Panzer-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 115

[Blanusa]

Hello,

I'm looking for help with information regarding the Panzer-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 115. Specifically I'm interested in the organisation and equipment of the unit during late February or early March 1945.


Thanks in advance
Blanusa

[Endzeit Jan]

Hi
End 1944:
Stab
1.Pz.Späh-Kp.
2.-4.Aufkl.Kp.(LKW)
5.s.Aufkl.Kp.
Versorgung-Kp.

Quelle:Scherzer

cheers Jan

[schwarzermai]

hello

most informations you will find in forum panzer-archiv

search this thread for "115" and "martin block"

http://forum.panzer-archiv.de/viewtopic ... 15&start=0

and ps: better informations than martins you'll find nowhere....
Uwe

[Blanusa]

Hello,

Thank you very much Jan and Uwe!

Unfortunately there was not much information in the German forum to further clarify my questions. However the information provided by Jan made me think of Georg Tessin:

Panzer-Aufkl.Abt. 115 * 15.10.1943 in Münster, WK VI, aus den Resten der in Afrika verlorenen Aufkl.Abt. 33; Jan. 1945 im WK VI aufgefrischt durch eine Pz.Aufkl.Kp. (mit Volkswagen).
U: 15. Pz.Gren.Div.: Italien, Sept. 1944 Westen, Lunéville, Ardennen, 1945 Rhein, zuletzt getrennt von der Div. in Pommern (Stargard) bei der 402. Inf.Div.
E: 4 Berlin-Stahnsdorf, WK WK III

Quelle: Georg Tessin - Verbände und Truppen der deutschen Wehrmacht und Waffen-SS im Zweiten Weltkrieg 1939-1945 - Sechster Band: Die Landstreitkräfte 71-130, s.260

So with the two sources combined (Scherzer & Tessin) I can now draw the conclusion that Pz.Aufkl.Abt.115 was not equipped with SPW during late February and early March 1945.

Again thank you very much!


Best regards
Blanusa

[Endzeit Jan]

Hi
Sorry in German

Erst im Oktober 1944 wurden so um die 20 le. und m.SPW mit Eingliederung von Teilen der Pz.Brig. 113 übernommen. Die Brigade besaß zwar auch kein gep. Pz.Gren.Bataillon, aber z.B. die Brigade-Stabskp. und die Pz.Aufkl.Kp. waren teilgepanzert.

Am 1.3.1945 waren beim Pz.Gren.Rgt. 104 nur 4 Sd.Kfz. 251/1, und beim Pz.Gren.Rgt. 115 nur 1 Sd.Kfz. 251/1, 2 Sd.Kfz. 251/3 und 3 Sd.Kfz. 250/1 vorhanden. In welchen Kompanien genau ist nicht weiter angegeben.
Beim Art.Rgt. 33 gab's noch 1 Sd.Kfz. 251/1 und be der Nachr.Abt. 33 weitere 1 Sd.Kfz. 251/3, 1 Sd.Kfz. 251/6 und 1 Sd.Kfz. 250/1. Das war's! Bis zum Rheinübergang der Briten bei Wesel dürfte sich da nichts wesentliches geändert haben.

Quelle Martin Block Panzerarchiv
http://forum.panzer-archiv.de/viewtopic ... f5c9f07bc6


Jan

[Blanusa]

Hello,

Thank you Jan! This further confirms that the Pz.Aufkl.Abt.115 did not have any SPW during late February and early March 1945.

It is important to note that what Martin gives are the numbers of SPW that were with the 15.Panzer-Grenadier-Division on 1 March 1945 and at that time the division was engaged on the German western front. During that same time the Panzer-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 115, which was supposed to be a part of this division, was actually engaged on the German eastern front in the desperate fighting in Pommern.


Best regards
Blanusa

[Blanusa]

Hello,

In a document dated 24 January 1945, that contains the written proposition for the creation of the Panzer-Jagd-Brigade 104, is a list of units that could be made available for the brigade within a short-term period. Among the listed units is to be found:

Pz.A.A. 115 verstärkt durch 1 Aufkl.Kp.(gp) (3./Pz.A.A.16)

This translates to "Pz.Aufkl.Abt.115 reinforced with one armoured reconnaissance company (3./Pz.Aufkl.Abt.16)". So it seems that they might have had some SPW's after all.

However, I am unable to verify if the 3./Pz.Aufkl.Abt.16 was with the Pz.Aufkl.Abt.115 for the transport to Pommern and the subsequent fighting. I am also unable to verify what type of armoured vehicles and how many that this company actually had available.

Does anyone have any further information on the 3./Pz.Aufkl.Abt.16?


Best regards
Blanusa

[Blanusa]

Hello,

If anyone is still interested in this, I have since last time managed to find out more about the Pz.Aufkl.Abt.115. Like the below attached file, showing what the battalion looked like on 31 January 1945. This was just prior to the battalion being sent on their journey to join Heeresgruppe Weichsel, where it was reported to have transited Berlin on 6 February. With this, it is definitely confirmed that the unit was actually a Aufkl.Abt.(mot).
Apart from this, the only replacement vehicles the battalion seems to have been assigned, were a total of twelve (12) Panzerspähwagen on 24 March 1945. These were eight (8) Sd.Kfz.222 and four (4) Sd.Kfz.223, which were then sent to the battalion with a train on 30 March 1945. Well, there may have been more vehicles, such as cars and trucks, but such records are not available to me.

About the 3./Pz.Aufkl.Abt.16, I have found a note stating that the company was still a part of the Ersatzheer as late as 13 March 1945. By then the unit had attained the full authorized personnel strength, but seems to not have had any vehicles available.


Best regards
Blanusa