East Prussia january 1945

[FORBIN Yves]

For evacuation, if you mean Fsch.Panzer Division 1 HG , it was transfered to Heeresgruppe A in Lodz after Jan 13 1945. and kept fighting in southern Poland, Saxony and Czech area.

Regarding Fsch.Pz.Gren. Division 2 HG, I know its remant surrendered at East Prussia, perhap parts of division were evacuated into Denmark. I am not sure.

Evacuated sure she is during Belin battle with GD PzK 4300 mens low
The Flak Rgt have 4 Bns ! depends PZK GD
http://www.niehorster.org/011_germany/45/45_pzk-hg.html

[Kelvin]

But when Fsch.Pz Div 1 HG was transfered to Lodz, not any unit from Fsch.Flak Regiement HG to reinforce her in January 1945 ?

[FORBIN Yves]

Because Pz HG 1 is rattached to HG PzK and finaly left with GD PzK replacing PzG GD what you means presumably…

[donwhite]

Kamen Nevenkin mentions one Battalion of the Flak Regiment detaching and accompanying HG 1 south.

Cheers

[donwhite]

Ok, I've got it. What I don't understand is whether Stug. Br. GD had any assault guns present in mid-January.
Also:
1) "Brandeburg" has 21 StuG IV shipped to its AT battalion on 1.1.45. Where they actually present with the division?
2) GD had 21 Pz. IV lg. shipped to its AT battalion on 10.1.45. Did they arrive to it and were they present with the division when it was committed to battle (15 January 45)?

I finally managed to track down a copy of A. Stephan Hamiltons "Panzergrenadiers to the Front!: The Combat History of Panzergrenadier Division 'Brandenburg' on the Eastern Front" courtesy of an inter-library loan. In relation to StuG Bde. 'GD' on page 81 he states that the unit received its full complement of vehicles (35x Stug III & StuH) at Lübben on the 15/1/45 and "deployed immediately to Litzmannstadt without the benefit of training on their vehicles or even with the soldiers of 'Brandenburg'." Furthermore he states post 13/3/45 "all of its vehicles except a single command vehicle were turned over to Panzezjäger-Abteilung 'Brandenburg' at this time as they were replaced with 31 Jagdpanzer IV/70s."

In relation to Pz.Jäg.Abt 'Brandenburg' on page 77 he states "By mid-January it was combat ready with all authorized strength and a full complement of 21x StuG IVs." Again the unit had no time to train with its parent division before deploying "straight to battle in mid-January." As an aside this book looks lot be a very detailed read if you can source a copy.

Cheers

[donwhite]

A few inconsistencies are arising. After reading bit more of Hamilton's book, the only certainty is that StuG Brigade 'GD' possessed StuG's during this time frame raised. The actual quantity is not so definite. In detailing the move from Lübben to Litzmannstadt/Lodz, on p.102 Hamilton states "they immediately received their full complement of 18x Sturmgeschutz(?), loaded them onto trains with fuel and ammunition, then rolled East". On p.105 Hamilton quotes passages from unit member diaries and further describes the unit unloading at Litzmannstadt/Lodz with eighteen Sturmgeschutz, again described as a 'full complement'. There is no explanation on the noticeable discrepancy between the earlier quoted number of 35x Sturmgeschutz allocated (p.81) and these later figures. It also does not match with the prior linked post by Martin Block who describes 40x StuG's/StuH's being dispatched but never reaching the Brigade due to the Soviet advance and Kamen Nevenkin's "Fire Brigades" book which mentions the same figure (but he actually has the Brigade taking receipt of them!). Confusingly he also has the Brigade re-equipping at Mielau/Mlava (not Lübben) and entraining from there to Litzmannstadt/Lodz!

Cheers

[donwhite]

A correction to post #110. (I mis-read Hamilton) StuG.Bde 'GD' handed over its StuG's to to 'Brandenburg' Pz.Jg.Abt in Feb'45 not March.

Cheers

[Art]

Thanks for information

[donwhite]

Your Welcome.

[Art]

Major tank units of the 2 Belorussian Front in January 1945:
https://pamyat-naroda.ru/documents/view/?id=153101180

5 Guards Tank Army - 345 operational tanks and 239 operational SP guns when committed to action, 131&134 on 27.1.45
8 Guards Tank Corps - 211 operational tanks and 41 operational SP guns at the start, 114&24 on 27.1.45
8 Mechanized Corps - 210 tanks/42 SP guns at the start, 72 tanks/31 SP guns on 27.1.45
1 Guards Tank Corps - 51 tanks/166 SP guns at the start, 29 tanks/71 SP guns on 27.1.45

[Art]

Medical casualties of the 2 Belorussian Front to 31 January 1945:
60 165 wounded
5616 sick
total 66 781
From 2 BF war diary Jan45

[donwhite]

Hello Art,

Thanks for posting. How do the uninitiated (primarily me!) interpret the narrower columns between the starting strength figure and the diminished strength figure in the last column on the 27/1/45? Are these individual days with operational strengths/losses?

Cheers

[FORBIN Yves]

Major tank units of the 2 Belorussian Front in January 1945:
https://pamyat-naroda.ru/documents/view/?id=153101180

5 Guards Tank Army - 345 operational tanks and 239 operational SP guns when committed to action, 131&134 on 27.1.45
8 Guards Tank Corps - 211 operational tanks and 41 operational SP guns at the start, 114&24 on 27.1.45
8 Mechanized Corps - 210 tanks/42 SP guns at the start, 72 tanks/31 SP guns on 27.1.45
1 Guards Tank Corps - 51 tanks/166 SP guns at the start, 29 tanks/71 SP guns on 27.1.45

Your numbers are a little different than those posted page 1

[Art]

How do the uninitiated (primarily me!) interpret the narrower columns between the starting strength figure and the diminished strength figure in the last column on the 27/1/45? Are these individual days with operational strengths/losses?

Losses/replacements on each day. "Losses" apparently includes repairable breakdowns, while "replacements" are probably mostly the numbers of re[aired vehicles on each day.

[donwhite]

Many thanks,

Cheers