UNDER THE GU PANZERS as IN THE BOCAGEE: KARL BERNE : y FIREFLY _ AACNUNDER THE GUN 1 : PANZERS IN THE BOCAGE KARL BERNE ISBN 978-0-9806593-0-6 Copyright © The Oliver Publishing Group 135 Koloona Avenue, Mount Keira NSW 2500 Australia All rights reserved. Apart from fair dealing for the purpose of private study, research, criticism or review as permitted under ‘the Copyright, Design and Patent Act, 1988, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or ‘transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, electrical, chemical, mechanical, optical photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior written permission of The Oliver Publishing Group. All enquiries should be addressed to the publisher. Acknowledgments ‘The author wishes to thank Heinz Fischer, Alfred Gabel, Guy Delan, the staff of the Hauptbiicherei am Girtel in Vienna, the staff of the Imperial War Museum Photographic Archive, the National Archives and Records Administration, the National Archives of Canada, the late Ron Klages, Diana Arbenz who kindly assisted with German to English translation and Sam Wren who provided several helpful insights with the illustrations. Publisher’s Note The illustrations in this book were all created using contemporary photographs as a reference and we have attempted to create as faithful a reproduction as possible - including the shape and position of any camouflage pattern, ‘markings and the style of lettering used. In the few cases where we have been forced to speculate we have tried to make this clear. ‘Submissions ‘Authors who wish to submit material should contact the editor at the address shown above Printed in Australia by PrintmediaBetween 6 June and 21 August 1944 the German Army fought a series Cf increasingly desperate engagements against the Allied forces across northern France. The following is a snap-shot view of the formations Which formed the backbone of the German defence - the armoured Units. It is of necessity brief and | hope that those readers who are familiar with the minutiae of the Wehrmacht wil forgive any serious ‘omissions, PanzerLehr Division Formed from the staff of various training units this division was probably the strongest and best equipped formation in the German army at the time of the Normandy Invasion. On 1 June 1944 the division reported that 99 Panzer IV, 89 Panthers, 31 Jagdpanzer IV and 410 Sturmgeschitz Ill were on hand. These figures do not include the vehicles of Panzer Kompanie 316 (Funklenk) which was attached to the division. Additionally all four panzer grenadier battalions and the division's engineer battalion were carried in armoured half-tracks. However, in early June the Panther battalion, the division's most powerful unit, formed from |/Panzer Regiment 6, was detached and sent to the Eastern Front despite the very real threat of an Allied landing. The fist tanks to return did not do so until 10 June and could not be deployed until the following day. The division was engaged ‘against the British until it was gradually withdrawn between 26 June ‘and 5 Julyand was replaced by 276 Infanterie Division. During late June and early July the Panzer regiment received 11 Panzer IV and 8 Panthers as replacements. The division returned to the front and took partin the attack against US positions nearle-Dézert on 11 July. Despite some initial success the German forces were eventually forced to withdraw. On 2526 July, Operation Cobra was launched with a massive ‘aerial bombardment. Sources differ over the extent to which the division was affected with some narratives going so far as to claim that the division was annihilated. The division commander, Bayerlein, later claimed that the division and its subordinated units together lost over 2,000 men in those two days with fifty percent of the casualties being inflicted as a result of the bombing. However, the commander of li/Panzer Regiment 130, not only stated that none of hs Panzer!V were lost -as the battalion was held in reserve - but that very few Panthers ‘and Jagdpanzers were destroyed by the bombing. In early August it was decided to withdraw the division, leaving the remaining artillery and a weak Panzer IV company at the front as a Kampfgruppe under Oberst von Hauser, the commander of Panzer Grenadier Lehr Regiment 901. By 9 August some replacements had arrived while other vehicles had been repaired by the division's ‘workshops. With these, and stragglers who had managed to make their ‘way backto their units, a battle group was formed from the Panthers of Panzer Regiment, units of Panzer Grenadier Lehr Reginggnt 902 and, parts of the division's artillery and reconnaissance battalions. On 12 August Kampfgruppe von Hauser was withdrawn and on the following, day Bayerlein ordered what remained of his division to follow. A Kampferuppe consisting of a company of tanks, a howitzer battery and parts of Panzer Grenadier Lehr Regiment 902 remained behind and together with remnants of 12 SS Panzer Division managed to break out of the Falaise Pocket on 20 August. By 22 August the panzer regiment hhad been reduced to 10 Panzer!Vand 10 Panthers. 2Panzer Division Withdrawn from the Eastern front and sent to France during the winter of 1944, this division was almost at full strength when the invasion began. in late May, Panzer Regiment 3 was able toreportthat Abteilung had 79 Panthers while Il Abteilung was equipped with 96 Panzer IV tanks. No replacements would be received however during, the fighting in Normandy. Ordered tothe front from Amiens on 9June, the first units of 2 Panzer Division were engaged in combat as early as. 12 June, although the complete division would not be present for another week. Importantly the late arrivals included al the division's tanks and most of its self-propelled artillery. For most of June the division operated in the Caumont area, south-west of Rouen, and on 26 June, with the launch of Operation Epsom, the Panther battalion was detached to act independently in support of the defence. In a single day -28 June- the battalion was credited with the destruction of 53 tanks and 15 antitank guns. On 21 July the division began withdrawing from the front to be gradually replaced by 326 Infanterie Division. The Panther battalion probably remained behind and at this, time was able to report that 13 tanks were operational, with another 26 in need of short term repair. During the first weeks of August, the division took part in Operation Luttich, the counterattack on US positions around Mortain, with 60 tanks and 15 Jagdpanzers operational. By the end of the battle the division was reduced to almosthalfits authorised strength. 9Panzer Division InJune 1944 this formation was undergoing training near Nimes after absorbing 155 Reserve Panzer Division. Also at this time ll/Panzer Regiment 33 returned to the division after re-equipping with Panthers. ‘The division was sent to the Normandy front after the Allied breakout and far too late to alter the course of the battle. Nevertheless it was a strong unit with 79 Panthers and 82 Panzer IV onhhand in August. 21Panzer Division ‘The division had been training in France since June 1943 when it was reformed around a cadre of Afrika Korps veterans. It was the only armoured unit to engage the Allies on the day ofthe invasion and most Of its vehicles were lost in the early fighting. At the end of July what remained of li/Panzer Regiment 22 was withdrawn and was not returned to the division untillaterin the year. By the end of August the TIL Ogee ag aaa rl a a res town felt the Bris on 14,une 1944 after fierce fighting onda eet ma Ls ee eects aa anes ce eee er Pee ree)division was able to report that just 12 tanks remained operational. This division fielded a large number of captured French tanks, many of which had been converted to carry German guns and also numbers of ‘obsolete German tanks. Indeed, its make up was so mixed that to describe it here would be confusing if not tiresome and we have ‘endeavoured to present a clear picture of the division's armoured strengthat the beginning ofthe battle in the table on page 4. 116 Panzer Division Formed from remnants of 16 Panzer Grenadier Division and 179 Reserve Panzer Division, this formation did not arrive in France until ‘April 1944 and at the time of the invasion was far from battle ready. ‘The Panther battalion of 16 Panzer Regiment was trainingin Germany ‘on 6 June and it was originally intended that the battalion of the Grossdeutschland Panzer Grenadier Division, training on their new Panthers at Maillyle-Camp, should be sent as a replacement. However, before 116 Panzer Division could be sent to the front, the Grossdeutscland tankers were returned to Russia and 1/Panzer Regiment 24 took their place. This battalion had however only just received its Panthers and was still conducting platoon-sized exercises aslateastheend of June. When the division arrived atthe front ithad on hand 86 Panzer IV and, ‘76 Panthers. Interestingly a report of 8 June indicates that 3 Panzer IV tanks with the early short 75mm gun were on hand with 10 Panzer Ill tanks -3 with the sort barreled main gun - 6 Sturmgeschatz Ill and 6 self-propelled 7.5em Pak (Sf). The Panzer regiment received no replacement tanks during the summer of 1944, however the division's ppanzerjager abtellung did received a further 21 Jagdpanzer IV. The division participated in the German counteroffensive at Mortain, the largest tank battle of the Normandy campaign, without its Panthers ‘which had been attached to 2 Panzer Division. Advancing as far as Le- Mesnil-Adelée the division was unable to halt the advance of the US Third Army in Brittany and was subsequently encircled at Falaise, 1S Panzer Division Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler in April 1944 this division had been sent to Belgium from Russia torefit ‘and was far from combat ready by June with many of the men being. tuntrained recruits. Although 42 Panzer IV, 38 Panthers and 44 ‘Sturmgeschiitz Ill were reported as being on hand and operational on. 1 June 1944, the division had none of its authorised armoured half- tracks and was to receive no replacement tanks in July and August. ‘After several false starts the division left for the fronton 17 June 1944, ‘The only major unit of the division to take part in the fighting during June was SS Panzer Grenadier Regiment 1 and itwasnotuntil1 August that the complete panzer regiment was with the division. Other important elements of the division where stil in Belgium however including 1/SS Aufklarungs Abteilung 1,whose promised Sakfz 250/8 halftracks never materialised. The division remained in the area south of Caen fighting alongside 12 SS Panzer Division - together forming | SS Panzerkorps - until the evening of 5% August when the panzer regiment, two panzer grenadier battalions and other units were detached ‘to support 2 Panzer Division in the Mortain ‘counterattack. On 22 August, after breaking out of the Falaise Pocket, thedivision reported that no serviceable tanks or artillery pieces were onhand, 255 Panzer Division Das Reich ‘Withdrawn piecemeal from the Russian Front this division was sent to southern France to rest and refit. The division was however ina state of exhaustion with 9,000 of its men being raw recruits. On 1 June the division was able to report that 54 Panzer IV - of which only 44 were ‘combat ready - 39 Panthersand 41 Sturmgeschitz Il were on hand. (On 11 June the division was placed under the command of Heeresgruppe 8 and the next day ordered to move to the front. While the division's tanks and other tracked vehicles prepared to move by rall,the wheeled elements -with many of the vehicles commandeered at the last moment - set off by road and by 16 June had reached the ‘area around Mortain. On 19 June parts of the Panther battalion were being unloaded at Le Mans. Much has been made of the contribution of the French Resistance and Allied air power in delaying the northern movement ofthe division but infact the greatest obstacle was the lack of vehicle spare parts. Aslate asthe end of June many units including a ‘company of Panzer IV and another of Panthers were only just leaving, southern France for Normandy and t was not until26 July thatthe last trains were being unloaded. The division took part in Operation Luttich, capturing the town of Mortain and pushing on tothe west and south-west a far a Saint-Hilaire, only withdrawing when encirclement was imminent. By now only 5 Panzer IV, 3 Panthers and 8 Sturmgeschatz II were ready for immediate deployment. The last few tanks of the division managed toinflicta severe drubbing on units ofthe {st Polish Armoured Division near Mount Ormel on 20 August and in the process allow many German units to escape the Falaise Pocket. On 28 August the division was able to report that 6 serviceable tanks of all types wereall that remained. 95SPanzer Division Hohenstaufen This division was ordered to Normandy from Russia on 12 June 1944 and at that time the panzer regiment's I Abteilung had 41 operational Panzer IV in $ and 6 Kompanie and 38 Sturmgeschit Ill with 7 and 8 Kompanie. The Panthers of | Abteilung were already training at Mailly- le-Camp and by 9 June could report that 79 tanks were on hand. The regiment would however receive no replacements while it was in Normandy, Furthermore, the panzerjager abteilung remained in Russia and a scratch force was created and equipped with towed 7.Scm Pak 40 guns. By 18 July the division reported that 20 Panzer IV, 25 Panthers and 415 Sturmgeschitz Ill were operational. Interestingly, a report of the same day states that 67 enemy tanks had been captured -11 of them in running order. The division remained in the area south of Caen until 16 ‘August when it was ordered to withdraw towards Vimoutier, outside What would become known as the Falaise Pocket. During this move some of the panzer regiment's tanks were taken over by 12 SS Panzer Division. The division, with 2 SS Panzer Division, was involved in the attempts to relieve the encircled German units from the outside. In early September the few remaining tanks were handed over to 11 Panzer Division. 1108S Panzer Division Frundsberg Together with 9 $5 Panzer Division, this unit formed Il SS Panzerkorps and was also fighting in Russia when the invasion began. Ordered to ‘move to France on 12 June, the panzer regiment's Il Abteilung was made up of 39 Panzer IV and 38 Sturmgeschatz Il including vehicles under repair. The | Abteilung was training in France but was far from combat ready and in fact would not join the division until 1945. The panzerjiger abteilung was still being formed and would take no part in the Normandy fighting. The panzer regiment also had 3 Panzer II command tanks on hand in June. twas not until 24 June thatthe first elements ofthe division, including the division HQ, the panzer regiment and the aufklarungs abtellung, reached the Normandy front. The division first went into action on 30 June but was restricted by a severe lack of fuel. On 31 July the division was able to report that 20 Panzer IV and 20 Sturmgeschiitz Ill were available for operations with others under repair. During July the division remained in the area southwest of Caen until in early August it was sent to bolster the southern side of the pocket which had formed west of Falaise. At this time the panzer regiment was still a strong force despite having lost 12 Panzer IV and 8 Sturmgeschutz since arriving in "Normandy. Parts of the division, with 2 Panzer Division and 1 SS Panzer Division were trapped in the Falaise Pocket and by 21 August the division had no operational tanks. 1288 Panzer Division Hitler Jugend This division was almost continually engaged during the fighting in "Normandy from the first day of the invasion. On 1 June the panzer regiment reported that 98 Panzer IV and 50 Panthers were on hand, a small number of these tanks beinginshort term repai. “The division remainedin the Caen area for the duration of the campaign fighting against British and Canadian units and by the end of July tank strength had been reduced to 39 Panzer IV and 22 Panthers with another 23 tanks in short term repair. During the fighting in Normandy elements of the division were detached to form kampfgruppen. The most important of these were Kampferuppe Wunsche and Kampferuppe Olboeter. The former consisted of Stab/i2 SS Panzer Regiment, schwere SS Panzer Abtellung 101 and the Panthers of /SS Panzer Regiment 1 and| /SS Panzer Regiment 12. The infantry element was provided by Ill/SS Panzer Grenadier Regiment 26 and parts of Sturm Panzer Abteilung 217 were also attached. On 31 July the tank strength ofthis unit was 61 Panthers, a small number of Panzer IV and 419 Tigers. This ad hoc formation acted as a reserve in the area south- east of Caen. Kampfgruppe Olboeter was intended to reinforce Il SS Panzerkorps and was made up of the Panthers of 2/SS Panzer Regiment 42, the armoured infantry of 10/SS Panzer Grenadier Regiment 26 and fone battery of self-propelled artillery. By 2 August the division reported