Sinking of 2 Panzer-Div 20/21 May 1941

[dankane]

Very interesting post, Juha. I take it the figures refer to officers, NCOs and men? Is any information given about actual vehicle losses?

Daniel.

[Juha]

Hello
Yes, I also interpret it so, at least that is the way Germans usually gave their losses. No info about vehicle losses. The tracked elements of the PzJgAbt. 38(SF) and its most weary wheeled vehicles were shiped over with the major part of the PzR on the first lift. So I think that the PzJgAbt. 38(SF) didn't lose any of its vehicles in those sinkings (Most of its wheeled vehicles were transported over land). And the writers seem to be not very interested in vehicle losses of the other units of the 2nd PzD, but losses seems to be mostly howitzers and prime-movers of the ArtyR.

Juha

[dankane]

Thanks for the clarification. Between us all, I think we have shed quite a bit of light on a very obscure incident.

Best wishes

Daniel.

[Hans Weber]

Hello
To honor the effort made by you guys, it might be interesting to add some trivia from the diary notes of a young Panzergrenadier of 2./Pz.Gren.Rgt. 304 (published in the Mitteilungsblatt of the 2nd PD). It's a lengthy report and I don't know if it worth the effort to type it down and translate it (would take me days doing it anyway). Here are what I think are some interesting points.

The man's name is Zaloudek. He survived the war and became a veterinary doctor. He was in the sMG Gruppe of the above Co. which was issued halftracks. He said that they were loaded on the Marburg on the 19th May 1941. Together with other tracked parts of the 2nd Panzerdivision. He mentions the Art. Rgt. 74 among the units because he had two friends there (seems that most of the armour lost were SPWs then). Rumour had it that their departure was already delayed because of the increased submarine threat. They left the harbour on the 21st May at 0900 clock, followed by the Kybfels, waving back at cheering Italian mariners also in PATRAS. Most of the soldiers now take a sunbath, it's ordered to have the swimming aid at the ready. Only a few soldiers are below deck. The Kybfels overtakes them and the Marburg follows suit. They pass the island of ITHAKA. Two Italian aircraft seem to give the protection. The men think that this is a weak effort but trust in the judgement of the command not to risk so many men, material, guns and engineer material. On the horizon they see several ships, from one vessel smoke rises... At 14.00 the ship library opens and our man gets himself a book. They pass between the islands of Kephallonia and Leukas. He looks at his wrist watch. 14.15. Boom, a huge waterfountain rises next to the Kybfels, is it a mine? Both ships veer to the left, the Marburg tries to get into the dead angle of the Kybfels. Alarm is sounded. Then the Marburg is hit. The men think it is a torpedo hit. All men are ordered on deck and take on their simming vests. There are several explosions. The Kybfels slowly disappears into the water, men jumping from the deck. The Captain of the Marbach calls out "Jump into the creek, jump into the creek". Our man tries to get underdeck again to fetch his gear but is ordered to jump into the sea. He is pleasantly surprised by the fact that the water is warmer than he thought. He is a good swimmer and soon a rubber boat arrives and he is helped into it. They turn towards the north, to Leukas. Most of the other men however will go towards Kephalinia. Later he finds out that in each direction it is about 11 km to the shoreline of an island. More men get into the boat, the boat is slowed down, takes water. One man in the water tells him to leave him his place as he has the cramps and gets hysterical. The other men in the boat ignore the struggle between the two. Our man gets really upset and jumps into the water, leaving his slow comrades and trusting in his swimming skills, he goes for the coast all by himself. About two hours later (he didn't look at his watch this time) he sees a rescue boat. At first he is refused entry but then an officer reasons that our man must be the one furthest away from the Marburg and thus no more will have to be taken into account, so he is taken in. Several fishing boats go for the other survivors. They arrive in small bay at Leukas on 1830. The civilians are helpfull and Italian troops are stationed on the island, too. At 2300 two Italian army buses get the men and bring them to Mauro. They see the lights of the burning Marburg and several smaller lights of the rescue vessels.
The account goes on, telling the men turning South had it easier, all of them were rescued by boats. One man swam for 7 hours... one non-swimmer was picked from a rope of the Marburg after hanging there for four hours. He couldn't verify it but states that out of 1'400 men on both ships, about 300 were lost. He remembers the funeral service hosted by the Italian troops which made a deep impression on him

Cheers
Hans

[Jason Pipes]

EXCELLENT posting, Hans! Thanks VERY much for taking the time to post this! It's wonderful that we can piece together such things into a larger whole. From the first questions, to the bits and pieces of information posted in response, to the diary entry of someone who experienced it first hand we've really pulled together some great information on a little known and often ignored historical event.

[dankane]

Dear Hans

Thank you very much for sharing this amazing piece of information. It seems that we have really been able to bring together both official notes and personal accounts of this tragedy. A wonderful post. Well worth your efforts. The 1,400 men your source mentions matches well with Halder's 1,328 men.

This should all make a worthy addition to the 2 Panzer Division history on this site.

Regards

Daniel.

[larrister]

Hello Gentlemen,

I am reviving this thread after many years as I have just received a photo lot showing armour and tracked vehicles of 2 Panzer Division being loaded onto the ship Kybfels on 16.5.1941 four days before the ship was sunk.

Is anyone still interested in this topic?

Cheers,
Larry

[Die Blechtrommel]

Of course Larry. Let's continue...

With best, J-P

[larrister]

Here are two photos from the series showing armoured and tracked vehicles of 2 Panzer Division being loaded onto ship
Kybfels 16.5.1941. First photo showing panzers and car in ships hold.

Cheers,
Larry

[larrister]

SdKfz 10 being loaded into hold. This type of vehicle is shown a lot in the photo series and most of the time they are towing pak.

Cheers,
Larry

[larrister]

Writing on back of photo.

[larrister]

One more. The symbol for 2 Panzer Divsion can be seen beside the PzJg (mot) symbol on the fender of the vehicle at left.

Cheers,
Larry

[larrister]

Seems like all the original posters have moved on...........never mind!

[tigre]

Hello to all ; after a while a complement..............................

Cargo of the MS "Marburg" and MS "Kybfels" 1941.

Source: http://www.ddghansa-shipsphotos.de/kybfels200.htm

All the cargo was lost. Cheers. Raul M .

[tigre]

Hello to all ; a little complement..................................

Sinking of transport ships "Marburg" and "Kybfels" in May 1941.

In the first wave were loaded in the ships "Kybfels", "Marburg" and "Laura C" the following elements:

The PR 3; tracked vehicles of Kradsch. Btl 2; Pz Jäg Abt 38; Pz Na Abt 38; Pz Pi Btl 38 (without Brüko - bridges), sIG 703 and 2./Fla MG 47 under Oberst Balck. This convoy reached safely the Italian port of Taranto on May 18, 1941 and after unloading the material the ships headed back to Patras to bring home the second wave.


A Pz Kw III Ausf. E/F of PR 3 (see the emblem) ready to be shipped - Patras mayo de 1941................................


Vehicles of Pz Pi Btl 38 waiting to be shipped in the "Kybfels"; there are several Abwurfvorrichtung auf Panzerkampfwagen I Ausf.B among them.........................

Sources: Untergang der Schiffe "Marburg" and "Kybfels" im Ionischen Meer. Mai 1941. Mitteilungsblätter der Traditionsgemeinschaft 2. (Wiener) Panzerdivision.
7 Pictures 2 Panzer Div. Griechenland Schiffe Tarn LKW uvm. EBay Auction.
7 Pictures 2 Panzer Div. Grichenland Verladung GFM List. EBay Auction.

Cheers. Raúl M .

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