High Scorers with Panzers and Paks

[alcius]

Thanks Oliver
Obergefreite Fleckstein - Panzerjagerabteilung ? - 8 kills
I don't know anything else

https://zeitpunkt.nrw/ulbbn/periodical/ ... m%20pak%22
Der Grafschafter 98 (10/11/1943) 263

Antonio

[Gastolli]

Obergefreite Fleckstein - Panzerjagerabteilung ? - 8 kills

Hello Antonio,

oh, new to me, and ..., yes, I would say the text suggest that Ogfr. (later Uffz.) Fleckstein was member of the Panzerjäger-Abteilung of an Panzerdivision. I'm also not sure if he was a gunner or a gun commander.

9. Pz.Div., 11. Pz.Div. and 23. Pz.Div. were in that area in November 1943, but I don't know more on this man, unfortunately.

Maybe future work in original records will reveal the identity of him ...

Oliver

[alcius]

Thanks Oliver
I have a question for you, you know German.
I found in various newspapers an article that talks about the 712. Infanterie Division, from what I understand its panzerjager abteilung destroyed 47 enemy tanks in 3 days.
His Hauptmannn destroyed 16 tanks and 1 PSw in these 3 days
It should be Hauptmann Gunther Pohl KC/EBS, and at that time the Abteilung was equipped with Sturmgeschutz.
Correct?

General-Anzeiger für das rheinisch-westfälische Industriegebiet und das westfälsiche Münsterland 63 (06/10/1944) 269
https://zeitpunkt.nrw/ulbbn/periodical/ ... 0panzer%22

or

Altenaer Kreisblatt 111 (09/10/1944) 236
https://zeitpunkt.nrw/ulbms/periodical/ ... 0panzer%22

Antonio

[Gastolli]

It should be Hauptmann Gunther Pohl KC/EBS, and at that time the Abteilung was equipped with Sturmgeschutz.

Hello Antonio,

well ..., I have seen that before and I'm sure, that this ment the total success of the Pz.Jg.Abt. 712 (Kommandeur Hptm. Pohl)!

Action described is 04.09. and 07.09.1944 at Lille, this originally was a Ritterkreuz recommendation but led to the Ehrenblattspange for Hptm. Pohl. The Ritterkreuz was vor a later action (maybe fighting at the "Schelde-Brückenkopf"?

As far as I know, but I have no primary sources at hand, Pz.Jg.Abt. 712 just in January 1945 received their company of Stug III, but for sure they didn't have them in September.

So, no, not new Panzer ace in this case I would say!



Oliver

[alcius]

Thanks Oliver, ok
Hannes Willi Seibeneck - Sturmgeschutzabteilung ? - 4 kills

seibeneck.png

Antonio

[Gastolli]

Hannes Willi Seibeneck - Sturmgeschutzabteilung ? - 4 kills

Hello Antonio,

nice find! His name is Hanns Seideneck, and he belonged to 4./Pz.Jg.Abt. 12 (L) which indeed was equipped with 4 Sturmgeschütz III.

The 12. Luftwaffen-Felddivision claimed 5 tanks killed on 5.10.43 and 6.10.43 apiece, than lost one of their own Sturmgeschütze on 7.10.43, I'm sure Oberjäger Seideneck had his tank kills on 5. and 6.10.43:

Iserlohner Kreisanzeiger 03.11.43 - Seideneck (4. (Stug) Pz.Jg.Abt. 12 (L) Korps.png

Oliver

[alcius]

Thanks. Oliver

Die Glocke / Ausgabe E (27/03/1944) 86

opel.png

I should be Feldwebel Eugen Opel - Stug.Abt.242

Antonio

[Gastolli]

It should be Feldwebel Eugen Opel - Stug.Abt.242

Hello Antonio,

hm, ..., I know the websites mentioning him, but I'm not 100% sure that HE indeed was the gun commander responsible for these tank kills.

Eugen Opel got the EK2 on 27.1.1944 as a Uffz. (ROB) and, well, could have been promoted to Fw. (Wachtmeister) soon, right. But there are other Wachtmeister within the Stug.Abt. 242 too, so I will leave Eugen Opel with a question mark in my own list.

But a nice find, anyway

Oliver

[alcius]

Thanks

I found a newspaper clipping concerning the Knight Cross action of Oberfeldwebel Fritz Scherf of Pz.Abt.103.
Since nothing can be found on the net, I thought I'd post it.
From what I understand, he destroyed 22 tanks in Stalingrad and 6 tanks in Italy

https://digital.slub-dresden.de/werkans ... ca97907cb6
Das Tageblatt für Frankenberg und Hainichen : 14.12.1944


Antonio

[Gastolli]

the Knight Cross action of Oberfeldwebel Fritz Scherf of Pz.Abt.103

Hello Antonio,

thanks for that! I know from another newspaper (see attached) that 3 tanks from Pz.Abt. 103 fought for hours against 50 enemy tanks. Well, I'm sure Fritz Scherf is meant here, his name and the unit are not mentioned:

Znaimer Tagblatt 01.06.44 -01 - Scherf, Pz.Abt. 103.jpg

The 22 tanks at Stalingrad ..., that's right, you read it correctly. But I think, that Ofw. Scherf should have a higher score as he served as a tank commander at least from 1941 onwards, also he could have added a few tank kills in Italy from the end of 1943 onwards.

At least 30 tank kills, or even more I would say

Oliver

[alessandro bray]

Hello,
In 3. Infanterie Division Chronik Fritz Scherf is credited with 42 tank kills on 30.09.44 for RK-award (posthum).
Alessandro

[Gastolli]

Hello Alessando,

ah! Well, as I wrote that's possible of course and I'm sure it's true (usually the divisional chronicles are based on first hand files and accounts).

22 tanks at Stalingrad plus 6 tanks during the RK action = 28 tank kills. Another 14 tank kills during the rest of his career, that fits!

Oliver

[alcius]

Thank you both

Leutnant Karl-Friedrich Wilke -3./Pz.Abt.5
From the newspaper clipping we read that in one fight he destroyed 7 tanks

https://brema.suub.uni-bremen.de/bremze ... ssenpanzer
Bremer Zeitung. 5 (6.1.1944)

Antonio

[Gastolli]

Leutnant Karl-Friedrich Wilke -3./Pz.Abt.5

Hello Antonio,

ah, this is totally new to me! Nice find.

It's worth mentioning that Lt. Wilke got the Deutsches Kreuz in Gold on 11.12.1943, he got the EK2 and EK1 in 1941 (as mentioned in the newspaper), most probably with Pz.Rgt. 5 of 5. leichte Division (which became 21. Pz:Div. at the end of 1941). Pz.Abt. 5 was created mostly from the survivors of Pz.Rgt. 5 after the end in Tunesia.

It's kind of scary that just two days after this newspaper was published Karl-Friedrich Wilke died at the main dressing station of Sanko 2/246 (mot), Garkowo, Belarus!

I wonder how you found this newspaper? I have the link from you for Bremer Zeitung (https://brema.suub.uni-bremen.de/bremze ... re/2510540) but it doesn't find "Karl-Friedrich Wilke" or "Leutnant Wilke", hm ... !?!?

I'm asking because it would be interesting to find his death notice which should have appeard one or two months later in this newspaper.

Can you find it, or how does it work?

Oliver

[alcius]

Hi Oliver

I found it with Russenpanzer, with Wilke it is not found.
The search program must be faulty.
I haven't found anything else

Antonio