High Scorers with Panzers and Paks

[Gastolli]

Hello Antonio and Alessandro!

Well, Amling isn't the answer, as he was a Oberwachtmeister and so he wasn't a Batteriechef.

But Stug.Abt. 237 sounds plausible. I have a note that 1./Stug.Abt. 237 destroyed 61 tanks within 6 days in early September, the newspaper says 66 tanks, I would like to say that's within the tolerance for such a kind of news

Also, Stug.Abt. 237 claimed a success of 221 tank kills from 30.8. - 18.9.1943, this also would fit with the 166 tanks claimed during the first 6 days of fighting there.

And, Stug.Abt. 237 was employed in the Jelnja area, that indeed is "südwestlich Wjasma". It's some miles away, but it's the right direction!

So ..., let's check the personalties:

Oblt./Hptm. Spranz (1. Batterie)
On 3.9.1943 he scored his 50th tank kill, his Batterie had 61 kills within 6 days, that really sounds like a perfect fit to me!

Hptm. Liethmann (3. Batterie)
Also would be a perfect fit, if not it's claimed that his Ritterkreuz action was for the period 15.-20.9.1943 near Jelnja within the IX. AK sector, scoring his 53rd tank kill there, than being wounded. Well, is it coincidence that this period of 15.-20.9.1943 is equal to 6 days? This needs to be checked, puh ...

The third officer mentioned in this newspaper clipping, from "einer anderen Sturmgeschützbatterie" ..., that isn't clear if this is the other Batterie (2./237) from Stug.Abt. 237 or a totally different unit, operating in the same area. But this Oberleutnant from Wien also was a Batteriechef, so it should be easy ...?

2. Batterie, Stug.Abt. 237 remaing, this was Oblt.d.R. Friedrich Arnold, he was born in Karlsruhe, with even more tank kills to his credit up to Sept. 1943 (51 tanks instead of 24 tanks).

So, this Oberleutnant from Wien must have been from another Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung ...

The chart from IX. Armeekorps for early September 1943 shows some Sturmgeschütz units in this area:
https://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gl ... IX0943.jpg

Stug.Abt. 190
Stug.Abt. 245
Stug.Abt. 270
Stug.Abt. 667

Checking the names available to me, it could be ..., Oberleutnant Johann Höring, Chef of 3./Stug.Abt. 245, who was born in Wien on 1.4.1919, Deutsches Kreuz in Gold as early as 15.9.1943, so not for the action described in the newspaper as he was recommended for that award some time before. And, of course, I don't know if he indeed is the right person!

Oliver

[alcius]

Thanks again, I think Horing is the most plausible.
I have often come across the Zeitung, in articles that speak of commanders with many victories, unfortunately without names.
One is this with + 30 kills.

Bergische Landes-Zeitung 68 (22/01/1944) 18
https://zeitpunkt.nrw/ulbbn/periodical/ ... bschuss%22

Antonio

[alcius]

Another 2 of the Sturmartillerie with 34 and 20 kills respectively.

Schwerter Zeitung 74 (04/09/1942) 207
https://zeitpunkt.nrw/ulbms/periodical/ ... bschoss%22

Antonio

[Edward L. Hsiao]

Gentlemen,

Do you have information about Wachtmeister Alfons Halbig of how many panzer kills he have during WWII? He was born in 1918 and was a German Cross in Gold holder. His unit was gun commander 1./Stu.Gesch.Abt. 244.

Edward L. Hsiao

[Gastolli]

Another 2 of the Sturmartillerie with 34 and 20 kills respectively.

I think it's highly probable that this was Stug.Abt. 667, meaning Hugo Primozic and Klaus-Herbert Wagner in this case ...

Oliver

[Gastolli]

Wachtmeister Alfons Halbig

Hello Edward,

I just know from the Book "Sturmartillerie" that on 15.2.1944 he was credited with 8 T34, otherwise I have no information.

Oliver

[Gastolli]

One is this with + 30 kills.

Hello Antonio,

ah ..., damn ..., as of yet I have no idea. This was just a "small action", 3 tank kills, not worth mentioning in the Wehrmachtsbericht or even a Korps Tagesmeldung, but more than 30 tank kills for this Oberleutnant X ...

Several Panzer units in the area roughly "South of Berditschew", it's a little bit tricky as this was no Ritterkreuz action or so.

Oliver

[alcius]

Thanks, Oliver.
I am disappointed, I thought I had found 2 new Stug-Aces, patience.

For the Oberleutnant with 30 kills, I checked again, and I think the only possible one for that date is the Oberleutnant Gerhard Cramer - Pz.Rgt.1 - German Cross in Gold 13.01.1944.
What do you think about it.

Antonio

[Gastolli]

Thanks, Oliver.
For the Oberleutnant with 30 kills, I checked again, and I think the only possible one for that date is the Oberleutnant Gerhard Cramer - Pz.Rgt.1 -

Hi Antonio,

well ..., he also was one of my "candidates" I have to admit, but if so, this action was done AFTER his recommendation for the Deutsches Kreuz in Gold was written. Usually it took about two months (+/-) for the recommendation and the chain of command upwards to OKH/PA in Berlin to get finally approved (or dismissed).

It's still possible, as it could be that the reporter in question may did a visit to Pz.Rgt. 1 and just mentions this guy with more than 30 kills.

Overall Oblt. Cramer is a possible, but far from certain

Oliver

[alcius]

Thanks Oliver
I have another unknown
Wachtmeister schoss 17 panzer ab.
Bünder Tageblatt 64 (14/08/1942) 189
https://zeitpunkt.nrw/ulbms/periodical/ ... er%20ab%22

Antonio

[Gastolli]

Wachtmeister schoss 17 panzer ab.

Hello Antonio,

I'm pretty sure that this was Wm. Konrad Sauer from 3./Stug.Abt. 209.

It's said that he got the Ehrenblattspange for 17 tank kills on "1./2.8.1942 bei Belkowo", that is the Rshew region ...

He continued to get the Ritterkreuz very soon after, of course

Oliver

[Gastolli]

s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654 aces (equipped with Ferdinand tank destroyers in 1943, than with Jagdpanthers from 1944 to 1945).

Sources are these magnificent books:
"So kämpfte die 654", Manfred Dörr, VDM-Verlag 2010
"The Combat History of schwere Panzerjäger-Abteilung 654", Karl-Heinz Münch, J.J. Fedorowicz Publ. 2002

These books provide much more information in detail, but it's not the scope of this thread and I have no time to cover everything up to the last rivet

They have copies of the recommendation for higher awards, plus detailed tank kill lists from Juni 1944 to mentioning the turret number, tank commander, gunner, type of target etc.

I may find other "aces" or have slight corrections after analysing the detailed tank kills list from these two books.

Oliver

So, here we are, details as of tank kills of individual gun commanders (Ferdinande, than Jagdpanther), some of them with some Pak successes beforehand ...

Name / Dienstgrad / Einheit / tank kills
Scheiber, Erich (Lt) - Wkst.Kp. s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654, Zugf. 3./s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654 = 24
Feldheim, Hermann (Lt) - Zugf. 1./s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654, Zugf. 1./Pz.Ausb.Abt. 20 = 19
Brockhoff, Willi (Ofw) - Gesch.Fhr. in 3./Pz.Jg.Abt. 654, Gesch.Fhr. in 2./Pz.Jg.Abt. 654, Kdt. in 2./s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654 = 18
Carstens, x (Fw) - Kdt. in 3./s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654 - 12
Lehmann, Karl-Hans (Uffz) - Kdt. in St.Kp. s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654, Kdt. in 3./s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654 - 11
Lüders, Friedrich (Hptm) - Chef 2./s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654 = 11
Bath, Carl (Uffz) = Gesch.Fhr. in Pz.Jg.Abt. 654, Richtsch. in 2./s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654, Richtsch. in 3./s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654, Kdt. in 2./s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654 - 10
Henning, Georg-Rudolf (Hptm)- Chef 3./s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654 - 10
Heyn, Günther (Lt) - Zugf. 2./s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654 = 9
Borcherding, Hermann (Uffz) - Gesch.Fhr. in 2./Pz.Jg.Abt. 654 (Pak) = 8
Böse, x (Uffz) - Kdt. in 1./s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654 = 8
Schnepf, Wilhelm (Lt) - Gesch.Fhr. in Pz.Jg.Abt. 8, Zugf. 2./s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654 = 8
Bohling, Georg (Fw) - Kdt. in 2./s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654, Richtsch. in 2./s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654 = 6
Gerdes, Karl (Fw) - Gesch.Fhr. in 3./Pz.Jg.Abt. 654 (Pak), Kdt. in 3./s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654 = 6
Winterstetter, Richard (Ofw) - Zugf. 2./s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654 = 6
Hesse, Karl (Uffz) - in 3./s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654, Kdt. in 3./s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654 = 5
Kutschke, Herbert (Uffz) - Richtsch. in 1./s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654, Kdt. in 1./s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654 = 5
Lamotte, Eugen (Lt) - in St.Kp. s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654, Zugf. 3./s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654 = 5
Peters, Wolf-Dietrich (Lt) - Zugf. 2./s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654 = 5
Tietdke, x (Uffz) - Kdt. in 1./s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654 = 5
Werther, Heinrich (St.Fw.) - in 3./s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654, Kdt. in St.Kp. s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654 = 5
Braun, x (Uffz) - Kdt. in 3./s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654 = 4
Meyer, Franz (Fw) - Kdt. in 2./s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654 = 4
Gattermeyer, Karl (Ofw) - Kdt. in 2./s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654 = 3
Klimecki, Max (Ofw) - Kdt. in 2./s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654 = 3
Kühn, Bruno (Fhj.Fw.) - Kdt. in 3./s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654 = 3
Mondry, Joachim (Uffz) - Richtsch. in 1./s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654, Kdt. in 1./s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654 = 3
Steinmetz, x (Uffz) - Kdt. in 2./s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654 = 3
Voigt, Herbert (Fw) - Kdt. in 1./s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654 = 3
Brüntje, Heinrich (Uffz) - Gesch.Fhr. in 2./Pz.Jg.Abt. 654, Richtsch. in 2./s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654, Kdt. in 2./s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654 = 2
Buschbeck, Karl (Ofw) - Kdt. in 3./s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654, Kdt. in St.Kp. s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654 = 2
Güber, Heinrich (Uffz) - Kdt. in 3./s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654 = 2
Höft, Hermann (Uffz) - Kdt. in 2./s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654 = 2
Jackwerth, x (Uffz) - Kdt. in 3./s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654, Richtsch. in 3./s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654 = 2
Klarmeyer, Heinz (Ofw) - Kdt. in 3./s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654 = 2
Muckisch, Fritz (Uffz) - Kdt. in 2./s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654 = 2
Müller, x (Fw) - Kdt. in 1./s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654 = 2
Schunk, x (Fw) - Kdt. in 2./s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654 = 2
Viertel, x (Ofw) - Kdt. in 3./s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654 = 2
Witt, x (Fw) - Kdt. in 1./s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654 = 2
Witt, x (Uffz) - Richtsch. in 2./s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654. Kdt. in 2./s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654 = 2
Bleichwehl, x (Uffz) - Kdt. in 2./s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654 = 1
Bombitzki, Hans (Uffz) - Kdt. in 2./s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654 = 1
Busch, Karsten (Ofw) - in 3./Pz.Jg.Abt. 654, Zugf. 3./s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654 = 1
Günther, Otto (Fw) - Kdt. in 1./s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654 = 1
Herbst, x (Uffz) - Kdt. in 2./s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654 = 1
Herrmann, Heinz (Lt) - Zugf. 3./s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654 = 1
Hückstedt, x (Ofw) - Zugf. 1./s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654 = 1
Leps, Werner (Uffz) - in 1./s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654, Kdt. in 1./s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654 = 1
Mattick, x (Fw) - Kdt. in 1./s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654 = 1
Nußher, Heinz (Lt) - Zugf. 3./s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654 = 1
Schmeiß, Hans (Lt) - in 9./Pz.Rgt. 18, Zugf. 2./s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654, Zugf. 3./s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654 = 1
Wichmann, Kurt (Uffz) - Kdt. in 2./s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654 = 1

I will add the gunners separately.

Important note:
Successes for the Kursk period 1943 are not as high as these for the sister Abteilung s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 653. 654 had "just" 98 tank kills from 5.7.43 to 25.8.43. I don't know the gun commander for 29 tank kills for that period, the rest is covered within that books mentioned above.

For the periods 11.7.44 to 19.9.44 (Normandie) and 21.11.44 to 31.1.45 (western front) these books have detailed lists of tank (and other) kills for each day with each tank commander plus gunner named. Originally these papers where the annexe to the official war journal of s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654.

Up to the end of the war journal (without annexe) on 2.4.1945 the s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654 had another 17 (February) + 15 (March) + 5 (early April) tank kills = 27 tank kills, unaccounted for individual tank commanders.

Oliver

[Gastolli]

s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654 / gunners

I continue with the gunners of s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654 (Ferdinand/Jagdpanther):

Name / Dienstgrad / Einheit
Kutschke, Herbert (Uffz) - Richtsch. in 1./s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654, Kdt. in 1./s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654 = 18
Bath, Carl (Uffz) - Gesch.Fhr. in Pz.Jg.Abt. 654, Richtsch. in 2./s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654, Richtsch. in 3./s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654, Kdt. in 2./s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654 = 15
Wübbeler, Bernhard (Uffz) - Richtsch. in St.Kp. s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654, Richtsch. in 3./s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654 = 12
Engert, Helmut (Ogfr) - Richtsch. in 1./s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654 = 10
Wesolek, x (Uffz) - Richtsch. in 2./s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654 = 9
Richarz, Leonhard (Uffz) - Richtsch. in 3./s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654 = 8
Schütz, Gerhard von (Ogfr) - Richtsch. in 1./s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654 = 8
Emrich, Otto (Uffz) - Richtsch. in 2./s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654 = 6
Schwab, Fritz (Ogfr) - Richtsch. in 3./s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654 = 6
Winter, Karl (Ogfr) - Richtsch. in 3./s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654 = 6
Zweng, x (Uffz) - Richtsch. in 3./s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654 = 6
Dettmer, x (Uffz) - Richtsch. in 3./s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654 = 5
Güber, Heinrich (Uffz) - Kdt. in 3./s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654 = 5
Jackwerth, x (Uffz) - Kdt. in 3./s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654, Richtsch. in 3./s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654 = 5
Jasper, Herbert (Gefr) - Richtsch. in 2./s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654 = 5
Jordan, Wilhelm (Uffz) - Richtsch. in 2./s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654 = 5
Becker, x (Ogfr) - Richtsch. in 3./s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654 = 4
Grobrueg, Heinrich (Ogfr) - Richtsch. in 2./s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654 = 4
Horstmann, Wilhelm (Ogfr) - Richtsch. in St.Kp. s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654 = 4
Hüsgen, x (Uffz) - Richtsch. in 3./s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654 = 4
Ksionzek, Erwin (Uffz) - Richtsch. in 3./s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654 = 4
Lauer, x (Ogfr) - Richtsch. in 3./s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654 = 4
Cornelsen, x (Uffz) - Richtsch. in 2./s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654 = 3
Hoffmann, Klemens (Ogfr) - Richtsch. in 3./s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654 = 3
Jochimsen, Hans (Uffz) - Richtsch. in 3./s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654 = 3
Langhoff, Karl J. (Gefr) - Richtsch. in 2./s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654 = 3
Meier/Meyer, x (St.Gefr.) - Richtsch. in 2./s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654 = 3
Neubauer, x (Ogfr) - Richtsch. in 1./s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654 = 3
Neutzner, Franz (Ogfr) - Richtsch. in 3./s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654 = 3
Schappo, Matthias (Ogfr) - Richtsch. in 1./s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654 = 3
Storch, Horst (Uffz) - in 3./Pz.Jg.Abt. 654, Richtsch. in 3./s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654 = 3
Domicke, x (Uffz) - Richtsch. in 1./s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654 = 2
Enghoffer, Julius-Georg (Lt.d.R.) - Richtsch. in 1./s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654 = 2
Hamberger, Georg (Ogfr) - Richtsch. in 1./s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654 = 2
Herkelmann, x (Ogfr) - Richtsch. in St.Kp. s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654 = 2
Neu, Josef (Gefr) - Richtsch. in 2./s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654 = 2
Wodig, x (Uffz) - Richtsch. in 2./s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654 = 2
Dormeier, x (Uffz) - Richtsch. in 2./s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654 = 1
Franz, x (Ogfr) - Richtsch. in 3./s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654 = 1
Hansen, x (Ogfr) - Richtsch. in 2./s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654 = 1
Sander, x (Uffz) - Richtsch. in 1./s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654 = 1
Schmidt, Peter (Ogfr) - Richtsch. in 2./s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654 = 1
Schmidt, x (Ogfr) - Richtsch. in 1./s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654 = 1
Schulze, Herbert (Ogfr) - Richtsch. in 1./s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654 = 1
Weber, x (Uffz) - Richtsch. in 2./s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654 = 1
Wetzlar, x (Gefr) - Richtsch. in 1./s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654 = 1
Witt, x (Uffz) - Richtsch. in 2./s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654, Kdt. in 2./s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654 = 1
Wolf, Walter (Uffz) - Richtsch. in 3./s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654 = 1
Zehnpfennig, x (Uffz) - Richtsch. in 2./s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654 = 1

You can see here, and also with the tank commanders, that you have some successful guys and a many "others", but all of them contributing to the overall success of the Abteilung of course.

Oliver

[Gastolli]

Tank commanders and gunners of s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654

One more thing:
You may see that in the above lists you have some men which served as a gunner AND a tank commander, here are the overall successes of these men, as gun commander + gunner = total:

BATH, Carl (Uffz): 10 + 15 = 25
KUTSCHKE, Herbert (Uffz): 5 + 18 = 23
GÜBER, Heinrich (Uffz): 2 + 5 = 7
JACKWERTH, x (Uffz): 2 + 5 = 7
WITT, x (Uffz): 2 + 1 = 3

Have fun

Oliver

[alcius]

Thanks Oliver
for Sauer, I thought he was a new ace, and for the S. Pz.Jg.Abt.654, very interesting.
I would like to add a new name Uffz. Peter Kohs

Ferdinant of sPzJgAbt.654, tail number 513, has 8 marks the slain enemy tanks
Tank was commanded by Uffz. Peter Kohs.
Unit: 5 / schwere Panzerjäger-Abteilung 654 = 5th Company 654th Heavy Anti-Tank Battalion
Tactical number: 513 = 5th Company (Kompanie) 1st Platoon (Zug), 3rd Vehicle
Chassis: 150036

Antonio