Nikopol 1943-44.
Posted: Sun Jan 14, 2024 7:36 am
Hello to all ; several reports about it...................................
Replacement in a defensive position.
I. Location and condition of the troops.
Since the end of October 1943, two German corps have been defending the Nikopol bridgehead on the Dnieper against Russian attacks (from south the XXIX. AK and the IV. AK).
In the early morning of November 22nd, the Grenadier Regiment 683, coming from another assignment as part of its 335th Infantry Division, arrived in the village of Bolshaya Lepatikha in the bridgehead (Nikopol) and took a longer rest as ordered. Sunrise in the last third of November is around 07:00 a.m. and sunset is around 15:30 p.m. CET*.
The Grenadier Regiment 683 consists of two battalions, an infantry gun company, a tank destroyer company and the regimental staff company, the latter with a telecommunications platoon, an infantry pioneer (sappers) platoon and a mounted platoon.
Each battalion has three grenadier companies and a heavy weapons company, as well as a communications platoon with telephones and radio operators on the staff. As a result of the previous defensive battles, the personnel and material standard levels were not reached despite replacements being made. The combat strength of the companies is an average of 80 men. Accordingly, the grenadier companies are divided into seven to eight groups, each with a light machine gun. Each of the two heavy companies has two platoons with a total of eight heavy machine guns and one platoon with five medium (8.1 cm) grenade launchers.
The infantry gun company is divided into two platoons, each with two light (7.5 cm) infantry guns and one platoon with two heavy (15 cm) infantry guns. The maximum firing range of the light guns is 3500 m and that of the heavy guns is 4500 m.
The tank destroyer company is contrary to the standard level, which provides for twelve heavy (7.5 cm) anti-tank guns, is equipped only with five medium anti-tank guns. With such cannons, the Russian T 34 tanks can only be put out of action from backwards or by hitting the drive and, at best, at short distances. This company is the only unit in the regiment that is motorized; their guns are pulled by tractors (Zugkraftwagen).
* Central European Time is 1 hour ahead of Greenwich.
Source: Ablösung in einer Verteidigungsstellung. Kissel, Hans. ASMZ : Sicherheit Schweiz : Allgemeine schweizerische Militärzeitschrift. Band (Jahr): 124 (1958). Heft 10
Cheers. Raúl M .
Replacement in a defensive position.
I. Location and condition of the troops.
Since the end of October 1943, two German corps have been defending the Nikopol bridgehead on the Dnieper against Russian attacks (from south the XXIX. AK and the IV. AK).
In the early morning of November 22nd, the Grenadier Regiment 683, coming from another assignment as part of its 335th Infantry Division, arrived in the village of Bolshaya Lepatikha in the bridgehead (Nikopol) and took a longer rest as ordered. Sunrise in the last third of November is around 07:00 a.m. and sunset is around 15:30 p.m. CET*.
The Grenadier Regiment 683 consists of two battalions, an infantry gun company, a tank destroyer company and the regimental staff company, the latter with a telecommunications platoon, an infantry pioneer (sappers) platoon and a mounted platoon.
Each battalion has three grenadier companies and a heavy weapons company, as well as a communications platoon with telephones and radio operators on the staff. As a result of the previous defensive battles, the personnel and material standard levels were not reached despite replacements being made. The combat strength of the companies is an average of 80 men. Accordingly, the grenadier companies are divided into seven to eight groups, each with a light machine gun. Each of the two heavy companies has two platoons with a total of eight heavy machine guns and one platoon with five medium (8.1 cm) grenade launchers.
The infantry gun company is divided into two platoons, each with two light (7.5 cm) infantry guns and one platoon with two heavy (15 cm) infantry guns. The maximum firing range of the light guns is 3500 m and that of the heavy guns is 4500 m.
The tank destroyer company is contrary to the standard level, which provides for twelve heavy (7.5 cm) anti-tank guns, is equipped only with five medium anti-tank guns. With such cannons, the Russian T 34 tanks can only be put out of action from backwards or by hitting the drive and, at best, at short distances. This company is the only unit in the regiment that is motorized; their guns are pulled by tractors (Zugkraftwagen).
* Central European Time is 1 hour ahead of Greenwich.
Source: Ablösung in einer Verteidigungsstellung. Kissel, Hans. ASMZ : Sicherheit Schweiz : Allgemeine schweizerische Militärzeitschrift. Band (Jahr): 124 (1958). Heft 10
Cheers. Raúl M .