Soldbuch and citation Panzer-Regiment 33

[Ralle84]

Hello,

I want to sell or trade this little grouping but before I do so I would like to have anserwed some questions.

1. On Page 14 there is written "Verwendung: Pz. Fa. ..." means Tank Driver but what comes then? Maybe a P for Panther?
Was the I-Pz.Rgt.33 equipped with Panthers?

2. Who signed the citation for the Tank Battle Badge? Why was it awarded so late (During the Battle of the Bulge for actions in Normandy?)

Thanks in advance.

[Ralle84]

2

[Ralle84]

What Places are given:

1. Mayenne. South of Caen
2. Le Horps(?)
3. Le Sablou? Couldn´t find it?
4. Louvigny und Livol(?)
5. Anciennes (Is that right?)
5. This place I can not read at all.

[Ralle84]

Who signed the citation?

[brooksbz]

Just help this thread along and from the Flames of War website:

"The division would not be ready for action during the Cobra breakout by American Armored divisions, but it would be used to try and halt the advance shortly before the general collapse and attempts to escape through Falaise. Without its Panther battalion, the 9. Panzerdivision was set to oppose the advance of the Allied XV Corps composed of the U.S. 5th Armored Division and the French 2nd Armored Division. Unfortunately, the 9. Panzerdivision barely slowed the American offensive due to it being committed in bits and pieces as units arrived at their start points, as opposed to in one cohesive counterattack. With their backs against the Alecon supply dumps, there was little to fall back to. In fact, after a series of intense tank battles from 10 to 12 August, the supply dump itself was little more than an empty inferno. The division itself found itself surrounded and unable to fight, having lost approximately 100 panzers."

The places listed are more likely from around east of Caen, around Falaise before the Seine river crossings. I have a map somewhere but I have not looked up the specific towns.

[Gerdan]

# 3

2) Le Horps - coorect !

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Le_Horps


3) Le sablon

http://www.sablon.qc.ca/live/en/

5) Anciennes - correct

6) Grandchamps

http://www.grandchamp.org/


Gerdan

[JBGracing]

The einsatz-tage looks like a line of retreat from the Alencon supply dumps south towards the Nantes area.

Not sure who signed the award certificate, but the third signature on page 15 appears to be Ludwig Bauer. Proposed KC winner, here is the info from Axishistory.com:
Bauer, Ludwig 29.04.1945 Leutnant Führer 1./Pz.Rgt 33
[no proof in Bundesarchiv ; award obviously was reported in 1954 by the Traditionsverband 9. Pz.Div ; HPA-VV (proposal) definitively not prepared ; as I./Pz.Rgt 33 did capitulate in Ruhrkessel (HGr B) under the command of Hptm Simon the standard procedere of the HPA would have been to delay the handling of any proposal (in accordance with AHA 44 Ziff. 275) ; another hint is the report of the former 1. IIa-Schreiber of the 9. Pz.Div from the year 1957 which is stating a probable award but is not a precise confirmation ; accepted by OdR]


Can you post pictures of the inside and back of the Fuhrerschein?

Jared

[Ralle84]

Great Gentlemen, Thanks for your help.

The back of the Führerschein is hard to read but Klasse 2 und 3 is clear.

[Floris]

This means that this unit didn' t fought in Normandy?

[brooksbz]

Normandy is a big place. The unit did fight in Normandy not on the beaches. It fought in southeastern Normandy after theAllied breakout in areas south of the Seine River.

[derka]

The I/Pz-Rgt 33 had Pz IV in its Kps, Panthers were in II Abt.
This uncommon numerotation system is a particularity to this Rgt, normaly it is the contrary according the dotation in the Panzerdivision 44 KStN.
derka

[derka]

in #3, misspelling at 4) about names reported in the SB : Louvigné and Livet, both located in département de la Mayenne.
Otherwise, Louvigny is located in département du Calvados, south near Caen.
derka

[Archi]

Hi all !

2. Who signed the citation for the Tank Battle Badge?

The officer should have been Oberstleutnant Rudolf Weiss-Kaffanke, Kdr. Pz.Rgt. 33 since Nov.15., 1944.
(According to this link and his index card : )
http://soldaten.balsi.de/index.php?action=show&id=11240

Cheers,

Archi

[Ralle84]

Hi Archi,

thanks for your help. I guess you are totally right.