Flak Unit in Italy, Gothic Line, End of 1944

pey · Post by **pey** » 28 Oct 2006 14:12

I am in contact with a member of a former Italian pro Mussolini unit that fought with the German Flak in Italy at the end of 1944.

He says he was employed with a "137. Flak-Abteilung" that was in place in the Imola-Castel Bolognese-Faenza area. This unit came from Russia to improve the air defences at the bridge of the Via Emilia over the Santerno river. He says it was detached to the 26. Panzer-Division or the 29. Panzergrenadier-Division.

One day he reports his unit destroyed some 6 P-47 in a single action because they diodn't know the Flak unit to be there. Where could I find datas on the USAF losses to check his version?

thank you in Advance for the help

Federico Peyrani

grassi · Post by **grassi** » 28 Oct 2006 21:39

Hi,

Major Sepp (Josef) Prentl tells about some Italians who served in his flak units in 1944.
Unfortunately I am far away from my library so I cannot check out the numbers of his units.

Prentl, Sepp, Flak-Kampfgruppe Prentl. Ein Erlebnisbericht, 1978.
ISBN: 3-88014-067-7 / 3880140677

There was also a Flak-Regiment 137 in Italy. Maybe you can check this site:

http://www.ww2.dk/ground/flak/flargt137.html

grassi

grassi · Post by **grassi** » 02 Nov 2006 15:48

Hi,

just for comparison:

In August 1944 Prentl got 500 Italian soldiers as reinforcemnts for his German battlegroup (Flakerdkampfschule Süd + parts of II./Flak-Regiment 5). His battlegroup was submitted to Flak-Brigade 22(Oberst Müller).

100 of them were students of a grammar school, 16-17 years old. The officers (1 Hauptmann, 1 Oberleutnant, 2 Leutnants) were their teachers. Prentl used those 100 students to build a light battery.

400 mostly elder men (family fathers etc.) were used for guard duties an „Rundumverteidigung“, equipped with „Handfeuerwaffen“. Within 3 weeks all those 400 soldiers deserted.

Prentl was impressed by the fighting spirit of the younger soldiers. They held their positions inspite of having very high losses. After loosing 1 Hauptmann and 2 Leutnants and 20 students in combat the rest was attachted to the light batteries of II./Flak-Regiment 5.

see Prentl, Flak-Kampfgruppe Prentl, p. 158-159

grassi

Lupo Solitario · Post by **Lupo Solitario** » 02 Nov 2006 18:30

Federico, some year ago a couple of articles on Flak in italy appeared on Storia Militare, Have you seen them?

Bye
Lupo

pey · Post by **pey** » 02 Nov 2006 22:41

thank you very much!
I'll check with the man and will let you know.
To lupo:
I have not seen them, maybe I'll get them in some time.

Federico