? Stug. Abt.201 in Brest-Litovsk (June 1941)

[Rostislav]

As far as I know Stug. Abt.201 took part in fight for Brest-Litowsk in June, 1941. Somebody however can knows - whether it accepted participation in storm of fortress Brest-Litowsk in June 1941?

With respect
Rostislav

[tigre]

Hello to all ; two cents..........................

The Stug. Abt. 201 in June 1941.

Barbarossa.

The StuG. Abt. 201 was organized on March 19, 1941 composed of three batteries in Jüterborg at Wehrkreis III, however, the responsible for the training was Wehrkreis XIII. After approximately four weeks of training, the detachment was dispatched to the Warsaw area (Warschau) in view of the invasion of the Soviet Union under the command of Major Heinz Huffmann. On June 4, 1941, it was subordinated to XII. Armee-Korps within the 4. Armee (HG B).

At the beginning of the operation (June 22, 1941), at the request of the Commander of the Infantry Regiment 135, the 3rd Battery was attached to support the regiment in the liberation of the encircled parts of the 45th Infantry Division. After consulting with the Regiment Commander, the Detachment Commander ordered that 2 Assault Gun Platoons be used to combat casemates in the main fortification. Platoons were successful in stopping enemy rifle and machine gun fire temporarily. The squad on the left (Lt. Weißmann) captured 60 prisoners.

After further consultation with the Regiment Commander the entire 3rd battery was used as protection against fires from chimneys, skylights, windows, pockets, and cellar windows in the main fortification. The planned use of the 7 guns was successful in that the enemy fire was silenced and the enemy apparently withdrew. Here was the tactical error that the infantry did not immediately take advantage of this great opportunity by assault.

After the enemy fire had increased again, there was a new discussion between the two commanders and the battery chief. The following deployment was ordered: Close deployment of the 3rd Battery under the guidance of the battery chief in the main fortification leading into the courtyard with the support of the 5th company, which had the additional task of storming the main plaza after being neutralized by the battery of assault guns. Due to violent enemy fire coming from all sides, the infantry was unable to follow the battery. However, the battery did their job. Unfortunately, the great success of fighting from the courtyard was not exploited due to the lack of infantry. As a result, ultimate success was not achieved.

The 3rd Battery destroyed 7 tanks, 1 anti-tank gun and 3 machine guns in the main fortification. Furthermore, from proper observation it became clear that the enemy must have suffered considerable casualties. The following losses occurred during the third phase: 1 non-commissioned officer killed, 1 officer seriously wounded, 1 officer and 4 non-commissioned officers and crew slightly wounded.

To save the wounded, the Adjutant drove gun 304 back into the courtyard, causing it to jam. Despite multiple attempts, it could not be recovered. Since the Citadel was cleared by IR 135, the weapon had to be kept with a gunner-Uffz, loader gunner, and driver. It was only Tuesday afternoon after prior artillery preparation that the crew managed to break free. The vehicle suffered minor damage again on Thursday.

Sources: http://www.balsi.de/Weltkrieg/Einheiten ... tugAbt.htm
http://www.die-sturmartillerie.com/html ... t/201.html
http://www.okh.it/units/7abteilung/Stug/0201StugA.htm
https://picclick.de/J767-Sturmgesch%C3% ... 50440.html

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

Hello to all ; more..........................

The Stug. Abt. 201 in June 1941.

Barbarossa.

On June 23, 1941, at 05:00 hours, the 1st Battery, which was part of the advanced detachment (Vorausabteilung) of the Oberstleutnant von Stolzmann, received from him the order to facilitate the advance of the Guderian Panzer Group, which had been halted in Kobrin. The battery broke enemy resistance at Kobrin's western exit with 7 assault guns in collaboration with motorcycle riflemen, tanks (Guderian) and Heeresflak (v. Stolzmann) in a two-hour battle. Here 15 tanks and various enemy anti-tanks were destroyed by the battery.

At the command of the Generaloberst Guderian, the battery of the advance detachment (Schneider) joined the march through the city of Kobryn. After leaving the city, 5 assault guns returned to von Stolzmann Detachment. Another 2 guns (Leutnant Baldauf and Leutnant Cornelius), who were in the Panzerspitze (armored tip) Schneider, marched with him and destroyed a group of heavy artillery (mot.), 4 tanks and 1 anti-tank.

As the Guderian armored tip came from the Schneider Detachment, Hauptmann Schneider decided to form a hedgehog with 2 tanks and 2 assault guns. This hedgehog formed at 10:00 hours and remained until the arrival of the Guderian armored vanguard at 14:00 hours. As the gun of Leutnant Cornelius received intense fire, both assault guns now stopped. Around 18:00 hours, the best of the battle group within the Guderian marching column reinforced the two assault guns at the forefront.

Between 10:00 and 14:00 hours, the Chief of the first battery, Oberleutnant Hans Schmidt and Leutnant Gerhard Kaden, were injured. Gunner Runde fell. Leutnant Cornelius took charge of the battery and assembled the battle group. The (logistical) train did not follow, as an enemy armored attack from the flank prevented the parties from advancing. The battery with 6 assault guns took part in this defense. 2 tanks and several anti-tank weapons were destroyed and the mass of the tanks was forced to turn north from the road. Then the train was released. The 1st battery then marched on Rollbahn I to connect to the von Stolzmann Advanced Detachment.

Sources: http://www.balsi.de/Weltkrieg/Einheiten ... tugAbt.htm
http://www.die-sturmartillerie.com/html ... t/201.html
http://www.okh.it/units/7abteilung/Stug/0201StugA.htm
https://picclick.de/C52-Russland-Sturmg ... 14188.html

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

Hello to all ; more..........................

The Stug. Abt. 201 in June 1941.

Barbarossa.

On June 24, 1941, around 16:00 hours in the afternoon, Oberleutnant Zwicke took charge of the 1st Battery. The battery marched on Rollbahn I via Bereza-Kartuska to Milowidy, where it turned off the advance road to the north in the direction of Lesna. At Strzalowo it was able to join the cyclist battalion of the Vorausabteilung Stolzmann and was initially used with 4 guns for local security.

Assault Gun 107 was out of order shortly after the battle near Kobryn (Pak hit), assault guns 103 (Wachtmeister Jäschke) and 104 (Unteroffizier Braig) also broke down with engine damage.

Sources: http://www.balsi.de/Weltkrieg/Einheiten ... tugAbt.htm
http://www.die-sturmartillerie.com/html ... t/201.html
http://www.okh.it/units/7abteilung/Stug/0201StugA.htm
https://picclick.de/J765-Sturmgesch%C3% ... 86710.html

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

Hello to all ; more..........................

The Stug. Abt. 201 in June 1941.

Barbarossa.

On June 25, 1941 at around 6:00 p.m., the Radfahr-Batl. with the subordinate assault gun battery received the following order: Attack with a company supported by heavy weapons, heavy artillery group, Assault gun battery in Huta (7 km north of Strzalowo), after taking Huta, turn towards the west and attack Lesna. After taking Lesna continue the offensive towards the Panzerrollbahn II at the Berezowka intersection. During the advance on Huta, the StuG 105 (Wachtmeister Baudrexl) suffered track damage and the StuG 106 (Leutnant Baldauf) with a torsion bar break. When readiness was made to attack Huta, reconnaissance reported that the place was clear of enemies, as was Lesna. Then the Radfahr-Batl. (cyclits battalion) advanced on Lesna and took possession of the place.

In the forests to the north of Lesna, which spread out in a semicircle around the village, there was a weak enemy resistance, which, however, increased in the course of the battle. 2 rifle Plt from the Panzergruppe Guderian had advanced along the Lesna-Berezowka highway, also with the intention of reaching the Berezowka junction and therefore the Panzerrollbahn II. However, these received defensive fire. At his request, the commander of the Radfahr-Batl provided the two fully functioning assault guns for the battery (101 Chief) and 102 (Leutnant Hartwich), which they deployed in support of the two rifle platoons on the road, while the 1st Company of the cyclist battalion attacked west of the road against the edge of the forest. The two guns advanced down the road and into the forest and fought against the tanks, masses of vehicles and heavy infantry weapons. For reasons that have yet to be clarified, the two rifle Plt, instead of proceeding against the initially weak enemy resistance, stayed behind cover in the ditch and allowed the assault guns to advance alone. The assault guns then turned, covered by wooded terrain, to support the attack by the cyclist company.

However, the attack by the cyclist company had stopped far from the edge of the forest, so the self-propelled guns had to fight in the area until the order came from the battalion commander to interrupt the combat because the enemy resistance was too much strong, the company withdrew to Lesna and secured the place, with the assault guns returning.

The assault guns ensured the withdrawal of the company by slowly backing down the road to keep the enemy advancing on both sides of it under control. In this situation the optical devices were so blinded by the setting sun and rising fog that enemy targets could only be guessed but were no longer recognized which made it more difficult for the assault guns to fight.

Sources: http://www.balsi.de/Weltkrieg/Einheiten ... tugAbt.htm
http://www.die-sturmartillerie.com/html ... t/201.html
http://www.okh.it/units/7abteilung/Stug/0201StugA.htm
https://picclick.de/J757-Sturmgesch%C3% ... 66477.html

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

Hello to all ; more..........................

The Stug. Abt. 201 in June 1941.

Barbarossa.

The cyclist company secured Lesna during the fighting throughout June 26, 1941. The assault guns meanwhile were withdrawn. During the night and during the morning of June 26, 1941, reconnaissance revealed that the aforementioned forested areas were occupied by strong Russian forces.

The Cyclist Battalion (Radfahr-Batl.) Remained at its post in front of Lesna all day June 26, 1941. A Detachment (Abteilung) of Panzer Regiment 35 was used for an offensive towards the Berezowka crossroads. The 1st Battery needed to repair their vehicles on that June 26, 1941.

On the afternoon of June 28, 1941, the march to Mizewicze via Busiaz, Trybuski Mochnacze, was continued. At Mizewicze, the Gefreite Möbius was the first of the 2nd Battery to be wounded fired upon from a cornfield (scattered Russians).

Sources: http://www.balsi.de/Weltkrieg/Einheiten ... tugAbt.htm
http://www.die-sturmartillerie.com/html ... t/201.html
http://www.okh.it/units/7abteilung/Stug/0201StugA.htm
https://picclick.de/J763-Sturmgesch%C3% ... 40058.html

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

Hello to all ; more..........................

The Stug. Abt. 201 in June 1941.

Barbarossa.

June 29-30, 1941: Departure of the 2nd Battery around 09:00 hours via Pasinicze, Juchnowicze, Mystow towards Jeziornica. Immediate employment of the platoons there: 3rd Platoon with III./IR 107 right, 1st and 2nd Platoons with II./IR 107 left. The battalions attacked first in a western direction and then took a defensive position to repel the Russian attacks (advance attempts). The II./IR 107 in the area approximately 1 km west of Klepacze, the III./IR 107 in the Nowosiolki area on the Zelwianka.

Assault gun support received the highest recognition from the leaders of the supported units, both in attack and defense. Sometimes the appearance of a single assault gun was enough to stop the Russian attacks. Effective delayed fire caused the Russian masses to accelerate their flight. The 2nd cannon of 2nd Platoon had to withdraw in the afternoon due to damage to the track and the idler wheel. In the evening, the Russian attacks subsided a bit for some time. During this period the order came to withdraw the guns at dusk.

The first gun of 2nd Platoon immediately fell back as it was no longer operational at the time due to damage to the firing device. On the way back it got stuck in the swamp in the area 1 km southwest of Jeziornica. Several attempts with ammunition towing vehicles and an anti-aircraft towing vehicle to release the weapon again failed. The 1st Platoon (chief's gun and 1 gun from the 1st Platoon) was stopped when it marched back at twilight and sent back to the III./IR 107, as the Russians had attacked with strong forces, supported by 16 tanks.

This platoon was used as anti-tank protection at the battalion command post. During the night, the Soviets attacked again with tremendous force, so the battalion was unable to stop the enemy. In the fierce hand-to-hand fighting now being waged, the battalion suffered heavy losses, as the enemy managed to break through and encircle the battalion command post. The 1st Platoon fired anti-tank and HE shells at the attacking enemy until all ammunition ran out.

Precise firing was possible by continuously illuminating the area with light ammunition and anti-tank (tracer) shells. Despite the ammunition being depleted, the battalion commander decided to keep the platoon with the battalion due to the morale effect on his own troops. The platoon supported the following close combat with machine pistols and hand grenades. During these fights, the Wachtmeister v. Klitzing was standing next to the vehicle and suddenly disappeared and could no longer be found. During the search, Gefreiter Jansen and Kanonier Grimm were also injured.

Sources: http://www.balsi.de/Weltkrieg/Einheiten ... tugAbt.htm
http://www.die-sturmartillerie.com/html ... t/201.html
http://www.okh.it/units/7abteilung/Stug/0201StugA.htm

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

Hello to all ; more..........................

The Stug. Abt. 201 in June 1941.

Barbarossa.

After only very little remnants were left of the Battalion and the Batl.-CO Major Kessler had fallen, the 1st Pl struck, taking the survivors and the dead CO with it to Jeziornica. With the III./IR 107 the night was quieter. Light attack attempts were rejected without much effort, since the stream reached offered protection from tank attacks. In the morning the Batl tried with the support of 3rd Pl, connections with the 2nd Battalion by advancing south on the Zelwianka.

Before Rosciewiecze, scattered remnants of the 2nd Battalion were met, and reported about the fate of the Batl. It was possible to penetrate through Rosciewiecze and to place an assault gun at the southern exit of the village. From there, it was able to take the enemy forces that had broken through the rear of the II.Battalion, causing the advancing units to swing north.

Since the enemy advancing to the west and east of Rosciewiecze threatened to encircle them, the infantry (2 platoons) withdrew back to the III. Batl. Because of a lack of fuel, the 3rd Platoon stayed at the battalion command post for a while and was sent with 2 platoons of infantry, after having received fuel from a motorized artillery column, to relieve the Rgt. Staff attacked in Jeziornica. Truck columns, infantry and artillery followed the breakthrough. The breakthrough came with some losses of the parts that were taken along.

The Russian armored vehicles, which could be seen in large numbers on the other side, held back as long as an assault gun was reported. Only a few 12 tanks intervened in the fighting while the assault guns were present, but did not come close. Of these, Wachtmeister Stäudtner's assault gun took out one at 600 m and hit another at 1100 m, which drove back with smoke. Another received from a gun of the 2nd platoon at 1300 m 2 direct hits and drove back also smoking.

The crew of the gun that got stuck in the swamp had to leave their gun temporarily between 4:00 and 5:00 in the morning after smaller parts (cavalry) of the enemy had already passed by. A first attempt at rescue, made with a gun of 1st Platoon, failed due to the losses of the accompanying cover team (4 wounded), It was only in the afternoon that it was possible to advance to the point with 2 guns and there, with the support of another 2 guns from the 3rd Battery, to retrieve the gun and the B-Krad of the gunner Müller in undamaged condition.

Sources: http://www.balsi.de/Weltkrieg/Einheiten ... tugAbt.htm
http://www.die-sturmartillerie.com/html ... t/201.html
http://www.okh.it/units/7abteilung/Stug/0201StugA.htm

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

Hello to all ; more..........................

The Stug. Abt. 201 in June 1941.

Barbarossa.

The 2 tractors (Zugmaschinen) of the 2nd platoon were used on the evening of June 29, 1941 to bring ammunition to the front. They received strong fire south-west of Klepacze and could not go any further. Since it was also not possible to turn at the point, the crews would have to dismount and, after a brief firefight, fight backwards on foot. The gunner Karl Haider fell. After the gun was recovered the next day, the two tractors were also able to be retrieved, one having to be towed while the other was intact.

The gun of the Unteroffizier Schreck, which had left Bereza-Kartuska on June 28, 1941 from the Abteilung's workshop and had stayed overnight in Mizewicze, initially supported an infantry unit in a clean-up operation on June 29, 1941. During the subsequent report to the division in Pasinicze, the division commander used the gun for its purpose. On the way to Pasinicze after Sielawicze, about 1 km west of Pasinicze, the column of the division commander was attacked by Russians about company strength from the forests there.

The gun fought them, the smaller part fled, while the larger part was destroyed by the devastating effects of the shells. After a brief operation against the forest north of Sielawicze, the gun accompanied the columns of the division commander via Juchnowicze to Jeziornica and reached the battery there, where it took part in the rescue operation of the stuck gun and the tractor.

The ammunition squadron drove to Slonim on June 30th, 1941 - 5:00 p.m. to stock up on ammunition. On the way there about 1 km to the east of Zboczna, it was ambushed by about 50 Russians with machine gun and rifle fire. The motorcyclist, Kanonier Hallmannseder, driving ahead suddenly received fire and fell. The 1st truck with Oberwachtmeister Radtke drove through, whereby the Kanonier Hartwich was shot in the lung and died immediately. The following two trucks stopped, left the vehicles and started the firefight. Unteroffizier Schmidt, Oberkanonier Lechner and Kanonier Mauerbauer also fell. Kanonier Leipold was seriously wounded. Additional flak and a car with MG driven out the Russians.

During the fighting west of Klepecza, the San.-Unteroffizier Höltemeier received a bullet in the head around noon (29.6.41). In the fighting on June 29th and June 30th, 1941, the battery fired around 710 rounds.

Sources: http://www.balsi.de/Weltkrieg/Einheiten ... tugAbt.htm
http://www.die-sturmartillerie.com/html ... t/201.html
http://www.okh.it/units/7abteilung/Stug/0201StugA.htm

Cheers. Raúl M .