Let's Build Kampfgruppe 1001 Nights!!!

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David C. Clarke
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Let's Build Kampfgruppe 1001 Nights!!!

#1

Post by David C. Clarke » 03 Dec 2004, 05:53

This Kampfgruppe constantly pops up on DGs about Germany in World War II. So, let's put together a a sytematic view of it: organization, personalities and operations. To keep it scholarly, I must insist that any post also provide a credible citation to its source, or it will be deleted.

So, let's take ou time and do this right!!!

Best Regards,
David
Last edited by David C. Clarke on 06 Mar 2005, 03:34, edited 1 time in total.

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Xavier
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#2

Post by Xavier » 03 Dec 2004, 18:38

I won't let you go down alone on this one, let's start with something posted before on this forum:

Courtesy of Michi, from http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic. ... r&start=15
Date of Formation Kampfgruppe 1001 Nights

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Posted by Hans Weber on April 07, 2001 at 01:23:20 from 213.3.29.14 / bw2-29pub14.bluewin.ch

In Reply to: Date of Formation Kampfgruppe 1001 Nights posted by David C. Clarke on April 06, 2001 at 17:52:09:

Hello David
As far as I know, KG "1001 Nacht" was an ad hoc formation for the last German offensive taking place in the night of 27th March 45 ont the Oder-Front. It consisted of SS-Jagdpanzer-Abteilung 560 z.b.V. (3 Co of Hetzers, 1 Co of Sturmgeschütze bzw- haubitzen and a Company of "Begleit"infantry from a SS-Fallschirmjägerbataillon) plus an additional 390 men (Gefechtsstärke) in 3 Schützenkompanien of Marsch Rgt. 2 acting as "Begleit"infantery. Though I don't have positiv proof of this, I suppose that the formation into a KG occured just before the attack. As the unit suffered catastrophic losses (40 men were left in the three companies, 25 Panzerjägers were put out of action out of 49), I don't think that the KG survived this debacle and probably was disbanded soon after, the failed attack on Genschmar beeing their only reported action. Source is an transcript of the Kampfgruppenkommandeur dated 30.4.45 (in German).
No firm facts on the date, but I hope this is still of some help to you.
Cheers
Hans

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Kampfgruppe 1001 Nacht (Short background)

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Posted by Michi on April 08, 2001 at 15:10:18 from 193.171.41.237 / 535a.jkh.uni-linz.ac.at

The CO of the Kampfgruppe 1001 Nacht was Major later Oberstleutnant (no SS!!) BLANCBOIS.
He came from the IR 5 and was one of the most successful CO of a batallion in the 12.PD.
After being wounded, he became Adjutant of the HGr Weichsel.
At this time he got the order to form a unit for special purpose within the HGr.

The Kampfgruppe 1001 Nacht consisted of:

SS-JPzA 560 z.b.V. ("Suleika"). CO was SS-Stubaf WÖST, later HStuf MARKOWZ.
There was a HQ & a supply coy; 3 JPz coys w/ each 14 "Hetzter", a 4. StuGBt and some recovery tanks (Bergepanzer).

PzAA Speer ("Harem") from the OT.
It had a KradSch coy on SdKfz 2s, some PzSpW, quadruple MGs(??), some self-propelled vehicles and 7,5cm a/t guns.

Originally there was a Marschregiment ("Sultan"), but was transported to the HGr Model after the fightings in the Küstrin bidgehed.
This regiment was formed in spring 1944 from high decorated soldiers of all PDs, to guard the V-weapons' sites in France.

Later on a coy of the SS-FJB 600 took over the role of infantry.


MfG Michi


regards

Xavier
Instandsetzungtrüppfuhrer


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Juha Hujanen
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#3

Post by Juha Hujanen » 03 Dec 2004, 20:15

Armour strenght of SS-Jagdpanzer-Abteilung 560 z.b.V. in 8.4.45:


STG-III:combat ready 6,medium repair 2,total= 8
Hetzer:combat ready 37,short repair 1,medium repair 6,total= 44

Total: combat ready 43,short repair 1,medium repair 8,total= 52



Source-Munoz:Forgotten Legions

Cheers/Juha

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#4

Post by -Michael » 04 Dec 2004, 13:42

When the 27. SS-Freiw. Gren. Div. 'Langemarck' was formed on the Lüneburger heide, the men of the Sturmgeschütze unit where placed in the SS-Jagdpanzer-Abteilung 560 z.b.V., as the 3. Kp., under command of Hstuf. Sprenger, and where equipped with Hetzers, 16 ton, 7,5 from Skoda. When Hstuf. Sprenger gets killed on 28/3/1945 Ustuf. Gust Heyerick becomes Kp.-führer. On 19/4/1945 Heyerick gets sick and Ustuf. Bertels takes over the command of the 3. Kp.
Source: The 'Berkenkruis'

Greetings Michael

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#5

Post by Abel Ravasz » 04 Dec 2004, 14:32

SS-Jagdpanzer-Abteilung 560 z.b.V.

Mar? 45 formed with 3 companies of Hetzers and 1 company of Sturmgeschütze IIIs; possibly partly formed from SS-Panzer-Kompanie "Bad Saarow" and a Kp. from SS-PzJg.-Abt. 27
Apr 45 a company of "Begleit" infantry from SS-Fallschirmjägerbataillon 600 attached, assigned to Kampfgruppe 1001 Nachte, CI Corps, 3rd Panzer Army, Army Group Vistula
8 Apr 45 37 Hetzers serviceable, one in short-term and 6 long-term repair; 6 StuG III operational with 2 more in long-term repair
1 May 45 XXVII Corps, north of Berlin
From http://orbat.com/site/sturmvogel/pzjgabt.htm#SS

Best,

Abel

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#6

Post by USAF1986 » 11 Dec 2004, 08:27

Hello! Two small tidbits on Gustav-Adolf Blancbois from Fellgiebel and Scheibert:

Knight’s Cross: 20.7.1944, Hauptmann, Kdr. I.(gep.)/Pz.G.R. 25
DKiG: 11.3.1943, Oberleutnant, 4./Pz.G.R. 25

Just a thought, but I wonder if Blancbois’ bio appears in any one of Biblio’s Knight Cross books.

Best regards,
Shawn

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#7

Post by David C. Clarke » 11 Dec 2004, 20:56

Hi Shawn, thanks for the great picture. Blancbois was a legitimate hero and survived the war. He earned his Ritterkreuz by saving from 15-20,000 troops of the doomed 9th Army during the Russian offensive Operation Bagration in late June of 1944. Blancbois was in command of an armored kampfgruppe of 12th Panzer division. Remnants of the 9th Army were surrounded around Bobruisk and Blancbois forced a passage through Russian lines. He refused to withdraw until the stream of refugees dried up. This was basically the only successful German rescue operation during Bagration.
A good account of his heroism can be found on pages 139-141 of "Hitler's Greatest Defeat", by Paul Adair.

Best Regards,
David

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#8

Post by Mikedc » 04 Nov 2005, 00:54

SS-Ostuf Link: commander 1. Kp with SS-Jagd-Panzer-Abteilung 560.
SS-Ostuf Dittmann: commander 2. Kp with SS-Jagd-Panzer-Abteilung 560.
SS-Ustuf Leier: served in 2. Kp with SS-Jg.-Pz.-Abt. 560.
SS-Hstuf Leihs: commander 4. Kp with SS-Jg.-Pz.-Abt. 560


Greetings,
Mike

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#9

Post by David C. Clarke » 04 Nov 2005, 03:26

Hi Mike, this is great information! Thanks for resurrecting this thread! :D

May I ask you for a source?

Best Regards,
David

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#10

Post by Mikedc » 04 Nov 2005, 11:24

David wrote:
Hi Mike, this is great information! Thanks for resurrecting this thread!
Hello David, you're more then welcome. When I find names somewhere on the internet I
always do check this forum for more info on them(if I don't have it myself already). And because
I also got the names of Wöst, Markowz and Sprenger I stumbled on this thread and one or two
others on this forum that were mentioning their names and the unit SS-Jagd-Panzer-Abteilung 560.

David wrote:
May I ask you for a source?
Of course you may. I did find this info in a post on the NISSID-messageboard. They only did mention
the unit SS-Panzer-Jäger-Abteilung 560 instead of SS-Jagd-Panzer-Abteilung 560, but of course it's one
and the same unit as I did found out.

Greetings,
Mike

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#11

Post by David C. Clarke » 05 Nov 2005, 20:05

Thank You Mike!!! :D :D :D

(I'm sorry I haven't been able to give this Thread the attention it deserves).

Best Regards,
David

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Reader3000
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#12

Post by Reader3000 » 09 Nov 2005, 16:02

Did they ever stay at Vienna (Wien) for a longer period (everything longer than 2 days)?

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Re: Let's Build Kampfgruppe 1001 Nights!!!

#13

Post by Mikedc » 16 Jul 2008, 23:58

Stormmann said, according to his source 'The Berkenkruis', that Sprenger died on 28-3-45 but I believe he was killed on 19-4-45. And I've no indication that Heyerick took over the Kompanie after him and Bertels after Heyerick. And if they did follow up each other then the dates are not correct as far as I can tell.....

So hopefully somebody else can tell us more about this because this is again a confusing matter and hopefully we can solve it. Conflicting data is always present and if we can solve something like that our info is a bit more correct...


Greetings,
Mike

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michalst
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Re: Let's Build Kampfgruppe 1001 Nights!!!

#14

Post by michalst » 17 Jul 2008, 14:23

Maybe there is more information about this KG in this book?

SS-FALLSCHIRMJÄGER-BATAILLON 500/600 by Michaelis

Nicole S.
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Re: Let's Build Kampfgruppe 1001 Nights!!!

#15

Post by Nicole S. » 17 Jul 2008, 14:36

Forget this lousy Michealis-book :roll:

Horrido!

Nicole

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