StuG, PzJag units in East Prussia'45?

[donwhite]

I'm looking details on which StuG Bde's and independent Pz.Jag Abt.'s were present/active in East Prussia (or Army Group Centre) in early Jan'45. Any details greatly appreciated.

Cheers

[Ron Klages]

Don,

Checking several ources I came up with the following StuG units in East Prussia in January 1945:

Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 185
Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 209
Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 232
Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 259
Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 278
Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 279
Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 904
Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 909

Hope this helps. I checked sources on independent PJ Abts. but could find nothing that jumped out at me. I am sure there were some.

Best regards,

Ron Klages

[donwhite]

Thanks for response Ron. This roughly coincides with what I could find at the excellent 'Panzkeil' website's 'Obscure formations' link although there does appear to be some gaps in the data between when a unit was last recorded with a particular formation and its next mention as rebuilding a long time later.


Cheers

[Kamen Nevenkin]

Hi,

on 5 January 1945 these brigades reported the following StuG-strength (Ist):

Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 185 - 28
Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 209 - 29
Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 232 - ....
Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 259 - 43
Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 278 - 42
Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 279 - 18
Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 904 - 31
Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 909 - 30

According to the meldung that is in my possession there was no such brigade as StuGBr 232, but StuGBr 262 is listed. It had 29 StuG.

Hope this helps.

Happy new year to everybody.

[Ron Klages]

Hi Kamen,

I can find a 232 but no 262 in Tessin. Perhaps your meldung has a typo.

232 was formed in October 1942 and after completion of forming in December 192 they were sent to the southern front in the east. First in the defensive fighting in the Don and the Donez areas. In January 1945 they found themselves in Heiligenbiel. They fought in East Prussia and on May 8, 1945 they were in Hela.

Happy New Year and I will be getting back to you next week regarding the writtings you sent me.

Ron

[David Constable]

The following lists are not always going to be applicable.
If the year is given as ??? or 1945 then that is all I know.
Some extra notes are included for information. to help you see if applicable.

Heeres-Sturmgeschütz-Brigade Burg [? Abt ?]
2nd October 1944
[H.Gr.Mitte, 4.Armee, VI.Armeekorps]
1945
[Harko.302]
East Prussia.

Heeres-Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 185
August 1944 [10th]
[H.Gr.Mitte, 4.Armee]
17 Sturmgeschütz III(lg) (Sd.Kfz.142/1), 5 Sturmhaubitze 42 (Sd.Kfz.142/2).
Octoberber 1944 [2nd]
[H.Gr.Mitte, 2.Armee, XX.Armeekorps]
Late 1944/1945
East Prussia.

Heeres-Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 202
October 1944
[H.Gr.Nord]
Tukkums in Kurland pocket.
1945
[18.Armee]
In Kurland.
May 1945 [7th]
[H.Gr.Nord, 16.Armee]
In Kurland.
18 Sturmgeschütz.

Heeres-Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 209
October 1944 [2nd]
[H.Gr.Mitte, 2.Armee, XXIII.Armeekorps]
1945
Attached to 14.Infanterie-Division in East Prussia.

Heeres-Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 226
November 1944
Re-equipped with 31 Pz.IV/70 and had a 4.(Grenadier-Begleit)Batterie added.
February 1945 [21st]
To Danzig with 31 vehicles.
1945
[2.Armee]
In West Prussia.

Heeres-Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 232
September 1944 [2nd]
[H.Gr.Mitte, 3.Panzer-Armee, IX.Armeekorps]
1945
[3.Panzer-Armee]
In Heilingbeil in East Prussia.
1945
[17.Armee]
In Silesia.
March 1945
Refitting.
47 Sturmgeschütz, 4 Hummel in a batterie.

Heeres-Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 259
October 1944 [2nd]
[H.Gr.Mitte, 4.Armee, LV.Armeekorps]
1945
[4.Armee]
In East Prussia.

Heeres-Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 278
November 1944
One of four units authorized 45 Sturmgeschütz.
November 1944
[5.Panzer-Armee]
45 Sturmgeschütz.
January 1945 [28th]
Merged with Heeres-Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 232.

Heeres-Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 279
October 1944 [2nd]
[H.Gr.Mitte, 4.Armee, XXVII.Armeekorps]
1945
[4.Armee]
In East Prussia.

Heeres-Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 300
Heeres-Sturmartillerie-Brigade 300
October 1944 [2nd]
[H.Gr.Nordukraine]
January 1945 [18th]
[H.Gr.A, 4.Panzer-Armee, XXXXVIII.Panzer-Korps]
February 1945
Reinforced with Kampfgruppe Gruber, this comprised Sturmgeschütz-Ersatz und Ausbildung-Abteilung 300 and 3./Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 184.
February 1945 [9th]
[H.Gr.Mitte, 17.Armee, VIII.Armeekorps]
March 1945 [16th]
[H.Gr.Mitte, 17.Armee, VIII.Armeekorps]
April 1945 [? March ?]
Renamed Heeres-Sturmartillerie-Brigade 300.

Heeres-Sturmartillerie-Brigade 393
September 1944 [2nd]
1.Batterie in Armee-Abteilung Narwa, II.Armeekorps.
Remainder in H.Gr.Nord, 18.Armee, XXVIII.Armeekorps.
May 1945 [7th]
[H.Gr.Nord, 16.Armee]
In Kurland pocket.
17 Sturmgeschütz.

Heeres-Sturmartillerie-Brigade 600
November 1944 [12th]
[H.Gr.Nord, 18.Armee
3.Batterie attached to 4.Panzer-Division.
? May 1945 ?
Kurland pocket.

Heeres-Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 904
October 1944 [2nd]
[H.Gr.Mitte, 2.Armee, Cavalry Corps]
???
? Destroyed ?
1945
Not listed in order of battle.

Heeres-Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 909
2nd October 1944
[H.Gr.Mitte, 2.Armee, XX.Armeekorps]
January 1945
1.Batterie detached, latter became 1./Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 111.
1945
In East Prussia.

Heeres-Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 912
Heeres-Sturmartillerie-Brigade 912
21st December 1944
[H.Gr.Nord, 18.Armee, X.Armeekorps]
Attached to 11.Infanterie-Division.
Kurland pocket.
? December ? 1944
Renamed Heeres-Sturmartillerie-Brigade 912.
7th May 1945
[H.Gr.Nord, 18.Armee]
In Kurland.
21 Sturmgeschütz.
8th May 1945
[H.Gr.Nord, 18.Armee, XXXVIII.Armeekorps]
In Kurland.

Panzer-Jagd-Verband „Kurland”
Formed ???.
Comprised:
schwere-Heeres-Panzerjäger-Abteilung (8,8cm mot.Z) 666
schwere-Heeres-Panzerjäger-Abteilung (8,8cm mot.Z) 667
May 1945 [7th]
[H.Gr.Nord, 18.Armee]
Kurland pocket.

schwere-Heeres-Panzerjäger-Abteilung 88
November 1944
[H.Gr.Mitte, 17.Armee
January 1945 [27th]
[H.Gr.Mitte, 17.Armee, XVII.Armeekorps]
Attached to 20.Panzer-Div.
Upper Silesia.
February 1945 [7th]
[H.Gr.Mitte, 17.Armee, XVII.Armeekorps]
Attached to 20.Panzer-Div.
Upper Silesia.
March 1945
Issued 4 Näshorn.

schwere-Heeres-Panzerjäger-Abteilung (8,8cm mot.Z) 664
15th July 1944
Being rebuilt in H.Gr.mitte, 3.Pz.Armee.
2nd February 1945
Stab and one Kp with 12 8,8cm guns in 4.Pz.Div. in West Prussia.

schwere-Heeres-Panzerjäger-Abteilung (8,8cm mot.Z) 666
September 1944
[H.Gr.Nord, Army Detachment Grasse, Gruppe Kleffel]
Early 1945
With schwere-Heeres-Panzerjäger-Abteilung (8,8cm mot.Z) 667 became part of Panzer-Jagd-Verband Kurland. Still using 8,8cm Pak 43.
May 1945 [7th]
Assigned to 18.Armee, H.Gr.Kurland with 8,8cm guns.

schwere-Heeres-Panzerjäger-Abteilung (8,8cm mot.Z) 667
Early 1945
With schwere-Heeres-Panzerjäger-Abteilung (8,8cm mot.Z) 666 became part of Panzer-Jagd-Verband Kurland. Still using 8,8cm Pak 43.
May 1945 [7th]
Assigned to 18.Armee, H.Gr.Kurland with 8,8cm guns.

Heeres-Panzerjäger-Abteilung (38t) 731
July 1944
Issued 45 [? 49 ?] Hetzer.
Abt HQu – 3 Hetzer [2 with Fu8]
Three Kp -
HQu 2 Hetzer [1 with Fu8].
Three Zug each 4 Hetzer.
???
To H.Gr.Nord.
November 1944
Issued 10 [? 20 ?] Hetzer.
May 1945 [7th]
[H.Gr.Nord, 16.Armee OR 18.Armee]
Kurland pocket.

Heeres-Panzerjäger-Abteilung (38t) 743
Late July 1944
[H.Gr.Mitte, 9.Armee]
Issued 45 Hetzer.
Abt HQu – 3 Hetzer [2 with Fu8]
Three Kp -
HQu 2 Hetzer [1 with Fu8].
Three Zug each 4 Hetzer.
In Central Russia.
November 1944
Issued 3 Hetzer.
February 1945
Issued 31 Hetzer.
End of war
In East Prussia.

Panzerjäger-Abteilung 751
Formed 1st November 1943 in Russia by H.Gr.Nord, 16.Armee from 2./PzJgAbt12, 2./PzJaAbt32 and 1./PzJgAbt122 as (mot.Z).
May never have been an SP unit, it was never issued Hetzer, or had any Marder replacements.
September 1944 [1st]
Issued 3 7,5cm PaK40/4 auf Raupenschlepper, Ost (Sf).
May 1945 [7th]
[H.Gr.Nord, 16.Armee OR 18.Armee]
Kurland pocket.
? Hetzer ?

Panzerjäger-Abteilung 752
Formed 1st October 1943 by H.Gr.Nord, 18.Armee in Russia from Stab/schnelleAbt196, 1.Kp from 2./PzJgAbt24, 2.Kp from 2./PzJgAbt132, 3.Kp from 1./schnelleAbt196 as (mot.Z).
May never have been an SP unit, it was never issued Hetzer, or had any Marder replacements.
September 1944 [1st]
Issued 8 7,5cm PaK40/4 auf Raupenschlepper, Ost (Sf).
November 1944 [10th]
Had three Battr each 12 8,8cm Pak43.
May 1945 [7th]
[H.Gr.Nord, 18.Armee]
Kurland pocket.
? Hetzer ?

Panzerjäger-Abteilung 753
Formed 1st October 1943 by H.Gr.Nord, 18.Armee in Russia from Stab, 1./schnelleAbt225, 2./PzJgAbt240 and 1./PzJgAbt169 as (mot.Z).
May never have been an SP unit, it was never issued Hetzer, or had any Marder replacements.
May 1945 [7th]
[H.Gr.Nord, 16.Armee OR 18.Armee]
Kurland pocket.
? Hetzer ?

David Constable

[donwhite]

Thanks Gentleman for your excellent replies. Very informative.

Cheers

[michalst]

Hello people!

I have a question about organization of an Heeres-Sturmgeschütz-Brigade.

According to my sources (polish militaria booklet - 271) an Heeres-Sturmgeschütz-Brigade in late 1944 was composed of:

-one abteilung which consisted of 3 batteries -> 31 stugs
-one infantry battalion (3 comp). Called "Infanterie Begleit Batterie" or "Begleit Grenadier Baterie"
-one pioneer platoon

Is that correct? How many men where part of an Heeres-Sturmgeschütz-Brigade ?

Which KStN applies to Heeres-Sturmgeschütz-Brigades ?

[Martin Block]

A Heeres-Stu.Gesch.Brig. consisted simply of
- Stab
- Stabsbattr.
- 1. - 3. Battr.

That was it, no infantry battalion and no engineer platoon.

During the second half of 1944 and in 1945 several brigades were authorized to have an additional '4.(Begleit-Grenadier) Battr.'. These brigades were then renamed to Heeres-Stu.Art.Brig.
If a brigade was just authorised a single Begl.Gren.Zug or two its designation remained H.Stu.Gesch.Brig.

The relevant K.St.N. can be found here in full detail: http://www.wwiidaybyday.com/
Click on OoB's, Gliederungen, KStN => KStN =>Artillerie

Martin Block

[michalst]

I don't have this booklet in front of me, so either they have a bug or my mistake..

By the way, do you mean this kstn: http://chrito.users1.50megs.com/kstn/kstn4481dez44.htm

?

[Piet Duits]

That is correct.
This 1.12.1944 KStN was the 2nd version of the Begleitgrenadier-Batterie, the first one being not officially printed in february 1944.
However, this KStN only applies for a Sturm-Artillerie-Brigade as Martin decribed.
INfantry Divisions (and even Panzer- and Panzergrenadier-Divisions in a later period) which had a single Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung (in fact 1 company according to KStN 1149 as of 1.2.1944) were since August 1944 reinforced with a Begleitgrenadier-Zug. There was no official KStN for that too, and was build by taking the personell from the division itself.

Piet

[donwhite]

Slightly off topic in relation to the recent posts (which are none the less still highly informative), I return to the thrust of my original thread aided by recent (and maiden) perusing of some NARA micro film. Firstly from T78, roll 622, a list date 5th Jan'45 shows Heeresguppe Mitte shows the following Brigades:
Stug.Brig.185 Ist: 28 Fehl: 3
" " " 190 " 33 " -
" " " 201 " 31 " -
" " " 209 " 29 " 2
" " " 262 " 29 " 2
" " " 249 " 28 " 3
" " " 259 " 43 " 2
" " " 276 " 25 " 6
" " " 277 " 24 " 7
" " " 279 " 18 " 13
" " " 901 " 31 " -
" " " 909 " 30 " 1

From T311, roll 228, A list dated 7th of Dec'44 (Heerestruppenunbersicht der H.Gr.Mitte) & the nearest to the 1st quarter of Jan'45 that I have managed to locate, shows the following Pz.Jag units present.

Fest-Pak.Kp's 4, 9 & 11/I(XXVIII AK/3.Pz.Armee)
Fest-Pak.Kp's 3,6 & 8/VI(XXVII AK)
Fest-Pak.Kp's 4,5,9 & 7(?)/VI(XXVI AK)
Fest-Pak.Kp.2/I(4.Armee)
Fest-Pak.Kp's 11,13,15,16 & 21/VII(XXXIX Pz.K)
s.Pz.Jag.Abt.'s 664 & 665 "
Fest-Pak.Kp's 7,8,14 & 17/VII(VI AK)
Fest-Pak.Kp.2/I(Kav AK)
Fest-Pak.Kp.10 & 19/I(LV AK)
Fest-Pak.Kp's 14,15 & 16/I(XXVI AK/2.Armee)
Pz.Zestorer.Btl.474 "
Fest-Pak.Kp.13/I(IVss Pz.K)

For comparing & contrasting with the 5th Jan'45 list, the 7th Dec'44 documents shows the following StuG.Brigades present:
3PA
XXVIII AK: 278(P.E)
IX AK: 232
XXVI AK: 203, 276 & 277
4A
209, 909, 185(o.1)z.v.H.Gr
XXXIX PzK: 279
VI AK: 259
LV AK: I/185 & 4/920
2A
XX AK: 904
XXXIII AK: 249
IVss PzK: 190

Not sure if the Pz.Zestorer.Btl survived into Jan'45 or the Pak.Verband units for that matter. I'll just have to keep searching for a later dated list.

Any Typo's are courtesy of my own eye fatigue from looking at poor quality photcopies via my local library's microfilm reader/printer.

Cheers

[Kelvin]

Hi, Don any combat ready figures for these Sturmgeschutz Brigades ?

[Kelvin]

Infanterie division in Army Group Center in East Prussia had any StuG or Hetzer like some division in Army Group A ?

[donwhite]

Operationable StuG's
904 (15/1/45) 30
190(30/12/44) 32
909 (15/1/45) 28
276 ------------ 20
279 ------------ 18
259 -------------31
209 -------------28
185 -------------25
4/920-----------6(attached to 209)
277 -------------22
203--------------26
232--------------29
278--------------30

As as 5/1/45 Heeresguppe Mitte reported a 'soll' of 336 StuG & JgdPz's, an 'ist' 301 & a 'Fehl' of 35 from 28(? hard to read) Pz.Jg.Kp's

Cheers