I am looking for information about the 11th and 12. Fallschirm Sturmgeschutz Brigade. Any information will be welcome, especialy photographs.
I find some info in the booklet 'Soldat' volume 8 by Chris Mason that some StuG survived Normandy and that they saw action during operation Market-Garden in Holland. Does some of you have more info on this???
11. & 12. Fallsch Sturmgeschutz Brigade Normandy - Holla
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Ron Klages
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Some Data
Peter,
Here is some data I have on these two Luftwaffe Sturmgeschütz units.
I hope this data helps.
best regards,
Ron Klages
Fallschirm-Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 1 and Fallschirm-Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 2 was established in January 1944 with personnel that had volunteered for and already belonged to Fallschirm units. They were detached for Sturmartillerie training. The officers and drivers were sent to the Sturmgeschütz Schule at Burg while the gunners were sent to Altengrabow. Additional personnel were also sent to Sturmgeschütz-Ersatz-Abteilung 300 at Neiße. These personnel continued training until 24 March 1944 and then at the end of the month the two Brigades were established. In June 1944 they were renamed as Fallschirm-Sturmgeschütz-Brigade XI and Fallschirm-Sturmgeschütz-Brigade XII. They were also known as the Green Devil Brigades.
Fallschirm-Sturmgeschütz-Brigade XI
Fallschirm-Sturmgeschütz-Brigade XI was commanded by Hauptmann Schäber and the unit was transferred to France. It continued it organization at Melun where it received 22 StuG IIIs and 9 StuH 42s. From there it went to Donmarie and Dontilly.
The brigade first went into action after the Allied breakthrough at Nancy where it was subsequently destroyed although they managed to destroy a few Allied tanks. The survivors formed a cadre under Oberleutnant Hollunder for rebuilding. It was placed under the operational control of the 5. Fallschirm-Jäger-Division and it was again employed on the southern flank of the attacking spearhead in the Ardennes Offensive under the 7.Armee. It fought across the Clerf River and advanced on Wiltz. On 22 December they advanced through Vaux les Rosiéres to 15 kilometers south of bastogne. They continued to fight around Bastogne but suffered heavy losses in fighting with the US 4. Armored-Division. The remnants made it back to Germany and asfter some rebuilding were employed against the Soviets and went into Soviet captivity on 8 May 1945.
Other than the initial deliveries I can find no other deliveries of assault guns to the brigade although I believe they were issued 19 StuG IIIs and 12 StuH 42s in October 1944.
Fallschirm-Sturmgeschütz-Brigade XII
Fallschirm-Sturmgeschütz-Brigade XII was commanded by Hauptmann Gersteuer and was moved into the area south of St. Lo on 6 June 1944. It was placed under the operational contro of the 3. Fallschirm-Jäger-Division and in the fighting in Normandy they suffered heavy losses in the three pockets at Falaise. It had received 22 StuG IIIs and 9 StuH 42s prior to deployement to Normandy in June. On 27 June 1944 they reporteed having 11 operational StuG and on 29 July they had 7 StuG IIIs and 3 StuH 42s operational.
After reaching the east bank of the Seine River they moved to Rouen to St. Quentin to Namur and Lüttich to Cologne-Wahn where they were refitted. The only gun a single StuH 42 was saved from the Normandy campaign. It appears that in refitting they received 4 assault guns that were repaired guns returned from Germany.
After the Allied assault on Arnhem the brigade moved through Weeze and Wesel and was committed in the Wyler area in late September 1944. Here they were assigned to support the newly formed 7. Fallschirm-Jäger-Division. Since their combat efectiveness was so low they were not able to provide much support to this division.
On 4 January 1945 while located at Amersfoort in Holland they received 20 StuG IIIs and 6 StuH 42s again making them combat ready and they became the tank killers for the 7. Fallschirm-Jäger-Division. Their first combats occurred in the area west of Cleve in the Reichswald. They also fought in and around Venlo. By 14 April 1945 Leutnant Heinz Deutsch had destroyed 34 enemy tanks since 24 March and was awarded the Knight’s Cross. On 24 April he destroyed a “Jumbo” Sherman at Edewecht bringing his total to 44. Three of his crew-Oberjäger Berndl, Feldwebel Stangassinger and Oberfeldwebel Berndl all received the german Cross in Gold.
During the last days of the war the brigade was to move across the Elbe River at Cuxhaven but this did not happen and on 8 May 1945 the brigade surrendered and later they were interned at Wilhelmshaven. During it’s short period of existence it was credited with destroying 240 enemy tanks with Leutnant Deutsch the high scorer with 44.
Here is some data I have on these two Luftwaffe Sturmgeschütz units.
I hope this data helps.
best regards,
Ron Klages
Fallschirm-Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 1 and Fallschirm-Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 2 was established in January 1944 with personnel that had volunteered for and already belonged to Fallschirm units. They were detached for Sturmartillerie training. The officers and drivers were sent to the Sturmgeschütz Schule at Burg while the gunners were sent to Altengrabow. Additional personnel were also sent to Sturmgeschütz-Ersatz-Abteilung 300 at Neiße. These personnel continued training until 24 March 1944 and then at the end of the month the two Brigades were established. In June 1944 they were renamed as Fallschirm-Sturmgeschütz-Brigade XI and Fallschirm-Sturmgeschütz-Brigade XII. They were also known as the Green Devil Brigades.
Fallschirm-Sturmgeschütz-Brigade XI
Fallschirm-Sturmgeschütz-Brigade XI was commanded by Hauptmann Schäber and the unit was transferred to France. It continued it organization at Melun where it received 22 StuG IIIs and 9 StuH 42s. From there it went to Donmarie and Dontilly.
The brigade first went into action after the Allied breakthrough at Nancy where it was subsequently destroyed although they managed to destroy a few Allied tanks. The survivors formed a cadre under Oberleutnant Hollunder for rebuilding. It was placed under the operational control of the 5. Fallschirm-Jäger-Division and it was again employed on the southern flank of the attacking spearhead in the Ardennes Offensive under the 7.Armee. It fought across the Clerf River and advanced on Wiltz. On 22 December they advanced through Vaux les Rosiéres to 15 kilometers south of bastogne. They continued to fight around Bastogne but suffered heavy losses in fighting with the US 4. Armored-Division. The remnants made it back to Germany and asfter some rebuilding were employed against the Soviets and went into Soviet captivity on 8 May 1945.
Other than the initial deliveries I can find no other deliveries of assault guns to the brigade although I believe they were issued 19 StuG IIIs and 12 StuH 42s in October 1944.
Fallschirm-Sturmgeschütz-Brigade XII
Fallschirm-Sturmgeschütz-Brigade XII was commanded by Hauptmann Gersteuer and was moved into the area south of St. Lo on 6 June 1944. It was placed under the operational contro of the 3. Fallschirm-Jäger-Division and in the fighting in Normandy they suffered heavy losses in the three pockets at Falaise. It had received 22 StuG IIIs and 9 StuH 42s prior to deployement to Normandy in June. On 27 June 1944 they reporteed having 11 operational StuG and on 29 July they had 7 StuG IIIs and 3 StuH 42s operational.
After reaching the east bank of the Seine River they moved to Rouen to St. Quentin to Namur and Lüttich to Cologne-Wahn where they were refitted. The only gun a single StuH 42 was saved from the Normandy campaign. It appears that in refitting they received 4 assault guns that were repaired guns returned from Germany.
After the Allied assault on Arnhem the brigade moved through Weeze and Wesel and was committed in the Wyler area in late September 1944. Here they were assigned to support the newly formed 7. Fallschirm-Jäger-Division. Since their combat efectiveness was so low they were not able to provide much support to this division.
On 4 January 1945 while located at Amersfoort in Holland they received 20 StuG IIIs and 6 StuH 42s again making them combat ready and they became the tank killers for the 7. Fallschirm-Jäger-Division. Their first combats occurred in the area west of Cleve in the Reichswald. They also fought in and around Venlo. By 14 April 1945 Leutnant Heinz Deutsch had destroyed 34 enemy tanks since 24 March and was awarded the Knight’s Cross. On 24 April he destroyed a “Jumbo” Sherman at Edewecht bringing his total to 44. Three of his crew-Oberjäger Berndl, Feldwebel Stangassinger and Oberfeldwebel Berndl all received the german Cross in Gold.
During the last days of the war the brigade was to move across the Elbe River at Cuxhaven but this did not happen and on 8 May 1945 the brigade surrendered and later they were interned at Wilhelmshaven. During it’s short period of existence it was credited with destroying 240 enemy tanks with Leutnant Deutsch the high scorer with 44.
Ron Klages
Lynnwood, Washington USA
Lynnwood, Washington USA