Announcement

**Hundestaffel** · 08-20-2010, 03:13 PM

OK Ladz - total confusion on my part - HERE are the scans that were suppose to be posted (Ian, Eric - sorry about this...void my request to delete this thread, although you can change the title to "Assistance with PWKGG Wehrpass")....

ANY history in regards to the PWKGG entry would be very much appreciated....

"Hundestaffel"

Attached Files

PWKGG.jpg (103.7 KB, 157 views)

**Ian Jewison** · 08-20-2010, 03:24 PM

Probably won't find out much regarding the Panzerwerkstatt Kompanie, however Gruppe Guderian was what XIX Armee Korps became on 1 June 1940 for the campaign in the west.

http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/...XIXKorps-R.htm

So this guy was in the Korps Armoured Workshop Company!

/Ian

**Ian Jewison** · 08-20-2010, 03:32 PM

Interestingly prior to this he was with Panzer Spaeh Instandsetzung, Gruppe Thomah?

And subsequently Gruppe Jakobi and FP Nr. 12232 - Panzer-Instandsetzungs-Gruppe Mons dann Panzer-Ersatzteillager Mons

/Ian

**Hundestaffel** · 08-22-2010, 10:13 AM

Many Thankx Ian....this information is much appreciated....

"Hundestaffel"

**Archi** · 04-23-2019, 10:32 PM

Hello !

Many thanks for posting this nice Wehrpass

! I think it is a very interesting document, certainly related to the early history
of German tank maintenance in WW II.

It is interesting, that the first unit listed is : Heimat-Kraftfahrpark (= HKP) Mannheim
These "Parks" consisted of local civilian workshops and garages, which had to work for the army !
So, I would not wonder if his civil occupation would be listed as : Kfz.-Meister or Kfz.-Schlosser (car mechanic).

The first scan is from a book by H.A. Jacobsen, Fall Gelb, and explains the idea (from In 6) behind the formation of these HKPs.
The second scan explains in some details, how the maintenance and supply of spare parts for motorized vehicles was handled in the
early stages of the campaign in France, 1940. The formation of "Gruppe Thomale" (= for armored vehicles) fits very well into this pattern !

(If there is interest, I can try to translate the scans. The major points are marked and can be summarized as :
To overcome the problems with the repair and maintenance of motorized vehicles, OKH In 6 "invented" the HKPs (use of civilian workshops).
During the campaign in France, spare part depots and personnel from the HKPs was moved forward, close to the frontline, to assist the
divisional workshop companies. All this was not planned long ahead, but "improvised" and organized by OKH In 6.)

--------------
After a long search, I am relatively sure, that most of the units mentioned in this WP have the same origin/are part of the same unit :
"Gruppe Thomale" - "Instandsetzungs-Gruppe Jacobi" - "Panzer-Instandsetzungs-Gruppe Mons" [= FPN 12232]

End of May 1940, a large spare part depot for tanks, with additional workshop companies was built up at the French-Belgium border.
[source : FMS P-040].
It was a makeshift unit, organized/(partially run) by officers from OKH In 6.
(In 6 : Abteilung für Panzertruppe, Kavallerie und Heeresmotorisierung - subbranch of AHA)

The idea was, to provide additional repair and maintenance capacities for tanks and armored vehicles in an area very close to
most of the Panzer-Divivions.
(At that time, no independent Pz.Inst.Abteilungen existed. All repairs had to be done by the Workshop companies of the tank regiments,
or at home in the tank factories !).

The build-up of this depot was presumably organized and in the beginning led by Major Thomale, who was with In 6 [OKH] already since 1939 (scan).
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolfgang_Thomale
This unit was later shifted to Paris and finally designated as : Pz.Werkstatt-Kommando In 6
It then had one workshop company for armored recon vehicles [Pz.Späh] and one workshop company for tanks (and the respective spare part depots)
(2nd scan).
(I assume, that the organization had been very similar already in May).

The link between all these units and to In[spektion] 6 (=subbranch 6 of OKH) can be seen from the various stamps and entries in this WP :
- Lt. Singer was Kp.Chef of the Pz.Späh-Instandsetzungs-Kp. of "Gruppe Thomale" and again of the same unit of Inst.Gruppe Jacobi
- The 2nd stamp on p. 32 reads : "Ersatzteillager und Instandsetzung für Pz.Sp.Wg. [=Panzerspähwagen] Gruppe Hptm. Jacobi"
At the same time, the battle calendar entry for 07/40 - 09/40 says : "Einsatz ... bei Pz.Späh.Inst. In 6"
But from 23.7. - 12.9.40 he was with unit FPN 12232 (= Panzer-Instandsetzungs-Gruppe Mons etc. ... !)

Regarding his service with Gruppe Guderian from 12.6. - 11.7.40 :
For "Fall Rot" [2nd phase of invasion in France], a Panzergruppe Guderian (HGr. A) and a Panzergruppe Kleist (HGr. B) were formed :
Both Pz.Gruppen controlled 2-3 corps and had the task to coordinate the attack and later the advance of the bulk of the Panzer-Divisions
(the armored spearheads) for each of HGr. A and B.
It would seem logical, that each of that Panzergruppen would recieve at least one additional workshop company from the "Gruppe Thomale".
The company for Gruppe Guderian was perhaps led by Lt. Singer, at least he signed with the respective stamp.
It would be interesting, whether anybody has seen a similar stamp for "Gruppe Kleist" ?!

I am sorry, that this is still a lot of speculations. I came to this thread, while researching one of my own groups. A more detailed
account for some of the arguments can be found here :
http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru....php?t=1001420

This is a difficult topic, I hope this gives at least some useful background information in addition to what Ian had already posted.

Best regards,

Archi

Attached Files

**Hundestaffel** · 04-26-2019, 09:06 AM

Great info. Archi

Announcement

Assistance with Panzerwerkstatt Kompanie, Gruppe Guderian Wehrpass

Assistance with Panzerwerkstatt Kompanie, Gruppe Guderian Wehrpass

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Users Viewing this Thread