Panther tanks in the West in July 1943.

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RedRight
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Location: Poland

Panther tanks in the West in July 1943.

#1

Post by RedRight » 18 Jul 2019, 16:25

I have found on this forum that on 30 June 1943 98 Panther tanks were in transit in the West within the 26. Panzer-Division. However Wikipedia seems to suggest that all built Panthers(200) were deployed on the eastern front by 29 June 1943.

Were the tanks in the West deployed in combat readiness or supposed to be transported to the Eastern Front?

Richard Anderson
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Re: Panther tanks in the West in July 1943.

#2

Post by Richard Anderson » 18 Jul 2019, 16:43

RedRight wrote:
18 Jul 2019, 16:25
I have found on this forum that on 30 June 1943 98 Panther tanks were in transit in the West within the 26. Panzer-Division. However Wikipedia seems to suggest that all built Panthers(200) were deployed on the eastern front by 29 June 1943.

Were the tanks in the West deployed in combat readiness or supposed to be transported to the Eastern Front?
No there is a confusion here. According to Martin Block's excellent research, beginning 19 August 1943, 73 Panthers, including two Bergepanther, were delivered to I./Panzer-Regiment 26. by the end of September. However, I./Panzer-Regiment 26. was not assigned to 26. Panzer-Division at this time, but was Heerestruppen. Instead, it was attached to Panzergrenadier-Division Feldherrnhalle (formerly 60. Infanterie-Division (mot)), which was rebuilding in France after being destroyed in Stalingrad. It never fought in the west and was never under command of 26. Panzer-Division.
Richard C. Anderson Jr.

American Thunder: U.S. Army Tank Design, Development, and Doctrine in World War II
Cracking Hitler's Atlantic Wall
Hitler's Last Gamble
Artillery Hell


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