Grille and Marder IIs in Sicily

[C.GILLONO]

Hi Gents

I am looking for confirmation that:
- Grille (siG33 on Pz 38) was used (and how many) by 29. Pz GD in Sicily - they got some in 1943 but was it before August?
and
- Marder IIs was used by HG (and how many) - we know wrecked Marder IIs were photographed on the island but I suspect they were from 1 Fallschirm.

Could it be that HG got 7.62cm Marder IIs instead?

TIA

[David Thompson]

A post from ironcross2nd, displaying a Nazi avatar, was removed by this moderator. All subsequent posts which display the avatar will also be removed -- DT.

[Alanmccoubrey]

I have a Polish Militaria book on the Marder II which lists the types issued to the various units, this list has the HG only receiving the SdKfz 132 as you suspected. As for the grille, 29 Pz Gren SHOULD have had 12 of them on Sicily but unfortunately the Podzun-Pallas book on the 29th doesn't have them listed or any photographs of them. Alan

[C.GILLONO]

Thanks!

[Martin Block]

The 29. Pz.Gren.Div. did receive 12 Grille in Mai 1943. German records show that 2 of them were lost during Jul/Aug 1943. The division did not have any type of Marders.

Pz.Div. HG had received 12 Grille by mid July 1943. I'm not 100% sure if they were immediately employed in Sicily. At least I can tell that none were lost during Jul/Aug 1943.
German records also show that the division had at least 9 Panzerjäger II für 7,5 cm Pak 40/2 (Sd.Kfz. 131) in its inventory (one quartermaster general document lists even 18 but I'm still looking for confirmation from other sources) and NOT Panzerjäger II für 7,62 cm Pak 36 (Sd.Kfz. 132). How many were lost on Sicily I can't tell exactly since I don't have divisional records available for that time period. From the somewhat confusing quartermaster general reports it appears that losses may have been in the area of 50%.
The authors in that Polish Military book probably confused Pz.Div. HG with the Ers.u.Ausb.Rgt. HG, i.e. the replacement unit for the HG division in Holland, which in fact did report Panzerjäger II für 7,62 cm Pak 36 (Sd.Kfz. 132) since June 1943.

Panzerjäger II für 7,5 cm Pak 40/2 (Sd.Kfz. 131) were in the inventory of the 7.Flieger-Div./1. Fallsch.Jg.Div. since late 1942. 13 of them were still reported on 30.6.1943. Unfortunately there's a rather large gap in my available records for the division until Nov. 1943 so I'm unable to tell if and how many may have been lost on Sicily.

The 15. Pz.Gren.Div. did have neither Grille nor any type of Marders.

Martin Block

[C.GILLONO]

Many thanks (once more) to Martin!
As usual he is most helping.

Regards

[C.GILLONO]

I forgot to add I have photographic proof the Grille of HG were used in Sicily - one being lost there judging by the 1 September return.
HTH