731st Heeres Panzerjager Abt.
- David C. Clarke
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731st Heeres Panzerjager Abt.
Hi Folks, this question has become my annual "bang my head against the wall" question:
Can anyone supply the name of the commander (or of any officers) in the 731st Heeres Panzerjager Abt. around July or August of 1944. This unit was equipped with Hetzers and sent to Army Group Centre. In fact, it was the first unit that employed Hetzers in combat on the Eastern Front. Sadly, none of my references give any hint of the names of this unit's personell.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Very Best Regards, David
Can anyone supply the name of the commander (or of any officers) in the 731st Heeres Panzerjager Abt. around July or August of 1944. This unit was equipped with Hetzers and sent to Army Group Centre. In fact, it was the first unit that employed Hetzers in combat on the Eastern Front. Sadly, none of my references give any hint of the names of this unit's personell.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Very Best Regards, David
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- David C. Clarke
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HEh Heh!
Ha Hah! Thank You Henric! Yes, I was/am bummed out. Excerpts from the report from this unit regarding its Hetzers have appeared on the "Achtung Panzer" site and in the recent New Vanguard "Hetzer" booklet by Osprey. It was the very first unit to employ the vehicle in combat and since the report survives, I find it hard to believe that no one has ever run into the name of the officer who wrote it or the name of any other officer who served in the unit. Rant! Rant! Rave! Rave! Rant! Okay, I'm better now and thank you again. Cheers, D
Hi David,
Henric has beaten me in trying to cheer you up and I hope you don't get to excited when see this post. I havn't looked yet in regards to your question (one for the weekend I think) but I'm interested in this Osprey title you mentioned. I havn't seen it in any bookshops in the UK.
From the Shire
PS: I must get round to sending you some Tessin in the post like I promised ages ago
Henric has beaten me in trying to cheer you up and I hope you don't get to excited when see this post. I havn't looked yet in regards to your question (one for the weekend I think) but I'm interested in this Osprey title you mentioned. I havn't seen it in any bookshops in the UK.
From the Shire
PS: I must get round to sending you some Tessin in the post like I promised ages ago
- David C. Clarke
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Creulty, Creulty!
Ah Rich, like Janis Joplin said, "I think you're toying with my affections!" But, you're still a buddy. Check the link below. Cheers, D
http://www.ospreypublishing.com/images/ ... 1354AS.JPG
http://www.ospreypublishing.com/images/ ... 1354AS.JPG
- David C. Clarke
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Hey Rich, Another Good One!
This Hetzer softcover is a must-have. Cheers, D
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I wish i had a Hetzer.
- David C. Clarke
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From The Shire!
Hey Rich, could you tell us more about Jakob Meyer? Thanks Buddy. Cheers, D
Firstly my apologies it should have read Lobmeyer not Meyer-Sorry
Born in 1918 Lobmeyer first assignement was within the SS Artillerie Regiment of the SS-VF. He then transferred to the Stug.Abt of Das Reich before the Balkan campaign. He won the IC 1st class in July'41 in Russia.
Wounded at Jelna he was evacuated and upon recovery was transferred to 5th SS Wiking Divion, within the Stug.Abt. After a years combat with 5th SS he was wounded again in April 42 and upon his recovery this time was transferred to the Stug.Abt LSSAH, fighting at Taganrog & Kharkov. During the winter of 42-43 he was twice more wounded.
Again like a stuck record he was sent to SS.Stug.Abt 505 and within a few months became adjutant of Aufklar.Abt 505 with the rank of Obersturmmfuhrer. He finally arrived in August '44 at Stug school at Burg, but within a month had moved on to SS-Junkerschule at Prague as a tatics instructor.
On December 25th he was given command of the 15th SS Divisions Stug.Abt equipped with Hetzers and the first action was around Danzig. His first action was to stop a Russian thrust towards Frankfurt on Oder which he succeeded at.
On Feb 15th'45 Lobmeyers Abt was merged with SS Jagd Pz Abt z.B.v 562 on which he was promoted again to Hauptsturmfuhrer. This force came under direct control of HG 'Weichsel'. Following a breakthrough on Feb 18th Lobmeyers Hetzers were tasked with flank protection og the HG R/F. In the wooded area east of Guben his Hetzers destroyed some 30 T-34's. Lobmeyer was awarded the German GC in Gold on March 15th and the Close combat clasp in Bronze the next day.
The Abt was pulled back into reserve to await the Russian attack on Berlin. On April 16th the Abt was thrown into the line south of Frankfurt to steady the line. Soon he was in command of KG Lobmeyer with some 2,000men south of the Berlin-Franfurt highway, thus enabling v SS Gebirgs Korps & XI SS Panzer Korps to link up to there north. On April 30th he recieved the KC.
The Abt withdrew westwards inflicting heavy losses on the Russians. Meeting up with the remains of SS Sch.Pz. Abt 502 near Halbe the remaining Hetzers & Tigers fought until the logistic train fell down and vehicles were destroyed before capture. Lobmeyer was awarded the O/L to the KC but never received them due to the chaotic situation.
His unit destroyed the last vehicles on May 1st and made there way home. Lobmeyer was one of the few-possibly only known recipients of the Panzer Assault Badge in Gold for 200 combat engagements.
Hope this helps David.
Also David I'm having an identity crisis as you keep calling me Rich-Why?
From the Shire
Born in 1918 Lobmeyer first assignement was within the SS Artillerie Regiment of the SS-VF. He then transferred to the Stug.Abt of Das Reich before the Balkan campaign. He won the IC 1st class in July'41 in Russia.
Wounded at Jelna he was evacuated and upon recovery was transferred to 5th SS Wiking Divion, within the Stug.Abt. After a years combat with 5th SS he was wounded again in April 42 and upon his recovery this time was transferred to the Stug.Abt LSSAH, fighting at Taganrog & Kharkov. During the winter of 42-43 he was twice more wounded.
Again like a stuck record he was sent to SS.Stug.Abt 505 and within a few months became adjutant of Aufklar.Abt 505 with the rank of Obersturmmfuhrer. He finally arrived in August '44 at Stug school at Burg, but within a month had moved on to SS-Junkerschule at Prague as a tatics instructor.
On December 25th he was given command of the 15th SS Divisions Stug.Abt equipped with Hetzers and the first action was around Danzig. His first action was to stop a Russian thrust towards Frankfurt on Oder which he succeeded at.
On Feb 15th'45 Lobmeyers Abt was merged with SS Jagd Pz Abt z.B.v 562 on which he was promoted again to Hauptsturmfuhrer. This force came under direct control of HG 'Weichsel'. Following a breakthrough on Feb 18th Lobmeyers Hetzers were tasked with flank protection og the HG R/F. In the wooded area east of Guben his Hetzers destroyed some 30 T-34's. Lobmeyer was awarded the German GC in Gold on March 15th and the Close combat clasp in Bronze the next day.
The Abt was pulled back into reserve to await the Russian attack on Berlin. On April 16th the Abt was thrown into the line south of Frankfurt to steady the line. Soon he was in command of KG Lobmeyer with some 2,000men south of the Berlin-Franfurt highway, thus enabling v SS Gebirgs Korps & XI SS Panzer Korps to link up to there north. On April 30th he recieved the KC.
The Abt withdrew westwards inflicting heavy losses on the Russians. Meeting up with the remains of SS Sch.Pz. Abt 502 near Halbe the remaining Hetzers & Tigers fought until the logistic train fell down and vehicles were destroyed before capture. Lobmeyer was awarded the O/L to the KC but never received them due to the chaotic situation.
His unit destroyed the last vehicles on May 1st and made there way home. Lobmeyer was one of the few-possibly only known recipients of the Panzer Assault Badge in Gold for 200 combat engagements.
Hope this helps David.
Also David I'm having an identity crisis as you keep calling me Rich-Why?
From the Shire
- David C. Clarke
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- Joined: 10 Mar 2002, 18:17
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Great Information!
An excellent account, uh Cheshire. Look, have pity on a quickly aging
Commissar and tell me who I have you mixed up with--wait, I've got it, I keep confusing you with Richard Murphy, Sorry, Immensely Sorry! Cheers, D
Commissar and tell me who I have you mixed up with--wait, I've got it, I keep confusing you with Richard Murphy, Sorry, Immensely Sorry! Cheers, D