Fallschirm-Panzerjäger-Abteilung 1

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musec
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Location: uk

Fallschirm-Panzerjäger-Abteilung 1

#1

Post by musec » 22 Jun 2005, 13:04

Hello All,

I am looking for information on the types of armoured vehicles employed by Fallschirm-Panzerjäger-Abteilung 1 in Italy between September 1943- May 1945. Can anyone recommend any books with good photos or colour profiles? Did this unit always employ Stug III's or were Marder II used at any stage?

Regards,

Clint

Martin Block
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Joined: 17 Apr 2005, 13:21
Location: Good old Germany

Fs.Pz.Jg.Abt. 1

#2

Post by Martin Block » 22 Jun 2005, 23:23

Fsch.Pz.Jg.Abt. 1 arrived in Italy with 13 Marder II (7,5 cm). 5 were lost until November 1943. From November 1943 until May 1944 none of the remaining 8 Marder II was lost. In mid March Fsch.Pz.Jg.Abt. 1 was reinforced by the arrival of 14 capured Italian assault guns (don't have the exact type at the moment).

During heavy defensive fighting in May/June 1944 the Abteilung suffered badly, and by June 24 all assault guns and all Marder II had been lost.

In mid July 2 Marder II (7,5 cm) were taken over from Fsch.Pz.Div. HG that was leaving Italy for the Eastern Front.

In mid September 1944 8 new Marder III M were shipped to Fsch.Jg.Abt. 1 from an ordnance depot in Germany.

On 30.12.1944 Fsch.Jg.Abt. 1 reported 1 Marder II and 8 Marder III on hand.

On 15.3.1945 Fsch.Jg.Abt. 1 the lonley Marder II was still there and the number of 8 Marder III had increased to 13. Don't know where the additional Marder III came from. The delivery records of the Gen.Insp.d.Pz.Tr. show no shipments.

After the unit had lost all its Italian assault guns in May/June 1944 there were no replacements shipped to 1. Fsch.Jg.Div.. Nevertheless 2 Italian assault guns (75 mm) show up with the division in the Gen.Qu. Pz.-Lage compilations dated 15.1.1945 and 15.3.1945. Strangely the divisional OoB of 1. Fsch.Jg.Div. dated 1.1.1945, 1.2.1945, and 1.3.1945 do show the Marders, but no assault guns with Fsch.Pz.Jg.Abt. 1 or any other subunit.

Martin Block


Martin Block
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Posts: 440
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Location: Good old Germany

Fsch.Pz.Jg.Abt. 1

#3

Post by Martin Block » 22 Jun 2005, 23:49

A renewed quick search through my files showed that the additional Marder III for Fsch.Pz.Jg.Abt. 1 in early 1945 probably came from 2.(Sf.)/Pz.Jg.Abt. 715.
When 715. Inf.Div. was transferd to the Eastern Front in late Feb/early March 1945 it had to leave behind all heavy equipment and weapons in Italy.
On 1.1.1945 the 2.(Sf.)/Pz.Jg.Abt. 715 had reported 11 Marder III (7,5 cm).

Martin Block

musec
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Joined: 19 Aug 2002, 12:54
Location: uk

Fallschirm-Panzerjäger-Abteilung 1

#4

Post by musec » 23 Jun 2005, 09:23

Hello Martin,

Thank you very much for the excellent and extensive reply. Hopefully if you discover more information on the identity of the captured Italian assault guns you will post it here. I wonder if I could also ask you a further question on the equipment of this unit? Given that I was mistaken in my assumption that Fallschirm-Panzerjäger-Abteilung 1 used Stug III's, which I took from a website, I would also like to know if Fallschirm-Panzerjäger-Abteilung 1 employed self propelled 20mm Flak, and if so on which chassis.

Many Thanks,

Clint

musec
Member
Posts: 40
Joined: 19 Aug 2002, 12:54
Location: uk

Fallschirm-Panzerjäger-Abteilung 1

#5

Post by musec » 23 Jun 2005, 09:34

Hello Martin,

Thank you very much for the excellent and extensive reply. Hopefully if you discover more information on the identity of the captured Italian assault guns you will post it here. I wonder if I could also ask you a further question on the equipment of this unit? Given that I was mistaken in my assumption that Fallschirm-Panzerjäger-Abteilung 1 used Stug III's, which I took from a website, I would also like to know if Fallschirm-Panzerjäger-Abteilung 1 employed self propelled 20mm Flak, and if so on which chassis.

Many Thanks,

Clint

Martin Block
Member
Posts: 440
Joined: 17 Apr 2005, 13:21
Location: Good old Germany

Fsch.Pz.Jg.Abt. 1

#6

Post by Martin Block » 23 Jun 2005, 16:13

Hello musec,

From the OoBs of 1. Fsch.Jg.Div. I have (1.4., 1.8., 1.11.1944, 1.1., 1.2. 1.3.1945) it appears that Fsch.Pz.Jg.Abt. 1 did not field any Flak guns at all. The other companies all had towed a/t guns plus a few machine guns only.
There were some 2 cm Flak in other subunits of the division, especially Fsch.Flak-Abt. 1, but according to the tactical symbols used all of them were towed and not s/p.
The OoB dated 1.8.1944 shows the 4./Fsch.Flak-Abt. 1 as equipped with s/p 3,7 cm Flak guns (should have been Sd.Kfz. 7/2 then), but then all later dated OoB show the battery only with towed 3,7 cm Flak.

None of my available documents show that Fsch.Pz.Jg.Abt. 1 was ever equipped with German Sturmgeschuetze. It was as late as 24.1.1945 that OKW/WFSt/Op.(H) finally demanded the creation of a Stu.Gesch./Jagdpz. company for the 1. Fsch.Jg.Div.. It took until early March before the Komm.Gen.d.Fsch.A.u.E.Tr. ordered the 1. Fsch.Jg.Div. to prepare a Pz.Jg. company for conversion to Stu.Gesch./Jagdpz.. It's currently unclear to me if the formation actually was carried out. However, records show that no Stu.Gesch./Jagdpz. were delivered before the war ended.


Martin Block

Roger Griffiths
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Location: United Kingdom

#7

Post by Roger Griffiths » 23 Jun 2005, 19:03

I have Reports dated 7 April 1945. It supports what Martin Block says. 1FJD is shown as having 25 towed Paks.

Roger

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