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1 Panzer Division combat organisation France 1940

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1 Panzer Division combat organisation France 1940

Postby Bob_Mackenzie on 23 Sep 2009 22:41

Gents

I am aware of how the 1 Panzer Division was administratively organised:

http://niehorster.orbat.com/011_germany ... pz_01.html

I am interested in how the division was organised for combat, for example I *guess* that each panzer regiment had a company (or more) of Gepanzerte schutzen attached

Specifically I'm interested in the attachments Panzer Regiment 2 had on 10th June 1940. However if data for that date is not available information from earlier or late in the campaign would be great

Thanks

Bob
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Re: 1 Panzer Division combat organisation France 1940

Postby Bob_Mackenzie on 26 Sep 2009 10:39

anyone?
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Re: 1 Panzer Division combat organisation France 1940

Postby Ypenburg on 26 Sep 2009 19:46

I have Rolf Stoves- Die 1. Panzer Division, but unlike other histories is doesn't mention precise "Gliederungen" of the formations that "spearheaded" into enemy terrain.

I do have f.e. those from 4. Pz. if needed.
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Re: 1 Panzer Division combat organisation France 1940

Postby Jan-Hendrik on 26 Sep 2009 20:07

Well, I f remember Frieser correctly both Brigade staffs of the Division formed one mixed Brigade with 1 Pz.Rgt, one Schützen-Batallion plus addional forces, "Gruppe Keltsch" and "Gruppe Krüger" :wink:

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Re: 1 Panzer Division combat organisation France 1940

Postby Ypenburg on 26 Sep 2009 20:23

According to Christoph Awender's WWII day by day:

May 10th 1940:
05:30 The first elements of 1.Pz.Div. cross the Luxembourg border at Vianden. The advance-unit of the division consists of III./S.R.1, K.1, 1./Pi.Btl.37, 1./K.4, 1./Pz.Jg.Abt.37
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Re: 1 Panzer Division combat organisation France 1940

Postby Bob_Mackenzie on 27 Sep 2009 10:49

Thanks Gents

According to Christoph Awender's WWII day by day:

May 10th 1940:

05:30 The first elements of 1.Pz.Div. cross the Luxembourg border at Vianden. The advance-unit of the division consists of III./S.R.1, K.1, 1./Pi.Btl.37, 1./K.4, 1./Pz.Jg.Abt.37


That triggered a good thought which lead me to find this:

http://web.archive.org/web/200612052325 ... byday.com/

Gruppe Guderian

XXXIX.A.K.(mot.):

1.Pz.Div.:

1:00 Div.Bef.Nr.32 arrives. 1.Pz.Brig. has to set up southeast of Taizy behind 17.Inf.Div., Gef.Gr.Krüger behind the brigade around Taizy and Gef.Gr.Balck right south of Nanteuil.

6:30 All available artillery of the Korps starts to fire.

The attacking tanks supported by the infantry in the bridgehead make good progress. In most cases the enemy withdraws but fiercely defends villages and towns. Tagnon and Perthes cannot be taken at the first try.

7:45 The tanks of the division drive around Tagnon which was made to a small fortress. The following infantry mainly Inf.Rgt.55, 21 surround these resistance nests behind the advancing tanks.

Gef.Gr.Balck:

Starts the attack through the positions of Inf.Rgt.21 and through the Bois Momont to the southwest.

14:35 The Gef.Gr. stands 2km west of Perthes which is attacked by Inf.Rgt.3, 45 from the north.

15:00 Reaches Juniville after Perthes has been taken. At Juniville the enemy resistance increases. Every house in the town has been fortified.

Supported by Sturmgeschütz-Bttr.659, K.1 attacks from the north while II./S.R.1 attacks from northwest.

In the afternoon enemy tanks (3.Arm.Div.?) attacking from direction Annelles try to help the garrison of Juniville. Elements of II./A.R.73, II./A.R.56, le.Flak-Abt.83, Pz.Rgt.2 can reject the attack until 20:00. The enemy tanks turn southwest and disappear in the forest. Without fuel and nearly out of ammo Pz.Brig.1. was not able to follow them. Heavy fighting for Juniville was still in progress.

From the enemy tanks (60-80) which were reported south of Ménit-Lépinois just a few have joined the battle so the possibility of their attack was still there.

19:00 K.1 pushes into the northern part of Juniville.

21:40 II./S.R.1 pushes into the southern part of Juniville and clears the town house for house while artillery and Pz.A.A.4 secure the flank of the division.

Still some enemy soldiers fight fiercely before the town is totally aflame and the resistance is broken around 22:00.

II./S.R.1, K.1 report 500 captured enemy soldiers of infantry regiment 127.

Gef.Gr.Krüger:

18:00 crosses the road Aussonce – Juniville 3km south of Juniville with III./S.R.1, A.R.73, Tle. Pz.Rgt.2.

20:30 the forward tank elements attacking towards La Neuville have to be withdrawn because of enemy counterattacks from Aussonce.

21:30 All enemy counterattacks from the southwest have been rejected and the bridgehead at the road Juniville – Aussonce is secured by Gef.Gr.Krüger.

Pz.Brig.1:

Around midday the group is stopped at the Retourne-creek sector. The attack is stopped in swampy terrain and before the heavily fortified villages Le Chatelet, Neuflize, Alincourt. Reconnaissance of II./Pz.Rgt.1 reports that Neuflize on the right flank is defended and the Retourne Bridge is mined but still undamaged.

13:45 In a surprise attack II./Pz.Rgt.1 supported by 2./Pz.Pi.Btl.37 can take Neuflize suffering light casualties. 200 enemy soldiers captured.

As the German tanks move out of Neuflize enemy tanks try to stop the advance. Losing some tanks the enemy counterattack can be rejected.

II./Pz.Rgt.1 receives order to expand the bridgehead to the south immediately. Under this protection the rest of the regiment was able to cross the Retourne and continue to attack towards the road Aussonce – Juniville.

2.Pz.Div.: After Pi.Rgt.3, 85, 298, 541 built bridges across the Aisne the attack makes good progress. The division takes Bazzacourt and reached the area northeast of Reims in the evening.

XXXXI.A.K.(mot.): is moved to the east of the XXXIX.A.K.(mot.) during the night 10./11.

III.A.K.:

XIII.A.K.:

17.Inf.Div., 21.Inf.Div.: continue the attack behind 1.Pz.Div. in their sector.

21.Inf.Div.: Inf.Rgt.24 takes the main part of Rethel and secures the area until afternoon. An enemy tank attack overruns the III./I.R.3 after nine AT guns have been destroyed. The AT guns of Pz.Jg.Abt.21 under Major Hitzeroth and the 8,8 guns of 1./Pz.Jg.Abt.260 can score many hits and finally reject the enemy attack.

21:00 Elements of the division reach the area west of Annelles.

XXIII.A.K.: established local bridgeheads across the Aisne east of Rethel and tries to expand them.

XVII.A.K.:

SS-Polizei-Div.: Rgt.2 takes Voncq while Rgt.1 (Borchert) is moved forward to Day via Neufville.

In the night 10./11. the French garrison gives up the town. Immediately the division starts to advance as left wing division of A.O.K.12 with the Aufkl.Abt. (Major Graf Galen) of 16.Inf.Div.
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Re: 1 Panzer Division combat organisation France 1940

Postby Bob_Mackenzie on 27 Sep 2009 10:50

And better:

1.Pz.Div.:

The division forms three Kampfgruppen:

- Gefechtsgruppe Krüger with Stab 1.Schtz.Brig., III./S.R.1, I./Pz.Rgt.1, K.1 at La Fere.

- Gefechtsgruppe Balck with Stab S.R.1, II./S.R.1, II./Pz.Rgt.1, 1./Pz.Pi.Btl.37 at Logny-Bogny.

- Gefechtsgruppe Pz.Brig.1 (Nedtwig) with Pz.Rgt.2, I./S.R.1, 2.(gep.) Pz.Pi.Btl.37 is held back to cross the Aisne.

The division has to wait until the infantry has built bridges across the Aisne.

19:50 The first tanks of the division cross the bridge at Chateau-Porcien. Just one tank could pass the bridge at once so the crossing took very long and the division had to cancel the planed tank attack for this day.

In the night Pz.Brig.1 rolls across the bridge at Chateau-Porcien while Gef.Gr.Balck uses the bridge at Barby (west of Rethel).
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Re: 1 Panzer Division combat organisation France 1940

Postby Bob_Mackenzie on 27 Sep 2009 10:54

Interestingly this has the Gep Kp of 37 Pio Btl as 2 Kp

Leo (see link at top of thread) has it as 3 Kp

I wonder which is correct?
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Re: 1 Panzer Division combat organisation France 1940

Postby Jan-Hendrik on 27 Sep 2009 11:00

3rd was mot., 2nd gp. :wink:

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Re: 1 Panzer Division combat organisation France 1940

Postby tigre on 27 Sep 2009 15:50

Hello to all :D; just a little complement...........

Fuente: ROTHBRUST \ THE CUT OF THE SCYTHE/04, CHAPTER 4: ADVANCE TO THE MEUSE > CGSC > THESIS > 19880603/

Cheers. Raúl M 8-).
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Re: 1 Panzer Division combat organisation France 1940

Postby Bob_Mackenzie on 28 Sep 2009 13:42

Bob_Mackenzie wrote:And better:

1.Pz.Div.:

The division forms three Kampfgruppen:

- Gefechtsgruppe Krüger with Stab 1.Schtz.Brig., III./S.R.1, I./Pz.Rgt.1, K.1 at La Fere.

- Gefechtsgruppe Balck with Stab S.R.1, II./S.R.1, II./Pz.Rgt.1, 1./Pz.Pi.Btl.37 at Logny-Bogny.

- Gefechtsgruppe Pz.Brig.1 (Nedtwig) with Pz.Rgt.2, I./S.R.1, 2.(gep.) Pz.Pi.Btl.37 is held back to cross the Aisne.

The division has to wait until the infantry has built bridges across the Aisne.

19:50 The first tanks of the division cross the bridge at Chateau-Porcien. Just one tank could pass the bridge at once so the crossing took very long and the division had to cancel the planed tank attack for this day.

In the night Pz.Brig.1 rolls across the bridge at Chateau-Porcien while Gef.Gr.Balck uses the bridge at Barby (west of Rethel).


Looking at this and comparing to whats in jentz Panzertruppen - I think this has PzRgt 1 PzRegt 2 the wrong way around (ie PzBrig 1should have PzRegt 1 not 2)- anyone else think so?
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