Marine-Stoßtrupp-Abteilung

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sitalkes
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Marine-Stoßtrupp-Abteilung

#1

Post by sitalkes » 12 May 2014, 03:17

The first Seebataillon was organized on 13 May 1852 as the Royal Prussian Marinier-Korps at Stettin. In the first World War, there were three battalions, and they took part in the occupation of Kiautschou in China and garrisoned Tsingtao. They were trained as infantry in amphibious operations and had an exchange of officers with the regular army. They were part of the navy and wore navy uniforms.

The Marine-Stoßtrupp-Kompanie was formed in March 1938. It initially consisted of two infantry platoons, one engineer platoon and one weapons platoon with a total strength about 250 men. It was regarded as an elite formation. On 23 March 1939 Marineartillerieabteilung III from Swinemunde provided a landing force to occupy the port area of Memel when it was taken from Lithuania. The 1st Minesweeper Flottila transported the unit (consisting of 225 men) from Memel to Danzig on about 25 August 1939. They were transferred secretly to the waiting German WWI era Battleship Schleswig-Holstein and attacked the Westerplatte on 1 September 1939. This was the first battle in the invasion of Poland. It involved an attack on the port and a surprise attack on a defended and partly fortified army depot. In 1940 the unit was expanded to six companies as Marine-Stoßtrupp-Abteilung. The formation participated in the attack on Norway, and the occupation of Normandy. It was readied for the assault on the Channel Islands 30 June 1940 but since they were taken without fighting it was stood down. A section was airlanded on one of the islands though. It was later rename Marine-Artillerie-Abteilung 531. The unit later fought near St. Petersburg at the Oranienbaum pocket 1941-1944, at NARVA in 1944, in Operation "Tanne Ost" in 1944, the defence of the Island of Oesel 1944, and finally in 1945 in Gotenhafen and the peninsula of Hela.

(This information comes from Wikipedia and some posts I found on another forum)

It is interesting that this unit is not mentioned in any Sealion books, but - being located in France at the right time and Germany’s only troops trained in amphibious operations - it may be assumed that it had a role. It wouldn't have made much difference, but is there any evidence to the contrary?

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Manuferey
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Re: Marine-Stoßtrupp-Abteilung

#2

Post by Manuferey » 19 Mar 2015, 02:58

I'm reopening this thread as I'm interested in finding out if part of this was involved in the attack on Cherbourg in June 1940 or if it came only after June 19 in Normandy to participate in the attack of the Channel Islands. :?

Emmanuel


Edward L. Hsiao
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Re: Marine-Stoßtrupp-Abteilung

#3

Post by Edward L. Hsiao » 15 Apr 2019, 23:26

I thought that the Marine-Stosstrupp-Abteilung had fought in plenty of land battles of the Eastern Front for most of WWII. Not much was known of the names of the officers and men who made up the unit.

Edward L. Hsiao

igorr
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Re: Marine-Stoßtrupp-Abteilung

#4

Post by igorr » 16 Apr 2019, 05:08

It fight at Liepaja in very beginning of Barbarossa and was considered unfit for land battles at Ostfront. Little success, big losses.

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