Activity Report Pz.Jäg.Abt.(Sfl.) 670, July-August 1941

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Jeff Leach
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Activity Report Pz.Jäg.Abt.(Sfl.) 670, July-August 1941

#1

Post by Jeff Leach » 03 Apr 2015, 21:23

Read the following 'Activity Report' on Pz.Jg.Abt.(Sfl.) 670 while subordinate to the 16.Inf.Div.(mot). It appears that the PzJäg I performed fairly well during at least the early stages of Barbarossa.

10.07.41
3./Pz.Jg.Abt.(Sft.) 670 was instructed to cooperate with the I./Inf.Rgt.156(mot) for its attack from Podolance towards Wolosowka. The company was placed with the leading troops.

1./Pz.Jg.Abt.(Sfl.) 670 was subordinated to the II./Inf.Rgt.156(mot) to help forward its attack via Babuszki towards Bezymowka. After reaching the attack objective the company less one platoon was given the mission of seizing Januszpol. At the south exit of Wolica the company ran into a heavy Soviet tank (T34). Coming under fire from four tank destroyers (JägPz I) it turned around and headed back towards Januszpol.
Together with the lead company of II./Inf.Rgt.156(mot), the tank destroyer company occupied the northern part of Januszpol after hard fighting. A further advance into the town ran into three Soviet heavy tanks. A fire fight developed at ranges of 200 – 300 meters. The Soviet tanks, which had been hit numerous times, were forced to withdraw. Thhe company then pushed forward into the middle of town and took up a hedgehog formation. Another Soviet heavy tank showed up but it disappeared as soon as it came under fire. With part of the II./Inf.Rgt.156(mot) they advanced further into the town but with the falling of darkness the action had to be broken off.

11.07.41

1./Pz.Jg.Abt.(Sfl.) 670 was still subordinate to the III./Inf.Rgt.156(mot) accompanying the infantry will they cleared the area around Januszpol. During the action the company was surprised by five tanks all of which were destroyed. After that the company was first attached to I./Inf.Div.156(mot), then II./ and finally III./. The company receive an order at 21:00 to be available to Kradschutz.Btl.165, which had reached Medwedycha about 5 kilometers north of Januszpol.

12.07.41

1./Pz.Jg.Abt.(Sfl.) 670 was subordinated to the Kradschtz.Btl.165 and was to accompany the attack of the battalion, which had the mission of establishing a bridgehead at Rajgorodok. The company advanced, clearing the pockets of enemy along the way. In reaching the center of Rajgorok they were surprised to find five enemy tanks there. These were quickly engaged and destroyed. While forming the bridgehead the motorcyclists were attacked from the east by enemy tanks at 16:45. The company which had been in ready positions in Rajgorodok, quickly destroyed six enemy tanks in a counter attack.

13.07.41

1./Pz.Jg.Abt.(Sfl.) 670, which was subordinate to Kradschtz.Btl.165, had the mission of holding the bridgehead that had been formed at Rajgorodok. The Soviets attacked from the northeast at 11:30 with ten tanks. The two lead tanks were knocked out and the rest withdrew to the southeast. The company remained in its firing positions.

14.07.41

1./Pz.Jg.Abt.(Sfl.) 670, subordinate to Kradschtz.Btl.165, which was relieved by Inf.Rgt.156(mot) during the day. The company was then attached to the regiment and stationed at Rajgorok.

15.07.41

1./Pz.Jg.Abt.(Sfl.) 670 was subordinated to the I./Inf.Rgt.156 (mot) and accompanied the battalion’s attack towards Fridrowo. The company supported the attack using direct-fire HE.

17.07.41

For Inf.Rgt.156’s attack fron Sokolez via Shurbinzy towards Height 295 the Abteilung commander suggested that the 3./Pz.Jg.Abt.(Sfl.) 670 cooperate with the regiment because Soviet tanks had been reported in the area. Together with I./Inf.Rgt.156 they entered Shurbinzy in heavy fighting in the town they destroyed three Soviet heavy tanks.

18.07.41

3./Pz.Jg.Abt.(Sfl.) 670 was subordinated to I./Inf.Rgt.156 (mot). It was located in ready-station positions just south of Shurbinzy. The company managed to spot two guns that were shelling the town and destroyed them with HE fire.

At 18:00 the company was ordered by Inf.Rgt.156, together with a motorcycle company, to relieve the 1./ and 7./Inf.Rgt.156 that were encircled by the Soviet in Pruschinka. The attack was launched under very heavy artillery fire. When the tank destroyers had approached to within 150 meters of the bridge at Pruschinka they can under antitank fire. Both antitank guns were destroyed without any losses. The trapped companies fought there way out of encirclement. The dead and the wounded was carried away.

19.07.41

Inf.Rgt. 156 positioned the 3./Pz.Jg.Abt.(Sfl.) 670 around the crossroads 1 kilometer northeast of Point 295, in order to intercept any further Soviet attacks.

20.07.41

Inf.Rgt. 156 stationed 3./Pz.Jg.Abt.(Sfl.) 670 in the southern part Bialolowka. At 18:00 the company returned to the battalion.

21.07.41

The 16.Inf.Div.(mot) orders the whole battalion to Borschtschagowka and to station itself there as a reaction force.

At 17:00 the Abteilung is subordinated to Kradschtz.Batl.165 and move to Dolgalewka and be ready there.

22.07.41

Pz.Jag.Abt.(Sfl.) 670, without the 2nd company, was still available to 16.Inf.Div. (mot). It was stationed a Dolgalewka.

2./Pz.Jag.Abt.(Sfl.) 670 was subordinate to Kradschtz.Batl.165 and reached Wyssokoje about 19:00. While scouting firing positions east of Stadniza, five enemy tanks and a small vehicle column discovered. The company quickly moved to firing positions but the enemy withdrew from Stadniza after the first shots were fired.

1./Pz.Jag.Abt.(Sfl.) 670 reached Bugajewka at 12:00 and was place at the disposal of III./Inf.Rgt. 156. A direct hit by artillery fire caused five casualties. The company placed itself in ready positions in a small woods 1 kilometer south Gubajewka

23.07.41

Pz.Jäg.Abt.(Sfl.) 670, without the second company, was to follow in the attack sector of Inf.Rgt.179, which it had been subordinate to. It mission was to intervene in case enemy tanks appeared.

The Abteilung’s 3rd company was to cooperated the I.Batl., which was on the right, and had been under fire for some time from six enemy tanks to the south of Sitkowze. Five of the enemy tanks were destroyed after a at times hard fight.

1./Pz.Jäg.Abt.(Sfl.) 670 was assembled in a hollow about 2 kilometers southwest of Sitkowze by the Abteilung commander. During the attack the I./ and II./Inf.Rgt.179 had become separated and the company had been order to find a place where it could intervene in case the enemy tried to exploit the gap.

2./Pz.Jäg.Abt.(Sfl.) 670 together with Kradschtz.Batl.165 were deployed on the heigths to the west of Wyssokoje around Stadniza. They harassed the retreating enemy troops to the north and to the south of their positions and managed to destroy a heavy gun and two truck loaded with soldiers.

The company together with Kradschtz.Batl.165 advanced to Schuljaki, where the enemy was trying to breakthrough. A pluton escorted a reconnaissance troop to Chmelewka and clear the village of the enemy.

24.07.41

Around 02:30 the Soviets launched a strong attack near the I./Inf.Rgt.179, which was deployed south of Sitkowze. The main thrust of the attack was directed at the left flank of the battalion and the large gap between the I./ and II./Inf.Rgt.179. Although acting independently the 1./ and 3./Pz.Jäg.Abt.(Sfl.) 670 reacted as one. The left flank of I./Inf.Rgt.179 was already being forced back and the Soviets were threatening to flank it. After a two-hour hard fight, using HE shells, grenades, M.P. and M.G. fire the attack was repulsed by 1./ and 3./Pz.Jäg.Abt.(Sfl.) 670 and I./Inf.Rgt.179 with heavy loses. The situation was cleared up. The counterattack could only be carried out so successfully because 1./Pz.Jäg.Abt.(Sfl.) 670 had been in a favourable position.

25.07.41

After the II./Inf.Rgt.156 relieved I./Schtz.Rgt.79 (16 Pz.Div.); one platoon of 2./Pz.Jäg.Abt.(Sfl.) 670, which was in positions southwest of Lukaschewka, was subordinate to the battalion. One platoon remained subordinate to the M.T.W. company. (?) The Soviets launched an attack around 08:30, which force 7./Inf.Rgt.156 to pull back, and the Soviets penetrated into Lukaschewka from the southwest. The panzerjäger platoon stationed southwest of Lukaschewka made a determined counterattack and forced the Soviets back out of the town. III./Inf.Rgt.156 arrived in the meantime and with support of the panzerjäger platoon, the attack was beaten off and the old positions reoccupied.

30.07.41

For the planed breakthrough the Abteilung reinforced Inf.Rgt.156, moving to a position 3 kilometers east-northeast of the train station at Maschurow. The Abteilung marched behind I./Inf.Rgt.156 for the most part. While the leading elements of the Abteilung (the march order was 3rd Company, Battalion Staff, 2nd Company) were about 1 kilometer north of Kamenetschje, resting before completing the rest of the march. An enemy attack was suddenly launched from a wooded tract about 3 kilometers to the south of Kamenetschje with artillery support from the direction of Selenjkoff and south of the march route. The lead element of the attack had already reach to within 500 meters of the road, when the Abteilung commander gave order to the 2nd and 3rd Companies. The commander had decieded on a flank attack. The 2nd Company to the west of the march route on the right flank and the 3rd Company to the north of them. The leading elements of the enemy attack were cut off and had to surrender. The prisoners were taken by the troops of the march column to the east of Selenjkoff. The attack continued in a general northwest direction and after hard fighting the heights about 3 kilometers to the northwest of Kamenetschje were occupied. These were held against repeated enemy attacks from the west and northwest, even though no infantry were deployed in the area, and one platoon, on orders from the commander of Inf.Rgt.156, was sent to the south of Kamenetschje to support I./Inf.Rgt.156. One panzerjäger was a total loss after receiving a direct hit by artillery. During the evening was Abteilung was relieved by II./Inf.Rgt.60 and it withdrew to Pawlowka and placed in the division’s reserve.

31.07.41

In ready stations at Pawlowka as part of the division’s reserve.

01.08.41

The 2nd and 3rd Companies were in Pawlowka as part of the division’s reserve. On orders from the division the 2nd Company repositioned itself to near the north exit of Swertlikowo, ready to intervene in case a strong enemy attack developed. The company chief was to take orders from III./Inf.Rgt.60. While the company was reaching Swertlikowo at 09:00, the enemy attacked the I./Inf.Rgt.156, which was position on the southwest edge of the town. The infantry was prepared to withdraw and abandon Swertlikowo. Quickly judging the situation, the the III./Inf.Rgt.60 would be cut off if I./Inf.Rgt.156 were to withdraw from the town, the company chief ordered a daring counterattack to throw out the enemy that had already penetrated the town. After the attack the company positioned itself near the southern exit to Swertlikowo covering the road leading to Nowo-Archangelsk. During the evening the Inf.Rgt.156 ordered the company to withdraw to Dubowenka.

02.08.41

Pz.Jg.Abt.(Sfl.) 670 in ready stations at Pawlowka as part of the division’s reserve. 2./Pz.Jg.Abt.(Sfl.) 670, on orders from Inf.Rgt.156, together with 1./S.S.Rgt. Westland reached the north edge of Swertlikowo. Just as the companies arrived the Soviets launched a strong attack with its focus on I/.Inf.Rgt.156. A large part of the infantry is already in quick retreat and the enemy has broken through the front line and has pushed forwards to parts of the north edge of town. Making a quick decision the commanders of 2./Pz.Jg.Abt.(Sfl.) 670 and 1./S.S.Rgt. Westland formed to Kampfgruppen each consisting of a platoon of panzerjäger and a platoon of infantry. In hard house-to-house combat, where at times parts of 2./Pz.Jg.Abt.(Sfl.) 670 were completely surrounded, both companies cleared out the town. The enemy suffered heavy losses and Swertlikowo was again firmly occupied.

When the rest of the Abteilung recieved a radio message that part of the 2nd Company was surrounded, it obtained permission from the 16.Inf.Div.(mot) to move to the area north of Swertlikowo to assist the surrounded elements of the 2nd Company. In the meantime the 2nd Company along with the S.S. had reached the south edge of the town.

The 3rd Company as soon as it reached Swertlikowo started clearing the west part of town with HE shells and positioned itself there in ready positions. At about 09:15 the Soviets launched another strong attack on Swertlikowo from the woods southeast of Kamenetschje and south of there. The 3rd company in West Swertlikowo and 1./S.S.Rgt Westland caught this attack and quickly launched a counterattack. The 1st Company went to the heights directly west of the road from Swertlikowo to Pawlowka and the north edge of Swertlikowo and effectively took the enemy emerging from the wood under HE fire. The attack was beaten off within a half an hour and the counterattack reached to within 150 m of the wood west of Swertlikowo. After about a half an hour the enemy attack toward southwestern part of Swertlikowo from the south. A platoon of the 3rd Company is dispatch. Even before the front lines of the S.S., they together with the panzerjäger platoon launch a counter attack. The Soviet attack was defeated after a short fight.

During the late after the 2nd Company destroyed two enemy tank that approached Swertlikowo from the south.

Addition: A panzerjäger from 3rd Company that had had its tracks damaged and left behind. It later got lost and ended up in the Aufk.Abt. 341 sector. Tanks were just then discovered in the Aufk.Abt. sector. After a short fight the panzerjäger had destroyed two enemy tanks. At 19:00 the lone panzerjäger was returned to the Abteilung.

So far in the Russian Campaign the Abteilung has destroyed 60 enemy tanks. Of theses 32 had been destroyed while the Abtielung was with the 16.Inf.Div. (mot). Including the tanks destroyed in the French Campaign the Abtielung’s total is 82 destroyed enemy tanks.

Jan-Hendrik
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Re: Activity Report Pz.Jäg.Abt.(Sfl.) 670, July-August 1941

#2

Post by Jan-Hendrik » 01 Oct 2016, 08:56

Thank you!

Jan-Hendrik


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tigre
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Re: Activity Report Pz.Jäg.Abt.(Sfl.) 670, July-August 1941

#3

Post by tigre » 18 Jan 2018, 20:28

Hello to all :D; a complement..................................

Swerdlikowo - Aug 1941??

AFAIK Pz.Jg.Abt. 670 had the names of towns on its vehicles (Panzerjäger I) so it seems the pictures were from that unit.

Source: http://www.ebay.de/itm/2008-2-Fotos-4-e ... 3f5107f24a

Cheers. Raúl M 8-).
Attachments
image011.jpg
Panzerjäger I fighting in a Russian village.................................................................
image011.jpg (41.49 KiB) Viewed 565 times
image012.jpg
In the background the town was fuming...............................................................
image012.jpg (36.8 KiB) Viewed 565 times

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