Feldgrau.net

Hi,

according to Nafziger's The German OOB: Infantry in WW2 the 104. Jäger-Division had 5 StuG and 7 haltracks in its recon battalion.

Does anyone know what kind of haltracks (I assume SPW 250 or SPW 251? Or could it be unarmored HTs?) they were suppose to be having, and if they indeed had any hafltracks and/or StuGs? I'm especially interested in the early March 1945 time frame.

Thanks.

I'm afraid Nafziger is again incorrect in some points:

On 6.8.1943 OKH/GenStdH/Org.Abt. authorized 1 Pz.Aufkl.Zug with 5 Pzkpfw. II and 1 Pz.Aufkl.Zug with 5 le.SPW each for the 100., 104., 114., 117. and 118. Jäger-Div.. These platoons were not part of the divisional Aufkl.Abt. but were directly subordinated to the divisional HQs.

The formation of the 1. and 2. Pz.Aufkl.Zug/104. Jg.Div. took place in Wehrkreis VI during late August 1943 and 5 Sd.Kfz. 250 of unspecified variants were shipped on 25.8.1943 (I assume they were 250/1 and/or 250/3).
I'm not sure when the 5 authorized Pz. II were delivered. All I know is that there was some considerable delay because they still had not arrived by 31.12.1943.

I have a huge gap in available reports for 1944, but on 1.1.1945 the division still had 5 Pz. II and 4 le.SPW available. 1 le.SPW was lost during February 1945, the 5 Pz. II were still there until at least 15.3.1945.

In mid November 1944 efforts were made to raise an Stu.Gesch.Zug with 5 Italian L 6 light assault guns but my available records tell me that this had still not worked out by 1.3.1945. Don't know if it ever was completed.

Pz.Jg.Abt. 104 was not authorized to have a Stu.Gesch./Jagdpz.Kp. until January 1945 when orders were received to send Pz.Jg. personnel for the formation of Pz.Jg.Kp. 1104 to Milowitz. No Stu.Gesch./Jagdpz. were ever received the company never returned to the 104. Jg.Div.

Martin Block

Thanks, Martin. Very interesting.

Not that anything of Martin's ever needed confirming, but the Greek partisans who fought against the 104. JD in Amfilochia in 1944 noted that the german counterattack was spearheaded by tanks. Thank you Martin!
Aris Kosionidis

Martin Block wrote:I'm afraid Nafziger is again incorrect in some points:

On 6.8.1943 OKH/GenStdH/Org.Abt. authorized 1 Pz.Aufkl.Zug with 5 Pzkpfw. II and 1 Pz.Aufkl.Zug with 5 le.SPW each for the 100., 104., 114., 117. and 118. Jäger-Div.. These platoons were not part of the divisional Aufkl.Abt. but were directly subordinated to the divisional HQs.

The formation of the 1. and 2. Pz.Aufkl.Zug/104. Jg.Div. took place in Wehrkreis VI during late August 1943 and 5 Sd.Kfz. 250 of unspecified variants were shipped on 25.8.1943 (I assume they were 250/1 and/or 250/3).
I'm not sure when the 5 authorized Pz. II were delivered. All I know is that there was some considerable delay because they still had not arrived by 31.12.1943.

I have a huge gap in available reports for 1944, but on 1.1.1945 the division still had 5 Pz. II and 4 le.SPW available. 1 le.SPW was lost during February 1945, the 5 Pz. II were still there until at least 15.3.1945.

In mid November 1944 efforts were made to raise an Stu.Gesch.Zug with 5 Italian L 6 light assault guns but my available records tell me that this had still not worked out by 1.3.1945. Don't know if it ever was completed.

Pz.Jg.Abt. 104 was not authorized to have a Stu.Gesch./Jagdpz.Kp. until January 1945 when orders were received to send Pz.Jg. personnel for the formation of Pz.Jg.Kp. 1104 to Milowitz. No Stu.Gesch./Jagdpz. were ever received the company never returned to the 104. Jg.Div.

Martin Block

Hi, Martin, apart from 104Jager, you also mentions 100,114,117 and 118.Jager divisions were authorized to have Pz II, is it they actully receive those Pz II or just on paper ?

Did they still had those Pz II in early 1945 like 104.Jager division ? Panzerlage Dec 30 1944 don't have data on Pz II on those divisions including 104 Jager.