Radfahr Brigade Norwegen

German Heer 1935-1945.

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AHK
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Radfahr Brigade Norwegen

Post by AHK »

Looking for info on this unit such as composition, actions, unit sign, and commanders. Thanks.
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donwhite
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Radfahrjager Bde

Post by donwhite »

This is sourced from Nafziger's Order of Battle series. Unit formed April'44 as an bicycle recon regiment with 2x battalions (each of 4x companies). 1st battalion formed from 95th Recon Battalion/3rd Mtn Div & 2nd battlaion formed from 233rd Recon Battalion/196th Inf Div. July'44 renamed as a Brigade.

Have not cross checked with Tessin, but the designated support units (510th AT Bn, Arty Bn, 1510th Eng Co, etc) are the same as the support units in the 10th Radfahr-Jager-Brigade which popped up in East Prussia in Jan'45 (Same unit??). A gliederung for the latter unit was posted on this forum some time back.

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Simon Orchard
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Post by Simon Orchard »

In early 1945 the Brigade looked like this.

Stabs Schw. (mot.)

3 x PAK 40
2 x PAK 38
2 x leIG 18
5 x MG

I abt. (desingated as a mountain unit)

stabs Schw (mot), including pionier, signals and supply platoons

1 Schw.
5 x MG
1 x panzerschreck

2 Schw.
6 x MG

3 Schw.
12 x MG
3 x panzerschreck

4 Schw. (heavy kompanie)
8 x s.MG
2 x 8cm mortars

II abt.

stabs Schw. same as I abt. but with 4 x MG

5 Schw.
3 x MG
2 x Panzerschreck

6 Schw.
3 x MG
3 x Panzerschreck

7 Schw.
5 x MG

8 Schw. (heavy kompanie, motorised)
8 x s.MG
7 x 8cm mortars

Strength: May 1945 ca.1600 men

Commander of the Brigade was Oberst Dittrich Freiherr von Berlichingen Jagsthausen (ancestor of Götz von Berlichingen)

In 1945 the units was located at Elvergaardsmoen, a garrison to the North of Narvik where it along with panzer abt.211 formed the mobile reserve of the LXXI Korps.


On the 1 May 1945 the brigade had expanded and changed somewhat and now consisted of the following.

Stabs Schw (mot). with signals and supply platoons

11 Schw (mot). (sturm schwadron)
1 x 3.7cm PAK
2 x panzerschreck
2 x s.MG
6 x MG

12 Schw (mot). (geschutz schwadron)
2 x PAK 38
4 x PAK 40
5 x MG
2 x le.IG 18
6 x 7.5cm guns (possibly in static positions)

I abt. (designated as a mountain unit)

Stabs Schw now called the 5 Schw
Signals and pionier platoons
3 x MG
8 x Panzerschreck

1 Schw.
7 x MG
1 x 3.7cm PAK

2 Schw.
same as 1

3 Schw
same as 1

4 Schw (mot) (heavy)
8 x s.MG
4 x 8cm mortars

II abt.

Stabs Schw. now called the 10 Schwadron
same as 5 schw.

6 Schw.
3 x MG
1 x 3.7cm PAK

7 Schw.
4 x MG
1 x 3.7cm PAK

8 Schw.
5 x MG
1 x 3.7cm PAK

9 Schw. (mot) (heavy)
8 x s.MG
5 x 8cm mortars



In Oct. 44 the brigade was involved in the Soviet offensive on the Murmansk front where it lost 131 KIA, 278 WIA and 230 MIA.
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donwhite
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designations?

Post by donwhite »

Simon,
Does your source material identify any support units within the brigade and if so their numerical designations? I'm inclined to think that the unit description contained in Nafziger's book is meshed/mixed up with the 10th Radfahr-jager Brigade as it would be unusual for two different units to have the same numerical designations for their integral support units.

Cheers
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Simon Orchard
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Post by Simon Orchard »

My main source are the microfilmed records of the LXXI Korps for 1944\1945 which thankfully include OOBs for both it and Armee Abteilung Narvik.

Art.Abt.510 and the kompanie sized units numbered 1510 did indeed belong to the 10 Brig. and not Rad.Aufkl.Brig.Norwegen.

A slight correction should be made regarding Auflk.Abt. 95 and 233. They were both independent units prior to being joined together and had been for quite some time. A minor point but the way Nafziger puts it it could be seen that they came directly from their divisions to form this new regiment\brigade which was not the case.
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donwhite
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Norwegen Radfahr-Jager Brigade

Post by donwhite »

Thanks Simon


Cheers
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