Hi,
I am trying to find information for a German friend who is trying to find out the fate of his grandfather who went missing in the war.
The last unit the grandfather was listed as being in was the Panzerjaeger-Sturmgeschuetz-Abteilung 1383. The information given by the WASt in Germany (who give unit info, etc) gave no indication of where this unit was placed between July and December 1944 when the grandfather was part of it. The German Red Cross, however, gave the last known deployment as being in East Prussia (Ostpreussen).
Can anyone tell me, please, what kind of a unit this was - what did such a unit do? Of what was it composed?
Can anyone tell me more about its deployment during the latter part of 1944?
I would be extrremely grateful for any information, also tips for further reading (preferably German titles).
Thanks very much
Chris
Panzerjaeger-Sturmgeschuetz-Abteilung 1383 (July-Dec. 1944)
Moderator: Tom Houlihan
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Chris Greenthaner
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- Location: Australia
1383 StuG Abt
G'day Chris,
Sounds like it was the StuG (self-propelled Assault Gun) Company of the Anti-tank (Panzer-jaeger) Battalion of the 383rd Inf Div (?). Despite being a company sized unit, they were apparently termed as 'Abteilung' (Detachment). They usually formed the 1st or 2nd(?) company of an AT Battalion. Depending on the TO/E, the other company's were made up of a towed AT Gun company and a AA company. As to area of service this can get tricky as some StuG Abteilungs inherent in AT Battalions often did not reach their parent units particularly if they formed late in the war. Some of the OB specialists may be able to trace its activity and that of the parent unit.
Cheers
Sounds like it was the StuG (self-propelled Assault Gun) Company of the Anti-tank (Panzer-jaeger) Battalion of the 383rd Inf Div (?). Despite being a company sized unit, they were apparently termed as 'Abteilung' (Detachment). They usually formed the 1st or 2nd(?) company of an AT Battalion. Depending on the TO/E, the other company's were made up of a towed AT Gun company and a AA company. As to area of service this can get tricky as some StuG Abteilungs inherent in AT Battalions often did not reach their parent units particularly if they formed late in the war. Some of the OB specialists may be able to trace its activity and that of the parent unit.
Cheers
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John Nelson
- Member
- Posts: 30
- Joined: Sat Oct 12, 2002 8:26 pm
Stu.Gesch.Abt.1383 later 1549
Hello,
Don White answered the purpose of the Abteilung. Here's some history of the unit. On Jun.17.44, H.Gr.Mitte was ordered to send a cadre (one Komp.) of the Pz.Jg.Abt.383 to the Tr.Ub.Pl.Mielau in order to convert to Stu.Gesch. On Jun.28.1944, H.Gr.Mitte reported that the Stamm for the new Stu.Gesch.Abt.1383 was en-route to Mielau, but strangely, the unit did not arrive until Aug.3.1944. During this time, on Jul.10.44, the 1383 was ordered to be placed at the disposal to one of the forming 29.Welle Divisionen (541.-553.,558.-559.Gren.Div.). On Jul.16. it was ordered to form as the Stu.Gesch.Abt.1548 (548.Gren.Div.), but on Aug.16.44, it was renamed Stu.Gesch.Abt.1549. The unit was equipped with 10 Stu.Gesch.III that was sent to the unit on Aug.5.44, and 1 Berge.Pz.III sent to the unit on Aug.22.44. On Aug.17.1944 the Stu.Gesch.Abt.1549 (fr.1383) was sent to its parent Div. (549.V.Gren.Div.) on the E.Front. The Div. mainly fought with H.Gr.Nord. On Jan.15.1945, the 1549 reported having 6 Stu.Gesch.III (4 combat ready, and 2 in repair) plus 1 Berge T-34 as a recovery vehicle. However, the 549.V.Gren.Div. was quickly destroyed during the January '45, Soviet offensive, and on 1.Feb.1945, the 549.V.Gren.Div reporting no Stu.Gesch. on-hand. It is assumed that the Pz.Jg.Kp.1549 was completely destroyed at this time. During the month of Feb.'45, the 549.V.Gren.Div. was rebuilt using the ad-hoc Div.Denecke, but the Stu.Gesch.Abt. (Pz.Jg.Kp.) was not re-built.
I hope it helps
John Nelson
Don White answered the purpose of the Abteilung. Here's some history of the unit. On Jun.17.44, H.Gr.Mitte was ordered to send a cadre (one Komp.) of the Pz.Jg.Abt.383 to the Tr.Ub.Pl.Mielau in order to convert to Stu.Gesch. On Jun.28.1944, H.Gr.Mitte reported that the Stamm for the new Stu.Gesch.Abt.1383 was en-route to Mielau, but strangely, the unit did not arrive until Aug.3.1944. During this time, on Jul.10.44, the 1383 was ordered to be placed at the disposal to one of the forming 29.Welle Divisionen (541.-553.,558.-559.Gren.Div.). On Jul.16. it was ordered to form as the Stu.Gesch.Abt.1548 (548.Gren.Div.), but on Aug.16.44, it was renamed Stu.Gesch.Abt.1549. The unit was equipped with 10 Stu.Gesch.III that was sent to the unit on Aug.5.44, and 1 Berge.Pz.III sent to the unit on Aug.22.44. On Aug.17.1944 the Stu.Gesch.Abt.1549 (fr.1383) was sent to its parent Div. (549.V.Gren.Div.) on the E.Front. The Div. mainly fought with H.Gr.Nord. On Jan.15.1945, the 1549 reported having 6 Stu.Gesch.III (4 combat ready, and 2 in repair) plus 1 Berge T-34 as a recovery vehicle. However, the 549.V.Gren.Div. was quickly destroyed during the January '45, Soviet offensive, and on 1.Feb.1945, the 549.V.Gren.Div reporting no Stu.Gesch. on-hand. It is assumed that the Pz.Jg.Kp.1549 was completely destroyed at this time. During the month of Feb.'45, the 549.V.Gren.Div. was rebuilt using the ad-hoc Div.Denecke, but the Stu.Gesch.Abt. (Pz.Jg.Kp.) was not re-built.
I hope it helps
John Nelson