact unknown). (*JP) Nov. 01, (16.46 hours) - Batt. 3./836, (Site 204), V-2 rocket fired (impact unknown). (*JP) Nov. 01, (17.10 hours) - Batt. 1./485, (Site 152), V-2 rocket fired (impact unknown). (*JP) Nov. 01, (17.31 hours) - Batt. 1./836, (site unknown), V-2 rocket fired, impacted Dom. Ternesse, Wommelgem. (*JP) Nov. 01, (18.26 hours) - Battery 444, Den Haag, Site 47 N of Waterpartij (Scheveningse Bosjes), V-2 rocket fired, impacted either Deptford (31 dead, 62 seriously injured, 18 houses demolished) or Wanstead (open land, no damage or casualties). (*JP) Nov. 01, (18.26 hours) - Battery 444, Den Haag, Site 47 N of Waterpartij (Scheveningse Bosjes), V-2 rocket fired, impacted either Deptford (31 dead, 62 seriously injured, 18 houses demolished) or Wanstead (open land, no damage or casualties). (*JP) Nov. 01, (18.30 hours) - Batt. 1./485, (Site 152), V-2 rocket fired, Possible impact E of Wommelgem, otherwise impact unknown. (*JP) Nov. 01, (18.30 hours) - Batt. 3./485, (Site 135), V-2 rocket fired, Possible impact E of Wommelgem, otherwise impact unknown. (*JP) Nov. 01, (18.42 hours) - Batt. 3./836, (Site 204), V-2 rocket fired (impact unknown). (*JP) Nov. 01, (19.13 hours) - Batt. 2./836, (Site unknown), V-2 rocket fired (impact unknown). (*JP) Nov. 01, (19.54 hours) - Batt. 2./836, (Site 202), V-2 rocket fired (impact unknown). (*JP) Nov. 01, (21.06 hours) - Batt. 2./836, (Site 202), V-2 rocket fired (impact unknown). (*JP) Nov. 01, (22.35 hours) - Battery 444, (Site 168), V-2 rocket fired, impacted Dartford, Kent. Fell in gravel pit. Moderate damage to one house. 1 Person seriously injured. (*JP) Nov. 01, (23.13 hours) - Batt. 1./485, (Site 152), V-2 rocket fired. There is evidence that this rocket impacted in the Antwerp area, although exact location unknown. (*JP) Nov. 01, (23.18 hours) - Batt. 3./485, (Site 39), V-2 rocket fired, impacted Wilrijk. (*JP) Thursday Nov. 02, (00.06 hours) - Batt. SS 500, Burgsteinfurt, Site 117 (Strönfeld), V-2 rocket fired, impacted Bredabaan, Merksem. (*JP) Nov. 02, (03.20 hours) - Nov. 02, (09.52 hours) - Batt. 1./836, (Site 324), V-2 rocket fired (impact unknown). (*JP) Nov. 02, (09.52 hours) - Batt. 1./836, (Site 324), V-2 rocket fired (impact unknown). (*JP) Nov. 02, (10.00 hours) - Nov. 02, (11.20 hours) - Batt. 3./836, V-2 rocket fired (impact unknown). (*JP) Nov. 02, (12.20 hours) - Batt. 2./836, (Site 202), V-2 rocket fired (impact unknown). (*JP) Nov. 02, (12.30 hours) - Nov. 02, (12.33 hours) - Batt. 2./836, (Site 202), V-2 rocket fired, probable impact Oudebaan / Mechelsesteenweg, Mortsel. 1 House partially demolished, 30 others seriously damaged. (*JP) Nov. 02, (14.30 hours) - Batt. 1./836, V-2 rocket fired (impact unknown). (*JP) Nov. 02, (14.53 hours) - Batt. 1./485, (Site 152), V-2 rocket fired (impact unknown). (*JP) Nov. 02, (15.02 hours) - Batt. 3./836, (Site 204), V-2 rocket fired (impact unknown). (*JP) Nov. 02, (15.42 hours) - Batt. 1./485, (Site 152), V-2 rocket fired (impact unknown). (*JP) Nov. 02, (15.44 hours) - Batt. 2./836, (Site 202), V-2 rocket fired (impact unknown). (*JP) Nov. 02, (16.55 hours) - Nov. 02, (17.49 hours) - Batt. 3./836, (Site 204), V-2 rocket fired, impacted Appelkantstraat, Boechoet. 3 Dead. (*JP) Nov. 02, (18.47 hours) - Batt. SS 500, Burgsteinfurt, Site 117 (Strönfeld), V-2 rocket fired (failure). (*JP) Nov. 02, (19.22 hours) - Batt. 1./836, V-2 rocket fired (impact unknown). (*JP) Nov. 02, (19.27 hours) - Batt. 3./836, (Site 204), V-2 rocket fired (impact unknown). (*JP) Nov. 02, (20.05 hours) - Batt. 1./485, (Site 152), V-2 rocket fired, impacted either Laar / Kattenberg, Borgerhout (3 dead, 2 properties demolished) or on open field in Berchem (30 properties damaged). (*JP) Nov. 02, (20.06 hours) - Batt. 2./836, (Site 202), V-2 rocket fired, impacted either Laar / Kattenberg, Borgerhout (3 dead, 2 properties demolished) or on open field in Berchem (30 properties damaged). (*JP) Nov. 02, (20.52 hours) - Nov. 02, (21.15 hours) - Batt. 3./485, (Site 135), V-2 rocket fired, impacted Melselepolder, Zwijndrecht. No casualties. (*JP) Nov. 02, (22.14 hours) - Batt. 1./836, (Site 324), V-2 rocket fired, impacted Ieperstraat, Antwerp. 9 Dead, 6 properties demolished. (*JP) Nov. 02, (23.58 hours) - Friday Nov. 03, (00.08 hours) - Batt. 3./485, (Site 135), V-2 rocket fired, impacted E of Lillo-Fort. (*JP) Nov. 03, (00.50 hours) - Battery 444, Den Haag, Site 47 N of Waterpartij (Scheveningse Bosjes), V-2 rocket fired, impacted Hornchurch, Essex. Fell in field. Very slight damage to houses. 1 Person injured. (*JP) Nov. 03, (03.02 hours) - Batt. 1./836, (Site 324), V-2 rocket fired, impacted Merksem. (*JP) Nov. 03, (04.35 hours) - Battery 444, Loosduinen (Site 19), V-2 rocket fired, impacted Lewisham. Fell on railway sidings. 20 Rail wagons wrecked, tracks displaced. 1 Person seriously injured. (*JP) Nov. 03, (04.48 hours) - Batt. 1./485, (Site 152), V-2 rocket fired, impacted Vlaamskunstlaan / Edgard Casteleistraat, Antwerp. 3 Properties destroyed, 32 others seriously damaged. (*JP) Nov. 03, (06.38 hours) - Batt. 3./485, (Site 135), V-2 rocket fired. There is evidence that this rocket impacted in the Antwerp area, although exact location unknown. (*JP) Nov. 03, (07.08 hours) - Batt. 1./485, (Site 152), V-2 rocket fired. Possible impact W of Kapellen, otherwise impact unknown. (*JP) Nov. 03, (10.07 hours) - Batt. 3./485, (Site 135), V-2 rocket fired, impacted either Linkeroever, Antwerp (8 Dead. 2 Properties demolished, 22 others seriously damaged), or Grotesteenweg, Berchem (2 Dead 25 properties seriously damaged). 2 Confirmed impacts correspond with this launch. Therefore either an additional launch was not recorded, or otherwise a V-1 impact was misreported as V-2. (*JP) Nov. 03, (10.30 hours) - Battery 444, Loosduinen (Site 19), V-2 rocket fired, impacted River Thames, near Barking. 1 Person seriously injured. (*JP) Nov. 03, (11.00 hours) - Batt. 1./485, (Site 152), V-2 rocket fired, impacted SE of Schoten. (*JP) Nov. 03, (11.58 hours) - Batt. 3./836, (Site 204), V-2 rocket fired (impact unknown). (*JP) Nov. 03, (12.30 hours) - Batt. 2./836, (Site 202), V-2 rocket fired (impact unknown). (*JP) Nov. 03, (13.10 hours) - Batt. 1./485, (site unknown), V-2 rocket fired (impact unknown). (*JP) Nov. 03, (13.22 hours) - Batt. 3./836, (Site 204), V-2 rocket fired. There is evidence that this rocket impacted in the Antwerp area, although exact location unknown. (*JP) Nov. 03, (14.39 hours) - Batt. 1./836, (Site unknown), V-2 rocket fired, impacted Paulus Beyestraat, Deurne. 19 Dead. 18 Properties destroyed, 32 others seriously damaged. (*JP) Nov. 03, (14.53 hours) - Batt. 1./485, (Site 152), V-2 rocket fired, impacted Merksem. Power Station damaged and taken offline. (*JP) Nov. 03, (15.10 hours) - Batt. 1./485, (Site 152), V-2 rocket fired (failure). (*JP) Nov. 03, (16.12 hours) - Batt. 3./836, (Site 204), V-2 rocket fired, impacted SE of Kontich. (*JP) Nov. 03, (17.27 hours) - Batt. 3./836, (Site 204), V-2 rocket fired (impact unknown). (*JP) Nov. 03, (17.43 hours) - Batt. 1./836, (Site unknown), V-2 rocket fired, impacted E of Leuven. (*JP) Nov. 03, (18.50 hours) - Batt. SS 500, Burgsteinfurt, Site 117 (Strönfeld), V-2 rocket fired (impact unknown). (*JP) Nov. 03, (20.14 hours) - Batt. 1./485 (Site 112), V-2 rocket fired, impacted dock area, Antwerp. (*JP) Nov. 03, (21.58 hours) - Batt. 3./485, (Site 135), V-2 rocket fired, impacted Borsbeek. (*JP) Nov. 03, (23.15 hours) - Batt. 3./836, (Site 204), V-2 rocket fired. There is evidence that this rocket impacted in the Antwerp area, although exact location unknown. (*JP) Saturday Nov. 04, (02.30 hours) - Batt. SS 500, Burgsteinfurt, Site 117 (Strönfeld), V-2 rocket fired, impacted Heistraat, Wilrijk. 18 Dead, 13 properties demolished. (*JP) Nov. 04, (10.14 hours) - Batt. 1./836, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Rijnkaai (Hanger 28) Antwerp. 1 Dead, 45 properties seriously damaged. (*JP) Nov. 04, (10.51 hours) - Nov. 04, (13.40 hours) - Batt. 1./836, V-2 rocket fired (failure). (*JP) Nov. 04, (14.07 hours) - Batt. SS 500, Burgsteinfurt, Site 117 (Strönfeld), V-2 rocket fired (impact unknown). (*JP) Nov. 04, (14.35 hours) - Batt. 3./485, (Site 135), V-2 rocket fired, probable impact Fort 6, Wilrijk. No damage or casualties. (*JP) Nov. 04, (14.46 hours) - Batt. 1./485, (Site 152), V-2 rocket fired, probable impact Merksem. (*JP) Nov. 04, (14.51 hours) - Batt. 3./485, (Site 135), V-2 rocket fired, probable impact Houtemstraat, Berchem. 19 Dead. 18 Properties demolished, 125 others damaged. (*JP) Nov. 04, (14.57 hours) - Batt. 1./485, (Site 152), V-2 rocket fired (impact unknown). (*JP) Nov. 04, (16.31 hours) - Batt. 1./836, V-2 rocket fired (impact unknown). (*JP) Nov. 04, (17.37 hours) - Nov. 04, (18.00 hours) - Nov. 04, (18.04 hours) - Batt. SS 500, Site 117 (Strönfeld), V-2 rocket fired, impacted Wilmarsdonk, Antwerp. (*JP) Nov. 04, (18.11 hours) - Batt. 1./485, (Site 152), V-2 rocket fired (impact unknown). (*JP) Nov. 04, (18.25 hours) - Batt. 1./485, (Site 152), V-2 rocket fired (impact unknown). (*JP) Nov. 04, (19.02 hours) - Batt. 1./836, V-2 rocket fired (impact unknown). (*JP) Nov. 04, (20.44 hours) - Batt. 3./485, (Site 135), V-2 rocket fired (impact unknown). (*JP) Nov. 04, (21.42 hours) - Nov. 04, (23.36 hours) - Batt. SS 500, Burgsteinfurt, Site 117 (Strönfeld), V-2 rocket fired, impacted NW of Merksem. (*JP) Sunday Nov. 05, (00.31 hours) - Battery 444, Den Haag, Site 47 N of Waterpartij (Scheveningse Bosjes), V-2 rocket fired, impacted Romford, Essex. Fell in field. 1 Person injured. No damage. (*JP) Nov. 05, (01.10 hours) - Batt. 3./485, (Site 135), V-2 rocket fired (impact unknown). (*JP) Nov. 05, (01.25 hours) - Battery 444, Loosduinen (Site 19), V-2 rocket fired, impacted Penshurst, Kent. Fell in hop field. No casualties. Slight damage. (*JP) Nov. 05, (07.04 hours) - Batt. 1./485, (Site 152), V-2 rocket fired, impacted Leopolddok, Antwerp. (*JP) Nov. 05, (07.40 hours) - Battery 444, Loosduinen (Site 19), V-2 rocket fired, impacted Wandsworth. Fell on Tooting Bec Common. Slight damage to hospital. No casualties. (*JP) Nov. 05, (10.30 hours) - Batt. 3./836, (Site 204), V-2 rocket fired (impact unknown). (*JP) Nov. 05, (10.42 hours) - Batt. 1./485, (Site 152), V-2 rocket fired (impact unknown). (*JP) Nov. 05, (10.48 hours) - Battery 444, Loosduinen (Site 19), V-2 rocket fired, impacted Bermondsey. Direct hit on girder-type railway bridge over Southwark Park Road. 1 Dead, 36 seriously injured. Bridge collapsed, 250 feet of rail track damaged. This bridge was previously damaged by a nearby V-2 strike on 26th October. (*JP) Nov. 05, (10.49 hours) - Batt. 1./836, (Site unknown), V-2 rocket fired, impacted a few kilometers SE of Schilde. (*JP) Nov. 05, (12.30 hours) - Battery 444, Loosduinen (Site 19), V-2 rocket fired, impacted Rainham, Essex. Fell on waterlogged land. No damage or casualties. (*JP) Nov. 05, (13.40 hours) - Batt. 3./836, (Site 204), V-2 rocket fired (impact unknown). (*JP) Nov. 05, (14.05 hours) - Batt. 1./836, (Site 324), V-2 rocket fired (impact unknown). (*JP) Nov. 05, (14.45 hours) - Batt. SS 500, Burgsteinfurt, Site 117 (Strönfeld), V-2 rocket fired (impact unknown). (*JP) Nov. 05, (15.10 hours) - Batt. 1./836, (Site unknown), V-2 rocket fired, impacted Burcht. 1 Property seriously damaged. Local archive states this as V-1 impact, but ‘Crossbow’ data confirms it as V-2. (*JP) Nov. 05, (15.16 hours) - Batt. 1./485, (Site 152), V-2 rocket fired, impacted Kielsevest, Antwerp. 5 Dead. 24 Properties seriously damaged. (*JP) Nov. 05, (15.30 hours) - Batt. 1./485, (Site 152), V-2 rocket fired (impact unknown). (*JP) Nov. 05, (15.46 hours) - Batt. 3./485, (Site 131), V-2 rocket fired (impact unknown). (*JP) Nov. 05, (15.56 hours) - Batt. 3./485, (Site 131), V-2 rocket fired, impacted a few kilometers S of Kalmthout. (*JP) Nov. 05, (16.37 hours) - Battery 444, Den Haag, Site 47 N of Waterpartij (Scheveningse Bosjes), V-2 rocket fired, impacted Hornchurch, Essex (airburst). 1 House damaged by falling fragment. Further fragments fell in nearby Dagenham. 1 Person seriously injured. (*JP) Nov. 05, (16.39 hours) - Batt. 3./836, (Site 204), V-2 rocket fired (impact unknown). (*JP) Nov. 05, (16.48 hours) - Batt. SS 500, Burgsteinfurt, Site 117 (Strönfeld), V-2 rocket fired (impact unknown). (*JP) Nov. 05, (17.11 hours) - Battery 444, Den Haag, Site 47 N of Waterpartij (Scheveningse Bosjes), V-2 rocket fired, impacted Islington. 31 Dead, 84 seriously injured. 10 Properties demolished. (*JP) Nov. 05, (18.05 hours) - Batt. 1./485, (Site 152), V-2 rocket fired (impact unknown). (*JP) Nov. 05, (18.17 hours) - Batt. 1./836, (Site 324), V-2 rocket fired, impacted near Deurne. (*JP) Nov. 05, (19.15 hours) - Batt. 3./836, (Site 204), V-2 rocket fired, impacted Schoten. (*JP) Nov. 05, (19.52 hours) - Batt. 1./836, (Site 324), V-2 rocket fired, impacted Schoten. (*JP) Nov. 05, (20.45 hours) - Battery 444, Loosduinen (Site 18), V-2 rocket fired (impact unknown). (*JP) Nov. 05, (22.35 hours) - Batt. SS 500, Burgsteinfurt, Site 117 (Strönfeld), V-2 rocket fired (impact unknown). (*JP) Monday Nov. 06, (03.26 hours) - Batt. 3./836, (Site 204), V-2 rocket fired (impact unknown). (*JP) Nov. 06, (09.43 hours) - Battery 444, Den Haag, Site 47 N of Waterpartij (Scheveningse Bosjes), V-2 rocket fired, impacted Luton, Bedfordshire. Direct hit on cottages adjacent to Commer Motor Works. 16 Dead, 31 seriously injured. 4 Cottages demolished, another 21 seriously damaged (including partial demolition). Moderate damage to factory. (*JP) Nov. 06, (10.40 hours) - Battery 444, Loosduinen (Site 18), V-2 rocket fired, impacted Yalding, Kent. Fell in field. 1 Person seriously injured. Slight damage to property. (*JP) Nov. 06, (11.16 hours) - Batt. 1./836, (Site unknown), V-2 rocket fired, possible impact a few kilometers SW of Charleroi. (*JP) Nov. 06, (11.22 hours) - Batt. 1./485, (Site 152), V-2 rocket fired, possible impact Antwerp. (*JP) Nov. 06, (13.04 hours) - Batt. 2./485, (Site 158), V-2 rocket fired (impact unknown). (*JP) Nov. 06, (13.45 hours) - Batt. 1./836, (Site unknown), V-2 rocket fired, impacted Gasstraat, Antwerp. 28 Dead. 12 Properties demolished, 90 others seriously damaged. (*JP) Nov. 06, (14.53 hours) - Battery 444, Loosduinen (Site 18), V-2 rocket fired, impacted Bexley. 3 Properties seriously damaged. 2 Persons seriously injured. (*JP) Nov. 06, (15.19 hours) - Batt. SS 500, Burgsteinfurt, Site 117 (Strönfeld), V-2 rocket fired, impacted Simonsstraat, Antwerp. 6 Dead. 61 Properties seriously damaged. (*JP) Nov. 06, (15.44 hours) - Batt. 1./836, (Site unknown), V-2 rocket fired, impacted near Schoten. (*JP) Nov. 06, (16.05 hours) - Batt. 1./836, (Site 601), V-2 rocket fired (impact unknown). (*JP) Nov. 06, (16.25 hours) - Batt. 3./836, (Site 603), V-2 rocket fired (impact unknown). (*JP) Nov. 06, (17.45 hours) - Battery 444, Den Haag, Site 47 N of Waterpartij (Scheveningse Bosjes), V-2 rocket fired, impacted Little Warley, Essex. Fell in field. 4 Properties seriously damaged. 4 Persons injured. (*JP) Nov. 06, (18.07 hours) - Batt. 3./836, (Site 603), V-2 rocket fired (impact unknown). (*JP) Nov. 06, (18.30 hours) - Batt. 1./836, (Site 601), V-2 rocket fired (impact unknown). (*JP) Nov. 06, (19.59 hours) - Batt. 1./836, (Site 601), V-2 rocket fired, impacted S of Deurne. (*JP) Nov. 06, (21.13 hours) - Batt. 1./836, (Site 601), V-2 rocket fired (failure). (*JP) Nov. 06, (21.40 hours) - Batt. 3./485, (Site 131), V-2 rocket fired, probable impact a few kilometers SW of Kontich. (*JP) Nov. 06, (21.42 hours) - Batt. 3./836, (Site 603), V-2 rocket fired, impacted Schoten. (*JP) Tuesday Nov. 07, (00.42 hours) - Batt. 3./836, (Site 603), V-2 rocket fired (impact unknown). (*JP) Nov. 07, (01.03 hours) - Battery 444, Den Haag, Site 47 N of Waterpartij (Scheveningse Bosjes), V-2 rocket fired, impacted Weeley, Essex. Fell in field. No damage or casualties. Rocket disintegrated before impact. (*JP) Nov. 07, (02.38 hours) - Battery 444, (Site 95), V-2 rocket fired (failure). (*JP) Nov. 07, (06.37 hours) - Batt. 3./836, (Site 603), V-2 rocket fired (impact unknown). (*JP) Nov. 07, (06.38 hours) - Battery 444, (Site 95), V-2 rocket fired (impact unknown). (*JP) Nov. 07, (09.00 hours) - Battery 444, (Site Unknown), V-2 rocket fired, impacted Canvey Island, Essex. Fell on marshland. No damage or casualties. (*JP) Nov. 07, (14.40 hours) - Batt. SS 500, Burgsteinfurt, Site 117 (Strönfeld), V-2 rocket fired, impacted Buurtspoorweglei, Borgerhout. 2 Dead. 30 Properties seriously damaged. (*JP) Nov. 07, (14.45 hours) - Batt. 1./485, (Site 152), V-2 rocket fired, impacted Dokken 43B, Antwerp. 1 Dead. (*JP) Nov. 07, (15.09 hours) - Batt. 1./485, (Site 152), V-2 rocket fired, impacted Edegem. (*JP) Nov. 07, (16.50 hours) - Batt. SS 500, Burgsteinfurt, Site 117 (Strönfeld), V-2 rocket fired, impacted near Zandvliet. (*JP) Nov. 07, (16.58 hours) - Batt. 3./485, (Site 131), V-2 rocket fired (impact unknown). (*JP) Nov. 07, (17.15 hours) - Batt. 2./485, (Site 158), V-2 rocket fired, impacted E of Kontich. (*JP) Nov. 07, (18.06 hours) - Batt. SS 500, Burgsteinfurt, Site 117 (Strönfeld), V-2 rocket fired, probable impact a few kilometers SE of Sint-Oedenrode, Netherlands. (*JP) Nov. 07, (20.56 hours) - Batt. 3./485, (Site 131), V-2 rocket fired, impacted near Sint-Antonius. (*JP) Nov. 07, (22.35 hours) - Batt. 1./836, (Site 601), V-2 rocket fired (failure). Flew off course. (*JP) Nov. 07, (23.24 hours) - Batt. 1./836, (Site 601), V-2 rocket fired (impact unknown). (*JP) Wednesday Nov. 08, (01.20 hours) - Batt. 1./836, (Site 601), V-2 rocket fired, probable impact Edisonlaan, Antwerp. 1 Property destroyed, 14 others seriously damaged. (*JP) Nov. 08, (02.22 hours) - Batt. 3./836, (Site 603), V-2 rocket fired (failure). Flew off course. (*JP) Nov. 08, (14.51 hours) - Batt. 3./836, (Site 603), V-2 rocket fired (failure). Flew off course. (*JP) Nov. 08, (16.45 hours) - Batt. 3./836, (Site 603), V-2 rocket fired (impact unknown). (*JP) Nov. 08, (17.13 hours) - Batt. 1./836, (Site 601), V-2 rocket fired, impacted Boomsesteenweg, Wilrijk. 1 Property destroyed, 8 others seriously damaged. (*JP) Nov. 08, (19.58 hours) - Batt. 3./836, (Site 603), V-2 rocket fired (impact unknown). (*JP) Nov. 08, (22.08 hours) - Batt. 1./836, (Site 601), V-2 rocket fired, Probable impact near Nachtegalenpark, Antwerp. (*JP) Thursday Nov. 09, (06.35 hours) - Batt. 1./836, (Site 601), V-2 rocket fired (impact unknown). (*JP) Nov. 09, (10.54 hours) - Batt. 1./836, (Site 601), V-2 rocket fired, possible impact a few kilometers E of Wommelgem. (*JP) Nov. 09, (16.15 hours) - Batt. 1./485, (Site 152), V-2 rocket fired, impacted near Linkeroever, Antwerp. (*JP) Nov. 09, (17.05 hours) - Batt. 1./485, (Site 152), V-2 rocket fired, impacted Mechelsesteenweg, Lier. No damage or casualties. Rocket disintegrated before impact. Commander of AA battery in nearby Anderstad reported that the warhead impacted unexploded in a nearby field, and lay for 2 days before retrieval. (*JP) Nov. 09, (17.45 hours) - Batt. 3./485, (Site 131), V-2 rocket fired, impacted either in or near the Schelde, Antwerp. (*JP) Nov. 09, (18.05 hours) - Batt. 2./485, (Site 158), V-2 rocket fired (impact unknown). (*JP) Nov. 09, (21.03 hours) - Batt. 3./485, (Site 131), V-2 rocket fired (impact unknown). (*JP) Nov. 09, (21.43 hours) - Batt. 1./836, (Site 601), V-2 rocket fired (impact unknown). (*JP) Nov. 09, (21.52 hours) - Batt. 1./485, (Site 152), V-2 rocket fired (impact unknown). (*JP) Nov. 09, (22.51 hours) - Batt. 3./836, (Site 603), V-2 rocket fired (impact unknown). (*JP) Nov. 09, (23.05 hours) - Batt. 1./485, (Site 152), V-2 rocket fired, impacted either Berchem or SW of Broechem. (*JP) Nov. 09, (23.06 hours) - Batt. 3./836, (Site 603), V-2 rocket fired, impacted either Berchem or SW of Broechem. (*JP) Nov. 09, (23.58 hours) - Batt. 1./836, (Site 601), V-2 rocket fired, impacted Van Duyststraat, Duerne. 13 Dead. 17 Properties demolished, 72 others seriously damaged. (*JP) Friday Nov. 10, (00.36 hours) - Batt. 3./485, (Site 133), V-2 rocket fired (impact unknown). (*JP) Nov. 10, (05.25 hours) - Batt. 1./485, (Site 152), V-2 rocket fired (impact unknown). (*JP) Nov. 10, (06.38 hours) - Battery 444, (Site 178), V-2 rocket fired, impacted North Sea off Clacton. (*JP) Nov. 10, (06.54 hours) - Battery 444, (Site 174), V-2 rocket fired (failure). (*JP) Nov. 10, (08.10 hours) - Battery 444, Scheveningen (Site 96), V-2 rocket fired, impacted Hornsey. Fell near entrance to railway station. 8 Dead, 20 seriously injured. 12 Properties demolished. (*JP) Nov. 10, (10.02 hours) - Batt. 1./836, (Site 601), V-2 rocket fired, impacted Linkeroever, Antwerp. (*JP) Nov. 10, (10.12 hours) - Batt. 1./485, (Site 152), V-2 rocket fired, impacted near Kontich. (*JP) Nov. 10, (10.24 hours) - Batt. 3./485, (Site 131), V-2 rocket fired, impacted near Schilde. (*JP) Nov. 10, (11.45 hours) - Battery 444, Scheveningen (Site 96), V-2 rocket fired, impacted Erith. 2 Dead, 17 seriously injured. 6 Properties demolished. (*JP) Nov. 10, (11.59 hours) - Batt. 1./836, (Site 601), V-2 rocket fired, impacted S of Deurne. (*JP) Nov. 10, (12.07 hours) - Batt. 1./836, (Site 601), V-2 rocket fired (failure). (*JP) Nov. 10, (14.12 hours) - Battery 444, Wassenaar (Site 68), V-2 rocket fired, impacted Stepney. Direct hit on tenement block. 23 Dead, 93 seriously injured. 1 Five-storey block demolished, another partially demolished. (*JP) Nov. 10, (14.48 hours) - Batt. 3./836, (Site 603), V-2 rocket fired (impact unknown). (*JP) Nov. 10, (15.00 hours) - Battery 444, Scheveningen (Site 96), V-2 rocket fired, impacted Fulbourne, Cambridgeshire. Fell in ploughed field. No damage or casualties. (*JP) Nov. 10, (15.52 hours) - Batt. 1./836, (Site 601), V-2 rocket fired, possible impact near Puurs. (*JP) Nov. 10, (17.36 hours) - Battery 444, Wassenaar (Site 68), V-2 rocket fired (impact unknown). (*JP) Nov. 10, (17.57 hours) - Batt. 1./836, (Site 601), V-2 rocket fired, possible impact Blijde Inkomstraat, Borgerhout (1 Dead. 1 Property demolished, 74 others seriously damaged). Otherwise impact unknown. (*JP) Nov. 10, (17.58 hours) - Batt. 3./485, (Site 131), V-2 rocket fired, possible impact Blijde Inkomstraat, Borgerhout (1 Dead. 1 Property demolished, 74 others seriously damaged). Otherwise impact unknown. (*JP) Nov. 10, (18.56 hours) - Battery 444, (Site 175), V-2 rocket fired (impact unknown). (*JP) Nov. 10, (19.29 hours) - Batt. 1./836, (Site 601), V-2 rocket fired, impacted Antwerp-Kiel. (*JP) Nov. 10, (20.06 hours) - Batt. 3./836, (Site 603), V-2 rocket fired, impacted near Hoogstraten. (*JP)
On Monday, November 13 the SS Werfer Battery
500 begins transfer from Burgsteinfurt
(Germany) to the areas around Ommen, Hellendoorn, Archem (Holland).
In November of
1944, a new unit was sent to The Hague: Artillerie
Ersatz Abteilung 271 (Artillery Replacement
Detachment 271). Detachment 271 was
originally formed to act as a buffer for the
operational V-2 units. Throughout the greater
part of 1944, they were responsible for training
the new recruits in V-2 field operations, while
at the same time, their members were available
to supplement the existing operational units. On
November 23, 1944, Detachment 271 was
incorporated into Battery 444, its
additional members helping to finally bring the
unit to full strength. Battery 444 now
comprised three operational firing platoons, a
technical troop section, a fueling section, and a
target acquisition and radio section.
After moving from
Hermeskeil, elements of Batt. 836 prepare for
launching at Hachenburg. They stayed until the end
of the war. |
December 1944 Friday Dec. 01, (00.10 hours) - Batt. 3./485, (Site 131), V-2 rocket fired, impacted in the Schelde, Antwerp, near Hangar 24. 20 Properties suffered light damage. (*JP) Dec. 01, (02.09 hours) - Batt. 2./485, (Site 163), V-2 rocket fired (impact unknown). (*JP) Dec. 01, (05.43 hours) - Batt. 2./485, (Site 163), V-2 rocket fired (impact unknown). (*JP) Dec. 01, (03.54 hours) - Batt. 3./485, (Site 131), V-2 rocket fired (impact unknown). (*JP) Dec. 01, (07.58 hours) - Battery 444, Scheveningen (Site 96), V-2 rocket fired, impacted either Enfield (airburst - 2 persons seriously injured, slight damage to property) or Woolwich (1 dead, 8 seriously injured, I property demolished). (*JP) Dec. 01, (07.58 hours) - Battery 444, Scheveningen (Site 96), V-2 rocket fired, impacted either Enfield (airburst - 2 persons seriously injured, slight damage to property) or Woolwich (1 dead, 8 seriously injured, I property demolished). (*JP) Dec. 01, (08.56 hours) - Battery 444, (Site 73), V-2 rocket fired, impacted Barking. Fell on marshes. Slight damage to sewage works. (*JP) Dec. 01, (09.26 hours) - Battery 444, Wassenaar, Site 74 (Duindigt - Rennbahn), V-2 rocket fired, impacted Brentwood, Essex. Fell in field. 1 Dead, 1 seriously injured. 1 Property partially demolished. (*JP) Dec. 01, (09.28 hours) - Batt. SS 500, Hellendoorn, Site 400 (Eelerberg - first period), V-2 rocket fired, impacted Castershoflaan, Merksem. 6 Dead. (*JP) Dec. 01, (10.19 hours) - Battery 444, Scheveningen (Site 96), V-2 rocket fired, impacted either Barking (gas holder damaged and ignited, moderate damage to buildings. 9 seriously injured including 2 in neighbouring East Ham), or Leyton (3 dead, 32 seriously injured, 10 properties demolished). (*JP) Dec. 01, (10.19 hours) - Battery 444, Scheveningen (Site 96), V-2 rocket fired, impacted either Barking (gas holder damaged and ignited, moderate damage to buildings. 9 seriously injured including 2 in neighbouring East Ham), or Leyton (3 dead, 32 seriously injured, 10 properties demolished). (*JP) Dec. 01, (10.57 hours) - Batt. SS 500, Hellendoorn, Site 400 (Eelerberg - first period), V-2 rocket fired (impact unknown). (*JP) Dec. 01, (11.17 hours) - Batt. 3./485, (Site 131), V-2 rocket fired (impact unknown). (*JP) Dec. 01, (12.48 hours) - Batt. 2./485, (Site 163), V-2 rocket fired, possible impact Speelpleinstraat, Antwerp (8 dead, 15 properties demolished) otherwise impact unknown. (*JP) Dec. 01, (12.56 hours) - Battery 444, (Site 73), V-2 rocket fired, impacted Hornchurch, Essex. Fell on allotments. Moderate damage. 33 Persons suffered light injuries. (*JP) Dec. 01, (13.03 hours) - Battery 444, Wassenaar, Site 74 (Duindigt - Rennbahn), V-2 rocket fired, impacted Laindon, Essex. Fell in field. Slight damage to farmhouses. 1 Person suffered slight injuries. (*JP) Dec. 01, (13.54 hours) - Batt. SS 500, Hellendoorn, Site 400 (Eelerberg - first period), V-2 rocket fired, probable impact in Sorbenlaan, Wilrijk. 2 Dead, 3 properties demolished. Allied radar tracking confirms this impact at 13:44 hours, however there were no other known launches around this time and it is therefore possible that the launch time was incorrectly recorded. (*JP) Dec. 01, (15.43 hours) - Batt. 1./485, (Site 152), V-2 rocket fired, impacted E of Sint-Gillis-Waas. (*JP) Dec. 01, (16.22 hours) - Batt. 1./485, (Site 152), V-2 rocket fired (impact unknown). (*JP) Dec. 01, (18.10 hours) - Batt. 3./485, (Site 131), V-2 rocket fired (impact unknown). (*JP) Dec. 01, (18.20 hours) - Battery 444, Wassenaar, Site 74 (Duindigt - Rennbahn), V-2 rocket fired, impacted Hornsey. 92 Feet of railway track demolished. 14 Persons seriously injured. (*JP) Dec. 01, (21.12 hours) - Battery 444, Hoek van Holland, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Paglesham, Essex. Fell in River Roach. No damage or casualties. (*JP) Dec. 01, (21.40 hours) - Battery 444, Scheveningen (Site 96), V-2 rocket fired, impacted Walthamstow. 12 Dead, 35 seriously injured. 6 Properties demolished, factory damaged. (*JP) In The Hague the V-2 firing Site at Ockenburgh is in the surroundings of the summerhouse, launching from the Monsterscheweg and from grounds close to the clinic.
On 09 December Batt. 1./836 begins operations at forest near Hillscheid and Hachenburg. Only target was Antwerp. Until December 14, Batt. SS 500 never succeeded in launching more than 4 rockets within 24 hours, but on this day for the first time 6 rockets were fired. After this day Batt. SS 500 repeatedly succeeded in launching more than four rockets.
On December 14 Batt. 3./836 sets up operations near Hachenburg at Hillscheid and Gehlert. Only target was Antwerp.
Dec. 31; Batt.
SS 500 moves to new firing Sites at
Hessum; Dutch resistance reported on Dec. 31
about one hundred rockets lying underneath the
trees of the Haagse Bos (Den Haag) corner of
Leidsestraatweg. |
January
1945 Monday Jan. 01, (00.11 hours) - Batt. SS 500, Dalfsen, Site 410 (Hessum), V-2 rocket fired, impacted in Antwerp, in Borgerhout, Groeningerplein. 45 casualties and 33 injured, 21 houses destroyed. (*CO) Jan. 01, (01.50 hours) - Batt. 1./485, Loosduinen (Site 78), V-2 rocket fired, impacted Laindon, Essex. Fell in field. 3 Persons injured. No damage. (*JP) Jan. 01, (04.54 hours) - Batt. 1./485, Loosduinen (Site 78), V-2 rocket fired, impacted Leyton. Fell on forest land. Slight damage to nearby block of flats. 1 Person injured. (*JP) Jan. 01, (05.20 hours) - Battery 444 Wassenaar, Site 74 (Duindigt - Rennbahn), V-2 rocket fired, impacted Halstead, Kent. Fell in wood. No casualties. Slight damage to houses. (*JP) Jan. 01, (06.15 hours) - Batt. 1./485, Loosduinen (Site 78), V-2 rocket fired, impacted Sandon, Hertfordshire. Fell in field. No casualties. Slight damage to nearby buildings. (*JP) Jan. 01, (08.10 hours) - Batt. 1./485, Loosduinen (Site 78), V-2 rocket fired (failure). Exploded on launch pad. (*JP) Jan. 01, (08.45 hours) - Batt. SS 500, Dalfsen, Site 410 (Hessum), V-2 rocket fired, impacted SW of Kontich. (*JP) Jan. 01, (08.47 hours) - Battery 444, (Site 76), V-2 rocket fired, impacted North Sea off Foulness. (*JP) Jan. 01, (15.08 hours) - Batt. SS 500, Dalfsen, Site 410 (Hessum), V-2 rocket fired, (impact unknown). Jan. 01, (17.15 hours) - Batt. 1./485, Loosduinen (Site 19), V-2 rocket fired, several meters above the launch table the rocket turned 160 degrees. Blasting low over two cemeteries it came down in the houses in the Indigostraat, at the corner of Kamperfoeliestraat, at a distance of 3600 meters from the launch Site. 38 people lost their lives. The doctors and nurses, who were very quick to the crash, were not allowed to enter the area until after the Germans had collected the remains of the rocket Jan. 01, (20.38 hours) - Battery 444, Wassenaar, Site 74 (Duindigt - Rennbahn), V-2 rocket fired, impacted North Sea off Clacton. (*JP) Jan. 01, (21.57 hours) - Batt. 1./485, Loosduinen (Site 78), V-2 rocket fired (failure). Exploded after launch. (*JP) Jan. 01, (23.42 hours) - Batt. SS 500, Dalfsen, Site 410 (Hessum), V-2 rocket fired, impacted Wilrijkstraat, Borgerhout. 6 Dead. 11 Properties demolished, 65 others seriously damaged. (*JP) In the train depot at Scheveningen (Den Haag), on the corner of Harstenhoekweg/Zwolschestraat a V-2 depot is positioned.
On
this day V-2
rockets were launched at estate of Madesteyn,
between Maeweg and Monsterscheweg in The Hague. In The Hague a firing site was situated at level nearby villa of Ockenburgh, and in front of Laundry at foundation Bloemendaal.
On January 16, the illegal
newspaper the "Parool" published an article in which
the German civil authorities requested that the
Germans officers to stop the launches in the city of
The Hague because, even for the German soldiers,
there was a lot of useless suffering because of
accidents. The German commander of the V-weapons
replied that all failures of the V-2 were only to be
attributed to the Dutch people, because a V-2 can
only fail by Dutch sabotage.
Firing
site previously at Stichting Bloemendaal is moved to
Monsterscheweg in The Hague.
That evening Battery 444 leaves the Wassenaar
area and is replaced by Batt. 3./485 operating from the
same launch sites.
On
January 30 Batt.
SS 500 transfers to the Estate
Mataram near Emmen in Dalfsen,
Leitstrahlstellung moves to Ommerschans At the beginning of the New Year, in an attempt to increase his command stature, General Kammler renamed all of the rocket units. Battalion 485 became the Artillery Regiment z.V.902. Battalion 836 became the Artillery Regiment z.V.901. The SS Werfer Battery 500 became the SS Werfer Abteilung 500. However, the Table of Organization, which upgraded the V-2 battalions to regiments, was not finalized until February 7, 1945; and even then, it was nothing more than a restructure on paper. At the end of January of 1945 Training and Experimental Battery 444, after V-2 ending operations in the Netherlands, moved to Buddenhagen. There this battery was reorganisated and renamed with other units into Lehr und Versuchs Abteilung z.V. |
|
February 1945 In the days prior to Feb. 02,
firing Sites in Den Haag/Wassenaar were reported
to be located in the
For a period of more
than a week no launches took place in Dalfsen
because of the soft ground caused by thawing of
the frozen ground. The roads needed to be
hardened.
On Thursday, Feb. 15,
several V-2 firing Sites were situated close to
the grandstands of the racetrack at Duindigt,
straight across Wittenburgerweg on the track, and
also behind a house at Buurtweg in Wassenaar.
It
was planned to use the Leitstrahlstellung-troop (guide-beam) for
operations for the V-2 firing site at Heek in Burgsteinfurt. This LS troop came from the 1./485 (after
reorganization of Abteilung
485 into Regiment
902) and arrived at Burgsteinfurt. On
February 16 Burgsteinfurt was bombed by Allied air
attack and this LS troop was destroyed. Three man died
and one man was heavy injured.
On Feb. 25, trucks and vehicles for the rocket troops
in The Hague are parked at Rust en Vreugd, at the
entrance Houtlaan, and also at the Buurtweg (Voorlinden).
|
| March 1945
Part of the unit Mar. 02, (02.14 hours) - Batt. 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Mar. 02,
(02.52 hours) - Batt. 3./485
(Art. Reg. 3./902), Den Haag,
V-2 rocket fired (impact unknown). (*JP) Mar. 02,
(22.32 hours) - Batt. 3./485
(Art. Reg. 3./902), Den Haag,
V-2 rocket fired (impact unknown). (*JP) On
March 08, 1945, after suffering fuel supply
problems and very few rockets, Batt. SS Abt. 500 moved
back the the old firing Sites at Eelerberg Forest.
The last rocket from
Hachenburg area was launched around 14.58 hrs on
March 16, 1945. The failing supply of fuel and
Allied advance at Remagen, caused Batt. 836 (Art. Reg. 901) to be the first V-2 launching unit to
halt operations. On The V-2 launches continued
with an average of ten V-2s per day during March.
The majority of rockets were fired from
Statenkwartier and also a new launch Site
southwest of edge of the Haagse Bos. Because the
ground was very solid, there were few failures. Of
the 217 rockets fired from areas of Mar. 23, (03.17 hours) - Batt. 3./485 (Art. Reg. 3./902), Den Haag, Haagse Bos, V-2 rocket fired
(impact unknown). (*JP) Monday Mar. 26, (00.55 hours) - Batt. 2./485 (Art.Reg. 2./902), Burgsteinfurt (Strönfeld), V-2 rocket fired, impacted NW of Antwerp. (*JP)Mar. 26, (02.10 hours) - Batt. 3./485 (Art. Reg. 3./902), Den Haag, V-2 rocket fired (impact unknown). (*JP) Mar. 26, (03.59 hours) - Batt. 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Den Haag, Statenkwartier, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Mar. 26, (04.15 hours) - Batt. 3./485 (Art. Reg. 3./902), Den Haag, Haagse Bos, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Bermondsey. (*JP) Mar. 26, (04.36 hours) - Batt. 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Mar. 26, (08.58 hours) - Batt. 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Den Haag, Statenkwartier, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Navestock. (*JP) Mar. 26, (14.37 hours) - Batt. 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Den Haag, Statenkwartier, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Ilford (airburst). (*JP) Mar. 26, (15.18 hours) - Batt. 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Den Haag, Statenkwartier, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Bromley. 1 Dead. (*JP) Mar. 26, (19.01 hours) - Batt. 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Den Haag, Statenkwartier, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Romford. 2 Dead, 34 seriously injured. (*JP) Mar. 26, (22.25 hours) - Batt. 3./485 (Art. Reg. 3./902), Den Haag, Haagse Bos, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Noak Hill. (*JP) Tuesday Mar. 27, (00.14 hours) - Batt. 3./485 (Art. Reg. 3./902), Den Haag, Haagse Bos, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Mar. 27, (00.18 hours) - Batt. 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Den Haag, Mar. 27, (02.57 hours) - Batt. 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Den Haag, Statenkwartier , V-2 rocket fired, impacted Mar. 27, (03.24 hours) - Batt. 3./485 (Art. Reg. 3./902), Den Haag, Haagse Bos, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Ilford. (*JP) Mar. 27, (03.59 hours) - Batt. 3./485 (Art. Reg. 3./902), Den Haag, Haagse Bos, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Mar. 27, (07.12 hours) - Batt. 3./485 (Art. Reg. 3./902), Den Haag, Haagse Bos, V-2 rocket fired, impacted Stepney, Hughes Mansions, 2 City blocks flattened, 134 dead, 49 seriously injured. (*JP) Mar. 27, (12.38 hours) - Batt. SS Abt. 500, Hellendoorn, Site 412 (Eelerberg - second period), V-2 rocket fired. Having been dormant since March 20, this battery resumed operations for this one final launch. Impacted west of the Mar. 27, (16.48 hours) - Batt. 1./485 (Art. Reg. 1./902), Den Haag, Statenkwartier , V-2 rocket fired, the final V-2 launched against Mar. 27, (22.45 hours) - Batt. 2./485 (Art. Reg. 2./902), Burgsteinfurt, Site 117 (Strönfeld), V-2 rocket fired. Impacted Antwerpsestraat/Lieven Gevaetstraat, Mortsel, causing 23 casualties, 62 injured, 29 houses destroyed. (*CO) Wednesday Mar. 28, (06.15 hours) - Batt. 2./485 (Art. Reg. 2./902), Burgsteinfurt, Site 117 (Strönfeld), V-2 rocket fired. Impacted Baathoek, Zwijndrecht. No casualties. (*JP) Mar. 28, (08.49 hours) - Batt. 2./485 (Art. Reg. 2./902), Burgsteinfurt, Site 117 (Strönfeld), V-2 rocket fired. The final rocket launched towards Antwerp and the final combat launch of the war. Creating a crater 10 meters wide, the warhead fell short of Antwerp at the edge of a pine forest plot in the vicinity of Putte, Netherlands. Approximately 20 mature pine trees and many more young trees destroyed. A nearby pavilion and villa suffered window and roof damage. No casualties. (*JP) The end of the rocket attacks against Antwerp came on March 27-28, 1945, by Batt. 2./485 (Art. Reg. 2./902), which was positioned in Burgsteinfurt at the launch Site Strönfeld. From Mar. 09 to Mar. 27 at Hellendoorn, Feuerstellung Nr. 412, Batt. SS Abt. 500 launched about 38 V-2 rockets, with 3 failures. On Wednesday, Mar. 28, - Batt. SS Abt. 500 leaves Hellendoorn because of the Allied advance. The unit was split up into various parts that all left the launching area on different days, with different destinations. The third platoon, followed by the first platoon, and then the second platoon of the SS 500 left the area last. Some soldiers of the Batt. SS Abt. 500 were, in the last phase of the war, were equipped with Nebel-Werfers (15 cm, Do-Werfer). They were supposed to travel to Berlin to battle against the Russians. But, the SS 500 soldiers never made it to Berlin and were scattered during the Allied advance. Also on Wednesday, Mar. 28, Batt. 1./485 (Art. 1./902) and Batt. 2./485 (Art. 2./902) withdrew on to Fallingbostel, 23 miles north of Hanover, they arrived on April 1. One day later, the Batt. 3./485 (Art. 3./902) launched its last two rockets before it also retreated to Fallingbostel. After the retreat from its operational area in late March 1945, the Batt. 836 (Art. Rgt. 901) originally was to have gathered at BRAMSCHE (about 10 miles west of Osnabruck) for the so-called "Ziethen Undertaking". The deterioration of the military situation, however, prevented this. Instead, the "Blucher Undertaking" was ordered, in which the units were to move to Celle (about 20 miles north of Hanover). From there the remaining rockets were to be fired against the "Kustrin Fortress" (the polish Kostrzyn of today, about 60 miles northeast of Berlin). The plan fell apart because of the total breakdown in Germany. As a result, all of Gruppe Süd's equipment was destroyed in the area of Celle, to prevent capture, on April 7, 1945. SS-General Kammler had already given the order to reorganize the rocket units into infantry regiments. The war diary of the Batt. 836 (Art. Rgt. 901) stated on April 8, that - with all of their specialized equipment destroyed, the FR Gruppe had lost its character as an elite unit. They were now nothing more than an infantry combat group. There is some information that seems to indicate that Battery 444 fired additional rockets from the area around Verden in Germany as late as April 5-6. In January of 1945 Battery 444, after V-2 ending operations in the Netherlands, moved to Buddenhagen. There this battery was reorganisated and renamed with other units into Lehr- und Versuchs Abteilung. A portion of the 444 troops formed one small launching troop and fired rockets from the site at Heek as late as March 27. The other part unit went at the end of February/beginning of March to Rethem for A-4/V-2 test launches. But in Rethem no rocket was fired. Lehr- und Versuchs Abteilung moved deeper into Germany, arriving in a place called Welmbüttel in Schlesig Holstein, northern Germany. The unit had reportedly already fired two new test series V-2s from this area a few weeks earlier sometime in the first days of March at a place called Armsen (southeast of Verden an der Aller) in the direction of the northsea. Some of the soldiers of that unit had taken quarter in these villages and stayed there after the end of the war. Eyewitness reports said that on Good Friday and Easter there were no firings, but on April 5 the residents saw the first launching of a V-2 from Welmbüttel in Schlesig Holstein, in the direction of the northsea. On April 6, there was a misfire resulting in a crash near one of the launch Sites. Eyewitnesses report a total of five rockets fired from these areas. In the following days, all the rockets were moved away from this area and most probably destroyed by the rocket troops near Celle. These last firings are not related to operational attacks. They were only test firings, but they do give an idea of the movements of remnants of Battery 444 (*MG) |
| From Oct. 7 - Mar. 30, 152 V-2's crashed in the Antwerp harbour killing 131 workers there. During the last phase of the operations, the daily rate of fire for Gruppe Süd, due to the problems mentioned above, was clearly lower than that of Gruppe Nord, and amounted to an average of about four rockets per day. Although the war was ended another accident with a V-2 happened in Holten (Holland). On April 30, at the crossroads of Rijssenseweg/Markeloseweg a "Bomb Disposal Lorry" drove, that carried the highly explosive top of a V-2 rocket. Suddenly it exploded killing 6 people. One of the persons was sitting on the top of the rocket and nothing of him was found anymore. Near the castle De Waardenborch, there is still a monument remember this accident. By the end of the V-2
campaign about 3172 V-2s where launched.
Portions Batt. 836 and Westerwald
info from the book "Hitler's Geheimwaffen im
Westerwald" by Dr. U. Jungbluth. |
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