Feldgrau.net

It was standard practice in the waffen SS to get everybody to renounce Christianity. However, Himmler was a religious person with a small 'r'. Adolf remarked on it. Something like, 'We thought that we had done away with religion, and here's Himmler starting it all up again'. Even from the early days...

The Lw SPW 251 with 2cm Flak was not a SPW251/17 as such. It was probably produced in 1942. There had been field mods. with 2cm Flak 38 also. There are Gliederungen in Podzun Pictorial history of HG which show SPW 251 mounting 2cm Flak. That was in Tunisia although undated. SPW 251/16 flamethrower w...

10 October 1939.

Roger

Good question, I have never found out the answer. The tactical conditions meant that PzLehr had to dig in on the defensive. I did read in Paul Carell's, 'Invasion, They're Coming', that most halftracks were withdrawn to store. I have the figures for SPW's lost in June and part of July. The numbers w...

Yes, but I don't have them. Detailed statistics were maintained. Der Zwei Fronten Krieg, Das heer 1933 - 1945 by Burkhart Mueller - Hillebrand, Publ. E.S. Mittler & Sohn GmbH, 1969 has total statistics for Bestand, Verluste and Fertigung. So, for example, losses of Panzer IV 6,153 and Panther 3,...

OK, 34ID was from 1 Welle (Wave). Supply Services comprised Supply Leader, 6 Small Supply Columns (30t) including 3 motorized; 1 Small Supply Column for fuel (25cbm capacity); 1 Workshops Coy. (Mot); 1 Supply Coy. So, your M/C combination came from Supply Services (N = Nachschub), Workshops Coy (Mot...

What you need is to be found in RH26-1005/51 at BAMA. There's far to much to lay out here.

Roger

Yes, I come out with about 800 for PD's, based on 1Jan45 Returns. East Prussia - 5, 7, 16, 17, 24, GD and HG1. PR's 190 IV, 26 IV/70, 220 V, 15 VI, 18 Stugs, total 469 PzJgAbtn. 97 IV/70, 28 Stugs and 33 Marder, total 158 Warka Bridgehead - 19 and 25 PD's PR's 61 IV, 17 IV/70, 59 V, total 137 PzJgAb...

Hi Loic,

I think the 12ID was somewhat underwhelmed by being retitled VGD. Some books coment on it.

Regards,

Roger

I have a Gliederung dated 9 September 1944. It is titled 12ID. I always understood that Grenadier Division was the initial title for Volksgrenadier Divisions. 29th Wave were initially titled Grenadier Divisions.

12ID/GD/VGD belonged to 30th Wave.

Roger

I think it was a cover name for 4 Panzer Army, so Hermann Hoth. I have the OOB.

Roger

Don't worry John, I make faux pas all the time whilst knowing better. Actually there were quite a lot of odd numbering systems in Tiger Abteilungen.

Best Wishes,

Roger

No John, apart from exceptions, coy. command (Group Leader) . used 100 and 101 or 101 and 102 etc, about 50/50.

GD Tigers from inception to Aug 43 used 'S' for Schwere Komp. Expanded to III Abteilung, 9 to 11 Coys. tac. numbers started 'A', 'B' and 'C' instead of 9, 10 and 11.

regards,

Roger

What you need is Villers - Bocage Through The Lens by Daniel Taylor, After The Battle Press. As far as I know this is the best book with maps extant.

Roger

The Germans were good, very good.

Roger