Hermann Goring Panzer Division 's flak equipment

[Kelvin]

I know that Hermann Goring Division had more flak equipment than any other panzer division. I know they had many towed AA like 20mm,37mm and 88mm and SP gun like sdkfz10/4, 7/1, 7/2 or flakpanzer. I don't have ideas how abundant they are. Anyone have these data ? If by date, anyone have data in June 1944 or in January 1945 when HG panzerkorps was formed. What I know its Flak regiment had 16 batteries. Anyone can help ?

[Martin Block]

On 1.6.1944 the divisional Fallsch.Flak-Rgt. HG consisted of:

I. Abteilung with
1. - 3. Bttr. (8,8 cm Flak plus 2 cm Flak platoon towed)
4. Bttr. (2 cm Flak Solo & Vierling Sfl.)
5. Bttr. (2 cm Flak Solo & Vierling Sfl.)
6. Bttr. (2 cm Flak Vierling Sfl.)

II. Abteilung with
7. - 9. Bttr. (8,8 cm Flak plus 2 cm Flak platoon towed)
10. Bttr. (2 cm Flak Solo & Vierling Sfl.)
11. Bttr. (2 cm Flak Solo & Vierling Sfl.)
12. Bttr. (2 cm Flak Vierling Sfl.)

III. Abteilung with
13. - 15. Bttr. (8,8 cm Flak plus 2 cm Flak platoon towed)
16. Bttr. (3,7 cm Flak Solo Sfl.)
17. Bttr. (2 cm Flak Solo & Vierling Sfl.)

Total number of guns on hand with the regiment:
35 8,8 cm Flak 36 and 37 (towed)
42 2 cm Flak Solo (self-propelled)
33 2 cm Flak Solo (towed)
39 2 cm Flak Vierling (self-propelled)
8 3,7 cm Flak Solo (self-propelled)

12 Flakpz. 38 had been assigned to the Pz.Rgt. already in late March 1944 but they are not listed in the 1.6.1944 OoB. 11 of them are listed in the 1.7.1944 OoB.


By 5.12.1944 the regiment was no longer part of the division but with the creation of Fallsch.Pz.Korps HG had become a 'Korpstruppe'. A IV. Abteilung had been added and some other organizational changes had happened:

I. Abteilung with
1. - 3. Bttr. (8,8 cm Flak plus 2 cm Flak platoon towed)
4. Bttr. (3,7 cm Flak Solo towed)
5. Bttr. (2 cm Flak Solo & Vierling Sfl.)
6. Bttr. (2 cm Flak Vierling Sfl.)

II. Abteilung with
7. - 9. Bttr. (8,8 cm Flak plus 2 cm Flak platoon towed)
10. Bttr. (3,7 cm Flak Solo towed)
11. Bttr. (2 cm Flak Solo & Vierling Sfl.)
12. Bttr. (2 cm Flak Vierling Sfl.)

III. Abteilung with
13. - 15. Bttr. (8,8 cm Flak plus 2 cm Flak platoon towed)
16. Bttr. (3,7 cm Flak Solo towed)
17. Bttr. (2 cm Flak Solo & Vierling Sfl.)
18. Bttr. (2 cm Flak Vierling Sfl.)

IV. Abteilung with
19. - 22. Bttr. (8,8 cm Flak plus 2 cm Flak platoon towed)
23. Bttr. (3,7 cm Flak Solo and 2 cm Vierling towed)
24. Bttr. (2 cm Flak Vierling; tactical symbol indicates mounted on trucks but I have no further information about that)

Total number of guns on hand with the regiment:
72 8,8 cm Flak 36 and 37 (towed) [authorized number of guns per battery had been increased from 4 to 6]
26 2 cm Flak Solo (self-propelled)
35 2 cm Flak Solo (towed)
41 2 cm Flak Vierling (self-propelled)
3 2 cm Flak Vierling (towed) and another 12 possibly mounted on trucks
41 3,7 cm Flak Solo (towed)*

6 Flakpz. 38 were still with the Pz.Rgt. HG but not long afterwards they were transfered to the 4./Korps-Sturm-Btl. HG.

*Note: The weapons listing shows only 33 3,7 cm Flak instead of 41 that can be counted in the OoB. That would fit if the 23. Bttr. actually had only 8 2 cm Solo instead of the 8 3,7 cm as shown in the OoB.

Martin Block

[Kelvin]

Hi Martin, thank for your data, but something want to clarify from you :

1.June 1944 : with the exception of flak regiment HG and several flakpanzer 38 in Pz Regiment, any additional AA equipment in other unit in this formation : I remember that Waffen SS panzer divison in Normandy had some SP or towed AA gun distributed in divisonal HQ, two grenadier regiments and artillery regiment. HG had something like this ?

2. in Dec 1944, if flak regiment was independent from HG division when the korp was formed, it mean HG divison did not have its divisonal AA unit ? Also their two divison 1st and 2nd Fallschirm Panzer divisions also had other AA equipment in its panzer regiment, grenadier regiments, HQ and artillery regiment ? I know by this time, German panzer divisions were equipped with Mobelwagen and Wirbelwind.

3. some 2cm solo SP = sdkfz 10/4 2cm vielring sp mean sdkfz 7/1
3.7cm solo sp mean sdkfz 6/2 or 7/2 ?

Thank you for your help

Kelvin

[Martin Block]

Kelvin,

1.) If my weary eyes don't fool me the only other Flak guns outside the Fallsch.Flak-Rgt. HG in June 1944 were 3 - 2 cm Vierling (Sfl.) with the Div.Begleit-Kp.

2.) Yes, the Fallsch.Pz.Giv. 1 HG did not have a divisional Flak unit of its own any longer when Fallsch.Pz.Korps HG was formed. The only Flak guns other than the Flakpz. 38 I can find with the division on 5.12.1944 are 2 towed 2 cm Flak with the 4./Fallsch.Pz.Gren.Rgt. 2 HG and 3 2 cm Flak Vierling with the Stabskp. of I./Fallsch.Pz.Rgt. HG, apparently towed but I'm not absolutely sure.

3.) As far as I know the self-propelled Flak were Sd.Kfz. 10/4, 7/1 and 7/2. I don't know if any 6/2 were in use.

Martin Block

[Kelvin]

Hi, Martin, Thank again. Was panzer division HG had the strongest antiaircraft capability than any other panzer divisions in this period like June 1944 , even compare with Panzer Lehr Division in June 1944 which was considered the best equipped panzer division in this period. (she had fully armored infantry in all her battalion and more tanks)

Thank again

Kelvin

[Martin Block]

Yes!

Martin Block

[Kelvin]

Hi Thank Martin, have a nice day

Kelvin

[Vasil]

Hello, Martin, how do you do ? The data you posted on Flak Regiment HG is very interesting to me. Info on this regiment is rarely.

Recently, I studied German defensive battles in the Eastern Front. I am collecing some data on panzer troop in Poland and East Prussia. I have some tank information on HG division already prior to her counteroffensive near Warsaw in August 1944 and prior to East Prussian and Vistula Oder offensive. Do you have equipment data on Flak Regiment HG on 01st August 1944 when counteroffensive began in Warsaw or their data in early January 1945 when Russian invasion of East Prussia began ? If you have data, can you give me some ? Thank

[Martin Block]

Hello Vasil,

Divisional records show the following equipment on hand with Fallsch.Flak-Rgt. HG on 1.8.1944:

I. Abteilung with
1. Bttr.: 3 - 8,8 cm Flak plus 4 - 2 cm Flak towed
2. Bttr.: 4 - 8,8 cm Flak plus 4 - 2 cm Flak towed
3. Bttr.: 3 - 8,8 cm Flak plus 4 - 2 cm Flak towed
4. Bttr.: 10 - 2 cm Flak solo plus 3 - 2cm Vierling self-propelled
5. Bttr.: 10 - 2 cm Flak solo plus 3 - 2cm Vierling self-propelled
6. Bttr.: 12 - 2cm Vierling self-propelled

II. Abteilung with
7. - 10. Bttr. refitting in Germany
11. Bttr.: 10 - 2 cm Flak solo plus 3 - 2cm Vierling self-propelled
12. Bttr.: 12 - 2cm Vierling self-propelled

III. Abteilung with
13. Bttr.: 3 - 8,8 cm Flak plus 4 - 2 cm Flak towed
14. Bttr.: 3 - 8,8 cm Flak plus 4 - 2 cm Flak towed
15. Bttr.: 3 - 8,8 cm Flak plus 4 - 2 cm Flak towed
16. Bttr. refitting in Germany
17. Bttr.: 9 - 2 cm Flak solo plus 3 - 2cm Vierling self-propelled
18. Bttr. refitting in Germany

I do not know when those units refitting in Germany did return to the division.

On 1.1.1945 the situation looked like this:

I. Abteilung with
1. Bttr.: 6 - 8,8 cm Flak plus 3 - 2 cm Flak towed
2. Bttr.: 6 - 8,8 cm Flak plus 3 - 2 cm Flak towed
3. Bttr.: 6 - 8,8 cm Flak plus 3 - 2 cm Flak towed
4. Bttr.: 12 - 3,7 cm Flak solo towed
5. Bttr.: 9 - 2 cm Flak solo plus 3 - 2cm Vierling self-propelled
6. Bttr.: 10 - 2cm Vierling self-propelled

II. Abteilung with
7. Bttr.: 6 - 8,8 cm Flak plus 4 - 2 cm Flak towed
8. Bttr.: 6 - 8,8 cm Flak plus 3 - 2 cm Flak towed
9. Bttr.: 6 - 8,8 cm Flak plus 3 - 2 cm Flak towed
10. Bttr.: 13 - 3,7 cm Flak solo towed
11. Bttr.: 9 - 2 cm Flak solo plus 3 - 2cm Vierling self-propelled
12. Bttr.: 10 - 2cm Vierling self-propelled

III. Abteilung with
13. Bttr.: 5 or 6 (difficult to read) - 8,8 cm Flak plus 4 - 2 cm Flak towed
14. Bttr.: 6 - 8,8 cm Flak plus 3 - 2 cm Flak towed
15. Bttr.: 6 - 8,8 cm Flak plus 2 - 2 cm Flak towed
16. Bttr.: 13 - 3,7 cm Flak solo towed
17. Bttr.: 9 - 2 cm Flak solo plus 3 - 2cm Vierling self-propelled
18. Bttr.: 12 - 2cm Vierling self-propelled

IV. Abteilung with
19. Bttr.: 8 - 8,8 cm Flak plus 2 - 2 cm Flak towed
20. Bttr.: 8 - 8,8 cm Flak plus 2 - 2 cm Flak towed
21. Bttr.: 7 - 8,8 cm Flak plus 2 - 2 cm Flak towed
22. Bttr.: 7 - 8,8 cm Flak plus 2 - 2 cm Flak towed
23. Bttr.: 9 - 2 cm Flak solo plus 3 - 2cm Vierling towed
24. Bttr.: 12 - 2cm Vierling towed

Hope that helped,

Martin Block

[Vasil]

Hello, Martin, it help me so much, thank again. But I want to clarify IV abteilung on 01st January 1945. Was it all towed even 2 cm solo which I saw other three abteilung were SP (2 cm solo)

[Martin Block]

Yes Vasil, all 2 cm Flak of the IV. Abt. are shown with the tactical symbols for towed guns.

Martin Block

[Vasil]

Hello, Martin and other researchers on the forum,

HG Flak regiment became Korpstruppe on 24th September 1944 and Fuhrer flak battalion was added to HG flak regiment and became its fourth battalion. I am looking for strength data of HG regiment after the completion combination of Fuhrer flak battalion. I have no ideas whenever it completed either in October and November. I expect Martin and other researchers could give me ideas or strength data for that.

[Bill Slavin]

Hi Martin,

Tagging on to this, does your information of the HG Flak Regiment include its composition in July '43 in Sicily? I had posted earlier looking for some specifics at Grammichele, but the disposition of the two (I think) battalions of the regiment at that time would be helpful if you have it.

Thanks,
Bill

[Martin Block]

Sorry Bill, don't have a document showing the detailed OoB of HG during the Battle for Sicily in my collection.

But according to the divisional history written by F. Kurowski on 10.7.1943 only the I. Abt. was available with 1. - 3. Batterie (each with 4 Flak 8,8 cm) and 4. - 5. Batterie (each with 12 Flak 2 cm without further specification) were available. later during the month 3 more batteries with 8,8 cm guns and 4 more batteries with 2 cm guns arrived. I can't tell what sources Kurowski's information is based upon and so I can't verify it. Must say that his book has some flaws regarding accuracy in weapons and equipment.

Martin Block

[Bill Slavin]

Thanks, Martin.
It's interesting that only the one battalion seems to have been available. Some if not all of the 20mm's must have been Flakvierling based on the accounts I've read so it narrows down the possibilities. Very helpful.