Battle for Bellock

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Battle for Bellock
Part of Northern Territory War
Date 12 September 1914 - 28 September 1914

(2 weeks, 2 days)

Location Bellock, Finnmarck, Rotgeheim
Result Decisive Fuerstenburg victory
  • Capture of Bellock from Rotgeheiman forces
  • Surrender of Rotgeheiman 13th VS-Mountain Division Dinslaken
  • Acquisition of airfields south of Bellock
  • Rotgeheiman forces retreat to Scharnhorst Line
Belligerents
Rotgeheim Fuerstenburg
Commanders and leaders
Fedor Hampel

Jürgen Siegling
Hermann-Bernhard Ramcke
Erich von Weschler

Jannick Tanneberger

Uwe Heilmann
Tobias Loeb
Johann Augsburger
Dietrich Kaller

Units involved
13th VS-Mountain Division Dinslaken

(12 - 19 September)
26th VS-Mountain Division Langemarck
(12 - 27 September)
30th VS-Airborne Division Ramcke
(12- 27 September)
40th VS-Panzergrenadier Division Mecklenburg
(20 - 28 September)

2nd Armored Division

16th Infantry Division
218th Cavalry Brigade
14th Infantry Division
(18 - 28 September)
22nd Armored Division
(18 - 28 September)

Strength
62,706 troops 95,000 troops

130 tanks
55 fighter planes

Casualties and losses
Dead:

7,824
Wounded:
16,332
Missing:
400
Captured:
24,623

Dead:

9,872
Wounded:
20,309
Missing:
300
Captured:
2,239

Civilians Dead:

4,662

The Battle for Bellock was a military engagement between the Rotgeheiman Verteidigungsstaffel and the Military of Fuerstenburg. It began on 12 September 1914, when Fuerstenburg troops entered the northern section of the city following an artillery bombardment. Heavy casualties were inflicted on both sides during the fierce fighting for the city.

Background

Opening Hostilities

Artillery Bombardment

At 6:00 a.m. on 12 September, artillery units of the Fuerstenburg military established south of the Schillinger River began to open fire on Bellock. Evacuation of the city's civilian population was ordered the night before, so little civilian casualties were suffered. Heavy property damage was inflicted on the northern half of Bellock (the city was divided in half east-west by the Strittmatter River), and fires broke out in the surrounding forests. Military casualties of Rotgeheim during the bombardment were also low.

Reconnaissance and Probing

The first units to engage the Rotgeheiman defenders were fighter bombers assisted by reconnaissance aircraft. The fighter bombers of Fuerstenburg were tasked with eliminating the larger defensive positions occupied by the Rotgeheiman troops, but these strafing runs were thwarted by the anti-aircraft defenses of Rotgeheim. Several planes were caught in the thick flak provided by the anti-aircraft defenses and subsequently crashed into the city.

Small bands of infantry were dispatched by Fuerstenburg to test the defenses of Rotgeheim firsthand. These infantry bands were met by experienced veterans of the Verteidigungsstaffel (locally known as Sturmgrenadiere; this roughly means "Assault Grenadiers" or more literally "Storm Grenadiers"). The highly advanced weaponry and experience of these men were too much for the small groups of Fuerstenburg infantry. All small groups were either destroyed or repelled.

Attacking Waves

On 13 September waves of infantry started to advance over the bridge into the southern side of Bellock. The Sturmgrenadiere stationed on the farthest extent of the battle were overrun, despite their technological and tactical advantage. These waves of infantry advanced seemingly unaffected by the defenders within the city itself. The first wave, comprised of solely infantry, advanced into a small forested section of the city and were wiped out completely by Sturmgrenadiere lying in wait within the treeline. The second wave, consisting of Fuerstenburg infantry and armor, was just entering the city at this time and was unable to assist their comrades. Rotgeheiman StuG VI assault guns were deployed to the battleground at about this time to provide indirect fire support to the defending infantry and to bombard the advancing troops with high explosive rounds.

Continued Combat

Rotgeheiman Air Presence

The only airfield available to Rotgeheiman air units was roughly two kilometers behind the headquarters of Langemarck and Dinslaken. The first planes were scrambled into the air at 12:15 a.m. on 14 September. The Fw190-f fighter aircraft were ordered to keep in a defensive holding pattern over the southern side of Bellock, as anti-air defenses across the river and Fuerstenburg fighters posed a threat too large for chances to be taken. Every few minutes, the Rotgeheiman aircraft were attacked by small groups of Fuerstenburg fighter craft as a measure to eliminate Rotgeheiman air power, but anti-aircraft defenses in the southern part of Bellock severely damaged or shot down all aircraft involved in these incursions.

Ju87-f fighter bombers were mobilized shortly after the Fw190-f fighters. They dropped their bomb loads on enemy tanks that attempted to cross the bridge, prompting Fuerstenburg command to not send armored units until the Ju87-f fighter bombers had been dealt with.

At about 1:00 p.m. on 14 September the first Ar234-f bombers were sent into the air. Escorted by the Fw190-f fighters, which quickly became occupied with the Fuerstenburg fighters, they targeted Fuerstenburg ammunition dumps and other supply facilities. Rotgeheiman bombardiers devised a quick plan to choke out the supply chain of Fuerstenburg. At the very least the bomber crews thought the action against the supply points would slow down the advance of Fuerstenburg troops.

Turning the Tide

The bombing action against the supply areas worked in both ways the bomber crews envisioned. Most supply depots had been destroyed, effectively halting the advance of Fuerstenburg and claiming its military's full attention. Several efforts were made to re-establish supply chains with the beach head, nearly all of which were foiled by the bombing. The main bridge over the Schillinger River was destroyed, rendering this route impassable. The supply trucks would now have to detour another two kilometers east in order to pass over another, smaller bridge. Although the distance was not great, the extra distance nonetheless meant that the supplies would be received at a later time; time was a particularly short resource for the stalled Fuerstenburg advance.

Rotgeheiman Counter Attacks

Airborne Drops

On 14 September, Fallschirmjäger (paratroopers) from the 30th VS-Airborne Division Ramcke were loaded onto their Ju52-f transport aircraft and prepared for their mission. The 30th Fallschirmjäger Regiment of Ramcke was tasked with deploying its troops over the northern side of Bellock, securing vital areas of the city (such as the government district of the city), and and linking up with waiting Rotgeheiman forces on the bridge. The drop was code named Fall Sommerspaziergang (German: "Case Summer Stroll") and was scheduled for 8:00 p.m. that night.

The objectives for each unit of the 30th Fallschirmjäger Regiment in Fall Sommerspaziergang were as follows:

  • 1st Fallschirmjäger Battalion was to secure the government district and await the advancing Rotgeheiman forces. The 1st Fallschirmjäger Battalion was expected to hold the government district under any and all circumstances.
  • 2nd Fallschirmjäger Battalion had three objectives. The first was to secure Potsdam Park in the center of the northern side of Bellock. This park was a holding area for prisoners, both civilian and military. The second was to secure the main road (Wilhelm Street) leading from the government district to the Anheuser Bridge connecting northern and southern Bellock across the Strittmatter River. Anheuser Bridge, although expected to be held by the infantry of the 13th VS-Mountain Division Dinslaken, was also to be taken by the Fallschirmjäger in case the mountain troops lost control of the area.
  • 3rd Fallschirmjäger Battalion was ordered to secure the northwestern corner of the northern half of Bellock. This area was upon a hill (dubbed Hill 232) and provided an excellent viewpoint of the entire city, both northern and southern sides. Securing this side allowed for spotters to reveal enemy positions, making artillery bombardments more accurate, as well as eliminating the possibility that Fuerstenburg troops could do the same.
  • 4th Fallschirmjäger Battalion was on reserve for the operation. They would only be utilized to reinforce an area in danger of capture by Fuerstenburg, or to assist in the certain fierce zones of combat.

At 8:00 p.m. the Ju52-f transport aircraft took off from their landing strips south of Bellock. All aircraft were ordered to fly in a circular pattern in a staging area a kilometer east of the landing strips. Rotgeheiman High Command wished for the transport aircraft to be amassed before departure for their objectives. Once all aircraft were readied they departed for their drop zones.

2nd Fallschirmjäger Battalion

At about 9:00 p.m. on 14 September the first parachutes of the 2nd Fallschirmjäger Battalion opened up. Their objective was nearest to the airfield, and as such they arrived first. Descending Fallschirmjäger withstood intense fire from Fuerstenburg self-propelled anti-air vehicles and infantry on the drop, but minimal casualties were suffered in the air. The Fallschirmjäger of the 2nd Battalion had no trouble in linking up with their units within the urban environment. A few units that were quickly organized upon landing immediately set out to secure the Anheuser Bridge. As feared by Rotgeheiman High Command, the bridge had been lost to the Fuerstenburg troops a few hours earlier. These troops stationed on the bridge, however, were vulnerable because they were cut off from the main body of the Fuerstenburg military in Bellock - Fallschirmjäger had cut off their escape northward. Fallschirmjäger of the 2nd, 4th, and 5th companies of the 2nd Battalion, led by Sturmbannführer Sebastian Kohlhaase, attacked the Fuerstenburg troops on Anheuser Bridge at 9:50 p.m. The Fuerstenburg troops were caught completely off guard, as they assumed the bridge was not an objective for the Fallschirmjäger. Rotgeheiman paratroopers pushed the Fuerstenburg troops southward and into Rotgeheiman territory. The Fuerstenburg troops were met by small arms and high explosive fire from mountain infantry and StuG VI assault guns of the 13th VS-Mountain Division Dinslaken. All Fuerstenburg troops (numbering around 150) were either killed or captured on the bridge at a loss of only 12 Fallschirmjäger. The three companies then advanced northward to secure Wilhelm Street (the main route to Potsdam Park).

Concurrently the 1st, 3rd, and 6th companies of the 2nd Fallschirmjäger Battalion were grouped together. They were led by Obersturmbannführer Franz Behrend, the battalion commander. Although Wilhelm Street was not yet taken by Rotgeheiman forces and this route was the only way for the mountain infantry and armor to link up with the Fallschirmjäger, Obersturmbannführer Behrend decided that the Potsdam Park was of greater necessity. All three companies formed up together to attack the lightly-defended prisoner holding area. When the companies attacked, they were shocked to find that only an understrength company stood guard. The Fuerstenburg forces were quickly overrun and the prisoners were rescued. The 1st and 3rd companies were ordered to hold Potsdam Park while the 6th advanced south-east to potentially link up with the 2nd, 4th, and 5th companies. The 6th company attempted to advance in its desired direction, but met stiff opposition in the streets and buildings in the surrounding area. The 2nd, 4th, and 5th companies, however, were able to plow through the Fuerstenburg troops and reach the 6th company at 11:00 p.m.

The 7th and 8th companies of the 2nd Fallschirmjäger Battalion were separated from the rest of the unit in the drop. Strong winds had placed them a kilometer north-west, in the middle of Fuerstenburg troops and away from the rest of the battalion. The company commander for the 7th Company was killed on the drop, which left the company commander of the 8th Company in charge. Hauptsturmführer Friedrich Stelzner combined the companies together to assault the government sector. At 10:00 p.m. they began their advance north-west to the edge of the government sector. Fuerstenburg troops were dug in well in the buildings lining the road up to the government sector, and as such the advance of the two companies stalled quickly. Rotgeheiman troops were completely stopped at 11:00 p.m. and requested assistance from the rest of the battalion; none of the companies could make it that night, however, because they were all currently attempting to break through the Fuerstenburg line between the 7th and 8th companies and the rest of the battalion. Around this time as well the 1st Fallschirmjäger Battalion, retreating from the Fuerstenburg forces in the government district, formed a defensive line with the troops of the 2nd Fallschirmjäger Battalion. At 1:00 a.m. Hauptsturmführer Stelzner pulled the two companies back from the government sector to attempt smashing through the Fuerstenburg line in between them and the rest of the 2nd Fallschirmjäger Battalion. The efforts of the battalion were successful, as the Fuerstenburg line crumbled at 1:50 a.m. The 2nd Fallschirmjäger Battalion rested for the rest of the night in Potsdam Park, although they remained wary of Fuerstenburg counter-attacks. 13th VS-Mountain Division Dinslaken moved up during the early hours of 15 September to fill in the gaps left by the 2nd Battalion, including holding the bridge once more and stationing troops all the way up to the southern edge of Potsdam Park.

1st and 3rd Fallschirmjäger Battalions

Rotgeheiman paratroopers of the 1st Fallschirmjäger Battalion retreat southward to link up with the 2nd Fallschirmjäger Battalion, after being routed by Fuerstenburg troops in the government district

The 1st Fallschirmjäger Battalion began dropping over the government district around 9:10 p.m. Contrary to intelligence reports, enemy anti-aircraft presence in the area was dense. High casualties were sustained before the battalion could even organize itself on the ground. 10% of the force dropped on the government district was killed within the first thirty minutes of combat due to the intense anti-aircraft fire, as well as awaiting Fuerstenburg troops in the area. Nonetheless, the troops of the 1st Fallschirmjäger Battalion managed to organize itself quickly (while still under fire) and pull southward along Wilhelm Street in an attempt to link up with the 2nd Fallschirmjäger Battalion. The entirety of the 1st Fallschirmjäger Battalion, although under orders to stand their ground and fight for the government district, retreated towards the comparative safety of the 1st Fallschirmjäger Battalion (which had at this point already secured the Potsdam Park). Sturmbannführer Theodor Keppler, commander of the 2nd Fallschirmjäger Battalion, informed his superiors that he could not have continued combat in the government district for fear of encirclement and subsequent destruction at the hands of enemy forces. At 11:00 p.m., after retreating southward for more than an hour, they linked up with the 2nd Fallschirmjäger Battalion and took up defensive positions with them. Their initial destination of Potsdam Park was not reached due to the necessity of defending the flank against attack from Fuerstenburg troops stationed in the government district.

The 3rd Fallschirmjäger Battalion began opening its chutes at 9:45 p.m. over Hill 232 in the northwestern part of Bellock. Intelligence had suggested that a large number of Fuerstenburg troops were defending hill, but this was proved otherwise; most of the troops defending Hill 232 were ordered to defend the government district twelve hours prior. Most Rotgeheiman Fallschirmjäger landed on the western slope of Hill 232, which was heavily wooded and led to a few injuries upon landing. The battalion organized itself quickly and attacked up towards the few buildings on the hilltop. Most Fuerstenburg units stationed on the hill were within an abandoned factory, which proved to provide excellent cover during the ensuing firefight. Rotgeheiman Fallschirmjäger of the 1st, 3rd, and 4th companies stormed the complex from all sides, limiting the effectiveness of the defenders. The factory was claimed at 10:20 p.m. Fallschirmjäger stormed two other large buildings on the hill, encountering light resistance from the few artillery spotters hiding within. Hill 232 was reported taken at 11:50 p.m. The troops fortified themselves within the buildings atop the hill and awaited reinforcements. A few artillery spotters that dropped with the Fallschirmjäger took position within the highest part of the factory and waited for dawn to come to transmit enemy positions to the artillery units south of Bellock.

4th Fallschirmjäger Battalion

The 4th Fallschirmjäger Battalion was the reserve element of Case Summer Stroll. Standartenführer Felix Hoth, commander of the 30th Fallschirmjäger Regiment, did not decide to utilize this battalion throughout the duration of the operation. Although the 1st Fallschirmjäger Battalion had be routed, and retreated southward to link up with the 2nd Fallschirmjäger Battalion, Hoth felt that the dedication of the 4th Fallschirmjäger Battalion to taking the government district would simply end up in a larger loss of Rotgeheiman life. As such, the battalion was not used.

Reinforcing the Fallschirmjäger

In order for the Rotgeheiman airborne operation to be successful, the Fallschirmjäger would have to link up with other land forces of the Verteidigungsstaffel. At 9:50 p.m. on 14 September, infantry of the 13th VS-Mountain Division Dinslaken south of the Anheuser Bridge (the bridge that spans the Strittmatter River and connects northern and southern Bellock) first spotted Fallschirmjäger of the 30th VS-Airborne Division Ramcke, which were attacking Fuerstenburg infantry guarding the bridge. The infantry of Dinslaken attacked the southern end of the bridge to assist the Fallschirmjäger. StuG VI assault guns provided indirect fire support to the attacking troops, and the mountain infantry rushed up the bridge to link up with the advancing Fallschirmjäger. After eliminating the defending troops, the mountain infantry of Dinslaken took positions on the bridge. The Fallschirmjäger, after receiving ammunition and other supplies from the mountain infantry of Dinslaken, then turned around and advanced back up to assist in expanding the salient created so far.

The mountain infantry remained posted on the bridge until the following day. In the early hours of 15 September, orders were given for Dinslaken to advance northward and connect with elements of the 30th VS-Airborne Division Ramcke. The infantry advanced up the main road and met with Fallschirmjäger of the 1st and 2nd Fallschirmjäger Battalions. Gaps in the Rotgeheiman line were filled by mountain infantry from Dinslaken to prevent the line from being overrun. Potsdam Park was especially important to hold, as it was one of the only large and open areas in the entire city. StuG VI assault guns took positions in Potsdam Park and hammered Fuerstenburg positions throughout the early morning of 15 September.

Rotgeheiman Advance

Retaking the City

The Fuerstenburg defensive line in northern Bellock broke around 1:50 a.m. on 15 September. Rotgeheiman infantry and Fallschirmjäger, weary from the constant fighting, decided not to pursue the retreating Fuerstenburg troops. StuG VI assault guns, however, continued to fire on the areas thought to be used by the Army of Fuerstenburg during their retreat - artillery from southern Bellock also fired upon retreating Fuerstenburg troops when dawn broke.

At 12:00 p.m. on 15 September, 26th VS-Mountain Division Langemarck advanced over the Anheuser Bridge and into northern Bellock. The division advanced northwest and linked up with the 3rd Fallschirmjäger Battalion. The battalion was relieved by the mountain infantry and moved southward. Langemarck then advanced out of the city and advanced eastward into the left flank of the last retreating columns of Fuerstenburg troops. Dinslaken and elements from Ramcke pushed the remnants of the Fuerstenburg 16th Infantry Division out of the city and into the waiting snare of Langemarck. Scores of Fuerstenburg troops were taken killed or taken captive in the ensuing firefight. Bellock was reported cleared of Fuerstenburg Army formations at 5:00 p.m.

Small units of Fuerstenburg troops, however, remained in various locations within Bellock. These formations were isolated from their superseding units and were surrounded by Rotgeheiman forces. Most of these units surrendered to Rotgeheiman troops throughout the night of 15 September. Some attempted to break out, but these isolated attempts were quickly crushed.

Advance to the Schillinger River

After pushing Fuerstenburg troops out of Bellock, the next objective that lay ahead of Rotgeheiman forces was to destroy the Fuerstenburg 2nd Armored Division, 16th Infantry Division, and 218th Cavalry Brigade. The 26th VS-Mountain Division Langemarck and the 13th VS-Mountain Division Dinslaken were ordered to move out of Bellock on 16 September. Langemarck advanced along a road that headed northwest out of Bellock while Dinslaken chose a route that went north.

Very quickly the lead units of Dinslaken encountered Fuerstenburg troops dug in shallow trenches around the road. Mortar teams and rocket artillery shelled the trenches, eliminating most opposition, but mountain infantry still had to infiltrate a few trenches and clear them out hand to hand. Around forty tanks of the 2nd Armored Division swept across open land from the east and attacked the right flank of Dinslaken. Ju87-f dive bombers assisted the Rotgeheiman ground forces and destroyed roughly fifteen of the tanks before the rest retreated. Rotgeheiman air superiority prevented much headway from being made against the Rotgeheiman forces.

Langemarck encountered no enemy opposition along its trek. The whole of the Fuerstenburg formation was grouped about 2 km north of Bellock; Langemarck departed northwest out of Bellock and traveled 5 km up the road. After extensive reconnaissance on the part of Langemarck proved that the Military of Fuerstenburg was not in the same area of operations, they transmitted that an open route lay on the western flank of the Fuerstenburg troops. Further up the road, a single bridge spanned the Schillinger River. This bridge led to a small town called Beckwitz that served as a junction point for several small hamlets in the very northern part of Finnmarck. One road in this junction, once followed eastward, became the same road that the Fuerstenburg troops utilized to cross over the Schillinger River some 4 km north of Bellock. At the end of the day on 16 September the division crossed the Schillinger River and established itself around Beckwitz.

Fuerstenburg Reinforcements

Re-consolidation of Forces

Rotgeheiman forces pushed the entirety of the Fuerstenburg 2nd Armored Division and 16th Infantry Division into a single grouping about 4 km north of Bellock. The 218th Cavalry Brigade had fled eastward during the unorganized retreat and was currently cut off from the remaining forces due to the advance of the Rotgeheiman 13th VS-Mountain Division Dinslaken. Fuerstenburg Brigadier General Uwe Heilmann consolidated the 2nd Armored and 16th Infantry into a single task force and established a defensive line comprised of mainly armored units on the southern flank. This buffer zone would defend the rest of the two divisions until they could be sufficiently organized. Dinslaken attempted to pierce this line several times throughout the day on 17 September; all attempts to smash through the line were unsuccessful. The line was withheld until the conclusion of the day on 17 September despite the several attempts made by Dinslaken to break it.

Reinforcements Arrive

In the early hours in the morning of 18 September two Fuerstenburg divisions, namely the 14th Infantry and 22nd Armored, disembarked from landing ships on the northern beaches of Finnmarck. These two divisions were organized in the dark hours of the morning, and began moving southward to reinforce the rest of the Fuerstenburg vanguard at roughly 8:00 a.m. The two divisions bypassed the 26th VS-Mountain Division Langemarck stationed in Beckwitz and continued on to cross the bridge over the Schillinger River. The two divisions added to the defensive strength of the line currently fielded by the 2nd Armored and 16th Infantry Divisions. The operational tanks of the 2nd Armored and the newly-arrived tanks of the 22nd Armored began moving southward to engage and push back the 13th VS-Mountain Division Dinslaken in the evening of 18 September, with the ultimate goal of rescuing the 218th Cavalry Brigade.

Renewed Fuerstenburg Offensive

Surrounding 13th VS-Mountain Division Dinslaken

The 2nd and 22nd Armored Divisions began moving roughly 100 tanks southward to engage the Rotgeheiman 13th VS-Mountain Division Dinslaken in the evening of 18 September. The Rotgeheiman mountain infantry had been oblivious to the some 40,000 fresh Fuerstenburg troops and were caught completely off-guard by the sheer strength of the formation. Dinslaken possessed few anti-tank weapons aside from hand-held rocket launchers, and as such their counter-vehicle combat effectiveness was low. The armor of the two Fuerstenburg divisions had no trouble in smashing through the defensive line of Dinslaken within a few hours, and although most of the division was able to begin retreating before much destruction was caused, the division was nonetheless crippled. The 26th VS-Mountain Division Langemarck was too far to the north-west to lend any assistance and was therefore unable to prevent the encirclement of Dinslaken. The Fuerstenburg 218th Cavalry Brigade, seeing an opportunity arising, attacked the eastern flank of the weakened mountain division. The armor of the cavalry brigade attacked the eastern and southern flanks of Dinslaken at 12:00 a.m. on 19 September, preventing easy access to the safety of Bellock. The armor of the 2nd and 22nd Armored Divisions, meanwhile, concurrently attacked the northern flank of Dinslaken. The only escape offered was to the west. Ju87-f Ausf. G dive bombers of the Verteidigungsstaffel attempted to assist the weakening mountain division, but too few planes came to the rescue to inflict any serious damage to the advance of the Fuerstenburg armor. Complete encirclement of the 13th VS-Mountain Division was completed at 5:00 a.m., when armor from the 2nd Armored Division linked up with the tanks from the 218th Cavalry Brigade. Infantry of Dinslaken continued fighting even until 10:00 a.m. on 19 September, but the division could not withstand the punishment it was being dealt - the division surrendered to the Fuerstenburg 22nd Armored Division at 10:32 a.m. on 19 September.

Although the entirety of the Rotgeheiman 13th VS-Mountain Division had been destroyed and many key personnel had been lost in battle, the division commander, Generalmajor Fedor Hampel, had not been captured. The division commanders for all Rotgeheiman divisions present during the Battle for Bellock were stationed in a few headquarters structures south of Bellock, and as such the highest ranking officers were not captured or killed during the battle. However, some division staff had been killed or captured during the engagement. The Division Operations and Training Officer (Divisional Staff 3) of Dinslaken, Obersturmbannführer Ferdinand Ziegler, was killed in action, and the Division Surgeon (Divisional Staff 7) of Dinslaken, Sturmbannführer Volker Baumann was captured.

Rotgeheiman Attempts to Regain Dominance

Retreat from Beckwitz

As the 13th VS-Mountain Division Dinslaken was being encircled on 19 September, the only other mobile division in area, the 26th VS-Mountain Division Langemarck was not ordered to relieve them. Langemarck remained entrenched in and around the small village of Beckwitz. As the situation neared disaster Langemarck was ordered to relieve Dinslaken, but they only departed their positions as a full division at around 6:00 a.m., much too late for any help to arrive in time. The division headed down the same path it taken on 15 September, and moved south-westward to attempt to ease the pressure put on the men of the 13th VS-Mountain Division. This attempt was in vain, however, as Dinslaken surrendered to Fuerstenburg troops before the division could arrive.

The troops of Langemarck engaged the captors of Dinslaken from 20 September to the early hours of 21 September. The 26th Mountain Regiment of Langemarck, centered in the engagement, quickly was in danger of becoming surrounded and destroyed in a similar fashion to other units of Dinslaken. The danger posed to the rest of Bellock int he case that elements of Langemarck began to be destroyed was too great to allow continued combat, so General der Gebirgstruppe Adalbert Boettcher, the commander of the 2nd VS-Mountain Army, ordered all remaining Rotgeheiman troops north of Bellock to retreat across the Strittmatter River. The 26th Mountain Regiment quickly escaped destruction and met up with the rest of Langemarck. The re-consolidated division immediately headed south and were able to reach the safety of southern Bellock by early 23 September.

Renewed Bombardments

Although direct counteroffensives by the troops of the 2nd VS-Mountain Army were now out of the question, Rotgeheiman forces still had to find ways to prevent or inhibit the advance of Fuerstenburg troops. The single bridge across the Strittmatter River was destroyed by troops of the 40th VS-Panzergrenadier Division Mecklenburg on 24 September. Round the clock artillery bombardments by Mecklenburg and Ramcke occurred from 24 to 25 September (Langemarck was in full retreat and left the city entirely on 24 September), as well as multiple bombing raids during the course of those two days. The bombing raids began to decrease in occurrence as well as frequency as the days went by, however, due to the airfields south of Bellock being primarily used to pull troops away from the city. Artillery bombardments continued until 11:00 p.m. on the 25th, at which point Fuerstenburg troops began constructing a bridge over the Strittmatter River and simultaneously Rotgeheiman troops began to completely evacuate Bellock.

Capture of Southern Bellock

Fuerstenburg Crosses the Strittmatter River

Since troops of the 40th VS-Panzergrenadier Division Mecklenburg had destroyed the bridge across the Strittmatter River, bridge-laying vehicles were brought up to the front to construct a way across. Throughout the day of the 26th of September Fuerstenburg troops attempted to construct that bridge, but were unsuccessful due to constant artillery bombardments and occasional firefights that would erupt between sides of the river. By 5:00 p.m. on the 26th the bridge-layers had completed their task, however, and Fuerstenburg troops had begun crossing immediately after. Artillery bombardments still continued throughout the night on the Fuerstenburg forces and inflicted casualties, but not enough to impede progress. The 14th Infantry Division spearheaded the advance into southern Bellock, followed closely by the 22nd Armored Division and the 2nd Armored Division.

Rotgeheiman Forces in Full Retreat

The situation in Bellock was irrecoverable for Rotgeheiman forces on the 26th of September. The 26th VS-Mountain Division Langemarck had its fighting capacity severely limited after nearing destruction in the days prior and was in the process of being pulled out. Three battalions of Rotgeheiman paratroopers had been isolated in northern Bellock and only narrowly escaped capture by retreating across another bridge 3 kilometers west of Bellock. Most of the 30th VS-Airborne Division Ramcke had been evacuated in past few days, and only a few units remained. General der Gebirgstruppe Adalbert Boettcher, commander of the 2nd VS-Mountain Army, ordered all remaining Rotgeheiman troops to evacuate the city at 10:00 p.m. via the airfields to the south. Langemarck was completely evacuated at 12:00 a.m. on the 27th, and Ramcke had almost fully pulled out (save the three battalions of paratroopers) by 2:00 a.m. The 40th VS-Panzergrenadier Division Mecklenburg was the only major Rotgeheiman formation to remain in Bellock on the 27th. Mecklenburg engaged the advancing Fuerstenburg forces while the other divisions pulled out through the airstrips, after which both airstrips were destroyed by Rotgeheiman forces to render them unusable. Mecklenburg then pulled southward along a road and retreated as quickly as possible to another line of defense 20 km to the south, at which point had been reinforced by the VIII VS-Gebirgskorps and troops from Northern Prussia. This defensive line, called the Scharnhorst Line, was a hastily-prepared line of defensive fortifications and trenches that Rotgeheiman and Northern Prussian troops had assembled during the VII Gebirgskorps' stalling action at Bellock.

Bellock Captured

Combat was officially declared to have ceased by Fuerstenburg forces on the 28th. Fuerstenburg troops set up a perimeter around the city to prevent Rotgeheiman counterattacks, although none were launched. The two airstrips had been captured as well, but they were rendered unusable and would have to be repaired thoroughly in order to move aircraft onto the runways. The capture of Bellock ensured that Fuerstenburg troops gained a secure foothold in Rotgeheim, and this point could be a launching platform for the rest of the Fuerstenburg Military to come in and continue the advance deeper into the country.