27 SS "Langemarck" armour

[piotr_szn]

Hello,

although I study history of the battle in Pommern in 1945 I can not determine the exact composition of 27 SS Pz. Jg. Abt. of the division "Langemarck" in February or March 1945. From witnesses accounts I know, that the division lost some of its AFV during its retreat north-east of Stargard in March 1945.

Piotr

[-Michael]

From my notes:

SS-Panzerjäger-Abteilung 27
Abteilungskommandeur SS-Sturmbannführer Wangemann 01.03.1945

1. Panzerjäger-Kompanie/SS-Panzerjäger-Abteilung 27
Waffen: 75 mm PAK (Panzerabwehrkanone)
Kompaniechef SS-Obersturmführer Kotlowski - 03.1945

2. schwere Infanteriegeschütz-Kompanie/SS-Panzerjäger-Abteilung 27
Waffen: 6 x 150 mm sIG (schwere Infanteriegeschütze)
Kompaniechef SS-Untersturmführer Fischer

3. leichte Flugabwehr-Kompanie/SS-Panzerjäger-Abteilung 27
Waffen: 8 x 22 mm leichte Flugabwehr auf Selbstfahrlafetten
Waffen: 4 x 37 mm auf Sockel (Kriegsmarine)
Kompaniechef SS-Obersturmführer Dillinger 01.1945

4. Sturmgeschütz-Kompanie/SS-Panzerjäger-Abteilung 27 12.1944 - 02.1945
(Abkommandiert: 3. Batterie/SS-Jagdpanzer-Abteilung 560 02.02.1945)

Michael

[piotr_szn]

Thanks Michael!

So the StuGs were only in the 4. company of the Abteilung. Basing on Grabmeldungen for 66 and 67 SS-Frw. Gren. Rgt we were trying to determine the route of retreat of the battle group in the first days of March 1945. In one village a witness told us about a tank that was standing some months after fighting. There was a grave near the tank and one destroyed 2 cm AA gun. Forensic team from Stettin found the grave, took the soldier and he was from "Langemarck". On the remains of the EM there was rest of inscription "Flandern".
The tank seems to be abandoned due to lack of fuel or mechanical breakdown, because it was not burned out or pierced according to a witness account.

Piotr

[Wim]

i have just a cople of names of towns from their fight in pommern the battlepost was at Zachan/Neumark.

the FLa kompanie 3e zug did shoot russian IL-II at Schwanenbeck.

at 02.031945 the russians attackt Zachan and they could hold it till the afternoon and than they
retreated.

and than the unit took part at the battle around Arnswalde.
in the area of Petznich Reichenbach Marienfelde.

I hope this will help you a bit

[-Michael]

No, the 4.StuG-Bttr. never saw action! In february 1945 this unit was replaced as the 3.Bttr./SS-Jagdpanzer-Abt.560.
Do you have more information, or something, of the remains of the 'Langemarcker'?

Michael

[piotr_szn]

Thanks for replies,

they were fighting for Arnswalde before. Losses from Reichenbach, Marienfelde and Petznick are dated 18-19.02.45. Then retreat via Güntershagen, Zachan, Schlatikow, Pansin, Wulkow nach Altdamm.
So the StuG must have belonged to 23 SS-Pz. Jg. Abt. (as far as I remember the "Langemarck" was subordinated for a short time to "Nederland" or "Nordland"). I do not understand exactly your info about SS-Jgd. Abt. 560: was it in Pommern or were sent somewhere else?

I have ca. 50 copies of grave reports for the days 18.02.45-19.03.45. And 2-3 from May 1945. Only infantrymen from 66 and 67 SS-Frw. Gr. Rgt.
The soldier that was found by forensic team from Stettin was buried in a field grave between villages Klein- and Gross-Schlatikow NW of Zachan. Only piece of EM survived with part of the name "Flandern" visible. He had with him on his breast bronze Nähkampfspange, some Belgian coins... No possibility to determine the name. No inscription inside the helmet. Now he is buried as unknown soldier on the German Military Cemetery in Neumark (Stare Czarnowo) in Pommern.
So far I was not lucky to get any book or article about fighting of the 27 SS-Frw. Gren. Div. "Langemarck" in Pommern during operation "Sonnenwende", retreat towards Stettin and then battle west of the "Oder". Can anyone suggest me some book if such exists? I gathered only pieces of info from other sources.

Brgds,
Piotr

[Wim]

my college stormman is confusing the 27 SS-Pz. Jg. Abt with the SS sturmgeschütze Langemarck.

the ss jagdpanzer abteilung 560 was part of the battle group '1001 nights' under Major Blancbois


the 2 cm Fla kompanie did also fought in pommeren:

18-19 februari 1945 defensline through the mainstreet Reetz Stargard at Petznick

from 1 - 4 march 1945 around Guntherberg at big and small Schlatikow

[-Michael]

Yes, that was very confusing.
On February 1945 the 4.StuG-Bttr./SS-Pz.Jg.Abt.27 “Langemarck” was disbanded, all the men of this Batterie where replaced to the 3.Bttr./SS-Jagdpanzer-Abt.560. That means that the “tank” wasn’t from the “Langemarck”. But the 2.Kp. had “Flugabwehr auf Selbstfahrlafetten”, and they could be seen as “tanks”.

[Wim]

i found these maps from the region in the book 'Vlamingen aan het oosfront deel 2' page 200 + 200 bis
(Flemisch at the eastern front part 2) mayby this is what you are looking (sorry for the quality from the 2e map):





[URL=http://imageshack.us][/

[Endzeit Jan]

Both Gren.Reg. had still Zerstörer-Kp.
Arrangement of the Pz.Jg.Abt. after army postal service:
Staff and Staff Kp, schw.Pz.Jg.Kp., Stug.Kp., Geb.Flak-Kp.

Jan

[piotr_szn]

Hallo!

So the confusion continues.
This was the wreck of the StuG - there were still some rusty shell cases and two track links in the bushes.
2 cm gun was on two wheels - the account of the witness. So the question arises - the StuG from "Langemarck" or other unit?
Thanks for the maps Wim: do you have this book? It seems to be interesting. Is there many pages about Pommern?

Best regards for all
Piotr

[Wim]

ofcourse i have the book and yes there is more info from page 172-201 goes from jan till march

from 01 march till 15 march 1945 zachan and Stargard area page 201-204

brigdehead altdamm stettin from page 205-214

but the problem is that sometimes it is detailed and sometimes in general so it is hard to get the info you want but there is another drawing map from the operation sonnewende 16-18 februari 45 so il post it later.

Also in the book volumes 'Vlaanderen in uniform deel 1-7' (Flanders in uniform part 1-7) there are from the different units some reports about that battle but nothing really detailled so it is very hard to find what you are looking.

[Wim]

here is the map from 16.02-18.02 1945 :

[URL=http://imageshack.us][/

at a certain point the Langemarck got 3 sturmkanonnen from Danmark as support to take Bonin + Marienfeld and later they got panzers from the Führer Begleit Division to go tot Schönweder

So it is possible that the tank isn't Langemarck but the Grenadiers were and this was with the operation sonnewende 16.02-18.02 1945

[piotr_szn]

Thanks a lot Wim!

the maps are explaining many doubts. The StuG must have been destroyed (or left) in March 1945 on retreat route.

Piotr

[Jampol]

hello,

my grandfather served in the "Langemarck" (Brigade & Division) and was a Truckdriver (Kraftfahrer).
At his burial in 1996 a comrade in arms made a tribute to my grandfather by reading something what happend in a place called Tantow. The story goes like this: My grandfather his truck was shot by a Russian plane and because of this he could'nt start the engine anymore. He was desperate because the Russians were in the advance and he was scared to fall in their hands !
At that moment a lone soldier (born in the same city where my grandfather was born) arrived at the scene. He worked before the war as a mecanic and knew something about trucks. In Tantow their was an old Tractor factory. Their he went looking for some tools and after some time the broken truck started again.
My grandfather was saved and managed to reach his unit with truck !

This was during the battle of the Oder.
My grandfather had a friend who was killed in action at Altdamm. His name was Fernand Van Nitsen and i believe he was an SS - Untersturmführer. Does anybody knows where he is buried ?

Greetings,
Jampol