Hi
I' m trying to understand how flak units (88 mm mainly but not only) were used on frontline in AT roles. Which was the structure at corps level?
And is there some data about distribution and OOB? I'm mainly interested in Army Group B in winter 1942-43
thanks for any hint
flak units use on frontline 1942
- Lupo Solitario
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Re: flak units use on frontline 1942
Hi!
I'd recommend: Prentl, Sepp, Flak-Kampfgruppe Prentl. Ein Erlebnisbericht, (München) 1978.
Prentl was the commander of various flak units. He is mentioned many times on AHF.
His book has some mistakes, but it is a good read:
http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Per ... rentlJ.htm
Best regards
grassi
I'd recommend: Prentl, Sepp, Flak-Kampfgruppe Prentl. Ein Erlebnisbericht, (München) 1978.
Prentl was the commander of various flak units. He is mentioned many times on AHF.
His book has some mistakes, but it is a good read:
http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Per ... rentlJ.htm
Best regards
grassi
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Re: flak units use on frontline 1942
There were two types of 8.8cm flak. There are the guns that were part of Divisons (8 per Pz Div?) and Luftwaffe Flak. Whilst I can see Army Flak being used in the AT role The Lufftwaffe Units (far greater in number)would not be as easily disposed ( or sited) to be distracted from their AA role. I know Pickert (in Normandy) resisted all attempts to use his 8.8cm as front line AT guns.
Re: flak units use on frontline 1942
@Michael Kenny - thank you very much for the hint on Pickert! Maybe Pickert's attitude is responsible for a detail in von Luck's rather blury story about Operation Goodwood.
Prentl seems to be quite a heretic:
According to him, his flak units were frequently used in an antitank role (for example see Prentl, Flak-Kampfgruppe, page 57 - map "Einsatz der 2/Flakrgt. 241, 24. Juli 1942, am Brückenkopf Woronesh zur Panzerabwehr" [25 soviet tanks claimed destroyed by his battery - and yes, I know that there might be a difference between a "claim" and a "real kill"]).
Twice he established an Flak-Erdkampfschule (for example see Prentl, p. 91, Flak-Erdkampfschule des I. Flak-Korps, led by Major Ernst Jansa, also see: http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Per ... JansaE.htm).
Further details:
Flakerdkampfschule der Luftflotte 4, Werchnednjeprowsk, 50 km west of Dnjepropetrowsk/Soviet Union, ca. March 1943-Oct. 1943, in: Ibd., p. 90-96 and p. 173.
Feldflakartillerieschule (Flak-Artillerie-Schule “FAS” [Süd]), Nettuno/Italy, 1943, in: Ibd., p. 102-109.
Flak-Erdkampfschule Süd (= 2x Kampfgruppe Prentl), Spilimbergo/Italy, 1943-1945?, in: Ibd., p. 113-161.
Best regards
grassi
Prentl seems to be quite a heretic:
According to him, his flak units were frequently used in an antitank role (for example see Prentl, Flak-Kampfgruppe, page 57 - map "Einsatz der 2/Flakrgt. 241, 24. Juli 1942, am Brückenkopf Woronesh zur Panzerabwehr" [25 soviet tanks claimed destroyed by his battery - and yes, I know that there might be a difference between a "claim" and a "real kill"]).
Twice he established an Flak-Erdkampfschule (for example see Prentl, p. 91, Flak-Erdkampfschule des I. Flak-Korps, led by Major Ernst Jansa, also see: http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Per ... JansaE.htm).
Further details:
Flakerdkampfschule der Luftflotte 4, Werchnednjeprowsk, 50 km west of Dnjepropetrowsk/Soviet Union, ca. March 1943-Oct. 1943, in: Ibd., p. 90-96 and p. 173.
Feldflakartillerieschule (Flak-Artillerie-Schule “FAS” [Süd]), Nettuno/Italy, 1943, in: Ibd., p. 102-109.
Flak-Erdkampfschule Süd (= 2x Kampfgruppe Prentl), Spilimbergo/Italy, 1943-1945?, in: Ibd., p. 113-161.
Best regards
grassi
Re: flak units use on frontline 1942
In the frontline: 2./Flakregiment 231, Woronesh, July 24th 1942 (sorry for the typo: "Einsatz der 2/Flakrgt. 241, 24. Juli 1942" - it is 2./Flakrgt. 231)